Pickler Hosts a Night of Canine Couture

Susie Brown of the JaneDear girls models with a puppy named Russia

Last Saturday (1/21), the Nashville Humane Association (NHA) hosted its 2^nd Annual Hollywoof Unleashed event at the Hutton Hotel in midtown Nashville. The event allowed the hotel to go to the dogs for the night. Attendees brought their canines as dates for an evening of food and fido-fashion. Emceed by Kellie Pickler, the night included a canine-friendly red carpet, a Pedigree dog buffet, a silent auction, a live auction, dinner and a runway show.

Each dog that walked the runway was available for adoption through NHA. All the canines that modeled sported a “couture” fashion look and were accompanied by celebrity dog walkers, including: Jimmy Wayne, Susie Brown, Allison DeMarcus, Sarah Darling, Heather Byrd, Margaret Ellis, Jeffrey Garner, Dean Miller and Russell Hitchcock among others. A number of dogs that modeled that night were promptly adopted the following day.

Pickler charmed the audience through the show, keeping it light-hearted and fun even when a few of the adoptable dogs got stage fright about strutting their stuff in a packed ballroom. “Show ’em a little love!” Pickler encouraged the crowd, when a shy black lab named Big Boy (walked by Wayne) suddenly had second thoughts about his runway debut.

Kellie Pickler and Caitlin Rantala

After the runway show, Pickler, who has a black and white Chihuahua affectionately named Moo Moo, stopped by the silent auction room to peruse the Baxter and Bailey stand. Silent auction items ranged from dog beds to Diana Ross tickets. In total, the silent auction raised over $5,000 for NHA.

Next month, Pickler is extending her fashionista style to feline counterparts. The Fresh Step brand has partnered with Pickler and fashion designer Geren Ford to design a limited-edition cat sweater.

Pickler models available sweater. Photo: Russ Harrington

Cat lovers who aren’t in the market for a new sweater can still participate in the good cause. The Fresh Step Facebook page houses an online application that lets people digitally place the Pickler sweater onto a photo of themselves on Facebook. The Fresh Step litter team will donate $1 to the ASPCA for every photo posted, through Mar. 15, 2012, up to $100,000.

“I collaborated with fellow cat lover and designer Geren Ford to create a sweater that we hope any cat parent would wear to show their kitty pride and that all animal lovers can wear in support of the ASPCA,” said Pickler.

The oatmeal heather-colored tunic “Kitty Crooner” sweater will be available for purchase online for $35 at www.aspcaonlinestore.com, with 100% of proceeds benefiting the ASPCA.

Pickler’s third studio album, 100 Proof, was released Tuesday (1/24).