Furr a good cause
Published 9:26 pm Saturday, November 1, 2014
A Carrollton veterinary clinic is offering folks a chance to win prizes, including a four-day trip to Cancun, and help furry friends in the process.
Staff at the Animal Clinic of Eagle Harbor established the Furr Foundation after an orange tomcat named Funyun was turned over to the clinic near the end of 2010.
A toddler had stepped on the cat, injuring his spine and legs, and clinic staff mobilized to raise money for surgery and care.
The fund set up for Funyun has just kept growing, said Alicia Sallas, a veterinary assistant. Sadly, Funyun died at 2 years of age. But his legacy lives on.
In fact, Sallas is vice president of what is now called the Furr Foundation, and the hope for the raffle is to raise $1,200 to file for 501(c)3 status, she said.
By empowering it to accept tax-exempt donations, the new status would allow the charity to expand its mercy to even more animals.
“Any additional money will be going directly toward our animal care,” Sallas said, adding the clinic currently has “quite a few kittens” and a rabbit in foster care and looking for forever homes.
“Anytime someone comes into the clinic and is unable to pay, we try to help out any way we can,” she said.
Tickets for the raffle are $25 each or three for $50.
The Cancun trip, Sallas said, has been donated by Vacation Express, and includes airfares and accommodation. “The only thing is, you can’t go over a major U.S. holiday period,” she said.
Other prizes include gift cards for Harley-Davidson retail outlets, a six-week obedience class donated by Pawsitive Attitudes and an Adirondack chair from Crutchman Outdoor Furniture in Newport News.
“And there’s a bunch of little goodies as well,” Sallas said. “Every 50 tickets we sell, we’ll be doing a drawing for a small gift basket or gift card, sometimes both. Those people stay in for the grand-prize drawing.”
The Cancun trip grand prize will be drawn Dec. 1.
“No one has to be present to win,” Sallas said. “They have 72 hours to respond, or we draw another winner.”
They’re getting close to selling the first batch of 50 tickets, Sallas said. Tickets can be purchased at the clinic, 13609 Carrollton Blvd., Carrollton, or for PayPal account holders, by emailing a name, phone number and the number of tickets required.
Facebook users can also purchase tickets by providing an email address and number of tickets required via the raffle page — search “Furr Foundation Presents: No Pets Forgotten November Raffle.” They’ll be sent an invoice.