The Holiday Pet Parade, sponsored by the Sierra County Animal Relief Fund, invites all pet owners to bring their festively dressed pets to this fun-filled event. The parade will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday in front of Sierra Hardware in downtown Downieville. Everyone is welcome, and all entrants will receive a Petco gift card. Please have your pet on a leash or lead rope or otherwise contained. Please make sure that all young animals have their first set of vaccinations.

The Animal Relief Fund will have a raffle drawing with a great list of prizes. The drawing will take place after the parade winners are announced. Tickets are one for $1, six for $5 or $20 for your height in tickets. For tickets, call Rachel at (530) 289-2720 email sccaarf@gmail.com. To view a current list of prizes, see ARF’s website, www.animalrelieffund.net.

Since beginning in 2009, ARF has helped 94 households in Sierra County. Twenty-six families received help with the cost of veterinary visits; more than 120 animals received pet food (including a chicken and other birds); and spaying and neutering were funded for 28 families with multiple pets. The donations received from the public — and from this holiday event — allow us to continue funding these much needed services in Sierra County. Spaying and neutering helps keep the pet population and the stray population down in our county.