By AM Stewart
The piercing sound of a smoke alarm penetrates the air. In a state of hurried confusion, Sue Towler awakes at 2 am. Her two-story house ignites in flames. Without a moment to think, Towler rushes to save the shelter animals that were living in her Riverside home.
Towler said most of the dogs understood something bad was happening and followed her command to exit the house. The animal-advocate soon heard the yelping of one last dog, Rosie, and braved the flames to save her.
Towler rescued nine dogs and sustained burns from the fire that completely destroyed her home. Unfortunately, she couldn’t get to the second floor where three animals perished.
Beside her, stood a neighbor and friend who was awakened by the enormous sounds of the fire. Towler’s neighbor, Danielle Schmidt, said it sounded like “bombs or guns going off.” Together, sadly, they watched the house burn.
The next day Schmidt knew what she had to do. There was no hesitation. She was going to arrange a benefit concert that would help Towler rebuild and pay for the shelter dogs’ medication and needs.
On Feb. 2, less than a month later, Schmidt successfully put together a benefit at Fuel Coffehouse in Riverside. The event raised more than $4,000 for the Kamp Kritter foundation, a no-kill animal shelter.
Towler, whose life is dedicated to animals, has run the Kamp Kritters no-kill shelter for the past ten years and operates a kennel (The Barking Lot) and pet sitting service (Critter Sitters). She deeply cares about dogs and their well-being.
Duane Daly, one of Towler’s employees at the kennel, put it simply, “Before she eats, the dogs eat,” he said. “She loves dogs more than people.”
Once people heard the benefit was for animals at a no-kill shelter, they wanted to help. Twelve bands donated their musical talents to the all-day event that ran from 1 pm to 12 am. Volunteers happily donated art and miscellaneous items, like a wine set and china, to a silent auction that raised more than $1,000. Guests at the benefit could also participate in a raffle which boasted an assortment of prizes ranging from beanie bears and purses to T-shirts and tattoo gift certificates. Even the flyers and venue for the event were donated.
Schmidt easily booked the bands for the benefit through word of mouth and MySpace bulletins. She said there was such an outpouring of support that she had to turn down five bands. Since the benefit had a wide range of people attending, Schmidt made sure to showcase the widest variety of music. Everything from alternative rock and old-school punk to Christian rock and folk could be heard reverberating off the warehouse-like walls. Local favorites like Christina Wagner, Pilar and Stevie Ray Stiletto happily graced the stage.
Schmidt’s own band, Baker Act, hosted the benefit and promised a light-hearted, comedic exchange with the crowd in between punk rock, alternative jams.
The bassist for Baker Act, Elizabeth Pavlesich, served as the announcer during the benefit, often cracking jokes and kidding with the artists on stage.
“Does anyone need a new pair of underwear?” Pavlesich jokingly asked at the end of Pilar’s bold performance. “I do,” she concluded.
Mostly, people from all walks of life came out to listen to music and support the Kamp Kritter Rescue foundation. Schmidt said she plans to have another benefit fundraiser for the non-profit shelter.
Towler said she was pleased and touched by the turnout.
“It was a very emotional closure to this whole experience,” Towler said, who chooses to stay with her rescued dogs at the kennel, despite multiple offers to stay with friends.
“It’s for a new beginning,” she said.
For more info about Kamp Kritter visit kampkritter.com.
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