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Raise the Woof event benefits animal rescue
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Neighbors | Elise McKeown Skolnick.The Raise the Woof fundraiser was offered at the Magic Tree Pub Sept. 7 to benefit For the Dogs animal rescue organization.
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Neighbors | Elise McEown Skolnick.Patty McNamee and Amy Klenec attended the Raise the Woof fundraiser Sept.7 at Magic Tree Pub and Eatery.
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Neighbors | Elise McKeown Skolnick.Lori Flromyak ran the 50/50 raffle at the Raise the Woof fundraiser to benefit For the Dogs, an animal rescue organization, Sept. 7.
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Neighbors | Elise McKeown Skolnick.Shawna Gallagher, Amber Ausnehmer and Diana Davis attended the Raise the Woof fundraiser at the Magic Tree Pub Sept. 7.
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Neighbors | Elise McKeown Skolnick.Dallas McCuskey tried to win some items in the Raise the Woof fundraiser basket raffle Sept. 7.
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
Dog lovers came to the Magic Tree Pub Sept. 7 for a little laughter while they raised funds for a local animal rescue organization.
Raise The Woof is a stand-up comedy tour that works with animal shelters and rescue groups to raise funds. The event benefitted For the Dogs animal rescue, a group devoted to rescuing dogs from the Mahoning County Dog Pound so they are not euthanized.
The non-profit organization is completely funded by donations, said Kim Best, a volunteer with For the Dogs. She said there was a great response to the Raise the Woof fundraiser. This is the first time the organization offered the event.
The organization currently uses foster homes and a boarding kennels to house the rescued dogs. They have about 40 dogs in their care and they cannot take anymore at this time because of a lack of foster homes.
“We are always in desperate need of foster homes. So many dogs in shelters die every day because there’s nowhere for them [to go],” Best said. “We wish we could foster them all.”
Eventually, members of the organization would like a permanent building to house the rescued dogs.
Monetary donations and in-kind donations, such as food, as well as foster homes are needed, Best said. Responsible pet ownership is important, too, she said. This includes spaying and neutering pets and adopting shelter dogs rather than purchasing an animal in a pet store.
Shelter dogs are “the most amazing dogs in the world,” Best said.
Friends Shawna Gallagher, Amber Ausnehmer and Diana Davis were looking for something to do and the Raise the Woof event was a good fit, they said.
“I thought it would be a lot of fun to go out and see it and it’s for a good cause,” said Gallagher.
Davis added, “I just wanted to have a good night out with my girlfriends and have a good laugh. And this seemed like the best place to go.”
Raise The Woof was created by comedian and producer James Uloth. The organization has raised more than $300,000 for various charities.