Big Easy Saints Roll Over For Animal Fair’s New Orleans Bark Business Event
Our nationwide Bark Business Tour touched down in New Orleans for a patriotic breakfast with celebs, biz executives and of course … dogs. The benefit event took place at the Loews Hotel and honored K9s For Warriors with Animal Fair’s very own Bestselling Author and Animal Advocate Wendy Diamond and Baby Hope hosting. Co-hosting the event was the Alpha Dog Head Coach of the New Orleans Saints, Sean Payton.
We honored K9s For Warriors Graduates – Army Sergeant and Marine Sheri Martinez who is paired with Lola and Army Sergeant Chris Spikes who is paired with Seal.
EVERYONE’S EFFORTS SAVED TWO LIVES IN NEW ORLEANS
VETERANS WITH PTSD IN LOUISIANA CAN NOW APPLY TO RECEIVE A GUMBO THE SERVICE DOG!
Sean Payton scored a touchdown when describing The Bark Business event supporting K9s For Warriors at the benefit, “Thanks to Wendy for introducing me and my foundation to this wonderful cause. Our Play It Forward foundation started years ago to help not only Louisiana, not only New Orleans but the Gulf south to help improve the lives of children with families and here was a chance to help veterans. The more we looked at this, it just made sense. Every once in awhile we get to come across a something like this to make a contribution.”
He through a light pass and added, “I love being around these dogs, especially the big ones, sorry Wendy (everyone chuckled out loud with Wendy and her little Coton, Baby Hope). The dog we are sponsoring to be trained to be a service dog is named Gumbo. We look forward to presenting this dog to Louisiana Warrior with PTSD. We are honored to be a part of The Bark Business benefit. My father was a Veteran – so the idea of helping just service men or women is pretty special to me.”
Major Top Dog business professionals, execs and creatives joined the barking festivities including; Ottillie Apparel and Accessory Designer; Elsa Brodman, former NFL Saints Veteran; Jeff Charleston, and Jewelry designer extraordinaire; Reagan Charleston. Lawyer and New Orleans Traffic Court Judge hopeful Richard Perque attended, as did Urban Strategies; Eric Iglesias, and Former Louisiana Music Commissioner; Bernie Cyrus (Bernie made sure no twerking happened at the event)!
Big dogs in the New Orleans dog biz included; Founder of Bella Doggie Spa and Resort, Belladonna Day Spa for People as well as Dag’s House; Kim Dudek, Humane Society Of Louisiana Founder; Jeff Dorson and the gracious Loews Hotel hosts of the Bark Breakfast benefit, General Manager; David Bilbe and Diane Riche.
The ten-city national Bark Business tour issupported by Halo, Purely for Pets, co-owned by Ellen DeGeneres, Glee’s Jane Lynch, Chicago Fire’s David Eigenberg, Taylor Kinney and Joe Minosa, Rock Band – The Go-Gos, Law and Order’s Danny Pino, Supermodel – Tyson Beckford, New Orleans Saints Head Coach – Sean Payton. The most generous of business magnates; Craigslist Founder Craig Newmark and Ingram Industries’ John Ingram – plus many more…
To date over $135,000 has been raised – 26 lives Saved – 13 dogs & 13 Veterans!
After Animal Fair’s Wendy Diamond learned the alarming statistic that, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, a Veteran affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or a Traumatic Brain Injury (STI) commits suicide every 65 minutes. She dedicated her How To Train Your Boss To Rollover book tour to raise money for K9s For Warriors. Our goal was to raise at least $10,000 to graduate one Veteran and one canine through the successful K9s For Warriors program. We far exceeded our goal and happy to announce that two Veterans with PTSD in New York can now apply to the K9s For Warriors program – thanks to all of our generous donors!
Special thanks must go out to the fabulous Loews Hotel for donating their magnificent hotel and beautiful breakfast to honor our Veterans and Service Dogs. Many thanks to Ellen DeGeneres’ HALO, Purely For Pets for the special doggy buffet for all the dogs and especially the service dogs who happily dined on Spot’s Stew, a delectable doggie delicacy made from all-natural chicken, beef, salmon, or lamb and healthy whole grains, nutritional fruits and vegetables. No corn or rendered animal parts for our four-legged friends! American Express Open for handling our business so we can focus on our passions!
Animal Fair and Wendy Diamond encourage everyone to adopt, foster and rescue until the United States becomes a “No-Kill” nation.
Wendy Diamond and Animal Fair’s goal is to encourage people to donate $10, $20, $100, $500, $1,000, sponsor a Veteran as an Honorary Chair for $10,000, or whatever amount donors can afford. If only 100 people donate $100 per city, the objective will be reached in each city on the tour. K9s For Warriors is a transparent charity and 94% of every dollar will help a veteran with PTSD receive a service dog from K9s for Warriors. Shari Duval, Founder and Executive Director, of K9s For Warriors does not receive a salary.
Please join us at one of our next stops on the tour; Philadelphia, San Diego & Dallas! Veterans have fought selflessly for us, now it is time for us to fight for them! Donations and tickets are available to attend here.
If you would like to see more photos from the New Orleans Bark Business Benefit Click Here!
WENDY THANKS EVERYONE THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF THE NEW ORLEANS BARK BUSINESS BENEFIT!
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