The Gilmer County Animal Shelter will soon be ringing in the holiday season, and everyone’s invited to the special Christmas open house.
The Christmas at the Shelter event will take place Friday, Dec. 17, 1-4 p.m., at the Gilmer County Animal Shelter, 4152 Highway 52 East.
Daniel Laukka, animal shelter director, said planned activities include reading to dogs or cats, craft tables for kids, refreshments and pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Semper Fi Santa. Attendees should bring their own cameras for Santa pictures, and their favorite Christmas story or book if wanting to read to the animals.
Laukka said the animal shelter’s dogs and cats also have stockings in which gifts can be placed if visitors so desire.
The shelter will also be offering reduced pet adoption rates during the event. Cats can be adopted for $10 and dogs for $50. The adoption fees are normally $50 for cats and $125 for dogs. All adoption fees include spay or neuter procedures and normal vaccinations, Laukka noted.
This will be the first Christmas open house the shelter has held since 2019. Several of the activities will be outside, weather permitting, noted Friends of the Gilmer Animal Shelter.
“We didn’t get to do one last year because of COVID, so this will be our second one,” Laukka said.