Dirty Dogs help clean kittens
Juli Zook accepts a check for $3,200 on behalf of the Silver Valley Cat Wranglers. Presenting the check are the owners and operators of the Dirty Dog Saloon. Pictured (from the left) are Zook, Linda Kennaugh, Kyrsten Kennaugh, and Mike Kennaugh. The fundraiser was held after 19 kittens were found abandoned in the Trail Motel in February.
JOSH McDONALD
KELLOGG –– When the Silver Valley Cat Wranglers were notified that 19 kittens had been abandoned at the Trail Motel in February they knew they were going to need the support of the community to get these kiddie kitties into stable, nurturing homes.
When they were initially recovered, they were living in filth and many of the kittens were sick – the Wranglers got them the medicine that they needed and subsequently found foster homes for them.
While the Silver Valley Cat Wranglers (SVCW) is a non-profit organization, they still require funding for the services that they provide – much of which is offered to them at a discounted rate by the local veterinary clinics.
Local businessman and bar owner Mike Kennaugh is never one to let a good cause not get funding – so he offered up the services of his establishment, the Dirty Dog Saloon, to host a fundraiser for the SVCW in order to cover the costs of getting these sick felines the help that they needed.
Through auction items and liquor sales, they were able to raise $3,200 last month for the SVCW and as of right now, all of the kittens have been adopted.
On Friday, Kennaugh, along with his wife Linda and daughter (who manages the bar) Kyrsten, presented SVCW Board member Juli Zook with a check from the fundraiser.
“We appreciate your prompt willingness to host this fun event,” said Zook. “It takes a village.”
This isn’t the first time that the Kennaughs have stepped up to the plate to host a fundraiser for the community – and it also won’t be the last.
This summer, he is planning a small festival in the parking lot of the Dirty Dog and plans to use the final day of the festival as a fundraiser for Shoshone Pet Rescue (more information on this event will be available in the coming weeks).
“We used to do fundraising events regularly before COVID,” explained Dirty Dog manager Kyrsten Kennaugh. “So this was important as it was our first post-COVID, and it was great to get back into the swing of things. We live in a small community, so even a single fundraiser or donating your time to a cause can really make a big impact.”
Every cat that is rescued by the SVCW is spayed/neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, and treated for ear mites and fleas. The organization has seven longtime volunteers/board members and four regular foster care volunteers.
The cats are then adopted out for a fee of $100 – a far cry less than the regular cost for all of the services provided.
“I would like to thank our community for their support be it monetary, volunteering, donations and participation in the successful event at the Dirty Kitty Saloon,” Zook said. “Special thanks to the Dirty Dog Saloon proud owners Mike and Linda Kennaugh, and cheers to Kyrsten for all of her hard work and dedication to make this a huge success.”
SVCW is a volunteer-based, nonprofit 501(c)(3) rescue organization for kittens and cats, which helps re-home and fix stray, dumped, abandoned, and feral felines.
Donations to the SVCW can be sent to P.O. Box 995, Osburn, ID 83849, or call Juli Zook at (208) 659-1764.
For more information, visit the SVCW Facebook page. If anyone is interested in adopting any of a cat, please email silvervalleycatwranglers@gmail.com to request an application. You can also call the SVCW at (208) 446-7131.