Tattoo fest helps local furbabies

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If you love dogs, cats and tats, check out a semi-annual Ocala charity event that will give you some new body art to show off while boosting the ongoing efforts of the Humane Society of Marion County (HSMC). 

Fist City Tattoo has teamed up with HSMC to present Art for Animals from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, at 1905 SW College Road, Ocala. 

For those interested in getting inked, pre-selected flash designs will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The tats start at $50 and will be posted inside Fist City on the day of the event. 

The event will include the Lucky’s Kitchen food truck and prize drawings of local goods and services. Profits will go to HSMC to help local animals in need. 

The nonprofit, founded in 1964, is a no-kill shelter dedicated to the care and protection of animals. Its mission is to prevent cruelty, suffering and overpopulation of animals through education, housing and financial support. 

The organization has earned a 100% score by Charity Navigator for its “Impact & Results beacon,” which is used to estimate the impact a charity has on the lives of those it serves and determines whether it is making good use of donor resources. 

Roseann Morton, president of the HSMC board of directors, recently received the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County’s Board Member of the Year Award for her work with the society, which she has served for 25 years. 

For more information, visit thehsmc.org.