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Art Auction To Aid Area Animal Welfare Group

Cheryl Bentley/Suncoast News

Humans and animals enjoy themselves at an art auction on August 24 to help the 121 dogs rescued from an alleged puppy mill by the Suncoast Animal League.

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By Cheryl  Bentley | The Suncoast News

Published: August 23, 2008

Pinellas and Pasco county artists and musicians with a soft spot for the four-legged set have joined forces for Sunday's "Art for Animals," a live art auction in Tarpon Springs to benefit the Suncoast Animal League.

The Palm Harbor-based animal organization has chalked up $130,000 worth of bills for care of 121 dogs it rescued from an alleged puppy mill in the Tarpon Springs area on April 7. Many of the dogs had serious medical and psychological conditions. All are still under the League's care.

Although earlier this month, Pinellas County Judge Myra Scott McNary ruled 60 of the healthiest dogs had to be returned to the Tarpon Springs home, the league still has all the animals, Suncoast Executive Director Rick Chaboudy said.

The dogs' former owner, Teresita Hughes, has been charged with 46 counts of animal neglect, he said. "We're kind of at a standstill waiting to see what happens with the animal cruelty cases."

About 40 animal-loving artists will donate 75 pieces of art for Sunday's event.

Don Naumann, a Crystal Beach photographer is offering a photo of lightning over a deserted fishing boat at the back of a Tarpon Springs restaurant. It took Naumann, whose work features lightning in precisely the right spot and shape, two years and 50 visits to the spot to get the shot he wanted, he said.

Pinellas artist Michelle Mardis has donated "Home Alone," a giclee print of a sad-eyed dog on a couch that would retail for $300. Mardis' work features animals and is characterized by strong bold colors used in unexpected ways.

Tarpon Springs City Commissioner Robin Saenger, an artist, will offer T-shirts with images of animals she has drawn.

In Pasco County, members of the West Pasco Art Guild have contributed 30 watercolor, acrylic and oil paintings.

Additionally, Gypsy Star, a five-member band that plays original music with an international flavor of Celtic, flamenco and Mid-Eastern sounds will entertain. Pollyanna Garcia will perform a flamenco dance.

The band regularly plays in Pinellas and Pasco venues and at Ruth Eckerd Hall pre-concert cafe parties and has had one gig on the Eckerd main stage.

For humans, there will be drink specials and free buffet. For the doggie set, there will be a pooch-friendly outside patio.

Suncoast Executive Director Chaboudy is thrilled with the response of the artistic community. "We needed artists to step up and help us out, and they've certainly done that," he observed.

The lowdown

The "Art of Animals" fundraising event will be held 4 - 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, at The Zone, 121 E. Tarpon Ave, Tarpon Springs.

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