ESTEVAN — The Estevan Humane Society is counting down to its annual Whiskers and Wine Gala fundraiser.
The event is slated to take place on Feb. 10 at the Estevan Exhibition Hall. Doors open at 6 p.m., followed by supper and entertainment.
"We're excited to be back, adding some new stuff and keeping a lot the same, which seems to work for us," said Estevan Humane Society president Tayja Lakusta.
The night will see entertainment, auctions and a few new pieces added for a great experience and to help raise funds for Estevan's no-kill shelter.
Braden King from Weyburn, who competed in Season 21 of American Idol, will entertain for the night.
"King isn't just another face in the country music crowd, he's the powerhouse standing at the intersection of rock 'n' roll and country, proudly embracing the edgier side of the genre. But where he truly thrives is on the road, where he's a relentless force, gracing audiences with over 100 shows each year," states his bio.
"His performances are nothing short of a high-voltage, in-your-face party — an unforgettable experience that defines the term energy. Whether he's rocking notorious festivals like Boots & Hearts and Country Thunder, or tearing up dive bars and honky tonks, King brings the same electrifying show to every stage."
Once again, EB's will be catering the dinner at Whiskers and Wine Gala.
"The menu looks delicious," Lakusta said.
New this year will be a wine poll. A variety of wines donated by local businesses will be individually packed up, and guests will have an opportunity to purchase a ticket and pick a number to get a surprise bottle of wine.
"Guests won't know what they're getting, so they could get a $200 bottle of wine. It will vary, as it's a surprise bag," Lakusta explained.
"We also plan on having a slideshow and doing introductions with some animals we've got, our long-termers," she added.
The night will also see a silent auction, and the board has yet to decide if they will have a live auction as well this year.
As of Monday, the humane society had about six tables or under 50 tickets left. Tickets can be purchased individually or in bundles. To get a ticket, please, contact Lakusta at 306-421-5970 or message the Estevan Humane Society Facebook page.
"If anybody's been waiting for tickets, don't wait too long, because they're going to be gone," Lakusta said with a laugh.
Money raised through the Whiskers and Wine Gala will go towards the shelter's day-to-day operations.
To help with fundraising efforts, they also recently started an Estevan Humane Society Fundraising Garage Sale Facebook page. People now can donate items, and the shelter will try selling them through that page with all proceeds used to help with the shelter's needs.
Lakusta noted that the shelter is currently "sitting at decent numbers" for their animals. They have two litters of puppies coming up for adoption soon. One set will be available starting next week, and a husky litter will come up in mid-February.
The recent cold spell outlined some things the shelter will have to address shortly. They are currently working on grants and are accepting donations to cover the expenses of adding the third furnace to make it warmer in the dog area.
"We've got quite a few short-haired dogs right now in our care that are not enjoying this cold weather. So, we're trying to get some stuff planned with that. The city is working with us, trying to get quotes and what the best option would be for our building. So, we are … trying to get that started as soon as possible to improve life down at the shelter for them," Lakusta said.