Leavenworth fundraiser to support animal care in Okanogan County

LEAVENWORTH — The annual Rescue Rocks benefit on Sept. 19 will bring together live music, community, and an auction in support of Team Okanogan Animal Rescue’s (TOAR) mission of keeping pets healthy and families together across Eastern Washington.

Money raised at Rescue Rocks will fund programs to provide veterinary care, spay and neuter services, pet food assistance, emergency support and community resources that help families keep their pets at home.

The evening will feature signature drinks, catered food and a live auction inside the Leavenworth Festhalle. Headlining the night is Seattle live event band THE AFTERPARTY, which is dedicated to keeping the dance floor full with crowd favorites. 

The live auction will feature an autographed, framed Seahawks jersey from Jaxon Smith-Njigba, an autographed, framed Mariners jersey from Julio Rodriguez, a private yacht cruise for ten on Lake Washington, and a curated lineup of local experiences and exclusive packages, according to organizers. A silent auction will run alongside the live event and is open to remote bidders.

TOAR helps bring veterinary care to communities with little access, such as the BIG FIX 6.0, a free four-day spay and neuter clinic Oct. 29-Nov. 1 at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds. In partnership with Greater Goods Charities, the clinic will deliver free spay and neuter surgeries, vaccinations and microchips to over a thousand animals.

The nonprofit was founded in 2022 to support pets and families in Okanogan County, where no publicly funded animal shelter exists. According to the organization, it has served nearly 6,000 animals, distributed 300,000 pounds of pet food and supplies and helped support more than 1,500 families throughout Eastern Washington to date.

“Families in Eastern Washington face real challenges keeping their pets healthy,” said Jill Servais, president of TOAR. “Rescue Rocks lets us get ahead of those challenges — providing food, vaccines, and veterinary care before a crisis hits, so pets stay where they belong: at home, with the people who love them.”

Rescue Rocks is presented by Paw Arty, with additional support from Cascade Auto Center, Firehouse Pet Shop, MacDonald- Miller, and Kaserne Cellars. It will be held at the Leavenworth Festhalle from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sept. 19.

More information about TOAR and tickets for Rescue Rocks can be found at toarwa.org.