ARF to Visit St. Luke’s Fair

Dogs and cats at a family fair? Why not. The Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons will have an adopt-a-thon when it takes its mobile van to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church’s annual summer fair on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Regular adoption fees will apply.

On Sunday the animal advocacy organization will have an event at its Wainscott headquarters called “Give Us Our Independence” and a low-cost vaccine clinic and microchipping from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The vaccines are for rabies, distemper, bordetella, and FVRCP. The procedures will cost $10 for altered pets and $25 for unaltered pets.

Weekly hourlong classes for dogs with Matthew Posnick, an instructor, will begin tomorrow and run to Wednesday. The schedule includes basic dog obedience on Fridays at 3 p.m., therapy dog prep on Fridays at 1 p.m., off-leash obedience on Fridays at 2 p.m., and canine “good citizen” prep on Mondays at 2 p.m. Shy dog socialization meets on Wednesdays with Dr. Barbara Pezzanite.

ARF also offers basic, intermediate, and advanced dog obedience classes on Saturdays and Sundays at 9, 10:15, and 11:30 a.m. Agility classes are on Saturdays, with beginners at 1:30 p.m. and advanced training at 2:30. Puppy kindergarten is on Sunday afternoon at 12:45.

In addition to group classes, ARF now also offers one-on-one obedience classes, in which dogs and owners can work with Mr. Posnick on specific needs. The cost is $60 for one 45-minute session and $250 for five. Most of ARF’s classes meet five times and cost between $150 and $200, with shy dog socialization taking place four times for $100.

A $25 discount is offered to the owners of dogs adopted from ARF within the last year (or month, for puppy kindergarten).  The ARF website provides further information.