Hamptons Designer Showhouse Benefit Offers Top Designs And Puppy And Kitten Galore

It’s hard to walk through the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (ARF) trailer filled with puppies and kittens without going home with one. It’s the best “goodie bag” takeaway at the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons cocktail party and sale, which kicks off the Memorial Day weekend each year. The second best takeaway is the discounted home decor at the ARF Thrift and Treasure Shop in Sagaponack, which becomes a designer showhouse for the occasion. You can go home with a new companion and a bed to sleep with it.

Joy Behar. (Photo: Sean Zanni/PMC)

Animal loving designers Sam Allen, Tracey Cavaniola, Nancy Corzine, John Stedila and Tim Button, Lynda Sylvester and Eldon Wong designed one of the six rooms. Mary McDonald was Honorary Chair. Gordon Hoppe, Gigi Mahon, Lisa McCarthy, Alex Papachristidis and Marshall Watson were Co-Chairs. Guests enjoyed a vodka bar, wine donated by Channing Daughters in Bridgehampton and hors d’oeuvres by Peter Ambrose. It’s all designed to find loving homes for ARF’s adorable adoptees.

“We have some wonderful puppies from Puerto Rico that are all part of the same litter and almost five months now,” new Executive Director Scott Howe told us of ARF’s greatest treasures. “There are also some sweet local animals that needed to be surrendered. And this is kitten season across the nation. We have more than 30 kittens in our care now that are being socialized. We have a wonderful program to do so, and they’ll soon be ready to be adopted. That’s what shelters are doing right now across the nation.

The Shelter’s reach can be felt beyond the East End. “ARF is beloved locally, but it also participates on a national level for animal welfare, and that’s what’s exciting. From here in Wainscott, we can have an impact on a problem that’s really nationwide. ARF serves a local community and is also fortunately able to take animals from across the United States.”

ARFans were on display at the Designer Showhouse. (Photo: Sean Zanni/PMC)

Howe, who joined ARF just weeks before the event, came from the Parrish Art Museum, where he was Deputy Director for Administration and Institutional Advancement. But, he said, “My relationship with ARF started two years ago when I adopted my cattle dog Stritch from them. She’s at home now, where she runs the house. She would love parties, but she would eat too much.”

“So, not only does ARF represent a cause that has always meant a great deal to me personally,” Howe added. “But, we’re both rescued from Texas — where I’m from.”

Next up, ARF will host the 30th Anniversary of its beloved Garden Tour on Saturday, June 18th.

Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons is located at 91 Daniels Hole Road in Wainscott. For more information, call 631-537-0400 or visit www.arfhamptons.org.