By Mary O’KEEFE

The Glendale Humane Society will be holding its annual Bow Wows and Bites fundraiser on Oct. 15 at Andersen’s Pet Shop in Montrose. This is the first time Andersen’s will be hosting the event.

“Usually it is at someone’s home,” said Alyce Russell, Andersen’s owner.

The pet shop is an appropriate place for the occasion as Russell and her husband Tom have been strong supporters of Glendale Humane Society and pretty much everything pet-oriented.

Tickets for the fundraiser are $100 and the deadline to purchase is today, Thursday, Oct. 12. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

“There will be a silent auction, wine tasting and six or seven restaurant vendors are coming,” Russell said.

There will be people there who will speak about how to care for dogs and opportunities to adopt a dog.

“[Glendale Humane Society] is a no-kill shelter,” Russell added.

The funds raised during the event will go mainly for medical costs for dogs at the shelter.

“We use the funds for operations. We have a huge medical bill every month,” she said. “Last month our [medical] bill was $6,000.”

Because it is a no-kill facility, GHS takes on the responsibility of the health care for animals that are at the shelter. In addition to covering medical expenses, volunteers and members of the humane society work with the dogs to acclimate them to living with a family.

“We have trainers that come in every week and take our dogs on excursions to the park and Starbucks,” Russell said.

GHS members get to know the dogs so when a family wants to adopt it will have a lot of information, including whether the dog is good with kids. The adoption process includes a canine parenting class that is mandatory for anyone wanting to take a dog home. About one to two weeks after the dog is placed, the society has a trainer visit the home to help with any issues the new owners might be facing.

GHS is a private rescue that can house up to 20 dogs at a time.

Andersen’s Pet shop is located at 2218 Honolulu Ave. The Glendale Humane Society is located at 717 W. Ivy St. in Glendale. For more information, email info@glendalehumane.org or call (818) 248-1128 or visit the website at www.glendalehumane.org.

  Mary Okeefe