PAWS to hold annual auction Saturday; fundraising for spaying, neutering animals

Erin Couch, Zanesville Times Recorder
·2 min read

ZANESVILLE — PAWS of Muskingum County is holding its annual fundraiser Saturday on Northpointe Drive to provide spay and neuter services to seniors, veterans and low-income households.

An Ohio State Christmas tree and other university memorabilia will be available during Saturday's annual auction for PAWS.
An Ohio State Christmas tree and other university memorabilia will be available during Saturday's annual auction for PAWS.

The organization is also on a mission to tamp down the county's high population of community cats by spaying and neutering those unowned animals.

Spaying and neutering also helps reduce the spread of disease, PAWS President Teresa Hildebrand said.

PAWS of Muskingum County: PAWS seeks funding to tamp down feral cat population, provide spay, neuter services

"An outdoor cat that's not being helped by a human, not being treated for parasites, you'd be surprised what kind of a load that animal is carrying," Hildebrand said. "It's a rough life out there when you don't have a human taking care of you."

PAWS largely relies on grants and donations, but it is asking the community to come out Saturday as the auction is its biggest public fundraiser of the year. In 2020, the auction brought in $4,200. The signature sugar cookies won't be a part of the auction this year due to COVID-19.

PAWS has spayed and neutered more than 1,400 animals this year, with more procedures on the schedule before the end of December.

Hildebrand said PAWS will need the community's support for a new program starting next year: a spaying and neutering clinic that will take place twice a month at the Washington Township Fire Department.

Having the local clinic means they won't have to transport as many animals to clinics outside of the Zanesville area, saving time, money and resources, Hildebrand added.

People can expect a variety of items up for bidding at the auction. Among them are Ohio State University gear, tickets for overnight stays at public parks, an outdoor hunters package, board games, wines, family packages and more.

The auction runs 9 a.m. to noon at 3867 Northpointe Drive, next to the We Lov Pets store.

ecouch@gannett.com

740-450-6752

Twitter: @couchreporting

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: PAWS of Muskingum County fundraising to help spay/neuter animals