Connecticut Humane Society's Diamonds In The Ruff Gala Set To Take Place Virtually

By Erica Drzewiecki, The Bristol Press

November 3, 2021

Pet lovers and animal rights advocates have a fun evening to look forward this Thursday and a good cause to support all weekend long.

The Connecticut Humane Society’s Diamonds in the Ruff Gala is set to take place virtually on Zoom at 6:30 p.m. An online auction will also kick off Nov. 4 and run through Nov. 6.

The annual gala was moved to a virtual platform in 2020, and due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic, attendees can once again enjoy the festivities from the comfort of home with their pets by their side.

“It was very successful last year and it looks like it is going to be even more successful this year,” CHS Board President Ellen Sharon said Monday. “We miss being able to thank our donors and sponsors in person but this is the next best thing. We couldn’t do this without them.”

The deadline to purchase “Paw Packs” with wine or beer, CHS signature wine or pint glasses and a pet toy was Oct. 31. However, tickets are still available for the gala at cthumane.org/diamonds.

“We sold over 170 Paw Packs,” Sharon said. “We are ahead in ticket sales, sponsorships and Paw Packs. We’re looking to have a very robust event this year and we’ve got a great program; I think people are really going to enjoy it.”

The evening’s agenda will include lots of photographs and video footage of CHS pets and highlight the good works of the not-for-profit animal welfare organization.

“We are focusing on three very critical programs strengthening and expanding what we do,” Sharon said.

The first is Crisis Fostering, when a loving pet owner needs a temporary home in their absence. Sharon explained the different types of situations where this becomes vitally important:

“If someone needs to go to the hospital for rehabilitation, or a military serviceperson is being deployed, or someone has suffered a catastrophic house fire,” she said. “We can place their animal in a loving home and they will get them back after the crisis is over.”

The second program to be featured is the CHS’ mobile wellness clinics, which provide free veterinary check-ups in underserved communities.

Finally, the gala will go to support emergency medical care available at the CHS’ Fox Memorial Clinic, located at its Newington headquarters. Staff there provide services at a reduced fee to pets in need.

“We want to make sure every animal has access to good veterinary care so they can remain with the family they love,” Sharon said.

Gala attendees will vote on their favorite of the three programs online during the event and funds raised will be divvied up accordingly.

Auction items include a vacation in a North Carolina beach home, tickets to see the New York Giants and the Hartford Yard Goats, artwork, a gift basket from the Travelers Championship Tournament, wine packages, pet goodies and more.

Erica Drzewiecki can be reached at edrzewiecki@centralctcommunications.com.