For guests at a recent H.A.L.O. Gala, it was quite simply “Love at First Bite.” A sold-out crowd enjoyed a cool, crisp evening as they dined at Magnolia Manor to benefit the H.A.L.O. No-Kill Rescue, whose mission is to create a safe haven for abused and abandoned animals.
Arriving guests visited with several H.A.L.O. dogs, nibbled on tidbits from a charcuterie-laden table, gathered around the rustic bar to chat, and perused silent-auction items around the fire pit, before sauntering down the path to sup in the open-air dining area, while entertained by Jerzi Olivia Music on the ukulele.
Chef Travis Beckett of Wild Thyme Catering served a sumptuous five-course, farm-to-table dinner that featured butternut squash bisque, herb-roasted beet salad, sweet potato ravioli and wine-braised short ribs.
“This year we are on track to save over 2,000 lives,” said Jacque Petrone, who founded the sanctuary in 2006. Through a brief video, she took guests on a “virtual” tour of the H.A.L.O. facility, enabling them to see firsthand the work being done.
Petrone was excited to share that the shelter is in the pre-construction stage of realizing her dream of building a 3,000-square-foot enrichment center for dogs and cats needing behavioral and emotional training prior to adoption.
“The indoor training center will allow our volunteers, handlers and trainers to spend more one-on-one time working with the rescues and getting them up for adoption,” Petrone explained. “We will also offer a free to low-cost veterinary clinic for our community.”
Petrone said the shelter has received funding to offer emergency veterinary care to senior citizens unable to pay for their pets’ treatments.
“We’re trying to reduce shelter intake so that they don’t have to surrender their pets,” she added.
Guest speaker Steven Hirano, co-founder of Best Friends Utah, began rescuing animals 34 years ago. He described the growing no-kill mentality, saying that the reduction in unnecessary euthanasia is due in large part to shelter collaboration.
“When we started, there were 17 million animals being killed every year. Now it’s under 2 million. Still too many but we’re at the tipping point,” said Hirano. “We want to end the killing of animals in shelters by 2025. By opening up communication between the shelters and joining forces, we can save more lives. Up until recently, the shelters were very territorial – like dogs.”
Hirano said that rather than put animals to sleep, the focus should be on finding homes for them, spaying or neutering animals, and educating the public.
Auctioneer Larry Flynn sparked a bidding frenzy for a variety of live-auction items and, during the paddle raise, supporters were asked to “raise your paws and donate your tails off.”
Proceeds from the event will support the Angel Medical Emergency Fund, Canine Good Citizens Ready Training, Underdog Socialization, Ambassador Foster Homes, Working Barn Cats, and the Low-Cost Spay and Neuter Program.
H.A.L.O. will host the second annual Chase Your Tail 5K Run/Walk on Jan. 5 in Sebastian.
For more information, visit halorescuefl.org.
Photos by: Stephanie LaBaff
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