PARK CITY — During this season of caring and sharing, a Utah business owner is hoping to bring some Christmas cheer to those little ones who most likely aren't on Santa Claus' list.
And it has nothing to do with them being naughty or nice.
Pam Rapplean is looking out for the Fidos, Spots and Felixes of the world — at least the homeless ones in the Wasatch Back area.
Throughout December, the self-proclaimed "animal lover" and owner of the Bark City Emporium pet store in Kimball Junction will be sponsoring a fund-raising effort to help needy dogs and cats. Her charitable efforts are modeled after the popular "Toys for Tots" program.
Call her program "Toys for Tykes and Tomcats."
"Park City people like to give to those less fortunate," she said. "Unfortunately, there are a lot of cats, dogs and animal rescue groups in need of assistance."
That's why she's hoping people will change the "Good Will Toward Men" concept this yuletide to be "Good Will Toward All" (critters and kitties included). She also wants to help educate the public about spaying and neutering pets so they don't overpopulate the area.
For the next few weeks, Bark City Emporium will collect toys, bedding, pet food and money to be put to use by local animal rescue groups and shelters in Summit and Wasatch counties. She will match donations per dollar of items people drop off in the "Dexter Donation Box" at the store (6531 N. Landmark Drive) near the Park City Wal-Mart.
(Dexter, by the way, was once a stray that now permanently resides at this Bark City site as the shop cat. Rapplean laughs that he's the project manager, even if he won't don the Santa hat she got him.)
The store — which features everything from Doggles (UV-ray-blocking dog goggles) to fake human tongues to a remote-control mouse with a Swiss cheese remote controller to all-natural pet health food — also has two Christmas "Trees of Love" decorated with stuffed animals and ceramic and wooden ornaments of cats and dogs.
Customers can buy the tree decorations, and proceeds will be contributed to Dexter's less fortunate furry friends.
"We're trying to make our shelter the first in the state to be a no-kill shelter," Rapplean said. "We need to get money to get more foster people to adopt and to be able to supply them with food. We want to make it a community effort. Summit County is such an animal-loving, animal-friendly (place)."
Rapplean's ultimate goal is to have two bare trees by Christmas, to raise at least $500 for the shelters and for all to have a Meow-y Christmas.
E-MAIL: jody@desnews.com