Ellington

Chattanooga Humane Educational Society’s Paws for the Cause volunteers will open the doors at The Mill Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. for the fifth annual fundraiser to benefit HES.

According to Chattanooga HES Executive Director Guy Bilyeu, his facility is the largest animal shelter in Tennessee. And it needs help to keep up with local needs.

“We want to purchase a new transportation van,” said Bilyeu. “We transport 2,000 pets per year from the Humane Educational Society to other shelters [to get adopted]. We work with PetSmart’s Rescue Wagon to take some pets to Atlanta.”

In treating animals for illnesses in order to be adoptable, the shelter needs $60,000 annually, he added.

Bilyeu said HES can house up to 400 or 500 animals per day. Most often the shelter takes in cats and dogs, but HES has also accepted rabbits, gerbils, rats, ferrets, potbelly pigs, goats and chickens, he said.

“If you want an animal, please try to find an animal from those that exist already and the shelters will be less full,” he said, noting that it is proven that owning a dog or cat helps the owner live longer, be happier and more productive.

“We will have dogs at the event looking for a forever home,” said Paws for the Cause event committee chair June Coppinger, of Brainerd. “We take three dogs. If one dog gets adopted, then it’s worth it.”

Tickets to the fundraiser are $65 each or $120 per couple; a table of 8 costs $500.

Food will be catered by Baylor School. The Calo Gitano Flamenco Dancers, a Spanish dance troupe, will teach participants the salsa and other dance moves. Keller Williams Realty auctioneer David Posie will auction off items to benefit HES. Musician Benji will play the acoustic guitar for patrons.

To buy tickets visit www.pawsforthecause.info.