PHILIPSBURG – Gorgeous and photogenic or just plain hambones, area pets should get ready for their close-ups as the 19th edition of Make Your Pet a Star, the Clearfield County SPCA’s biggest fundraiser of the year, kicks off Feb. 14.
Better known as the “calendar contest,” Make Your Pet a Star will offer a choice of eight photo session with professional photographers David Fulesday, Chris Evans and Paul Dale running through March 14.
For $10, each pet photographed receives an 8×10-inch photo and a smaller photo on a collection can. The cans are then placed around the community and the fundraising begins as votes are tallied according to the amount collected, according to Pam Smith, SPCA executive director.
“If your pet is one of the top 12 receiving the most votes, he or she will be featured on a month of the 2011 calendar. The next 12 vote-getters will grace the honorable mention page and all pets entered will be included in the collage that makes up the front and back covers,” Smith noted.
Pet owners will also have the opportunity to order other sizes of photos at their photo sessions.
Past participants who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge are honored on the memorial page. Deceased participants’ owners should contact the SPCA to make arrangements for the memorial, she said.
Smith said all pets are welcome but issued a special invitation to cat owners.
“Cats are very underrepresented on the calendar. I think you cat owners will be surprised at the expertise of our photographers,” she said.
The calendar contest is the single largest fundraiser for the SPCA. Last year, the event brought in approximately $30,000, which represents nearly 15 percent of the organization’s annual operating budget.
Photo sessions include:
Feb. 14 – SPCA shelter with David Fulesday, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Feb. 21 – Waggin’ Trains pet supply store, Clearfield, with Paul Dale, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Call 765-0123 for an appointment.
Feb. 28 – Adrian Sandy fire hall, DuBois, with David Fulesday, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
SPCA shelter with Chris Evans, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
March 6 – Wiscoy’s, State College, with Paul Dale, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
March 7 – SPCA shelter with Chris Evans, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
March 14 – SPCA shelter with David Fulesday, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Waggin’ Trains with Paul Dale, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Call 765-0123
for an appointment.
For more information, call the shelter, 342-3810.