2024 WOOFSTOCK - A RESCUE DOG SHOW FULL OF PEACE AND LOVE!
More than 30 adorable rescue dogs of all shapes and sizes brought their owners to our Woofstock Rescue Dog Show on October 12, 2024. They competed in 16 different categories, including Wildest Hair, Best Kisser, Best Trick, Best Dressed, and Best Vocal Performance. Congratulations to Bubba, pictured with proud owner Zina Nugent. Bubba was the Best of Show Winner, who demonstrated a wonderful "trick" for a "treat!" (see the photo gallery below)
Strutting their Stuff!
All rescue dogs were eligible to participate, including purebred rescues. Winners in each category paraded in the ring within the Balboa Pavilion. Deb Fitzgerald is shown with her rescue greyhounds, Millie and Whiskey.
Special appreciation to Jackie Paul (shown left with assistant Kellie Vessie) who organized and sponsored the event; judges Keith Keck and Jane Hollingsworth, and AWL volunteers Michelle Alford, Sandie Rickerman, Sue Luse, Beverly Fitzpatrick and Laura Allworth. Very special thanks to everyone who participated - the AWL earned over $1,000 due to your generosity.
GIRLS GOTTA HOWL 2024 - our most successfuL fundraiser ever
Thanks to our many sponsors, donors, and the 500+ members, volunteers, and guests who attended our two Girls Gotta Howl “Bow Wow Meow Luau” sold out events, we netted an unprecedented $28,000 to support the HSV Animal Welfare League.
This year’s Hawaiian themed event featured a free flowing wine fountain, a plentiful, tropical buffet catered by Melinda’s Café, several tables full of silent auction items and gift certificates, raffle drawings, a doggie parade with some of our adoptable canines (who relished all the lovable attention,) a fashion display from Renee’s Bear Necessities, and plenty of free style and line dancing for all the ladies. Last, but certainly not least, was an encore performance by the very entertaining Cheapendales, (the AWL’s version of the Chippendales). Making all the right moves were Justin Ruttley, Craig Rickerman, Mitch Taylor, Gary Vogt and Jamie Cooke.
From the welcoming call of the conch shell by Keith Polston, through the descriptive narrative and tribal dance routines by choreographer Linda Broome assisted by Sandie Rickerman, it was a “Day-O” to remember. As AWL President Beverly Fitzpatrick humorously noted, “What happens at GGH stays at GGH.”
There was also a very special appearance by K9 Officer Nala and her partner/trainer Officer Elvis Caple. Nala, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois who joined the HSV Police Department in July, 2023, has been trained in search and rescue, article recovery, and drug detection.
A very special “mahalo” thank you to GGH Co-Chairs Dorothy Polston and Barbara Roberts, Presenting Sponsor Relyance Bank, and sponsors Bob Sweeten of Trademark Realtors, Janae Cook of Taylor Realty, Renaissance Homes, Brookshires, Clara Nicolosi and Re/Max Realtors, and the numerous silent auction donors.
DOGgone PURRFECT GOLF EVENT!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS
Guess the Tees - It's a Tie! Vikki Powell and Sandy Young both guessed 12 away from the total of 636. Each received $25 gift card to S & P Golf
Closest to the Pin-
Women - Hole 9 : Rhonda Markell, Hole 13: Sherri Wohlrobe
Men- Hole 3: Jim Faurot, Hole 17 : Jim Montgomery
Raffle: 50 / 25/25- Scott Gegaman $ 133, Cindy Hagan* $133
Front 9 Winners: score of 25
Jim Faurot, Phil Belt, Tom Conrad, Les Ratliff
Back 9 Winners: score of 24
Bob Spacey, Mike Schall, Jay Adcock, Earl Freeland
*Cindy Hagen generously gave back her winnings to the AWL in honor of her dog Daisy (pictured left)
GIRLS GOTTA HOWL 2023 - DANCE TO THE MUSIC!
Since tickets for last year's popular fundraiser sold out in a record 3 1/2 hours, this year we presented both a matinee and evening event, and they both also sold out! On Monday, September 25th, nearly 500 gals came to the Coronado Center to support the AWL and have a great time. Guests enjoyed a retro buffet catered by Melinda's Cafe featuring fab food reminiscent of the 60's and 70's and a free flowing wine bar. We were entertained by the Spa City Tappers, a video montage featuring excerpts from the tv shows we grew up with - American Bandstand, Shindig, and Sonny & Cher, along with popular movie dance clips. Always a special treat, some of our adoptable dogs also made an appearance as they strutted their stuff around the room. But the highlight
was the incredible dance performance by the six Cheapendales, led by choreographer Linda Broome, and assisted by Sandie Rickerman. Following their gyrating dance routine, they joined the ladies for line dancing and twisted the night away!
Special thanks to our Corporate Sponsor Relyance Bank, Wine Sponsor ReMax HSV, and our silent auction donors:
Sandie Rickerman, The Vault Restaurant, Diamante, Fitzgeralds, and Pa & Towery Houser. Phoebe n Friends also brought an array of handmade and cute dog and cat accessories for sale.
View the Photos and Videos below!
2023 VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON
The AWL volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization. On January 25th, more than
100 volunteers gathered at the DeSoto Club for a luncheon to thank them for all the wonderful work they do for our animals!
Walk & Wag-A-Thon May, 2023
Overcast skies didn't stop the great turnout of walkers, supporters, volunteers and most importantly, our fabulous canine friends, who participated in our 2nd Walk & Wag-A-Thon on Balboa Beach. Nearly $6,000 was raised to help our homeless pets and the dogs were priceless! Congratulations to Chuck Howell, the recipient of the $50 gift card donated by Clampit's Country Kitchen to the walker who raised the most sponsorship money. Chuck raised $600. Thank you Joey Clampit and Chuck Howell!
View the Walk & Wag-A-Thon Photo gallery
1st Annual K9 Costume Party October 31, 2020
Congratulations to the Winners!
3rd place - $25 GC to "Sophie - the Batgirl" and Liz Lovelace
2nd place - $50 GC to "Poppy - the Bad Pet" and Sue Avery
1st place - $100 GC to "Jessie - the Budweiser Dog" and Allison & Mark Allen