The sixth annual HPP Howling Holidays — from 7-11 a.m. on Dec. 9 — is tailored for those who care about dogs and also love the holidays.
Six years ago, this “fabulous free doggie event” was launched in Puna during the holidays, because this season “is all about spending time with those you love – family, friends and pets,” say coordinators of the event, which also raises money to benefit isle groups that help animals.
Howling Holidays will be at the Hawaiian Paradise Park Community Center at Makuu Drive and 17th Street, with a fundraising walk, silent auction, contests including a new Frisbee competition, games, prizes and demonstrations for dogs and their significant others.
The event begins with a 1- or 2-Mile Dog Walk. The entry fee is $10 for your first dog and $2.50 for each additional dog you bring on the walk. Even better, you can obtain sponsors for each dog you walk and the individual who obtains the most sponsorship support wins a double-occupancy suite at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel — a $1,050 value.
“You can also help Rainbow Friends by bidding on silent auction items. There is an exceptional selection of local products this year, as community businesses support our doggie friends,” said the spokesman.
The rest of the event is free. You can have your dog’s photo taken with Santa and participate in the most original costume and dog/owner look-alike contests to win prizes. You can try out dog agility with the Kukini Dog Agility Club, which helps host the event. Other activities include search-and-rescue demos, Ask-A-Vet and different games including the Frisbee competition.
You are invited to visit the sanctuary so you can see the animals and maybe choose to volunteer, to adopt, to sponsor, or to foster an animal. Please visit the newly updated website at www.rainbowfriends.org for more information, or give a call at 982-5110.
Registration begins at 7 a.m., with the walk starting at 8 a.m. You must have your sponsors’ money submitted by 8 a.m. to qualify for a prize. For more information about the event, call Cheryl Crabtree at 990-6105 or Eileen O’Hara at 965-1981. Registration/sponsor forms, flyers and info about the event are available on the websites, below.
Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary is a no-kill animal sanctuary primarily for dogs and cats. The sanctuary has 80 dogs and 250 cats in residence on a 7.5-acre parcel of land in Kurtistown.
Rainbow Friends embraces the vision “in which we see a time where all animals have a home with caring and responsible people and a time where there is a compassionate and loving relationship between humans and non-humans.”
Kukini Dog Agility Club, started in 2011, promotes the sport of dog agility, encourages responsible dog ownership, and fosters community awareness of positive ways to deal with dog behavior.
The club uses a facility located on Road 1 in Hawaiian Acres with a covered 4,000 square-foot arena and a 100-by-120-foot fenced competition ring to conduct dog agility classes, fun matches, trials and workshops. Beginner and advanced classes are ongoing, so visit the website to contact the club about dog agility training and competition opportunities at www.kukinidogagility.com, or call 968-1390 for more information.
