Mountain’s Edge to host pet event today

Dog races and agility demonstrations, Halloween pet costume contest, booths and activities, family and friends, beloved pets and animals needing a forever home. They are all part of the annual Family, Fur &Fun Festival today at Exploration Park at Mountain’s Edge. The free event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the park’s amphitheater

Now in its seventh year, the festival promotes kindness to animals and humane education, and provides information about caring for pets and adopting and fostering abandoned and neglected animals.

“One of our primary goals is to educate the public about the many animals in various area shelters in need of rescuing,” said Stacy Twigg, fundraising director for the nonprofit Las Vegas Hot Diggity Dachshund Club &Rescue, which is organizing the pet costume contest. “We’ve found many people simply don’t know how many local breed-specific rescues there are for dogs and cats, and highly discourage people from buying animals from pet stores and backyard breeders. It’s also so important to spay and neuter pets to help decrease the unwanted pet population.”

Festival organizer Donna Stidham said Las Vegas has many abandoned and neglected animals, particularly with the high number of foreclosures and down economy.

“There are many ways people can help these animals whether through adoption, fostering or volunteering or donating to a rescue or shelter program,” she said. “We’ll have separate dog and cat adoption areas, and I know these animals would love to go home with people coming to the event.”

Some of the activities include naming new shelter animals, small and medium dog races, free nail trimming, raffle prizes, pet costume contest, dog agility demonstrations, special $25 pet portraits, $5 Good Canine Citizen testing and information about Halloween pet safety, incorporating pets into the family and pet planning for home fires or floods.

Drs. Jason and Jamie Sulliban of Aloha Animal Hospital and their staff will provide information about proper pet care for all stages of life and answer questions. Topics cover spaying/neutering, vaccinations, heartworm and intestinal parasites, microchipping, dental health, weight control and general pet care including nutrition, supplements and dental products.

Event proceeds from the costume contest, dog races, pet portraits, Good Canine Citizen testing and raffle will benefit local animal rescue and shelter programs. For information, visit www.familyfurandfun.com.

Another way to help dogs in need is to bring new and gently used items for the nonprofit Barks 4 Blankets organization, which supports dogs in local animal shelters, rescue and fostering groups. Barks 4 Blankets representatives will be collecting blankets, dog houses, dog sweaters and jackets, and dog beds, toys, food, water bowls, leashes and collars at a table at the Exploration Park entrance.

Family, Fur &Fun Festival sponsors include: Law Office of Donna Stidham LLC, Mountain’s Edge Master Planned Community, Aloha Animal Hospital, Arica of Pet’ographique, NutriSource, English Garden Florist, Amica Insurance and At Your Service Pet Supplies.

After the event, attendees are invited to drive around Mountain’s Edge and see why it is the No. 3 fastest-selling master plan in the country and Nevada’s top seller. The 3,200-acre community celebrates the area’s history and natural beauty and is anchored by Exploration Park and its signature 2,846-foot-tall Exploration Peak featuring hiking and biking trails and views of the entire Las Vegas Valley.

Homes are accessible to key employment centers, transportation arterials and Las Vegas Strip offerings. The community’s homebuilders feature dozens of floor plans for every lifestyle with incentives and promotions. The master plan also has outdoor and recreational amenities with walking trails, paseos and the new Nathaniel Jones Park. In addition, construction has begun on the first phase of the Mountain’s Edge Regional Park.

Current Mountain’s Edge homebuilders include DR Horton, Harmony Homes, KB Home, Lennar, Pulte Homes, Richmond American Homes, Ryland Homes and William Lyon Homes.

Exploration Park is at the entrance of Mountain’s Edge, 9275 S. Buffalo Drive, south of the Buffalo and Blue Diamond Road intersection. For information, visit www.mountainsedge.com or the Mountain’s Edge Information Center, open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or call 702-898-5777.