Animal lovers raised more than $600,000 for the Bellevue-based Seattle Humane Society at the 20th Anniversary of Tuxes & Tails Celebrity and Pet Fashion Show & Auction. Forty local celebrities walked the runway with their own pets and animals available for adoption during the most “barked about” event of the year.

“It was an amazing evening among caring and generous community leaders who attended to have fun and celebrate the magic of the human and animal bond,” said Brenda Barnette, chief executive officer. “We are so grateful to have the wonderful support of our donors and volunteers.”

The special “Fund-A-Need” portion of the live auction raised $240,000 to create scholarships to reduce the adoption fee for cats one-year and older and for harder to place dogs, such as older dogs or dogs who always need medication.

For the animals, this means less time in the shelter. For the shelter, this means more openings available to rescue even more animals from certain death at public shelters. Donations to the Seattle Humane Society can be made at www.seattlehumane.org.

Tuxes & Tails was presented this year by AlphaGraphics and GoMobile. Additional sponsors include Safeway, Regence, Laird Norton Tyee, LexisNexis, Moss Adams, Newport Creative, Alliance Bernstein and Sterling Savings Bank. Wine for the event was donated by Mutt Lynch Winery, A&B Imports, Inc. and The Wine Shoppes at Redmond Ridge and Hawks Landing.

The Seattle Humane Society was founded in 1897 to bring people and pets together. It is located at 13212 S.E. Eastgate Way.