The annual Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) fundraiser is taking place on Saturday at the Moose Lodge in Wallaceburg.
“100% of the proceeds stays in town for our local shelter,” Maryanne Holland, owner of K9 Klips and the event organizer, told the Sydenham Current.
“Wallaceburg as a community and outlined area is helping us amazingly this year. Everybody just steps up. I have had people coming and donating all kinds of money… ‘I can’t come, but I want to give you $100’. That kind of thing is just amazing.”
The event will be held Saturday, April 8.
The doors open at 5:30 p.m.
“The biggest, most exciting thing this year is it is being catering by Burn’s Restaurant,” Holland said.
“Every time I have mentioned that to people, they are pretty excited about it.”
Tickets are $25 each, which includes dinner and entertainment by Classic Vibe.
“There will be door prizes, raffle prizes, silent auction, 50/50 draws and a whole lot of fun,” Holland said.
“I call it our ‘Annual Fun Fundraiser’. It is so much fun.”
Tickets are only available in advance and are only available from Holland.
She can be reached at K-9 Klips at 1542 Dufferin Ave. in Wallaceburg or by calling 519-627-9855.
A total of $3,800 was raised at last yeae’s nearly sold-out event.
Background on ARF
Susan Arends, the manager of the Wallaceburg Animal Shelter, said ARF started when a dog named Maddie wandered onto a local construction site.
“The construction crew on the job shared their lunch with Maddie, but they soon realized she was sick as well as injured,” Arends said.
“Maddie had been tied with a chain and the chain had become embedded in her neck. Her neck was infected and smelled terribly.”
Arends said animal control was called and they promised the Wallaceburg Shelter that Maddie would not be euthanized until the construction crew were contacted.
“After seeing the veterinarians at the Wallaceburg Animal Hospital it was discovered Maddie was heart worm positive as well as having infection in her body from the wounds on her neck,” she said.
“As per the promise, Maddie’s crew was contacted, they had raised some money for Maddie’s medical needs, but not enough. ARF was started by Charlotte Hogan and the ARF history started.”
Arends said Maddie was treated with antibiotics for the infection, her neck wounds were cleaned twice daily and the heart worm was treated.
“Maddie endured all the treatments with a great disposition and never a bite or growl was heard from this wonderful animal,” she said.
“The staff at the Wallaceburg Animal Shelter are very thankful for the fund. It’s much nicer to be able to treat the dogs with medical problems, than to pass them off to new owners to deal with or euthanize.”
Arends said the funds raised at ARF go a long way to help animals in the community.
“The Wallaceburg Animal Shelter does not get any government funding to operate,” Arends said. “Beyond the basic needs allowance for the dogs coming into care, there is not a lot left over for medical needs. Some dogs coming into the shelter need medical attention.”
Arends said the Wallaceburg Animal Hospital does their part to help.
“With the help of the Wallaceburg Animal Hospital, who do their best to keep the cost down for us and the Animal Rescue Fund, we are able to treat these animals who would otherwise not be adoptable,” she said.
– File photo
– With files from Tami Eagen
