The first-ever Vets and Pets Fundraiser will take place Saturday, in downtown Red Deer.
Created by Cole McIntyre with Red Deer Tattoo Co., the event will be a 12-hour-long fundraiser where attendees can get fresh ink, with all proceeds going towards Next Chapter Animal Rescue and the Veterans Food Bank of Red Deer.
Lindsey Rutsch, the Fundraising and Marketing Coordinator for Next Chapter Animal Rescue, says that becoming one of the receiving charities will benefit the work they do for all the animals they help — but especially Tiki.
Tiki is a dog at the rescue that has gone through a lot in her little life, costing Next Chapter a significant amount in vet bills over the past few months.
“With one dog who comes in and her bills being $7,500, that's a lot, right, especially for a non-profit who only makes their money through donations and through events like this,” says Rutsch.
Previous fundraisers by Next Chapter were held for Tiki and her bills, but with this new opportunity, the rescue will not only be able to continue to help Tiki, but also the other animals.
“We have about 150 in care right now between dogs and cats — and now we're in kitty season,” says Rutsch about the busy rescue.
Next Chapter Animal Rescue considers itself more than just an organization. They are a community of animal lovers who are dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of dogs and cats — and the people who care for them — and are looking forward to the event.
“We'll have some puppies on hand for adoption from 3-6p.m., we'll have swag, we'll have information if people want to donate, they can, if they want to sign up to be a foster or a volunteer, they can do that there as well and yeah, we'll be there and hopefully we can get some dogs adopted too,” says Rutsch.
“Just, you know, trying to do something good for the community, for, you know, the veterans and the puppies and kitties and stuff, and everybody kind of has one or the other that they care about in their family,” says McIntyre about the event.
The Vets and Pets Fundraiser will take place on Little Gaetz Avenue from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., with the whole block shut down for live music, food trucks, vendors, a silent auction — and of course, tattoos.