The daily Astorian., December 07, 2017, Page 11, Image 11

DECEMBER 7, 2017 // 11
But, as you can imagine, it doesn’t
come cheap.
A number of fundraisers occur through-
out the year, but the organization’s
efforts culminate in a major year-end
undertaking: the Annual Holiday Party
and Fundraiser, taking place 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Fort George
Lovell Showroom (1483 Duane St.).
It’s become a beloved local tradition,
but for those who have yet to attend, there
are three main attractions.
First: the silent auction and raffle.
“We spend a lot of time reaching out to
businesses, organizations and individuals
throughout the county, and our volunteers
go out and collect items to be given away
at the event,” CAA President and Director
Marcy Dunning said. “A lot of them have
donated before — hotels and restaurants
and businesses of all sizes.”
A $10 raffle ticket makes you eligible
for one of three major prizes: a brand-
new, punch red Fire 32 GB tablet, a day
at Disneyland for four, or, perhaps most
excitingly, a round-trip ride for two with
a bar pilot, including a chance to observe
a boarding procedure, lunch with the pilot
and a tour of the office.
Second: the bake sale.
No small endeavor in itself; there will
be enough cookies, breads, cakes, pies,
jams, fudge and caramels on hand to keep
you from having to do any holiday baking
of your own.
“The bake sale people have been work-
ing since late spring,” Dunning said. “It’s
unbelievable.”
And don’t think these treats are strictly
for humans — one of the major attractions
is The Doggie Cake, a turkey version of
carrot cake topped with mashed potato
icing.
Third: pet portraits with Santa.
All attendees are encouraged to dress
up their own domestic beasties for a photo
op with Saint Nick. “It’s usually dogs, of
course, but we do get the occasional cat,
and one year, someone brought a ferret,”
Dunning said, laughing. “Our Santa is a
very patient man.”
COURTESY MARCY DUNNING
Santa watches the browsers during the 2014 Clatsop Animal Assistance Holiday Party and Fundraiser at the Fort George Lovell Showroom.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Clatsop Animal Assistance Annu-
al Holiday Party and Fundraiser
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9
WHERE: Fort George Lovell Showroom
(1483 Duane St.)
Huge but rewarding
Since 1999, the all-volunteer organi-
zation has dedicated itself to helping the
canine and feline residents of the Clatsop
County Animal Shelter, with the goal of
making their stay as temporary as possi-
ble.
“Our mission is to help the shelter
animals get adopted,” Dunning said. “That
entails making sure they get the medical
care that they need, as well as helping the
county promote the animals so they can
hopefully find homes sooner.”
More than 90 percent of Clatsop
HUGH MCKENNA PHOTO
Linda Perkins, foreground, restocks the table while Judy Kraft waits on acustomer at the bake
sale at the 2013 Annual Holiday Party and Fundraiser Saturday for Clatsop Animal Assistance.
Animal Assistance’s yearly income goes
straight to the dogs (and cats): veterinary
care, spay/neuter certificates, supplies,
training and adoption advertising and
promotion, much of it not covered by the
shelter’s budget.
The majority of CAA’s support and
revenue derives from the Annual Holiday
Party, but just as crucial to their success is
the hard work and devotion of their volun-
teers, donors and organizers.
“The Fort George has been very gen-
erous with their space for the last several
years,” Dunning said. “And we’ve got a
whole crew who will be working the entire
day before getting everything set up,
then another group who will be there all
Saturday to work the event, then anoth-
er to break things down and distribute
prizes afterwards, and then we spend the
next month sending out thank-you’s and
taking care of the back end, so it’s a huge
endeavor, but it’s so rewarding.
“And that’s because we have a won-
derful community, so many people who
donate their time, their space and their
energy throughout the year,” she continued.
“I want to make sure they know how very
grateful we are to all of them.” CW