Wine-tasting to aid animal rescue organization

Wine lovers can taste samples of over 200 boutique wines while raising funds to help displaced pets at Parkview Gourmet at 524 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Libertyville April 10.

The event will held at the food and wine shop from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is being sponsored by the shop and Tails of Hope, a Lake County non-profit animal rescue organization which will receive 20 percent of the event's proceeds, according to a press release.

According to the release, other Libertyville businesses contributing to the event are Motif, Someone's In The Kitchen, Studio West and Street Chic.

Entry to the event is $5. Participants can taste appetizers, and enter a raffle to win a Diamo Retro 150cc motor scooter.

"From the feedback we've had so far, we think we'll have a very good turnout," Parkview Gourmet owner Charley Colette said.

Tails of Hope founder and president Kelly Moyer hopes to raise $10,000 from the event. Moyer will also announce the start of their "Please Give Us Shelter" donation drive at the Friday event.

Moyer hopes participants will collect their spare change in cans, and help the organization to raise tens of thousands of dollars by the end of the year to rent an additional space to house animals.

Collection sites for the donation cans will be at Parkview Gourmet in Libertyville, Fair Haven Pharmacy in Mundelein, Greentree Animal Hospital in Libertyville Beach Park Animal Hospital in Beach Park, The Pet Boutique in Lake Forest, Unicorn Designs in Lake Forest and Yuppy Puppy in Lake Bluff.

Moyer said the demand for their services have increased by 50 percent over the last year because of the economic downturn.

"There are so many people giving up their pets because they can't afford them, or they're losing their homes," Moyer said. "We don't have enough room, we're actually having to board the dogs. We're getting pretty tapped out."

Moyer said the shelter is currently housing 27 dogs and 10 cats, adding that's "a little bit more than we usually have."

Moyer said the shop has helped the organization.

"Parkview Gourmet (has) been very supportive of our organization since they opened; they've been fabulous," Moyer said.