Fourth annual ‘Spay-ghetti Dinner’ fundraiser set for Sept. 14
It’s almost that time of year again for “Yappy Hour,” two-stepping and other merriment in support of animals at the Taylor Animal Shelter.
Texas Critter Crusaders, a local nonprofit, will host its fourth annual SPAYghetti Dinner & Dance from 5-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept.14, at The Taylor Mansion Estate & Crystal Ballroom, 2109 E. Fourth St., to raise funds for medical care and other critical expenses for shelter animals — as well as the wider community.
“It will be a lot of fun, and it will be for a good cause,” said Cassandra Harrison Acuff, Crusaders board member and SPAYghetti’s planning committee chairwoman.
As in years past, the event will include a pasta bar, appetizers and salad, with glutenfree and vegetarian options, catered by Thorndale Meat Market, as well as a raffle with games, a silent auction and entertainment from country music sensation Scooter Dubec.
In addition, wine and beer will be available, free of charge, thanks to sponsors Bogle Family Wine Collection, Hutto Wine Bar and Texas Beer Co., organizers said.
Harrison Acuff said this will be the first time the event will be held at the Taylor Mansion, which donated its space, and the organization hopes to double the funds normally raised this year in support of critical medical treatment for animals at the shelter, emergency assistance to community members who need help paying for veterinary bills, free microchipping, heartworm treatment, new equipment and more.
“For this year’s event, we are looking to raise $20,000 to help stabilize our funds,” Harrison Acuff said. “On average, TCC spends between $3,000-$5,000 per animal for emergency care, including vet exam, diagnostic tests, X-rays and emergency clinic costs.”
In addition, TCC offers the area’s only coordinated trap, neuter and release program, which provides local stray cat colonies with spay and neutering services — as well as a rabies vaccine, officials said.
“Last year, we spent just over $5,000 just on TNR,” said Melanie Rathke, Crusaders president and founding board member. “This year, we have already done 136 cats … We have over 350 cats on our waiting list, and those are just the ones that we know about.”
Rathke joked the local feral cat population is so large, it’s giving a more famous web-footed species associated with Taylor a run for its money.
“Taylor’s mascot should not be the Ducks,” Rathke said with a laugh. “They are outnumbered three to one by cats. It should be Taylor Tigers. It’s a big problem.”
However, Rathke said the organization’s main mission is to support the supplemental needs of the animal shelter — which receives only limited funding from the city.
“(The shelter’s) budget only covers spay, neuter, rabies and microchipping — just the bare necessities,” Rathke said. “They don’t have access to their donation account to use it for emergency purposes, like a dog hit by a car two weekends ago. There was a big wreck, and a dog was injured along with her owner. Things like that need funding immediately.”
Harrison Acuff said the needs of shelter animals are vast, and the support TCC provides, thanks to the generosity of the local community, is critical.
“If no one else does it, who is going to?” Harrison Acuff said. “These animals are not going to survive if we don’t help. And the only way we are able to do that is because of community support.”
Tickets are still available at $40, which includes dinner and a stretch of raffle tickets. For more information, go to texascrittercrusaders. com/spayghetti/.
