The annual 100 Mile House and District SPCA dinner and auction is shaping up to be the cat’s meow.
It takes place Oct. 27 at the Valley Room, featuring a catered dinner of roast beef and chicken, with desserts and coffee along with an evening of all-out fun.
Local auctioneer Donna Nivison will move dozens of items across the auction block with her usual upbeat style, says SPCA fundraising co-ordinator Margaret Barnicoat.
“She’s always cheerful and involves the audience and she always instils humour in her evening.”
All of the money raised at the auction will stay in the community and be used to spay and neuter and cover costs of general medical expenses for animals that are in care of the SPCA.
Some cash is shared with people on low income who have been approved for assistance in spaying or neutering their pet, and money also goes toward paying foster expenses for volunteers who care for animals in their home.
Barnicoat explains the local SPCA does not have a permanent shelter and all animals in their care are fostered in the homes of volunteers.
“It’s surprising how many people don’t realize that.”
Due to the absence of local foster homes for dogs, she adds none are kept in the community. Any dogs that come under their care are immediately relocated to the Lower Mainland by branch supervisor Randi Dewhirst. She operates an SPCA transfer service, which relocates animals from as far away as Fort St. John on a weekly basis.
Dewhirst has been involved with the SPCA as a volunteer since 2000 and has had up to 30 cats in her home at one time in foster care.
Barnicoat says they have kittens coming to them all the time and are in desperate need of more foster homes.
While not everyone is in the position to foster an animal, they can help out by attending the auction. Tickets are $25 and available at fascination street, Donex, Pharmasave and Total Pet. The deadline to purchase them is Oct. 24.
Folks who want to donate auction items can drop them off at fascination street and Western Financial on Birch Avenue
On auction night, doors open at 5 p.m., dinner is at 6 p.m. and the auction starts at 7 p.m.
For more information, contact Barnicoat at 250-397-2219.
