After a three year hiatus due to Covid, Wags to Riches was back! We were unsure if people would still be as enthusiastic for our casino night after so many years away from the sellout event. Thankfully, people were more than ready to come back and support our mission-driven work to provide emergency medical care to those in need. We sold out within a month! 420 people packed Tom’s Country Place to show their support!

Our Board President Patrick Radachi and Animal Clinic Northview’s Dr. Randy Hutchison spoke on the merits of the life-saving work we are doing at Friendship APL and all the amazing people involved in our life-saving work. Executive Director Greg Willey then introduced the special guests – Jay Jay, Pyro (formerly Padawan) and Nicki. Jay Jay came to us as a young dog who had been born without hips. It truly affected his ability to comfortably walk. Padawan was born without the ability to have a bowel movement and was literally on the table to be euthanized before we stepped, and recent Northview alumni, Nicki, had been born with a rare ailment that caused the cartilage to deteriorate. Thanks to money raised throughout the year and at this amazing event, each of these animals is now healthy and happy in forever homes. Nicki’s mom and dad fell in love with her at the event and adopted her the next day!

The food was delicious! The Tito’s Vodka flowed! The games were a blast! And the band rocked us through the evening!

We raised over $105,000 towards the $340,000 we spend annually on emergency medical care. When animals are injured or sick and have nowhere to go, Friendship steps up time and again! If you could not attend this year’s event, don’t worry. We will be back in 2024!

Thank you to everyone who was involved with making this event a success – our volunteers, staff, board and everyone who contributed one of our fabulous prizes that make this night so memorable! Thank you also to our generous supporters who braved the cold to come out and open their pocket books to help us save lives!