Pets, tails and tales will be the subject of the Dog Tales fundraiser for the 1st Avenue Shelter and Eugene Animal Services on Oct. 24.

The event was organized by Constance Van Flandern, also known as former SLUG Queen Marie Slugtoinette, in order to raise money and awareness for the 1st Avenue Shelter.

Dog Tales will feature local personalities who will share stories about their pets. Anyone who buys presale tickets will also be entered into a drawing for a custom pet portrait by Van Flandern.

Van Flandern was concerned about the “shoe-string” budget that the community’s 1st Avenue Shelter has now, even with the support of Greenhill, which took over running it after county and city funding cuts.

“They’re very essential. This was my chance to stick my SLUG queen nose into it,” Van Flandern says. She thought the storytelling event would be the best fundraiser, naming programs such as StoryCorps and public radio’s “This American Life” as examples of engaging mediums of storytelling.

In addition to other local personalities, Jordan Kent, former UO football and basketball player, is “excited to help out.”

“There are so many lessons we can learn [from owning a pet], and it helps us to be better humans,” says Kent, who is also the son of former UO men’s basketball coach Ernie Kent.

Jordan Kent will tell stories of his long-haired miniature dachshund, Waffle, who makes him “so happy.” Since he became a pet owner three years ago, he has been looking to get more involved with pet responsibility and activism, and is looking forward to sharing his story.

Other speakers include standup comedian Andy Andrist, Register-Guard reporter Serena Markstrom and comedy DJ Jen Meyer. A full list, from comedians to an EW writer, can be found on Greenhill’s website at wkly.ws/1la.

Dog Tales start at 7:30 pm Thursday, Oct. 24, at Cozmic, 199 W. 8th Ave; $13 Adv., $15 door.