Second Chance Dinner Auction Has Something for Everyone

EAST BROOKFIELD — New items are arriving daily for the upcoming Second Chance Animal Services dinner auction to be held on Saturday, March 26 at the Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center. The event is Second Chance’s largest and most important fundraiser, and funds raised will help shelter pets get the care they need, from vaccines to lifesaving surgeries.

Tickets are selling briskly, and now animal lovers who can’t make it to the upcoming event will have a chance to bid online on items to help homeless pets. The fundraising event will feature a week of advance online bidding beginning Friday, March 18. Online bidding will close the night before the event to prepare for the popular silent auction that’s expected to feature over 200 items. Doors will open at 4 p.m. on March 26, and attendees can enjoy cocktails while perusing and bidding on a wide selection of items. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m., followed by the auction.

“We have some amazing items,” said Lindsay Doray, Second Chance’s director of Development. “The wooden Adirondack chairs are back, and we have gorgeous gift baskets, stunning jewelry, gigantic pet gift baskets, gift certificates, and some really great getaways. The week’s lodging in France and our camping packages are always very popular.”

The proceeds from this year’s event will provide veterinary care for shelter pets.

“While we often share stories about the pets that come to us with serious medical needs,” Doray said, “every single pet that comes to our shelter receives complete veterinary care, [including] vaccines, microchip, flea prevention, testing, spay or neuter services, and more. We do this so every pet gets the best chance of a successful adoption. While adopters do pay an adoption fee, that only covers a portion of their care. We do an amazing job of stretching every dollar, but last year, an additional $146,000 was not covered by adoption fees and must be raised by other means, like the dinner auction.”

Second Chance is still accepting sponsorships and item donations for the dinner auction. Doray said she is grateful to the event’s sponsors for their support, including major sponsor Tito’s Handmade Vodka.

For anyone interested in sponsoring, donating an item, or attending the event, more information and tickets can be found at www.secondchanceanimals.org/dinner-auction.