Fat Tuesday is early this year, so the Union County Animal Protection Society’s annual Furball is rolling in to town this weekend with a night of Mardi Gras-themed fun and food.
“I think of it as a friend-raiser,” UCAPS Board Secretary Sandra Maguire said. “We want people to just have fun with us, just enjoy having fun with us.”
The annual fundraiser has been a long-time staple in El Dorado; this will be the eighth consecutive Furball, though the fundraiser existed for over 20 years before that before a hiatus broke its streak over a decade ago.
UCAPS is a nonprofit working to care and provide shelter for homeless, neglected and abused animals in Union County. The annual Mardi Gras party is their biggest fundraiser of the year, Maguire said, and the Board hopes to raise up to $30,000 this year, which would fund the UCAPS shelter for two months.
“This particular event is going to be to help us maintain operations,” Maguire said. “It costs us about $15,000 a month to keep the shelter open.”
Keith Owens will DJ the Furball, and there will be a space for dancing, Maguire said, noting that the dance floor stayed crowded at last year’s iteration of the event. A buffet and heavy hor d’oeuvres will be served for attendees.
One of the biggest draws of the Furball is the silent auction, which is again filled with unique items ranging from sports and Hollywood memorabilia to fine jewelry and local art.
“It’s across the board,” Maguire said. “You never know what’s going to tickle the fancy of those that are there bidding.”
Some of the most notable silent auction items up for bid this year include a New Orleans Saints helmet signed by quarterback Drew Brees; an LSU-branded football signed by Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow; and a signed photograph of Frank Sinatra.
Several local artists will also have original works up for bid at the Furball. Maguire said local merchants, including small businesses, donated many of the silent auction items; the rest were donated privately.
“We have a duck call this year, it’s custom-made, carved,” Maguire gave an example. “It’s beautiful wood, a beautiful design.”
Attendees will also have the opportunity to win door prizes, such as a $100 Murphy USA gas card, in exchange for pet food donations at the door. Maguire said that for every five pounds of food donated, attendees will be entered into a raffle for the various door prizes.
Last year, for the first time, the UCAPS Board and volunteers named a Furball King and Queen. Last year’s king was Sammy McElroy, a decades-long employee at the UCAPS shelter, and the queen was Tanja Jackson, the UCAPS shelter manager. Maguire said she thinks they will continue the tradition this year.
A new addition to this year’s Furball will be color commentary provided by Sandy Sanford, a former radio personality and general manager for Noalmark Broadcasting.
“We will have a slideshow and a video that we’re going to show when people are sitting and eating, visiting,” Maguire said. “And Sandy Sanford will be providing color commentary. I used to listen to him every morning. He’s something else.”
Maguire said the Furball is open to all ages and demographics. There are no dress requirements, and she said attendees should wear what they are comfortable in, whether that be jeans or an elaborate Mardi Gras feather mask.
Tickets are available at Petsense, 2620 N. West Avenue, and PJ’s Coffee, 106 W. Main. They are also available online at https://ucapsshelter.networkforgood.com/events/18224-2020-mardi-gras-furball .
Tickets cost $30 for one and $50 for a couple. There will also be tickets available at the door.
The Furball will be held this Saturday at the El Dorado Conference Center starting at 6:30 p.m. Maguire said the silent auction will be closed in stages and she expects bidding to end by 10:30 p.m.
To see more silent auction items, visit the UCAPS Facebook page or the event page for the Furball.
Caitlan Butler can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].