PAR 5th Annual FurBall
BY JOAN WILSON-BARNES
The Pickens Animal Rescue (PAR) Fifth Annual Fur Ball was a huge success. The food, catered by Coast2Coast, was outstanding, music, dance lessons, and trivia entertainment provided by DJ, Jesse Giles, was almost too much fun, and the Heads-or-Tails bead game was full of suspenseful but friendly competition. Silent Auction participants went home with new relaxation, recreational, and home decorating treasures. Everyone enjoyed both the creative art and the different flavors of the multiple layers of the cake prepared by the Dough Boys.
Anne Roberts, PAR Board Member and Administrator of PAWs on Main, spoke about the Spay/Neuter program that PAWs on Main and other local organizations, including Pickens County Animal Control Shelter, are providing to the area. The attendees viewed a video and slide show of the great work being done by PAWs on Main as well as at the PAR Ranch. Many of the 186 PAR pets that found Furever homes this year were showcased as were some of the new adoptive owners. If you have pets that have not been spayed or neutered, please contact PAWs on Main about this initiative.
PAR President, Valerie Bates, gave an overview of the PAR organization and its three branches: PAWs on Main, the PAR Thrift Store, and the Rescue Ranch. She talked about the cost of caring for pets that come to the PAR Ranch and the necessity to turn many away due to the increased number of homeless pets that the current economic slowdown has caused and the concurrent decline in adoptions. The numbers tell the story:
YEAR ADOPTIONs and FEES
2007 $60,000 – more than 500 pets adopted
2008 $53,000 – more than 500 pets adopted
2009 $37,000 – more than 500 pets adopted
2010 $22,000 – more than 500 pets adopted
2011 Year to Date only $11,000 – 186 PETS ADOPTED
Because PAR is a no kill animal rescue organization, the fewer adoptions mean fewer pets can be rescued. Too many must be turned away each and every day to try to survive on their own. All pets that are available for adoption (see www.pickensanimalrescue.org for available pets) have been spayed or neutered, micro chipped, and are current on all their shots and preventive medicines.
You can help in these times of need by making a donation to PAR at PAWs on Main or The PAR Thrift Store, both on North Main, at www.pickensanimalrescue.org, or one of the many retail locations that have PAR donation boxes. Donations of furniture and household goods to the PAR Thrift Store are also appreciated. Volunteers are always needed on adoption days at PetSmart in Woodstock, at the PAR Ranch throughout the week, at the PAR Thrift Store and at various events throughout the year. And, if you can provide a foster home for one or more pets that allows more pets to be rescued and cared for. Of course the ultimate gift to PAR, the animals there, and to you and your family is to adopt a new family member from PAR.
No great success happens without a concerted effort from a lot of devoted, talented people. In the case of the Fur Ball, the following people and sponsors made the smashing success possible: A special thanks goes out to our 2011 Sponsors; Todd W. Hall Company, PC Co-Pilots, ViSalus-Ginger Hall, KDA Communications, Jasper Dental Associates, Nature’s Farmacy, Lakota Cove, Foothills Dental Associates, Kiker Wealth Management, Gary and Camille Hammond, Guerry and Carol Massey, Smoke Signals On-Line, ETC, KnowPickens.com, Custom Home Structures, Critter Sitters Inc., Pit-Stop Portables, Junktiques, Suzanne Bryant, Venue2Remember, Maria and Dan Ashby, Rick Jung, Trout’s Beverage, Dough Boys Cakes and Catering, Appalachian Country Magazine, JasperPickensCountyGA.com and the Pickens Progress. The Silent Auction is a very important and popular part of this fundraising event, so a huge thank you goes out to the eighty five plus donors who contributed items to be bid on this year. (See www.pickensfurball.org)
These Volunteers helped make this a successful event; Susan Catton and Marilyn Pitts – 2011 Fur Ball Co-Chairs, Julie Whitworth, Kathe Hall, Carol Massey, Artistic Designs, Joan Barnes, Anne Roberts, Maria Ashby, Becky Jaye, Sue Parker, Susan Kent, Janis Kleinberger, Ralph Hilliard, Jeff Catton, Bryan and Charlotte McInerney, Merlyn Jacobs, John McCarthy, Jacqie Dunn, Sadie Jo Cornett, Ginny Morris, Brooklin Lyon, Mari Livesy, Allison Brown and Alvin Stewart Photography. (See event photos at www.KnowPickens.com)
The Fur Ball is held on the first Saturday of November each year. Please make plans now to attend next year and help provide spay/neuter services and care for homeless pets in our community. Each person can make an important difference to our County’s pet population. Please remember the pets as winter begins.
We hope to see you at the 2012 Fur Ball.
FurBall Cake by Dough Boys
Ethan Turner won the Heads-or-Tails Game at the 2011 FurBall
Susan makes Ethan choose his prize
