El Cajon ACES holding Jingle Paws fundraiser

El Cajon Animal Center for Education and Services, the group that supports and helps raise funds for the El Cajon Animal Shelter, is unleashing it fourth annual Jingle Paws Walk.

The event, which was canceled last year, has been brought back to Wells Park on Saturday, Dec. 7, with a blessing of the animals to lead things off at 9 a.m.

The walk goes around the park and will start between 9 and 9:30 a.m., with registration beginning at 8 a.m. Donation to participate at the event is $30, which includes a “People Helping Pets” T-shirt, Christmas bandanna and a goodie bag with treats for animals and their humans.

Proceeds help the ACES Foundation provide veterinary care for the animals at the El Cajon Shelter, including surgeries for animals in need. The group encourages animal adoption and promotes public education about the proper care of animals.

The event will also include arts and crafts areas, vendors, a pet adoption “village” and an agility course for dogs and their owners, according to ACES spokeswoman Peggy Buffo. There will also be silent auction items, raffles, snacks for sale and photo opportunities with Santa Claus for $5. A new “lure coursing” event will also be set up for dogs who like to run.

Buffo said in late November that the event has had the largest preregistration in its four-year history.

“It keeps getting bigger every year,” Buffo said. “This event helps us with our mission of people helping pets. At the third year of the event (in 2011), one of the dogs we helped, Hank, attended with his owner. It was great to see one of the successes of our mission actually attending our event.”

Jingle Paws will go until 1 p.m. at Wells Park, 1153 E. Madison Ave., in El Cajon.