There’s usually nothing better than hanging out with adorable animals up for adoption, but the Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter will make a merry event even more fun by throwing food and wine into the mix.
The FFCAS is holding its annual Wine, Whiskers and Wags event at Paradise Springs Winery on June 5 from 1-5 p.m. The event will feature wine tastings, meet and greets with adoptable shelter pets, hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction. The auction will include donated items such as photography sessions, gift baskets, gift cards and the use of a vacation cabin in Canaan Valley, West Virginia.
Although a major draw for the event is the wine tastings, attendees younger than 21 years of age are welcome to join free of charge. Admission prices for those 21 years and older are $35 online until June 3 and $40 at the door. Free parking is available on the grounds of the winery, and visitors may bring blankets and camp chairs to set up their own picnic areas. Roughly 225 people came to the event last year, and the organizers hope it will attract more than 300 people this time around.
Dogs are, of course, also welcome. As Mary O’Malley, vice president of the FFCAS says, “We … are absolutely thrilled to see shelter alumni and hear how they’re doing. For us, and for shelter staff and volunteers, there’s nothing more heartwarming than to see our dogs living happily ever after.”
Wine, Whiskers and Wags originated as Cinco de Meow in 2006. It was held in the Virginia Run community center in Centreville and featured Mexican food, margaritas, wine and beer. The event grew too large for its venue and was moved to a Total Wine & More in Chantilly, after which it changed in theme to a wine-tasting event. When the event outgrew the venue once more in 2014, it moved to its current location at Paradise Springs Winery—a winery in Clifton that is suited to not only give pet owners a chance to try local wines but also to provide their four-legged counterparts a place to roam.
For years, over 90 percent of funds raised at FFCAS have benefited shelter animals, and Wine, Whiskers and Wags is no exception. Revenue from the event will be used to support the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, including medical care, behavioral training, microchipping, reducing adoption fees, social media advertising, and more. A portion of the proceeds will also go toward wineglasses that will be given to the first 300 paid attendees.
