It's that time again! Time for the Ninth Annual "Howling at the Moon" fund raiser for the Animal Welfare Alliance (AWA). And this year's gala features a new attraction.
A Parker Centerfire XXTreme crossbow worth $749.95 retail will be raffled off at $10 per chance. "We're only printing 200 crossbow raffle tickets. So there's a one-in-200 chance for some lucky hunter who buys even a single raffle ticket," said AWA President Nancy Abernathy.
The winning ticket will be drawn the night of "Howling at the Moon," which is from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at the Westwood Center, 445 N. Westwood Blvd., in Poplar Bluff. Crossbow raffle tickets can be bought on site that evening or in advance at the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce or at Somewhere In Time Antiques & More.
AWA is the only organization in the six-county area providing financial help to qualifying pet owners who need to get their dogs or cats spayed or neutered.
Since its first full year of operation in 2009, AWA has spent more than $57,000 helping to spay/neuter area pets in an effort to reduce the number of unwanted and abandoned animals. That figure includes $2,500 spent this year to help underwrite the spay/neuter costs of dogs and cats adopted from the city's Animal Control shelter.
In addition, with the cooperation of the Poplar Bluff Animal Control staff, AWA helps provide vaccinations for puppies and kittens in the city shelter.
AWA's primary and long-term goal is to build a 5,000-square-foot, no-kill animal shelter on the seven acres it owns just north of Poplar Bluff's city limits. Half the income from "Howling at the Moon" will go into AWA's construction fund.
"Howling at the Moon," AWA's largest fund raiser of the year, features a full dinner by Maya's restaurant, free beverages, a silent auction and live music by the band "Thin Blue Line" - all for a $35 donation per person or $60 for two if paid in advance.
Tickets are available at the door Nov. 3 or in advance from Artfully Framed, the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce, Key Drugs, Somewhere In Time Antiques & More or on-line at HYPERLINK "http://www.awasemo.org/"www.awasemo.org .
"We are so grateful to this year's sponsors," said Abernathy. "Without their support we would not be able to have this event."
Event sponsors are Coffman & Co.-Your CPA, Key Drugs, Budweiser/Luecke Distributing and Hillcrest Animal Hospital.
Gold sponsors are Hicks Animal Hospital and Lisa Reynolds Insurance/Modern Woodmen.
Silver sponsors are Dental Arts Group/The Blaich Family, First Midwest Bank, Pack's Do-It Center, Parks Animal Care Center, Ripley County Veterinary Service, Somewhere In Time Antiques & More and Whitworth's Gift Chest Jewelers.
The Animal Welfare Alliance of Southeast Missouri is registered with state and federal authorities as a nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)3 of the U.S. tax code. Donations are tax deductible. Visit the organization at HYPERLINK "http://www.awasemo.org/"www.awasemo.org or HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/awasemo"www.facebook.com/awasemo.