Find your purr-fect match at Sweet Buffalo’s PAWlentine’s Day adoption event

HAMBURG, N.Y. (WIVB) — Animals from 18 different rescues are ready to share their love and find their “fur”ever homes this Saturday at Sweet Buffalo’s annual “Paw”lentine’s Day Event at the McKinley Mall.

“There’s going to be dogs, cats, kittens, puppies, and we’re encouraging everyone to come out — it’s a free event” said Julie Starr, the president and founder of Buddy’s Second Chance Rescue. “You never know, maybe you might meet your forever best friend.”

Buddy’s Second Chance is one of the Western New York rescue organizations that will be attending the event.

“I have three dogs and a cat, all rescues, and they have changed my life for the better,” said Kimberly LaRussa, the founder of Sweet Buffalo. “While I helped saved their lives, they’ve made my life ten times better just by being in it.”

The event introduces the public to animals looking for their “purr”fect match, but it also brings awareness of Western New York rescues that work hard every day to help save these animals lives.

“The number of strays and feral cats on the streets is pretty high,” said Kim Rodeffer, the director of Kat Colony of Niagara.

Starr said that local rescues are struggling.

“The last few years has been pretty tough, we’re all very overwhelmed and tired and we’re trying to do our best to save as many as we can, but unfortunately the dogs just keep coming,” Starr said.

Buddy’s Second Chance helps people keeps their dogs in their own homes and foster dogs all over Western New York. If you’re looking for ways to help, but can’t foster or adopt, they’re always looking for more volunteers.

Sweet Buffalo’s “Paw”lentine’s Adoption Event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.

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