Saturday, March 2, 10am to 4pm and Sunday, March 3, noon to 4pm at Tractor Supply in Center
February 27, 2024 - Happy Tails Adoption Center (HTAC) will be hosting a pet food drive and dog adoption event Saturday and Sunday, March 2 and 3, at Tractor Supply, 1155 Tenaha St., in Center.
Happy Tails volunteers along with student volunteers from the Center High School National Honor Society will be on hand to accept donations of pet food, pet related supplies and monetary donations.
Several individuals with puppy litters and dogs up for adoption are also expected to be on hand. Saturday hours will be from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. with volunteers on site from noon until 4 p.m. on Sunday, according to Stephanie Elswick, president.
“The food and supplies will be redistributed to local pet owners to help them cover part of the expenses of pet ownership,” she said. Happy Tails has partnered with other Shelby County nonprofit organizations, like Community Christian Services in Joaquin, to pass out donations in conjunction with their food distribution programs, Elswick said.
The distribution partnerships target programs assisting Shelby County elderly and fixed income households where keeping loving pets in their home may be presenting a financial hardship, Elswick said. During the February CCS distribution event more than 60 area households received donations.
"We hope to expand this program in the future as more people step forward to support Happy Tails and our animal welfare programs," Elswick said. Happy Tails is also hosting a low cost spay and neuter program, Spay It Forward, to ease the overpopulation of dogs and cats.
Happy Tails also hosts pet foster and adoption programs on its Facebook page, Instagram and website, Happytailstexas.org. Happy Tails is a 501©3 nonprofit with the eventual goal of establishing a bricks-and-mortar animal shelter in Shelby County.
“Until then, our volunteers are actively working to make a positive difference in the community with other animal welfare programs,” Elswick said. Anyone interested in supporting Happy Tails, but who may not be able to attend the weekend drives, may mail donations to: Happy Tails, P.O. Box 1049, Center, TX, 75936; or Venmo funds to: HappyTailsTexas.
