Meet Pebbles, a foster kitty

Bash is a Fundraiser for Northumberland Humane Society

Foster Kitty Pebbles’s Owner Larysa Struk Inspires Village

Article by Sue Dickens/Image submitted

Warkworth – The watchwords of the week in Warkworth are “Pebbles: Gotcha Day Bash.”

Inspired by Larysa Struk, who opened the Fox Hollow Pet Boutique this past June, the village is supporting the event which is a fundraiser for the Northumberland Humane Society.

It all takes place this Sat., Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street.

Events such as a story walk down Main Street put together by the Warkworth Library branch and the Best Dressed Pet Contest, to name a few, are bringing the downtown together for this special time.

Pebbles was a foster kitty Struk adopted from the Northumberland Humane Society and this cat has become somewhat of a fixture at the boutique, settling in, greeting customers and becoming a local celebrity.

We asked Struk about her fundraiser.

“When I opened my store in June, I knew that I wanted to find ways to give back to the community and as you know, we’ve spoken before, I’m a huge (animal 0 rescue advocate and always like to help local shelters and rescues and my thinking was with the store.

“I know that the shelters and rescues are really full, what with owner surrenders after COVID and all that sort of thing…and my heart is with the senior animals, especially because they’re often the ones that are overlooked.”

Her story brings us to Pebble. Struk reached out to the Northumberland Humane Society, the shelter for the County, located in Port Hope, and said she wanted to foster a cat.

“I really would love to be able to help by fostering a cat because bringing a cat into the store, you know, gives them exposure to an adopter base hopefully. And I said my only wish is that they give me a cat that would be comfortable even though it’s a quiet space, there are times where I’ve got the public coming through, customers with their dogs on leash, and I don’t want a particularly skittish cat, otherwise they just won’t enjoy it.”

Her search for a friendly cat, and a senior cat, led her to Pebbles.

Struk notes that there has been an influx of older cats being surrendered to NHS, some overweight ones and becoming a foster at the Fox Hollow Boutique is one way to offer a great solution.

Apparently Pebbles, who is 11, was getting depressed at the humane society too, so the foster opportunity has given her a new lease on life.

Struk hopes people will see how amazing Pebbles is and consider fostering or adopting from NHS.

In the meantime the fundraiser has gathered a lot of momentum.

The “Bash” will include a mini pet-themed vendor market, raffle prizes and giveaways, guest speakers, a silent auction, music by Darren Roy Clarke & Molly Annelle and D’s Island Shack will be on-site from noon until 3 p.m. with tasty Trinidadian food.

“Heather Hill and the Girl Guides here are going to run a donation table to collect wish-list items for the humane society,” said Struk.

“The vendors, all the main street businesses, are going to try to tie in to the theme by featuring animal-themed products. Angela (Roest) from Centre & Main Chocolate, she’s actually going to take her birthday cake bar and she’s going to relabel it, so it will feature Pebbles on it… and Lana from Authenticity Antiques is going to pull all their animal-themed antiques, and she’s going to feature those. So I’ve asked every store and hopefully they will participate.”

Schoolhouse Décor (8th Concession East,) is having a vendor market on Saturday. As well there is the Trent Hills Grannies for Africa sale happening in Campbellford.

“We can actually crosspromote and potentially get more people to come to our events,” said Struk. “I’m hoping that people will take a look at this day as a destination.”

This year, with a donation to The Humane Society, there will also be special ribbons for a Pet Gratitude Tree!

All money raised from the ribbon donations will go directly to Northumberland Humane Society to help more animals find their “furever” homes.