The local retailer Native Sun Natural Foods Market will host its Fifth Annual Charity Dog Wash to benefit First Coast No More Homeless Pets. The dog wash will be held at all three Native Sun locations from noon-2 p.m. June 17. Jacksonville dog owners are invited to bring their dogs for a bath, with all proceeds going directly to First Coast No More Homeless Pets.
Native Sun team members and volunteers from First Coast No More Homeless Pets will be soaping up the dogs with all natural shampoo courtesy of Ark Naturals. Local pet vendors, including Jacksonville’s own Pawfection, will offer samples at the event, and Native Sun will give away free gifts to each freshly washed pup. Previous events have brought dogs large and small to Native Sun stores to raise funds for continuing the mission-driven programs at FCNMHP. Native Sun recommends a donation of $10 per dog.
First Coast No More Homeless Pets is a local registered nonprofit that seeks to reduce euthanasia rates in Northeast Florida. Since 2002, the organization has facilitated more than 170,000 pet sterilizations in the First Coast area and has seen an overall reduction in shelter pet intake, as well as a more than a 90 percent decrease in the number of animals being euthanized. In April 2009, FCNMHP opened a high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter clinic, located in the Joseph A. Strasser Animal Health and Welfare Building, to facilitate the needed increase in surgeries. The clinic is designed with the capacity for up to 200 daily sterilizations, making it one of the highest volume clinics in the country when at full capacity. Funds raised through the event also help to support the low-cost and free spay/neuter programs, affordable pet health care, vaccinations, testing, microchipping, flea and heartworm prevention, dental cleanings, and other treatments in the veterinary clinic.
Native Sun also serves as a drop-off location for the FCNMHP Jacksonville Pet Food Bank, which opened in March 2010, giving qualified low-income families pet food so they may keep their pets in this challenging economy. More than 700,000 pounds of food have been distributed to more than 7,500 pets.
“Pets give us so much, and when our local business partners give back to pets in need—particularly with fun events like the Native Sun Dog Wash—it represents everything that is good about community.”
“Pets give us so much, and when our local business partners give back to pets in need—particularly with fun events like the Native Sun Dog Wash—it represents everything that is good about community,” says Pete Kimmel, marketing and events manager at First Coast No More Homeless Pets.
Native Sun is Jacksonville’s own natural and organic grocer, having served the local community since 1997. The company operates three locations in Jacksonville: the original Native Sun store at 10000 San Jose Boulevard, the second store at 11030 Baymeadows Road, and the newest location at 1585 Third Street North in Jacksonville Beach. All three Native Sun stores are open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.
To stay in touch with the latest updates from Native Sun, follow the store on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or its blog.
Follow FOLIO!