STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Dog Days of Summer had begun as summer heat bore down on the Wood River Valley. And, as a precaution, Mountain Humane staff scurried to find fans and other cooling agents for their annual Paws Up! fundraiser.

But the breeze that wafted across the patio outside the animal welfare campus in Croy Canyon that evening was pleasant.

Instead, it was puppies that warmed hearts as supporters of Mountain Humane cuddled eight new puppies, and cheered the star of the show—a young dog named Mariposa.

Mariposa and his forever family enjoyed the evening at Paws Up!

Supporters of Mountain Humane watched as a video showed Mariposa bouncing into the animal welfare campus in Croy Canyon, getting her medical evaluation, vaccinations and spay.

Staff and volunteers were on hand to help her build social skills and confidence with walks and playtime. Every time she learned a new manner or skill she was rewarded, the skills reinforced, with treats and praise.

And one day a young couple came to Mountain Humane and took her home with them—to her new forever home.

"We'd never been in a situation to get a dog, but we moved and could finally do so," said Bonnie Wise. "We went on Mountain Humane's website, and every dog on the website looked so happy. We wanted a younger dog so we could take her along on our adventures, and she's been a wonderful addition to our family."

The tables were decorated with dog throw toys and doggie biscuits ahead of the people food.

Behind every adoption like that one is a story of second chances. And that’s why dozens of supporters of Mountain Humane—most of them with pets of their own--had gathered together on a warm summer night.

"That's just one story. Mountain Humane serves more than 8,000 dogs and cats a year," said Stephanie Eisenbarth, Mountain Humane’s development director.

Of the 6.5 million animals that enter shelters nationwide each year, 4.2 million find homes.

“The goal here is to give every animal who comes through the doors a chance to be their best self, whether it's their first, second, third, or fourth try, to find a forever home. Some spend their lives in a loving home; others find theirs through a shelter,” Eisenbarth and Christine Ferguson, Mountain Humane’s executive director, told the audience.

Cindy Urbanowicz cuddles one of the eight new puppies Mountain Humane got on the eve of Pups Up!

Pet portraits, including Kelly and Macy Mitchell's “Barn Buddies,” Linda and Bill Potters' “Pups,” Maggie and Dave Sturdevant's “Ol' Blue Eyes,” and Cindy and Peter Urbanowicz's “Hot Diggity Dogs,” hung from the Paws Up! event tent.

And proud pet owners were quick to share stories about their best friends.

“My Greta Garbo's stock market watch tail made me rich,” quipped Ted Walczak. “I always knew what to invest in according to the way she wagged her tail.”

Diners nibbled on an elegant Trout Roulade prepared by Chef Rodrigo Herrera with Vintage Restaurant and Humberto's Bistro, who had delicately rolled trout into a piece of art, serving it with a ball of Chinese black rice, sweet peppers, beurre monte and trout chicharron. The main dish was accompanied by a watermelon salad with toasted watermelon seeds, ricotta, tajin, and a Meyer lemon vinaigrette.

This little kitty put on quite the show for those who toured the Cat House.

Attendees were presented with a vast array of silent auction items, including a chance to have their pet’s picture wrapped on a Mountain Rides bus; artwork by Ted Waddell, Brenda Sarich, and others; purses, satchels, and sunglasses; wellness packages, including a Gyrotonic session for two, and home and garden accessories, including silver candelabras from Spain and statues in the shapes of dogs.

The live auction items, served up by spirited auctioneer Dale Johannes, included a luxurious seven-day photographic safari in Kenya designed by Natural Migrations and Great Plains Conservation to benefit the furry four-legged creatures at Mountain Humane.

"Last year I got overzealous bidding on this thing, and it was one of the best bids we ever made," William Potter told those in attendance.

One auction item featured a dinner prepared by Chef Jonathon Sawyer—Food & Wine Magazine's Best New Chef and James Beard Award winner. Another offered people the chance to have their pet model for artwork wrapped around Mountain Humane’s outreach vans.

And Scott Jordan, whose Scottevest was Best in Show Sponsor, invited attendees to take part in a Lead Dog Rally fundraiser for Mountain Humane on Saturday, Oct. 3. The curated event will involving driving beautiful roads to Stanley on the way to Challis as a group.

"This is not a race. Any car can participate. It's simply about enjoying driving roads this gorgeous--cruising for a cause,” Jordan said.

Dogs are welcome along the way and the grand finale will be a cocktail party on the rooftop of Scottevest’s downtown Ketchum penthouse—that’s the one with giant poodles wrapped around the building. It will topped by a feast of hors d'oeuvres and desserts that has made Scott’s wife Laura Jordan legendary.

Eisenbarth worked as a fisheries biologist before transitioning to Mountain Humane as its development director four years ago.

"I grew up with horses and donkeys, and it's just pure joy to be around these animals—they slow everything down," she said. "This is important work we do here, but we have so much more to do. People still do not know, for instance, that we have a vet.

“Mountain Humane is more than a shelter,” she added. “We provide pet food assistance, microchipping, and behavioral support.”

And, of course, second chances.