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WOOFStock '09 was held on August 8, 2009 at the Palatka Elks
Lodge. The music was great...ditto for the food...even the weather! There are so many people to thank.
John Roberts from Rozier's Oil Company and Bunky Roberts from WWR, Inc. stepped up right away to ensure we would have a successful event. Casey Caison from Southern Air and a few anonymous donors were right behind them. Our honored guests for the evening included Michelle Stevens-Kraft and Jeffrey Kraft, and Kim Walther and her husband Werner. Michelle and Jeffrey have been working with us since this spring to increase the public's awareness of our continuing difficulties - all over Northeast Florida. They are personally responsible for generating tens of thousands of dollars in donations since April. Kim Walther, from Palatka High School, has been the driving force behind our Paw Prints newsletter for as long as anyone remembers! (You can read June's version on this website). Dr. Carl and Gail Maier, Dr. Perry Smith, and PGA Tour Management and employees were also to be feted, but had to make their regrets. The Maiers and Smiths continue to donate their medical skills to help us keep everyone healthy and happy. The PGA Tour management and employees are great supporters; we hope they'll continue to make us one of their "pet" projects! The musicians were FABULOUS! The Concrete Cowboys opened with great renditions of some of the best songs ever recorded; they were followed by the Travelin' WOOFbury's from the Hawthorne/Gainesville area - a group comprised of 3 separate groups who came together for this one night, and sounded like they had been playing together for 10 years! Travelin' Pete was up next and really kept things movin'. Then there was a great jam session we like to call Sandie's Hodge Podge in honor of Sandie Rauhuff, a great musician and artist who took on the gargantuan task of signing up and organizing the musical talent...and then sang a few songs with the group...to our delight! Palatka's own Silver Lake Drive was on next. Playing from the balcony, they got everyone on their feet dancing...they are really good! Last, but not least, was Dr. Roy and his one man band from St. Augustine...his range is unbelievable. You can hear him yourself at our "Animal House at the Courthouse" Pet (and owner) HOWL-o-ween Party on October 31st!!! Also must thank Bill and Gay from Palatka's Downtown Blues for lending us their very expensive equipment for the night. We have to thank the Elks' own 1232 Cookin' Crew for their skill in the kitchen, and finely tuned delivery. I've never seen 130 people served that quickly before! Everyone raved over their Low Country Boil (with chicken alternate). And then there were the party organizers, Chinese Auction donors and winners, and all of the volunteers who helped make this a really fun night. There's a list after the pictures, but I'm sure someone will be missed...sorry in advance!  A giant round of "Thanks"
goes out to PGA Tour Management and employees (from the Ponte Vedra area). On Saturday, August 1, they dropped off a
second large donation of cash, food, toys and medicines, bringing their total cash contribution alone (since mid-May) to about
$19,000! At our current level of operations, that covers at least 19 full days of expenses...we cannot thank them
enough!!! We also need to thank the PVB restaurant, Urban Flats. *********************************************************************************************
On behalf of the Humane Society of Northeast Florida, I want to thank the people of Putnam County, and the surrounding area, who have come to our assistance in the past months. Food donations from Winn-Dixie, Putnam Feed, Tractor Supply and Love Your Pets; support from S.H.A.D.O. Riders and the organizers of Putt’in for Puppies; the restaurants and patrons of our Dining for Animals fundraiser: City Café, Pizzaboyz, Beef O’Brady’s, CP Deli, Bradley’s, Niko’s, and Café Bleuu; attendees of our Dog Wash and Yard Sales; Dunkin’ Donuts; St. Augustine Flea Market, its vendors and patrons; Custom K9 Dog Training and Good Dog Training; those who donated all the plastic pools; the advertisers in our June newsletter; our volunteers; Palatka Elks Lodge 1232, Kim Walther (PHS), Putnam State Bank, Putnam County Commissioners and City of Palatka; the local media; those who’ve opened their homes as foster parents or new pet owners; and all of you who have opened your wallets to help us continue our work. The list goes on and on, and there really isn’t room here. Suffice it to say, we cannot function without you in all the many ways you are there for us. However, the struggle continues. With about 200 animals at the shelter, we spend nearly $1,000 per day. This includes staff salaries and benefits, insurance, utilities, medicine, and all the things it takes to feed, house and care for these animals daily, AND the effort to find them forever homes. We find good homes for about 80 animals per month; it’s an expensive, and never ending, undertaking. We are trying to do the best we can for the population of homeless pets in this area. Please continue to help us however you can. ************************************** On behalf of the Humane Society of Northeast Florida, Inc. I would like to thank the many people who helped us with our 2009 Pet Fest. We could not have pulled this off without the help of our contest sponsors: Hard Rock Materials, Sunshine Trophies, Beck Auto Group, Wayne & Julie McClain Family Foundation, Houseboat Rentals, Crill & Palm Veterinary Hospital, Shelton Veterinary Clinic, Palatka Elks Lodge 1232, Animal Health Center, Animal Medical Clinic, Good Earth Realty & Auction, Kennedy Rehabilitation, and Love Your Pets. Also, our master of ceremonies (Len Freeman), Father Ignatius Plathanam from St. Monica Church, our judges (John and Judy Jones, Barbara Fisher and Linda Myers), accountants (John Rowe and Susan Frank from Davis Monk & Company), animal welfare partners (Karl’s Kids, Animal Services and the Health Department), members/volunteers, and the local residents who braved the rain that morning to take part in the festivities with their pets. A big thanks too to the City of Palatka Parks & Recreation Department and the City support services. Lastly, I’d like to thank the local newspapers and radio stations for their coverage before and after the event. Although we all got a little wet, the day turned out to be a lot of fun. We found new homes for 5 of our shelter animals, introduced our new spay and neuter voucher program, brought a number of pets up-to-date on their vaccinations, microchipped a few more, made over $3,000 to help fund our operations, and enjoyed a great pet show/contest on what turned out to be a lovely day at the Palatka Riverfront Park. |
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