Family, Fur Fun Festival on tap for Saturday
Event to provide tips for keeping pets safe this Halloween
Halloween can be fun and festive for people but sometimes scary and dangerous for pets.
To help them, Saturday’s Family, Fur & Fun Festival provides tips on keeping the four-legged, furry members of your family safe during this time and the holiday season, along with other activities to celebrate pets and help abused and neglected animals. The free event is at Exploration Park at the Mountain’s Edge Master in southwest Las Vegas.
Some safety tips include:
■ Don’t leave pets outside and unattended on Halloween or the days preceding and following to prevent pranks committed against them. Black cats can be particularly at risk.
■ Keep Halloween treats away from pets. Candy wrappers and lollipop sticks can be hazardous if swallowed, and chocolate can be poisonous for some pets.
■ If you plan on dressing up your pet, make sure the costume doesn’t interfere with the pet’s ability to breathe, see, hear, move or bark.
■ Keep holiday decorations out of reach to prevent pets from knocking down items like candles.
■ Consider keeping easily spooked pets in a separate room away from the door. Trick-or-treaters can frighten them.
■ Make sure pets are wearing proper identification or are microchipped in case they run away when trick-or-treaters come to the door.
■ To learn more about Halloween pet safety or general pet care, visit the Ask the Vet booth hosted by the Legacy Animal Hospital during the festival, which is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Holistic Dog Training will provide dog safety and bite prevention information and the 10-step Canine Good Citizen test for $10. The program was developed by the American Kennel Club to promote responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. The test covers accepting a friendly stranger, sit and down commands and walking on a leash.
Festivities include sports demonstrations from Atomic Dogs with dogs showing off speed, acrobatic and high-flying skills; educational and interactive booths; and hands-on activities for children. There also are pet adoption and fostering opportunities, arts and crafts, doggie photography, a raffle with great prizes, music and food and refreshments.
People who bring a donation of pet food will receive a free raffle entry. Items made in China will not be accepted.
The Halloween pet costume contest begins at 1:30 p.m. with prizes for Best in Show, Best Family (can include humans and/or multiple pets), Funniest Costume and Cutest Costume. Registration is $3 per category at the event.
Event proceeds benefit participating nonprofit animal rescue organizations, including Animal
Help Alliance, The Churchill Foundation, Hearts Alive Village and Chi of Hearts, Las Vegas Hot Diggity Dachshund Club and Rescue, On My Way Home Rescue and Paws 4 Love.
The Family, Fur & Fun Festival is sponsored by Americana Restaurant, Bulldog AC and Heating, Joyce and Associates, Law Offices of Donna Stidham, Maupin Nalor Brastor Attorneys at Law, Mountain’s Edge Master, Nutrisource, Pictographics and Camp Bow Wow.
Also this weekend, the newest Mountain’s Edge community is celebrating its grand opening. Lennar’s Watermarke is a gated neighborhood offering modern new condominiums with open-concept living areas, master suites, two-car garages, GE kitchen appliances, including refrigerator, granite kitchen countertops, cabinetry, energy-efficient items and access to a fitness center, swimming pool and clubhouse. The Welcome Home Center opens at 11 a.m. and is at 8577 Insignia Ave. Visit www. lennar.com/lasvegas for details.
Exploration Park is at 9700 S. Buffalo Drive, just south of Blue Diamond Road near the Mountain’s Edge main entrance. For information, visit www. familyfurandfun.com, call 702-5950644, or email info@familyfurandfun. com.