Food, Wine & Wagging Tails at Hounds and Sounds Event

An evening filled with music and four-legged friends is the theme for the “Hounds and Sounds” fundraiser series at the Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus.

The third and final “Hounds and Sounds” event is being held on from 6-8 p.m. Saturday at 630 West Dekora Street in Saukville.

“It’s only a $10 fee, which covers all of the beer, food and wine you’d like to have. The most important thing is all of the money goes back to the animals, so the fee goes directly back to the shelter,” said Cherisse Le Jeune of the Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus.

All of the proceeds raised will go towards a variety of things at the shelter including covering the costs to take in strays and surrenders, treating animals and providing any surgeries they may need.

About 100 people attended the first event in August and nearly 130 in September. Now organizers are hoping to see 150 for the final night.

The Wisconsin Humane Society moved to its new Ozaukee County location on March 26, making the “Hounds and Sounds” series the first fundraiser at the new building.

Le Jeune said the idea to have music while people mingled with the animals came about when organizers were thinking of a casual, yet classy event to host at the new building.

Area businesses have donated food for the event. Party goers will wine and dine in one of the classrooms that have an attached patio overlooking the wetland area on the property.

The band Sing-A-Long, who will perform that night, also donated their time.

“That’s something that as a band we like to do, raise money for groups. Animals are dear to my heart, so we’re really looking forward to it,” said Karen Karthauser. She and her husband are vocalists for the group. Karthauser also volunteers at the Ozaukee Campus.

Sing-A-Long, which plays a variety of bluegrass, country and classic rock-n-roll music, will cover several artists including John Denver, Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline.

The band is made up of several animal lovers and has been playing together for 12 years, according to Karthauser.

As a volunteer who walks dogs at the shelter regularly, Karthauser said she’s looking forward to the event. “It’s fun to perform, but I’m really anxious for my husband to see the place. It’s fun to see the animals.”

Attendants are asked to leave their own pets at home that night. Instead, some shelter animals will be out to greet people. If someone sees an animal at the “Hounds and Sounds” event they would like to adopt, they can fill out some paperwork before returning to the shelter. “We have all the adoption areas open, so even though we aren’t open for adoptions (during the event) people can see our animals, come in the next day and adopt. So it’s kind of a nice way for them to see the new shelter,” Le Jeune said.

Organizers are hoping to host another fundraising event like this one next year. For now, it’s a great way to get your foot in the door to see the new campus and to visit some four-legged friends. “It’s a way to come in, walk through the shelter, see the adoption areas, but then also have a fun time and enjoy the band, the food and everything,” Le Jeune said.

Tickets for the event can be purchased online at the Wisconsin Humane Society website.