$10,000 drawing, dinner, dance, to benefit area's stray animals

These puppies and kitten are just three of the many animals up for adoption at the McKinley County Humane Society on North Highway 491 in Gallup. The Humane Society is holding its annual $10,000 raffle with benefits going to help the society handle the huge amount of strays in this area. Tickets are $100, which includes a dinner and dance on Feb. 12 at Red Rock State Park. For more information, call 863-2616. (Courtesy Photo)

By Gaye Brown de Alvarez
Staff Writer

GALLUP — "Have a Heart for the Animals."

That's the theme of this year's Gallup-McKinley County Humane Society Bow-Meow Dinner and Dance, Feb. 12 at Red Rock State Park.

Area residents are being asked to help grant clemency to the thousands of stray animals that are picked up every year in the McKinley County area. Animals that are normally euthanized are now being sent to Colorado Humane Societies, where there are more opportunities for adoption.

In 2002, before the Colorado "Mercy runs," 3,725 animals were picked up or surrendered by the Humane Society, 840 of those were adopted, 242 were reclaimed, 553 were euthanized as unadoptable and 2,055 were euthanized as unwanted.

In comparison to those figures, in 2004, 4,436 animals were picked up, a total of 2,183 were adopted (including the 1,466 that were transferred), 212 were reclimed, 1,409 were euthanized as unadoptable and 497 were euthanized as unwanted.

Those figures mean 1,466 animals didn't have to be killed this year, because of the Colorado trips.

"Euthanizing them isn't the answer," said McKinley County Humane Society Director Cosy Balok, last year in an interview. The cost of each "mercy run" to Colorado, Balok added, is about $400.

The annual dinner and dance is the society's major fund-raiser for the year. A $100 donation includes a chance at the $10,000 grand prize, dinner and dance for two, $100 cash prizes and door prizes throughout the night and a silent auction.

An extra bonus this year at the dance is music by Ralph Dinosaur and The Volcanoes, one of the Southwest's premier dance bands from Grand Junction, Colorado. A local DJ and comedian will also perform at the event.

Anyone wishing to purchase tickets or sell tickets can call the MCHS at 726-7786. Tickets can also be purchased by sending a check to the McKinley County Humane Society, P.O. Box 550, Gallup, NM 87305

Information: 863-2616, or visit the facility on North Highway 491.