By Linda Vang

Special to The Collegian

The Valley Animal Center brings “Santa Paws” to town for its Holiday Bake, Craft and Book Faire on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

VAC community relations coordinator Rosie Davenport said the faire with Santa Paws photo booth is a holiday fundraiser event featuring a crafts fair, a bake sale, a book fair and a photo booth with Santa.

Davenport said the event has been a part of the shelter’s tradition for six years.

“It is a fun holiday-based event to fundraise for our shelter,” she said. “It is our sixth annual, and it just grows every single year.”

The event’s bake sale consists of baked goods donated to the shelter, and Davenport said the book fair sells new or gently used donated books.

“Vendors are set around perimeters of the lobby,” Davenport said. “We have an area donated to our bake sale, and we have a separate room that is dedicated to the book sale, as well.

“In an adjacent small room is where we set up the Santa Paws photo booth.”

At the event Saturday, Davenport said patrons can take a picture with Santa, or they can bring their pets for a picture with him.

“It’s just like the photo booths with Santa at the mall,” she said. “We figured it doesn’t just have to be kids; why not include our pets, too?”

Davenport said photo packages are available at a small price and are another means of raising funds for the shelter.

Whether you are an animal lover or not, Davenport described the event as festive and fun for all to attend.

“It is a really festive atmosphere and a great way to meet with other pet lovers, but more than that, it is just a fun holiday event,” she said.

Although barking may be a part of the package, Davenport assures animals at this event are well-behaved.

Davenport said guests are also allowed to walk through the dog or cat center and spend some time with the homeless animals and possibly even adopt one.

For private not-for-profit organizations like the VAC, Davenport said fundraisers and donations are crucial in keeping their doors open.

“We rely entirely upon fundraisers and donations from the community to ensure that we are providing the best possible care for our animals, so events like this are crucial to what we do on a daily basis,” she said.

According to Davenport, Fresno State students have made a strong effort to volunteer at the shelter, whether it is for course work or their own interests.

“We’re totally involved with Fresno State,” she said. “We love Fresno State students.

“Every semester, we get quite a number of student volunteers from marketing classes and community service classes.

“For this event, we have a lot of students helping with the set up.”

She said other students have chosen to volunteer through the regular volunteer process, which consists of a volunteer orientation.

“You obviously want to have some love for animals,” Davenport said. “However, it is a great way to give back to the community and to know that you are helping the animals here until they find their forever home.”

Typical volunteer duties include cleaning, so the animals do not get sick, and walking or socializing with the animals to help them feel more comfortable with humans.

Although fundraisers provide some help for the cost of caring for the animals, Davenport said human contact allows the cats and dogs to maintain a more sociable and friendly attitude.

“There are only 27 of us, and we have 500 animals, so we cannot possibly pet, love and spend time with all of them,” she said.

Davenport said it feels rewarding to see an animal finally find its home and know that animal will be taken care of for the rest of its life.

“A lot of the stray animals don’t have a warm bed or a family,” she said. “Our mission is to provide a safe haven for them.

“We always think of the holiday as a time to give, and what is better than giving an animal a home.”

The next volunteer orientation is Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m. at the Valley Animal Center, 3934 N. Hayston Ave. For more information on volunteering, interested parties can email Davenport at [email protected].