SURFSIDE BEACH — It wasn’t just the usual party animals filling Cool Daddy’s restaurant, bar and grill in Surfside Beach this Saturday. Instead, in a partnership with Coastal Animal Rescue, afternoon customers were greeted by a pet adoption and vaccine fair called the Family and Fur Festival.

Phil Salone, who owns the restaurant with his wife Diane, said they’ve always tried to give back to the community. Though the bar recently moved from downtown Myrtle Beach to Surfside Beach, that community support isn’t changing.

The couple has tried to help raise awareness for autism and breast cancer in the past. But their daughter recently adopted a puggle from the no-kill shelter in Murrells Inlet and they decided to support a different cause this time around.

Paula Syms, with Coastal Animal Rescue, said events like the fair are critical to the nonprofit’s survival as well as the adoption of the animals themselves.

People are more likely to adopt an animal at fairs and festivals than they are to simply show up at the shelter, Syms said. She said families have even called a couple days after events to see if the cute dog they saw is still available.

The shelter is connected to a clinic which helps provide affordable care. During the festival, vaccinations, including rabies and distemper, were offered to family pets for $5.

“People can’t afford to take care of their pets the way they used to,” Syms said. “That’s just how the economy is.”

She hoped the discounted vaccinations helped pet owners secure the care the animals need.

The shelter is running out of room for cats and is holding a discounted cat adoption event next Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the shelter, 1288 Limestone Drive in Murrells Inlet. Some adoptable cats will also be at Coastline Pet Supply at 3530 North Gate Drive in Myrtle Beach.

All kittens and cats will be current on shots, spayed or neutered and microchipped. Anyone interested should fill out the adoption form available at coastalanimalrescue.org.

Contact AMANDA KELLEY at 626-0381.