Text and photo by Marcy Merrill

Bring your (somewhat) well-behaved, leashed pet to the Westport Winery on March 3 to help support a special-needs dog at Harbor Rescue.

Merrill Photography will be snapping professional pet portraits in exchange for a donation toward the mounting veterinary bills for a dog named Valé (pronounced like “volley”), a young Lab mix. She was placed in the back of a pickup, tethered by a long leash. At some point she jumped or fell out of the truck and was dragged for several miles on pavement. She was left with no skin on her belly, thighs and feet, and her front toenails were ground down to the bone.

Valé was surrendered to Harbor Rescue and has undergone four surgeries to save her legs and feet. In an effort to offset her mounting veterinary bills, Westport Winery is hosting this fundraiser from 1 to 3 p.m. at 1 S. Arbor Road (just off State Rte. 105, between Aberdeen and Westport).

Drawings also will be held for several items, including a basket donated by the winery and the chance to get a portrait of your pet custom-painted by Annie Unwin of Annie’s Northwest Art.

The portraits will be taken outdoors on the patio, under a temporary shelter. Dress appropriately for the weather. No pets will be allowed inside the winery’s tasting room or restaurant.

For more information, contact Marcy Merrill at 360-267-1036 or marcy@merrillphoto.com, or Harbor Rescue at 360-589-0109.