Holiday tradition lives on
Honor your pets or loved ones with a bellBy DAVE CALDWELL, Staff Writer, dcaldwell@minotdailynews.com
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With the holiday season here, many people are searching for the perfect gift something heartwarming but affordable in today's trying financial climate.
Luckily, the Souris Valley Animal Shelter is offering an affordable option to honor loved ones and pets. For a small donation, staff at the shelter will include names of a special someone or several in a special holiday tradition.
"It's an opportunity for people to honor their pets they have now, or memorialize pets who have passed on, or even people," said Susan Wagers, executive assistant at the shelter, on Tuesday. "A lot of people (buy them for) relatives or friends. They pay $5 to get a bell or a star, and we hang it on the garland in our lobby."
At the end of the promotion, a special event is held at the shelter.
"On Dec. 6, we have a little ceremony where the names are read," Wagers said. She said an area church provides bell ringers to make the ceremony that much more unique.
"Then we light the garland and have refreshments," Wagers added.
The event brings out the holiday spirit in many people, Wagers said.
"Some folks will even bring in little gifts for our pets treats and toys and that kind of thing."
Wagers said the program is a good way to raise awareness about the mission of the shelter.
"It gets the word out about us, and people who have not been here before are able to come out and see what we do and what we're all about," she said.
The bells and stars aren't just for those who have passed on. People and pets who are still very much alive can certainly be honored as well.
"People can honor their loved ones that are still with us, absolutely," Wagers said.
Wagers said the promotion has been a tradition at the shelter "for many, many years."
"I'm not sure if it's gone the whole 30-plus years, but it's been going on for a long time.
A lot of people are aware of it already, but we want everybody to be-ware," she said with a laugh.
It has only been about a month since the shelter changed its name from Souris Valley Humane Society. The new name gives a clearer indication of the aim of the Minot organization.
"The term 'animal shelter' better sums up what we do here," Wagers said. "Our focus is adopting animals out cats and dogs and other critters. It takes some of the focus off of what the Humane Society of the United States does.
"They're more of a legislative group. We're just a little place taking care of the dogs and cats that are here."
To participate in the bells and stars promotion, to donate to the shelter or to adopt a pet, stop by the shelter at 1935-20th Ave. SE in Minot or visit the Web site at (www.svhspets.com).
