Fur Ball: Partying for the Pets
By Allison McCrory
A new surgical suite for in-house spays and neuters, 720 adoptions, almost 9,000 pounds of food dispersed to help keep area pets with their families, 5,256 human volunteer hours, transporting homeless cats to be altered.
Those are just a few of the 2024 accomplishments of the Pensacola Humane Society, literally a community lifesaver since 1943.
Despite serving Pensacola’s neediest four-legged residents, the Humane Society receives no city, state or federal funding, relying on the community to step up via donations and bequests. Grants are another valuable funding source.
The Humane Society’s biggest fundraiser of the year, Fur Ball, will be held March 29 at the recently renovated Pensacola Yacht Club.
The formal evening will include a seated dinner, music by the guitar duo Roman Street, a yappy hour featuring adoptable pets as special guests, a puppy parade, a Raise Your Paw live auction as well as a silent auction.
Among the auction items will be the Bow Wow Wow Wow Table, a glamorous table topped with towers of gifts. A deserving Humane Society volunteer will be honored as part of the evening’s events.
“Proceeds benefit all the work of Pensacola Humane Society, including food, medical care, rabies shots, spay and neuter surgeries, foster expenses, and all other necessary care for our cats and dogs,” explained event chair Eloise Lautier, adding that the occasional rabbit or ferret makes an appearance at PHS.
Pensacola Humane Society has much to be proud of. It has been at the same city-leased property since its inception 81 years ago, predating even the Humane Society of the United States. It was recognized by Best Friends Animal Society and designated a No-Kill Shelter, which is anything over 90%. Yet PHS exceeds that with a 98% save rate. When the Escambia County and Santa Rosa County Animal shelters experience overcrowding, PHS often comes to the rescue — transferring animals to their facility.
The need for financial and volunteer help is monumental, said Lautier.
“The number of abused, abandoned and neglected animals in our community is heartbreaking. PHS saves hundreds of cats and dogs each year and provides food and pet supplies for those in need through our Pet Pantry,” adding that temporary loving home environments can greatly increase a pet’s chance of finding a forever home.
“Fosters are always needed to provide temporary homes for our animals,” she said. “Shelter life is stressful, and fosters provide a loving temporary home in which cats and dogs feel relaxed, their true personalities shine, and they become more adoptable. Volunteers are always needed.”
Pensacola Humane Society’s Fur Ball
• When: 5:30-10 p.m., March 29, 2025
• Where: Pensacola Yacht Club
• Cost: $175 per person. Sponsorships from $500 to $15,000 are available with recognition in the program for sponsors who commit by March 1.
• Info: Call 850-450-8958 for tickets; visit pensacolahumane.org or Facebook/Pensacola Humane Society Fur Ball for more information
