MERCER, Pa. (EYT) — Lenore Smathers, director of Clarion PUPS, and several furry companions visited a regional book festival in Mercer last week.
(Photos courtesy of Lenore Smathers)
The fourth annual West PA Book Festival was held at Brandy Springs Park in Mercer on Saturday, July 21.
The book festival was organized as part of an effort to gather local authors at events similar to the large book festivals across the country and seeks to spread the word about local literary talent. The event gives readers a way to discover and talk with local authors while also encouraging the love of books and reading and promotes literacy in the community.
Smathers, who was invited to the event by an area dog groomer, took several dogs to the event to give children in attendance an opportunity to read to friendly canines.
“It was fun. Nothing like kids and dogs getting together,” Smathers said.
Ranger, the Great Pyrenees pictured above, was rescued from Beaumont, Texas, following Hurricane Harvey.
The dogs pictured below are Cupid and Cameo, both toy poodles, and Charm, a Pyrenean Shepherd.
Clarion PUPS is a 501c3 non-profit organization that utilizes approved foster homes to act as a rescue network kennel, reuniting lost dogs and their owners and seeking new loving homes for displaced dogs.
For more information, visit Clarion PUPS’s website here, or check out their Facebook page.
Individuals can also contact Clarion PUPS at emailclarionpups@gmail.com, or call 814-764-5580.