MAYOR’S COLUMN

The Voorhees Animal Orphanage will hold its 21st Annual Woofstock Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Connolly Park (rain date is Saturday, Oct. 7). It is the biggest fundraising event of the year for the Orphanage. This year the Camden County Freeholders are partnering in the event.

Woofstock will feature festivities for animal lovers of all ages and their leashed pets, including pet contests, vendors, live music from local musicians and gourmet food trucks. There will be an alumni parade, Police K-9 demonstration, basket raffle, microchipping for $25 and appearances by the Joseph A. Ferko String Band, Sara James Music Foundation, Master Chef Joseph Poon and animal communicator, Dr. Liz Severino.

Admission is a $2 donation. Children under 5 are admitted free.

The Animal Orphanage is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for animals and people through compassion, respect and education. A nurturing environment of caring and commitment is evident in everything they do.

Since 1988, the Animal Orphanage has been providing shelter, food and medical care to stray and unwanted animals until permanent homes can be found. Each year the Animal Orphanage takes in nearly 1,500 abandoned, unwanted stray and owner relinquished animals and rescues hundreds of adoptable animals from high kill shelters along the east coast. All of these animals would have been euthanized. Every animal in the shelter receives individual consideration, whether the animals are healthy, elderly, sick or injured. The shelter and its volunteers care for approximately 150-200 animals on a daily basis.

Programs include an animal shelter and adoption center, a re-homing program, a foster care program, a mandatory spay and neuter program, volunteer opportunities and humane education classes for school children and the general public.

For more information about Woofstock or the Animal Orphanage, visit www.theanimalorphanage.org or www.vaonj.org/woofstock.

** Our Summer Twilight Series concludes with our annual Movie Night in the Park on Saturday, Sept. 23. The popular animated comedy Sing will be shown on a state of the art digital LED screen. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at Connolly Park and is free.