The Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society is closer to beginning the second phase of a planned renovation project. About $5,000 was raised Saturday, during a scavenger hunt fundraiser at Waverly Marina.
The money will be used for the second phase of a new Humane Society facility, said Humane Society member Charlotte Hardy.
“This is the second time we’ve done this in about 10 years,” Hardy said of the scavenger hunt. “We haven’t done this since 2005. We are hoping to make it annual event.”
About 60 people on 14 boats scoured the Tombigbee River searching for designated items, such as fishing line, in an effort to gather the most listed material in the scavenger hunt. Participants paid a $10 entry fee to compete in the event. Hardy said the first place prize was nothing more than pure old fashioned pride.
“What does the winner get? Nothing, but being able to say that he or she won the contest,” Hardy said. “It was a really good deal. The entry fee included live entertainment, a T-shirt and catered BBQ lunch. We are very appreciative of everyone who gave some of their time and money to help the Humane Society.”
The winning team was captained by Ty Harrison, whose pet beagle was adopted from the Humane Society.
“This was a lot of fun; I really enjoyed it,” Harrison’s daughter, Jessica, said. “We didn’t find any fool’s gold and we didn’t find any earplugs, but finding a shoelace was kind of cool.”
The event was good-natured fun and the money will be put to good use, Hardy said.
“We have almost completed phase one of our building project,” she noted. “We are building two new dog buildings. We have 68 new dog runs. This money will help us begin the second phase of the project.”
Work began on the 6.2-acre site, located on Airline Road, in January.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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