Dogs sipping cucumber-flavored water from a Baccarat crystal bowl — only at the Citizens for Animal Protection Celebrity Paws Gala. Kim and Dan Tutcher, mom and dad to Pet of the Year runners-up Sullivan and Riley, provided that classy oasis of love tableside after the dogs had made their victory lap down the ballroom catwalk and the Tutchers received the dazzling bowl as the prize.
And then there was the vavavoom Carolyn St. Clair escorted by her designer-clad spaniels Tallulah and Spencer, Hershey Grace pushing her kitty, Snickers, in a froufrou stroller and The Bachelor's Kalon McMahon on the arm of his Bachelor Pad sweetie Lindzi Cox. Lunch with McMahon was part of the live auction, the date going for $5,000.
It's just that sort of thing that makes the Celebrity Paws Gala one of the more entertaining fundraisers of the year and this year it was a whopper. The 620 black-tie attired guests and the score of well-behaved pooches that poured into the Hilton Americas-Houston ballroom helped raise a record $800,000.
Chairs Elizabeth Stein, Laura Stein, Shelby Kibodeaux and Bruce Padilla oversaw the evening that featured a host of celebrity dogs and their high-profile owners in vignettes. Bringing their pets to the party for the friendly competition were Kim Padgett, Elizabeth Allen, Nicholas Altman, Jana Fant, Jeff Gremillion, Adrienne Harvey, Meredith Johnson, Kim Padgett, Erin Spencer and the Tutchers along with junior honorees Karson Ludwick and Morgan Meynier.
Padgett and her West Highland Terrier, Cassidy Marie, both dressed in matching gowns designed by Chloe Dao received top honors. Cathy and Jesse Marion were honored with the Melcher Humanitarian Award and Beverly Wren with the Celebrity Paws Hall of Fame Award. Gloria and Frank Meszaros of West Houston Subaru received the CAP Cherished Companion Award.
Animal lovers making the scene included CAP president Linda Schmuck with Todd Zucker, honorary chairs Donna and Bob Bruni, Andy Cordes and Brian Teichman, Sarah and Alfred Moran, Danielle and John Ellis, Richard Fant, Karen and Byron Hood, Tua and Brian Burke, Kathryn and Jeff Smith and Brenda and Arthur Fant.
