Family, Fur and Fun Festival slated for Oct. 17

Calling all animal lovers: Come to the Family, Fur & Fun Festival to learn about pet care and keeping pets safe during Halloween, which is just around the corner. The free event will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 17 at Exploration Park in Mountain's Edge.

It also will include fun activities for kids and well-behaved leashed pets, and adoption opportunities to give animals a forever home.

The festival's goal is to highlight helping, fostering and adopting abandoned and neglected animals, and the importance of proper pet care, especially during Halloween and the holiday season. A few general pet care tips are:

* The city of Las Vegas requires pets over the age of 4 months to be spayed or neutered to help them live longer and healthier lives, decrease unwanted aggression and allow for better attention during training.

* Pets' primary "cooling system" is their lungs. Leaving them in parked vehicles, especially during extreme weather, makes it difficult for them to stay cool because they're breathing hot air.

* Tagging pets properly can be crucial to their return home in case they get lost. Ask your veterinarian about a permanent microchip — the size of a grain of rice — that is inserted under a pet's skin.

Also, the West Charleston Animal Hospital, an event sponsor, is providing Halloween pet safety tips:

* Costumes should be optional and not forced. If your pet does wear a costume, make sure it doesn't interfere with the animal's ability to breath, see, hear, move or bark.

* Keep sweet treats away from pets, especially chocolate.

* Place jack-o-lanterns and other decorations out of your pet's reach. A pet could tip over candles or chew on cords.

* Keep your pet in a quiet area. Even the friendliest dogs can get spooked or upset from doorbells, knocks on the door and costumed trick-or-treaters.

* Make sure your pet has a microchip or tag in case it gets spooked and runs away.

A West Charleston Animal Hospital veterinarian will be at the festival to answer questions. Additionally, there will be hands-on activities for children to experience pets, pet adoption and fostering opportunities, a raffle with great prices, food and refreshments, a variety of booths, agility courses, fly ball and USA Sevens rugby demonstrations.

Be creative and develop a safe costume for your pet for the Halloween Pet Costume Contest. Prizes will be awarded for Best in Show, Best Family (can include humans and/or multiple pets), Funniest Costume and Cutest Costume. The contest begins at 1:30 p.m. Registration will be at the event with entry at $3 per category.

The Family, Fur & Fun Festival is sponsored by The Law Office of Donna Stidham LLC, Mountain's Edge, Amica, At Your Service Pet Supplies & Grooming, NutriSource, Pictographics, USA Sevens Rugby and West Charleston Animal Hospital.

Exploration Park is at 9700 S. Buffalo Drive, south of Blue Diamond Road and the Mountain's Edge entrance. For information and participation opportunities, visit www.familyfurandfun.com, call 702-595-0644, or email info@familyfurandfun.com.