Join us ?Love Unleashed: A Valentine’s Day Fur-raiser! ??
? Thursday, February 8th 2024 ? 5:00 – 8:00 pm ? Stoup Brewing – Capitol Hill, 1158 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122
This love-filled evening is your chance to snuggle with adorable adoptable dogs and bunnies while sipping on delightful pints at Stoup Brewing – Capitol Hill. We’re thrilled to announce that Stoup Brewing, the event sponsor, is generously donating $1 for each pint sold during the event! ?
All donations from the event will go to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation, supporting programs for pets and families in need through the Seattle Animal Shelter. ??
But that’s not all! We will have two very special vendors who will be joining us to make this evening even more special. Including Puddles Barkery and Power Yummies!
Bring your friends and join us for Love Unleashed at Stoup Brewing Capitol Hill on Thursday, February 8th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm!
The Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation’s Furevermore Auction & Gala kicked off in a new location this year but with the same goal in mind – to raise critical funds for Seattle’s pets in need. More than 300 attendees plus volunteers, SAS staff, and generous sponsors gathered at Fremont Studios on Saturday, October 21 and raised a record-breaking $250,000 for the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) to fund animal welfare programs at the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS).
Spirits and anticipation were high as guests arrived. Once inside, they put on their best face as they stopped to strike a pose at the step and repeat and entered the swanky silent auction and cocktail area – where all the fun and good energy was flowing!
As the cocktail hour began, guests were greeted with passed spirits and bites– the perfect setting for a private viewing of the sleek and sophisticated all-electric Audi Q4 e-tron from Bone-a-Fide Partner, Your Pacific Northwest Audi Dealers. The vibing live music by Marina and the Dreamboats had everyone tapping their paws.
Many unique silent auction items were on display with some very competitive (but always friendly!) bidding wars. A few highlights included a hot tub boat excursion on South Lake Union, the Ultimate Dick’s Drive-In Package, Bledsoe McDaniel’s Wine and Wine Tasting, as well as the exclusive debut of the 2023 Limited Edition Pawcasso Collection – painted with love by some SAS’s finest adoptable pups, and many more!
The SAS adoptable kitten tents drew a crowd, as did the return of the popular You As An Animal portrait artist, Michelle Lassaline, who painted guests as whimsical creatures of their choosing! Guests also enjoyed a life-size dog house photo booth (including many fun props!) and an open bar featuring the evening’s signature Meow Meow Mule, wine, bubbles and other generous in-kind donations from XOBC Cellars, Georgetown Brewing, and Jones Soda to help get the pawty started.
As the silent bids wound down, our Furevermore hosts called everyone into the large dining room illuminated by a massive wall-to-wall screen featuring adoptable pets throughout the night. Dinner was kicked off by our wonderful emcee and Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation Vice President Tracy Taylor Turner, Auction Co-Chairs Mindy Fitzgerald and Lacy Bell, followed by heartfelt thanks given by SASF President Alex Clarke, and Seattle Animal Shelter Director Esteban Rodriguez.
“It was a magical night with infectious energy and love for the animals. It really was the best mix of humans – from our committed and generous donors and volunteers who give their whole hearts to our incredible auction committee (Dorothy Gorman, Josh Herrington, and Justin Taft) who were invaluable champions and doers for the event, as well SASF board members who supported the event. I’m proud to work alongside everyone involved and am so appreciative of our generous animal loving community. The funds raised will ensure SASF can continue to enhance critical programs at SAS and provide all the animals their Best Chance at a healthy, safe, and happy life. I am grateful to you all, Furevermore! Until next year!”
Mindy Fitzgerald, SASF Board Member and Auction Co-Chair
“Furevermore 2023 was truly a celebration of the Seattle Animal Shelter community! I love that so many volunteers, staff, long-time donors, and new supporters were all able to enjoy the evening’s festivities while generously giving to provide the Best Chance for so many of the animals that are in need right now. The mission of the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation resonates with everyone making Furevermore not just another request but an event that is highly anticipated! Plus, kittens and the appearance by Koa the Shar Pei mix made this year unforgettable!”
Lacy Bell, SASF Board Member and Auction Co-Chair
Then on to the amazing live auction! Energetic auctioneer Joel Schenfeld and the ever-entertaining emcee, Tracy Taylor, presented live auction items including unique local experiences like a one of a kind cocktail reception and dinner at the exclusive Smith Tower Penthouse (donated by a very generous SAS volunteer!), a private wine cellar dinner for ten at Ethan Stowell’s Staple & Fancy, and a trip to soak up Italy with friends Under the Tuscan Sun. In addition to the big screen, every table featured an adoptable pet display complete with a description, photo, and QR code to learn more about each animal.
In addition to the animals on display looking for their furever homes, one pup star of the show was SAS foster dog Koa, who made a surprise appearance on stage with her foster parent. She and her foster parents enjoyed a well-deserved night out on the town! This amazing Shar-Pei Mix is available for adoption here. And to learn more about foster an incredible pet like Koa here.
During the 2023 SASF Fund-A-Need portion of the evening, guests watched an inspiring video narrated by SAS Foster Coordinator Sagan Lain, about their new position that was funded by last year’s Furevermore Fund-A-Need. Sagan shared how they have been able to improve the fostering experience which helps volunteers, adopters, and shelter pets.
Next was a video about SAS’s new Best Chance Program. For the Fund-A-Need this year, guests were encouraged to raise their paddles to support this critical program that will provide veterinary access and education to keep pets safe with their families in historically underserved communities. The Best Chance Program will give pets their best chance at living healthy lives by establishing accessible wellness and vaccine clinics. It will also give pets and their owners their best chance at a healthy human-pet bond by providing necessary pet supplies including pet food, crates, leashes, collars, and more. Its primary goal is to keep more animals with their owners and out of the shelter – creating space for animals that truly need to be there.
Closing the night was the always-amusing Dessert Dash. Each table and its guests had a chance to be the highest bidders for their place in line to select and then share one of a wide variety of exquisite desserts donated by a selection of Seattle’s most talented bakers and bakeries.
Supporters helped raise a record $250,000 by the end of this memorable night. We are beyond thrilled and grateful for these donations to further enhance Seattle Animal Shelter programs and enrich the lives of Seattle’s pets! To our donors, sponsors, and volunteers – we could not do this without you. Your commitment and generosity for the animals is overwhelming.
Special thanks to the 2023 Furevermore Auction & Gala sponsors! Your support and commitment to the cause are paramount to our success and ability to continue to fund critical programs at SAS. We hope to see you all again next year for another successful event!
Bakery Nouveau Bell’s Cookie Co Ben’s Bread Company Cait’s Bakes Cake it Nice Columbia City Bakery Cookies with Tiffany Dough by Moon Kaspar’s Catering
Little Free Bakery Ballard Macrina Bakery Madison Park Bakery Megan Nadan Metropolitan Market (Magnolia) Nothing Bundt Cakes, Bellevue Pie Love Seattle Raised Doughnuts and Cakes Rosellini’s Fine Cakes & Baked Goods
Sea Wolf Bakers The Collection Bakery The Confectional The Essential Baking Company The Sweet Stuff Bakery & Confections by Gwen Feher Wallflour Cake Studio
Funds raised at the Furevermore Auction & Gala allow us to continue supporting animal welfare enhancing programs for pets at the Seattle Animal Shelter and in our community.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, subscribe to our email newsletter, and return to this website for updates on how the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation is improving the lives of our most vulnerable pets.
In December 2022, Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation board member Jeana Chaffin was on a ride-along with Seattle Animal Shelter Animal Field Officer Kevin – a ride-along she successfully bid on at the Furevermore Auction & Gala a few weeks earlier! The exciting day included a follow-up to a dog bite incident, a raccoon chase, and a chicken rescue from a hoarding situation. Recently, Jeana talked with us about her experience out in the field.
What was your experience like at Furevermore?
Jeana: It was fun! It’s always good to engage with the community of people who share the same passion and interest for animal welfare and show their support for the shelter.
What interested you to bid on the Ride-Along Prize?
J: I’ve been a longtime volunteer at the shelter but being in the field is something that I’d never experienced. I’m much more familiar with the Animal Care Officers (ACO1s) at the shelter because I’ve volunteered as a Greeter and a Dog Walker. But spending time with the Animal Control Officers (ACO2s) in the field was something I’d never done before. This gave me a full understanding of what the shelter does. A lot of times we think about the animals, but the people who work there, the staff and volunteers, are not only caring for the animals but also our community. This involves interacting with the public, which can be difficult. Whether you’re working with the ACO1s or the ACO2s, you gain a better understanding of what they do, and more empathy and respect for them. That work can be very emotional, so I gained a lot of admiration for what they have to go through. The officers are all very skilled at negotiation, compassion, and communication.
Can you take us through your Ride-Along day?
The day starts with dispatch who gives you the cases for the day, however there can be emergencies, delays, and new situations that pop up that change the plans. The first task of our day was to follow up with a dog bite incident – this meant talking with the dog’s owner and the person who was bit. The owner of the dog was very upset when we called to follow-up. Officer Kevin very calmly and compassionately talked with them about options to work with the dog’s needs and behaviors, such as walking the dog with a muzzle, containing the dog in another room when there are visitors, working on slow introductions. As it turned out, they’d recently moved, and the dog was under stress. After the talk, the owner was relieved and considering the other options.
After we spoke with the other person involved and came to a resolution of next steps, we got a call about an injured raccoon in someone’s backyard. This was an emergency call, so we headed there next. Officer Kevin got on his gloves, I held a giant container, and after some chasing we were able to get the raccoon safely into the shelter vehicle.
Next, we got a call about two chickens in a hoarding situation involving a missing person report. It was a bad hoarding situation, but thankfully after a while the chickens were found in the kitchen. This was the end of the day so we headed straight back to the shelter and into the vet office. The vet did a health check, and luckily, they were in pretty good shape. A couple weeks later in January they had new names, Chips and Ice Cream, a new home, and were very happy.
Chips and Ice Cream foraging in their new home
What was your biggest takeaway from your experience?
J: It was an emotional, exciting, and illuminating experience – all kinds of animals and people and situations. It was extremely valuable for understanding what the shelter does in its entirety in supporting the community and Seattle’s animals. It demonstrated the staff’s commitment to animal welfare and the betterment of our community. That’s the purpose of the shelter. The shelter is there to help and support Seattle’s animals and the community.
What would you say to people interested in Furevermore and the Ride-Along experience?
J: Spending time with the shelter staff is always a rewarding experience and the field ride along will show you first-hand the work that the shelter does in the community – you’ll have a unique experience that will leave you in awe of the work that the shelter staff does every day.
You could win your very own Furevermore Ride-Along Prize while helping Seattle’s pets in need! Get your October 21, 2023 Furevermore Auction & Gala tickets here now. Thank you for your support!
2023 marks the 12th annual Furevermore Auction and Gala! This year will be bigger than ever before.
We welcome hundreds of amazing donors to the beautiful Fremont Studios to partake in:
Cocktail Hour with live band, raffle, photo booth, and more
Live and silent auctions
A full course dinner
Sports tickets, local restaurant tastings, pet gear, and one-of-a-kind travel opportunities are just some of the items ready to go to the highest bidder. Plus, there’s the chance to make your pet the star of next year’s Furry 5K and Furevermore!
Join us for a night of meeting other animal enthusiasts and bidding on items to support the vital work at the Seattle Animal Shelter! Your donations directly impact the quality of lives for the dogs, cats, and critters in shelter and foster care.
Tickets and seating are limited, so please buy tickets here as soon as you can. There is an Early Bird ticket discount this year until September 15.
Unable to join but want to contribute to the cause? Donate directly to help the animals of Seattle.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in October!
FUNDRAISING AUCTION & GALA October 21, 2023 6:30 pm Fremont Studios • 155 N 35th Street, Seattle, WA Silent & Live Auctions ~ Raise the Paddle ~ Adoptable Animals
Join the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation for a night full of fun and love for the animals. Enjoy lively entertainment and libations, adoptable furry friends, delicious food, fabulous live and silent auction experiences, and more! This is a great way to give back to Seattle Animal Shelter while getting some great items and experiences.
Last year, nearly 300 attendees helped to raise more than $235,000 to fund the shelter’s services including a full-time foster care coordinator position to increase the number of dogs, cats, and critters that are placed in foster homes and provide direct support to foster parents and animals.
This year, we’re looking to top that! Your support is critical to the shelter’s ability to save lives and impact the quality of care for every single animal. All proceeds go towards supporting crucial programs at Seattle Animal Shelter.
We couldn’t do it without you! Come and join us!
TICKETS – Early Bird Pricing Until Sept 15 Individual | $180 Table of 10 | $1,800
Last year at the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) annual Furevermore Auction and Gala fundraising event, SASF paid tribute to Bob and Doris. Watch the touching tribute video slideshow below, narrated by Furevermore’s host Tracy Taylor. Married in 1962, the couple devoted themselves to giving back in a variety of ways. Over the years, both found ways to engage with the community. From church groups and women’s shelters, to becoming foster parents and adopting cats and kittens from the SAS. Bob passed away in 2020, and Doris followed on the same day one year later. Their love and work for SASF lives on through their legacy and their bequest, and every dollar raised for the Foster Coordinator role at Furevermore 2022 was matched by the estate of Bob and Doris.
A bequest carries on the work and legacy of people like Bob and Doris. Bequests help SASF fund vital programs at SAS, which directly benefit animals in need in our community. Ultimately, any charitable bequest means a part of your legacy supports your values. In our case, the mission of providing the best care, support, and loving families for animals.
What are bequests?
Bequests are an amount of money or value, designated for a specific purpose, that are given at the time a will is carried out.
An example of a bequest:
A person stipulates that a designated amount of money in their will goes to a specific organization.
What it means for pets:
What this means is that organizations like Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) receive gifts from dedicated animal lovers that go directly towards the care, support, and homing of animals in need through the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS).
How do you create a charitable bequest from your will or trust?
To create a charitable bequest – specify the beneficiary of your gift to the intended organization in either your will or living trust. Your charitable bequest could be stated as cash, securities, property; a percentage of your estate; or the remainder of your estate after all other stipulations are carried out.
Voiceover credit: Tracy Taylor, Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation Vice President
Don’t Miss The PAWTY! This year Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation’s annual Furevermore Auction & Gala is Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 6:30 – 9:30 pm at Fremont Studios in Seattle. Join us for a night full of entertainment and libations, adoptable furry friends, delicious food, fabulous live and silent auction experiences, and more. Your support is critical to the shelter’s ability to save lives and impact the quality of care for every single animal. Tickets are available now at https://cssas.ejoinme.org/tickets
The Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises critical funds to help enrich the lives of Seattle’s animals.
Every year, the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation hosts the Furry 5K, a Fun Run (or walk!) which benefits the Seattle Animal Shelter, supporting pets in need. And for the 5th year in a row, Mud Bay was the Furry 5K presenting sponsor.
Teddy, a local Seattle customer, browses Mud Bay treats.
On June 10, Mud Bay kindly hosted early packet pickup at their Greenwood location. The early packet pickup helped just over 300 participants get their goodies and gear before the race, making sure our human and dog runners were ready to go. And Furry 5K pup-ticipants could enjoy a sweet treat at the early packet pickup.
On the day of the race, Mud Bay was everywhere! As presenting sponsor, Mud Bay’s tent was front and center at the end of the race, handing out treats and goodies for finishers. Their logo also graced the bibs, backs of our teal t-shirts, and hot pink bandanas rocked by people and pets alike.
Finally, we’d like to thank Mud Bay for generously donating an additional dollar for every mile walked or run: a total of over $4,100 this year! Many thanks to Mud Bay and all of our participants and volunteers, from two to four legs.
The 24th annual Furry 5K is in the books! The weather cooperated and was perfect for running, walking, strolling, and petting dogs. Over 1,300 amazing humans registered for the race and Seward Park was a sea of teal with the adorable face of Ezzie everywhere.
Tracy Taylor-Turner, Vice President of the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation, served once again as the event’s MC and knocked it out of the park. The Seattle Animal Shelter Director Esteban Rodriguez gave a heartfelt thanks to the participants as they gathered at the start line. Former Seahawk Walter Jones hyped the crowd up. Then, Mayor (and Seattle Animal Shelter fan) Bruce Harrell counted down the start of the race as the crowd of participants, both two- and four-legged, were raring and ready to run.
RACERS TO WATCH
There were plenty of speedy people and pups on hand, with some truly impressive finishing times.
The fastest runners in each category were:
Male:
Michael Stewart (20:50)
John O’Hearn (21:04) + Dog
Taylor Kesler (21:18)
Female:
Julie Vieselmeyer (20:51) + Dog
Cleo Baernstein (20:57)
Ran Huo (22:15)
Non-Binary:
MJ Jenkins (23:13) + Dog
Vyas Savanur (25:54)
Katie Lyle-Beshai (30:33)
TOP FUNDRAISERS
In the weeks leading up to the Furry 5K Fun Run and Walk, individuals and teams worked diligently to fundraise to great success! Through generous donations, they raised nearly $14,000. Commercial Industrial Ruffing was the top fundraising team, raising over $1,000. The top fundraising doggo Hector (and his human Frank Massaro!) was presented a medal at the Pet-a-Palooza celebration.
BY THE NUMBERS
Over 4,100 miles walked or run
Over 30 vendors and sponsors
587 Runners
737 Walkers
Countless dogs!
And perhaps most importantly of all:
$118,949 raised to help the animals of Seattle!
THANK YOU TO ALL INVOLVED
None of this would have been possible without the support of donors, volunteers, sponsors, and vendors.
The Furry 5K has always been run by volunteers dedicated to raising funds to cover the Seattle Animal Shelter’s veterinary needs. This year’s race was put on by more than 100 volunteers – the glue of this beloved event! Whether you ran, walked, donated, led a team, shared a post on social media, or anything in between — thank you. Your support helps the Seattle Animal Shelter keep doing amazing work.
It takes a village to put on a race like the Furry 5K, and a huge part of that community are our sponsors. These sponsors provide the shelter with invaluable resources to create a fun, impactful event that truly matters to the animals in need of the care that the shelter provides. Thank you to:
A special shout out to our presenting sponsor, Mud Bay, for also donating $1 for each mile ran at the Furry 5K, for a total of $4,108!
Please join us at our Furevermore Auction & Gala on October 21st at Fremont Studios for a night full of fun and love for our community’s animals. Tickets are on sale now!
The best part of the Furry 5K Fun Run and Walk varies depending on who you ask. For many of us it’s simple: the dogs and their people. For others, it’s seeing the strength of the animal welfare community coming together to support such an important cause.
But for some, the best part is that it saved their life. Although they wouldn’t be able to tell you that.
In 2022, the Furry 5K made possible 226 veterinary visits for 135 animals, and many more lab tests and prescriptions in support of that.
The event raised $115,000, which goes specifically to the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) “Help the Animals” fund.
“As opposed to grant funding for behavior or foster programs, this fund goes into the ‘Help the Animals’ fund, so it is more nimble for the SAS,” said Seattle Animal Shelter Deputy Director Jocelyn Bouchard. “That’s one way it’s different, and that’s a positive thing. If we have a large impound or an urgent medical need, we can access it right away,” she said.
In 2022, most of the funds were used for vet costs, because the shelter was without a veterinarian so needed more external support. Some money went back into the foster program for reimbursements to foster homes for supplies, and toward the purchase of leashes and collars, and cardboard carriers to send cats to their forever homes. It also helped support the Canine Corral, where the shelter dogs are exercised.
“This fund was invaluable this past year. There was one surgery in particular, an orthopedic surgery for Styx, who needed both his front legs splinted,” Jocelyn said.
Styx was rescued when he was injured but thanks to multiple treatments funded by the Help the Animals Fund and the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation he was adopted and is well on his way to a full recovery.
For Styx and all the other animals helped by past Furry 5Ks, there’s a lot to love about the event. And for attendees, no matter what your favorite part, you’ll find it this year.
“The thing that always stands out … is everybody and their dogs. It’s just the best,” she said. “And it’s an opportunity to get together with like-minded people, support a great cause and see a bunch of cute animals.”
On June 11, Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) is holding the 24th annual Furry 5K at Seward Park. A chance to get outside, gather with our furry family members, and support animals in need. What’s more, 100% of funds raised on this fun day go to the Help the Animals Fund at the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS).
Every fall, SASF hosts an auction and gala called Furevermore to raise funds for SAS. Last fall, Heather and Pete made a generous donation to win the Face of Furry 5K for their dog, Ezzie. We had a chat with the two about their history with animal welfare and how Ezzie brought new energy and joy to their day-to-day lives.
OUR CONVERSATION WITH HEATHER AND PETE
SASF: LET’S START WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT PART… CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EZZIE?
Heather: We got Ezzie in 2021 at a rescue in Eastern Washington, because he fit exactly what we were looking for and there are so many dogs over there needing adoption. Someone found him on the side of the road with an eye hanging out. Our last dog had both eyes removed so when I saw Ezzie with just one eye, that caught my attention. He has some stranger danger but once he gets to know you, he is the sweetest, most empathetic little guy.
WHY WERE YOU INTERESTED IN HAVING YOUR DOG BE THE FACE OF THE FURRY 5K?
Pete: I’m on the Board of the Seattle Humane Society, we’re long-time supporters of the Seattle Animal Shelter, and we’ve been going to Furevermore for many years. Heather was also involved in the very first auctions for a number of years. We loved the idea of giving Ezzie a platform to show that one-eyed stray dogs can be amazing dogs.
HOW DOES EZZIE AFFECT YOUR LIFE? HOW IS HE A PART OF YOUR DAY-TO-DAY?
Heather: In the morning he likes to climb on me and we’ll have a little chat. He gets me to walk every day, we play ball, and he’s next to me all work day long. He always wants to be with us, and he’s a great traveler, he goes with us down to Palm Springs.
Pete: He wants to be part of our lives and we want to be part of his. He’s very joyful, very athletic, and he has this way of running that is purely for fun. He doesn’t care about how fast he is, he just wants to have fun.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY WITH EZZIE SO FAR?
Pete: Our first two dogs were older and quieter dogs, and the first day we brought Ezzie home, he was about a year and a half old, he went puppy crazy and played in our backyard for hours. But of course, he was nervous being in a new situation. So first day was wild and new. We were worried about what we got ourselves into, but it’s all been awesome. He sat on the console the whole ride home, so he was comfortable with us from the get-go.
Heather: He also has this ball he likes to play soccer with. He pushes it around with his front paws, then he jumps over it to stop it, and then pushes it back with his head.
OKAY, LAST QUESTION. IF SOMEONE WAS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE FURRY 5K THIS SUMMER, WHAT IS ONE THING YOU’D TELL THEM?
Heather: It’s an amazing way to support animal welfare and any support goes a long way!
HOW TO JOIN IN ON THE FUN
There’s still plenty of time to sign up for this June’s Furry 5K! Check out the Furry 5K website to learn more about participating.
And if you’d like to see your pet be the Face of Furry 5K at a future event, stay tuned for more news about the Furevermore Auction & Gala this October.
