Doggie cocktail party, a first, at Shenandoah Golf Club

There were almost as many dogs as people at what amounted to a revival of “Yappy Hour” which enjoyed a two-year run at a Main Street wine bar a few years ago and raised almost $10,000 for the Julia Wagner Animal Shelter in Front Royal.

“Yappy Hour 2018″ was held Aug. 24 at Shenandoah Valley Golf Club where ‘hostess’ Janet Maucione, the club’s banquet manager, gave free handouts to the animals while their owners were required to pay their own way.

Doggie-named cocktails were popular as were the doggie treats baked by chef Dan Agregaard and carried around by waiters on serving dishes. They included treats for all tastes, some of which were more popular than others. The first treat of the night, handed out by Ms. Janet, a dog owner herself, was rejected by a Siberian husky named Pola, much to the amusement of onlookers as she spat out the peanut-flavored morsel but waited to see what else was on offer. The second (third, fourth and fifth) was more acceptable.

If there had been a prize for the largest doggie family in attendance (there wasn’t!) it would have gone to owners Tommy Ball and wife Christy Hartman who were dragged along by four canines.

At the end of the day, about 7:30 p.m., Chef Dan packed up the leftovers for the dogs in the shelter. They left in the hands of shelter office manager Ericka Mills who represented shelter staff. Ellen Aders, president of the Humane Society of Warren County (HSWC) paid tribute to the workers who, she said, were largely responsible for HSWC receiving accolades from the Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce in nominating the animal group for best nonprofit organization in the area. Other HSWC board members in attendance were vice president Julie Covert and treasurer Michelle Kosiorek.

Aders announced a major shelter fundraiser scheduled for Sept. 14 (6-9 p.m.) at City National Bank on Commerce Avenue, Front Royal. Known as the PAWcasso Art Exhibit and sponsored by the Blue Ridge Arts Council (BRAC), the event features a one-of-a-kind artwork created by dogs and cats confined to the animal shelter, and embellished by local artist Kelly Walker who attended the”Yappy Hour” event.

The BRAC-sponsored event is free and refreshments are provided. Funds will be raised through animal and art lovers’ purchases of original PAWcasso (a play on the name of famed artist Pablo Picasso) paintings and voluntary donations

 .