'Strut your mutt'; Saturday event to raise money for no-kill animal shelter.

The first annual Strut Your Mutt fundraiser for Lee's Paw and Claws Animal Shelter will be held from noon-3 p.m. Saturday at the Fort Scott Community College walking track.

In case of rain, the event will be moved into Arnold Arena on the FSCC campus, 2108 S. Horton.

Strut Your Mutt is a social gathering and pet promenade to show off residents' special dogs. Costumes are welcome. The event planner requests only one dog per adult, with leash. All participating pets must be well-behaved and non-aggressive with current vaccinations, a news release said.

Free fresh drinking water will be available for pets and an anonymous donor will match up to $2.000 for all proceeds during the month of April.

The donation amount is $20 per canine, or family and dog, with an additional $20 per dog for each individual or family bringing more than one pet. Participants will receive a free shelter T-shirt with each donation and a chance at the grand prize -- a large basket filled with quality pet items. You must be present to win.

Parking will be west of the walking track and participants or attendees should bring lawn chairs or blankets.

Strut Your Mutt is one of several new fundraisers being planned to raise money needed to open the shelter. Although Lee's Paws and Claws is associated with Shirley Yeager Animal Friends Foundation, only the annual interest from the foundation may be used to pay ongoing expenses, the release said.

The shelter is built and paid for, but will need the fundrasiers and donations to open and operate successfully, the release said.