By Velia Tarnoff Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Aug 22, 2007 at 8:37 AM

Of course, all the animals at the Wisconsin Humane Society are sweet and special in their own way.  But every now and then, there comes along a truly extraordinary creature.

Enter Conrad.  Conrad, the 8-year-old, male cat pictured above, is ready for a new home -- and is both deaf and blind.  He has a lot of love to give and is a joy to watch as he navigates his environment via vibrations in his whiskers.  As if his story couldn’t get any sweeter, he also comes with his own “companion animal.”  Conrad needs to be adopted along with Casey, the adult, female cat with whom he’s lived for many years.  The two have become inseparable.

If you can’t take Conrad and Casey into your home, there are other ways you can help him -- and all the animals at the Wisconsin and Ozaukee Humane Societies.  Attend the Paws & Claws Gala on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007.  Beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Pier Wisconsin., the gala will include a fabulous dinner by renowned Bartolotta Restaurants, unique silent and live auction items and live music. 

Admission tickets are $250 per person and $500 per couple; all proceeds help the Wisconsin and Ozaukee Humane Societies in their efforts to save animals’ lives.

Plus, raffle tickets are now available for purchase: $10 per ticket or five tickets for $40. The grand prize is $10,000 cash; the first place prize is a 37” high definition television and an 8GB iPod Nano. 

Velia Tarnoff Special to OnMilwaukee.com

Velia Tarnoff counts among the loves of her life her daughter, her husband, her friends, writing, developing theories, dancing, live music, Southern California, black coffee and red wine. She's happiest when she can put as many of those together as possible. WWith more than 20 years of experience as a radio reporter and public relations professional, Velia is a natural communicator who loves to hear stories, to share stories and to tell it like it is.

Velia earned her B.A. from the UW School of Journalism and is thankful for every moment she spent on that wonderfully wacky campus.

And, in the interest of full disclosure, Velia is the wife of OnMilwaukee.com Publisher Andy Tarnoff.