BETHESDA — Gift baskets filled with wine and gift cards, goodies for kittens and dogs, kitchen items, food and more are all prizes to win at the Belmont County Cat Stray Shun annual fundraiser.

The organization’s fundraiser is taking place Wednesday, July 24 at 6 p.m at the Shepard Farm Barn and Event Center at 433 N Main St., Bethesda, Ohio.

“I’m an animal lover, I always did the dogs,” said Candance Fleagane, director of Belmont County Cat Stray Shun. “I knew nothing about cats, but that is my passion in life ever since I was about 3 years old. I’m just a big animal lover. So you know, if I was helping a mouse or an elephant, it wouldn’t matter. I would always be helping any animal that I could.”

An admission ticket costs $25 and can be purchased at the door or beforehand by contacting Fleagane via Facebook. The ticket allows attendees to enjoy a meal donated by Wood Fired Pizza, desserts and entertainment, including a two-man group of doctors, Dr. Harold Kemp and Dr. Doug Huff, called the Royal Bloos.

A separate raffle ticket to win baskets must be purchased to be eligible. Six tickets can be had for $5.

All of the prizes were donated, except for the Mexican food basket, which Fleagane buys every year. Everything else came from members of the community. Not only have people from the community donated, but cat lovers from out of state have sent Fleagane items to be raffled.

Anybody who donates $100 or more will get their name on a banner to be hung when Fleagane has adoption days, whether it be at the Ohio Valley Mall, Pet Supplies Plus or Rural King, she said.

The fundraiser is used to raise money for the services the organization provides, which includes paying for all the cat expenses the cats at Belmont County Animal Shelter incur, such as shots, amputations and sickness. The organization also helps low-income individuals get their cats spayed or neutered.

“It’s been a great way for people to meet each other, too,” Fleagane said. “It’s a thing that all these people that come, of course, they are animal lovers or they wouldn’t be there. And, you know, they meet other animal lovers.”

Fleagane said this is the organization’s big fundraiser of the year and how they will raise money for all of its bills.

In 2023, the organization found homes for 376 cats and kittens. It also provided spay and neuter and different types of testing and vaccines to more than 1,000 cats.

To make donations for this event or any time of the year or make a kitten adoption, you can contact Fleagane via Facebook.