The Verde Valley Humane Society’s third annual golf tournament fundraiser tees off at 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 19 at the Sedona Golf Resort located at 35 Ridge Trail Drive.
“The whole situation is a win-win. You get to golf in beautiful Sedona, and you’re helping shelter animals at the same time,” VVHS Board Secretary Karin Burnett said. “[Also] there’s so many animals in shelters that need a good home, and if [you’re] not adapting we’re always looking for fosters and volunteers.”
Golfer registration is $150 and includes: A cart, t-shirt, event golf balls along with a taco bar lunch complete with beef and chicken, pico de gallo, guacamole and side dishes. Although the golfer registration is fast approaching with players needing to register by Saturday, Oct. 13 and the deadline for sponsors to join is Wednesday, Oct. 10.
Prior to 9 a.m. tee time VVHS will start selling tickets for the 50/50 raffle along with selling mulligans and hosting the putting contest.
Attendees can anticipate several activities, including a longest drive and closest-to-the-pin contests, and raffle prizes. The fundraising goal for this year’s tournament is $20,000, with the proceeds supporting the Humane Society’s general operations and future expansion plans.
“We are in the very early, early stages of planning a major addition to our existing [main] building,” board member and spokesman Don Dickinson said. “Our hopes are somewhere between doubling and tripling the number of kennels that we have right now in that building.”
No cost for construction or a timeline has been set Dickinson said adding that increasing VVHS’ canine capacity is the major consideration for the potential project.
VVHS this summer also established a new fund for the medical and rehabilitation needs of neglected and abused animals.
“Neglected and abused animals present a huge challenge to the shelter,” VVHS wrote in its July announcement of the fund. These animals “are undernourished, dehydrated and very afraid. They often have physical conditions requiring significant veterinary care, behavioral training, maximum staff attention, and a long-term residency at the shelter while they are rehabilitated to adoptable status.”
VVHS is also the primary sponsor of WagFest the city of Sedona’s annual dog free community event that is taking place on Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Posse Grounds Park Pavilion from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. That includes a canine talent show, costume contest along with doggie musical chairs and more.
Burnett said that this fall VVHS will participate in the 19th annual Walkin’ on Main community event in Cottonwood on Saturday, Nov. 8. Proceeds from the annual Thrill the World event, taking place at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the gazebo in Downtown Clarkdale Park, will also benefit VVHS. The worldwide event features people dancing simultaneously to Michael Jackson’s hit song.
For those who don’t golf, donations can be made through VVHS’ website and to register for the Putt 4 Paws golf scramble visit verdevalleyhumane.org or call (928) 634-7387.
