Culture
Athens County Humane Society embraces ‘Alice in Wonderland’ theme for upcoming fundraising events
By: Emily Votaw
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One of the most important things any animal owner can do is get their dog or cat spayed or neutered. According to the Humane Society of the United States, the average age of death for intact dogs is 7.9 years, as opposed to a significantly longer 9.4 years for spayed or neutered dogs. The statistics are even more remarkable when it comes to felines: altered cats lived an average of 39 percent longer if they are female, a whopping 62 percent longer if they’re male.
If you’ve ever had a pet – you know these numbers are more than just facts. They represent the lives and health of creatures that are often their owner’s best friend and closest confidant.
Over the course of the past three years, the Athens County Humane Society has made it possible for 5,000 animals to be spayed or neutered. In doing so, the organization contributed significantly to combatting the problem of feral cat overpopulation as well as extending the lives and improving the health of hundreds of companion animals.
The Athens County Humane Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, meaning the organization is entirely dependent on the support of their community.
The organization is holding two major fundraisers this weekend. First, on Saturday, May 21 the group will host their already sold-out Alice in Wonderland Garden Party at the Zenner House. That event will be followed up by the organization’s annual self-guided tour of the most beautiful private gardens in the region on Sunday, May 22.
Athens County Humane Society Executive Director Angela Marx said that in addition to their extensive spay and neuter program, the group also runs an adoption and foster program, pet food pantry for those who cannot access food for their companion animals, and facilitates educational opportunities for the community. However, this doesn’t summarize everything the organization does.
“Just yesterday the Athens-Hocking Recycling Center found some little kittens in their trash that almost went through the trash compactor. So we were on call to go and get those little kitties,” said Marx. “We’re just kind of on call for things like that as well.”
While the Alice in Wonderland Garden Party is currently sold out, Athens County Humane Society volunteer Holly Dallman says it’s going to be a magical time for those who managed to snag tickets.
“There are going to be actors in character who are going be strolling around the gardens interacting with people. So if you ever had a desire to talk to the white rabbit and find out what was going on in his head — this is your chance!” she said.
Dallman is also the organizer for Sunday’s Garden Tour.
“A lot of people have a misconception about how the tour works. They think that it being a ‘tour’ means they’re going to come to a location, get on a bus, and drive around with a lot of people and get off and look at gardens. And that’s not the way this happens. People are going to come to our location, which is at the Market on State, and they’re going to come into our space and buy their ticket, which is $15,” said Dallman. “Then they’ll give us their name and address and phone number, and that will enter them into an automatic drawing for a great variety of items donated by generous businesses such as Purple Chopsticks, White’s Mill, Companion Plants, and the Triple Nickel Diner. They’ll then pick up a map of the garden locations on the tour and they’ll be free to tour the gardens at their own pace in their own vehicle.”
Registration and tickets for Sunday’s Garden Tour will be available 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Market on State (1002 E. State Street) in the former Perfeet Shoes location.