The Will County Humane Society will host the fifth annual Fur Ball Saturday in Joliet to benefit homeless animals.
The event will begin with cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. at Harrah’s Casino Joliet, 151 N. Joliet St. The fundraiser also will include a silent auction and a raffle of gift baskets.
Beth Behling, a humane society board member and fundraising director, said the event is the group’s “bread and butter fundraiser.”
Behling said the fundraising goal this year is to attempt to exceed the $15,000 raised at last year’s event.
“We are just trying to beat that goal,” Behling said.
Behling said the proceeds from fundraisers help with a variety of the animals’ needs, including food, housing and medical care. She said about 80% of the total amount spent on the animals is used for preventive medical care and medical treatment.
“I don’t think when people are donating that they actually understand… how important veterinary care is,” Behling said. “A lot of the animals we have come in are very sick. When you are adopting a dog from us, we tag them [and] they’re treated for heartworms and given vaccines. Not only are we treating them for the entire time that they’re here, we want to make sure they are very healthy when they are handed over…”
She said animals are accepted from homes that are no longer able to care for them, other shelters and from community animal control services.
She said about 35 dogs and 75 cats are typically housed at the shelter. Homeless animals replace those that are adopted as quickly as possible, she said.
“We try to keep it like that all the time,” Behling said.
She said the fundraiser’s proceeds also will be used to make improvements at the Humane Society’s facility at 24109 Seil Rd., Shorewood
“We’re a little run down…but we are constantly making improvements on the building,” Behling said. “It’s so dear to my heart that it’s hard to not get emotional about it. This shelter … really genuinely cares for its animals. They’re constantly trying to work at the max capacity that they’re able to take.”
Tickets are $75 per person, $100 for two people and $500 for a table sponsorship. Reservation deadline is Thursday.
To order tickets, visit www.willcountyhumane.com or call (815) 741-0695. For information, email Behling at [email protected]
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.Ginger Brashinger is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.