Florence Area Humane Society (FAHS)

The Florence Area Humane Society (FAHS), based out of Florence, South Carolina is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to speaking for those who can't.

Their mission is to exceed the needs of all animals great and small, mending their wounds, treating their illnesses, feeding their hunger, quelling their fears and above all righting the wrongs done to them by our fellow man.

The Bone-E-Fit was organized in order to raise money for a new shelter for the FAHS. With limited space in their current shelter it is not possible to keep every disowned, abandoned or mistreated animal. The new shelter would be a state-of-the-art facility capable of holding a larger volume of animal tenants, thus, allowing the FAHS to make it a no-kill shelter.

The FAHS shelter is located at 1007 Stockade Drive, off of National Cemetery Road, in Florence and is open from noon to 5 p.m. every day except Wednesday and Sunday. Call (843) 669-2921 or visit florencehumanesociety.org for more information.

Bone-E-Fit Organizers

Jeff Murrie, Chairman

Jeff Murrie is the proverbial father of the Bone-E-Fit. A proud owner of two dogs, when Jeff returned to his hometown of Florence from Columbia he felt moved to help the people of Florence raise money for the local Humane Society. His organizational skills that he uses in his career as a Florence District One teacher, set the Bone-E-Fit up for success. Since the event's inception 4 years ago, Jeff has been chairman every year and has helped the Florence Area Humane Society surpass their fund-raising goals.

Jayne Boswell, President Florence Area Humane Society

Jayne Boswell is not only the President of the FAHS, but will also be the namesake on the new Jayne H. Boswell Animal Shelter. She commented that it is an "overwhelming honor" to have the facility named after her and was thankful for the Florence City Council for making that decision. The Bone-E-Fit, the main sponsor and donor for the new shelter, has had such great success that it has helped Jayne realize her vision for the new shelter. Her vision is to be able to have adequate room for all of the animals, to be able to keep cats and dogs in separate areas, to have adequate disease prevention methods, to supply educational classes for the public and to help the general well fare of all animals in need.

Committee Chairs

Food - Tippi and Bill Harwell
Decoration - Elaine Dean
Silent Auction - Michael Varnadore
Fundraising - Dr. Thomas Phillips

Blue Dogs

In 2008, the Charleston, SC-based Blue Dogs quietly entered into their 20th year as a band (est. 1987) playing and singing Americana/country-rock music.

To be more specific, January 2008 marked 20 years since standup bassist Hank Futch joined forces with longtime friend, fellow cub scout and Florence native, and acoustic guitarist/vocalist Bobby Houck under the band name "Blue Dogs."

In 2009, the band continued to tour, primarily on the east coast, but in recent years it has performed throughout the southeast, in Texas, the midwest, and the northeast. Over the years the band has performed on the same stage with such well-known and diverse artists as Willie Nelson, Widespread Panic, Bruce Hornsby, and Little Feat. In 2006, they released their 9th cd. They have also received national exposure by singing the national anthem at the final Southern 500 NASCAR race in Darlington, SC in 2004, and in 2007 performing as the house band on a week's worth of Wheel of Fortune shows.

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Eat Sushi, Buy Art, Hear Music and Save Lives

That's the mantra that Jeff Murrie, chairman of the Florence Area Humane Society Bone-E-Fit, has been chanting since the inception of the benefit in 2007.

Murrie and FAHS President Jayne Boswell are the founding members behind the Bone-E-Fit, which was started to raise money for a no-kill animal shelter and fund spay and neuter educational programs as well as operational costs after construction.

But turn back the clock a little. Before the first Bon-E-Fit took place, before it even dampened the ears of Florence residents, Murrie said there was a feeling among many people in the community that something needed to be done to further the Humane Society's efforts to improve the lives of animals in the region.

Cities such as Charleston and Columbia supported their humane societies through upscale benefits with a silent auction, live music, food and spirits, Murrie said. With the Florence community on the cusp of a new animal shelter, something needed to be done to match the monetary side of the project with the vision in mind.

"There was a need to raise a substantial amount of money for the construction of the shelter," Murrie said.

The Bone-E-Fit came together through the generous donations of local residents and businesses. Florence residents Jane and Rex Huggins pop into his head first, as they opened their home to the first benefit and will do so again this year.

There's no shortage of culinary mystique at the fundraiser, which features barbecue, beef kabobs as well as a sushi and taco bars. The event features art work from around the community and other items up for sale in the event's silent auction. The Blue Dogs featuring Florence natives Bobby Houck and Hank Futch played the inaugural Bone-E-Fit and will return for this year's party.

The first year of the Bone-E-Fit raised more than $80,000 and attracted a crowd of about 500. The event has grown steadily in popularity through the years. Murrie said orgnanizers hope to build on that success this year and for many years to come.

"Even after the shelter is built," he said, "it still takes a huge amount of money to run it."

Heidi Bond

After years of "dormacy", Heidi resumed painting in 2003, inspired by a much loved Labrador Retriever. Since moving to Hartsville in 2006, Heidi has become a member of the Florence Visual Artists Guild, and a charter member of the Artisans of the South Carolina Cotton Trail. Heidi's award winning paintings have been exhibited in Virginia and the Carolinas, most recently at a solo show in March 2010 at Black Creek Arts Gallery in Hartsville. This is Heidi's fifth year of participating in the Bone-E-Fit.

Heidi Bond's Artist Statement

"I'm in the joy business." - Roger Ridley, Santa Monica, CA street musician. "So am I." - Heidi Bond, occasional dog painter.

Being in the joy business beats being in just about any other business I can think of. I play with dogs in my paintings as surely as I play with them with balls and flying discs and knotted up old socks.

The colors I use are pure, simple, and true, as are the beasts that they depict. I leave as much out of the painting as possible, while still presenting the thread of the story. That's where you, the viewer, come in, to pick up the thread and play along. These are not portraits. The dogs are simply spirits that convey - a means to think about feelings shared by humans and canines alike.

The proceeds from the sale of my paintings support humane societies and rescue groups. It is my hope that the joy of a purchase leads to the joy of an adoption, which leads to years of joy in a family, and memories, and so on, and so on. "Scatter joy," Emerson said. I hope I do.