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A spectacular mix of exotic animals and community supporters honored the animal therapy work of Rob and Robin Lyon Sunday night in what many said was a one-of-a-kind event never before seen in Sonoma.

Ramekins Culinary School on West Spain Street was transformed into a colorful jungle setting complete with live wildlife including a serval cat, a 2-month-old ocelot, a young alpaca, Pierce the porcupine, a rare hyacinth macaw, an even rarer fennec fox from Africa, and of course, Kazzy the therapy camel. Add to this two 16-foot-long, 350-pound handmade tigers direct from Fiesta Floats and this year's Sweepstake Award-winning wildlife float in the Pasadena Rose Parade.

The dress for the evening was "khaki casual" with many attendees sporting pith helmets. Sunday's event, spearheaded by a committee of four powerhouse women - Joyce Pease, Sandy Snorey, Barbara Johnsen and Suzanne Brangham - was a "thank you and fundraiser" to the Lyon family for their loving contribution of therapy animals who visit the elderly and infirm in Sonoma and throughout the Bay Area.

Rob and Robin Lyon and their children, Lynette and Billy, have for years taken in rescue animals and cared for them, allowing many to live out their last years in the serene setting of the Lyon's Diamond A ranch.

Robin Lyon calls it giving their rescues "a forever home." But the cost of feeding and doctoring the 83 birds, donkeys, camels, chickens, roosters, dogs and numerous other animals they nurture is enormous. "It costs $800 for one month of vet bills and a $250-a-day fee for most of them," said Rob Lyon. Feeding Kazzy alone is $162.35 a month, which was the price of the event ticket.

Although a live auction was not planned as part of the event, partygoers ended up bidding on several items, with 1st District Supervisor Valerie Brown at the microphone.

George Miller, of Sonoma, paid $800 for one of the large parade-float tigers and a group of locals split the cost for the other one. "I'm going to put it in my living room," said an excited Miller.

Bob Stone, of Sonoma, paid $4,800 for three nights and four days at next year's Rose Parade, including four front-row grandstand tickets and a private backstage tour of the parade floats, something the public never sees. The package was courtesy of Jacque Giuffre and Jim Hynd, the designers and creators of the giant tigers and a longtime team who works on parties, parades and major events. Giuffre also designed clothes for both Kazzy and the Lyons' other camel, Humphrey. During the evening guests were also treated to a touching video of the Lyons' animals at work in retirement and rest homes and the astonished reactions of the people being visited.

Robin Lyon said so often people ask what it is exactly that they do. "Sunday night they got to see it," she said.

"We tend to put our seniors in boxes after they are no longer perceived useful in society," said Robin Lyon. "They're out of sight, out of mind, in a facility, and we want to see these people acknowledged. They've done so much in the past for us and they deserve to be recognized," she added.

A final touch to the wild evening was the appearance of four "drag queens" - at least two of whom were Sonoma doctors - who spiced up the delivery of the dessert portion of the evening with a lively dance routine - all seemingly impromptu, but having been engineered by Robin Lyon who doesn't like predictability. "I don't like boring. I needed the event to reflect who we are, and we like to have fun," she said. She had costumes ready for the four and managed to convince the good sports to wow the audience.

The Lyons also acknowledged many organizations and individuals who helped make the evening a huge success, including a group of dedicated volunteers, veterinarians - both local and from San Francisco and UC Davis - Classroom Safari - owned by Bonnie Cromwell, Pets Lifeline, Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, Fiesta Floats and many others including personal friends and local residents.

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