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Animal outreach event in New Westminster a success

Pets and their people had a pawsitively good time at Moody Park on Sunday. Margie Fox, one of the city’s animal service officers, said the annual community pet outreach event was a big success. It’s estimated 75 to 100 people attended.

Pets and their people had a pawsitively good time at Moody Park on Sunday.

Margie Fox, one of the city’s animal service officers, said the annual community pet outreach event was a big success. It’s estimated 75 to 100 people attended.

“Most people were very grateful for the assistance and for the low-barrier approach,” she said. “Leftover food and supplies went to Russell House, which is a pet-friendly housing shelter run by the Lookout Society.”

Now in its sixth year, the annual community pet outreach event aims to help out pet owners who are struggling to meet their pets’ needs, including those on a fixed income, seniors and people receiving social assistance.

Local organizations and businesses, including Bosley’s, Royal City Paws Pet Centre, the Royal City Humane Society, Cathie's Canine Connection and the City of New Westminster, teamed up to host the Aug. 18 event, which included information, pet food and services such as nail clipping.

Aaron Hilgerdenaar, the city’s supervisor of parking and animal services, said the city is grateful to community partners who helped put on the event and to the New West residents and businesses whose generous donations made it possible. New Westminster Animal Services operates the shelter on Ewen Avenue in Queensborough, which will be transferring its operations to a new facility later this year.