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Paws for Love is the brainchild of northern California artist Ellyn Jaques Boone. This annual event, held in early February, raises funds for Sonoma County animal shelters. Following three wildly successful years in Healdsburg, California, the Paws for Love committee found itself in need of a larger venue in 2003, and the event was relocated to Finley Hall at the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds. An artist with a passion for helping animals, Boone has been painting with shelter dogs for more than ten years. She began her unusual journey by assisting her own shelter-adopted dogs in the creation of paintings to be given as gifts to friends. In February of 2000, she turned her special skill into a fundraiser to benefit local non-profit animal shelters by launching an art show, sale, and auction she dubbed "Paws for Love." "We communicate with our animals in so many ways," muses Boone. "These unexpected artists may not know the difference between an O’Keeffe and a Matisse, but they all respond to kindness and affection. Together, we hope that each little painting might capture the attention of just the right person who will consequently decide to adopt one (or more!) of these devoted companions." 
The heart of this unique, upscale event is the sale of nearly 100 paintings Boone creates with shelter dogs and cats throughout the year. While some of the furry Fauvists have already been adopted into permanent homes, many are still waiting in shelters. Each painting - whether a soft, impressionistic paw print or bold, colorful abstract--is framed, titled, and accompanied by a photo and biography of the "artist". The paintings sell quickly, usually within an hour of the exhibit's opening. A red, white, and blue canvas painted by Boone's border collie, Lucy, entitled “Dog Bless America” was dedicated to the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation and the thirteen dogs sent to the WTC. This painting was the first to sell at the 2002 Paws event. One of the gems of the 2003 exhibition was a black and orange original painted by Rio, captain of the San Francisco Giants’ Baseball Aquatic Retrieval Korps (BARK). 
In addition to the sale of artwork by shelter animals, this gala event also features silent and live auctions offering award-winning wines, original art by two-legged artists, and donations by area businesses and celebrities. Charlie Musselwhite, Santana, Norman Greenbaum and the cast of "Friends" have donated to past events. A gallery of Sonoma County food and wine and live music by blues musician Mark McDonald was also included in the price of admission to our 2004-2008 events. Monies raised from this event greatly benefit the animals of Sonoma County, the North Bay, and beyond. The Paws for Love Foundation provides resources and funding to shelters, rescue groups, and individuals dedicated to improving the health, welfare, and adoptability of unwanted and abused animals. Funds raised by this event are also used to rehabilitate adoptable animals by providing necessary medical treatment, food and training for animals in foster care programs. Paws for Love is presented by Ellyn Jaques Boone and the Paws for Love Foundation. Proceeds from this gala event greatly benefit the animals of Sonoma County, the North Bay, and beyond. The Paws for Love Foundation provides resources and funding to shelters, rescue groups, and individuals dedicated to improving the health, welfare, and adoptability of unwanted and abused animals. Funds raised by this event are also used to rehabilitate adoptable animals by providing necessary medical treatment, food and training for animals in foster care programs. We are now in the process of gearing up for our FEBRUARY 7, 2009 Paws for Love benefit. For more information about donating items to future Paws for Love auctions, send an email to Ellyn Boone or call (707) 433-2952. If you or your company donate $200 or more to this event, you will receive two free tickets to the next PAWS FOR LOVE Gala. You will also receive the Paws for Love Newsletter. If you wish to donate items or services to our Paws for Love benefit, |
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