By Jennifer Pund
IDAHO SPRINGS
Break out the Halloween costume, the Friend’s of Charlie’s Place is hosting its annual Howl at the Moon fundraiser, Oct. 24, at the Idaho Springs Elks Lodge, 1600 Colorado Blvd. This adult-only event features local eats, great auction items and a chance to enter the popular costume contest while dancing the night away to a live band. It’s only $10 at the door and all proceeds help the animals at the Clear Creek/Gilpin County Animal Shelter, also known as Charlie’s Place.

The event was originally held from 2005-2008 to help raise funds to construct the current shelter building on West Dumont Road on the donated property of Helen Buck. Donna Gee revived the popular event in 2011, and it has been going strong since.

“Last year we raised about $2,000 that went right back to the community and Charlie’s Place to make the lives of those awaiting their forever home, more comfortable,” Gee said.

The popularity of the event attracts restaurants from all over Clear Creek County. “The local restaurants donate food to create a Taste of Clear Creek County,” Gee explained. Sample menu items from Wildfire Hilldaddy’s Restaurant, Tommyknockers Brewery & Restaurant and Picci’s Pizza—all from Idaho Springs—Troia’s Café and Alpine Restaurant and Bar in Georgetown, Lewis Sweet Shop in Empire as well as others like The Tributary and much more.

Silent auction items including spa baskets and wine and cheese will be available for bids as well as baskets arraigned just for your dog or cat. Last year, lucky bidders went home with tickets for the Silverton/Durango Railroad and Denver Botanical Garden passes, so be sure to bid early and stay late to win.
After eating and bidding, dance to the sounds of Rock n’ Roll Cowboy and Josh Reagon as DJ D-Double-J.

The event’s planning, like everything else at Charlie’s Place, is 100 percent volunteer driven. Gee explains “all money raised is given back to the companion animals of the community.”

Charlie’s Place is a new, modern, county owned and managed animal shelter serving the residents of Clear Creek and Gilpin counties. They have dogs and cats of all types, shapes and sizes waiting for homes to call their own. All animals are spayed or neutered and are current on all vaccinations. The shelter also provides dog registration and licensing for no charge for spayed or neutered pets, vaccination clinics the first Sunday of every month, microcips for $15 with no appointment needed and animal traps to loan.

For questions about Howl at the Moon, contact Gee at 303-668-0924 or visit http://www.friendsofcharliesplace.org. To learn more about Charlie’s Place, donate or volunteer, contact the shelter at 303-679-2477 or visit http://www.charliesplaceshelter.org.

©2014 – Originally published in the October 2014 edition of the MMAC Monthly