Riverking Event Benefits Humane Society

The Memphis RiverKings will spotlight the Olive Branch Humane Society during their game against the Indianapolis Ice at 7:05 p.m. Friday at the DeSoto Civic Center.

The Humane Society will sell tickets to the game as a fund- raiser. Fifty percent of the ticket price will go to help the organization. During the game the group will have some animals in kennels on the concourse available for adoption, as well as a raffle and silent auction at its booth.

The Humane Society works with the city of Olive Branch to find happy homes for animals as fast as possible. When the city catches an animal on the street it is quarantined for five days to allow the owner to claim it and prevent the spread of any communicable disease.

“If no one claims the animal on the sixth day, it becomes ours to find a home for the animal,” Olive Branch Humane Society member Ruth Zurka said.

“The ones we have a hard time placing are the older dogs. Many other states have spay/neuter laws, so they don’t have many puppies there. We are able to move our puppies out pretty fast.”

Specific rescue groups exist for almost every breed of dog and for some breeds of other animals. Zurka said the Humane Society works with many of these rescue groups. She said the Internet has also been a great ally in finding homes for animals.

“Internet is the way to travel these days,” she said. “Almost as soon as we get an animal we take its picture and put it on our Web site. It helps a lot.”

The Humane Society also has a volunteer corps of young people who help with the dogs while they wait to be placed.

“They socialize the dogs,” Zurka said. “They take them out for walks; play with them. We try to show the animals that they are going to be loved and fed and taken care of and no one is going to hurt them.”

Because the Humane Society works with the city, they are required to euthanize some animals with aggression or health issues. However, Zurka said that percentage is very low.

In addition, the Humane Society is now able to get sponsorships to treat animals with heartworms.

“For a dog in a shelter, heartworms used to be a death sentence,” she said. “But we’ve been able to save many, many, many with the sponsorship of the public.”

To help the Olive Branch Humane Society by buying tickets or donating to their silent auction, please call Zurka at 662-536- 4593.

In a development:

— Start your engines: On Friday the RiverKings also bring fans Miller Lite Racing Night.

The highlight of the evening will be the racing-theme jersey auction immediately following the game on the Civic Center ice.

In addition, anyone wearing racing-theme gear (hats, T-shirts, jackets, etc.) will receive $2 off select seats for Friday’s game and auction.

“Miller Lite and Great River Beverage have been dedicated RiverKings sponsors throughout the years and have brought many exciting events and promotions to RiverKings fans, such as the annual Miller Lite New Year’s Eve party,” RiverKings game operations director Gene Szucs said. “This event promises fun for all, especially the many racing fans in the area.”

The RiverKings were attempting to secure appearances by NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace and drag racer Larry Dickson but were unable to land them for Friday’s game.

The front office is continuing to speak with several drivers for future promotional appearances.

The RiverKings’ regularly scheduled Friday post-game skate will be postponed until the next Friday game, Feb. 6 vs. the Bossier- Shreveport Mudbugs, to make room for the special racing jersey auction on the ice.

For more information or tickets, call the RiverKings front office at 662-342-1755.