Dogs and cats got a little help with their love lives — and population control — in Monroe County. The 10th annual Spaygetti & No Balls Dinner, hosted as always by La Trattoria Oceanside, raised $10,000 for the Florida Keys SPCA’s Dogwood Clinic.
The donor-supported clinic provides free to low-cost animal services, including wellness clinics, nail trims, spay and neuter programs, and trap-neuter-release initiatives to control feral cat populations.
At the Sept. 17 dinner, longtime SPCA donor Stanley Kovak promised to match every dollar raised at the event — up to $50,000 — until Sept. 30. Kovak will be matching the $10,000 raised, or more if additional donations come in before the deadline.
Despite its punny name, the dinner featured more than spaghetti and meatballs, offering butternut lasagna, shrimp venezia and cilantro lime chicken, in addition to each table’s family-style spaghetti.
The event drew 138 people as laughter, drinks and jokes echoed through the restaurant. Highlights included a raffle, a silent auction with wine baskets and pet goodie bags, and welcome cocktails sponsored by Breakthru Beverage.
“Ninety percent of our guests have joined us every year for this event,” said Jennifer Rockford, development director at the Florida Keys SPCA. “We owe a great deal of thanks to Amy and Bill Lay, Pip and the entire amazing team at La Trattoria Oceanside for hosting us for the 10th year in a row.”
“Our Dogwood Clinic is only operable because of generous donors,” Rockford added. “We do not receive funds from the county to facilitate this program. Thanks to our donors we are able to provide low-cost wellness clinics, low-cost spay and neuter services, and more.”
The funds will help pets across Monroe County, including dogs like Akira, a 6-month-old Doberman puppy that was brutally attacked by another dog. She was left with serious injuries across her body, including an embedded canine tooth in her leg. Thanks to the FKSPCA Dogwood Clinic team, Akira received life-saving surgeries, pain management and weeks of healing care. Now fully recovered, she has been adopted into a permanent, loving home.
“We want to continue to provide low-cost vaccinations and wellness care for Monroe County residents’ pets, along with the ability to provide spay and neuter clinics,” said Rockford. “We also look forward to providing our shelter animals with everything they need to remain happy and healthy while they await their forever homes.” More information is at fkspca.org.
