Dog Days of Huntsville to benefit Therapy Partners with lively get-together

HUNTSVILLE – Dog Days of Huntsville will attract partygoers with a lively evening of music and team visits as a fundraiser for Therapy Partners Inc.

“We’re thrilled to have this annual event in person again after going online for 2020,” Therapy Partners Executive Director Lyndsay Coats said. “This is our chance to share our stories with the metro Huntsville and Madison community, raise funds to support Therapy Partners’ mission and enjoy time with both animal and art lovers alike.”

Therapy Partners, a local non-profit organization, provides registered teams of therapy animals to facilities around the Tennessee Valley. Therapy animals visit eight sites in Madison, including Merrill Gardens, Madison Village Assisted Living, Madison Manor, Valley View Health and Rehabilitation, Morningside of Madison and James Clemens and Bob Jones high schools.

The event on Oct. 15 will open at 6 p.m. at the Preservation Company at 1214 Meridian St. N., Suite A. Since 2017, Preservation Company has provided a curated selection of architectural and reclaimed items to integrate with any design style. (preservationco.com)

“Dog Days is a fun gathering for people who love animals and believe in the healing and comfort they can offer those around them. At this year’s gathering, we’re celebrating that some of our teams are now back to work in their facilities,” Coats said.

At Dog Days, Catering by Narvell will serve tasty food. Dog Day Jammers, a local group, will entertain. One band member, Kirk Jones, is a longtime handler with Therapy Partners and a Madison resident.

“We’ll debut this year’s ‘DaVinci Dog’ pet portraits by local artists Gary Anderson, Sandy Sparks, Chuck Whaley, Leslie Lockhart, Stephanie Weaver and Peter Grant,” Coats said.

Guests can bid on hard-to-resist items like a vacation at Panama City Beach, Orange Beach and Gatlinburg; Lagos bracelet from Osborne Jewelers; and game tickets on Nov. 13 to University of Alabama vs. New Mexico State University and Auburn University vs. Mississippi State University.

Leaders for the handlers are Teams Director Mindy Edge, along with Lyndsay Coats. Several teams with their animals will attend and mingle throughout the evening with guests and answer questions about their therapy work. “Other handlers will attend without their animals and enjoy the fun atmosphere in a non-working capacity,” Coats said.

During the past 27 years, Therapy Partners teams have completed more than 135,000 visits to schools, hospitals, long-term care facilities, Redstone Arsenal, emergency situations and numerous other settings.

Tickets cost $80 each. To buy tickets, visit therapypartners.org.

For sponsor and ticket information, call 256-881-5700, email executivedirector@therapypartners.org or visit therapypartners.org.