HUMANE SOCIETY OF SOUTH COASTAL GEORGIA RAISES $155,000
AT THE HOOTIN' HOWL-O-WEEN BENEFIT.

BRUNSWICK, GA, November 3, 2008 … The Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia hosted the “Hootin’ Howl-o-Ween Benefit” at Bennies Red Barn on Wednesday, October 29. The Howl-o-Ween benefit is the Humane Society’s major fundraising event for the year and marked the kickoff of the $1 million capital campaign to raise funds to build a new shelter facility. “Our goal for the event was $130,000 and we are happy that we surpassed our goal,” said Tina Bostic, President of the Board of Directors, “Throughout our 41 year history, we have relied 100% on community donations and last night, the community again demonstrated their support for the only no-kill animal adoption center in our area.”

For the benefit, Bennies Red Barn was transformed into a ghoulish, festive Halloween celebration. Under the Bennies awning, attendees were greeted with a life-size, mummy-filled coffin and a photographer from The Dark Room to commemorate the event. Over 25 local restaurants carved elaborate pumpkins for a silent auction. Inside the party gypsy fortune tellers were busy reading palms, a face painter was decorating faces, food was plentiful, and many of the party goers dressed in animal costumes. The real stars of the night, however, were the Humane Society shelter dogs dressed in Halloween costumes. Volunteers from The Pirates of the Spanish Main led the dogs through the party much like a runway fashion show. Dog costumes included pigs, cows, cowboys and of course, UGA “Dawgs.” To top off the evening, Ziggy Mahoney played live music for the dancing crowd.

The Howl-o-Ween Benefit raised $155,000 toward building a new shelter facility. “Our current building has been in operation since 1967 and in that time we have sheltered and found adoptive homes for over 12,000 animals. As you can imagine, the current building desperately needs to be rebuilt,” explained Bostic.

Before deciding to rebuild the shelter, the Humane Society conducted a study and found that it would be more cost efficient to build a new shelter than upgrade the current facility. HSSCG owns their 8-acre tract of land, and the site plans allow the current shelter to remain in place while the new facility is being built. “We will continue to shelter, spay and neuter, and find adoptive homes for animals during the construction process,” says Natalie Murrah, Shelter Director.

The Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia has reached $250,000 in donations and pledges toward the new shelter and continues to accept individual and corporate donations. “We are incredibly thankful to all of our loyal members and supporters in the community,” said Bostic.

The Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia (HSSCG) is a 100% donor funded no-kill animal adoption center. HSSCG is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit charity dedicated to sheltering lost, homeless and abandoned animals. Since 1967, HSSCG has treated, spayed or neutered and found adoptive homes for 12,000 animals. HSSCG does not receive funds from national Humane Societies and relies on contributions from the local community in order to continue caring for animals. The HSSCG always accepts individual and corporate memberships, donations and volunteers.