Scottsdale hosts national adoption and fund-raising event.
By Amie McGraham, Best Friends Network Not even the threat of thunderstorms could dampen the spirits of those participating in the Second Annual Bikers for Best Friends Poker Run and Pet Adoption held Sept. 22 at Hacienda Harley in Scottsdale.
Forty bikers took part in the poker run, while about 150 people stopped by the dealership to check out the adoptables, mingle and listen to live music.
Posh Puppies, one of several vendors there, hosted a doggie fashion show later in the afternoon, with pets modeling biker gear and everyday petwear.
Julie Hatch, who owns Hacienda Harley, said the local community had gone above and beyond in donating items for the event. “We even received a massaging dog bed,” she said with a laugh. The dog bed and many gift baskets were raffled off as part of the fundraiser.
Overall, the event brought in nearly $2,600, which will be distributed to local shelters, including the Maricopa County Animal Care & Control, San Felipe Animal Rescue, Arizona Humane Society, Arizona Animal Protection League and HALO Animal Rescue.
Both San Felipe and Maricopa County brought dogs and cats for onsite adoptions.
Lorie Wiggs, who does marketing and public relations for Hacienda Harley, was talking to Jennifer Holmes, manager of San Felipe, when she discovered that one of the puppies was named Sammy. Coincidentally, two years earlier she had adopted a dog named Sammy from a local shelter. Opting not to fight the kismet, Lorie adopted her second Sammy.
Meanwhile, sibling dogs Blender and Nikki were also adopted.
The Farber family from Scottsdale said that Blender – so named because of his mix of colors – looks like a stray they took in a few years ago. They had read about Bikers for Best Friends in the Arizona Republic and came to look at the dogs. Once they saw Blender they knew he was the one.
Julie Temple from Ahwatukee brought her granddaughter, Delaney, to the event. They saw Nikki and fell in love right away. And the feeling was mutual, as Nikki immediately bonded with Delaney.
All adopters received a gift bag filled with pet toys, food coupons, collars, leashes and gift certificates for pet pampering and boarding.
Scott Ryan, who participated in the poker run, was the top fundraiser of the biker group, raising more than $500. For his efforts, Ryan won a year’s supply of Natural Balance pet food.
The Best Friends booth was manned by volunteers Justin and Susan Plimley, Dave and Sharon Stiles, Ellen Rosenthal, Heidi Zeisel and Amie McGraham.
Photos by Clay Myers, Best Friends Community Programs and ServicesClick
here to see more photos from the event.
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here to read more about the Second Annual Bikers for Best Friends event.
Click
here to read about the Colorado event.
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here to read about the New York event.
Click
her to read about the Utah event.