Paws for a Cause: Spend a Couple of Hours Saturday Washing a Dog

Manatee County's No Kill effort is ahead of schedule and volunteers and staffers at Manatee County Animal Services want to keep the momentum going and also give some of the dogs and cats at the shelter a little tender loving care.

Manatee County Animal Services is hosting a dog washing event Saturday at 10 a.m. for dogs at the shelter. County Commissioner Carol Whitmore put out a call for volunteers and is donating bottles of shampoo to the efforst, as well as her own skills as a dog washer.She's hoping other volunteers will join the effort so that every dog gets a bath.

The dogs will smell sweeter, be a little perkier and get some attention from volunteers who are willing to spend some time giving the a little TLC. And anyone who wants to adopt a freshly washed dog is encouraged to come out to the Palmetto facility on Saturday to adopt a dog.

The dog washing effort is crucial because many of the dogs at animal services are kept in pens wit runs. The seven full-time employees at animal services spend much of their time cleaning cages and runs, so don't have enough time to bathe the dogs. Dog walkers help get the canines out of their pens and volunteers come in to pet and socialize the cats, but there isn't any official grooming schedule for either.

A freshly washed dog has a better chance of getting adopted than one that smells like, well, dog. Bathing the dogs also helps them stay healthier, just like humans dogs can pick up germs when they don't get to wash their paws.

So have some fun, get a little wet and help make a dog's day. And if you're not confident around dogs, you can always make a feline feel beautiful. Those cats will thank you for it.