HSSBV Hosts Casino Night, Dog House Auction

Last Friday night, the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley (HSSBV) hosted the third annual Ante Up for Animals Casino Night and Dog House Auction. The event included a decked-out dog house auction, gambling, courtesy of Angela's Casino Entertainment, a photo booth and a raffle complete with various prizes. The Casino Night bought a large turnout of both sponsors and guests. Janice Squire, of San Bernardino, attended the event with her husband, Richard. Squire spoke highly of the Humane Society and said, "They do a really great job at helping to give back to their community." Several dog houses were designed and decorated by local businesses and community members and were auctioned off to raise money for the Humane Society. The creative designs ranged from a Lady and the Tramp theme to Scandinavian cottages and everything in between. Two of this year's entries were submitted by students in Etiwanda High School's ACE Mentor Program. With help from Ledesma & Meyer and HMC Architects, the students worked in teams of four to design the dog houses within the set parameters. After designing, constructing, and painting them, their "Little Dog House on the Prairie" and "Bark Barn"-themed dog houses became instant crowd favorites. Sponsors included Joseph Albert S. Ricks and Jim Stark from Subaru. Both men emphasized how important it was for their company to stay connected to their community as well as supporting the welfare of animals. Mike Kovak, executive director of Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House, also attended the event to show his support for the Humane Society. The casino area was set up in an enclosed section outside, and there were classic gambling games and lights strung around the perimeter. Because the guests were playing with faux casino money included with their tickets, most agreed they were able to have more fun because they could take higher risks. The Humane Society has hosted this event for three years but decided to incorporate it with the holidays this year. This year's Ante Up event raised over $13,000. All money raised will go back to the Humane Society and their many programs.