TRACS festival to bring good food and beverages

THOMPSON FALLS – If you are a fan of hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer and entertainment, then Thompson River Animal Care Shelter has a place for you.

The non-profit animal shelter will be holding their annual Fall Festival on Sept. 13 at PPL Park in Thompson Falls from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

According to founder Wanda Thorpe, the event may also include some interesting non-alcoholic beverages for tasting, such as ciders or virgin strawberry daiquiris.

Not only will participants be able to enjoy food and drinks for a good cause, but the sound of music will also fill the park as Lisa French and the Clark Fork Ramblers provide a variety of music.

In previous years the festival was held at Rocky Point Ranch and was also held at the Plains Airport last year as a “fly-in.” This year TRACS decided to take it back to the basics to try to get more participants.

Last year’s event featured wines from around the world to fit with the fly-in theme, however, this year the wines are more pet friendly.

The theme for the wine tasting will be wines your pet will approve of and a variety of different wines labeled with pictures of animals will be featured. Some of these will include Vicious Red, which features a pit bull on the label and there will also be a couple of Double Dog Dare wines, featuring a dog on the label.

This year about 20 wines will be available so that those in attendance can taste them all.

Big Sky Brewery of Missoula will provide the beer for the event.

Not only will one be able to appease their taste buds, but the event will also feature a silent and live auction. The auctions include a variety of different items up for grabs. Prizes include a one night stay at the Holiday Inn in Coeur d’Alene at the Triple Play Family Fun Park, as well as a stay in Kalispell with paid tickets to see the Glacier Symphony. Jewelry, handmade wooden bowls and artwork will also be available.

Artist Teresa Fisher will be at the event painting a picture of a bald eagle that will also be available during the auction.

“In addition to that we have a number of things right around here,” Thorpe said.

A steak dinner will be auctioned off for the Thompson Grill, as will pizzas from Wild Coyote, handmade quilts and baskets for both dog lovers and cat lovers.

Those interested will be able to bid on the silent auction throughout the day before the start of the event.

The Fall Festival is typically a large fundraiser for TRACS, bringing in somewhere between $5,000 and $9,000. This year the hope is to bring in even more money to continually help animals in the area.

The organization’s stated mission is “to offer shelter and protection for the well being of all companion animals in our community by offering a comprehensive package of services for these animals and their current or future human companions.”

Since TRACS is non-profit it runs solely off of donations and grants. The shelter on average spends $120,000 a year to keep everything running, with a large amount of money funneled into veterinary care.

“Our biggest line item is vet expenses,” Thorpe said. “As everyone knows (vet care) is extremely expensive.”

Not only does TRACS spay and neuter all of their animals, but they also provide them with up-to-date vaccinations. Another large veterinary expense goes to taking care of animals with disease or illness.

“We have a lot of cats and dogs that come in with ailments,” Thorpe said. “That might be the reason (the animal) was dumped in the first place. We do all the medical care needed.”

Currently the shelter houses approximately 27 dogs and 42 cats, a typical number for TRACS.

In October the shelter will be providing an adult cat Fall special to try to get all the cats a home. The adult cats will be available for just $10, after the buyer is approved through the application process.

“We have some cats that have been here for so long. They are nice adults that are just here forever,” Thorpe said.

Some of the cats have been at TRACS for three years or more, and the hope is the sale will put all of the cats into forever homes.

Everyone is encouraged to attend the festival and Thorpe said attendees can dress up or dress down, it’s up to them.

“Wear what you’d like to wear, but feel free to dress up if you want to because some of us will,” Thorpe said.