Spay-ghetti raises $22,500 for dog rescue

The Lucky Puppy Rescue’s Eighth Annual Spay-Day event, a Spay-ghetti with No Balls Luncheon, raised $22,500 for the animal rescue Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Barn at the Wicked Wheel.

Lucky Puppy began about 11 years ago, when founder Teri Mattson, a FSU Panama City business management alumnus, bought a farm. She began by taking in two stray dogs, and now has more than 100.

The mission of Lucky Puppy is prevention by spaying and neutering, but the organization also works to get the rescued dogs adopted. Every first Saturday of the month, March through December, the rescue holds a “Pawz day” in Callaway. Lucky Puppy grills burgers and hotdogs, and people bring their dogs out to play in the water, socialize, and run around the 5-acre property. 

Spay-ghetti, which first was held in a church parking lot in 2010, is held on last Tuesday in February, World Wide Spay Day. The day celebrates what was once only a national movement of prevention awareness. Mattson said, “Facebook has changed our whole world,” when talking about how Lucky Puppy’s operation has grown over the years.

Amber Champion, a full-time employee at Lucky Puppy who began volunteering about three years ago, said last year’s event raised $15,000 and three dogs were adopted. This year the event brought in $22,500, four dogs were adopted, and several more adoption applications were filled out. In addition, the sum of this year’s donated items totaled over $20,000, a $6,000 increase from last year. 

“I can’t wait to see how much we raise in 2018,” Champion said. 

Champion added that there are several volunteer opportunities. The rescue has a location in Bonifay and one in Panama City. The rescue also holds events and fundraisers throughout the year. Check out the Lucky Puppy Rescue on Facebook to find out what’s going on at the rescue.

— Phoebe Isaac

Four Crossed Logs intern

professional communication major