April 5, 2018

Evening to Paws Gala

Top, left: 2018 Colleen & Rose Kelsey Kelleher. Lower, left: Dylan Marsh and Jason Posthumus. Top, right: Amy Offenberg. Lower, right: Irish dancers

Arizona Animal Welfare League, the state’s oldest no-kill shelter, hosted its annual Evening to Paws gala at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia on March 17. About 400 guests donned their finest greenery for the St. Patrick’s Day event. The evening included Irish folk music by Stilicho; an appearance by Kelsey Kelleher, 2018 Arizona Colleen & Rose; performances by troupes of young Irish dancers and dinner fare inspired by the Emerald Isle.

Judith Gardner, AAWL executive director, welcomed rural rescue partners from throughout the state as the guests of honor. The shelter also shared a documentary of its work with rural shelters over the last year.

The event grossed more than $240,000 to help the thousands of homeless animals rescued every year by the shelter.

PHOTOS COURTESY ARIZONA ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE