This is the final weekend of operation for the Salem Aquatic Center. It comes to an end with a special fundraising swimming event for the Salem Animal Control facility on Sunday.
Animal Control Facility Director Stephanie Rakers says the event features a $5 admission charge for the swim from noon to three. Those admitted will get a free hot dog and soda. They will also be eligible to win a number of door prizes donated by Salem area businesses.
Rakers says the fundraiser will help with the care of the animals.
“We earmark those donations for our trap neuter return program, as well as any emergencies that arise,” Rakers said. “We just recently had a kitten come in with a bulging eye that we were able to get immediately into the vet and have it removed. She’s actually getting adopted, hopefully later this weekend or early next week, so it’s nice to have that fund that we can pull from.
Rakers says you can also bring items for the shelter.
“We will have a table set up in the entryway of the pool. Our biggest demand is canned kitten food, kitten milk replacer, cat litter, and bleach wipes. Cleaning supplies are a never-ending need for us.”
Rakers says 462 cats have now been spayed or neutered through the Trap, Neuter, and Release program that started at the end of 2020. She reports cats that have a caregiver are returned to the area where they were trapped. Rakers says they have a list of locations that want the cats that do not have a place to go after the procedure.
