The Wolf Preservation Blog

**Special thanks to Writer Betsy Reason of IndyStar.com for providing this information!

“It was evident from the turnout and dollars brought in at last weekend’s Wine, Wags & Whiskers fundraiser just how much people love animals.

A record 400 guests attended the Humane Society for Hamilton County’s third-annual party. That’s twice as many as last year.

A record $47,500 was brought in nearly doubling last year’s take of $25,000.

“We were absolutely thrilled,” said Rebecca Stevens, the shelter’s executive director.

Besides the greater attendance, Stevens attributed the increase in fundraising dollars to three other factors. Master Jewelers in Indianapolis donated a loose diamond for a raffle — won by Toni VanHorn, 46, Noblesville — that helped raise $2,000. Matching contributions from the shelter’s Board of Directors brought in $6,500. And a silent auction brought in about $4,000 more than last year.

“I couldn’t have asked for better results,” Stevens said.

The gala, which took place at The Mansion at Oak Hill in Carmel, resulted in two adoptions. One was for Penny, the shelter’s longest-standing canine, a 51/2-year-old malamute/Lab mix who has been at the shelter for 21/2 years. Penny, who was on a

leash at the gala, was featured on labels of pinot grigio wine sold to raise money at the event.

Penny and a half-dozen other shelter dogs and some cats were among the guests at the gala, during which folks could sample 30 wines, savor hors d’oeuvres and bid on silent auction items.

Sarah Barker, 23, Noblesville, led another shelter dog, Cadence, a 21/2-year-old pit bull, through the crowd.

“Everybody loves her. She’s a great representative of her breed,” said Barker, who became interested in dog obedience as a 4-H’er. She’s a shelter volunteer who walks dogs about four days a week and owns eight, four of which are retired show dogs.

The shelter currently has 201 dogs and 371 cats in need of homes and relies greatly on the support of volunteers and foster care. Currently, 258 of those animals are in foster care.

Cindy Kernan, 51, who lives in Marion County’s Lawrence Township, started volunteering two years ago. Barker and Kernan are among

200 shelter volunteers.

“It really appealed to me to be part of an organization that really cared for the dogs and how they’re treated,” Kernan said. She walks dogs and helps out with events.

She fostered, then adopted a black pit bull named Naomi.

“I was just going to take her home for a week at Christmas time to give her a treat and make myself feel better that she wasn’t sitting in the shelter over Christmas,” Kernan said.

Naomi has been at Kernan’s house now for the past 15 months.

“Never in a million years . . . (did I think) I would own a pit bull. Now I know why it’s so great to own one. She gives the best kisses, she’s a great dog,” Kernan said. “Sometimes when you tell people you have a pit bull, they don’t know what to say.”

Kernan likes the shelter’s philosophy. 

“They try to give every dog a home. When they run out of room, they try to get them out into foster families. They try their best to give the dogs a home. I love being around animals, and they enrich my life so much,” she added.

Guest Velda Boenitz, Noblesville, helped found the shelter in 1984 and was heavily involved in its operation for the first 10 years.

“They’ve come a long way. I think they’ve done a wonderful job,” said Boenitz, who had the former shelter on Cumberland Road constructed in 1991. The current shelter opened in 2007.

Dennis Rosiak, 58, Noblesville, and his wife, Connie, started volunteering at the Cumberland Road shelter.

Connie is a former board member. Dennis helps clean up and has helped with the Pet Tails program that features shelter pets on Channel 19. They both walk dogs.

The Rosiaks, who handle St. Bernard rescues, are fostering a 2-year-old St. Bernard. 

“It’s a great cause. There are so many animals coming through the shelter today. We really need to take care of these animals,” said Dennis Rosiak, who’s on the board of the Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic of Hamilton County, adjacent to the shelter. “All of these things work together.”

Rosiak said it all comes down to one thing: “Pets need homes.”

Musical artist Jennie DeVoe, Indianapolis, has performed all three years because, she said, the cause is close to her heart.

Of the six animals — a Rottweiler shepherd, a shepherd mix, a chow schnauzer, a Scottie dachshund and two cats — that she owns, “every animal is a rescue,” she said. “I’m a huge, huge supporter of the Humane Society.” “