Cruise for Critters Returns to Westview Farms Creamery to Help Pets in Need

MONSON — Cruise for Critters returns to Westview Farms Creamery on Saturday, Sept. 24 for the 10th annual car show to benefit pets in need at Second Chance Animal Services. The fundraiser, sponsored by Service Connection of Monson, has been helping Massachusetts pets since 2012. This year’s event will have fall fun for everyone, including a vendor fair and the popular Halloween Barktacular kids’ games.

Service Connection owner Al Widlan has been hosting the end-of-season car show for 10 years to help pets in Massachusetts. He encourages car enthusiasts to bring their car out and enjoy a day of full fun, saying, “it’s a great day for a great cause.”

Second Chance volunteers are excited to break out the Halloween Barktacular kids’ games. After COVID forced the nonprofit to cancel both the 2020 and 2021 Halloween Barktacular, a group of volunteers brought a few of the games to last year’s Cruise for Critters. This year, volunteers are planning even more fun for kids.

Second Chance CEO Sheryl Blancato is grateful to Service Connection and Westview Farms Creamery for their ongoing support for pets in need. “Rising inflation has been forcing pet owners to make difficult decisions. That may mean giving up their pet or, if they can keep their pet, worrying about how they will care for their pet. This fundraiser supports Second Chance programs that can make a difference to pets here in our community.”

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will also feature all the fall fun that Westview Farms Creamery has to offer, including pumpkin picking and a corn maze. Spare Parts will be on hand to provide entertainment, and visitors can take a chance to win some raffle prizes.

Event organizers are appealing to local businesses and vendors to join the fight for pets in need. For more information on sponsorships or to become a vendor, visit secondchanceanimals.org/events/cruise.

The event will be free to spectators, and there’s a $20 car-show entry fee, with every dollar supporting pets in need. In case of bad weather, the rain date is Saturday, Oct. 1.