More than 13,000 people attended the fifth annual
My Furry Valentine event last month, resulting in 780 animals finding forever homes during the two-day event.
Since the event’s inception five years ago, 2,600 dogs, cats and other small animals have been adopted from various Greater Cincinnati area rescue and shelters groups. Carolyn Evans, founder and local pet photographer, created My Furry Valentine with the goal of educating people on adoptions and dispelling common myths about shelter animals.
“There are always thousands of wonderful animals looking for a great home,” Evans says. “Many people would be surprised to learn just how many great family pets they see in their neighborhoods that are actually rescue animals.”
Event attendees came from all over the region, traveling from as far as Minnesota, West Virginia, Tennessee and even Canada.
Even if attendees didn’t go home with an adopted pet, it provided them with the opportunity to see and meet local shelters. But the annual event is more than just two days in February — it’s about saving animals from being euthanized.
“There are so many opportunities to save the lives of these animals,” Evans says. “It’s great to pull everyone together and work as a united force at an event like this. My Furry Valentine is one of many solutions. … We’re all coming together to solve the bigger problem.”
Do Good:
• For more information on how you can help My Furry Valentine, contact
Carolyn Evans.
• Learn more about the
groups that participated in My Furry Valentine.
• Find a shelter animal online at
PetFinder.
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