They raised the woof!
Rescue dogs from local shelters strutted the catwalk to wow potential new owners at the Rescue the Runway show at Crown Heights’ Berg’n Beer Hall on Saturday, putting on an impressive show despite their rough upbringings, according to an organizer.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better group of rescue dogs,” said Marisa Grimshaw, co-executive director of animal welfare group Mr. Bones and Company. “They were so social, so friendly, and really excited to get on the runway and have people pet them and take photos of them.”
The show featured 14 canines from three shelters, including Badass Animal Rescue in Gowanus, who pawed down the runway with firefighters, police officers, and local leaders.
Nearly all of the pups lapped up the limelight, though when one was hit with last-minute stage fright, her heroic handler stepped in and eased the pooch’s nerves, Grimshaw said.
“We had one dog, Chloe, who was social throughout the entire opening of the event and got a little runway shy, but her escort handled her so well and picked her up and carried her down the runway,” she said.
In addition to the big runway show, the event also included an auction, raffle, a photo booth, and a kissing booth with two Instagram-famous dogs. For $5, humans could score a big licks from bluenose pitbull Sometimes Carl — who boasts 53,000 followers on the social media service — and Amazing Grace — a rescue pitbull who became favorite on the Mr. Bones Facebook page while recovering from serious dog-fight injuries.
Both freshened up for the task with peanut butter, Grimshaw said.
None of the guests adopted a dog at the actual event, since the rescue groups need to do a thorough background check on potential owners before handing over the leash, but Grimshaw said there has been a huge amount of interest in all of the dogs from those who attended the event and watched online.
All of the ticket proceeds will go to Mr. Bones and Co. and the animal shelters involved in the show. Grimshaw said she hadn’t tallied up how much the event raked in yet, but around 175 people witnessed Saturday’s wag-fest in person.
