Art sale to help Humane Society

Columbia County Hu-mane Society is calling all Parrotheads and animal lovers for an evening of music and art.

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The society will hold the Paw Prints Art for Animals fundraiser from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Taylor BMW on Washington Road in Evans.

"I think it is going to be great," said Dr. Nancy McNair, the event coordinator. "I can't wait for it to get here."

The event will feature Jimmy Buffett-style musician Leo Dean, a coastal Georgia native. Dean's performance will include many Buffett songs and original tunes, McNair said.

"The singer, Leo Dean, sings about Key West," McNair said. "Because of his singing, (the event) has sort of taken on a Key West flair."

More than 150 pieces of donated artwork will be sold or auctioned.

"A lot of it is animal-related, but not all of it," McNair said.

Available artwork includes paintings, prints, photographs, pottery and jewelry from (sporting goods company) Orvis artist Karen Killian and local artist Avis Lyle, among many others.

McNair said works have come from artists nationwide.

They include prints of the six-toed cats of the former Key West, Fla., home of Ernest Hemingway; hand-painted T-shirts from a Key West artist; and more than 10 animal prints from New York City artists Margie and John Bobbish.

The evening will include the artwork sale and auction, a Bow-Wow and Meow Market with animal-related items, heavy hors d'oeuvres and local acoustic guitarist Allison Foster.

Tickets cost $30 each or $50 per couple. They are available in advance at Taylor BMW in Evans, Petibles Pet Bakery in Martinez, Vineyard Wine Market in Evans, Evans Animal Hospital, Fetch Dog Treats in Surrey Center, The Bone-I-Fide Bakery in Aiken, and Humane Society volunteers at Petco in Evans.

The proceeds will go to the Humane Society's building fund.

The society has owned land on Columbia Road for seven years in anticipation of building a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, dog park and shelter.

"(The event) is a fundraiser and celebration ... we are taking a big, giant step here," said Donna Evans, the Humane Society president. "We're just waiting to break ground. I'm excited."

The society has raised about $275,000 for the clinic, which will cost about $800,000 to build.

The long-term fundraising goal is to build all three facilities at about $1.5 million, Evans said.

"It is going to be a lot more than we had even thought it was going to be, because prices have gone up so much," she said. "But we want it for the animals and we want it for this community. It is about to happen."

For more information about the Humane Society or the Paw Prints event, call Evans at (706) 860-0571 or visit www.columbiacounty humanesociety.org.