It was a packed house on Saturday night at the Moose Lodge in Wallaceburg for the annual Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) fundraiser.
Maryanne Holland, owner of K9 Klips and the event organizer, told the Sydenham Current this year’s event eclipsed last years record setting festivities.
“It was the best one yet,” Holland said.
“Just amazing. We packed 180 people in there. We have never had that. The attendance, there was no empty seats anywhere. The attendance was just phenomenal. Everyone was just ranting and raving about how much fun they had.”
Although the final total is still being tallied, Holland said over $5,000 in profit was raised for the local animal shelter.
“That has never been. Last year was my biggest year and I was overwhelmed at $3,500, but this year we topped it. Over $5,000. Absolutely amazing,” Holland said.
“It’s all going to go straight to the Wallaceburg Animal Shelter to take care of the medical needs as the animals come in and need different things and different treatments. We are going to be able to fix up a lot of animals and get them ready for their forever homes.”
Holland said the food and entertainment at ARF was very well received.
“The people just love Classic Vibe and they were phenomenal and my daughter’s band, Three’s A Crowd, they opened up for them and everybody enjoyed them as well,” she said.
“The whole star of the evening though was actually my 1-year-old grandson. He was dressed in a three piece tuxedo, including the tie. He was standing right in front of that stage and doing his little dance. I tell you he had everybody in stitches.”
Holland added: The meal (from Burn’s Family Restaurant) was phenomenal. I was on stage telling the people that the rest of the meal would be brought out in a second, that the girls would be bringing out salads and everything and the broasted chicken, and the lady says ‘the lasagna will be out in just a minute’ and I said ‘I didn’t order lasagna’ and she says “no, that’s a surprise, that’s a gift from us.’ I have never heard of that before. They just all the sudden surprised us with that. That’s the best ever. No one went home hungry. That meal was absolutely delicious.”
Holland said there were over 30 door prizes given out, and multiple tables of prizes donated for the silent auction.
“I have people already asking me what the date of our next one will be,” she said.
Here are some photos from the event:
– Photo credit: Dana Haggith
