ANIMAL FUNDRAISER
PAINTERGIRL HOSTING PAINT EVENING IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL ANIMAL RESCUE ORG.
The new year has not been too friendly to the Persian Dreams and Canine Themes Rescue Society.
“Everything is down right now,” said vice president Denise Devoe. “Foster home numbers are down, donations are down, volunteer numbers are down — so it’s hard right now. What people generally don’t know about us is that we get no government funding, at all. All of our funding is through donations.
“Without that support from the community, we can’t continue to function.”
The group’s fundraising is down roughly 75 per cent from last year, something the group is trying to figure it out.
“We know the economy has something to do with it, but we’re not too sure right now what happened,” she said. “I think a lot of people do think we get funding, so may not feel the need to help us out — we just don’t know.”
The group fostered out 95 cats last year, but have been limited to just 34 this year.
“There’s a lot of different reasons people may surrender an animal,” said Devoe. “Some people can’t have them any more, some people have allergies, some people move away — it can be really sad. Since we’re a no-kill organization, we also have lifers, animals that stay in foster care forever.”
The group holds a number of fundraisers throughout the year, and is having one held for them by local painter Christy Vince Friday at Ralph’s.
“I think it’s a really important group to support,” said Vince. “We’re doing an evening with Painter Girl, with $20 from every ticket going to support Persian Dreams. We’re going to be doing a step-bystep night on how to paint a dog.
“I encourage every artist to paint in whatever colours they like, not just the grey I’ve used for my dog.”
Children will be allowed until 10 p.m., and the $40 admission fee will cover the cost of the paint, brushes and canvas.
Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.eventbrite.ca/e/anevening-with-paintergirlfundraiser-for-persiandreams-and-canine-themesrescue-society-tickets43738499028.
Tickets can be purchased with cash by contacting Vince through her Painter Girl Facebook page.