September 22, 2004
Humane society fund-raiser howling success
'Happy Tails to You' benefit auction features 31 cat and dog statutes decorated by area artists
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
The heat, sweat and dust did not dent
From beads, fish and billiard balls to wings, grapes and Marilyn Monroe, the 31 cat and dog statues auctioned at the Happy Tails to You Fundraiser Saturday evening had it all.
Decorated by area artists and art students, the fiberglass statues made their way to homes of bidders as the money raised will help retire the mortgage on the Cherryland Humane Society's new home. The 14,000-square-foot facility opened in September 2002, offering a space about six times as large as the previous building.
Rolling Centuries Historical Farm welcomed the event, which was held under a large tent behind the barns. Music by Dominic Fortuna plus an animal-themed silent auction, food and wine kept the attendees happy until the main event: the live auction of the statues.
These works of art had been displayed around town all summer and the 'buzz' about them brought attendees to the event - checkbooks in hand. By the end of the auction, every statue was spoken for.
"There were people here from out of state and people who had come from downstate," said Mike Cherry, executive director of the Cherryland Humane Society for 15 years. "We had some calls from people who had been up here in the summertime and it just seems like anytime you do animal works of art it is something people follow."
Cherry said the society got the idea for Happy Tails from a successful fish statue fund-raiser held in Bay Harbor a few years ago. The success of similar decorated animal statue events, including cows in Chicago and pigs in Cincinnati, also motivated the society.
"We were impressed with that [Bay Harbor] event, it was fun, everyone had such a good time and it was a creative idea, the kind of elements you want at a fund-raiser," Cherry noted.
Holding the party at the historical barns was a win-win situation for both the Cherryland Humane Society and the Rolling Centuries Historical Farm.
"We're glad to do anything, Rolling Centuries Farm is not an exclusive site," said Emmy Lou Cholak, a member of the Rolling Centuries group. "We want to host many, many events and we're glad to cooperate and work with anybody."
In addition to raising money, Happy Tails to You was also geared to educate attendees and the public about humane issues for pets.
"Anytime we have an event we try to make people aware of spaying and neutering and how important that is," said Suzanne Risselade, humane educator with the Cherryland Humane Society since June.
Risselade also noted that people are often unaware of the lifetime commitment required by pets. The Cherryland Humane Society handles approximately 3,000 pets a year, approximately 60 percent of them are cats and 40 percent are dogs.
In addition to unwanted litters of kittens and puppies, people drop off many adult animals. These grown pets can no longer live with their owners for reasons ranging from relocation to family changes to people not realizing the care involved.
"There are very few animals that will live in the same home throughout their whole lifetime, that is very sad," she said. "Unfortunately, it is very much a throwaway society."
Earlier that day, the Cherryland Humane Society threw open its doors to the public for Pet Day 2004, co-sponsored by the Grand Traverse Kennel Club. The event featured agility demonstrations, information on responsible pet care, games, contests and a tour of the facility.
"There was just tremendous support there, we had a tremendous turnout," Risselade noted, adding of both events: "The community has just been so fantastic and so supportive."