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Lunenburg County Ruff-N-It exceeded its fundraising goal for 2019. Animal Control Officer Ray Elliott reports this year’s event raised $15,600 — exceeding its fundraising goal of $12,000.

Elliott spent Thanksgiving Day Ruff-N-It in “lock up” from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Lunenburg County Animal Shelter located at 1320 Old Mansion Road to raise awareness to the community of the over population of cats and dogs in Lunenburg County and the need for having animals spayed and neutered.

As previously reported in The K-V Dispatch Elliott stated, “The No. 1 problem in Lunenburg County is the overpopulation of cats. This year there were over one hundred cats and 300 dogs that were released by owners. Many times, these cats and dogs have not been spayed or neutered and the cycle begins again of homeless animals. Through the efforts of those like Officer Elliott and the Southside SPCA over 85% of the animals in the Southside SPCA have been adopted this year. The last four years have been very successful in raising awareness and providing funds to help neuter and spay those animals.”

Elliott said that 40 people stopped by on Thanksgiving Day in support of Ruff-N-It and two cats were adopted.

Overall 140 people donated to the cause in Lunenburg. In addition to financial donations people provided items such as dog food, cat litter, blankets, leashes and collars.

To further raise awareness a friendly competition, was added this year, between Elliott and Prince Edward County Animal Control Officer Adam Mumma. The challenge was to see who could raise the most money to go to specifically the Spay and Neuter Program in their respective county. The officer who raised the least amount of money would have to clean the other officer’s facility for a day.

Final totals weren’t available as of press time but according to the Friends of Prince Edward County Animal Care and Control Facebook page officer Mumma will be cleaning the Lunenburg facility.