The Verde Valley Humane Society is calling all golf and animal lovers to participate in its Putt 4 Paws event at Agave Highlands Golf Course on Saturday, Oct. 28.
The inaugural charity golf tournament will start at 8 a.m. and is still seeking more golfers to participate. Local businesses and residents are sponsoring each hole.
A $10,000 prize will be awarded to whoever can make a hole-in-one on hole number four. Other prizes include a Verde Canyon Railroad pass, a Pink Jeep tour, jewelry, wine, ornaments from Copper Canyon Christmas, gift certificates, raffle baskets and more.
All of the proceeds from the event will benefit the shelter. VVHS president Cindy Woxen said that many dogs have been brought in recently with injuries, so proceeds will help with veterinary care, as well as spaying and neutering, food purchases and other needs.
VVHS has eliminated their executive director position due to a lack of funds, but recently hired a new operations manager, Nicole Gonzalez, to help oversee the shelter’s daily operations.
The shelter currently has a number of large dogs, which typically take longer to get adopted, although a few have recently been taken away.
“To us, it comes from the heart,” Woxen said of seeing the long-term dogs get adopted. “It’s so heartfelt and so warming to know that these animals have found their homes.”
Woxen said that they now have about four long-term dogs, but many more are likely to be available soon. The shelter is also receiving many kittens that need fostering.
“We love all the animals and we try to do our best to make it comfortable for them,” Woxen said, adding that shelter life is very stressful for animals. “Our biggest goal is trying to find good homes for them.”
VVHS is also raffling off a scooter that is currently on display in their lobby. Eugene, a white mixed-breed male dog, is the raffle’s poster boy and a beloved character at the shelter.
“Come on out, join us and have some fun,” Woxen said. “We would love to talk to people and maybe find a home for some of these animals.”
