©2011 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Photos By NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Carol Frahm & Trina along with John Hobbs & Pugsley, and Vera Jones with Maddie take the winners circle this past weekend at the 1st Annual Wintergreen Dog Show coordinated by Wintergreen Performing Arts and Almost Home-Nelson SPCA.

Nellysford/Stoney Creek
Nelson County, Virginia
it wasn’t exactly the Westminster Dog Show, thank goodness! This was way more fun with lots less stress for the dogs and the owners. On Sunday, November 6th – 20 dogs along with their owners participated in Wintergreen Goes To The Dogs at the Tuckahoe Clubhouse in Stoney Creek. NCL Publisher Tommy Stafford was the Master of Ceremonies for the 2 hour event.

Dog show organizer David Hall along with participant and volunteer Cindy Byron hold up a Quill-O (combo pillow and pet blanket) that was auctioned off at Sunday afternoon's dog show in Stoney Creek.

The dog show is part of a fundraiser for both Wintergreen Performing Arts and Nelson’s Almost Home SPCA No Kill Shelter near Lovingston.

Genie Payne of Nellysford presents Ives, a 7 year old Samoyed, at this past weekend's dog show in Stoney Creek.

Several different sponsors kicked in to make the afternoon lots of fun with wine, food, and prizes for the winners!

Next year the show will be held again, coordinated by Nelson’s Almost Home SPCA.

Look for a link to more pictures on Wintergreen Performing Arts’ website by event photographer Marshall Faintich, soon.

Congrats to all of the winners!

Wintergreen Performing Arts will host an informal dog show this Sunday - November 6th at the Tuckahoe Clubhouse starting at 2PM.

Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia
Wintergreen is going to the dogs. Literally! But not to worry, it’s all in fun this Sunday – November 6th at the Tuckahoe Clubhouse in Stoney Creek next door to the Wintergreen Fire Department. NCL’s Tommy Stafford will be the master of ceremonies for the 2 and 1/2 hour event that will feature lots of dogs, food, wine, beer and lots of fun!

-The 2011 event is sponsored by ForPawsHouseCalls – Mobile Vet Service – Dr. Anne Dagner. DVM

-The Exclusive Wine Provider & Spronsor is Cardinal Point Vineyards

-Event Sponsor – Countryside Organics

The afternoon event also features:

-Chef Ben Thompson – The Rock Barn
-Marshall Faintich – Photographer
-Wild Wolf Brewing Company of Nellysford

-And original music for the event composed & recorded during the Summer Music Festival.

The show is in collaboration with with Almost Home SPCA Animal Adoption. See their ad with details by clicking on the image above.

As of late this week there are a tiny few spots left for entrants. If you are interested in attending or entering your dog call: 434.325.8292

See you this Sunday afternoon!

Photos By Tommy Stafford : ©2011 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Bette Grahame of Almost Home SPCA is recognized by Bo Newell, the emcee at the 2011 Animal House Ball, held this past weekend at Wintergreen Resort.

Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, Virginia
It’s been years since the Animal House Ball has been held at Wintergreen Resort, but they were back on the mountain for the 2011 gala held this past weekend. We’ve been telling you about the event here and here for years.

People check out some of the silent auction items this past weekend at The Animal House Ball held at Wintergreen Resort's Skyline Pavilion.

Andy Burdetsky and his K-9 friend are a walking billboard of sorts this past Saturday night at The Animal House Ball. The sign advertises a 50/50 raffle. Ruff!

The theme at this year’s event was: “Pawcasso”- a celebration of animals and art!

People enjoy a great dinner with music by Night Vision at The 2011 Animal House Ball.

Almost Home is a no-kill animal shelter located just north of Lovingston, Virginia on Route 29.

You can visit them on their Facebook page here or their website here.

©2007-2010 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Caitlin Mixter of Charlottesville with two cats she adopted from Almost Home back in 2007.

Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia
The Humane Society/SPCA of Nelson County recently received a $2,000 grant from
the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies (VFHS) to support its Feral Cat
Awareness Project.

The Nelson Humane Society’s proposal was chosen from 29 applications to the
VFHS Spay/Neuter Grant Program. The funds will be used for trap/neuter/return
(TNR)of more than 50 feral cats identified throughout Nelson County. The cats,
some in existing colonies and others on a waiting list, will also be vaccinated
for rabies. This award was made based on evidence of community collaboration
effort and ability for greatest impact in the area of need.

For more information about the benefits of TNR and resources available to the
public, as well as other services offered by the Nelson Humane Society/SPCA, go
to www.nelsonspca.org.

©2009 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Photo by Diana Garland : Santa poses with Blue Moon owners, Larry Whitaker (left) and Judy Barnes and their pets at the annual Paws With Claus SPCA benefit.

Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia
Santa is not just for kids! What about Rover and pretty kitty? For several years now, Larry Whitaker and Judy Barnes, owners of Blue Moon Antique Mall in Lovingston, have opened their doors to Almost Home SPCA for their annual Paws With Claus fund raiser. It gives pets a chance to get their photo made with Santa, just in time for Christmas! We’ve been telling you about the unique event for several years.

Photo By Yvette Stafford : Folks trickled in with their pets all afternoon this past Sunday to have their pictures taken with Santa!

Once the picture was taken, it was printed on the spot and put into a nice holiday card frame! Neat!

If you’d like to check out more images and order additional ones from the shoot follow this link! Very nice! Diana Garland took some very, very nice photos!
http://www.garland.exposuremanager.com/g/spca_paws_with_claus

Almost Home SPCA on the web: http://www.nelsonspca.org/homecenter.htm

Have your pet(s) photographed with Santa, Sunday, December 13th between 1:00 and 4:00 PM at The Blue Moon Antique Mall, Thomas Nelson Highway, Lovingston. This event is sponsored by the Humane Society/SPCA of Nelson County to benefit The Almost Home Pet adoption Center.

Event Date: Sunday 13th of December 2009 01:00 PM

Location/Address: 8230 Thomas Nelson Hwy, Lovingston

Contact Telephone Please call 263-7722 or 263-4378 for more information

This post was submitted by Bette Grahame.

Event Date: Friday 28th of August 2009 08:30 AM

Location/Address: Stoney Creek Golf Course at Wintergreen

Contact Telephone Please call 434-361-2522 for more information

This post was submitted by Andy Burdetsky/Krista Waibel.

Event Date: August 28th 2009

Location/Address: Stoney Creek Golf Course at Wintergreen

Contact Telephone Please call 434-361-2522 for more information

This post was submitted by Andy Burdetsky/Krista Waibel.

©2009 NCL Magazine : Bo Newell, Julie Bendle, Betty Graham and Nancy Newell receive recognition for their tireless work with SPCA's Almost Home Pet Adoption Center.

Arrington
Nelson County, Virginia
Clearing skies and mild temperatures made the perfect backdrop for this year’s Animal House Ball held in the Carriage House at Oak Ridge Estate in Arrington. For nearly a decade the event has been held yearly or every other year to help raise money for The Almost Home Pet Adoption Center just north of Lovingston, Virginia.

The evening began with cocktails under a beautiful sky on the outdoor patio of The Carriage House.

Live auctioneer Bo Newell lets the crowd know the silent auction ends in 10 minutes!

Before the live auction and music later in the evening, guests were treated to a fantastic dinner!

A highlight of the evening is always when Bo Newell takes to the stage with the live auction!

For all of his years of volunteering with SPCA Bo was presented with this replica doggy footstool so her can put his feet up for a bit!

Dr. Beth Luzaich, DVM poses with Yvette during the ball. Yvette found out she just got the winning bid on her lady bug painting in the silent auction!

Money raised from The Animal House Ball goes directly to Almost Home for operating dollars at the shelter.

Congrats on a fantastic 2009 ball!

Small Lives is a book including Nelson County Almost Home Pets up for adoption. Local photographer, Ben Hernandez, joined with Montana pro-photographer, Elizabeth Stone, to create the book. Click any image for larger view.

Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia
Many of you have seen Ben Hernandez’s beautiful photography right here on our NCL Web edition or in the printed magazine. Ben is a graduate of the prestigious Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula, Montana. That’s where Ben met, Elizabeth Stone who teaches at the school. Elizabeth has a love for pets just like Ben. The two put their heads together and that’s how the local version of Small Lives including pets from the Nelson County Almost Home Pet Adoption Center was born.

Small Lives is a series of portraits of animals awaiting adoption. The project was founded by photographer Elizabeth Stone of the Rocky Mountain School of Photography (RMSP) in Missoula, Montana. The goal of the project is to raise awareness about the thousands of healthy, well-adjusted animals waiting for adoption, to encourage people to spay and neuter their own pets and adopt their next pet from a shelter or a rescue agency.

Ben Hernandez, (right) helps pose a pet at Almost Home near Lovingston, while Elizabeth Stone from Montana snaps the photo.

“In 2008, while I was attending RMSP, I learned about the project during one of Elizabeth’s courses. It didn’t take long before we teamed up together and brought Small Lives to Nelson County. We are also delighted that author Rita Mae Brown agreed to write the Introduction for us,” Ben says.

The books are available in several sizes; all signed by both Ben and Elizabeth. They can be purchased at the Animal House Ball on Saturday May 9th or by contacting Ben directly. All proceeds from sales of the books go to the Nelson County Humane Society. Available sizes and prices are 8×8 for $65 $59.95, 12×12 for $95 and Elizabeth’s very unique, limited edition, handmade version — which can be special ordered for $350.

You can reach Ben Hernandez to order Small Lives via his website by clicking here.