Shelter rolls out red carpet for pups at Oscars-themed fundraiser

By Ian Swaby
| 10:25 a.m. September 7, 2025

Movie posters in honor of the winning pups are set out on display.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Satchel's Last Resort tries to create a distinct theme for its fundraiser each year.

Last year's event featured a Taylor Swift-inspired theme, and the year before that offered armchair vacations theme, where dogs or cats could be photographed at stations representing different destinations.

"We feel like we have to up the ante every year, so this year we came up with Oscars," said Board President Jill Creevy.

Held Set. 6 in the courtyard of Big Top Brewing, the "Pawscars" fundraiser welcomed attendees with a red carpet placed at the entrance.

Prior to the event, Satchel's supporters were able to vote for the shelter's cats and dogs in categories like "Best Supporting Snuggle" and "Best Nap Scene."

A set of movie posters displayed the event also featured the winners, along with the cats and dogs of supporters.

The no-kill shelter is focused on rehabilitating and rehoming dogs and cats that will not be taken in by any other organizations.

The fundraiser celebrates the birthday of Satchel, a dog who belonged to the shelter's founders Page and Michael Knoebel, and who would have turned 36 on the day of the event.

Anja and Bill Morehouse walk the red carpet with their St. Bernard Ivy.

The event drew people and pups to the courtyard at Big Top Brewing.

Cliff Scarborough pets Brittany Conrad's Pit Bull Mix, Dobby.

Gary Weiner enjoys the experience with his golden retrievers Zane and Zion.

Texas, a Great Dane, enjoyed the experience with Gloria Ramirez. Also present was her fiancee Keith Thompson.

Renee Adorna of Gas House Gorillas performs on stage.

Haley D'Alessandro's dog Teddy, a mix of breeds including Chow Chow, enjoys a spot on the red carpet.

Jennifer and Kelly Miller's Yorkie Zoe wears a "Satchel's Alum" bandana.

Krystal Vogel holds her mother-in-law Sharon Vogel's dog Kobe, a hybrid of a Poodle and a Louisiana hunting breed.

Joey Fingers of Gas House Gorillas performs on stage.

Joe Palino, Karisa Young and Kyle Higgins are part of a group of friends who came with their friend, Satchel's volunteeer Sally Sams, to the event.

Sisters Clara Logsdon, 18, Ellie Logsdon, 16, and Juliet Logsdon, 13, pet Ivy, a St. Bernard belonging to Bill and Anja Morehouse.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.