Dogs and cocktails are one of the best combinations known to man, probably because both are rumored to be his best friends. Together they make up two of the key ingredients behind the third annual Gimme Shelter Animal Rescue Summer Benefit. The benefit was held this past Saturday, July 26, 2014 at the beautiful home of Ellen and Chuck Scarborough, an Emmy Award Winning NBC News Anchor. Chuck Scarborough was the Master of Ceremonies for the event.
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An adorable Gimme Shelter dog. (Photo: Kristin Gray). |
Guests enjoyed music and hors d’oeuvres on the immaculately manicured grounds of the Scarborough’s 10,000 square foot home in Southampton. Ellen and Chuck are personally responsible for changing the lives of two Gimme Shelter rescue dogs.
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright treated guests to a wonderful performance, and Emmy Award-winning comedic writer and proud parent of a rescue animal, Bill Persky, served as a guest speaker. Chuck Scarborough gave voice to the live auction, which included a guided tour of NBC studios, a private flight from Westchester to East Hampton, a Ralph Lauren throw, “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” tickets, New York Giants tickets, and various gift certificates among others.
The annual Gimme Shelter Benefit is intended to raise both awareness and money to aid in the rescue of animals in line to be euthanized at kill shelters across the country. The money raised will contribute to spaying and neutering the rescues, paying for all of the necessary medical care, vaccinating, micro-chipping, and finding loving permanent homes for the animals.
I overheard a statement at the event, which I later found out is part of the slogan for Gimme Shelter. It was, “Saving one dog won’t change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog.” It really hit home, and as an owner of two dogs rescued from shelters, that simple sentence put into perspective how drastically the lives of these loving and beautiful animals change because of organizations like this. Gimme Shelter’s mission and benefit encouraged me to entertain the idea of adopting yet another rescue dog.
For more information about Gimme Shelter Animal Rescue, visit gimmeshelteranimalrescue.org.
