The Cayman Islands Humane Society continued its series of fundraising initiatives in support of its new West Bay shelter for cats and dogs, with a steak-and-wine evening in George Town.
More than 30 guests attended the latest in its “Culinary Series” evening, supported by Topimex Distributors, Blackbeard’s and The Kitchen Steakhouse restaurant, which hosted the event.
The $150-a-head event offered attendees a “Tasting Table” wine-pairing dinner with mushroom and bruschetta to start, followed by New Zealand striploin, tenderloin and ribeye. Wines from Oregon and California were served as accompaniment, and the evening concluded with chocolate brownies, sticky toffee pudding and a raffle that added to the evening’s total.
Board member Patrick Bourque said that the Humane Society has been able to care for animals in need for 53 years, “thanks to support from donors, volunteers, staff, foster families and adopters” and the evening was a moment to mark the progress made in building the new shelter.
The evening was part of the society’s ongoing fundraising campaign to get the remaining $450,000 out of the $750,000 needed to fit out the buildings and landscape the surrounding areas in the site off Captain Reginald Parsons Drive in West Bay.
The new headquarters, set in 17 acres of land willed to the society by long-time supporter Ardyth Smith, will have separate accommodation for dogs and cats and space for animals to exercise as well as an administration and educational building.
There will be recovery rooms for animals following medical treatment, a surgery suite with a full-time vet, quarantine space and adoption meeting rooms where people can get to know their future pets. Cats will even get their own television, and dogs will have outside areas to explore.
Director Samantha Peterson said that having purpose-built facilities meant that every detail could be tailor-made for the new inhabitants, such as sound-proofing the dogs home so they didn’t disturb their feline neightbours. Project manager then Ben Drummon joked about how lavish the new shelter will be, saying, “These are going to be the bougie-est kennels you’ve ever seen.”
The Humane Society hopes to move into the new shelter by the end of the year, leaving just a few months to raise the necessary funds via events such as its signature Fur Ball, other culinary events, and corporate donations for specific projects.
A sign will soon be erected at its current site reading, “This shelter has saved thousands of lives. Please help us to save thousands more.”
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