I don’t like to get dressed up, but I’ll do it for an event that benefits homeless animals.
Friday night I ditched my boots for heels to attend the Mohawk & Hudson River Humane Society gala Around the World for 80 Strays. I suspect they raised a lot of money because there had to be at least 300 people there plus there was a silent auction, a live auction, a 50/50 raffle, you name it and there was an opportunity to give more to the MHRHS.
It was the second year for the gala, and Brad Shear’s 2nd year as the shelter’s Executive Director, too.
Is it a coincidence that during that time, there have been many wonderful improvements to the shelter? And by the way, remember waiting on line at The Crossings to contribute your bottles and cans after the ones at the shelter had been stolen? Price Chopper promised to double the amount of returns from the recyclables. The final tally was $6,800 – thanks to the community’s generosity and that of Price Chopper.
MHRHS Trustee and Treasurer of the Board Kathlene Thiel won the exciting live auction for the privilege of having kitties Ze and Willow on the cover of the 2010 Cutest Pet Calendar. John DeCelle, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at SEFCU, won in spirit for having adopted all three of his beloved dogs from the shelter. This contest alone raised $3,000 to benefit the Humane Society.
Among the guests of honor were canine attendees Bocker the Labradoodle, chair of the event, and Buster the Pug, subject of the hilarious video Buster’s Big Day Out. Bocker is a well-known therapy dog and is no stranger to helping out worthwhile causes, having led the Million Doodle March to raise autism awareness. Buster is one of the shelter’s Happy Tails.
No, I didn’t win anything, though I contemplated bidding on that calendar cover to showcase my own shelter dog Todd; that is, until they started the bidding at $300! So I will just make Todd semi-famous by putting his photo right here, which costs me nothing and will probably make people who adore Pomeranian/Papillion mixes smile big time.
Start saving up your money, animal lovers, for the next event to benefit the shelter: Dog Days of Summer on August 20, 2009Â in Saratoga Springs.
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