Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) is pleased to announce the start of $10 for 10,000. For the past three years, this annual reduced adoption fee campaign has been instrumental in ensuring that more than 10,000 animals were saved each year.

The $10 for 10,000 campaign kicks off at the Monsoon Muttness adoption event Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Pima Animal Care Center, 4000 N.Silverbell Road.

The family-friendly event will feature music, a dog show, a jumping castle, cotton candy, a scavenger hunt and special guest appearances from McGruff and friends and the Marana Police Canines.

The dog show begins at 11 a.m. and the following classes are open to all rescue dogs:

Cutest dog
Ugliest dog
Dog most like their human companion
Best dog trick
Best six legs
Best dressed dog

Compliance DJ Jerry Sanchez will provide entertainment until 3:30 p.m. He will be followed by live music performances by:

Gila Bend
Leila Lopez
Sunday Drivers
Hank Topless

PACC is encouraging people to come to the event not only to enjoy free entertainment for the whole family, but also to visit the great selection of dogs and cats in need of homes and to adopt a new pet for a reduced fee.

Please visit www.pima.gov/animalcare for more information.

Lots of dogs do undeniably look like their owners, so this sounds like a fun community event, especially for you dog lovers out there in Pima County. Can’t wait to see the winner of the Cutest and Ugliest dog categories, but remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder (or dog owner).

And why a “monsoon”? Because it’s raining (cats) and dogs!

For 20 years the U. S. Postal Service (USPS) has been helping to collect canned food for community food banks all across America, to help people in need of food. The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona is again teaming up with the USPS to collect food from your door steps or mail boxes.

For the 20th consecutive year the National Association of Letter Carriers and the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona will team up to collect donations on Saturday, May 12, 2012 for the annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive.

“This is the 20th Anniversary of the Letter Carriers Food Drive,” said Bill Carnegie, Food Bank CEO. “The problem of hunger in our community has never been greater and we need our community to help make this year’s food drive a success. Thousands of local families are counting on your support,” he added.

To help “Stamp Out Hunger” in Southern Arizona, residents are asked leave a bag of non-perishable food, such as canned meats, canned vegetables, canned soups, cereal, peanut butter, canned fruit or canned tomato products next to their mail box before the time of their mail delivery on Saturday, May 12th. Food should be in non-breakable containers. Letter carriers and volunteers will collect the food donations and forward them to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.

Monetary donations will be accepted for the “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive and on-line donations may be made as well.

Please leave out non-perishable cans (preferably not glass jars like jam/jelly or pickles) for pick up by the postal carriers. I already have my bag of donated cans of food to leave outside our front door early on Saturday May 12.

I was a volunteer for 5 years at our local Food Bank helping distribute food boxes and other donated vegetables/fruits/breads, etc. I also helped collect & sort these cans on Stamp Out Hunger day, which is quite a massive job when carts of food come in to the postal distribution centers. Information on the CFB is at http://communityfoodbank.com/, 3003 S. Country Club,Tucson, AZ 85713; phone:(520)622-0525, Fax:(520)624-6349.

May 11 is National Public Gardens Day when these two gardens listed below are free of charge all day. Adult admission at both parks is regularly $8, so save some money & enjoy nature.

Tucson Botanical Garden, 2150 N. Alvernon Way, http://www.tucsonbotanical.org/events/national-public-gardens-day/. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m, this garden is located south of Grant Rd. on Alvernon.

Learn water conservation, native and adaptable plants and landscape design experientially, through visits to our seventeen, residentially scales gardens. For that hands-on experience, take advantage of the delightful Exploring Tucson Botanical Gardens tour (10 a.m.). This tour delivers some fascinating plant trivia, offers history of the Gardens and familiarizes you with our native flora as well as the wide variety of plants that grow in Tucson.

The other garden is Tohono Chul Park, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte (NW of Ina/Oracle). Hours are 8 to 5 p.m. Website is http://www.tohonochulpark.org/wordpress/.

Award-winning Tohono Chul Park is where nature, art and culture connect. Named one of the World’s Great Botanical Gardens by Travel + Leisure and listed by National Geographic Traveler as one of the top 22 Secret Gardens in the U.S. and Canada, there is something for everyone. This oasis in the desert offers a respite from the hectic pace of daily life, provides an informative look at the region’s fascinating cultural traditions and its even more interesting flora and fauna, and is the perfect setting for an evening concert, special event or family wedding. Come and discover its nature!

Enjoy either or both of these peaceful gardens on May 11, before the summer heat rolls in.