H.E.L.P. hosting Holiday fundraiser

COEUR d'ALENE - Wrap a gift, win a raffle, or take a picture of your pet with Santa - all in the name of helping animals.

You'll even have three different weekends to do so.

The non-profit Help Every Little Paw, or H.E.L.P., is hosting its inaugural holiday fundraiser, "Santa Paws Workshop, Bazaar and Fundraiser" over three different weekends in December to ensure health and happiness for the four-legged by doing all of the above.

"It's a pet-friendly event," said Karen Hansen, volunteer. "We're hoping to get animals pictured with Santa."

That's right, have 'em jump in Santa's lap and snap a pic by a professional photographer for $10, or have your Christmas gifts neatly wrapped by some careful elves for a small donation. Hot cocoa, coffee and cookies will keep you busy will you wait.

All proceeds will benefit H.E.L.P. The group's goals are to rescue abandon, strayed or neglected animals and to provide them medical attention, as well as spay and neuter programs and socialization rehabilitation, by raising funds for facilities already in the area that provide those services. By helping bridge the financial gap, owners will be more likely to take better care of their pets.

The events will be the weekends of Dec. 4, 11 and 18 at the Sunset Village Mall on U.S. 95 and Sunset Avenue in Coeur d'Alene. Saturdays, the event will go from noon to 8 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

Around 15 vendors will be on hand, selling gifts for pets and people, so get some Christmas shopping out of the way. Packages from wine to toy baskets will be raffled off, too. Tickets for those cost $1 each, or 6 for $5, or 25 for $20.

Info: Holly Hansen, 659-6438.