Cupcake Fest 2011 to Benefit the John A. Bukowski Shelter for Animals

CUPCAKE EATING CONTEST

Performances by: Nico Blues, Bern and the Brights, Fairmont, Monday Night Bear Claws, Those Mockingbirds, Front Bottoms, and more!

Please bring pet supply donations!

Vegan cupcakery Sweet Avenue Bake Shop and Planet Verge, the lifestyle blog and Internet TV show that reports on “what’s hot” and “what’s important,” have announced Bloomfield’s John A. Bukowski Shelter for Animals as the beneficiary for the annual Cupcakefest. A daylong celebration of music and cupcakes, Cupcakefest will take place June 18 at Rutherford’s Lincoln Park Bandshell (176 Park Avenue). The festivities include performances from several bands (TBA), a cupcake eating contest, raffles and the opportunity to meet animals available for adoption.

“As vegan small business owners and animal rights advocates, we feel strongly about our obligation to give a voice to those who have none,” says Danielle Vance, owner of Sweet Avenue Bakeshop and founder of Cupcakefest. “We started Cupcakefest to be able to use our influence in the community to help some of the countless animals in shelters across New Jersey.”

Cupcakefest 2011 is free to attend. Pet supply donations are encouraged. Now four years in, Cupcakefest has raised thousands of dollars in cash and supplies for local shelters.

John A. Bukowski Shelter for Animals was chosen this year due to the challenges the shelter has faced this past year, including lack of funding and attempts to buy out the property: the shelter has been in the crosshairs of township officials for years as Glendale Cemetery, right next to the shelter, has wanted the land the shelter sits on for expansion. If the shelter is closed, all homeless or stray animals will likely be brought to Associated Humane in Newark, which is already overwhelmed. Animals can be put down in as little as seven days by state law, and it happens frequently at AHS.

“Planet Verge is honored every year to join Sweet Avenue in the planning of Cupcakefest,” states Joelle Caputa, president, Planet Verge. “Our staff is dedicated to raising awareness for important causes and feel it’s necessary for people to know that there are millions of amazing animals sitting in shelters right now, waiting to love you,” she said. This year’s Cupcakefest is extra special to her, as John A. Bukowski is her hometown shelter. “The shelter volunteers go above and beyond. When I adopted my dog a few years ago, my other dogs didn’t adjust well to the situation and the shelter’s trainer worked with us for months,” Joelle says. “Now, we couldn’t be happier!”

Cupcakefest 2011 will be filmed for Planet Verge TV.

ABOUT JOHN A. BUKOWSKI SHELTER FOR ANIMALS
The John A Bukowski Shelter for Animals is located in Bloomfield, NJ. Managed by the township of Bloomfield, the shelter’s animal control serves the towns of Bloomfield and Caldwell. It has been in existence for 40+ years. The shelter is an extremely low-kill shelter. The majority of the animals are adopted into permanent homes or transferred to rescues or sanctuaries to live out their lives. No animals were put down in 2009, amazing for a municipal shelter and a testament to the dedication of the volunteers. In 2010 only two dogs were put down, both for serious health reasons