By Heather Lusk
Crafts, microchipping and photos with Santa await pets at the Whitestown Municipal Complex when WhiskerFest returns this holiday season.
“All day long we’re going to have some really unique crafters,” said Susan Austin, director of fundraising and animal welfare for the Humane Society for Boone County.
Proceeds will help the HSBC toward its goal of developing a physical location within the county. Austin is hopeful that their goal will be achieved in the near future.
“I keep hoping exciting things are going to happen in 2017,” she said.
The free event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 3.
“We’re going to be there for Santa,” Austin said. “So why not have some fun with it?”
The craft component was added last year after several years of hosting pet photos with Santa. More than 30 vendors attended, raising more than $800 for HSBC.
Along with local vendors selling dog beds, collars and animal-related Christmas tree items, other vendors specialize in treats for human counterparts such as essential oils, jewelry and LulaRoe clothing.
This year lunch options will be sold during the fair, and the Thorntown Veterinary Clinic will microchip pets in a quieter area of the building from 2 to 4 p.m.
Pets can have their photos taken from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the first of two opportunities for Santa photos. The date for the second day at the Lebanon Courthouse is to be determined.
“We’ve done them at the courthouse for several years,” Austin said. “We’ve been doing the Santa photos for a long time.”
