Sept. 13, 2002 – The Humane Society of St. Thomas is stocking the fall season with events designed to raise much-needed funds and to offer participants several chances to have a ball.
The fund-raisers kick off next week with "Humane Society Dining for a Cause, Help Support the Paws." Join the Humane Society at the XO Bistro in Red Hook on Wednesday for cocktails or dinner, and 10 percent of all you spend will be donated to the organization. No reservations are necessary.
Coming on Oct. 20, it's Barktober Fest at Latitude 18 on the east end of St. Thomas. The Humane Society will provide live music, and pets are invited to compete in contests with themes like worst breath, pet-owner look-alike and obedience. Primary sponsor Cape Air has donated round-trip airline tickets for contest and raffle winners. There will be a $5 registration fee for all participants.
West Indies Windsurfing will also participate in Barktober Fest, by donating 20 percent of rental costs of all registered participants to the Humane Society.
Humane Society board member Cara Hinton said the event will be fun for everyone. "I want it to be like a big fair," she said.
Animals from the shelter will be on hand so people can have a chance to play with them and, perhaps, set up an adoption plan, Hinton said.
Food will be sold, too. Vendor booth space is available for a $10 donation.
The all-day event begins at 11 a.m. and runs late into the evening.
The fall fund-raising season wraps up with the Halloween Freakers Ball at the Old Mill on Nov. 2. A portion of the cover charge will benefit the Humane Society. The animal-theme costume party starts with dinner at 7 p.m. Registration for the costume contest begins at 8.
The fund-raisers are all part of a broader campaign to help fund a new shelter. According to Joe Aubain, Humane Society board president, the current building in Nadir has been condemned as a result of the ongoing Nadir bridge project.
A model for the new shelter will be unveiled in December as fund-raising plans continue. For more information on any of the coming events, contact Hinton at 715-1379.