The ASPCI 5th Annual Mardi Paws Fur Ball fundraiser was held at Celebrations in Pell City on Feb. 9.  Through ticket sales, silent auction, and live auction of items donated by local businesses and individuals, ASPCI exceeded their fundraising goal, raising $24,000 for animal welfare programs.

The mission of ASPCI is “to be a premier provider of a safe, compassionate haven for canines and felines while they await placement into loving homes.” ASPCI is a local non-profit that began operation in St. Clair County and surrounding areas in 1995. They receive no government funding and are dependent on donations, grants, fees, and fundraising events, like the Mardi Paws Fur Ball. ASPCI does not operate a kennel facility, so are fully dependent on willing foster families.

Since 2016, ASPCI has fostered 365 animals. During 2017, ASPCI saved an additional 196 animals and spent over 4000 volunteer hours transporting, fostering, and caring for animals. They have also issued 316 Spay and Neuter SNAP certificates in 2016 and 499 in 2017.

ASPCI also works with rescue centers and some local animal shelters to obtain adoptable dogs and puppies. After health exams, vaccinations, and any other needed treatment, animals are made available for adoption or transferred to other rescue or adoption agencies. 

“It takes a village of multiple volunteers,” Barbara Wallace, president of ASPCI, said. “We greatly appreciate everything that they do.”

One of those volunteers is third grader Ryan Adkins, who helps his ‘Nana’ Lori Marsh every afternoon and weekends with rescue dogs.  Adkins also organized a fundraiser for ASPCI for his 100^th day of school. With participation from his teacher Mrs. Hughes and other third grade classes at Eden Elementary, students donated numerous blankets and toys for foster animals.

“We had 11 puppies come in without a mom,” Marsh, the head dog wrangler for ASPCI said. “He [Adkins] came in and fed them. He is such a big help!” 

ASPCI and Animal Rescue Relay (ARR) recently created a partnership aimed at decreasing shelter populations by arranging transport from the central Alabama area to rescue groups in other states that do not have the pet overpopulation problem that many Southern states continue to have. 

In 2017, over 6,000 animals were saved via these transports and the two organizations hope to save at least the same number this year. 

“We want to grow our rescue programs by partnering with ARR and working with chapters throughout the state,” Wallace told the crowd of attendees. “We started in January with two transports a month to help get animals adopted that might not otherwise be saved.”

These programs are only possible through donations and fundraising efforts, like the annual Mardi Paws Fur Ball which featured dancing, live music by a favorite local band, “The Wingnuts,” headed by Judge Alan Furr, and a ‘buy it now’ and live auction of items donated by local businesses.

Kent Standford of Ashville volunteered his time to be the auctioneer for the evening, taking bids during the live auction of items donated by local businesses and individuals. 

Through the generous donation of time, money, and auction items by local businesses and individuals, ASPCI will continue their mission of finding forever homes for canines and felines. 

“Do you see the keys on the tables?” Wallace asked the crowd, indicating the table decorations that were in the Mardi Gras theme. “You are the key to our success.”

If you are interested in becoming an ASPCI volunteer, adopting a pet, or be considered as a foster family, you may apply online at www.ASPCI.org.