Wagging on without Muttzanita
Tillamook animal advocates
raise money in the absence
of popular festival
BY ZOË BUCHLI
Although organizers cancelled Manzani-
ta’s annual canine festival, Muttzanita, for a
second year in a row, fundraising eff orts to
support local animal rescue eff orts are thriv-
ing in Tillamook County.
Four Paws on the Beach and Animal
Haven Rescue have raised about $7,000
since September to provide funding for ani-
mal needs along the North Coast.
Matt Ruona co-owns Manzanita’s dog
and cat supply boutique, Four Paws on the
Beach, with his wife, Meghan, and has been
one of the people spearheading fundraising.
The couple also owns a second Four Paws
on the Beach location in Cannon Beach.
Muttzanita is a yearly fundraiser to cele-
brate canines. It has been put on for 13 years,
and attracts hundreds of people from all the-
North Coast every year, according to Ruona.
While the event typically is held the
weekend after Labor Day, it was canceled in
2020 and again in 2021 after the Manzanita
community decided to put off events due to
the pandemic.
The festival was initially started by the
previous owners of Four Paws on the Beach.
Over time, it has transitioned into a fund-
raiser for Animal Haven by the Sea Rescue,
the n orth Tillamook County a nimal r escue.
“In the economic times and the commu-
nity we live in there’s tremendous need for
folks where they have animals but can’t put
food in front of them or have medical proce-
dures done,” Ruona said.
Animal Haven is a one-stop for animal
needs in northern Tillamook County. The
non profi t, supported by local volunteers,
gives aid to animals that are lost or in need
of food, housing or medical attention. The
non profi t operates multiple pet food banks to
ensure animals always have access to food,
and keeps an open tab at Nehalem Animal
Healing to help individuals in need to cover
their vet costs.
Early in the planning process for the
2021 Muttzanita event , the fundraising goal
was $10,000. When the event was cance led,
Ruona didn’t know how it would be possi-
ble to still meet the fundraising goal. In Sep-
tember, Four Paws hosted silent auctions and
put out a donation jar that brought in some
money.
The fundraising eff orts continued through
The 2019 Muttzanita parade, led by the 2019 Mayor of Muttzanita, ‘Stella.’
October with more auction items, goodie
bags and increased publicity eff orts. More
people started coming in with cash donations,
and eventually the owner of the Bayway Tav-
ern in Nehalem wrote two separate $1,000
checks.
“That was a huge boost, the owner, Suzie
Gruver, has been one of our top sponsors,”
Ruona said. “The fact that she did that on her
own was just remarkable.”
Four Paws on the Beach raised around
$5,000 and Animal Haven raised about
$2,000, a combined $7,000 for the year, sur-
passing what Ruona thought might be possi-
ble without Muttzanita.
Ruona noted that it’s wonderful to see
the outpouring of support from people in the
Manzanita and Nehalem area.
“The community really stepped up and
did some amazing things,” he said, and added
that everyone rallied to help raise the money.
Ruona said the shelter’s founder and
director, Lee Blackmon, is thankful for the
support.
“(Blackmon) was so excited by the fact
he was able to get some of the supplies and
repair materials for some of the facilities he
has,” Ruona said. “Temporarily, it’s really
taken the burden off of him fi nancially.”
Ruona isn’t sure what 2022 will hold in
terms of the festival, but is hopeful it can
return next year.
“We feel lucky we can be a conduit for it,”
Ruona continued. “This has been one of the
great rewards of running Four Paws, is that
Muttzanita has been part and parcel of it.”
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