Pups get some love at mall Saturday

Austin’s best friends are going to get some good help this weekend.

“My Furry Valentine” is coming to the Oak Park Mall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The fundraiser is for S.P.A.R.K.’s (Start a Park for Austin’s Respectable K-9s) efforts to fund Austin Dog Park’s fencing.

“One of the conditions is we would pay for the fencing ourselves, so it’s not a cost of the city,” said Mike Schatz, S.P.A.R.K. board member.

There will be a professional photographer ready to take photos of lovable pups and likeable old hounds alike, along with doggie business vendors, people from the Mower County Humane Society, and even a doggie parade.

The event is free to attend and residents are encouraged, though not required, to bring their dogs. S.P.A.R.K. hopes to raise $25,000 by this spring for fencing so the park, at the south end of the 500 block of Second Street SE, can start up.

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