Friends of BCAS

If you weren’t fortunate enough to make it out to the Bastrop County Animal Shelter on April 4^th, you missed quite the event.  The shelter and its non-profit support group, Friends of Bastrop County Animal Shelter, hosted the shelter’s inaugural open house and benefit auction.  The event featured impressive demonstrations by the Travis County K-9 unit, Tail Town Training, and the Capital of Texas Zoo.  There were a variety of activities for children – face painting, lots of games, exploring the Bastrop Volunteer Fire Department trucks, learning about safety from the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office, and learning about the spay/neuter and animal cruelty prevention. 

Travis County K-9 Unit Demonstration

Shelter Manager Erica Baker said, “Everyone had fun – the kids, volunteers and staff, and the exhibitors.  It was just a great day all around.”  Featuring $10 off all adoptions, the shelter logged a record number of eleven adoptions from the shelter in a single day!  The Friends group, by selling hot dogs, cotton candy, and popcorn, and holding both silent and live auctions, raised over $2,100 that will directly benefit the shelter and stray animals within the county.  Commissioner Lee Dildy contributed to the event by kissing a piglet for a bid of $101.

The benefit auction featured original art and local recreational opportunities.  Revenue from this event will go toward projects and programs to benefit the shelter and the county’s animal population, including the addition of a cattery to the existing shelter facility, developing a discount spay/neuter program to address pet overpopulation, and promoting spay/neuter.

We look forward to seeing you at the “first annual”* shelter open house next spring.

*Fun with grammar:  Usage manuals choose not to address this usage, but it is a question asked as often as any other. The logic (if we can call it that) is that something cannot be called “annual” until a year has passed between its inaugural happening and its second manifestation. Therefore, the first event cannot be referred to as the “first annual.” In fact, some people argue that the second event in a series is actually the “first annual” (because it’s the first time that something has happened on an annual basis), which really confuses people. Whether this is foolishness or not, it seems that enough people belong to this faith that it’s probably a good idea to call a first event (even one that is guaranteed to occur every year thereafter) the inaugural or first occasion. On the other hand, virtually everyone knows that the First Annual Fund-Raising Event refers to an event that is happening this year for the first time and that someone is planning and hoping that this event will happen on an annual basis. Our advice then: go ahead and use first annual to describe such an event but know that someone is going to ask what you mean by it. (Capital Community College; Hartford, Connecticut)

UPDATE:  Troy Walters, Shelter Director, writes:  “I would like to extend a very special “Thank You” to the Friends of BCAS for their kind purchase of cat condos.  The BCC (Bastrop Cat Condo) project held its first open house.  Cats from all over the county turned out for the big event.

Thirteen and Eugene checking out their new condo

The SCC (Shelter Critter Cam) caught Thirteen and Eugene checking out the latest in creature comforts.  Both felines unanimously made a selection and purchased a one bedroom unit (they heard that the best units go fast).  Both felines have filed for their First Time Home Buyers $8,000 tax credit.” 

ORIGINAL POST:  The Friends of Bastrop County Animal Shelter would like to extend its appreciation to local businesses and the community at large for making the fundraiser of its cookbook – Recipes You’ll Beg For – a huge success.  Special thanks go to Fat Cat Catering, Best Lil’ Hairhouse in Texas, Salon 1018, The Book Basket, Elbows Fitness  and Crossroads Animal Hospital for their top sales.  Were it not for the support of the people of Bastrop County, Friends would not have been able to donate in-kind gifts to the shelter totaling well over a $1,000, including a new dryer, pet toys, cat condos, and more.  And, Friends has over $2,500 in reserve to help the shelter fund some renovations that should be in place by early spring of next year. 

Friends also wants to thank Chili’s Grill & Bar for giving us the opportunity to raise $200 through its “Pepper in Some Fun” fundraiser held during the month of September.  According to Sara Axton, Friends Chair-Elect, “The Chili’s event was a great success and we hope to work with Chili’s again in the near future.” 

Friends has also been holding regular bake sales at the main branch of First National Bank in Bastrop over the last several months.  These bake sales have generated more revenue than we could have imagined!  Given their success, and the support of First National Bank, we anticipate having more in the coming year.

Thank you, Bastrop County residents and businesses!  Friends wishes all of you a successful and happy new year and we eagerly look forward to another year of supporting the Bastrop County Animal Shelter.

Sherri Deleon, Chair

Sara Axton, Chair Elect

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