‘Dog lovers galore’: Fido-friendly fun coming to Fort Erie

It has nothing to do with a classic Al Pacino movie about a bank robbery, it is not taking place in August and it starts in the morning.

But despite what might be considered having three strikes against it, Rotary Club of Fort Erie’s Dog Day Afternoon fundraiser planned for the conservation club in Stevensville is shaping up to as a major event for the club, one that organizers hope keeps people coming back for years to come.

Taking place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 25, the day promises to be a fun event for the entire family, especially for the four-legged members and the people who love them.

There will be 30-some vendors offering things needed to keep Fido happy and healthy. There will also be nearly a dozen organizations holding demonstrations, including trainers who work with service animals and obedience experts who typically help shape puppies into well-behaved dogs.

Other highlights

Rotary member and event co-chair Kathy Klune said the club initially conceived of the event as a small pet show to be held in a little Fort Erie park. However, once it got on Facebook, it was quickly inundated with interest from people who offer all kinds of canine products and services, including dog chiropractors, dog CPR trainers and a dog doula, which is a skilled animal care professional who offers pet hospice care and healing.

“We have all kinds of interest,” Klune said. “We have dog lovers galore. We have crafters, vendors, trainers, demonstrators.

“There’s just so many different types of people involved, we didn’t know these services were available.”

Dave Klune, Kathy’s husband and president-elect of the chapter, said the event is shaping up to be perhaps the biggest fundraiser of the year for the club. While it’s free to attend, the club will be accepting donations and will be holding a large penny sale, a silent auction and a 50-50 raffle.

“Based on the public response, this could be the mega event that we carry forward into future years,” he said. “It’s just unbelievable the response that we’ve had.”

The money will go toward the various endeavours the chapter supports, including scholarships and youth leadership training, as well local charitable organizations such as South Niagara Life Ministries, Matthew House, food banks and Meals on Wheels.

Rotary Club of Fort Erie is there for anyone in the community who calls, Kathy said.

“Anybody that comes to us with a request we try to help,” she said.

And the club accomplishes this with just 14 members, which has earned it praise from larger Rotary clubs in the area. Dave said that’s because when it takes on something, everyone gets involved.

“The other Rotary clubs in the area call us ‘small but mighty’ because we’re all in it,” he said. “And all 14 of us are involved in this project. And everything we do is all hands on deck.”

Fort Erie Conservation Club is at 2555 Ott Rd., Stevensville.

For more information, visit RotaryFortErie.org.

‘‘ Based on the public response, this could be the mega event that we carry forward into future years.

DAVE KLUNE PRESIDENTELECT ROTARY CLUB OF FORT ERIE