Pooches, pusses, and pets of all kinds are invited to join in the seasonal fun on Saturday, when ICVS hold their annual Christmas party. We asked Mary Peng, CEO and founder of ICVS, what partygoers could expect.
“Beautiful adoptable pets and their foster families will be on hand to meet potential adoption families,” she told us. “Families interested in adopting any of the beautiful pets may apply through the ICVS Non-Profit Pet Adoption Program (www.ICVSASIA.com). We will be hosting a raffle draw with wonderful prizes including ICVS Grooming Gift Certificates for Pets, London Loft Hair Styling Gift Certificates for people, gift bottles of imported Australian wines, Cambridge Masks (anti-air pollution masks), and much more. ICVS’ professional groomer will be providing complimentary brush-outs and toenail trims for all dogs and cats! All party guests will receive a Christmas gift bag with goodies for pet owners and their pets!”
And there’s more.
“A specially catered feast for pets will be provided with compliments of ICVS and Penny’s Food Studio – a Beijing gourmet pet food company that creates hand-made pet foods, using only the finest and freshest ingredients,” Peng said.
“And for the people, we will have holiday treats, snacks, and imported Australian wines! And as a special treat for the children, we are making fresh spun cotton candy and freshly popped popcorn right on site!”
This is the tenth anniversary of both ICVS and the Christmas parties, Peng told us.
“ICVS hosted our first “Christmas Party for Pets & Their People” in 2006, the year we were founded. We love celebrating the holidays with pets as they are such special members of our families! This year, the Christmas party is being co-sponsored by TACN (Towards a Compassionate Nation), a humane animal welfare charity organization, and also Penny’s Food Studio.”
We asked Peng who’s invited to the party.
“Everyone is welcome! The Christmas party is a unique gathering for pets and their families, pet lovers, and the Beijing animal rescue community to come together and meet each other, introduce their own pets, the pets available for adoption, and to make friends.”
And it’s all for a good cause.
“All donations and proceeds from the raffle prize draw will be donated to the ICVS Non-Profit Humane Animal Welfare Programs,” Peng said. “The programs provide medical treatment, spay/neuter surgeries, legal vaccinations, and hospitalized care for the many stray/rescued and abandoned animals in our community. The pets receive world-class medical care, rehabilitation, socialization, and a lot of love, helping them become beautiful and healthy adoptable pets. ICVS donates many of our services to provide this essential care for the animals and the funds raised helps to cover some of the cost of medical supplies, drugs, vaccines, and food for the animals under our care.”
Some pets even dress up for the occasion, Peng told us.
“Our invitations for the ICVS Christmas Party for Pets & Their People are shared widely on social media. One year our invitations were sent to a rather large WeChat group for poodle owners. That year, we had the most delightful parade of exquisitely groomed poodles all dressed up in holiday outfits for the party! Many pet owners came in matching outfits with their poodles! It was wonderful and showed us just how much people adore their pets and embrace them as deeply loved members of their families!”
ICVS Christmas Party for Pets and their People, December 10
All ages. Free. 2-5pm. International Center for Veterinary Services – No. 13-16 Rong Ke Gan Lan Cheng Shang Jie, Fu Tong Xi Da Jie, Wangjing, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100102, 北京新天地国际动物医院, 北京市朝阳区望京阜通西大街融科橄榄城商街13-16号。 （奔驰大厦和望京SOHO对面。嫣然天使儿童医院后面楼房）
Photos: courtesy of ICVS
