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JAMESTOWN – Pet lovers in Jamestown have a chance to share their best pet videos, while raising money for a good cause.
The Chautauqua County Humane Society has launched a new fundraiser, hosting their first annual Pet Film Festival this September.
The unique event aims to collect videos of area pets, showing off their tricks, or simply doing the things that make you smile.
“It’s a chance for people to celebrate their pets and all they do for us which we clearly learned during this pandemic,” explained Brian Papalia, the Humane Society’s Partnership Director. “You know, we rely on them as much as they rely on us.”
Papalia says submissions, which include a $25 donation to the non-profit animal group, are now being collected online at CHQHumane.org.
“What we’re going to do is we’re going to be taking the submissions over about the next six weeks and we’re going to take a week to have some volunteer judges pick out the best ones and then we’re going to have ‘Pawscars’ going to those who win the categories that we have figured out,” said Papalia.
Those categories, Papailia says, haven’t been finalized yet, but some examples are pet tricks, funny moments, and the cutest pet.
Once submissions are organized, there will be an in-person and virtual showcase held on September 25 at 8 p.m. from the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts in downtown Jamestown.
Papalia is partnering with local comedy duo, Karate Sleepover, who will host the showcase.
“Anytime we can help the community, with any organization, we say yes first and then work out the details later,” said Clemente.
Explained member Paul Clemente, who has a personal connection to the organization as he and his daughter volunteered at the Humane Society together.
“For me it was a great opportunity for me and my daughter to bond,” said Clemente. “We would come here every Sunday and volunteer, and she was pretty shy, but this was the one place where she opened up and we talked.”
Papalia says special thanks go out to Happy Hounds Hotel & Day Spa, Media One Radio Group, WNY News Now, Karate Sleepover, Digitell Inc., and The Reg Lenna Center For The Arts for making the Pet Film Festival Possible.
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