Community Corner
Paws and Claus Sunday at J&K Pet Depot
Local shop holding fundraiser from noon to 1 p.m. to aid American Rescue Dog organization
A local pet store will host a holiday fundraiser Sunday to aid the American Rescue Dog nonprofit organization.
J&K Pet Depot, 990 Cedar Bridge Road, will offer treats for the family and furry friends alike from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, including pictures with Santa Claus, a home-made bake sale, free lunch and an "Ask the Trainer" session.
American Rescue Dog founder and Brick resident Joe Jennings, said, “We’re hoping to have a good place for pets and animals, no matter what it is, to come with the family to get photographed with Santa by a professional photographer.”
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Alexis Devaney will shoot portraits of families and their pets, furry or scaly, four-legged or winged, with Santa Claus.
Volunteers have been home all week baking cookies, cupcakes and preparing gift baskets for the charity bake sale. A complimentary lunch and free Q&A session with A Balanced Dog trainers are other highlights of the afternoon at J&K Pet Depot.
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This event, and hopefully more like it, has been months in the making since Jennings first approached J&K Pet Depot.
Coming in as a customer, Jennings struck up a conversation with J&K Pet Depot owner Jeremy Sriwardena early in the summer. The two bonded, as Jennings was starting his animal rescue organization and Sriwardena's store was relatively new.
“We just started talking and it turned out really good. We were both new guys in town,” said Sriwardena.
J&K Pet Depot offers a place for adoptable canines to be seen every time a customer walks through the door as well as a place to meet and greet. Every third Sunday of the month, adoptable dogs and pups are shown for families to get to them before adoption.
Since this alliance began, approximately 30 dogs have been adopted.
Both men hope to create a new holiday tradition.
“We’re hoping its going to become annual,” said Jennings, “but we need funds to do so.”
All proceeds will go to American Rescue Dog for the veterinarian bills, transportation and shelter of “disadvantaged, unsheltered, abandoned animals” in hopes they will be paired with “caring, worthy and loving new owners,” said Jennings.
