The Big City Little Dog Fashion Show benefiting the Angel on a Leash foundation was a walk in the park for hair salon mogul Lois Christie, president and CEO of Christie & Co. Salon • Spa in The Bay Terrace shopping center and her stunning Maltese, Twinkle.
Together, and with the help of some charitable donations from concerned dog owners and attendees, Angel on a Leash was able to raise substantial funds for the cause of healing.
Angel began as a charitable activity of the Westminster Kennel Club in 2004 and was approved as an independent charity in 2007. Since then, Angel therapy dog teams have been visiting regularly in two facilities; the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian and the Ronald McDonald House of New York City. The organization’s goal is to help facilities create, design and implement therapy dog programs that will enhance patients’ and clients’ experiences.
“Dogs always make people smile and feel better,” said Christie, an advocate of Angel. “It’s a new charity and it’s growing. It’s a real opportunity to do something great.”
One by one, dog owners and their canine companions walked the red carpet at the New Yorker Hotel in Manhattan, each pup primped to the fullest extent.
Some celebrity guests included Mitch Marrow, former NFL player for the Carolina Panthers, 93-year-old Oscar winner Celeste Holm and Bravo’s Top Chef star, Nikki Cascone. The money raised at the event went to the strenuous training a dog receives during its transformation into a therapy dog, which provides affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools and people with learning difficulties.
Twinkle did not receive the night’s Best in Show, but she would love to compete at next year’s Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden.
To learn more about the Angel on a Leash foundation, visit www.angelonaleash.org.
