Dogs show their water retrieving skills at the Einstein Dock Diving pool June 13 during Pawfest, a fundraiser held by the Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit on the grounds of the MaryAnn Wright Animal Adoption and Education Center in Dearborn.
Elaine Greene
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – Pawfest, an outdoor festival hosted by the Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit, featured sunshine and a family-friendly vibe June 13 outside the MaryAnn Wright Animal Adoption and Education Center.
The community event raises money that helps care for and prepare for adoption more than 2,500 homeless animals.
The day features live bands and entertainment, as well as local vendors, activities and contests.
Einstein Dock Diving had an above ground pool that allowed dogs to show off their water retrieving and jumping skills.
Also on tap were dog agility courses, a Kid Zone, and a Pints and Paws Beer Garden tent.
FAMD Founder Elaine Greene said the help that they get from the community is fabulous.
“The support that we’ve gotten from our sponsors and all of the vendors is just amazing,” she said. “It’s a wonderful celebration of dogs and their people, and it’s beyond belief.”
She said Pawfest is their biggest fundraiser and it grows larger each year.
“We need the funds to take care of the animals that we take care of,” Greene said. “It’s very, very expensive to get all of their needs – and a lot of the animals that are coming in nowadays are animals that are in need of medical care – their owners, if they were owned in the past, before they got to us, couldn’t afford to take care of them.”
She said many animals come to them in desperate need of veterinary medical care, which is expensive.
Greene, who founded the shelter 30 years ago, said if she didn’t have the shelter to come to each day, she would probably be very bored.
“It would not be a life that is as fulfilling as coming and helping the community and helping the animals,” she said.
Greene said volunteers help the staff in many ways, including providing foster care, which is important for young animals who haven’t been spayed or neutered yet, and the foster care count can reach about 650 animals per year.
Vendors offer a variety of goods and services June 13 during Pawfest, a fundraiser held by the Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit at the MaryAnn Wright Animal Adoption and Education Center in Dearborn.
Since they do not have a clinic on site, she said volunteers also transport animals to the veterinarian.
Greene said other volunteers will walk dogs, which is crucial when the shelter is full, because the staff doesn’t have the time to do so on their own.
Other volunteers will work with cats, which again relieves the burden from the staff, and volunteers are crucial to the group’s ongoing fundraising.
“They are invaluable to us,” she said.
“People can come to us for many reasons,” Greene said. “One is to learn about animals, and we do all kinds of programs with dogs and cats – they can do foster care, and/or do ‘doggie days outs,’ where they come and take a dog for a day so if they are thinking about a dog that might be a good opportunity for them to see if it’s something for them, and we can do slumber parties where they can have them overnight, so they can get a better feel.”
She said they do a lot of kid programs, including Reading to Rover, where children will sit and read to a dog or cat in a non-judgmental environment.
“We’re starting a more robust children’s program, summer camp and those sorts of things, so I would encourage people to just go on our website, MetroDetroitAnimals.org and learn more about us,” Greene said. “Or come and visit us – we have a beautiful new facility.”
Pawfest attendees enjoy the music of The Rockin’ Boomers from the shelter of the Paws and Pints Beer Garden June 13 during Pawfest, a fundraiser held by the Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit on the grounds of the MaryAnn Wright Animal Adoption and Education Center in Dearborn.
Dogs show their water retrieving skills at the Einstein Dock Diving pool June 13 during Pawfest, a fundraiser held by the Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit on the grounds of the MaryAnn Wright Animal Adoption and Education Center in Dearborn.
Dearborn City Councilmember Gary Enos and his dog Carly attend Pawfest June 13, a fundraiser held by the Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit at the MaryAnn Wright Animal Adoption and Education Center in Dearborn.
Bright colors greet potential pet adoptees outside the MaryAnn Wright Animal Adoption and Education Center in Dearborn June 13 during Pawfest, a fundraiser held by the Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit.