The Season’s Must-Have Ticket Is the 10th Annual Furball – “Boots, Black Tie & Best Friends: A Western Extravaganza”

By: VOCAL

Tickets are now on sale for the 10^th Annual Furball, an evening of elegance to benefit VOCAL, the Ocala-based non-profit helping to solve the issue of homeless pets through prevention, community outreach, adoption, and collaboration. The Furball, on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, is the signature fundraising effort each year and serves to spread awareness and highlight the resources available through VOCAL (Voices of Change Animal League).

The Furball has grown in popularity over the past decade, and in recent years, the black-tie optional event relocated to the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, a larger venue able to accommodate the increasing list of supporters. This year’s Furball theme, “Boots, Black-Tie & Best Friends: A Western Extravaganza,” is a nod to the rich equine legacy of the region.

“We have never done anything incorporating a western theme and we thought anything that ties in with equine is a natural fit for the Furball,” said Lauren Carpenter, VOCAL Co-Founder.

Everyone is encouraged to add Western accents to their attire for the evening.

This formal affair is black-tie optional, so go ahead and add a pair of rhinestone boots with a flowing gown or top off a tuxedo with just the right cowboy hat to make a unique fashion statement. The photos captured during the event will be fantastic.

Jenkins Subaru of Ocala is the presenting sponsor of the 10^th Annual Furball. As a part of Subaru’s Share the Love Initiative®, the dealership selected VOCAL as its local charity sponsor.

“VOCAL does amazing work, and we are especially impressed with their efforts to keep pets in their homes (and out of shelters) by providing medical and food resources to pet parents who need a little help. We look forward to our partnership to make ours a better community,” said Spencer Speer, Relationship and Marketing Manager, Jenkins Subaru Volvo of Ocala.

Guests will enjoy a fun-filled evening from start to finish at the World Equestrian Center in Expo Center 1 attending the Furball “Boots, Black-Tie & Best Friends: A Western Extravaganza.

Upon the doors opening at 6 p.m., guests will enjoy a cocktail hour and hors d’oeuvres. Dinner will include a 3-course meal, prepared by the award-winning culinary team at WEC. The menu begins with a Winter Garden Salad, which incorporates field greens, spinach, tomatoes, and roasted butternut squash. The main course selection includes duo-plated Beef Tenderloin and Broccoli Stuffed Chicken Roulade. The delicious beef entree, coffee rubbed with red eye jus, accompanies the chicken roulade paired with lemon tarragon velouté and a serving of fingerling potatoes. A Vegan option features Zatar Roasted Carrots, Farro with Benne Seeds Harissa Vinaigrette. The final course will be a decadent Saddleback Cheesecake of Vanilla Cream, Key Lime Gel, and Crumble.

The Furball will also feature both a live and silent auction where everyone can participate in raising funds to benefit VOCAL and their effort to prevent homeless pets. Both auctions are sure to keep everyone on their toes to see who will place the winning bid.

The VOCAL board of directors plans to expand the footprint on its property with new buildings to help increase the current level of programs in the region. The new capital campaign will be announced during the event.

Kate Rengel, VOCAL Executive Director and Co-Founder, said they look forward to expanding their impact as the county grows to help more pets and their families, “with help from our generous supporters, who astonish us each year with their giving.”

The evening promises to be an exciting time with the goal of supporting our furry four-legged friends. So, get your Furball tickets, dress for the occasion with a hint or full-fledged western formalwear, and enjoy the evening.

Furball tickets, $200 per person, can be purchased online or by calling 352.289.0800. Table sponsorships, seating eight guests, is also an option, just select the “Purchase Table” option.

About VOCAL (Voices of Change Animal League): VOCAL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to solving the homeless pet problem in Marion County, Florida. Through prevention, community outreach, adoption, and collaboration, VOCAL works to keep pets in loving homes and reduce shelter overcrowding.

At Voices of Change Animal League (VOCAL), our mission is simple yet powerful: to end pet homelessness through compassion, prevention, and community support. Local shelters are often overwhelmed, and VOCAL steps in with innovative solutions that focus on keeping pets with their families and out of shelters.

•  Affordable Veterinary Care: VOCAL’s Community Clinic offers low-cost spay/neuter, vaccine clinics, and specialty surgeries, ensuring that financial hardship doesn’t separate pets from their families.
• Pet Food Bank: In partnership with Chewy.com, VOCAL provides weekly pet food and supplies to families and rescue groups, helping pets stay healthy and at home.
• Adoptions: VOCAL carefully matches pets of all ages—from playful puppies and kittens to senior companions—with loving adopters, ensuring every animal finds the right home.