Courtesy photo Everyone knows the song ‘Don't Fear the Reaper,' and now you can see Blue Oyster Cult perform it live at the Sunken Gardens later in the series.

THE RUNDOWN What: AT&T Summer Concert Series, with Rose Royce, Starchild and 4th Quarter Band When: 5:30 p.m. (gates open), Saturday, June 2 Where: Sunken Gardens Theater, 3875 N. St. Mary's St. How much: $5 Info: sarocknrescue.com

Bruce Kates, like many San Antonians, is an animal lover.

He owns three dogs, all of which were strays. And it pains him to hear of stray animals being euthanized at the city animal shelter.

So Kates and fellow organizers decided to put on a summer concert series, with proceeds going to San Antonio's new animal shelter, which is slated to become no-kill by 2012.

The four-part concert series, sponsored by AT&T, kicks off on Saturday, June 2, with Rose Royce headlining at Sunken Gardens Theater. Other bands on the bill are Starchild and 4th Quarter Band.

Kates wanted to put on a summer concert series benefiting some charitable cause, and he was instantly drawn to the no-kill shelter.

“I pretty much paid attention to the news, and I saw the thing about animal care,” he said. “I saw people picketing and protesting the gassing (of shelter animals), and how they wanted to aim toward no-kill.”

So Kates and organizers are aiming for an annual summer concert series that would run until the no-kill shelter's unveiling.

Three other benefit shows are scheduled for this summer — Classic Rock All Stars with Mark Farner on July 21, Blue Oyster Cult on Aug. 25 and War on Sept. 29.

“Looking into the types of bands we wanted, we wanted some with brand-name recognition,” Kates said. “We knew we wanted general appeal.”

Kates said he hopes the bands' general appeal will yield a good turnout, considering the amount of money needed to transition to a no-kill shelter.

Kates said San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger has given shelter officials permission to institute the new no-kill rules earlier than 2012 if the funds are in place.

The proceeds from the benefit will go toward the city's Animal Care Services department for necessities such as food and bedding for the animals and for the spay and neutering program.

“We're really just trying to accomplish what anyone in the city would do,” Kates said. “We just have the ability to go up one step, to get a band and get a location and hopefully get thousands of people to spend some money.”

CLINT HALE | 210SA