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News
 Milton residents shop to stop animal cruelty By Jill Russell Everyone is invited to shop ‘til they drop – for a good cause. On July 31 and Aug. 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Milton’s Mill Ridge Village Retirement Community will host their fourth annual parking lot community sale. This year’s proceeds will benefit Pasado’s Safe Haven, a nonprofit, 24-hour animal rescue and no-kill shelter for abused and abandoned animals. Antiques, jewelry, tools, children’s toys, clothing, furniture and just about anything you can think of has been donated by members of the community and the relatives of the residents at Mill Ridge. Deborah Berglund, program director at Mill Ridge Village, said she has been a donor to Pasado’s Save Haven for many years. That motivated her to change the course for this year’s event. “This is the first year we will donate money from the sale to a nonprofit and we picked this one because it’s not controversial and can’t offend anyone,” said Berglund. “Who doesn’t like little puppies, kittens and baby ducks?” Personally, she supports the organization’s long-term vision and holistic approach to animal care – which is not limited to cruelty prevention. “The organization is multi-disciplined,” she said. “They want to start bringing a spay and neuter bus to South Sound because it’s a much lower cost than a traditional vet and has a similar procedure and overnight recovery service.” Specifically, Berglund appreciates the way the organization runs its shelters. She said they are not just “animal warehouses,” because each animal is given a lot of human contact, individual rehabilitation care and plenty of time to play. Unfortunately, most of the different shelters for its rescued animals are north of Pierce County, and the majority of the organization’s fundraising events are held in cities far away. The organization is very aware of the need to bring more services like the mobile spay and neuter clinic to the South Sound, and the community sale is designed to introduce and promote the various services that are offered by the organization, Berglund added. “If I can get them as far south as Milton, I think it could be really beneficial,” she said. So far, the community has been very supportive of the charity. Organizers have been able to collect more stuff to sell, because of community partners like Fife’s American Portable Storage – which contributed several 26-foot storage pods for the cost of delivery only. The Fife-Milton Kiwanis Club will also be onsite Saturday to sell concessions in exchange for modest donations. Berglund also wants to remind the community that volunteers from Pasado’s Safe Haven will be at the sale, and will bring their friendly, adoptable, tail-wagging “Smiling Dogs in Bandanas.” Volunteers from the organization will also staff an information table on both days. “It’s been growing over the years and it’s going to be huge this year too,” Berglund said. “We have received a phenomenal number of donations and support.” For more information, call Berglund at Mill Ridge Village at (253) 925-9200. Photo provided by Pasado's Safe Haven |
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