Denton restaurants hosting fundraisers for new animal shelter

by Cali A. Thompson of North Texas Daily

Enjoying Denton cuisine could help homeless animals through a fundraiser happening every Thursday evening until Nov. 12.

The Denton Animal Shelter Foundation encourages residents to "PAWS for Refreshment" at five Denton restaurants to help raise $3.2 million for a new animal shelter.

Formed in 2006, the foundation is working with the city of Denton to build a new shelter.

“We feel the event is great exposure for DASF,” said Bette Sherman, chairwoman of the foundation. “People are able to learn about our mission.”

Denton’s current animal shelter is more than 30 years old with a maximum capacity of 114 animals and handles an average of 5,000 animals annually.

Members of the foundation proposed the Denton Animal Care and Adoption Center to house 250 animals and make the pet adoption process more accessible.

To help raise money, five Denton restaurants are participating: Abbey Inn Restaurant and Pub, Burgundy Steak and Seafood Restaurant, Hannah’s Off the Square, Sweetwater Grill and Tavern, and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop.

Each will host the PAWS for Refreshment fundraiser on a different Thursday night.

The restaurants will donate a portion of their food and beverage profits to the foundation.

The group developed the idea after it approached several restaurants with brochures about the cause, Sherman said.

Abbey Inn hosted the first PAWS for Refreshment fundraiser on Oct. 15 and donated about $440, or 20% of their sales that night.

“Obviously $440 is a small dent in $3 million, but it’s a start,” said Tim Trawick, an Abbey Inn associate partnering with the foundation. “Part of the goal is to raise awareness.”

The event also drew new customers, which benefited the restaurant.

“It brought new business to us,” Trawick said. “It was definitely much busier.”

While Abbey Inn waiters and waitresses dealt with the influx of customers because of the fundraiser, waiters like Devin Garrett said they also profited from the added business.

“It got pretty crazy,” Garrett said. “But it was one of the better nights I’ve had.”

Burgundy Restaurant hosted the event Thursday and Hannah’s Off the Square will host PAWS for Refreshment on Oct. 29.

Jeff Solomon, Hannah’s general manager, said he would donate 10% of the night’s sales.

The restaurant is hoping for a big turnout and might participate in the fundraiser again if all goes well, he said.

“We hope to revisit the idea later on, perhaps in the spring,” Solomon said.

Money raised by PAWS for Refreshment will be used to build the “care and adoption” areas of the new facility, Sherman said.

There is no specific goal for these fundraisers since they are the first ones for the foundation, but the organization already has other events planned in December to raise more money.

Future fundraisers

October 29 – Hannah’s Off the Square

November 5 – Sweetwater Grill and Tavern

November 12 – Fuzzy’s Taco Shop