Hugo Van Velzen of Amherst, accompanied by parents David and Martine Van Velzen, joined in the activities of the recent 35th Holiday Open House and Kitty Angels Fundraiser presented Nov. 1-2, where he paused to share some tasty feed pellets with a pure white alpaca, one of the event's petting zoo attractions at the Treasures Antiques, Collectables and More fundraiser presented at Treasures on Ponemah Road in Amherst. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

AMHERST – Hugo Van Velzen, age 10, is a local animal lover who with parents David and Martine Van Velzen of Amherst turned out with hundreds more visitors during the weekend of Nov. 1-2 to support Treasures Antiques, Collectables and More’s 35th Holiday Open House and Kitty Angels Fundraiser hosted by Treasures at 106 Ponemah Road in Amherst.

“He loves dogs and all animals,” Martine said. The young man also is an avid sportsman specializing in soccer, karate and gymnastics.

Hugo quickly made friends with a pure white alpaca and some goats, piglets, rabbits and a puffed-up turkey — gentle creatures that are the stars of a petting zoo provided to the fundraiser for the past six years by Mitzy Roy of Mapledell Farm and Rose Smith of Hilltop Homestead, both located in Ashby, Mass.

Smith’s exhibit of the handmade bars of soap she crafts from the milk of a herd of goats that live at nearby Mapledell Farm was an enticement for buyers who prefer pure and natural products. Smith also makes memorial teddy bears, quilts, and custom items including T-shirts, mugs and stickers from her Hilltop Homestead.

Roy said that in 2015 she expanded her small Mapledell Farm into a more extensive business. She now focuses on community enrichment by offering pony rides and petting zoos to charity events, farmers’ markets and private parties. Animal rescue is a part of the enterprise, as is her goatscaping service, one in which her goats are commissioned to clear land of weeds and other unsightly growth.

Elsewhere at Treasures Antiques, Collectables and More patrons mingled among dozens of vendors of woodworks, pottery, apparel, artwork and toys. A food truck chef satisfied those in need of a nibble. Live music from regionally renowned performers enriched the mostly outdoor event. A raffle of more than 50 high-value prizes drew more dollars for the Kitty Angels benefit.

Kitty Angels is an all-volunteer no-kill shelter dedicated to the rescue of stray or abandoned cats. The Tyngsborough organization founded in 1993 serves New Hampshire and Massachusetts and reportedly rehomes several hundred cats annually.

More information on Kitty Angels can be found online at kittyangels.org.

Treasures Antiques, Collectables and More can be contacted online at TreasuresNH.com.