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HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS AROUND TOWN

4 min read

Shelter asks residents to support ‘home for the holidays’ …

Lee County Animal Services will join more than 2,000 pet shelters and adoption centers across the country for Home 4 the Holidays 2008, a national event organized to raise awareness of the joys of owning shelter-adopted pets. Organizers hope to match more than 350,000 dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens with loving, adoptive families.

Lee County Animal Services will launch its local campaign on Dec. 1 st and by Dec. 31 hopes to place 300 pets from its facility in life-long homes.

Special pet events in December will include Pet Photos with Santa Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to noon at the shelter, 5600 Banner Drive, off 6 Mile Cypress Parkway (next to the Sheriff’s Office), and an offsite adoption at Regal Cinemas at Gulf Coast Town Center Dec. 13 from noon to 4 p.m.

Pets adopted during the month of December will receive a new toy in addition to the services normally provided with each adoption. The adoption fee includes spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations appropriate for each animal’s age, flea treatment, worming, heartworm test for dogs six months or older, feline aids and leukemia test for cats, a county license for pets three months or older, collar, training DVD, Behavior Hotline, Microchip Pet ID, bag of Hill’s Science Diet pet food, and 10-day health guarantee. The total adoption package is valued at more than $500.

Each week during December, adopters also will be entered for a drawing to win a new pet bed for their new dog or cat. The Home 4 the Holidays adoption campaign is a departure from the traditional practice of shelters suspending pet adoptions during the holidays, which are normally very hectic. In the past, it was considered a bad time to introduce a new pet into the household. However, many shelters now realize that the practice only contributes to overcrowding and their homeless pets are missing out on the season when most people seek to add a companion animal to their family.

For more on the local shelter, see Page 20 for Pets of the Week.

The Angel Tree …

Almost 950 Lee County children are housed in foster homes and many of them are in need of help to have a happy holiday season. The Foster Care Advisory Services cooperates with and through the Children’s Network in providing emergency and special assistance to foster children.

A special Angel Tree has been placed in the McDonald’s on College Parkway at South Pointe Blvd. in south Fort Myers. Individuals may pick an “angel tag” from the tree containing a child’s wish. The new, unused, and unwrapped suggested item(s) are to be returned no later than Friday, Dec. 12, with the angel tag attached.

For those who cannot visit the McDonald’s and wish to participate, contact Charles Johnson, 939-1338, or Rena Gezzar, 478-3581, for a list of needed gift items. Financial contributions are also being accepted.

For more, visit fostercareadvisoryservices.org.

Support our troops …

Want to help? Just go to SupportOurTroops.org,  and click on the Christmas 2008 Care Package icon. More than 60 groups are listed there – just pick the one you want to send your care box to. Also posted there are the things the troops principally request, as well as the care box rules.

VFW collecting Toys for Tots …

The VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 10097 will be collecting toys for the Toys for Tots toy drive for the less fortunate children in our area.

Those who would like to donate a new, unwrapped toy may do so no later than Dec. 14 at the VFW Post 10097 at 17770 Pine Ridge Rd, Fort Myers Beach.

Santa Fest …

Santa Fest will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center, 16355 Summerlin Road in Fort Myers.

Admission is $5 per child.

Enjoy holiday crafts and games, cookies and juice, plus a chance to see the jolly ol’ man himself. Bring your camera for a great photo opportunity. Free fingerprinting will be provided by Prudential. 

For more, visit leeparks.org.

Canned food drive …

The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District and Bay Oaks Rec Center will sponsor a canned food drive Dec. 1 through 15.

The goal is to completely “fill” a district ambulance with non-perishable canned goods, which will be donated to area food banks to help families during the holidays.

Residents and visitors can drop off canned goods at all three fire stations within the district, as well as at Bay Oaks.

There will also be special collection events at Lynn Hall Park and TOPPS Supermarket during the food drive.

A complete list of recommended items is at fmbfire.org.