Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
+25 Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
Animal Lovers Lasso Up More than $130,000 for Animeals at Wags & Whiskers Luncheon and Pet Fashion Show
More than 225 animal lovers donned their best Western wear on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at Hotel ZaZa, Museum District for the 12th Annual Wags and Whiskers Luncheon.
Proceeds from the event benefit Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston (IM) 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 “Lassos and Leashes” themed event raised more than $130,000 during the celebrity pet fashion show, a silent auction, and delicious lunch hosted by Brunch Co-Chairs Kristin Guthrie and Roberta Konicki along with Honorary Chair Ernie Manouse of Houston Public Media.
Emcee Casey Curry welcomed guests and four-legged furry cowpokes to the rodeo chic event and inspiring program, which honored long-time animal lover, media personality and book author Frank Billingsley, who recently joined Houston Public Media as Executive Producer and Co-Host of Hello Houston.
IM Board Chair Saied Alavi thanked guests on behalf of the organization and Immediate Past Board Chair Dr. Kathy C. Flanagan provided an overview of Animeals and to introduce the event chairs to present the award and honor Billingsley.
Animeals spokesdog Moose, escorted by IM Board Vice Chair and Development Committee Co-Chair Nadia Tajalli, engaged the crowd for a special appeal and fundraising. Curry’s daughter, Winnie, read a message from Moose asking guests to donate to Animeals.
During the presentations, guests checked on the silent auction showdown, which included exclusive travel experiences, pet gifts, services, and toys as well as sports memorabilia, artwork, family outings, jewelry, beauty and spa experiences, and theater tickets.
A delicious lunch of tomato bisque en croute, red wine-braised short rib, chive buttermilk whipped potatoes, garlic roasted broccolini and for the vegetarians, a beautiful superfood bowl of lemon tahini quinoa, roasted sweet potato, and sliced avocadoes. Dessert included a choice of chocolate pecan pie, vanilla bean cheesecake or raspberry sorbet.
Walking the fashion show catwalk produced by Todd Ramos, hair and makeup by Edward Sanchez for Interfaith Ministries were 1st Place Winner Brittanny Diller with Buttercup, 2nd Place Winner Ava Khademi Deljou with Moose, and 3rd Place Winner Molly and Schatzi with parents Susan Vaughan and Karl Winter.
Pet Fashion Show Media Judges included Michelle Mantor with PetTalk Magazine, Lara Bell with Swoon Magazine, Jeff Gremillion with Houston CityBook Magazine, Sarah Leftwich with Houston Modern Luxury Magazine, Dawn Gunther with Spring Branch Plus Magazine, and Suzanne Schakett with River Oaks Lifestyle and Memorial Lifestyle Magazines.
Sponsors included: Lone Star Sponsor Linh Nguyen and Fred G. Marshall; Wild West Sponsors Susan and Dan Boggio and MAREK; Hill Country Sponsors Susanne and Randall Evans, Ann and Ron Kaesermann, Roberta and Erik Konicki, and Don A. Sanders; Bluebonnet Sponsors Shirin and Saied Alavi, Charlene Chung and Kathy Flanagan; Doe and Henry Florsheim, Kristin Guthrie, Karen and Jay Harberg, Karen Jankowski and Ed Donahue, Michelle Peacock, Paula Sutton and Bill Gross, Nadia Tajalli and Dr. Shahin Tavackoli, Chrissy Tate, and the University of Houston – Downtown.
Other rodeo chic attendees included: IM Incoming President and CEO Sheroo Mukhtiar, Board Chair Saied Alavi, Board Immediate Past Chair Dr. Kathy C. Flanagan, Ann & Ron Kaesermann, Susanne & Randall Evans, Charlene Chuang, Karen Jankowski & Ed Donahue, Paula Sutton & Bill Gross, Dr. Loren Blanchard, Nadia Tajalli & Shahin Tavackoli, Philamena & Arthur Baird, Aliza Dutt, CC & Duke Ensell, Jay & Karen Harberg, Angela Hernandez, Eileen Lawal, Sonia Soto, Gregg Harrison, Paul-David Van Atta, Walt Zipprian, Miya Shay, and Chris and Brandy Laakso.
For more information about Animeals, visit https://imgh.org/meals-wheels-
