GreenAcres Market plans pet adoption day filled with pooch-friendly events

click to enlarge GreenAcres Market plans pet adoption day filled with pooch-friendly events
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puppy bath time - French bulldog puppy in wooden wash basin with soap suds

For three hours Aug. 13, GreenAcres Market, 7301 S. Pennsylvania Ave., hosts an event dedicated to canine companions.

“It’s the first time we’ve done it at this store,” said Kesha Cross, GreenAcres events coordinator. “We’ve done it for three years at our Kansas City store, and now we’re trying it at other locations.”

Cross filled the day with free dog washes, adoptions, pet treat samples, puppy-sitting services, a pooch kissing booth and more.

“We’re having a Hot Dog contest, and there are three categories: best dressed, best trick and best owner-dog lookalike,” Cross said .

The event features fun and games, but Cross most wants the GreenAcres event to help dogs and owners in need.

Forever Yours Dog Rescue hosts pet adoptions all day. The Pet Food Pantry of Oklahoma City also will be there to “help people feed their dogs by providing dog food to pet owners who may be homeless or unemployed,” she said.

The Pet Food Pantry was founded in 2010 in a garage by Kim and Mike Pempin.

“After six years, we are in a warehouse. We take care of 120 senior citizens and more than 100 homeless people each month,” said pantry board vice president Judith Smith. “We go through three tons of dry food a month.”

It takes a squad of about 75 people, plus community donations, to make The Pet Food Pantry work. Seven of those people also are members of the board, but it’s a working board.

“We go to as many events as we can so people will know about us,” Smith explained.  “We want people to know that we are here to help. And we need help. We need donations of dog food and donations of cash.”

On the third Saturday of each month, 30 volunteer drivers head to the warehouse to pick up food and supplies. Each drives a designated route, delivering sustenance to the shaggy companions of homebound seniors.

Smith said the group also works with Oklahoma First Indian Church of the Nazarene, Skyline Urban Ministry, Jesus House and the Homeless Alliance to help feed homeless people’s pets.

“If we learn of a tent community, we go try to help them, too,” she added.

Smith, who is retired, estimates she volunteers at least 20 hours each week. The group’s coverage area includes Oklahoma City, Norman, the Mid-Del area, Edmond, Yukon and Moore. Online donations can be made at petfoodpantryokc.org.

“I do this because of my love for animals. Why let an animal that is loved and has a home go to a shelter when we can prevent it?” Smith said.

GreenAcres agrees and regularly opens its doors to nonprofits.

“GreenAcres is unique,” Cross said.

It’s family-owned, and the first store was opened in Wichita, Kansas. Soon, the Hoffman family expanded and opened three more locations in that city.

“Then came the Lawton store [and] our Oklahoma City store, which is in the old Health Food Center location, and then Stillwater,” she said. “They ended up with eight stores after about two years.”

The Oklahoma City location is the biggest at about 23,000 square feet.

In addition to events, GreenAcres screens documentary films like Forks Over Knives or Vegucated each month and offers free classes and tasting fairs weekly.

Print Headline: Dog days, GreenAcres Market holds a pet adoption day complete with free dog washes and fun. 

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