Quick caveat before I begin…there’s really no connection between my headline and blog post, except that I’ll be sharing pictures of a pup named Rudy. But I love that song, so couldn’t resist the headline.
Moving on.
As many of you know, lately I’ve been working as part of a committee to plan and promote a fundraising event called the Bone-E-Fit. For $50, guests in the tri-county will be treated to dinner, drinks, a silent auction, the musical stylings of the Back 9 Band and a tour of the first floor of Woodburn Historic House. If you’re interested, the event’s on Thursday, May 5 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. All dollars raised will benefit affordable spay/neuter and animal rescue programs in Anderson County.
The event is led by Anderson Voices for Animals – many of you will recall this is the group that saved our very own Alex P. Kitten.
The Pendleton Historic Foundation (for which I am also a volunteer) is donating the use of Woodburn for the event, which is fantastic. And this weekend, we learned that Anderson’s Mayor, Terence Roberts, will be attending.
We managed to pull together a quick photo opportunity on Monday afternoon with the Mayor, Anderson Voices for Animals reps and Rudy, a former shelter dog who’s now thriving in a new home (as evidenced by his girth). We tied a Bone-E-Fit ticket around Rudy’s collar so he could “present” it to the Mayor.
We got one camera (thanks WYFF 4!), which was impressive, considering our release went out on the Easter weekend and we were competing with someone who crashed a local wedding in a bunny suit (no kidding). Apparently, three people joined him dressed as carrots.
Rhonda Sims (Rudy's Mom), Rudy, Mayor Roberts, Sommer Hammett and Jenny O'Barr at the ticket presentation.
When she’s not tending to Rudy’s every need, Rhonda is also the lead contact for Freedom Train Animal Rescue Transports, which transfers dogs from shelters in the Anderson area to screened and approved rescue organizations and forever homes.
Couldn't resist another Rudy photo. He and the Mayor really hit it off.
The animal overpopulation issue here is absolutely overwhelming, with 15,000 animals being placed in the local shelter each year. More than 10,000 of these animals are euthanized – again, this is each year. By way of comparison, we’re basically euthanizing one animal per household in the City of Anderson (last estimated at 10,641 in 2000). It’s unfathomable.
The only way to address this problem effectively is through affordable spay and neuter programs. And this service is available. For example, the Anderson County Fix-A-Pet Fund provides financial assistance to low-income pet owners to help them get their pets fixed at a low cost Spay/Neuter Clinic at 407 Pearman Dairy Rd (367-7220). Pet owners are asked to make a co-pay that is not a hardship for them and the Fix-A-Pet Fund pays the remainder of the fee.
I have so much admiration for the people who dedicate so much of their time, energy and money to finding a solution. If you live in the tri-county and want to spend a fun evening at one of our area’s most lovely antebellum homes, your ticket price will go a long way.
If the ticket price is out of your price range, consider making a donation to your local animal shelter or to Anderson Voices for Animals instead. Every little bit helps.
Way to go, Shawna! Sounds like a great benefit for a very worthy cause.
Thanks John – it really is (or was, I suppose). It went really well!
Just catching up on surfing your blog. I LOVE the name of the event! Did you come up with that? And what a great cause. I wish I’d been there to help, a) great cause, b) you know how I love a good themed event.
ha ha