DFW Humane Society Hosts a Black Collar Affair
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RamblerNewspapers.com November 26, 2016 50¢ DFW Humane Society hosts a Black Collar Affair By Matthew Pedersen offer them a good time,” she “It feels fantastic,” he said. To ensure the continued said. “We have a great group of operation of the shelter, Michael Whiteside, the supporters. Animals can’t which provides treatment administration and devel- speak for themselves, but and care to neglected and opment coordinator for the these supporters can lend abandoned pets every year, DFW Humane Society, went their voices to them and give the DFW Humane Society into detail about the logistics them a chance in life, which held their 2016 Black Collar of putting together such a is our mission. We take un- Affair. The event saw a large large event for the commu- wanted or neglected pets and gathering of volunteers and nity. give them a second chance donors meeting in the spirit “This being our largest through adoption. That’s of protecting voiceless ani- annual fundraiser, it takes what all these donors are here mals who so desperately de- a huge team of people to for. Sure, they want to enjoy pend on acts of charity. The help out,” Whiteside said. the food, and the auction, and event was held in the Dallas “We started planning in the drinks, but they’re real- Four Seasons Hotel on Sun- April. We had a committee ly here supporting all of our day evening, Nov. 13. of about fifteen to eighteen pets at the shelter.” Sarah Kammerer, execu- people, maybe a little bit Whiteside then talked a tive director of the DFW Hu- more. There are lots of mov- little about how the mon- mane Society, talked about ing parts. You have to be able ey gathered would be used what makes the Black Collar to follow up with the venue, to help with the care of the Affair such a special event for A spark of puppy love, Sascha Biesi, the co-owner of Skull & Cakebones, and Simba share a special moment and finding the restaurants, shelter’s many dependent an- the society and its many pa- during the Black Collar Affair. / Photo by John Starkey and the chefs, getting the imals. trons. donated their time to come tions. of kicks off the holiday season auction items. There’s lots “Just daily care at the “Tonight is our biggest out and cook for us, so we “This is just special every and brings up our donations. of stuff going on, so it takes shelter is $25,000 a month, fundraiser of the year,” Kam- have ten different options year. It kind of brings us out Animals are near and dear to a lot of work.” so even that amount would merer said. “We have live for food that our patrons can of the summer slow months. our hearts. There are a lot of Whiteside also talked cover a month’s bills directly auctions and silent auctions. choose from. We also have We typically have it in Octo- great causes out there, but about how it felt to have the for the pets. Above and be- Different restaurants have animals available for adop- ber or November, and it kind this is our favorite one. So community’s support, with yond that, we spend $20,000 many people want to get in- so many patrons coming - $25,000 on special need volved nowadays, and we ap- in to participate and raise pets, those that need to have preciate that this is one way money for the DFW Hu- legs repaired or have to have National Adoption Day for them to do it. We can also mane Society. celebrates new families See BLACK COLLAR Page 3 and new beginnings By Ariel Graham care in the Dallas area. Last National Adoption Day was Special families welcomed year, over 4,600 children started in 2000 by a coalition more than 75 children to their were taken out of abusive or of organizations including “forever homes” at Nation- neglectful homes and placed The Alliance of Children’s al Adoption Day held at the in protective care. Rights, The Congressional Henry Wade Juvenile Justice “These children were re- Coalition on Adoption Insti- Center on Saturday, Nov. 19. moved from their homes for tute, The Dave Thomas Foun- Three of the courtrooms abuse or neglect, and now dation for Adoption, and the at Henry Wade were packed they’re coming to the point of Children’s Action Network. with excited children and joining a “forever family” and Dallas was one of the original families as judges and of- hopefully achieving that secu- nine jurisdictions, and has ficials volunteered to help rity and love that we want for expedite numerous adop- all of our children,” LaValle See ADOPTION Page 4 tions. Families entered the said. courtroom surrounded by Dining for a cause, supporters of the DFW Humane Society enjoy sampling a number of cuisines from area their friends, relatives, and restaurants. / Photo by John Starkey the court advocates assisting Dance festival in their case. After all the le- galese, they walked out with teddy bears for the children, certificates of adoption, and brings competitive new family members. Pro- fessional photographers were also on hand to take portraits dance to Irving of the new families. Kathleen LaValle, presi- By Matthew Pedersen the individual workshops dent and executive director of Texans are no strangers to where people could step in Dallas Court Appointed Spe- country and western dancing, and learn how to perform cial Advocates (CASA), said so it’s no surprise that one of the various forms of country that on average, five children the biggest country western dancing. a day come into protective events in the world would “We have some pros come take place here. The huge in, and they’ll teach the in- event, featuring internation- dividual dances in country,” ally ranking competitions she said. “Country Western and dance workshops, start- Competitions aren’t like what ed Nov. 10 and ran through you see in bars; it’s a profes- Nov. 13 at the Sheraton Hotel sional dance venue. We have in Irving. private lessons, and it’s kind Monique Rouleau, co-di- of like ballroom dancing with rector of the Dallas Dance hats and boots. The instruc- Festival, spoke about how it tors come in, and they’ll teach ties into the worldwide coun- an hour long workshop. They try dance championships. also have students that come “We are one of about 52 and compete in what’s called competitions that compete pro-am competitions. Coun- over the course of a year try is really booming here in with the organization Unit- Texas.” ed Country Western Dance Russel Keller, event direc- Council,” Rouleau said. “This tor for the Midnight Madness all leads up to the world Swing Dance, talked about championships. In Japan, his branch of the festival. Holland, France; there are “The swing dancing is in competitions in the organi- our first year, and we do West zation all around the world, Coast Swing,” Keller said. and we’re one of them. We’re “We compete in the Jack actually one of the largest, and Jill’s. We have extensive besides the World Champi- social dancing. We also offer onships. contests in what is called Pro- “This year, just in coun- Am Strictly for the entertain- try alone, we had over 2,700 ment of our patrons.” entries. In swing we’ve had Keller explained that intro- about 300, and in ballroom ducing swing dancing to peo- we’ve got about 300 as well. It’s a pretty big event,” she said. Rouleau also talked about See DANCE Page 7 Page 2 November 26, 2016 www.RamblerNewspapers.com OPINION LETTER TO THE EDITOR Statement from Craig Floyd on recent shootings of policemen WASHINGTON, DC - A deadly for attempted murder of police of- The assailant is still at large. year for law enforcement just got a ficers, domestic violence and other On Sunday, Nov. 20, a 20-year St. lot worse these past few days when crimes. The assailant was shot and Louis police veteran was sitting in COMMUNITY CALENDAR five officers were shot, two of them killed by other officers. his patrol vehicle in traffic when an- fatally. The shootings occurred in On Sunday, Nov. 20, San Antonio other car pulled up and the occupant Library Closed: Thanksgiving during the Sugar Plum Fairy Reception. four different states and at least Police Detective Benjamin Marconi opened fire, hitting the officer in the November 24, 25 Nov. 25 and 26 | 7:30 p.m. Nov. 27 | 1:30 p.m. three of the incidents appear to have was shot and killed in an ambush face and critically injuring him. The All Irving Libraries will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 24 and 25, for the Thanks- been cold-blooded ambush-style at- attack as he sat in his patrol vehicle assailant was later shot and killed by Constructing a Hoop House tacks. writing a traffic citation. The assail- police. giving holiday. On Friday, Nov. 18, Deputy Com- ant was seemingly uninvolved in the On Sunday, Nov. 20, a Sanibel November 29, 6 - 8 PM mander Patrick Carothers, a 26-year traffic stop. He pulled his vehicle up (FL) police officer was shot while sit- Momentum Dance Company Pres- A hoop house is generally defined as a veteran of the U.S. Marshals Service, behind the officer, got out of his car ting in his marked patrol car during ents “The Nutcracker” simple greenhouse, and it is commonly used for season-extension, allowing crops was shot and killed in Georgia while and shot the officer twice in what a traffic stop when a drive-by shoot- November 25 - 27 to thrive and be cultivated well after their attempting to arrest a man wanted appears to be a brutal assassination.