The NC State Puppy Palooza event combines philanthropy, stress relief and puppies. Partnering with Pawfect Match Rescue, Phi Gamma Delta and Chi Omega have held the event twice a year since 2015.
Ryan Halford, the philanthropy chair of Phi Gamma Delta and a fourth-year studying industrial engineering, gives an overview of the event.
“The cost is three dollars to play with the puppies for as long as you want, and all proceeds are going to Pawfect Match Rescue,” Halford said. “This is a great cause and enables this organization to shelter and take care of many dogs that would otherwise not be sheltered. Donations are welcome as well.”
Jordan Edmondson, the philanthropy chair of Chi Omega and a second-year studying industrial engineering, said Chi Omega and Phi Gamma Delta work together with Pawfect Match Rescue to find an available date for the puppy petting event. Once the date is finalized, Chi Omega gathers volunteers, paints the Free Expression Tunnel and collect supplies for the event.
Puppy Palooza will be held on Nov. 8 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Stafford Commons, directly outside of Talley Student Union.
Pawfect Match Rescue and Rehabilitation is a nonprofit organization that cares for dogs from rural shelters throughout North Carolina that don’t have the resources to treat and keep all the dogs they get. Pawfect Match also takes in dogs from puppy mills and through the Humane Society International from as far away as Puerto Rico and South Korea.
“We wanted to partner with a local shelter and give back to the community,” Halford said. “After contacting various animal shelters and explaining our plan, we decided on Pawfect Match Rescue. Pawfect Match doesn’t have a central physical location. Instead, it consists of a network of volunteers and foster homes.”
More information about adoption, fostering, donation and events can be found on Pawfect Match’s website.
Puppy Palooza not only allows the dogs to get some love but also provides stress relief to students, especially as the semester piles up with exams, projects and finals.
“Students get the chance to play with multiple puppies at once and have the opportunity to donate towards a shelter,” Edmondson said. “Many students on campus, whether in Greek life or not, look forward to this event every semester.”
A few of the Puppy Palooza events have been held towards the end of semesters. Halford said organizers wanted to provide this event as a stress reliever to students so that they could get their mind off their studies for an hour or two while also contributing to a great cause.
“I remember it was really fun to be able to play with puppies,” said Eric Reinstein, a fourth-year studying computer science and an attendee of a previous Puppy Palooza. “It’s a great way to de-stress. Plus, I think they were collecting money to benefit animal rescue, which is cool.”
Phi Gamma Delta is also involved in other philanthropy events on campus, according to Halford. Currently the fraternity is working on a fundraising event taking place a week before Thanksgiving.
“We want to host a Thanksgiving dinner that we sell tickets to,” Halford said. “All of the proceeds from this event would go towards building a canopy over the playground of a school that one of our brother’s siblings attend. His siblings have a rare condition which prevents them from being able to go outside at recess and play with their classmates. Hopefully we can raise enough money to find a solution to this problem.”
Halford said attendants of Puppy Palooza have a chance to walk away from the event with more than just good feelings.
“People should attend this event to contribute to a great animal shelter and have fun while doing it,” Halford said. “If they fall in love with a puppy on Wednesday, they can even fill out an application to adopt.”
