by Janet Warner LouisvillePetPals.com Staff

Event Column Me-ow! KHS puts on the Ritz!

LOUISVILLE, August 26, 2006 -- Three hundred pet lovers turned out for the Click to view full-size images

Kentucky Humane Society’s Gala Event at Churchill Downs. “It’s always exciting when there’s a whole room of animal lovers. These people come out every year to support KHS” said Krista Roberts, Public Relations & Marketing Director. The ‘Roarin’ Twenties’ theme was great fun and allowed employees, volunteers and patrons to participate by dressing theme attire. Media hosts, Ron and Mel Fisher of WHAS radio dressed the part but could not compete with their own dog, Angel, decked out as a racy red flapper puppy!

This was the non-profit’s 2nd year on millionaire’s row, a spacious room with a buffet and dance floor. “It’s a popular venue and lends itself to the structure of the event with a separate room for the silent auction,” said Roberts. Live music by the Mike Tracy Trio & Pegasus entertained the intimate crowd as images of KHS critters flashed overhead on television screens normally reserved for a better view of horseracing.

Following a buffet style dinner, KHS presented an award to Footworks Inc. as the “Most Animal Friendly Business. The “P.A.W.” (Person Promoting Animal Welfare) award was given to KHS Kathy Rice for her outstanding community work. Three KHS success stories were also presented including a three legged Beagle, formerly known as “Greta” and “Brie” a sweet yellow lab.

The organization received nearly $105,000 from the jazzy event. Besides the ticket price of $100, funds were raised by silent and live auction items. The event featured a “Golden Ticket” raffle where patrons could purchase a $100 ticket and the winner was allowed to pick the auction item of their choice. The highest bid for a silent auction items was $1750 for a Caribbean Vacation package in Belize, Central America. A Four-Star African Photo Safari for two, six days and nights with daily Land Rover trips in Zululand, South Africa, fetched $2,750. Perhaps the best bargain of the evening was a two night stay for dogs and their humans in the Blued Ridge Mountains of North Carolina complete with meals! A lucky KHS patron took home that package for only $375.

Generosity to the KHS did not stop with individual patrons. “We’ve had huge corporate support- For instance, Yum Brands bought this table and gave it back to us so that we could give it to our media guests people for free.” It gave KHS an opportunity to treat several media personalities to this event as a thank you for the on-air promotion of KHS pets and events. In attendance were WAVE 3’s Tom Wills, FOX 41’s Barry Bernson, 102.3 The Max’s Aaron Miller and Lite 106.9’s Kathi Lincoln and John Ashton.