The Maryland SPCA's Festival for the Animals Returns to Druid Hill Park

Organization Celebrates 150th Anniversary

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Feb 22, 2019, 09:00 ET

BALTIMORE, Feb. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Maryland SPCA is commemorating its 150^th anniversary year at the 24^th Annual Festival for the Animals. Registration is now open for the Saturday, April 6, 2019 event. Animal lovers and their four-legged friends are invited to Druid Hill Park for a 1.3-mile walk and family-friendly event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"The Maryland SPCA is thrilled to be celebrating 150 years of saving lives. Back in 1869, William Woodward led the effort to recruit 50 notable citizens to join him in establishing an organization to address the inhumane treatment of Baltimore's workhorses. Following in our founders' footsteps, we remain a relevant and active organization working towards a future of compassion and care for all of Maryland's cats and dogs," explained Jim Peirce, executive director for the Maryland SPCA. "That evolution would not have been possible without the thousands of friends who walk with us at the Festival for the Animals."

In addition to the walk, the festival includes:

pet demonstrations and contests
kid activities
food truck row
merchant row
musical entertainment
a yard sale of new and gently used pet items
adoptable pets
photo booth

"Not many animal welfare organizations reach their 150^th year," said Sharon Kroupa, Maryland SPCA board member and co-chair for the event. "We want to celebrate our history and have fun doing it. We are encouraging participants and their pets to dress representing their favorite decade from the 1860's to the present. Maybe we'll see flapper dresses and poodle skirts, or tie-dye and leisure suits." Prizes for the best costumes will be awarded.

"The Festival for the Animals is our largest fundraiser enabling us to offer a wide range of services throughout the community," said Carin Lazarus, Maryland SPCA board member and co-chair for the event. "We have set a goal to deliver programs and services to positively impact 20,000 pets and 25,000 people a year by 2020. Every step taken on April 6 will get us closer to making that goal a reality."

Registration for the Festival for the Animals is $40 for adults 17-years-old and older and includes an event t-shirt. Participants may also form or join a team to fundraise together. To register and learn more about the festival, visit festivalfortheanimals.org.

Druid Hill Park is located at 3001 East Drive, Baltimore 21217. There will be a new route for the walk from years past. Visit the festival website for details.

Produced by Media Star Promotions, the festival will take place rain or shine. For more information about the event, please contact Mirriam Jefferson at 410-235-8826 x135 or at [email protected].

About the Maryland SPCA:
The Maryland SPCA is one of the oldest animal-welfare organizations in the United States. Continuing our commitment to animals since 1869, we work towards a future of compassion and care for all of Maryland's cats and dogs. We offer innovative programs in education, veterinary services and humane care to improve the lives of thousands of pets and people in communities throughout the state of Maryland. The Maryland SPCA is an independent, non-profit organization with no direct affiliation with the ASPCA (New York). We pride ourselves on building community partnerships and working with pet owners to keep their pets healthy and in their homes. For more information about the MD SPCA, visit mdspca.org.

CONTACT: Tina Regester, Director of Communications
410-235-8826 ext. 139 or 443-243-5868 (cell)
[email protected]

SOURCE Maryland SPCA