The Furevermore Auction & Gala is back on October 29th, 2022!
After going virtual in 2020 and cancelling in 2021, the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation is thrilled to announce Furevermore is back in person this year.
We’ll welcome 350 of our top supporters to the National Nordic Museum to enjoy:
Cocktail hour
Meet and greet with adoptable puppies, kittens, or bunnies
“You as an animal” portraits
Photo booths
Other exciting raffles and entertainment
A full course meal
Bidding on 100+ items in a live and silent auction
Sports tickets, local restaurant tastings, pet gear, and one-of-a-kind travel opportunities are just some of the items ready to go to the highest bidder. Plus, there’s the chance to feature your pet on the 2023 SASF calendar or make them the star of next year’s Furry 5K and Furevermore!
Have fun and donate to a good cause as we look to raise over $200,000 and to help fund life-saving programs at the Seattle Animal Shelter.
With the money raised from this event, we’re looking to fund a full-time foster care coordinator to increase the number of dogs, cats, and critters that are placed in foster homes and provide direct support to foster parents and animals. Your donations in support of this foster care coordinator position will make a difference for so many neglected dogs, cats, and critters looking for a second chance.
Seating is limited, so check back on our website or follow us on Facebook,Instagram, or LinkedIn to see when tickets become available.
Thanks for your support and we’ll see you in October!
We did it! This past year’s Furry 5K was bigger than ever before, thanks to generous donations, volunteers, our sponsors, and the hundreds of humans and pets who joined us on June 12 at Seward Park (and even those who participated virtually). The event was packed to the brim with opportunities to connect as a community and support the Seattle Animal Shelter.
Fun on the day
Upon arriving at Seward Park, runners and walkers (two-legged and four-legged alike) were invited to get in on the fun early. There were photo booths and vendors to explore, and presenting sponsor Mud Bay was handing out bandanas to eager pups. It was a joy to see so many furry family members sporting their new gear as they made the 5-kilometer loop next to Lake Washington. Even Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrel joined in, chatting with race participants and giving head scratches to animals as they headed out on the course.
Once runners and walkers rounded the last corner and came in sight of the finish line, excited barking filled the park as humans and pets raced towards the finish line. There was the classic rehydration station and also a little something extra for the pups (tennis balls) that greeted finishers as they passed through the final arch — exciting many dogs who could have kept on going.
The fun didn’t stop there. The various booths, food trucks and activities kept runners and walkers entertained long after their 3-mile loop. The dog agility course was a crowd favorite and showcased the talents of plenty of pups.
Beyond the joy of the actual race, this year’s Furry 5K helped provide the Seattle Animal Shelter with much needed funds and support. Every dollar raised through donations will help the pets at the shelter receive the medical attention, behavioral support, and loving care they need and deserve.
We’re proud to say that we surpassed our fundraising goal of $100,000! This year’s Furry 5K event raised $115,145 for the Seattle Animal Shelter. This money will be used to support so many animals in the shelter and allow the facilities and people working within the shelter to continue their vital work.
Thank you to all involved
None of this would have been possible without the support of donors, volunteers, and sponsors. This year’s race was put on by more than 100 volunteers, and we all know it wouldn’t be the same without the dedication of that group. Volunteers actually created the first Furry 5K back in 1999 to raise funds for the Seattle Animal Shelter’s veterinary needs and they still organize the event to this day.
The Furry 5K wouldn’t be what it is without the donors and participants that come out, rain or shine, to help support the shelter animals they care about. Whether you ran, walked, donated, led a team, shared a post on social media, or anything in between — thank you. Your support helps the Seattle Animal Shelter keep doing amazing work.
It takes a village to put on a race like the Furry 5K, and a huge part of that community are our sponsors. These sponsors provide the shelter with invaluable resources to create a fun, impactful event that truly matters to the animals in need of the care that the shelter provides. Thank you to:
A special shout out to our presenting sponsor, Mud Bay, for also donating $1 for each mile ran at the Furry 5K, for a total of $3,252!
Looking ahead
While this year was a smashing success, there are always more opportunities to support the shelter. Keep an ear out on future fundraising and community-building events by subscribing to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation newsletter. You can also donate today to help support the shelter’s ongoing needs.
Mud Bay is delighted to be a longtime partner supporting the work of Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation, and a recurring Presenting Sponsor of one of SASF’s signature events—the Furry 5K. Last year, in addition to sponsorship, Mud Bay was also able to donate 1,600 pounds of high-quality food to the shelter. Since 2017, Mud Bay has donated over $1.3 million dollars supporting exemplary nonprofit organizations such as SASF.
This year, Mud Bay Delivery is pleased to be participating in several ways, including the bandana sponsorship, and will have members of our Delivery Team on-site to hand out bandanas—as well as pet treats—to folks at Furry 5K.
Also, Mud Bay Delivery has pledged to donate $1 for each and every mile walked/ran during the Furry 5K event on June 12th.
“We love working with Seattle Animal Shelter, and Furry 5K is always one of our favorite events,” said Justin Anderson, Marketing Program Manager for Mud Bay. “Between the adorable bandanas Mud Bay Delivery team members are handing out, and the $1 match for every mile, we hope this will be the best Furry 5K yet!”
So, grab your friends and family and register for the Furry 5K today, which benefits the Help the Animals Fund at Seattle Animal Shelter, supporting medical care for pets in need. And when you’re there, look for the Mud Bay Delivery crew to say hi and get a bandana and a treat for your pet!
This year’s Furry 5K is just around the corner. On June 12, hundreds of King County animal lovers will gather at Seward Park alongside their four-legged companions to walk or run in the name of helping pets. A good event needs a good ambassador, or maybe even two. This year’s face(s) of the Furry 5K are Lemon and Walter: two very good dogs.
How did these two pups become such an important part of this race? Each fall, the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) hosts an auction and gala to raise funds for the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS). While the pandemic caused a few changes in plans over the last two years, it did not stop Lemon and Walter’s owner, Chris Priest, from making a generous donation to secure his pups as the Face of the Furry 5K. We had the privilege of sitting down with Chris to learn more about his beloved dogs, his history with the Furry 5K, and who is really in charge of their household.
Lemon (left) and Walter, this year’s Faces of the Furry 5K, sit pretty for their headshot.
Our conversation with Chris
SASF: First thing’s first… – Can you tell us a little bit about Walter and Lemon?
Chris: Lemon is a border collie/terrier mutt we adopted from a shelter in Sun Valley, Idaho. We had lost a wonder dog (Daisy Mae, who was from the Seattle Animal Shelter), and there was something about adorable, crazy Lemon that reminded us of her.
Lemon is a gregarious herder who loves people (especially kids) and certain other dog pals. She is the fastest thing, crazy agile, and very smart. It’s hard for us to keep up with her quite often.
Little Walter is a little terrier mix who was found wandering the streets; some kids took him to a vet, and they cared for him for a month before relinquishing him to the shelter. We fell in love immediately, and so did Lemon. Walter is a smarty pants and the boss. He rules the roost, and Lemon loves him more than she might [love] us. They are the best of friends and bring us delight every day.
Why were you interested in having your dogs be the Face of the Furry 5K?
We love the Seattle Animal Shelter and the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation, and a highlight of our year is the annual auction. We’ve had our dogs on the side of buses (twice), in the calendar (three times), and all sorts of other prizes. It just made sense to do the Furry 5K — that, and Lemon is crazy fast. We wanted to support the Seattle Animal Shelter and do something fun and different!
The two dogs discovered they were perfect playmates right away. Here, Lemon (left) and Walter display their polite playing technique.
How do Lemon and Walter affect your life? Do they help you maintain any sort of daily routines or bring a new appreciation to your daily activities?
Lemon and Walter ARE our daily lives. Besides work and food, everything we do centers around our pack. We go on lots of walks every day, go on runs, and play fetch and all sorts of games.
They have both gone to more training and more classes than either of their humans have. They love to be challenged and to play, so we spend a lot of time training, doing exercises, and having fun. We go down to Yelm a few times a month so Lemon can herd sheep and Walter can bark. They love it!
[Because we work] from home, they are very rarely alone. We have morning walks, afternoon walks, and night walks. We go to a lot of places that allow dogs, too, so they go out to eat with us or meet friends with us all the time.
These two make every day extra special. From crazy play episodes that take over the entire house to all the people in our neighborhood who greet them, every day is more fun and more interesting because of these two.
What are you looking forward to about this year’s Furry 5K?
Both Lemon and Walter love to go on runs. I used to run to and from work with Lemon, and her and I have participated in the Furry 5K three times. It’s such a fun, entertaining, and healthy event — we love to participate.
Lemon loves people, so I think her getting attention and being recognized as the Face of the Furry 5K will make her very happy. We plan to arrive early and take photos and do whatever helps the Foundation increase participation and the fun factor. Come meet Lemon and Walter!
Okay, last question. If someone was interested in potentially participating in the Furry 5K this summer, what is one thing you’d tell them?
It’s all about the animals. The work the Seattle Animal Shelter and Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation do for dogs, cats, critters, and friends is remarkable. This is a chance to run or walk, have a fun time, support each other, and raise money for the shelter. There are lots of teams, so there’s lots of support. It’s fun, and it is so important to show how much our community supports the animals!
How to join in on the fun
There’s still plenty of time to sign up for this June’s Furry 5K! Check out the Furry 5K website to learn more about participating.
If you’re interested in your pet being the Face of the Furry 5K at a future event, keep an eye out for the Furevermore Auction & Gala coming this October. Who knows – maybe your best friend will be the star of next year’s race!
The dogs are barking! The cats are meowing! The critters are… crittering? We’re all so excited to announce the Furry 5K is back in-person in 2022!
Dog and humans are welcome to join the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) on Sunday, June 12th as we make a triumphant return to Seward Park to host the in-person Furry 5K Fun Run & Walk.
Sign up for the Furry 5K now to take advantage of early-bird pricing and reserve your race bib, goody bag, and 2022 Furry 5K t-shirt.
On Sunday, June 12th, the Furry 5K will begin at 11 AM with a staggered start for runners and walkers. After you cross the finish line, make your way through our booths to check out some fun pet products, explore the dog agility course, treat your pup to a dip in the kiddie pool, or hook them up with a treat from Puddles Barkery.
You’ll then hear awards given to the top three 5K finishers, top individual fundraiser, top team fundraiser, and the best costumes (both human and dog costumes, of course).
We hope to see over 1,000 people at the race, and 100% of proceeds will go toward the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS). So spread the word and get a group of friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, cat sitters, or dog-walking buddies to race with you.
SAS has done so much to support pets over the years. In 2021 alone, the shelter helped:
Get 226 dogs, 363 cats, and 122 critters adopted.
Provide 898 spay and neuter surgeries.
Investigate 741 animal cruelty cases.
Reunite 454 lost animals with their owners.
Rescue 351 wild animals.
Perform 7,000 vet exams.
Serve 366 animals via the pet food bank.
We are so grateful for everyone who has supported the shelter after all these years (even when the Furry 5K was virtual in both 2020 and 2021). Let’s give back to SAS once more and raise $100,000 at the 2022 Furry 5K!
Share why you’re excited to race by tagging SASF on Instagram and Facebook and using #furry5kseattle and #furry5k to connect with our pet-loving community.
Many thanks to our sponsors, especially our Presenting Sponsor, Mud Bay, who help make this event possible with their amazing support for the Seattle Animal Shelter. A huge thank you to:
Join other animal lovers in the Seattle area to raise money for the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation, as we return in-person at Seward Park on June 12, 2022 at 11 a.m. Join us to run or walk in-person or virtually in support of the Help the Animals Fund at the Seattle Animal Shelter, which supports medical care for pets in need.
Roadblocks often breed the most creative ideas, and that was definitely true when the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) found itself in a tricky place this fall. With COVID-19 cases on the rise in Western Washington, the decision was made to forgo the annual Furevermore auction in 2021 to help protect the safety and health of the community. However, that didn’t mean that SASF board members and donors couldn’t help the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS)!
Volunteers gather outside the Seattle Animal Shelter at the start of the day.
On October 16, 2021, a group of about 25 donors, SASF board members, and other SASF volunteers came together to get their hands dirty and provide support for the shelter itself through a program called Pawsitive Projects. Not only did this provide an opportunity to accomplish much needed tasks — the dog corral was weeded, the “critter closet” cleaned out and organized, the laundry room scrubbed, toys assembled, and much more — they also were able to see for themselves the critical work they support.
SASF Marketing Chair and cat foster parent Katy Thweatt was there on the day to support the staff at the Seattle Animal Shelter.
“The Seattle Animal Shelter has been facing a volunteer shortage over the past few months. Events like Pawsitive Projects give the shelter some much-needed help when it comes to tackling hard-to-do, time-intensive tasks their regular volunteers don’t have the chance to focus on,” says SASF Marketing Chair Katy Thweatt, who is also an avid cat foster parent for the shelter.
Many SASF volunteers and board members joined the organization in the last two years, which created an interesting situation — there were board members who had never stepped foot within the shelter’s walls due to shelter COVID protocols. Fortunately, this day of volunteer help allowed all who joined to get an inside look into how the shelter operates and where their work and funding goes.
Throughout the day, there were also plenty of fun surprises alongside the hard work. After a few hours of organization and cleaning, volunteers helped stuff Kong toys with treats for the dogs being cared for in the shelter. This was followed by the joy of giving each pet their own yummy, treat-filled toys, which was a win/win for all. Outside in the corral, some volunteers made time to play with pets and get some cuddles in.
Volunteer Heidi Beck trims the weeds growing outside the dog corral.
So, what’s next for Pawsitive Projects? The success of October’s event opens the door for similar opportunities in the future. Katy, for her part, is looking forward to “seeing another group of pets we’re helping and catching up with all of the great people who also care about these animals.”
One other benefit of the event? Volunteers, donors and board members were able to meet each other in person, talk to the staff at SAS, and see for themselves what donations mean to the shelter. Donations are hugely important to keep programs running and to help bring technology and resources to areas that need it most— to learn more, take a look at these donation options.
This October, the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) will see some major improvements benefiting animals in need. These improvements would not be possible without the generous contributions to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) from donors like you – THANK YOU!
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see how Pawsitive Projects will transform the Seattle Animal Shelter on October 16th.
Giving back looks a little different during a pandemic. While we were sad to cancel the 2021 Furevermore Auction & Gala, we want to keep our supporters, like you, safe.
Still, nothing will stop SASF from rolling up our sleeves to support our mission of serving Seattle animals in need. Rather than host a gala this year, we decided to trade in our coattails for overalls.
Dubbed “Pawsitive Projects,” SASF has created a one-day event that will allow our board members and SASF supporters to complete several improvement projects throughout the shelter. This will be a full day of giving back by working on difficult, time-consuming tasks that will serve SAS and all animals, future adopters, staff and the Seattle community for years to come.
On October 16th, about 25 volunteers will arrive at the shelter to do all the dirty, time-intensive jobs that aren’t included in day-to-day shelter operations. These are projects like deep cleaning the food prep and laundry areas, buffing hallway floors, window washing and repainting dog and cat kennels, and weeding the walkway around the shelter and the dog corral.
… And the cherry on top? Support from donors like you helped SASF purchase over 100 items from the shelter’s wish list that will help feed, train and comfort pets at the shelter waiting for their forever families. These items include bird cages, aquariums, cat beds, critter pens and dog toy bins. SASF volunteers will deliver these gifts to the shelter on the 16th and will help assemble items so they can immediately be enjoyed by pets.
All volunteers have received their COVID-19 vaccines and masks will be worn inside the shelter at all times. We’re looking forward to reconnecting with our pet-loving supporters in a safe setting.
If you’re interested in supporting SAS, SASF and events like Pawsitive Projects, please consider:
Shop with Amazon Smile and direct your donations to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. When the Pawsitive Projects day comes, help us spread the word about the great work SAS and SASF do to help pets.
On behalf of all the homeless dogs, cats and critters at the Seattle Animal Shelter, thanks for your support!
Hello friends and supporters of the Seattle Animal Shelter and SASF, we hope that this finds you in good health, and good spirits.
We wanted to share the news that the 2021 Furevermore Auction & Gala has been postponed until 2022.
The health and safety of our donors and volunteers is our greatest priority, and we simply would not be able to provide the event we know you look forward to in the current climate. That said, SASF is creating new ways to give back in big ways this year!
Please look for upcoming communications (you can follow us on Facebook and Instagram) for ways you can get involved and continue to support Seattle animals in need in 2021.
As always, we are grateful for all of our amazing donors, volunteers, and foster families. We look forward to seeing you all soon!
Tails wags are aplenty this June as the annual Furry 5K wraps up with great success. From walkers and runners, to team captains and adopters, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate now that we’ve come to the finish line. In 2021 the Furry 5K raised $71,686! That money goes directly to supporting pets in need with programs like behavioral training and resources to help rehabilitate injured animals.
Furry 5K participants enjoy their run in support of the Seattle Animal Shelter’s efforts. TOP: With their pups in tow, this family has everything they need to make this run their best one yet.
Through both rain and sunshine, supporters of the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) showed up big this year. For the second straight year the Furry 5K went virtual in 2021, meaning people could join from their own neighborhoods—or even their treadmills. More than 535 people joined this virtual run and walk. Every step is appreciated and helps the shelter accomplish its goals.
In addition, this year featured a new way to get involved in the festivities. Supporters had the opportunity to sponsor a dog to walk a 5K alongside one of the amazing SAS volunteers, and it was clear that the only thing better than taking yourself for a walk is sponsoring a shelter pup
With all that walking it’s important that pets fuel up, which is why we’re grateful to official Furry 5K sponsor Mud Bay. Mud Bay donated a pound of food for every mile raced and every dog sponsored, which tallied to more than 1,650 pounds of food donated.
Finally, the most important part of the fun run and walk is the chance to change even a single pet’s life. Throughout the week of the 5K many dogs, cats and critters were given the opportunity to find their forever family. Every mile jogged and every pet sponsored represents a huge accomplishment and a life-changing possibility for these animals. Thank you to the volunteers who made this year’s event come to life, to the sponsors of the 2021 Furry 5K, and to all the participants who contributed to this wonderful event.
