Pet Doctors of America supports The Jacksonville Humane Society 13th annual Toast to the Animals wine tasting and auction.

Jacksonville, FL - September 10, 2011 - The Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS) serves as a resource to the community for all companion animal-related issues. JHS is funded by individual donations, wills and bequests, and money received from shelter service. JHS does not receive any state or federal funding, nor are they a United Way agency. JHS is a no-kill for space facility and does not euthanize healthy or treatable companion animals within their care.

THE 2007 FIRE… In the early hours of April 7, 2007, fire ripped through the JHS’s facilities on Beach Blvd. With more than 150 animals inside, firefighters from Jacksonville Fire-Rescue Station 28 valiantly battled 30 to 40 foot flames in an effort to reach them. Going cage by cage, the firefighters forged through the blaze pulling frightened dogs and cats from the building. In the end, the fire claimed the lives of 19 dogs and 67 cats – but miraculously, more than 80 pets were rescued. Four of the brave firefighters from Station 28 were hurt that day, one of them with severe injuries.

The cause of the fire was never determined, but in the wake of the tragedy, the JHS has challenged the Jacksonville community to help build a new, state-of-the-art facility on the Beach Blvd. campus. The organization has begun a major fundraising effort to raise funds needed to build a new adoption and animal education center.

On Friday, August 19th JHS hosted the 13th annual Toast to the Animals wine tasting and auction. Pet Doctors of America sponsored Dr. Kris Kane, Dr. Melissa Kurz Johnson, Jess Severidt, Melinda Becker, Stephanie Schilling and Kat Close to support the event and proudly represent “Pet Doctors of America”. They also provided a basket worth over $250 in product and services for the auction.

Photo courtesy Jacksonville.com

Click here to view more photos from the event.