Photos and story by Amber Cetinel / Contributing Writer
Dog lovers have finally found their happy place.
The Nashville Humane Association’s ninth annual “Unleashed: Dinner with Your Dog” event on Saturday hosted a fundraiser at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel to support more than 4,000 dogs and cats under the association’s care. Guests were also encouraged to bring their dogs to commemorate the annual event.
“This year’s theme is ‘80s prom, and it’s just a really fun event and a great way for us to raise funds toward our mission,” said Laura Chavarria, the executive director at the Nashville Humane Association. “Money from this event also goes toward our emergency medical fund. We help animals that have specific medical needs.”
The fundraiser included a silent auction, dinner service and program event, featuring celebrity host and Grammy Award-nominated singer Cassadee Pope. Later in the evening, celebrity walkers, including Good Morning Nashville anchors Nikki Burdeen and Neil Orne, walked adoptable dogs on a runway.
Chavarria encouraged others to support the Nashville Humane Association.
“We are starting a brand new volunteer program in the next couple of months, and we can utilize volunteers to do everything. Walking dogs, fostering animals, bathing a cat … really, we need people who are engaged and want to help their community,” she said.
Those interested in volunteering for the Nashville Humane Association can visit here.
To contact Lifestyles Editor Mamie Lomax, email lifestyles@mtsusidelines.com.
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