By MATT PIKE
Sharing the importance of making sure your pets are spayed and neutered, the St. Joseph Friends of the Animal Shelter have brought back a popular event.
Stemming from World Spay Day at the end of February, the Friends of the Animal Shelter launched an event last year that ran through the year called Spay it Forward.
Melanie Barnes with Friends says the event allows people to donate money towards the cause
"And then we can turn around and based on an income need, so you do have to prove your income, we can support the spay and neuter process for those families that need that additional financial support,” Barnes says on the KFEQmunnity show. “And it’s wonderful, it’s a wonderful program, over the course of the last year we were able to support spaying and neutering 148 pets, pretty significant, and when you think about both the pet population, and the medical and behavioral positive outcomes of spaying and neutering, it’s a great initiative to have and we hope to do even more in 2026.”
The program runs throughout the year, and applications can be found online on Friends of the Animal Shelters website for those that meet the low-income requirements.
Another event comes prior to St. Patrick's Day next week, the St. Joseph Friends of the Animal Shelter will host an annual fundraiser
St. Pittie’s Day takes place on March 14th, next Saturday during the St. Joseph St. Patrick's Day parade, with fun events all raising money to support Friends of the Animal Shelter.
Barnes says most of the fundraising comes through a sale of T Shirts, however,
"There’s usually opportunities to just donate in general, usually an initiative with River Bluff on one of the pints, as well as also usually hot dogs and auction items,” Barnes explains.
T shirt sales have ended for this year's event, but Barnes says you can still wear your shirts from past year's events if you didn't get your order in in time
"This has been an annual event, I think this may be our third annual I’m not quite sure, and it’s a wonderful event to get out,” Barnes says. “If you’re going to watch the parade anyways, why wouldn’t you want to get out and make it a fundraiser.”
St. Pitties Day runs from 11am to 5pm next Saturday at River Bluff Brewery, the week before St. Patrick's Day. The St. Patrick's Day Parade begins at 10:30am.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.