Football, festivals and fundraisers -- I love fall! It’s a great time of year. Actually, any time of year is great for rescue pets. Just being alive, out of a shelter and in a wonderful home is a gift in itself. That’s why I’m trying to help more of my pound pals find homes. A shelter is no place for a dog or cat to live.

My CARES Homeless Pet Club is going great! We’ve already adopted several pets and businesses, and schools and groups are jumping in as well. This is an audacious project! If you want your company, school, church, Scout troop, garden club or any organization to participate, just send an e-mail to me at acpup247@yahoo.com.

Are you planning to eat lunch or supper Monday? Well then, let me tell you about something happening this Monday.

There is a wonderful manager named Matt Yerby at Moe’s Southwest Grill located at 3111 Vineville Ave. in Macon. He’s an animal lover and has a rescue baby himself. He actually reached out to my nonprofit group Central Georgia CARES to offer to host a fundraising event at his restaurant.

So CARES’ representatives met with Matt to hear his idea and have lunch with him at Moe’s. They said it was so much fun to go into the restaurant and hear all the employees yell out, “Welcome to Moe’s!” Everyone who came in the door received that warm, welcoming greeting and immediately knew they were appreciated at the restaurant.

Matt is so committed to helping the animals in our area that he designed a plan that will not only help raise money so CARES can provide even more assistance to rescue groups, but it will also let the rescue groups showcase their adoptable pets. And all you have to do is come in to Moe’s Monday for either lunch or supper! That’s it.

You see, CARES will receive a portion of the proceeds of all the sales Monday. You can eat any time of day Monday, and CARES will benefit from your meal -- and that’s not all.

CARES will set up tables outside in front of the restaurant to have terrific items for sale that you just can’t live without. And some of the rescue groups will be bringing adoptable pets for you to see, too. The adoptable animals will be there from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. for lunch and 6-8 p.m. for supper.

I’ll be in and out throughout the day too, and you know I’ll be looking for you. So come with me Monday to support a business that cares so much about animals and CARES. And you’ll hear, “Welcome to Moe’s” when you step in the door! See you Monday!

Send questions for AC Pup to acpup247@yahoo.com. Visit www.acpup.com or see his Facebook page.