The Panora P.E.T.S. Animal Shelter has released the fundraising totals from its inaugural Fur Ball that was held earlier this month, and the amount raised is a big number.

P.E.T.S. volunteer Mindy Kurtz tells Raccoon Valley Radio that number is $25,000, which far surpasses the fundraising goal she had in mind for the organization’s new event.

“I was overwhelmed when I saw the numbers.  I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect it.  We had a great turnout of over 200 people, and I just want to send out a big ‘thank you’ to everybody who came out and participated and donated, ‘you’re going to change a lot of animals’ lives’.”

Kurtz says she was nearly moved to tears on multiple occasions while calculating the fundraising totals, which she believes were as high as they were because of the excitement generated by and surrounding the event.

With a bevy of funds now available to use for animal care, Kurtz explains just how much P.E.T.S. needed an amount as large as 25k.

“People don’t really understand that just in vet bills alone last year, it was over $50,000 for us… because a lot of times we get those unwanted animals, those animals that have been dumped on a gravel road or something like that and they need that medical care.  That’s why they’re in that situation to begin with–they’re owner doesn’t want to have to pay for their medical care.  That is the biggest thing, we’ll be able to help more animals, maybe improve our facility.  We’ll be able to breathe a little bit from month to month when we get the bills coming in, it’s just a number of things.”

Kurtz says she has already begun plans for the second annual Fur Ball, which he hopes to make “even bigger and better” than the ultra-successful inaugural event.