A Gala and Gifts For The Dogs

Saturday was SafePet Ottawa's 3rd Annual Gala and the 3rd we have attended. While I have spoken about them before, their work is very important so I am going to recap who they are and what they do. SafePet is an organization that fosters animals for people fleeing domestic abuse. They have fostered dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, a horse, lizards etc. They will try and find a safe place for any animal.  People fleeing are put in touch with local vet clinics who will hold the pet until a volunteer can pick it up and take it to the foster. To maintain privacy the vet remains the contact between the organization and the fosters. This year so far they have helped 65 animals from over 40 families.  This is double the animals they helped last year. While it is heartbreaking that there is a need for such an organization, it is heartwarming that people (mainly women) are finding the courage to leave. One of the speakers was a survivor who only had the courage to leave knowing her best friend, a dog called Jasmine, would be safe and loved while she put her life back together. Two lives saved. They are now living their happily ever after. (For the record, each table had a box of Kleenex on it as the stories shared by those involved made you laugh and made you cry. It is a very honest and emotional fundraiser followed by a party!). 

I had learned about this charity as one of my coworkers is heavily involved. She has repeatedly asked me to foster animals, but I know (and she understands) that it isn't the time for that for us. I think it would be too hard on Lee and Phod. So while I can't open my home to a foster at this time, I can open my wallet and help out.

Besides buying our tickets, and drinking my fair share of the champagne cocktail where a $1 from each went to the charity (the Man was our DD), the Man and I participated in the silent auction. While we didn't win every item we bid on (we did help drive up the prices and raise more money for the organization), we each won one. The Man won a pair of hockey tickets to a game later this month. I won the 'surprise' dog treat box. (So while Lee was freaking out and licking her nose - see yesterday's post - I was trying to win her treats!)

The box

The contents of the box

While there are a few items (grooming and a collar) we will be donating back to SafePet (this is where we are giving all our extra things because I know if they can't use them they pass them on to another rescue or shelter), I was very happy with all the treats. The one brush is the first brush I have ever used on Lee that she did not freak out, so we are keeping this. 

Further, our gift bags for the night each contained a ticket to Pet Expo this coming weekend. Uncle Chris and I will be attending as it is not the Man's thing. We will have even more spoiled dogs! And we will be helping SafePet more as they are the charity of choice for the event.