<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n WHAT IS IT?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n On October 4, people all over the world celebrate the feast day of the Patron Saint of Animals, Saint Francis of Assisi. St. Francis loved all God\u2019s creatures and followed God\u2019s example of kindness, mercy, compassion, and love for all creation.<\/p>\n In our modern world, man has domesticated cats and dogs to serve and to love them. In return, man is responsible for that which he tamed. As we bring our communities together to bless our animals, we also have planned a fun filled day with activities, veterinary services, and information that teaches us how to be good stewards of our companion animals.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By promoting good stewardship of our companion animals, by valuing their contribution to our happiness and wellbeing, by celebrating how our pets serve us, by promoting a spay and neuter culture in our neighborhoods, and providing access to spay, neuter, microchips and vaccination services, we will make our own families and communities safer. We will help keep our pets from wandering away and getting lost or injured on the streets, and we will benefit from the lifetime of unconditional love our pets give back to us.<\/p>\n As we care for, and bless our animals on Sunday, October 4th<\/sup>, we will celebrate all that our companion animals bring to our lives:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n WHO CAN\u00a0PARTICIPATE IN THE BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Blessing of the Animals is open to all people and all denominations. It is a community event celebrating and blessing our companion animals.\u00a0Since part of the responsibility of owning a companion animal is keeping them healthy, providing them shelter and love, and keeping them safe, the event\u00a0will also connect community pet owners and pet services.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n FREE STUFF<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Anyone living in the zip codes 75208\u00a0or living in one of the 31 listed Oak Cliff neighborhoods can participate in free services (map below). If you can afford to pay something for the services provided, please donate what you can when services are rendered on event day. Donating what you can\u00a0allows funding to be available for those that truly need it. If you can\u2019t donate, don\u2019t worry – it\u2019s free!<\/p>\n Attached is a map of the eligible areas. If you are not in the eligible areas but are in need of services, reach out to us and we will see if we can help you through another available program.<\/p>\n *These services are not for shelter, rescue, or breeder\u2019s animals. Special discounts are available for shelter and rescue groups outside of this event.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n FREE SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES <\/strong>(you must make an appointment)<\/span><\/p>\n The day\u2019s event will include a free spay and neuter mash unit for surgeries. Part of being a good steward of\u00a0a companion animal is to follow the law and spay and neutering your pets. It\u00a0is our responsibilities as pet owners to keep our families and communities safe and spay and neuter significantly reduces the likelihood that a dog will bite someone in its own family. There are many, many, other benefits to spay or neutering your pet. Here are a few from the ASCPA:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n BENEFITS OF SPAY AND NEUTER:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Click to Enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Spay and neuter surgeries will be provided to anyone in the 75208 zip code or in the 31 neighborhoods listed on the OOCCL map below. An appointment is required for spay and neuter services. The Spay and Neuter Network will take all calls for appointments and they will explain pre and post op instructions when you book your appointment, and they will make a reminder call ahead of the event.<\/p>\n To make an appointment call: 817.423.5500.<\/strong> If you do not have already have a voucher, let the operator know that you got the phone number from the Gypsy Dog Ops website or from a flyer.<\/p>\n Help us spread\u00a0the word about this amazing free resource. Normally a spay or neuter can cost between $150-$300!! It\u2019s totally free through this event! Spaces are limited, so call now. We will also be keeping a waiting list and will try (no guarantee) to fund everyone on the waiting list.<\/p>\n *These services are not for shelter, rescue, or breeder\u2019s animals. Special discounts are available for shelter and rescue groups outside of this event.<\/p>\n Click to enlarge map<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n FREE VACCINATIONS <\/strong>(walks ups welcome)<\/span><\/p>\n Just like when our kids get ready to head back to school, our animals need annual vaccinations too. The law only requires a rabies vaccine, but a good steward and animal lover should vaccinate annually against other diseases that can cause a pet to suffer terribly and die. Parvo and distemper are very common in our area and pets should be vaccinated against these diseases. If you vaccinate your animal at the Blessing of the Animals this year, you can keep your dog on an annual vaccination schedule by bringing your dog back to be blessed and receive their annual vaccines again next year.<\/p>\n Free vaccinations and microchips will be\u00a0available on a first come first serve basis on event day between 12:30pm-3: 30pm.<\/p>\n We are offering:<\/p>\n DOGS:<\/strong> DAV@PPV + Rabies (DAV2PPV: Parvo, distemper, hepatitis, adenovirus type 2 and parainfluenza combo)<\/p>\n CATS:<\/strong>\u00a0FVRP-C + Rabies (Respiratory diseases Feline Viral Rhinotrachetitis, Calicivirus, \u00a0Panleukopenia, and Pink Eye (Chlamydia) combo shot)<\/p>\n *These services are not for shelter, rescue, or breeder\u2019s animals. Special discounts are available for shelter and rescue groups outside of this event.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n FREE MICROCHIPPING<\/strong>\u00a0(walks ups welcome)<\/span><\/p>\n Many companion animals are lost and never find their way back home. \u00a0Statistics show that 1 pet in 3 gets lost sometime during its life, and without proper ID, 90% never return home! The most important thing you can do to make sure your dog or cat gets home is to microchip your pet. Have your pet micro chipped for free at the Blessing of the Animals.<\/p>\n Micro-chipping is the easiest way to ensure you pet is returned quickly and safely. It really works. Vets and shelters are all equipped and required to scan the dogs and your information will be instantly linked to the dog. It\u2019s a one-time investment, and in this case, it\u2019s FREE!!! If you love your pet, get them micro-chipped!!!<\/p>\n *These services are not for shelter, rescue, or breeder\u2019s animals. Special discounts are available for shelter and rescue groups outside of this event.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n FREE TRAINING TIPS,\u00a0ACTIVITIES, AND FUN FOR ALL<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n In addition to the actual blessing of the animals and the free pet services, there will be demonstrations by dog trainers and the Dallas Police K-9 unit, Oak Clips will run a nail trim station, Oil and Cotton will help the kids crafts and activities, the SPCA will help teach kids how to safely interact with their pets, how to greet a dog, and all about doggie body language. Smart Dog Dallas will be giving free training tips and tricks, we\u2019ll have\u00a0a pooch parade brought to you by the Petropolitan, food, music, and more! A fun day for the entire\u00a0family.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll continue to update\u00a0the website as we\u00a0add \u00a0sponsors, vendors, and demonstrations participating in the big day.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n We have lots of need for volunteers. \u00a0Come be part of an event and a day that changes our neighborhoods for generations to come. Our sign up genius page is ready. If you want to volunteer but don\u2019t see anything that interests you, give us a shout.<\/p>\n We will need help with our boots on the ground campaign ahead of the event, help with registration for\u00a0vacations, help with instruction for those in line for services, event day ambassadors, event set up and break down etc. Bi-lingual speakers are a big PLUS! It will be a fun day.\u00a0Check out our volunteer page<\/a>\u00a0 (http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/?page_id=7643) for more information.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n WANT TO BE A SPONSOR OR A VENDOR AT THE EVENT?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Check out our sponsor page <\/a>\u00a0(http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/?page_id=7651)\u00a0and contact our Sponsorship Director, Candace Bossay <cbossay@yahoo.com>\u00a0for more information. So far some of our sponsors, vendors, and demonstrations include: \u00a0The Oak Cliff Animal Initiative, Tyler Street United Methodist Church, Gypsy Dog Ops, \u00a0The SPCA, The Petropolitan, Green Pet, Smart Dog Dallas, Oak Clips, Oil and Cotton, the Dallas Police K-9 Unit, Winnetka Heights Neighborhood Association, and more!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n DONATIONS <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Can\u2019t be a sponsor, but want to chip in to help others who need free services? We will take your Starbuck $$ for the day or any amount you want to contribute. Donations to the event can be made through our paypal account <\/a>\/ donate button\u00a0(http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/?page_id=122)\u00a0-just put a note that it\u2019s for the Blessing of the Animals spay and neuter mash unit.<\/p>\n AND SHARE, SHARE, SHARE\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>– we want everyone to know about this great community\u00a0event.<\/p>\n EVENT SCHEDULE:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 12:30-4:30 PM – Activity areas<\/strong><\/p>\n 12:30-3:30 PM<\/strong> –<\/strong>Vaccination \/ micro chipping<\/strong> – Walk ups<\/p>\n 2:00 PM – Spay and Neuter Animal pick up<\/strong>\u00a0 (pick up time will be given time when remind call is made)<\/p>\n 3:00-3:30 PM \u00a0–<\/strong> Pooch Parade<\/strong><\/p>\n 4:00-4:15PM – Blessing of the Animals<\/strong> – All activities and booths will shut down during the actual blessing (no activity from approximately 4:00-4:15)<\/p>\n 4:30 PM<\/strong> – Event Ends<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n LOCATION AND PARKING INFORMATION:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Please be patient and courteous. Several of the streets surrounding the event are 1 way streets. Please do not block driveways or park people in.<\/p>\n![\"OakCiffBlessing_2015v7_spanish_ee\"](\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/OakCiffBlessing_2015v7_spanish_ee1.jpg\")
<\/a>![\"OakCiffBlessing_2015v7ee\"](\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/OakCiffBlessing_2015v7ee.jpg\")
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