Dogs took to the catwalk Thursday, Oct. 2 for a Canines & Couture Fashion Show and Pup Strut to Stop Puppy Mills.
Guests gathered at 19 Hundred in Lumina Station to watch 25 rescue dogs dressed in glamorous costumes walk down the runway. The event cost $10 and all proceeds benefitted local animal needs.
Various organizations were on hand to share information about puppy mills. Karen Loveless, treasurer of the political action committee North Carolina Voters for Animal Welfare, said the organization supports officials who will work to enact stricter regulations for dog breeders.
“If you sell to a pet store, there are certain guidelines,” she said, “but if you sell to the public there’s nothing to say you have to take the dogs out of the cage, ever.”
Several politicians were also in attendance to show support for puppy mill regulations. Senator Rick Catlin said he saw firsthand the harm caused by puppy mills. His dog, Sophie, was rescued from a puppy mill in Brunswick County.
“She was in bad shape,” he said. “She had never seen the world, really. It was quite moving. We got calls from some friends to see if we’d be foster parents, so we filled out the paperwork, and after about an hour, we decided to adopt her.”
Event organizer Bridgett Rowley had a similar experience with her rescue dogs, Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler. As Rowley made final preparations to begin the fashion show, her mom, Nancy Joos, held Scarlett O’Hara.
“She was rescued from the Brunswick County Puppy Mill two years ago,” Joos explained. “I didn’t realize how bad it was until Bridget got Scarlet, and I can’t even look at the pictures [from the puppy mill].”
Joos’ friend, Furever Friends Rescue employee Sharon Smith, told Rhett Butler’s story.
“He was found, somebody had dumped him,” she said. “His eye was not intact, so they had to bring him to the animal hospital…and that’s very typical, eye problems and other issues, when they come from puppy mills. Somebody just didn’t want to deal with the issues.”
Smith said the Rhett Butler’s story at least had a happy ending.
“Now, he’s madly in love with Scarlett,” she said, “so life is good, it was meant to be.”
Families and animal welfare advocates gathered around the catwalk as the fashion show began. Each rescue dog came down the runway to cheers from the crowd.
After the fashion show, Dr. Ernie Ward, a veterinarian who has been featured on The Today Show, addressed the audience.
“I’ve seen so many dogs that were broken in spirit and yet with a kind touch, a compassionate heart, and sometimes a lot of work, we’re able to revive that love, that spirit, and that’s what we’re here to celebrate tonight.”
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