Holiday event provides introduction for public
By Lauren Cappuccio
lcappuccio@publicopinionnews.com @LCappuccioPO on Twitter
CHAMBERSBURG >> Over the weekend, the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter opened its doors to visitors for its first holiday open house at its 5051 Letterkenny Road address to show off the 30 dogs and 80 cats housed at the shelter.
Jennifer Vanderau, director of communications, said that between Saturday and Sunday, they had shown some people the shelter for the first time.
"It's the first year we've had it here and it's one of the big draws," she said.
The shelter expanded from its 2325 Country Road location in January to the larger and more advanced location. Inside, visitors were asked to bring donations of items for the shelter animals, such as food, leashes and collars, or donations, and then were invited to hang cards on their tree in honor or memory of their own animals.
Santa also waited to take pictures with the four-legged friends in one of the shelter's back rooms, decorated with presents and a Christmas tree.
About 50 people came in on Saturday and fewer on Sunday due to the snow, she said, but she said it's one of the year's biggest fundraisers.
Joe and Pam Peters from Chambersburg brought Lilah, 3, a mixed breed that was rescued from a home in Fayetteville.
Lilah wasn't too sure about the man in the red suit and kept her distance for a while before posing for a picture. The couple adopted Lilah after losing two of their other dogs within a six week period.
"It was rough," said Joe. "But she's a blessing."
Heather Souders and mother Toni Uglow, Chambersburg, have taken their dogs Bam-Bam, an 8 month old bulldog and bespoke christmas cards mix, and Bella, an 8-year-old Boxer, to many of the events the shelter has held but today, it was all about getting their picture with Santa.
"They loved it," Souders said. "He's still a puppy and it's healthy for him to get out," she said.
Lauren Cappuccio can be contacted at 262-4754.
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