COVER STORY

from The Argonaut Newspaper - June 16, 2022

by Times Media Group

BUSINESS

PHOTO CREDITS: ELIZABETH NOBLE

Elvis was one of the cute dogs available for adoption at the event.

Helping Animals

Santa Monica Animal Shelter Foundation hosts its first fundraiser event

By Michele Robinson

The Santa Monica Animal Shelter Foundation’s (SMASF) first fundraiser event for the Santa Monica Animal Shelter was held on June 4. The Santa Monica Animal Shelter Open House Fundraiser and donations raised will go to helping the animals at the shelter. Due to the success of the open house, it will hopefully become an annual tradition. “The event was a tremendous success and a wonderful day,“ said Elizabeth Noble, SMASF Board of Directors chair. Operated by a Volunteer Board Directors, SMASF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization formed by the city of Santa Monica in association with the Santa Monica Police Department. The mission of the foundation is to raise funds and support the Santa Monica Animal Shelter. In November 2020, the volunteer board of directors was reformed by the city of Santa Monica. The donations and funds they raise go directly to the Santa Monica Animal Shelter to cover veterinary costs, facility improvements and upgrades. They hope to create a proper dog play and enrichment area soon. “Our mission is to support the shelter by raising funds for animals that need extra veterinary care and help with needed facility upgrades,” Noble said. “We also promote adoptions by showcasing many of the wonderful animals that are available for adoption on our social media pages.” Noble, a Santa Monica native and longtime shelter volunteer, is a professional photographer who uses her skills to take photos of the available pets in hopes they’ll be adopted. She regularly volunteers her time at the shelter because she believes “by spending time with the animals, it helps bring joy and happiness to their day and helps them to feel safe and comfortable while they are at the shelter.” She added, “It feels wonderful to be able to give back and help the animals at the shelter and truly know that you are making a difference.” As chair, Noble spearheaded the open house as a special day of fun to bring community awareness to the shelter and its needs. The event ran from noon to 3 p.m. with over 100 people in attendance. Notable guests included Police Chief Ramon Batista, City Manager David White, and City Councilperson Gleam Davis. “We are very grateful to everyone who supported us at our fundraiser and helped to make this a successful event,” Noble said. With an abundance of local community businesses supporting the free and public event, it offered something for everyone. Donations went directly to the shelter. Kids met with the Santa Monica Police Department Mounted Unit horses, had their faces painted by Magical Atelier and received balloon hats by Wild About Balloons LA. The Kona Ice Truck was on hand to offer sweet treats and there were treats donated by Vienna Pastry. Alan’s Aquarium supported the fundraiser by bringing a tortoise and other creatures, and Michael Chill hosted an informational show and tell featuring a rescued indigenous bird from Wild Wings. To help support the cause, visitors participated in a raffle and, for a small donation, won

prizes. A silent auction featured unique experiences to raise money for the shelter and create a lively atmosphere. “We were able to have a very fun day, raise funds for the shelter, and because visitors could tour the shelter and meet the available animals, we were able to help many animals find their forever homes,” Noble said. Usually, visitors need to make an appointment to meet the available animals at the Santa Monica Animal Shelter. On this day, guests toured the shelter on their own, leading to a number of adoptions. In three hours, 13 pets (four dogs and nine cats) were adopted and found their forever homes. More than half of the adoptable pets who were at the shelter on that day were adopted. This number doesn’t include people who were at the event and later came back to adopt a pet. To make a donation, learn more about SMASF and how you can help the animals at the Santa Monica Animal Shelter, visit smasf.org.

Santa Monica Animal Shelter

1640 Ninth Street, Santa Monica 310-458-8595 smasf.org Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays Instagram: @SantaMonicaAnimalShelterFdn Facebook: facebook.com/ SantaMonicaAnimalShelterFoundation