Pawsfest 2015

PAWSFEST IS BACK OCTOBER 4, 2015 AT GRACE EPISCOPAL OF WESTWOOD!

A “pawfect”day of fun, food & frolic for the animals and their people!

October 4th, Peace4Paws, with generous support from local businesses and volunteers, organizes Pawsfest: an afternoon of blessings, family fun, and dog, cat and rabbit adoptions for animal lovers and their pets. This year the popular celebration is happening Sunday October 4, 2015 from 12:30pm to 5:00pm at Grace Episcopal Church, 9 Harrington Avenue, in Westwood, New Jersey.

Attendees are invited to bring their pets for a joyful community day. Activities for adults, kids, and pets include:

An ecumenical Blessing of the Animals led by Reverend Barry M. Signorelli, Interim Rector, Grace Episcopal Church. The service begins at 2:30 pm, and blessings will continue all afternoon with Father Barry. There is also a special prayer for those who bring their pet’s ashes to the service.

For those who’d like to welcome a new, four-legged family member, this is a large adoption event. There will be loving dogs from the local rescues Peace4Paws, Southern Paws, Almost Home Dog Rescue of New Jersey, Greyhound Angels Adoption, Long Island Bulldog Rescue and Bonnies Animal Rescue Kingdom “BARK”, cats from Caring About the Strays, and rabbits from All About Rabbits Rescue to foster or adopt.

The featured adoptable Peace4Paws dog in the photo is Katie. She is a 1.5 year old shepherd, hound mix. She loves jogging, hiking, playing with toys, gets along well with dogs her own size and with cats and kids.

The event also includes free samples for dogs and people, gourmet dog treats from ARC, a large supply of interesting affordable dog and cat accessories from Pets & People 2, a Kids Corner with Doreen Holstein, face painting with Brittany Carenza, a 50/50 cash raffle and a large table of raffle baskets, and delicious food from The Enchanted Palate. The Enchanted Palate will offer a variety of fresh baked goods, including gluten-free items, entrees like Turkey 3 Bean Autumn Chili, Butternut Squash Lasagna, Mac and Cheese for kids, and more.

Other highlights include: Craft show regulars: “Stitches and Sketches”. Laurie Harden, professional pet sketcher will be available all day to draw a picture of your pet from a photo or right there while you enjoy the event. Beth Eden stitches a number of items; catnip filled mice and other cat toys, mittens from recycled sweaters--some with pet themes and designs, similar scarves and a number of other sewn items.

Live music by: Jay Nitzan, singer, Jason DeGeorge, guitar, Steven Lysak, piano, Joey Abdellatif, drums, and Don Johnson, bass.

New this year 6 Distinguished Student Service Awards for Volunteering excellence will be awarded- to six students age 9 to 18 for over 40 and up to 4000 hours each of outstanding volunteering work in fostering, caring and other action on behalf of animals in need.

Josephine Yao, 18 ( Woodcliff Lake), Kyle Spielman, 15, (Montvale), Daniella Roitman, 18, (Woodcliff Lake), Shulamit Dashevsky, 16, (Bergenfield), Matthew Hetherington, 14, (Westwood) and Angelica Cece, 9, (Ramsey) New Jersey will be presented the first Distinguished Student Service Awards for Volunteering Excellence at Pawsfest at 4pm.

One of the most challenging ways to volunteer your heart and soul for the animals in need is to foster a homeless dog. These caring students (with the support of their families) were involved directly in foster care and it’s many challenges, including the hardest of all saying goodbye when the dog is united with their forever family.

Event sponsors: Lewis Drugs, Westwood Pets Unlimited, Donna Moda, Music Merchant, Lepore’s Italian Market of Westwood, N.J. and Cece Chiropratic of Waldwick, NJ.

For more information about Pawsfest or any of the activities of peace4paws, or to become a volunteer, please visit contact us at www.peace4paws.org or call (201) 280-8696.

Join the community on Sunday, October 4th for a “pawfect” day!