The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

The Chinook Eagles, Aerie 689 will be hosting a free will donation spaghetti dinner with dessert on Saturday, July 9 at 5:00 p.m. at the Club on Indiana Street. During the “Spay-ghetti and No Balls” fundraiser, a silent auction and 50/50 raffle will take place to support PAWS animal shelter based in Chinook and their efforts to control pet overpopulation. Funds will be used for community spay/neuter assistance as well as for free spay/neuter and low cost vaccination and microchip clinics held throughout the year.

Alissa Hewitt, Director of PAWS, says that this is a critical time for the shelter. “This year, intakes are up while donations and adoptions are very slow. We have done incredible work and need help from the community to keep these vital programs going.”

Hewitt notes that in 2021, PAWS of Chinook’s spay/neuter total was 221, which is no small feat for a five-kennel shelter that relies on adoption fees and private donations to survive. Statistics recorded from January to June of 2022 reveal that the number of animals spayed and neutered has already reached 250, and their work is not finished.

“PAWS of Chinook was built by a small group of citizens concerned about this very problem. They paved the way for us, and we are continuing that success, but we cannot do it alone,” Hewitt says.

Event organizers encourage the community to come out and enjoy the “Spay-ghetti and No Balls” fundraiser meal and auction. On that topic, Hewitt states: “All of us at PAWS of Chinook would like to thank the crew at the Chinook Eagles Club for thinking of us and putting on this fundraiser. Our community has kept us going for almost 30 years and we are very excited about this event.”