After nearly a century of bringing people and pets together, the Animal Protective Association of Missouri is an expert at happy endings. As its commemorative public art project – The Harry & Hanley Project – draws to a close, the agency is celebrating the statues and its birthday the way any 90-year-old should – with a big party.
Project artists join APA staff and supporters at the Contemporary Art Museum on September 14 to help blow out the candles on the animal shelter’s cake. The evening will include a live and silent auction of the Harry & Hanley statues, music from DJ Greasy and a variety of food stations. The APA sees the party as the perfect setting for a look back at the organization’s history and a celebration of its accomplishments.
Over half a million animals in the St. Louis area have been served by the APA. In addition to your standard cats and dogs, the APA has kept more exotic animals, such as a lion, a bald eagle and a peacock. In tamer, more recent years, the APA has expanded services to its human community by offering programs such as Domestic Violence Pet Assistance and humane education programs.
“Whether partnering with Boy Scouts to feed birds during a harsh winter or sheltering displaced pets during the flood of 1993, the APA has a long history of service within the St. Louis community,” says APA Executive Director, Steve Kaufman. “This birthday bash gives us a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge how far we’ve come and look forward to our future.”
The APA invites all its community members to help celebrate its longevity by attending the birthday bash. Tickets to the event are $90 and available at www.harryandhanley.com.