Pine Creek Animal Hospital will hold an open house and Brandie's Hope fundraiser on Saturday, May 21, from 1 to 4 p.m. In addition to hospital tours and demonstrations, the event will include free food and snacks, such as hot dogs, and there will be a bounce house and other children's activities. Cylo from the Lancaster Barnstormers will be on hand from 1 to 2 p.m., and nail trimming will be offered for pets for a donation. Proof of rabies vaccinations will be required.

Another highlight of the open house will be a kids' clinic, during which children may bring a stuffed animals to examine with the help of Dr. Ashley Tuma, veterinarian. A lab coat and stethoscope will be provided.

The event is free, but donations will be accepted for the Veterinary Care Foundation in memory of Brandie Kasper, who was a veterinary assistant at Pine Creek. Brandie, 21, and her younger brother, Leonard, 18, passed away on May 22, 2021, in a motor vehicle accident in Mount Joy.

"After she passed away, we started receiving donations. This has allowed us to (help pet) owners who cannot afford surgery (for their pet)," said practice manager Doris Zimmerman.

She noted that Brandie and Leonard's parents held a "Cars and Coffee for Kasper" Memorial Car Show at Hempfield High School in June of 2021, which also raised funds for the nonprofit, nicknamed Brandie's Hope.

"The car show donations and anything we have received in Brandie's name has (allowed us) to offer financial support that provides low- or no-cost care to sick or injured animals," said Zimmerman. She noted that funds from Brandie's Hope have already been used for three emergency surgeries on cats.

Brandie, who loved animals, was scheduled to graduate from York Technical Institute (YTI) in July 2022. "She was going to YTI to become a veterinary technician," Zimmerman noted. "(People) had no idea how young she was; she was such a responsible person. I told her that she would be the practice manager someday."

Zimmerman noted that the first open house was held in 2019 to announce that Pine Creek Animal Hospital, formerly Atglen Veterinary Hospital, had a new name and new owners. However, open houses in 2020 and 2021 had to be canceled because of the pandemic.

New to this year's event will be an opportunity to win gift baskets. "We have baskets for both pets and humans. That money will go to the nonprofit," Zimmerman said. "We will also have (free) door prizes for all who attend."

Pine Creek Animal Hospital is located at 150 Pine Creek Drive, Gap. For more information, call 610-593-6132 or visit http://www.pinecreekah.com or http://www.facebook.com/pinecreekanimalhospital.

Those who would like to make a donation to the Veterinary Care Foundation in Brandie's name may visit http://www.pinecreekah.com and choose "About" and then "In Memory of Brandie."