KINGMAN — Western boots, denim, and plenty of hoedown flair filled a Mohave County Fairgrounds exhibition hall as more than 200 people turned out for the annual Hoedown for Homeless Animals, a major fundraiser benefiting the Mohave County Animal Shelter.
The event is organized by the Friends of the Mohave County Animal Shelter, whose founder and president, Lynn Kannianen, said the evening is essential to sustaining the group’s mission.
“This is how we raise money to keep doing what we do, which is subsidize adoption fees and pay for medical for the animals,” Kannianen said. “We just love the community support. We couldn’t do it without the community.”
That support was on full display. A long wall of the fairground’s exhibition hall was lined with raffle baskets donated by sponsors, while the band Good Heart kept the crowd entertained throughout the night. Guests enjoyed a full buffet dinner, open dancing, and a two‑step contest to close out the festivities.
The Mohave County Animal Shelter, which processes more than 4,000 animals each year, relies heavily on the funds raised at the hoedown. Shelter manager Nicole Mangiameli said the impact is immediate and meaningful.
“It directly affects the animals,” Mangiameli said. “It helps with enrichment items, and more than that, the Friends of Mohave County Animal Shelter covers the surgeries that are vital for lifesaving.”
Adoption remains one of the shelter’s most important functions, especially for dogs. Mangiameli said the shelter is urgently seeking adoption counselors, volunteers who spend time getting to know the dogs and helping match them with families.
“You come in, you get to know the dogs by giving them treats, sitting in the play yards with the dogs,” she explained. “Then when the public comes in and they’re looking for a dog, you get to sit with them and talk about what kind of dog would work for their family. Everybody that has an adult adoption counselor ends up leaving with their dream dog.”
For the Friends group, the volunteers, and the many supporters who filled the hall, the hoedown delivered exactly what it promised — a lively night that will translate into better care and brighter futures for animals across Mohave County.
