Thank you for making Saturday's festival a tremendous success!

The 3rd Annual Family, Fur & Fun Festival in Summerlin Saturday exceeded expectations, drawing thousands more visitors from last year to support animal rescue and humane education in southern Nevada.

Proceeds from the festival (sponsorships, raffle items, vendor donations, more) fund Nevada SPCA's humane education programs throughout the year, which reach children with messages of respect and compassion for animals.

We are very proud that the Encouraging Kind Minds humane education workbook (cover pictured above) for kids is now in its second edition and second printing. The workbooks are distributed for free to elementary-age children throughout the region during humane education presentations in schools, sanctuary tours by classrooms and youth group meetings.

At Saturday's festival, the $5 microchipping booth, courtesty of Aloha Animal Hospital, was non-stop busy for the whole 6 hours, as 210 animals were microchipped. Pet'ographique succeeded in conducting 80 professional pet portrait sittings, which was double from last year. Similarly, adoptions, doggie massages, dog groomings and other features of the festival were up substantially from last year.

Our deepest thanks to the all-volunteer committee which designed, coordinated, and conducted the festival, headed by Donna Stidham, Esq., and to those of you who attended and rooted on the children who were earning their Animal Hero Badges throughout the day.

Very special thanks to the sponsors, vendors, businesses, artists, athletes, and other volunteers who made the event possible. (A full listing will be featured in the next issue of Paws Pause, Nevada SPCA's newsletter magazine.) Generous thanks too for the extensive local media support and special guest attendees, including Congresswoman Dina Titus, and to all of you who helped get out the word about the festival to your friends, family, and co-workers. Nevada SPCA is honored to have your support.