Courtesy: Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston | Photos: Quy Tran
It was a sold-out show as more than 265 philanthropic animal lovers donned their best Western wear, kicked up their boots, and raised more than $113,000 at Hotel ZaZa — Museum District for the 11th Annual Wags and Whiskers Brunch. The event benefitted Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston’s Animeals program, which provides pet food, toys, and preventative vet care supplies to over 1,300 pets of homebound seniors in IM’s Meals on Wheels program.
The “Bow Wow West” themed event featured a celebrity pet fashion show produced by Todd Ramos, a silent auction, and a delicious lunch hosted by event Co-Chairs Shirin and Saied Alavi along with Dr. Vasant Garg and Dr. Kim Tran.
Emcee Casey Curry welcomed guests and four-legged furry friends in an inspiring program honoring long-time Animeals supporter Greater Good Charities, an organization that works to help people, pets, and the planet by mobilizing in response to need and amplifying the good.
Interfaith President and CEO Martin Cominsky joined the program on stage with Board Chair Dr. Kathy C. Flanagan to provide an overview of the Animeals program, which serves more than 1,300 cats and dogs of homebound seniors and disabled adults, and to introduce the event chairs, who presented the award and honor Greater Good Charities.
Guests were inspired by a video testimonial of one of the program participants who shared the critical importance of receiving pet food and vet assistance in her home in addition to her Meals on Wheels deliveries. Animeals spokesdog Moose, escorted by IM Board Secretary and Development Committee Chair Nadia Tajalli, engaged the crowd for a special appeal and online fundraising.
During the presentations, guests checked on the silent auction showdown, which included pet gifts, services, sports memorabilia, artwork, family experiences, jewelry, beauty and spa experiences, rodeo, and theater tickets.
Walking the catwalk for Interfaith Ministries were Roger Applewhite and Keyser Soze, Ivonne Camarena and Don Cheto, the cat, Beth Clark and Yeti, Freddy Cruz and Sparrow, Louise Goldberg and Rosie (2nd place), Karen Jankowsi and Bella Donahue (1st place), Kian Tavackoli and Moose (3rd place), and Beth Wolff and Dandy.
Pet Fashion Show Judges included Lara Bell with Swoon Magazine, Deborah Duncan with KHOU Great Day Houston, Jeff Gremillion with Houston CityBook Magazine, Sarah Leftwich with Houston Modern Luxury Magazine, and Joy Sewing with the Houston Chronicle.
Sponsors of the Wild West event included: lead Lone Star sponsor Fred G. Marshall, Susan and Dan Boggio, Ann, and Ronald Kaesermann, Marek, Maureen Quirk and Leslie Harris, Shirin and Saied Alavi, Baxter and Cleo Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Loren Blanchard, CenterPoint Energy, Charlene Chuang, Dexter and Evie Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Kathy Flanagan, Doe and Henry Florsheim, Karen and Jay Harberg, Karen Jankowski, Anuradha and Dr. Kohur Subramanian, Nadia Tajalli and Dr. Shahin Tavackoli.
