Watauga Humane Society Plans Seventh Annual Fur Ball By Mike Shands Area animal lovers should dust off their dancing shoes next month. The Watauga Humane Society will hold its Seventh Annual Fur Ball Friday, Aug. 6 at the Broyhill Inn & Conference Center. Proceeds from the event will benefit the humane society, which operates a shelter to care for abandoned, unwanted and abused animals. Proceeds from the Fur Ball and rummage sale will benefit the animals at the humane society’s shelter. Photo by Mike Shands “I’ve been supporting the Watauga Humane Society for many years. It’s just such a worthwhile cause that’s needed in this area,” said Gilda Gordon, a volunteer with the humane society. “The (volunteers) that you work with are so dedicated. They inspire me to do a better job and to work harder to support the shelter.” The Fur Ball will feature a gourmet dinner and dancing to the music of popular dance band Laditude. It will also include a silent auction boasting a wide variety of items, including a day package at West Glow Spa, membership packages for Deer Valley, jewelry, pottery and a wide variety of gift certificates for local restaurants and retailers. Back as part of the silent auction is the popular Art in the Bark, which will offer works for bidding by artists such as Warren Dennis, Joe Miller, Pat Pilkington and Nancy Brittelle. The evening’s schedule will include silent auction from 6 to 9 p.m., cocktail hour from 6 to 7 p.m., dinner from 7 to 8 p.m. and music and dancing from 8 to midnight. Seating for the Fur Ball is limited, and the deadline to request tickets is Sunday, Aug. 1. Tickets are $75, most of which is tax deductible. For more information or tickets contact Jan Watson at (828) 264-1743 or Gordon at (828) 264-3170. Those who cannot attend can still help the humane society by making a financial contribution. They can do so by making a check payable to the Watauga Humane Society and mailing it to Dr. Jan Watson, 196 Paul Critcher Drive, Boone, N.C., 28607 or Gilda Gordon, 320 Deer Run Road, Boone, N.C., 28607. Rummage Sale Just two weeks after the Fur Ball the humane society will hold its 23rd annual rummage sale Aug. 20 and 21 at the National Guard Armory in Boone. Animal lovers can donate items for the sale, volunteer their time and efforts to help sort and categorize items or donate space to store larger items before the sale. One of the most appreciated ways to help with the sale is by donating a car or truck for the rummage sale’s vehicle auction. The humane society has auctioned at least one donated vehicle in each of the past few years, helping raise thousands of dollars for the rummage sale. The humane society will accept vehicles that are running, dependable and safe. Those donating items for the rummage sale are encouraged to bring in furniture, working appliances, kitchen items, books, tools, linens, toys, holiday merchandise, antiques, collectibles, jewelry and clean, gently used clothing for babies, children and adults. The humane society requests that no hide-a-beds, console televisions, inoperable appliances or mattresses without beds be donated. Another need is for volunteers to help sort items and work at the humane society’s boutique store. There is also a need for storage units to keep donated furniture items until the rummage sale. To volunteer or donate a vehicle contact Dee Dundon at (828) 264-9116 or deedundon@boone.net or call the boutique at (828) 264-7339. Increasing the need to raise funds with this year’s Fur Ball and rummage sale is the humane society’s ongoing capital campaign to raise $315,000 to pay for more than 13 acres of land that will serve as the shelter’s new location. The site, located along Don Hayes Road about four miles from Boone on Old Highway 421 South, is between Rutherwood Baptist Church and the Watauga Livestock Market. It will eventually take the place of the humane society’s current location at 200 Casey Lane in Boone, which is at the end of the Greenway Trail next to the town’s wastewater treatment facility. The shelter’s normal operating hours are 12:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 12:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Its phone number is (828) 264-7865. For more information about the humane society look online at www.wataugahumanesociety.org.