STERLING — The Cocker Spaniel Rescue of New England is hosting the Sterling Public Market in the parish hall of the First Church on Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a free event open to the public with all funds raised going toward the care of the rescued dogs.
The event is the largest fundraiser the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization has hosted since COVID hit in 2020. A plethora of vendors have donated items to sell, everything from artwork to jewelry, dog items, overnights at local spots, restaurant gift certificates, museum passes, and more.
Organizer and longtime town resident Jane Morgan, who runs the popular Sterling Street Market, is an active member of CSRNE. When the organization’s annual auction fundraiser was canceled, she pivoted and put together the event with the Sterling Public Market.
The organization is near and dear to the heart of Morgan, who has been a volunteer with CSRNE for 28 years and a board member for 12 of those. She and her husband have four cocker spaniels, rescues ranging from 10 to 14 years old: Brooklyn, Melo, Prince and Lucy.
“Fundraising is this rescue’s only source of income,” she said. “That is why events such as these are so critical.”
CSRNE is the oldest rescue in New England, having been established in 1987. Morgan said the organization is celebrating 36 years of “being able to save hundreds of lives and place these wonderful dogs in happy and loving forever homes.”
“The Sterling Street Market has been so popular, we thought we’d hold this year’s event in the First Church’s parish hall in the center of Sterling,” she said. “Our volunteers have been gearing up for it all year, gathering donated items from businesses and individuals.”
CSRNE’s mission is to find permanent, loving homes for the many unwanted or abandoned cocker spaniels that come to them each year.
“Many require extensive medical attention for tumors, infections, heartworm disease, and broken bones before they can be adopted,” Morgan said. “CSRNE strives to never turn away a cocker spaniel because of advanced age or health issues. But because of this never-ending need, plus daily kenneling charges, funding is critical. Private donations and fundraisers are our only sources of income. CSRNE has been able to save hundreds of dogs from neglectful and abusive situations and give them a well-deserved ‘second chance’ with families who love them.”
All funds raised through the Sterling Public Market will go toward helping to pay bills associated with veterinary and emergency visits and surgeries. In addition, each dog is spayed or neutered and up to date with all vaccines before being rehomed, care that is pricey.
“Rescue work is very expensive,” Morgan said. “Because we don’t own a kennel, boarding, grooming and feeding the rescued dogs is costly.”
Many of the Sterling Street Market vendors and others donated items to be sold at the Sterling Public Market.
“We’ll have tables filled with all our donated items for sale,” she said. “We have so many gift cards from restaurants, wineries, breweries, hotels, and museums around New England. We have unique jewelry, framed artwork, chocolates, desserts and so much more. We hope everyone will stop in and get their holiday shopping started.”
For more information, follow Sterling Public Market (facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551953682801) on Facebook.
