Paws, paint come together to benefit animal organization

Hand in Paw’s signature fundraiser, Picasso Pets, is back for another year of painted paws.

The 17th annual event will take place at 6 p.m. on all three floors of the Harbert Center on Aug. 12, with all proceeds benefiting Hand in Paw, an animal-assisted therapy organization. Guests are invited to mingle with therapy animals, participate in both a silent and live auction, as well as spend the course of the night drinking specialty cocktails and feasting on some Southern food. This year will also include a VIP lounge for sponsors.

“It’s a great way to get to know Hand in Paw and meet our therapy center teams,” said Laura Cardwell, the executive director of Hand in Paw. Harbert Management Corporation is the sponsor of the year. 

Tickets cost $200 per person or $2,000 to reserve a table of eight, and each ticket includes a three-course surf ’n turf dinner and the opportunity to win collectible items and trips. Dinner will also include some surprise guests and giveaways. 

Picasso Pets connects pet owners with local artists by scheduling a studio session where their pet paints with paws, tails and snouts. After the session, an artist incorporates the pet’s painting on the canvas and transforms it into a memorable portrait or landscape scene that the pet owner buys back at a specific price. The artist then donates the money to Hand in Paw.

Visit picassopets.com for tickets and handinpaw.org to learn more about the organization.