Celebrate 300+ Rescues at Furry Tales' Charity Gala, Dec 6

Beijing animal lovers, mark your calendars! One of the city's most heartwarming charity events is just around the corner. Furry Tales, the animal rescue organization founded by Ellie Rodewald and Sorcha Moore-Smith, is celebrating more than 300 animals saved in just four years with a special Charity Gala on Sat, Dec 6.

Taking place at the Regent from 7pm to 10pm, the gala promises to be a night of elegance paired with the opportunity to give back to an organization that has done so much to protect Beijing's furry friends.

Tickets to the gala are RMB 300 and include a buffet featuring canapés, entrées and desserts, with vegan and vegetarian options available upon request when booking. There are also add-on drink packages available: three-hour free flow of bubbles, wine, beer, juice and cocktails for RMB 238; free-flow mocktails, juice, soda, coffee and tea for RMB 168; or alternatively, you can opt for the open bar option and just pay as you go. Cocktail or formal attire is encouraged, and a professional photographer will be on-site.

A highlight of the night will be a silent auction featuring themed baskets like “Pet,” “Pampering,” and “Alcohol,” with the top prize being a month of free dog boarding at Cuddles worth RMB 7,000. Other items include a RMB 888 voucher from Iberico, a RMB 2,400 keg from Plan B, RMB 11,850 RMB in in beauty and wellness vouchers, dog boarding and training, yoga and pilates classes, restaurant vouchers, wine, candles and more. All proceeds from the auction will go back into supporting Furry Tales' rescue work.

Ahead of the gala, we reached out to Furry Tales co-founder Rodewald to find out more about what the organization's achievements mean to her and how other people can get involved.

How does it feel to be celebrating four years of Furry Tales?
When we launched Furry Tales during the Covid pandemic (Dec 2021), I don't think my rescue partner and I imagined we'd still be rescuing animals or maybe even living in China, but here we are! These years have not been easy, as so much work goes into running a rescue organization, especially considering we have full-time jobs and other commitments as well. However, being able to see the reach we've achieved within the community and the number of lives we've been able to impact, both furry and human, has made it feel all worth it! 

Rescuing over 300 animals is a huge achievement. What does this milestone mean to you?
As I'm answering this question, we've rescued 318 animals. Some of them have crossed the rainbow bridge, some have left China to continue their journeys elsewhere, and unfortunately, some have been returned to us after being adopted (very few though!) or have gotten lost and weren't found. Every single one of these animals has a name and has a story, and it's impossible to forget them because they've been a part of our story, too. 

The gravity of the number we've saved doesn't always hit me until I mention it to someone and they respond with shock or awe. Their response reminds me that we have made a tangible impact in the world of animal rescue here in Beijing. 

I have a tendency to think more about the animals we couldn't save or the ones we couldn't find because, at times, it feels like I've failed them, but in life, you can't move forward if you keep dwelling on the past. All we can do is learn from those experiences, reflect and try to prevent them from happening in the future. 

When I'm feeling particularly overwhelmed or burnt out by all of it, I sit and close my eyes and imagine that I'm standing in a field surrounded by the hundreds of animals we've saved. It helps put things in perspective with regards to what we have accomplished and why we continue doing this. The animals are the reason we do this, and they may not be able to thank us, but I know they're grateful that they are shown love and affection, they're safe and off the street and they never have to worry about where their next meal will come from.

For anyone who is looking to get involved with Furry Tales, how can they do that?
There are so many ways to get involved which don't always mean getting out there and rescuing an animal yourself or adopting one. Not everyone is in the position to do so, and we understand that. So we like to emphasize that there are so many different ways to help. You can foster one of our animals while we look for a permanent home for them. You can volunteer at an adoption event selling merchandise or handling some of our dogs without fosters. 

You can share our posters, and maybe that will reach the right person who decides to adopt. You can help us design new merchandise or assist in planning events around the city for us (reach out to business owners willing to host an adoption event, quiz night or a fundraiser). And of course, if you're limited on time, we always appreciate a donation, which allows us to continue the work that we do. 

I'd also encourage people to have conversations with their friends or family when they hear they might want to purchase a pet instead of adopting one. Remind them of the importance of being an ethical consumer, have them research the horrors of breeding and encourage them to give a second chance to an animal. 

If you work in education, I always encourage students to get involved with the movement. Depending on their age level, they could hold a fundraiser and donate the funds to an animal rescue or shelter, they can present on the “Adopt, Don't Shop” topic to their school community, or even prepare warm shelters for stray cats to place around their communities. 

Lastly, aside from the Charity Gala, are there any other future Furry Tales events coming soon that people should watch out for?
We have a volunteer day planned at the boarding facility where three of our dogs are living on Sat, Nov 29. As the holidays are coming up, we probably won't have another adoption event until early next year. 

The Furry Tales Charity Gala will be taking place at the Regent on Sat, Nov 6, from 7pm until 10pm. Tickets are RMB 300 each and can be purchased by scanning the QR code in the poster above. 

Regent Beijing
99 Jinbao Jie, Dongcheng District
东城区金宝街99号

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Images: courtesy of Furry Tales