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“I’m thrilled that the perennial favorite Hot Dog Day, followed by the 5th anniversary celebration at Sweet Melissa’s Ice Cream Shop, will both count toward our anonymous ‘matchmaker’s’ $30,000 challenge!” says Jim Bouderau, SPCA of Tompkins County executive director.

The two events will take place on Friday, May 2: Hot Dog Day, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Sweet Melissa’s Ice Cream Shop’s 5th Birthday Benefit from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.

Hot Dog Day has been a first-Friday-in-May event for more than a decade, almost always taking place on The Commons. Due to the construction, Teresa Miller of Madeline’s Restaurant has graciously offered to host Hot Dog Day under the overhang in front of Madeline’s on The Commons at 215 E. State Street.

SPCA staff and volunteers will be at Hot Dog Day with cats and dogs available for adoption and to share in the fun as Lou Cassiniti grills the hots (and Not Dogs) entirely to raise funds for shelter animals. Cassiniti’s event typically raises over $3,000.  “Hot dogs and ice cream: signs that summer is almost here,” says Bouderau. “Imagine how pleased I was to hear from SPCA dog adopter Melissa Kenny of Sweet Melissa’s about wanting to help the SPCA, too.”

Sweet Melissa’s Ice Cream Shop is next to the Shortstop Deli (at 200 W. Seneca Street) and is celebrating its 5th Birthday. A raffle with great donated prizes to support the SPCA will be running all week long and on May 2, from 4:00 to 7:00, the shop will offer specials on ice cream, raffles, and kids’ activities.

Kenny says, “My husband and I adopted our chocolate lab from the SPCA and our assistant manager, Sarafina, also has a dog from the SPCA. I just want to make as much money for the SPCA as possible!”

The SPCA of Tompkins County has a current fundraising challenge taking place. A major supporter of the SPCA, who wishes to remain anonymous, was inspired by the shelter’s 10-year anniversary in the Dorothy and Roy Park Pet Adoption Center and offered to match every dollar donated before May 31st, up to $30,000.  Money raised at both events will be counted toward the challenge.

Bouderau can’t stress enough the importance of local support. “We are not government funded; we rely on the generosity of this community, and their belief in our mission, to make the work we do possible.”

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