Between speeches and prize draws, staff and volunteers at 91原创 Animal Protection Society (LAPS) deked into the animal control offices, taking turns bottle feed a litter of three nine-day-old kittens brought into care a few days earlier.
Content and full, the babies then dozed in and out of sleep despite the ruckus going on right outside their door. It was a party, with 140 people 芒鈧�� most dubbed LAPS heroes 芒鈧�� invited to the shelter Friday for an annual thank you wine and cheese event.
The event was two-fold in purpose, explained executive director Sean Baker. It was a chance to express gratitude to all who give and help the community animal shelter 芒鈧�� whether by donating time, money, or both.
The other reason for the late spring event, Baker joked, is to force himself and his crew to do a little house cleaning. It forces them to move the furniture and catch all the stray dust bunnies seeking refuge in the shelter.
芒鈧揟his is our opportunity to thank you for all that you have done to help animals in the past year,芒鈧� Baker said, calling the night a 芒鈧揾uge success and a lot of fun.芒鈧�
芒鈧揟he responsibility that we have to take care of 91原创芒鈧劉s stray, lost, and unwanted animals is a big one, and we could not do what we do without you. Thank you for being heroes for animals.芒鈧�
Among those in attendance were 91原创 Township Mayor Jack Froese and Councillor Grant Ward, along with former Township mayor Kurt Alberts, so Baker took the opportunity to offer a little history and sprinkle a little thanks their way.
芒鈧揂s many of you may already know, the Township of 91原创 was our first partner and has been by our side every step of the way. There is no way that we would be here tonight, in this amazing building, without the commitment made to Patti Dale by mayor and council 11 years ago,芒鈧� Baker said, acknowledging the work of Alberts and his team of the day, as well as the current members of council.
芒鈧揟hat commitment was a promise that 91原创芒鈧劉s animals would always receive the best care possible and 91原创 would be a beacon for others to follow. And thank you for keeping that promise,芒鈧� he added.
In the past year, the shelter has cared for more than 1,300 dogs, cats, and large animals.
芒鈧揟hat芒鈧劉s a lot of help we provided,芒鈧� Baker insisted, sharing credit with everyone gathered in the front lobby of the Patti Dale Animal Shelter that night.
芒鈧揟he past year has been great,芒鈧� he said, putting a spotlight on one effort in particular that has been garnering LAPS some international attention via the Internet.
The shelter now shares its successes 芒鈧�� and the occasional heartbreak 芒鈧�� with the world thanks to what he described as 芒鈧搒uper foster moms芒鈧� Shelly Roche and Shannon Underwood, who have been broadcasting the lives of several cats over the past year plus.
芒鈧揥ho would have every thought it. Using this amazing invention of computers connected by cables and a $69 camera that captures images and video, the magic of LAPS has been shared with the masses,芒鈧� Baker commented.
芒鈧揂nd who would have thought that watching a cat that you have never met, in someone芒鈧劉s home that you don芒鈧劉t know, in a place that you have never been to, do nothing but sleep, would attract the attention of so many people around the world?
芒鈧揂nd if watching for hours non-stop was not amazing enough, who would have thought that so many of these people would proceed to send us money and lots of marvellous gifts? The concept is truly mad and the amount of stuff we have been receiving is mind blowing,芒鈧� Baker said.
芒鈧揥ith no word of a lie, we get so many gifts that UPS has a dedicated truck that comes here daily. We are on a first name basis with the UPS guy and he and his wife are even coming to the gala.
芒鈧揑n truth, the more that I think about it, the less crazy it seems that people would want to watch a sleeping cat that is half way around the world. That芒鈧劉s because it isn芒鈧劉t the sleeping cat that draws people to keep watching. No, because you can watch a sleeping cat any day of the week, in every corner of the world. What people are drawn to is the hearts of the people who are caring for the cats. Shelly, Shannon, and our animal care team have truly shown the world [LAPS founder] Patti [Dale]芒鈧劉s spirit. That is the uniqueness that keeps people glued to their computer monitors. What they want to see is more of the love and commitment that our team gives to each and every animal that needs us. They want more of LAPS.芒鈧�
At Friday night芒鈧劉s wine and cheese, Baker 芒鈧�� who never misses an opportunity to promote the LAPS fundraising initiatives 芒鈧�� also announced this year芒鈧劉s Wizard of Oz-themed gala is set for Nov. 1.
It will be the seventh annual Furry Tail Endings gala, once again being held at the Coast Hotel, and Baker said he expected 芒鈧�� like in past 芒鈧�� that the event will sell out.
That芒鈧劉s fortunate, because LAPS is responsible for fundraising about $300,000 [a third of the shelter芒鈧劉s annual budget] each year, and fundraisers like the gala are key.
芒鈧揂 really big part of making sure that we do it this year is by making Furry Tail Endings gala part 7 a huge success,芒鈧� Baker said, describing it as one of 91原创芒鈧劉s premiere social event of the year and a one-night event responsible for generating upwards of $100,000 towards their annual total.
They kicked off sales Friday by selling 134 tickets. Baker said that puts them at the 1/3 mark, already.
In addition to selling tickets to the gala, staff and volunteers also sold tickets for the organization芒鈧劉s dream vacation lottery, accepted a few table sponsorships, and had a few members of the crowd sign up to be monthly donors 芒鈧�� bringing in a total of more than $20,000 from Friday night芒鈧劉s event, which Baker reiterated was meant as a thank you not a 芒鈧搒hake down.芒鈧�
芒鈧揥e are a team and are in this together,芒鈧� Baker concluded, expressing thanks again to everyone in the room and beyond who has helped make the Patti Dale Animal Shelter and LAPS a model organization when it comes to quality care for domestic animals.
