Creative Pet Fundraisers: Doggie Nuptials and Zumba!

By WebVet.com


With estimates putting the number of pets who die in U.S. shelters every day at 16,000 -- it's obvious how dire the need is for help in the pet community.

Yet with all of the love and effort that advocates shower on the cause, fundraising for our furry friends is becoming a crowded market -- and one needs to get creative in order to raise the big bucks.

Enter the North Shore Animal League of America and Waggytail Rescue, who will be joining a Chihuahua named Piper and a Pomeranian mix named Boo in holy "pet-rimony" next month. The nuptials will be lavish -- but they won't be cheap -- with tickets to extravaganza ranging from $125 to $250. (Don't worry, it's all for a good cause.)

Related: Have your wedding benefit animal welfare


The May 14th reception will kick off with a "Yappy Hour," before Piper trots down the aisle in a "mermaid-styled gown of ruched organza and satin" to meet Boo in front of the Justice of the Pooch. In case the photos aren't featured in People magazine, picture this: Piper will also don a crystal-encrusted collar, custom designed by wedding emporium Kleinfeld.

Boo -- who at six, is four years older than his bride -- will be similarly decked out in a tux, with one nontraditional exception. "I don't think he's going to tolerate the pants, so he's going to be bottomless," his owner explained. Both outfits are being donated by Kleinfeld.

Related: 4 Thing to consider before having a pet in your wedding


Once the yappy couple swaps . . . something, it's on to the party where guests will chow down on a bone-shaped wedding cake.

Zumba!

Don't despair if a world-renowned bridal salon can't lend a paw to your fundraiser. There are still plenty of ways to be creative and offer help to the pets who so desperately need it.

Just ask the folks in Richmond, Kentucky who organized a Zumbathon to raise supplies for the Humane Society Animal League for Life of Madison County. No money needed to change hands to get your groove on -- just dog food and cat litter.

Fitness director Tracy Miller, who led the Move Your Paws Zumbathon, explained the motivation behind the event, saying, "People see animals as disposable. When you look into the eyes of these animals, you can see their pain. They can't tell their stories but I will."

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