COVID-19 has brought most events virtual this year, including the Hoboken Wellness Crawl, Party with Purpose’s 5K, and now — Bark in the Park. If you haven’t heard of BITP, it’s usually an afternoon spent celebrating everything that makes our furry friends special — thanks to the Liberty Humane Society, raising funds for animals in need in Hudson County.
Typically, Bark in the Park takes place in Hoboken’s Church Square Park but this year they have pivoted to a virtual celebration. The event is the largest pet festival in Hudson County, bringing together animal lovers for a day of fun, food, and vendors —only this time, virtually.
Bark in the Park is also how the Liberty Humane Society raises funds to cover the emergency costs associated with the animals that end up in their care. From basic vaccines and medication to complicated surgical procedures and emergency care, LHS spends upwards of $200,000 each year on necessary veterinary and behavioral services for animals in our programs. This event is geared to raise awareness of pet adoption of local homeless animals, as well as to raise money for the care of the animals that aren’t adopted quickly — so going virtual is a necessity.
Read More: Calling All Musicians: Virtual Music Lessons to Take Online ASAP
Bark in the Park Goes Virtual
This year’s event will be virtual. Join the Liberty Humane Society online on September 1st for virtual games, contests, interviews, and live updates to celebrate the outcomes you made possible. A full schedule of events and details to come.
The society’s goal is to raise 35, 000, right now donations are just under 10,000 with a month left until the campaign ends.
The Costume Contest
This year’s costume contest is a virtual situation, but still just as fun! The costume contest is the best part of the event, and anyone can enter their dog in the contest as a contender. You can create a team in your pet’s name or make a donation, here: https://givebutter.com/bip2020.
Submit your costume contest entry in advance by tagging @libertyhumanesociety and using the hashtags: #LHSBIP2020, and #BIPCOSTUME2020. The contest has been postponed to September 8th.
Of course, there will be prizes, so get those fuzzy friends in gear and start prepping those costumes!
If you need to edit your team names or have any other issues with your fundraising team or the costume contest, please email rene@libertyhumane.org for assistance.
About Liberty Humane
Liberty Humane Society’s mission is to foster a community of compassion and respect and provide animals in need with a chance at a lifelong, loving home.
The non-profit treats, and finds homes for thousands of animals every year. Rehoming animals who have nowhere else to go is the most important task in their mission, however, the long-term goal is to build a community in which those services are no longer needed.
Homeless animals in shelters are a symptom of much larger community issues, as stated on the website. “Lack of access to affordable veterinary services, training, spay/neuter surgery, and general education makes providing pet care daunting for owners with few resources. In Hudson County, 17% of households live below the poverty line. That doesn’t stop these families from having pets—and we don’t believe it should,” they stated.
See More: 7 Hoboken + Jersey City Pets Who Found The Furever Home in Quarantine
Liberty Humane Society is an open admission shelter that contracts with Jersey City, Bayonne, and Hoboken. This means that every stray animal found in these cities is brought to LHS, day or night.
All animals receive a medical assessment and vaccinations upon intake. New Jersey requires stray animals to be held for seven days before they are made available for adoption. After a behavioral assessment, adoptable dogs and cats move into main shelter housing where they will stay until adopted or transferred. All animals are spayed or neutered and microchipped prior to adoption.
Hoboken Girl Shop
As an added bonus, for August and September 2020, Hoboken Girl is donating 10% of our dog apparel proceeds from our Hoboken Girl Shop in collaboration with The Local Thread to Liberty Humane Society, dedicated to providing animals in need with a lifelong, loving home.
We just launched a line of dog bandanas in blue and pink (OSFA). They are 50/50 cotton/polyester woven fabric and 30″ wide x 15″ tall – one size fits all so please make sure you measure before purchasing! Click here to purchase and support 3 local orgs in one.
