This Sunday at “It’s All About the Animals” shelter in Rochester, it was all about putting the Halloween ‘fun’ in ‘fundraiser’ to raise money for a much needed addition to the cat shelter’s main building.
“Octopurr Fest” was the shelter’s very first all-out community event, said Pam Robinson, owner and operator of the local cat shelter located at 103 Marion Road (Route 105). The shelter had held smaller events in the past, but the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, no-kill organization decided to take things up a notch, given the substantial amount of money they will need to raise to reach their goal of $30,000 to build a 20- by 20-foot addition to house the cats so another room can be partially developed into a utility space to house a washer and dryer and shower area.
“Because right now everything comes into my house,” said Robinson who, with her husband Oren Robinson, cares for up to 50 cats at any given time on her Rochester property, providing a place for the local felines who have no friends – a home for the homeless.
The event brought in $3,000, with an additional $2,000 given by Janet Marra, a private donor. The very next day, an additional private donor matched Marra’s $2,000 for a total of $7,000 – significant, but still quite a few whiskers away from the goal.
For the Octopurr Fest event, Robinson marveled at the generosity of the community members and local vendors who donated items for the Chinese auction, as well as other items such as pumpkins for painting. Kids and families enjoyed a costume contest, arts and crafts, games, and face painting, despite the unseasonable cold, which Robinson said did not keep the crowds away.
“Everything was just purr-fect,” laughed Robinson. “Everybody seemed to have a good time…. I’m just so elated about it.”
Robinson invited local vendors to set up shop at the event at no charge for a table, as well as other local animal shelters to share in the fun. Robinson said she likes to promote the good work of some of the other animal organizations in the area such as the Fairhaven Animal Shelter, Habitat for Cats, and Lighthouse Animal Shelter of New Bedford. Some of the animals appeared in their own costumes, as did the kids.
It was a great turnout, said Robinson, and the shelter is planning to hold another fundraiser cocktail party in Marion on November 7. For more information, contact Pam Robinson at 508-763-2035.
The Robinsons have been dedicated to the rescue and re-homing or cats for nine years since It’s All About the Animals was founded. The hours are long, the work is demanding, and the resources are always limited, but saving cats is a labor of love for the couple.
“We chose this. This is what we chose,” said Robinson, with no complaints. “This is our life. Our only regret is we didn’t start this years and years ago.”
The Robinsons are hoping to break ground in the spring for the new addition. If you would like to make a donation, contact the shelter or visit the website at www.itsallabouttheanimals.org.
The shelter is always in need of canned cat food, clumping scoopable cat litter, and towels.
By Jean Perry
