By Azana Carr

Correspondent

Your opportunity to make man’s best friends fresh and clean and help out a good cause at the same time is coming up Saturday.

Suffolk’s dogs will be in the caring hands of the staff and volunteers lending their time to make a difference. The Summer Doggie Wash will be held from noon to 6 p.m., free of charge, at the Suffolk Animal Hospital in order to support the Suffolk Humane Society.

Suffolk Humane is a nonprofit organization, so they ask participant owners to bring a donation of $10 or more to help contribute to the cause. The organization provides spay/neuter programs and pet owner education programs and helps find homes for homeless animals.

But giving comes with a price, and the services the society provides can be expensive.

“The donations will be like a weight off of our shoulders,” said Eileen Gizara, the executive director of the Suffolk Humane Society. Those who give don’t have to worry about where the funds go, since Gizara assures that all of the donations stay within the community.

Those hoping to find a new best friend are also welcome at the event, as adoptable dogs from the humane society’s foster program will be on site. Volunteers will explain adoption requirements to attendees while they play with the foster dogs.

“Sometimes they find homes the same day,” Gizara said.

Although this is the Summer Doggie Wash’s first year, the humane society is confident it will bring a large turnout with the large amount of dog owners in the surrounding area.

The Suffolk Animal Hospital is located at 1232 Holland Road in Suffolk. For more information, call the Suffolk Animal Hospital at 539-1385 or the Suffolk Humane Society at 538-3030.