The cold snap that has moved into the area over the last few weeks has wreaked havoc on many residents across Berrien and Cass counties, be it with stalled cars, frozen pipes or larger gas or electric bills to cover the cost of heating.

Subzero temperatures don’t just impact the two-legged members of local households, though.

Whether it is with decreased access to the outdoors or less frequent meals due to owners not being able to get out and buy more food, dogs and cats often fare as poorly in the snow and cold as their human counterparts.

“It’s been a hard winter for people and their animals,” said Joan Belew, a volunteer with Dowagiac’s Animal Service League. “When it’s hard for people, it’s often hard for animals too.”

Next month, area residents will have the opportunity to lend their furry friends a helping hand.

On March 7, Dowagiac’s Wounded Minnow Saloon will host a special fundraiser benefiting the Animal Service League and the St. Paul’s Pet Food Pantry. From 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., 15 percent of total sales will be donated to the two organizations. Visitors will able be able to make direct monetary donations, or donate bags of dry cat or dog food.

The Animal Service League, which has served the pet population of Cass County for more than 30 years, provides a number of services to local pet-owners and animals, including helping senior citizens get their pets properly vaccinated, spayed and neutered, Belew said.

“We haven’t had a fundraiser in so long,” Belew said. “We need this to keep going.”

Belew, whose son Kyle owns the downtown restaurant, suggested the idea of holding the fundraiser to Lois Karasek, director of the service league, and volunteers with the St. Paul’s Food Pantry, which stocks smalls bags of pet food for residents.

“They thought it was a good idea,” Belew said. “We could handle doing this, and it would be a great way to help out local animals.”

This will be the second time the Minnow has hosted a fundraising dinner for a local service organization. On Jan. 17, the saloon donated 20 percent of a checks Domestic And Sexual Abuse Services.

For more information about the event, contact Belew at 782-6253.