Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services will have a Mardi Gras-themed dog parade in downtown Columbus to raise money for the city’s animal shelter.
The event, Mardi Growl, will be at 1 p.m. April 7 at the Cummins parking lot at Eighth and Brown streets.
Participants are invited to dress up their dogs and celebrate the special connection they have with their four-legged friends. The event will feature a costume contest, prizes, vendors and music.
The fee to register a dog by April 5 is $15. Each additional dog costs $10. Registration on the day of the event is $20.
Proceeds from the event will go toward the city’s Adoption Medical Fund, which pays for many of the shelter’s services, including neutering, veterinarian treatments, pet food, adoption and educational programs, among other services.
The Columbus Animal Care Services Department is funded by tax dollars, donations, fines and fees.
The department’s operating budget only covers the department’s wages, utilities and facility and vehicle maintenance, according to the department’s website. The Adoption Medical Fund, however, is exclusively funded by fines, fees and donations and does not receive any tax dollars.
Visit columbus.in.gov/animal-care-services to register a dog for the event.
