Humane Animal Treatment Society hosts dinner to help local animal shelter

The Isabella County Animal Shelter will be getting some help this weekend at the Paws and Claws dinner.

The Humane Animal Treatment Society of CMU is hosting their annual Paws and Claws dinner at 4 p.m. on April 16th at the Wesley Center, 1400 South Washington St. Tickets are two dollars for students, seven for adults, and two for children 12 and under.

Samantha Brennick, president of HATS, said all the proceeds will go to the Isabella County Animal Shelter. Brennick works there and said she sees first hand how the money helps.

“Surgery, shots or heartworm treatment is really expensive,” the Stanwood senior said. “If we can raise the money for that, that can make the difference between a dog getting treating or getting euthanized.”

The pizza and spaghetti for the all-you-can-eat dinner was donated from local restaurants and will include vegetarian and meat sauces. There will be raffles with prizes from 30 different businesses. There will also be a kissing booth for a cat named Rod Stewart.

“I think it’s funny,” said St. Clair Shore senior Emily Denryter. “He’s gonna be there (to raise money), and people can kiss the cat if they want. I know I would.”

One of the raffles will be not to kiss a cat, but to own it. Attendees can sign a waver and for a little pricier ticket and actually win their own pet.

“The animal shelter decided to donate a free cat adoption,” Denryter said. “You can go to the animal shelter and adopt any cat that you like.”

Denryter said the event is the RSO’s biggest fundraiser. She is a member and is helping out with the advertisement as part of a LDR 402 project.

She said she hopes to improve their attendance numbers.

“Advertising was what was lacking and I feel that’s been improved this year,” she said. “$2000 is our goal to raise; it’s pretty big but I think we can do it.”

Brennick said there is an overpopulation of animals which has led to more expenses on the animal shelter. She said they encourage neutering and spaying animals to combat the problem.

In the meantime, she said she hopes people will come to the dinner to help the animals that are here now.

“It’s just a way for us to give back because we love the Isabella County Animal Shelter so much,” she said. “We just want to help them out.”