Come meet the Steinbach Pistons and their cute puppy pals this weekend!

The Steinbach Pistons and Steinbach & Area Animal Rescue (SAAR) are holding an adoption/fostering/fundraising event this weekend at Clearspring Centre in Steinbach. 

The Pistons hockey players will be there, along with a few cats, and some puppies named after the players. 

SAAR Event Coordinator Carey Hawkins says the Pistons puppies are a litter of ten puppies that the rescue decided to name after the Steinbach Pistons players.

Piston puppy Mikan at her vet appointment. Photo credit: Pet Vet

“We kind of try to do themes when we have large litters come in, and we thought it would be something fun to support the team and support the community to name them after the Pistons.” 

She says the Pistons are eager to come support the Pistons puppies who are available for adoption.

“And of course they were very helpful and very supportive of us in doing this. So it's been a really good experience with everyone involved.” 

The Pistons are looking forward to seeing the Pistons puppies again this weekend.

To fundraise for the rescue, they’ll have a raffle at the event where you can enter for the chance to win tickets to a Steinbach Pistons game. Raffle tickets will be two for $5.

Hawkins says that if you want to check out some adoptables, learn about fostering, or meet some local hockey players, you should come on down. 

There will be people from the rescue at the event to answer questions about fostering and adopting.

Long-time foster Sandra Watson adds on that people fostering with SAAR can live anywhere in southeastern Manitoba, as long as they are able and willing to take animals to required vet appointments "which would just be vaccinations unless there's a special medical concern with the cat,” she says. “If they can get the animals to the veterinary appointment, then to the occasional adoption event, and to facilitate adoptions with the adopters, they don’t have to live in Steinbach to be a part of the foster team.” 

The rescue has partnering vet clinics in Steinbach, Saint Pierre, and Niverville, so you can take the animal you foster to any of the three. 

The Steinbach & Area Animal Rescue will be at Clearspring Centre in Steinbach on Sunday, February 12 from 12pm-4pm. 

Hawkins notes they also have a smaller adoption event on Saturday, February 11 from 11am-3pm at Pet Valu in Steinbach.