Fifth Annual FUR BALL Supports Rabun PAWS4LIFE NO-KILL Animal Shelter

If you have pets, you probably have fur balls around the house. But the Rabun Paws4Life Fur Ball is the annual fundraiser for the county’s nonprofit, no-kill, open admission animal shelter.

The fifth annual event on June 3 drew a crowd of about 200 to the Civic Center and raised approximately $25,000 to fund shelter improvements and provide enrichment for pets at the shelter.

“We very much appreciate the community’s support for Paws4Life,” said Jennifer Marcellino, CEO for the organization. “We plan to use these funds to build a new cattery with both indoor and outdoor spaces for the cats. This will give them access to sunshine, fresh air and exercise.”

This year’s Fur Ball saw the highest ticket sales ever. The evening featured music by Sweet Charity, a buffet dinner by area restaurants and a live auction by Greg Peters of Golden Memories Auction.  Auction items included artwork, wine, home décor, a Lake Burton getaway and a fly-over with a local pilot.

Rabun Paws4Life has joined the nation’s largest animal welfare network, organized by the Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah.

In 2016, Rabun Paws4Life took in 703 animals: 472 dogs and 231 cats. Almost half—305 animals—were strays picked up by the shelter’s animal control officers. Nearly all the animals found safe homes: 408 were adopted from Paws4Life; while 275 were transferred to other no-kill shelters in the Southeast. Last year Paws4Life also provided free or low-cost sterilzation for 621 animals (327 dogs and 294 cats), and low-cost vaccinations for 501 animals (388 dogs and 113 cats).