THE Sunshine Coast Animal Refuge (SCARS) is hosting their biggest event of the year to raise money for a new transport van and is aiming to match last year’s funds.
SCARS is hoping to raise $50,000 at the Paws for a Cause long lunch, which, for $150 a ticket, features a three-course lunch and all soft and alcoholic drinks covered in the price.
Additionally, there will be a live and silent auction with prizes worth a total of $30,000, as well as raffles and a dog and kitten camp where you can connect with some of SCARS’ animals.
SCARS marketing volunteer Penny Brischke said they had already sold 70 tickets and is excited to raise money for a new transport van this year.
“Our current van doesn’t quite make it up the hill anymore, and we bought it second hand, it’s really on its last legs so we thought we’d make it this year’s cause for Paws for a Cause,” she said.
“The reason it’s so important to us is it allows us to take our dogs out of the refuge to have lovely outside walks away from the refuge, especially those who have been there for longer than 100 days.
“We also use the van to take dogs and cats to special vet trips, procedures and x-ray appointments, and even to pick up our donations from various locations.”
Previous Paws for a Cause events helped SCARS raise $800,000 to build new dog pens, starting the build in late March this year, which aims to better accommodate dogs waiting to find their forever home. “Our dog shelter area is 44 years old, and we have started renovating two sections of it, and creating 19 new pens which will be purpose built,” Penny said. “This will limit dogs from seeing and hearing each other, which can stress the dogs out more in an already stressful situation of not having a home.
“We want our dogs to be in an environment that is as comfortable as possible for them to wait in while they wait to be adopted into their forever home.”