Butler County Humane Society holds 1st Barking Lot Party
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Pet lovers came out in droves to support the Butler County Humane Society in its first “Barking Lot” fundraiser event on Sunday, June 8.
“We’re hoping for this to be an annual thing, but this is the first of its kind at this location,” said Taylor Ulakovic, humane society events committee leader.
Although admission was free, there were plenty of opportunities to financially support the humane society, with raffles and food tents.
In addition to their wallets, visitors were asked to bring pet supplies to fill a waiting van and help replenish the society’s reserves for the next year.
“Our shelter is currently almost full, so we’re hoping to fill that van to help make up for an increase of animals,” Ulakovic said. “We’re hoping to get dog food, cat food, treats, (kitty) litter, bleach, laundry detergent, dish soap … anything helps.”
One of the humane society’s objectives is to raise money to outfit its recently acquired mobile spaying and neutering clinic, which it hopes to put to use soon.
The society got the vehicle last year from Animal Friends of Pittsburgh, who gave it away after it broke down. Animal Friends previously used it as a “mobile resource center” to provide low-cost spaying and neutering services at external sites and the humane society is hoping to continue that work.
“We hope to go around Butler County to help spay and neuter more cats,” said society staff member Nikki Healy.
Healy said, while the humane society has had the vehicle fixed, it is still looking to raise funds for equipment.
“We just need to fill it with all the surgical supplies,” Healy said. “Anesthesia machines, surgical wraps and all the tools. And we’ll be partnering with different vets around the Butler area since we don’t have a vet on staff.”
Healy said the society has been raising funds for the mobile unit since March, and has raised around $30,000 of its goal of $35,700.
As if they weren’t wet enough from the rain, a series of volunteers took turns sitting over a dunk tank, another fundraising measure.
The first of seven volunteers to go in the dunk tank was Dennis Sybert, who is familiar to many as an animal control officer to many municipalities in Butler County — a position he served in for 32 years before retiring dues to a cancer diagnosis — as well as a volunteer with the human society.
Sybert said he’s been with the organization since its days at the former facility on Herman Road. Despite retiring from his duties as a dog warden, he still volunteers his time with the humane society wherever he can.
