Nuzzles & Co.’s upcoming gala fundraiser on Aug. 9 at the Pendry Park City will help celebrate three-and-a-half decades of no-kill animal rescue.
“It’s a fun evening of camaraderie,” said Executive Director Leslie Barcus. “During dinner we’ll show a touching video review of what we’ve done between last year’s gala and now, and we’ll also talk about what we’ve done over the past 35 years.”
Since its inception in 1990 as Friends of Animals Utah, Nuzzles & Co., which changed its name 10 years ago, has adopted out 28,000 rescued animals, and the work keeps going, which is why it hosts an annual gala, Barcus said.
“We’ve been invited to help with a spay-and-neuter clinic on the Navajo reservation in Kayenta, Arizona,” she said. “We have a long-history relationship with them, and we hope to go. But those kinds of things can cost upward of $50,000 just to go down for a couple of days.”
In addition, the Nuzzles & Co.’s mobile fleet, which transports supplies to pop-up clinics and animals to its rescue and rehabilitation ranch in Browns Canyon, needs upgrades.
“One of our vehicles in our aging fleet is leased through Nate Wade Subaru, and we hope to secure and purchase that vehicle,” Barcus said. “We also had a van that crashed this past summer, so we’re short one vehicle. And all of our vans are older, so we’re a bit concerned.”
The money for these and other Nuzzles & Co. programming will be raised through silent and live auctions and a paddle raise during the evening, according to Barcus.
“Everyone will arrive at the Pendry Plaza, and we’ll have cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks and an overview of the silent-auction items,” she said. “Many local businesses have donated items that are from arts and culture, jewelry, beauty, experiences and hotel stays, everything you can imagine.”
If people can’t attend the gala, but want to participate in the silent auction, they can do that online by visiting nuzzlesandco.org and clicking the “Attend Our August Gala” tab.
“Then they can scroll down and click the register link under ‘Can’t Attend?’” she said.
One of the highlights of the gala is Nuzzles & Co.’s signature puppy snuggle lounges, Barcus said.
“We’ll have some fun and active puppies that people can commune with,” she said. “All of those puppies will be available for adoption.”
The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. on the Pendry Plaza, before moving inside for a sit-down dinner, Barcus said.
“We have fish, vegan and vegetarian options, and since Chester Wines is one of our sponsors, we will generously pour their wines,” she said.
Barcus, who has been Nuzzles’ executive director for a year, enjoys working with the Pendry Park City.
“It’s been a great partnership, and the nice ambiance lends itself to a wonderful evening,” she said. “The Pendry has also been so supportive of our snuggle lounges when, during ski season, we bring the puppies in for hotel guests. So, the gala is another nice way to extend our partnership.”
Barcus is also grateful for the community’s support.
“Every day I meet a Nuzzles dog when I’m out and about,” she said. “It just demonstrates how beloved the organization is and how supportive everyone is.”
The community also includes Nuzzles & Co. volunteers and feline fosters.
“We also have great people who foster our cats,” she said. “It’s kitten season right now, so we have a number of fantastic fosters who take in our kittens, many of which are vulnerable. We couldn’t sustain without our foster and volunteer networks. So this is all so heartwarming.”
Nuzzle & Co. Gala
- When: 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 9
- Where: Pendry Park City, 2417 W High Mountain Rd., at Canyons Village
- Registration: e.givesmart.com/events/J6h
- Web: nuzzlesandco.org