Southeast Missouri Pets’ Annual Gourmet Food and Dessert Auction raises money for shelter care

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

JACKSON, Mo. (KBSI) – Bidders competed for cookies, cupcakes and other treats Sunday at Southeast Missouri Pets’ annual Gourmet Food and Dessert Auction, a fundraiser that helps cover the cost of caring for animals while they wait for adoption.

The auction took place at the Montgomery Bank Conference and Training Center in Jackson. It came as the Cape Girardeau nonprofit marks 50 years of operation and raises money to renovate the aging building where animals first arrive.

Gina Roy, the shelter’s events and volunteer coordinator, said veterinary bills are a year-round expense. The shelter spays or neuters, vaccinates and microchips each animal before making it available for adoption. Some animals also need surgery or heartworm treatment before they can go home.

Roy said the shelter is still taking in kittens too young for adoption. Those kittens spend more time in foster care, adding to the cost of preparing them for permanent homes.

The shelter uses its former building for intake. Animals move to the adoption center as space opens, and Roy said the shelter is raising money to improve the intake building so newly arrived animals have a better place to stay.

For Stewart Beam of Marble Hill, the fundraiser was a chance to give back to the shelter where he adopted two of his five rescue dogs. Both were puppies when he brought them home. One now weighs 95 pounds. Beam, who also has a rescue cat, said he attended last year’s auction and came back to support the shelter again.

“We love these people here and what they’re doing, and we totally support them as much as we can,” Beam said.

Mark Feynman of Cape Girardeau said he heard about the auction from Beam. Feynman, who has a rescue dog and a cat, said he had visited the shelter and wanted to help it pay for the work he had seen there.

“It’s important for money to be raised so they can have it in their budget to do the wonderful things they do,” Feynman said.

Roy said the shelter needs volunteers and foster homes throughout the year. It also goes through blankets and bedding daily, especially during colder months. Financial donations, she said, give the nonprofit flexibility to put money where it’s needed most.

“And thanks to events like this, we’re able to keep that promise to the pets,” Roy said.

Learn more about adopting, fostering, volunteering or donating on the [Southeast Missouri Pets website] or follow the shelter on [Facebook].