HPP Howling Holidays is going to the dogs Dec. 9

The annual HPP Howling Holidays — “a fabulously fun fundraiser” benefiting Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary — is set for 7 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, at the Hawaiian Paradise Park Community Center on Maku‘u, just past 17th Street.

The popular howling dog jog-walk starts at 8 a.m., followed by games, contests, lucky-prize drawing, silent auction, dog agility and search-and-rescue demos.

This year’s sixth annual HPP Howling Holidays is supported by local businesses donating special items for the silent auction, as well as fantastic prizes for entrants who raise the most sponsorship dollars for the fundraising jog-walk. The Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel is providing a suite for two as the grand prize, with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters and Island Air donating great second- and third-place prizes.

Nearly 50 local businesses are donating to the event, including Bamboo & Teak Furniture, Big Island Pet Care Center, Body Glove Cruises, Captain Zodiac, Clear Chiropractic, Dreams of Paradise Gallery, Elite Jerky, Laundry Express, U-Go-I-Stay Pet Care, The Pet Hospital and many more.

Doggie costume and owner look-alike contests, games, demonstrations and frisbee competition fill out the morning event. Come enjoy the music and have your dogs photographed with Santa, while making a contribution to the Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary, a no-kill facility in Kurtistown home to 80 dogs and 250 cats.

For more information, or to download the jog-walk sponsorship/registration form, go to www.rainbowfriends.org. Your sponsorship money must be submitted by 8 a.m. that day to qualify for a prize.

For more information about the event, please call Cheryl Crabtree at 990-6105 or Mary Rose at 982-5110. You may also obtain event information from Kukini Dog Agility Club, whose members are helping to host the event, at www.kukinidogagility.