Over 200 animal lovers, some with their animals, dressed as their favorite champion which translated mostly to sports legends for Mr Magoo’s “We are the Champions” benefiting Citizens for Animal Protection at the Bayou City Event Center. There were Astros, Rockets, some Texans (someone missed the Champion note), Cowboys, Dymanos, , Yankees, Stone Cold Steve Austin and even some bunnies (someone has to champion Easter!)
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Event chairs Bruce Padilla & Shelby Kibodeaux put together an entertaining, inclusive evening that resulted in raising $100,000! A great amount for any event but practically unheard of for a summertime happening. Cheers to those amazing gentlemen for the hard work and dedication to animals!Bringing together CW’s morning show host Sharron Melton to emcee the high energy evening, Michelle Mantor, Publisher of Houston PetTalk Magazine as Honorary Chair helped solidify the success of the evening. However it’s the honorees of the evening that brought the serious love!! Big Fix Houston and one of Houston’s most loving and active animal advocates Sonia Soto.
Cocktail hour gave guests time to peruse the silent auction, shop a few vendors and take pictures with Sherman the Iguana, CAPs resident mascot for almost 20 years, it was time for introductions and the live auction led by Sharron Melton before dinner. A very smart move that should be adopted by other fundraising galas going forward, just a kind suggestion.
One of the main highlights of the live auction was a sunset cruise on Galveston bay aboard Mayoral Candidate Bill King’s yacht. It was a slow go at first until King took the mike and offered to fix any THREE pothole of choice to the lucky winner. The plot twist put the gas into the bidding to which King then offered to sell the offer TWICE bringing a great amount of financial support, $12,000, for the animals and a great burst of joy and laughter to the party goers. Houstonians are pretty easy going and simple, yachting is fun but fix my freaking streets, AM I RIGHT!?
After a very fun and unpretentious tailgating inspired dinner of chicken and waffles featuring the most amazing buffalo sauce (that DISH is still waiting for the name of, BRUCE, we are looking at you!!), BBQ sliders, mac and cheese and fried okra. It was the funnel cake ‘fries’ and fried Oreos for dessert bringing out the kid in every human there.
Fresh off a sugar high revelers who brought their animals had the option to participate in a fashion show! Many champions worked that runway with their canine plus ones but the highlight was Celebrity Pet of the Year honorees, Dandy, with owner Beth Wolff, and Beauregard with owner Edna Meyer-Nelson.Canine lovers on hand: Angelica Chapman with pups Stormi and Thunder, Dr. Roland Maldonado, Catarina Gonzales with Loki pup, Buzz Lady Roseann Rogers, Oscar Anchia and Samantha Gonzalez, Dr. Angela Strum with Partner Arthur Severin, Miya Shay, Jeff and Kim Anderson-Rose, Cheryl Byington, Laurette Veres and Tom Flynn, Jeff Goldberg and Kristin Massey.
The Celebrity Pet of the Year Honorees and their humans will be in attendance at the annual CAP Gala “A Royal Affair” at the Royal Sonesta hotel on November 16, 2019.
dish-houston.com 