One howl of an event

There will be dinner, dancing and auctioning, and it’s all going to the dogs … and a handful of cats.
   The Odessa Humane Society’s largest fundraiser takes place next week with an invitation-only Barn Dance Oct. 10. All money going toward the event will benefit the operations of the humane society.
   Treasurer Connie Aguirre said this event alone brings in one-third of the yearly budget.
   “It’s extremely important,” she said. “We live from fundraiser to fundraiser.”
   Money raised and donated goes to everything from food to building maintenance. The limited funds do keep everything in order to keep the animals healthy and fed, but extra money would provide, at the least, more amenities.
   “There’s never any extra money,” Aguirre said. “If we had the (money), we’d have better dog runs.”
   Along with chewing and grooving, those attending the Barn Dance can also take part in both a silent and live auction. Aguirre said items up for bid, such as cow hide rugs, wind chimes and patio furniture, just to name a few, will all have a Texas theme.
   Two dogs will be up for bid as well.
   Other events throughout the year are planned to bring out the public in support of the humane society. One of the events planned is the annual Spaghetti Dinner. Society officials are hoping to raise a lot of money, more than their average $150,000 a year, in hopes of building a new facility in the future.
   The current facility at 7012 W. Mockingbird Lane, is aging, which makes upkeep more expensive.
   “Eventually we’ll be raising the capital funds to build a new shelter,” shelter coordinator Rhonda Lewallen said.
   Early estimates show nearly a million dollars would be needed for a new building.