Provided by the Peoria County Communications Office
Peoria - Peoria County Animal Protection Services (PCAPS) is having its kick-off event at PAWS on Saturday, June 12. The public is invited to attend TAILgaters from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at 2600 NE Perry Street. TAILgaters gives Peoria County residents and pet-lovers an opportunity to meet the new owners of PAWS: Peoria County! This free event includes a dogbone-cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. with County Board Chairman Thomas O'Neill III, Board Members Michael Phelan and Andrew Rand, and Lauren Malmberg, Director of PCAPS.
During TAILgaters, PAWS will open early for tours and kids can jump in Dewey the Dog inflatable bouncer from Fun-on-the-Run, have their faces painted by the Zoo Lady, and walk away with a Unique Twist from a local balloon artist. And parents can walk away with a new pet! Hotdog lunches will be provided and coupons for ice cream given to anyone who donates Science Diet cat or dog food, or another needed item, to PAWS; visit http://www.peoriacounty.org/pcaps/volunteerpcaps for a complete wish list of acceptable items. Anyone attending this free event can also enter to win great door prizes!
The following local businesses have generously donated food or other items to help make TAILgaters a success: A+ Professional Pet Grooming, Bernardi's, Charlie's Aquarium, Clubs at River City, Corn Stock Theater, Culver's, Dairy Queen, Emack & Bolios, Five Star Water, Great Harvest Bread Co., Greater Peoria Pet Resort, Ice Cream Shack, Kitchen Cooked, Kroger, Lou's Drive-in, McDonalds, Monical's Pizza, Peoria City/County Health Department, Peoria Flag & Decorating, Peoria Park District, Pepsi, The Pet Pantry, Raber Packing Co., Sam's Club, Smoothie King, Starbucks, and WeaverRidge.
Introducing PCAPS (Peoria County Animal Protection Services) to the community at TAILgaters is only secondary, however, to raising awareness of the adorable, adoptable animals waiting for a home at PAWS. Peoria County is committed to reducing the number of unwanted animals that are euthanized and offering events such as this is just one of many ways we will educate people on the importance of animal population control and pet care. For more information on TAILgaters, please call Jenny Zinkel, Director of Strategic Communications, at (309) 672-6918.