Need a gift for the loved one on your list who has everything? Well, if that person loves animals and likes to know what day it is, look no farther than the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society’s 2014 Pet Pin-Up Calendar!
The product of a partnership between the Humane Society and the Santa Maria Times, the 14-month calendar is a compilation of photos of local pets that raises money to care for future pets. For $25, local pet owners could submit pictures of their furry friends to be considered for the calendar. Five of those dollars went to the Times’s Newspapers in Education program and the remaining 20 went to the shelter.
The Times also held an advertisement contest this year through which its readers could pick their favorite pet photos. The top three selections are featured in the 2014 calendar. The Times got $1 for every vote cast to go toward the education program, which supplies local schools with old newspapers for various projects.
And now, for $15, Sun readers can have a cute stocking stuffer for Grandma or Aunt Nancy and help Santa Maria Valley’s homeless animals.
“Our theme this year was ‘dreams do come true,’ and they really do,” volunteer Vonnie Stewart said, adding that the new facility on Stowell Road allows the Humane Society to take in more dogs and cats. “We have more spaces for animals now. We recently got 18 dogs in from [Animal Services].”
The calendar is organized and designed by volunteers, including Stewart, Lauren Johnston, and Elaine Sygori.
Copies are available at the Humane Society shelter, 1687 W. Stowell Road, in Santa Maria.
For information about submitting photos for the 2015 calendar, call the shelter at 349-3435.
Contact Managing Editor Amy Asman at aasman@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Dec 12-19, 2013.