COLUSA, Calif. (MPG) — The new year may be starting on a positive note for dogs and cats at the Colusa County Animal Shelter.
Animal lovers gathered on New Year’s Eve for the annual Bowling 4 Paws fundraiser hosted by Friends of the Colusa County Animal Shelter at Riverside Lanes. The event took place Wednesday, Dec. 31, and drew a steady crowd throughout the evening.
The fundraiser raised nearly $2,000 through bowling registrations, raffle items and direct donations.
Riverside Lanes owners John Maral and Lynda Silk also donated a portion of the night’s food and registration proceeds to benefit the shelter’s nonprofit support group.
“It was a fun early New Year’s Eve,” said Pam DaGrossa, a volunteer with the organization. DaGrossa said the event was one of the busiest the group has seen in some time.
In addition to bowling and food sales, the fundraiser included a raffle featuring donated prizes. Among the larger items was a grill and smoker donated by Dave Sutherland. FOCCAS volunteer Gerry Hernandez helped manage raffle sales throughout the evening.
DaGrossa said Hernandez’s help was a big contribution to the event’s success and thanked her for the support.
“We are thankful for all the volunteers, businesses and community members that donated raffle items,” DaGrossa said.
Silk and her daughter, Shyanne, worked behind the counter during the event and prepared the establishment’s Best of Colusa County burgers for attendees.
“It was a great event,” Silk said. “It was well supported by Colusa and its surrounding communities.”
Founded in 2004, Friends of the Colusa County Animal Shelter supports the county shelter through fundraising and volunteer efforts. The group focuses on increasing adoptions, providing community education on animal care, assisting with spay and neuter services, and helping cover medical and foster care costs for animals in need.
Shelter advocates continue to stress the importance of spaying and neutering pets as a way to reduce the number of unwanted animals entering the shelter system and to help lower euthanasia rates countywide.