1st 'Furry Fashion Show' Coming Soon To Help Homeless Pets

PECONIC, NY — The North Fork Animal Welfare League is putting on a fashion show to help four-footed homeless friends.

The NFAWL's first fully sustainable green event of 2019, the "First Annual Furry Fashion Show," will take place on May 18 from noon until 4 p.m. on private estate gardens in Cutchogue, located at 26850 Main Road. Tickets cost $50 for adults; $25 for children ages 5 to $15; kids under 5 are free.

The all-ages fundraiser includes a fashion show with pets and handlers dressed in costumes, a luncheon, pet-themed vendors, ice cream, a Chinese auction, raffles, and more, the NFAWL said.

Every guest will receive a goody bag filled with pet-centric items including a free spay/neuter voucher from NFAWL.

The First Annual Furry Fashion Show is further supporting the community by being an environmentally-friendly event with non-plastic, recyclable materials used throughout the day, a release explained.

The First Annual Furry Fashion Show is open to all well-behaved pet-friendly pets, the NFAWL said. There will be awards and prizes for categories such as creativity, pet-person lookalike, and most flamboyant. In addition to the runway ready animals, guests are encouraged to bring their own pets to be part of the audience.

"We really wanted to create an event that engaged the whole community and the First Annual Furry Fashion Show does just that," says Gillian Pultz, NFAWL's executive director. "We've invited our volunteers to walk NFAWL's rescue dogs to help promote adoptions. And we reached out to our East End animal shelter partners to invite them to be part of the show to expand their adoptable animals' exposure, further promoting the concept of adoption as the best way to get a companion animal. The Fashion Show is also open to every type of socialized animal — beyond dogs — we expect miniature horses, donkeys, and possibly a parrot or two, filling out the runway lineup. We're looking forward to a really fun day for everyone — whether they're watching or participating in the show."

The fundraiser will help bolster the funding needed to complete the $1.4 million renovation project on the new Riverhead Animal Shelter, the NFAWL said.

Community business leaders are lending their support to ensure the event is a success: Major sponsors include Riverhead Building Supply, M&T Bank, and New York Life Insurance. Chinese auction items are supported by local wineries, cafes, and a variety of shops, along with over a dozen original artworks donated by the Old Town Art & Crafts Guild in Cutchogue, the NFAWL said.

"The extensive local support for the fundraiser further solidifies our community's commitment to saving more companion animals' lives," the release said.

"As always, we're thrilled that a large cross-section of our community's private sector is supporting our cause; it underscores how important helping animals in need is to them and their clientele," says Pultz. "We hope local pet-lovers will be joining us in droves to celebrate the kickoff of summer by sharing a wonderful afternoon under the flowering trees with their furry family members and friends. From the original artwork created by North Fork native cartoonist, Rob White — used on all the event's marketing collateral — to the overwhelming support the event is generating from local businesses and organizations, we are excited to have the whole community come out and share in this family-fun filled day!"

To buy tickets online, click here. Tickets are also available the Southold Animal Shelter's front desk, at 165 Peconic Lane in Peconic. For additional information, call 631-765-1811 ext. 1.