A WAGGIN' GOOD TIME.

Byline: THE NEW MEXICAN 

The New Mexican

It might have had a Wild West theme, but this year's Barkin' Ball was a peaceful, joyful gathering, with nary a woofian in the

building.

"It was really a unifying Barkin' Ball," said Bill Hutchison, communications director for the Santa Fe Shelter & Humane Society. "It brought all kinds of people together -- it was more of a people's Barkin' Ball."

While the economy remains in the doldrums, and the shelter's working through a financial crisis, the annual fundraiser helped people kick loose inhibitions and throw support behind the popular nonprofit. Attendees seemed to be holding their breaths at last year's ball, Hutchison said, as the country's financial meltdown was taking root, so to speak. That tension was no longer evident at this year's wingding -- or woofding.

"I think the community is understanding that it's important to get behind the nonprofits that they believe in," he said. "They realize that we're going to be here, that we're not going to turn out the lights."

The Oct. 10 sold-out crowd of

450 surpassed even the group's conservative estimates, Hutchison said. And despite the array of canine personalities and a plethora of plastic "pistols" strapped to many a furry body, there were few doggie disturbances during the event.

"Even the dogs seemed well-behaved this year," Hutchison said. "There was nothing that happened that wouldn't have happened at any dog park."

It helped that the event was tightly monitored by a group of dedicated volunteers known as the "pee patrol" that stayed in the background with spray bottles and doggie bags at hand. There were plenty of well-positioned water bowls, a quiet room set up for dogs "over threshold," and a hay-filled spot in the courtyard of the Santa Fe Community Convention Center for canine breaks.

Aside from the buffet dinner, a silent auction and pet parade, the ball naturally featured a dance with canines invited. The shelter also took time to honor a dedicated supporter, actress Ali MacGraw, who earned an "animal advocate" award.

"Ali MacGraw is a genuinely selfless person," Hutchison said, "who's always willing to lend her hand to support animals. Anyone who knew her little Scottish mix, Amtrak, knows that it's personal to her. She's always been a special friend to the shelter."

Aside from the good times, the event seemed to signal a shift in people's awareness of animal welfare, Hutchison said. "There was just more of a consciousness of animal issues, of what needs to be done. And I think we just see that playing out this year."