Following a decades-long effort involving multiple nonprofit organizations and reorganizations, Wags & Whiskers will celebrate the long-awaited opening of its animal shelter this weekend.

The ribbon-cutting and open house is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at Wags & Whiskers, 13620 State Highway M, Innsbrook. Donations are welcome of both dry and canned Purina One brand food for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens, according to a flyer for the event. Pets on leashes are also welcome.

Wags & Whiskers board members will speak at the ceremony, according to Board President Tracy Sator. 

“We wanted to just kind of let people know what we have done and what we plan to do for the community,” Sator said.

Following the ribbon-cutting, Wags & Whiskers will host tours until 2 p.m. The field adjacent to the shelter on its west side will be available for parking, Sator said, and volunteers will be on hand to guide cars in. 

Although Wags & Whiskers has only officially existed under its current name since 2021, the group traces its history to previous organizations including the Concerned Citizens for Animal Care (CCAC) of Warren County formed in 2001, and the Animal Welfare Association formed by Homer and Alice Drew in 1989.

Sator said when she moved to the area around 2015, the CCAC board had been “dormant” for a few years and there was a need for a reconstituted animal welfare organization.

“Some of their board members came onboard and then we identified some other animal lovers in the community, and we revitalized that board. So it was kind of a new venture taking over the same mission,” she said.

The new board launched various fundraising initiatives, including the annual Woofstock and Gherkinball Tournament events. After acquiring land for its shelter in 2021, Wags & Whiskers broke ground on construction of the facility in November of that year.

Upcoming events

Woofstock 2026, scheduled for Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Diekroeger Brothers Park in Wright City, will be the 10th annual event. 

While Woofstock in past years has featured a low-cost community clinic offering vaccinations and microchips, this year the clinic will provide those same services for free, courtesy of Hometown Veterinary Clinic of Jonesburg. The event will also feature a variety of vendors and activities such as weiner dog races and costume contests.

Another fundraiser for Wags & Whiskers, the 11th Annual Gherkinball Tournament, is a pickleball tournament scheduled for Oct. 3. 

“There’s about 200 players from all across the Midwest that come and play in this two-day tournament in October,” said Sator.

The annual Sky Wars fireworks championship held in Innsbrook, which Wags & Whiskers helps coordinate volunteers for, also serves as a fundraiser for the shelter. This year’s event is set for Sept. 26.

For more information about Wags & Whiskers, visit www.wags-whiskers.org.