Hogs for Dogs participants enjoy the motorcycle ride stop at Lake Casitas
Over 100 riders and passengers registered for the SEIU 721 sponsored Hogs for Dogs poker motorcycle ride this past Saturday, Sept. 20, to benefit Ventura County Animal Services.
This first annual poker ride took motorcyclists across Ventura County, starting in Camarillo at Ventura Harley-Davidson, to Santa Paula and over to Lake Casitas through Ojai, then to the Ventura SEIU 721 office where a BBQ lunch was served. Riders drew a card to help make their poker hands at each stop.
The fifth and final stop led to the Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) shelter in Camarillo where riders drew their final cards. Riders and community supporters showed up at the shelter to explore the more than 40 vendors in attendance, listen to live music and to try their luck at the raffle.
At last count over 12 animals were adopted during the free public event and more than $2,600 was raised to support VCAS programs.
The Animal Shelter recently changed to one of the largest county no-kill animal shelters in California. VCAS, including SEIU Local 721 members who work there, have helped institute a host of new programs to improve the lives of animals waiting to be adopted.
The SEIU 721 hosted and organized event had a lot of help from member volunteers. VCAS workers and volunteers along with various motorcycle clubs helped make sure the motorcycles were safe and ran the event at the animal shelter. Worksite organizer Janet Linsalato helped spearhead this event and brought in support from the SEIU 721 Bikers Caucus.
To get involved in the SEIU 721 Bikers Caucus, contact Jan Linsalato at janet.linsalato@seiu721.org.
Related article: SEIU 721 Hosts “Hogs for Dogs” Poker Ride to Support County Animal Services