By Cecilia Nasmith

The Northumberland Humane Society has transitioned to a new home and acquired a new logo – and, this weekend, it will host a new fundraiser.

The Bow Wow Fair (named after the Bow Wow Ball they used to hold) is a family fun day that runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 27, at Cobourg's Columbus Community Centre.

Kids can burn off that excess energy at the bouncy castle, have their faces painted and channel their creativity at a cookie-decorating station. You can also take time to enjoy the little market place with 20 vendors (including a display from the Humane Society's Cobourg Thrift Shop).

And visitors are invited to bring along the four-legged members of the family (in a cat carrier or on a leash) for a variety of pet contests. And if your pet is okay with costumes, dress him or her up for the occasion.

Northumberland Humane Society Executive Director Henny Venus is expecting the dunk tank to make a big splash with the line-up of celebrities who have volunteered for the honour, including Cobourg and Port Hope mayors, deputy mayors and chiefs of police.

The Humane Society is partnering with Fare Share food bank on the event, which means admission is free but organizers hope you will bring along a non-perishable donation for the food bank (or possibly for the Northumberland Pet Food Bank).

Venus said this event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their new location and establish new beginnings.

Interviewed just before last month's move to their new location at 2363 Theatre Rd., out of the Port Hope location that has been the agency's home for more than 60 years, Venus reiterated that the Humane Society is a non-profit agency that relies on donations, legacy gifts and the services they provide (such as animal control adoptions and their new DocuPet licensing service), plus proceeds from their thrift shop and fundraisers like the Bob Wow Fair.

The move had been in the works for about a year, he said, since the Humane Society got the municipal animal-control contracts. Their population of dogs, cats and guinea pigs (their three most populous animals) can get as high as 90 at times – though, at the time of the move, there were about 60 in residence (and they took an entire week for the move to make it easier on them).

This kind of fundraiser is so vital to nonprofits like the Humane Society and Fare Share, Venus said, not to mention an opportunity to spread awareness of both and the good work they do. Fare Share will have an information table at the Bowwow Fair, and the Humane Society will have the opportunity to share information about their work as well.

The Columbus Community Centre is located at 232 Spencer St. E., and everyone is welcome.