6th Annual Howling Holidays Sunday in Keaau

The sixth annual HPP Howling Holidays will be held Sunday, Dec. 9 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Keaau at the HPP Activity Center on Maku‘u Avenue and 17^th Street.

The popular community event, which is a fundraiser for Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary and Kukini Dog Agility Club, attracts dozens of Big Island dog lovers and their four legged friends.

Activities include dog photos with Santa, Ask-A-Vet, games, a Frisbee competition, craft vendors, a silent auction, and live entertainment.

Several contests with prizes will be held, including most original costume and a dog/owner look-a-like competition.

There will also be search and rescue demonstrations and attendees and their dogs can try out dog agility courtesy of Kukini Dog Agility Club which co-hosts the event.

The morning festivities begin with a one or two mile dog walk fundraiser for Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary and Kukini Dog Agility.

The entry fee for the walk is $10 for the first dog you bring on the walk and $2.50 for each additional dog you bring. Registration for the walk begins at 7 a.m. with the walk starting at 8 a.m.

Participants can also obtain sponsors for each dog that they walk. The individual who obtains the most sponsorship support wins a double occupancy suite at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel.

Last year’s event raised more than $5,000 to benefit rescue cats and dogs.

It is not required to register for the walk in order to partake in the other activities.

Aside from the fundraising walk, there is no fee for participating in other activities at Howling Holidays.

Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary is a 7.5-acre no-kill animal sanctuary in Kurtistown primarily for dogs and cats. The sanctuary currently has 80 dogs and 250 cats in residence.

Kukini Dog Agility Club, promotes the sport of dog agility, encourages responsible dog ownership, and fosters community awareness of positive ways to deal with dog behavior. The club offers beginner and advanced classes at a facility in Hawaiian Acres.

For more information call Cheryl Crabtree at 990-6105 or Eileen O’Hara at 965-1981. Sponsorship forms for the dog walk fundraiser can be downloaded from www.rainbowfriends.org or www.kukinidogagility.com.