Past Events
Wayne Pacelle Book Signing at Explore Booksellers
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Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter brought Victoria Stilwell, the star of Animal Planet's It's Me or the Dog to Aspen on July 23, 2011 for a series of events to raise money for its Spay/Neuter & Rescue Campaign. Wayne Pacelle, President & CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, made a special appearance at all events and John Oates, of the famed rock duo Hall & Oates, attended and performed at a private patron dinner.
Wayne spoke about animal welfare issues and Victoria shared her insight on positive-reinforcement dog training and explained why positive training is a better practice than punitive, dominance-based training techniques. She addressed her fondness for rescue animals and demonstrated her positive training techniques with several problem dogs. All three events were a lot of fun and raised significant funds for our various spay/neuter programs.
K-9 Karnival Adoption Fair on March 13 at the Hotel Jerome
Photos above: Amanda Boxtell with her service dog Tucker and Seth Sachson (Photo courtesy of Amanda) and Seth Sachson with one of the adoptable dogs, Cooper, and Jackie Rogers of the Hotel Jerome
The K-9 Karnival Adoption Fair was a tremendous success!!! Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter and the Hotel Jerome welcomed dogs and their people to the the Hotel Jerome Ballroom on Sunday, March 13th, 2011. Over twenty presenters, including four area animal rescue groups consisting of the Aspen Animal Shelter, C.A.R.E. (Colorado Animal Rescue), the Rifle Animal Shelter and A.R.F.(Animal Rescue Foundation) were on site with adoptable dogs. Other booths represented dog trainers, pet shops, veterinarians, service dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, a doggie masseuse and much more.
Participating pet shops donated 20% of their profits, and proceeds raised benefited our area animal rescue groups. Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter board member and local artist, Georgeann Waggaman, was on hand to turn children into their favorite animal, and fellow board member Mimi Teschner playfully donned her well-received cat costume in order to give the felines some representation at the dog-filled event. Singer/songwriter Dan Sheridan sang our favorites, including his best-known song, and more relevant than ever; and the touching ode to man's best friend, "Dog Food."
K-9 Karnival attendees also won gift certificates for one-night stays at the Hotel Jerome, where dogs are always welcome guests!!! Refreshments were served and all visiting dogs sampled fresh-baked Doggy D’oeuvres prepared by Hotel Jerome’s Executive Chef Robert McClanahan.
The K-9 Karnival Adoption Fair was an event created to centralize dog-related organizations in order to educate, enlighten and entertain the public, while ultimately benefiting homeless pets throughout the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond, and it did just that :)
Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter hosted our second annual skijor clinic on January 16, 2011. This year we were joined by instructor Louisa Morrissey, owner of Skijor-N-Mor, who has been teaching skijoring for five years. Louisa, along with Seth Sachson, Dawn Shepard and Ed Foran led a sold-out clinic which covered skijor basic equipment, techniques to encourage your dog to pull and safety and responsibility on the trail. Join us for our second clinic on February 26, 2011. Special thanks to Kate McBride for hosting the practical session at her beautiful ranch, The Other Side, and Randy Gold for his great photography.
Cesar attended a VIP luncheon at the Aspen Animal Shelter and he then performed to a packed house at the Aspen District Theater on the evening of July 10, 2010. He captivated the audience with his "pack leader” philosophy and worked with area dogs including Gracie Wachs, Shadow Shield-Taylor, Bonnie Stevens, Emme, Alfie, Katie, Ringo & Rocky Levy/Crandall, Sophie McCullough and Barney Porter.
The non-profit Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter (FAAS) produced the event with the assistance of sponsors: American National Bank, Aspen Magazine, Aspen Times, Escape Bistro & Explore Booksellers and The Flabby Labby Dog Cookie Company.
VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT
On Sunday night, July 26th, she capped off the weekend events with a warm and intimate performance at the Aspen District Theater.
For more information about other activities by Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter, contact Anne Gurchick at 970-927-1771.
Aspen, CO, July 16, 2008 – Cesar Millan, the famed Dog Whisperer, played to a packed house at the Aspen District Theater on July 10, 2008 and captivated the audience with his "pack leader” philosophy. The nonprofit Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter (FAAS), in conjunction with Aspen Wags to Riches* and Norbie Zuckerman and his dog Charlie as presenting sponsors, brought Cesar Millan to town for a series of events to raise money for its Roaring Fork Valley and Western Slope Spay/Neuter campaign.
“Not only was Cesar an unbelievable entertainer, but he clearly ‘walked the talk’ by changing the behavior of two dogs (see photos of Tessa and Sherman below) on stage, which he had only moments before met,” said Anne Gurchick, board member of FAAS and event organizer. "I heard of people going home after the show, waking up their dogs and trying some of Cesar’s pointers!”
The sold-out “Cesar Whispers in Aspen” show was preceded by a special luncheon at the Cheryl and Sam Wyly Aspen Animal Shelter. Nearly 100 people paid for the opportunity to mingle and have lunch with Cesar. While at the shelter, Cesar worked his “magic” on several shelter dogs and enthralled luncheon attendees with his “exercise, discipline, then affection” techniques. Post show, 20 patrons dined with Cesar at the home of a shelter benefactor.
“Cesar was met with such a warm reception by Aspen dog-lovers that he wants to return next year,” said Seth Sachson, President of FAAS and manager of the Aspen Animal Shelter. Stay tuned for details. For more information about other activities by Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter, contact Anne Gurchick at 970-927-1771.