Oh What A Night!

With Many Thanks To The PetCo Foundation
And All Those Who Participated!

Dog’s Night Out is a night in which Lake Shore Animal Shelter and all attendees endeavor, in some small way, to repay our four-legged friends for the immeasurable debt that we owe them; a debt which can never really be repaid.  Their matchless love and devotion is an inspiration to us all.  And while we reward our dogs with this night of merriment, camaraderie, and celebration, we are also helping many dogs (and cats!) who have no happy homes to go to, or no one special person to love.  

For those of you who were unable to attend, we offer a recap!  It was a perfect end-of-summer evening for Dog’s Night Out.  The ivy-laden courtyard at Galleria Marchetti was washed in sunshine and dotted with dogs of every color and type, dressed in their evening best.   

As doggie guests and their people streamed in, they took the tour under the tent, checked out the David Rothstein Jazz Trio, the auction prizes, the artists’ corner with Julie Nebel Dooley provided sketches, oil painter Julie Jazinski, and watercolor specialist Christy Freeman offered samples of their work, the candles and flowers on linen draped tables, the special Haute Cuisine for Haute Canines and buffet bedecked with silver candelabra, punch bowl, and trays of unique and fresh handmade goodies. Gatsby himself never had it so good!

Tails and tongues were waggling, and yes, there was even a little drool (no photos please!) evident in anticipation of nosing ahead of the crowd to the silver platter of special New York chef-prepared gourmet doggie hors d’oeuvres and “dinner” menu, donated and flown in for the event.

This was followed by the height of hedonistic dog pleasures: an architecturally constructed, meticulously designed, double-layer cake baked just for the guests of honor by the Swedish Bakery at 5348 N Clark, and donated by Gloria Lissner, the founder and owner of Famous Fido’s and FidosFoodFair.com, 5430 N. Clark in Chicago.  

The nattily dressed and pampered pooches, relaxed and well-fed, were ready for the stage after free mini massages by Bruce Bergenzer.  Their people signed them up for Best Trick, Dog-Owner Look-Alike, Best Dressed, and Best in Show, and the show began: the stage was filled with dogs who had worked hard at their various talents—the bone on the nose standby favorite, the cute high five, the “bang you’re dead” crowd pleaser, and many other funny talents were revealed over the course of 40 minutes.

Emcee and prize winning comedian Tim Walkcoe and co-emcee Lake Shore board member Karen Conti, kept the show lively with clever, comedic commentary.  The fabulously talented and lively David Rothstein Trio, provided smooth jazz throughout the evening.

All contestants had their fair shake in front of the judges, and several tries at each trick were allowed in case of last minute stage fright.  Expertly judged by syndicated pet columnist and WGN host of Pet Central Steve Dale, BeBe North of the Mike and BeBe North radio show, Judy Barr Topinka, former Illinois official and always a friend to animals, and Dean Daubert, District Manager for PetCo, a natural in the role!

Defending Champion and natural “ham”, Weimariner Belle, and Dog Dad Mark Simons (also a ham—now we know where Belle got it) knocked ‘em dead with the “bang bang—you’re dead” trick and walked away with the prize again this year!  Dog/Owner Look-A-Like winners Romeo the Pug and his person Lindsay Neumann were thrilled, Best Dressed champ Rusty the Pit and Bridgid Nolan looked so pleased!  Winners lined the stage to be judged as Best in Show, which was won by a unanimous vote by the most friendly, happy pit bull who kept his costume on all evening, including beret, with supreme aplomb! His Mom was so proud! 

Las Vegas style Dean Martin act, Sonny La Salvia, donated his crooning services to the surprise and delight of the crowd.  He and his wife Doris have spent years helping rescue and care for animals in need.

Dean Daubert served as local spokesperson for the PETCO Foundation, and gave a great presentation on their good work, noting that this was the first time a shelter event had been sponsored. PETCO Foundation support helps offset the cost of this event, so that the majority of income will go toward helping homeless animals in need.  A big Thank You goes to PETCO Foundation for the backing they provided—Lake Shore Animal Shelter could not have done it without it you!

On this night, of all nights, our dogs are the stars.  They all had a great time meeting new people and other furry friends, enjoying special treats, dinner, and all the rest, to help homeless animals get adopted — Dog’s Night Out will long be remembered in doggie dreams across Chicagoland.  

After all our good intentions to find more time for loving dogs who patiently wait “their turn” in our busy lives…this night was, finally, all for them!

If you missed it, enjoy the photos and check out the YouTube video here .