Saving Paws Animal Rescue of Kentucky (SparKy) is coming off a milestone year in 2025 and is kicking off 2026 with a one-of-a-kind fundraiser inspired by the classic sitcom Mama’s Family.
The no-kill animal rescue finalized 602 adoptions last year, supported 244 families through its community pet pantry, and facilitated nearly 300 low-cost spay and neuter surgeries, according to the organization’s recently released 2025 Impact Report. The nonprofit, based at 1004 East 18th Street, operates entirely through volunteers and community donations.
“We don’t receive any city or tax funding. Everything we do is funded through donations, grants, and fundraisers like this,” said Lisa Martin, a longtime SparKy volunteer.
SparKy’s next major event is a Mama’s Family-themed Singo night on Saturday at The Pub on Second. The event starts at 7 p.m. and includes a musical twist on bingo, themed drinks, and a costume contest.
“On the show Mama’s Family, they were always playing bingo, so we thought it would be fun to do a version of that,” Martin said. “Singo is music bingo, so instead of numbers being called out, it’s snippets of songs.”
The event includes six rounds of Singo, broken into two sets of three rounds with a break in between. Tickets are $25 and available through Eventbrite. Guests are encouraged to dress as their favorite character from the show, such as Thelma Harper, Naomi, or Iola. Mama’s Family will also be playing on the TVs throughout the event.
Organizers are hoping to attract out-of-town visitors who may be coming for Vicki Lawrence’s performance at the RiverPark Center on Jan. 20. Martin said they reached out to Lawrence’s PR team but have not received a response.
“We’re not trying to say she’s going to be there,” Martin said. “But if she showed up, it would be a great surprise. We just thought we’d catch some of the crowd who might be coming in for her show.”
Guests are also encouraged to donate cat or dog food to SparKy’s community pet pantry. Each donation enters attendees into a prize raffle.
According to the 2025 impact report, SparKy recorded 428 feline adoptions and 174 canine adoptions. They completed 295 low-cost spay and neuter services through their clinics, and pulled 161 animals from area shelters across 11 counties. More than 8,700 volunteer hours were logged, and donations totaled more than $87,000. Veterinary, animal care, and operational costs exceeded $125,000.
Martin said that having a building and an increase in volunteer support have helped the organization make a greater impact.
“Last year was incredibly busy, but we’re already off to a great start again this year,” Martin said. “We’ve had several cats and kittens adopted already, and we’re grateful to the community for helping us keep this going.”
For more information, visit sparkyrescue.com or call 270-687-4787.
