Hermit-crab racing in the Virgin Islands has some competition.
Between Peg Leg’s restaurant and the beach at Nanny Cay, more than 200 people gathered under the stars for the annual Gaming Night organised by the Humane Society of the BVI.
Aside from the usual hermit-crab racing, blackjack and roulette, two new games of chance were added to the roster: toy-dog racing and a human slot machine.
The former drew some of the largest cheers of the night — even rivalling those from the crab table — while the latter sent quite a few residents into laughing fits.
At the end of the night, the humane society raised about $39,000, according to lead event organiser Els Kraakman.
“It was a great night,” Ms. Kraakman told the Beacon Monday. “I think everybody had so much fun.”
Volunteers
Staffing the 20 blackjack tables, two roulette tables and other games was a regiment of volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the night to keep the money flowing and the chips rolling.
“[Gaming Night is] all volunteers,” humane society board member Amanda McKenna said Saturday night. “So we have so many great volunteers that come out and help on the evenings.”
Many of those volunteers, she added, help the society year-round.
“All volunteers play a part in the success of the animal shelter,” Ms. McKenna said.
Human slots
Compared to the more self-explanatory toy-dog races — which were Ms. McKenna’s brainchild — the human slot machines required a little more explanation for many players.
Once they got the hang of it, however, few people laughed harder than those who watched the trio of volunteers miming an oversized slot machine.
After a player pulled one volunteer’s outstretched fist, all three volunteers spun their fists until the player gave a signal.
When signalled, the three human slots stopped spinning their arms and grabbed a plush fruit to represent where the “wheel” had stopped.
Double date
Though Ms. Kraakman said the night was successful, she would have liked to see a larger turnout. Attendance, she added, may have been hurt by competition from the music festival in Cane Garden Bay.
“That was on the same day, unfortunately, and they announced it two months ago, so we couldn’t change [Gaming Night’s date] anymore,” she said.
To avoid scheduling conflicts next year, the humane society has already announced that next year’s Gaming Night will be held on June 20.
New shelter
Ms. Kraakman also updated the Beacon on the humane society’s new animal shelter under construction in Josiahs Bay.
This week, she said, the final coats of paint are going up on the cinder block walls of the shelter.
After that, the only outstanding works are the delivery and build of the stainless-steel animal cages, as well as various decorations and furniture to make the space suitable for animals and human visitors, according to the volunteer.
The shelter is expected to open in late summer, she said.
