Pet pairings form profit

Food, cat fashion show, silent auction pair to raise money for rescue animals

From left, Julie and Britney Hentges shop with their dog, Baeler, on Sunday at the fourth annual Pairings for Pets, sponsored by People Helping Paws. At right is Amy Hodges, owner of Fleurish Oils.
From left, Julie and Britney Hentges shop with their dog, Baeler, on Sunday at the fourth annual Pairings for Pets, sponsored by People Helping Paws. At right is Amy Hodges, owner of Fleurish Oils.

Animal lovers joined together Sunday at the American Legion for a fried chicken dinner, shopping, a silent auction and a fashion show for adoptable cats.

The fourth annual Pairings for Pets event benefited People Helping Paws, the event sponsor, with its mission of removing animals from "kill" shelters - those that euthanize - and putting them in emergency foster care until permanent homes are found.

"It's wonderful," Julie Hentges said of the event as she shopped with her daughter Britney and dog Baeler. "I'm an animal lover, and I totally believe in rescue animals. It's just good to be able to come and support the animals; that's the main thing."

Stacy Stafford, who co-founded People Helping Paws along with Sheila Martens, said the event raised $4,000 last year, and they would like to raise $5,000-$6,000 at this year's fourth annual event.

Jessica Bishop, a Paparazzi Accessories consultant, was selling the brand's signature $5 costume jewelry at the event. She was one of about 40 vendors. She sells at the event every year.

"I absolutely love it as a vendor because everyone here loves animals," she said. "It's just really neat how everyone gets together just for animals."

This is always one of her top-selling events of the 20 or so she sells at each year.

Other vendors sold various pet and non-pet related items, including homemade candles, clothes, aroma therapy items, kitchen accessories, books and hair/skin products.

Adult attendees paid $15 in advance or $20 at the door for entry, which included a fried chicken dinner.

Attendees also bought raffle tickets and shopped at a silent auction for donated items ranging from a wine, cheese and cracker basket to quilts, gift certificates, art prints and signed sports memorabilia.

Many people stayed to the end to watch a "Meow-o-ween" fashion show, featuring adoptable cats dressed as bunnies, bumble bees, even Princess Leia.

People Helping Paws can be found on Facebook and reached at [email protected].