The Cape Coral Animal Shelter announced that a very generous donor has commissioned and donated a custom-designed bench to CCAS in memory of his wife.
Sharon Bodenhafer was a life-long animal lover and supporter of rescue critters. Since she passed, her husband Chuck has gone on a mission to honor her memory with donations to local rescue organizations, including the Cape Coral Animal Shelter and Veterinary Clinic.
In the spring of 2020, Mr. Bodenhafer made a very generous donation to the Cape Coral Animal Shelter in honor of Sharon, purchasing a digital dental x-ray machine, x-ray equipment, and various other items that greatly assisted our low-cost veterinary clinic as we opened to the public.
“Chuck’s donation in memory of Sharon could not have come at a better time,” said Executive Director, Liz McCauley. “Although we are low cost, we strive to have state-of-the-art equipment to provide the best care to our animals, and Chuck helped us do that. We are very grateful.”
Recently, Mr. Bodenhafer partnered with local artist Vicky Firestone to commission a custom bench featuring two of Sharon’s beloved pets—Scarface and LT-4. This whimsical addition to the adoption area provides the perfect place for families to take photos with their new furry friends and allows the shelter to highlight adoptable pups.
Rescuing animals was Sharon’s passion, and she saved many. Scarface was a beat-up stray cat that Sharon and Chuck fed and provided shelter for until he felt safe and comfortable enough to come inside. LT-4 (named after a Corvette Chuck used to race) was also a rescue pup who quickly won the hearts of the Bodenhafers. They are forever memorialized in this unique way that is sure to make you smile when you visit CCAS.
“We are very grateful to Chuck for his generosity and continued support of our mission,” said JoAnn Elardo, Founder and President of the Cape Coral Animal Shelter. “We know Sharon would be very proud her memory is kept alive while helping rescue animals.”
Lee County Domestic Animal Services is part of 275+ shelters participating in the spring “Empty the Shelters” event
As shelters across the country face overcrowding, BISSELL Pet Foundation is aiming to “Empty the Shelters” by sponsoring waived adoption fees from May 2-7. This event will be hosted in more than 275 shelters in 40 states, including Lee County Domestic Animal Services.
Animal Services will participate May 2-7, 2022, at 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers, offering waived adoption fees with an approved application.
All interested adopters can find pets currently available at www.leelostpets.com. The complete online adoption application also is available.
“Empty the Shelters,” BISSELL Pet Foundation’s largest program, began in 2016 as an effort to encourage more families to adopt a pet into their home. More than 83,000 pets have found adoptive homes through this reduced-fee adoption event. Since its inception, this lifesaving event has expanded to organizations in 45 states and Canada, partnering with a total of 443 animal welfare organizations.
“Shelters across the country are over capacity, and highly adoptable pets are at risk as we face one of the largest crises in recent years,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “BISSELL Pet Foundation is calling on people to visit their community shelters during ‘Empty the Shelters’ to save a life through adoption. Without you, there is no tomorrow for these deserving pets.”
BISSELL Pet Foundation and Lee County Domestic Animal Services urge families to do their research about the pet they are interested in adopting, as well as adoption requirements. For more information on adopting or donating to “Empty the Shelters,” visitwww.bissellpetfoundation.org/empty-the-shelters as well as www.leelostpets.com.
It is all fun and games at Lee County Domestic Animal Services during April leading up to the eighth annual ‘Flip This Kennel’ event.
This year’s theme is children’s toys and the month will kick off with reduced adoption fees. All adult dogs will be just $20 and cats just $10 with an approved application.
The “Flip This Kennel” event is set for Saturday, April 23. Animal Services, along with various county agencies, area shelters and rescues will decorate kennels and catteries to highlight shelter pets in the county’s adoption center. All cats and dogs in decorated catteries/kennels will have their adoption fees waived the day of the event.
Visitors to the shelter on Saturday, April 23, can vote for their favorite flip between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. People also can vote on the Animal Services Facebook page, Facebook.com/LeeCountyDomesticAnimalServices/ by liking the picture of a favorite kennel or cattery all day Saturday and Sunday. Winners will be posted on the Facebook page Monday, April 25.
The adoption center at Lee County Domestic Animal Services is open 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday at 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers. Available pets can be viewed online at www.leelostpets.com.
It is all fun and games at Lee County Domestic Animal Services during April leading up to the eighth annual ‘Flip This Kennel’ event.
This year’s theme is children’s toys and the month will kick off with reduced adoption fees. All adult dogs will be just $20 and cats just $10 with an approved application.
The “Flip This Kennel” event is set for Saturday, April 23. Animal Services, along with various county agencies, area shelters and rescues will decorate kennels and catteries to highlight shelter pets in the county’s adoption center. All cats and dogs in decorated catteries/kennels will have their adoption fees waived the day of the event.
Visitors to the shelter on Saturday, April 23, can vote for their favorite flip between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. People also can vote on the Animal Services Facebook page, Facebook.com/LeeCountyDomesticAnimalServices/ by liking the picture of a favorite kennel or cattery all day Saturday and Sunday. Winners will be posted on the Facebook page Monday, April 25.
The adoption center at Lee County Domestic Animal Services is open 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday at 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers. Available pets can be viewed online at www.leelostpets.com.
Join the Cape Coral Animal Shelter for fun and fitness at the 2nd Annual Rescue Run.
The Rescue Run 5K allows each of us to be part of the mission in making a marked difference in our community. It is a fun activity for the whole family to participate in! This is a timed event.
Commemorative event medals and runners event shirts provided to participants.
Sunday, April 3, 2022 Check In & Breakfast: 7amRace Start: 8am Mercola Market
Event Shirt & Bib pick up at Mercola Market & Cafe on March 30th, March 31st, April 1st & April 2nd from 9 am – 6 pm.
On Friday, February 18, 2022, the Cape Coral Animal Shelter will be hosting the 2nd Annual Pj’s and Paws—A Night at the Shelter to benefit the animals.
This SUPER FUN PAJAMA PARTY will feature 17 representatives of local businesses who will dress in their finest pajamas and spend the night with the animals. Participants will be matched with one of our resident canines or assigned a cat manor and are encouraged to decorate their “suite” to impress their “date.” The human can read to their “date,” sing, take them for a walk, play, or just spend time together. At the end of the night, when all is quiet, humans can cuddle up and spend the night with their “date” or tuck them in to dream of their forever home.
Each will be working toward a goal of raising a minimum of $2,000 through their networks and social media with a goal of raising $34,000 to support the lifesaving work we do. Throughout the event, there will be Facebook live check-ins and each business/celebrity participating will get a chance to shine in their Pj’s and show off their “date” for the evening.
“Our first PJ’s and Paws was a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Liz McCauley, Executive Director.
“Since our fundraisers were cancelled or postponed, we had to find creative ways to raise much needed funds while still being able to social distance. We felt this was a fun way to raise money and awareness for our adoptable animals. Much to our amazement, we raised over $36,000, it was a lot of fun, and it has now become one of our signature events.”
