Dozens of people rolled the dice to raise money for Humane Animal Partners at its second Casino Night.
But HAP also pleaded for someone to take a chance on a dog named Tessy. The 4 1/2-year-old Labrador mix has been a resident at the Rehoboth Beach shelter for almost 1,000 days.
“I promise you that, if given the time, she would be each of your best friends for life,” said HAP Sussex County Director Leigh McKinley, fighting back tears. “She just needs a home without any other animals, one that will be patient with all her little quirks.”
Tessy is an example of the lifesaving mission HAP has been undertaking for decades.
The Sept. 21 event at Baywood Greens celebrated 150 years as a merged organization with Delaware SPCA.
“When an animal gets adopted, it brings us satisfaction and warms our hearts,” said Patrick Carroll, HAP CEO. But he said the mission did not start with rescues. “The Delaware SPCA was founded because of the way livestock in the streets of Wilmington were being treated. Adoptions for dogs and cats just evolved.”
The money raised at Casino Night goes primarily to medical care and shelter for dogs and cats at its Rehoboth Beach facility.
McKinley said the biggest needs range from medical equipment to the little things people can just drop off, such as paper towels, feeding bowls, food, grooming supplies and crates.
She said volunteers are a big part of HAP.
“We have dog walkers, cat socializers. We have people who just want to attend events and speak for the organization,” she said.
For volunteer information, go to humaneanimalpartners.org.