Pet Rock Fest is pleased, thrilled even, to announce that again the nonprofit animal welfare organization has awarded thousands in donations to numerous animal welfare charities.
With proceeds raised predominantly from the 2021 festival, Pet Rock Fest presented donations to organizations that benefit regularly from Pet Rock, as well as some new recipients. The event joined many in 2020 in “going virtual,” which raised a respectable amount for charities, but nothing beats the real thing. Pet Rock Fest 2021, which took place at Wyman Gordon in Grafton this past September, was hugely successful by any measurement.
Several organizations received donations from Pet Rock Fest, with others to be named throughout the year. Among those awarded include Animal Legal Defense Fund, The Boxer Rescue, KIND NEWS-Red Rover, Paws 4 a Cure, Foster Parrots-New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary, Juno’s Place/People for Pets in Peril, Maple Farm Sanctuary, Sweetpea Friends for Rutland Animals, Baypath Humane Society, Worcester Animal Rescue League, Dog Orphans, PittieLove Rescue, Second Chance Animals and a family in need from the Blackstone Valley area, whose dog required costly, emergency surgery.
PittieLove Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-home-based rescue dedicated to the care, understanding, and adoption of Pit Bull Terrier type dogs, and has long been a recipient of Pet Rock Fest proceeds.
“We were so thrilled, happy and surprised to have received a very generous donation from Pet Rock Fest for attending the event in 2021,” remarks Noreen Ford, founder and executive director of PittieLove. “We have not missed one since becoming a nonprofit in 2006. Our donation helped a senior boy in our rescue with the removal of four mast cell tumors. It is certainly the best event every year and we thank all from the bottom of our hearts and paws!”
The Pet Rock Fest team chooses beneficiaries after researching their services, reputation and impact on the welfare of animals in the New England area. Fortunately, the area has many animal welfare organizations, rescues and shelters performing outstanding work. Pet Rock Fest issues proceeds to worthy animal related charities that support a variety of causes, from shelters to law reform to sanctuaries for farm animals.
“This certainly has been a year for the funds raised at Pet Rock Fest to help our fellow man and their companion animals,” says Jeannie Hebert, Pet Rock Fest founding partner. “In addition to the support to rescues, shelters and animal welfare organizations, we are very happy to have been able to help a family pay for the urgent surgery needed to save the sight of their young daughter’s service dog. Our great thanks to Dr. Laurie Klein and her team at VCA Westborough Animal Hospital for their part in the outstanding care for Princess Leia.”
Pet Rock Fest Founding Partner Charlene Arsenault adds: “The festival itself started as a reaction to an act of cruelty. And Pet Rock Fest’s mission has always been grounded in educating people about animal welfare issues and promoting kindness. Part of this mission involves bringing as many organizations together as possible to share their messages about kindness to animals. All animals. Ultimately, these organizations need funding to make a difference, or even survive. Everyone who attends, supports, and donates to Pet Rock Fest affects this cause in a real, tangible way.”
Pet Rock Fest has also supported several reward funds in local animal cruelty cases that aid in finding perpetrators of that cruelty, and has also paid for medical bills for pet guardians who were unable to afford it.
Stay tuned for details on the 24th annual Pet Rock Festival.
