The SPCA of Texas is thrilled to present the 25th annual Home for the Holidays event at NorthPark Center going on now through December 23, 2015. This signature event brings shoppers and pet lovers together to raise awareness for homeless pets, and to help these wonderful animals find a forever, loving family.

The Home for the Holidays Adoption Pavilion is located at NorthPark Center on Level One between Macy's and Dillard's. The SPCA of Texas features adoptable pets every day until December 23 from noon to 6 p.m. with the hope that over 250 animals will find their forever homes this holiday season. In fact, just over the opening weekend, 44 pets found their forever homes at the Home for the Holidays Adoption Pavilion! Since the SPCA of Texas' first year of Home for the Holidays in 1990, over 10,000 pets have been adopted. Children who visited NorthPark center with their parents and adopted a pet, are now coming back as adults with their families and adopting again. This event is a holiday tradition for many families here in North Texas.

The Bark + Build luxury dog home raffle portion of Home for the Holidays kicked off November 16 with the installation of eighteen custom-made dog houses at NorthPark Center on Level One between Dillard's and Macy's. These one-of-a-kind dog houses were designed and built by the Dallas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Dallas) and TEXO, The Construction Association members. Raffle tickets are $5 a piece or five raffle tickets for $20, and have been available at NorthPark Center and at www.spca.org/homefortheholidays2015. The Bark + Build luxury dog homes are on display through December 7.  The drawings to select the winner of each dog house were held at the close of the event on December 8, and one of the dog houses will be named “Top Dog” as the most popular based on ticket sales.

The SPCA of Texas is grateful to NorthPark Center, AIA Dallas and TEXO Association for their generous support, creativity and friendship.

For more details about the SPCA of Texas’ Home for the Holidays, visit www.SPCA.org/Homefortheholidays2015.

The SPCA of Texas' Fur Ball 2015, “You Only Live Twice,” was held on Saturday, September 19 from 6:30 p.m. to midnight at the Omni Dallas. The James Bond-inspired black-tie evening featured an elegant Japanese flair and included dinner, dancing and live and silent auctions for over 800 guests. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, patrons and guests, Fur Ball 2015 raised $450,000 to help the SPCA of Texas serve 50,000 animals and their people in 2015.

Guests were greeted by the heart-pounding rhythms of the Kaminari Taiko Japanese Drumming Ensemble as they made their way up to the Omni’s Dallas Ballroom. Lychee martinis were the signature drink during cocktail hour, and competition was fierce at the over 300-item silent auction. Plus, two adorable litters of puppies (all spayed and neutered!) from the SPCA of Texas’ iFoster program romped and played as they were cooed over and petted by the glittering guests.

The delightful dinner included an Asian salad with mandarin oranges and sesame dressing, soy and shitake braised short rib with wasabi mashed potatoes or chili and scallion marinated tofu with Yangzhou fried rice. The delicious dessert was Azuki bean and coconut panna cotta with dark chocolate and sesame tuile.

Gloria Campos, retired anchor of WFAA-TV Channel 8, served as Mistress of Ceremonies, and as she put it most eloquently, “Why do we love our pets so much? Because they love us so unconditionally.” SPCA of Texas Board Chair, Jocelyn White, welcomed guests and SPCA of Texas President and CEO, James Bias, waxed eloquent on the importance of supporting the SPCA of Texas’ mission: to provide every animal exceptional care and a loving home.

Mr. Bias also introduced a very special story of rescue, rehabilitation and love while highlighting the organization’s animal cruelty investigations work by presenting a heartwarming video about Phoenix, a dog rescued from cruelty. In a special surprise, Phoenix (now living happily ever after with a loving family) came to the stage with his adoptive family. There was not a dry eye in the room when Phoenix enthusiastically kissed his family on stage and then rolled over for a belly rub!

The SPCA of Texas also presented the 2015 Spencer Humanitarian Award during Fur Ball. Named for warm-hearted entrepreneur and long-tenured, past SPCA of Texas Board member Mary Spencer, the Spencer Humanitarian Awards recognize an individual, company or group whose extraordinary efforts have made a positive difference for animals. The 2015 recipient of the Spencer Humanitarian Award was Kelly Thompson, a dedicated SPCA of Texas volunteer, former board member, Texas Tech graduate, Ebby Halliday Realtor and friend to animals.

Guests also made it their mission to bid high on live auction items. High rolling patrons won sports suites, glamorous getaways, decadent cases of wine and more. The top two live auction items of the evening were both once in a lifetime experiences. One of these was a two day, two night package for four to the world-renowned animal sanctuary, the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Murchison, Texas, complete with personalized tours and more. And, the biggest wow of the live auction came when the Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers announced the final package of the evening: 12 luxury suite tickets to Garth Brooks’ final Dallas performance and a guitar signed by Garth Brooks!

Fur Ball 2015 raised the bar with headline entertainment by Haute Chile, the Vanity Fair Oscar Party band from Los Angeles, California that has performed with Elton John, Ringo Starr and Christina Aguilera, just to name a few.

Fur Ball 2015 was a fabulous success thanks to event chairs Stacey Kivowitz, Katy Murray and Jocelyn White; honorary chairs Janelle & Larry Friedman, Lynn & Allan McBee and Jan Miller & Jeff Rich; underwriting chair Claire Schwarz; auction chair Nicole Rosenblum; and auction co-chair Mary Elizabeth Kappes.

This year’s Athlete for Animals was Craig Ludwig, Dallas Stars Alumnus, two-time Stanley Cup Champion and Fox Sports Analyst. This year’s Artists for Animals was Craighead Green Gallery, recognized as one of the finest contemporary art galleries throughout Texas and the Southwest, representing over 40 nationally and internationally recognized artists of all mediums.

The SPCA of Texas sincerely thanks special partners, including Diamond Whiskers sponsor: Jan & Trevor Rees-Jones; Golden Collar sponsors: Janelle & Larry Friedman, Stacey & Don Kivowitz, Lucky Dog Barkery, Myron K. Martin, Katy Murray, Northern Trust and Jocelyn White & Kim Seal; Silver Bone sponsors: Diane and Hal Brierley, Gwen & Leldon Echols, Marsha & Richard Gray, Hill’s Science Diet, Claire Schwarz & Mary Spencer and VCA Animal Hospitals; and Bronze Paw sponsors: Alphagraphics at Market Center, Augustine Insurance Agency, BKD, Linda Chapa, Jimmy Choo - Highland Park Village, Nichole Donnell, Kieran English, Brad Fenton, Becky Fisher – PepsiCo, Grand Spa, Jack Knox, Texas Capital Bank, Kelly Thompson and Shannon Welch of Fisher & Welch.

Guests included Dallas Mayor Mike and. Mrs. Micki Rawlings, Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones, Phil Romano, Andrea Alcorn, Rhonda Sargent Chambers, Craig and Heather Ludwig, LeeAnne Locken, Joyce Fox, Doris Jacobs, Janelle and Larry Friedman, Yvette and Robert Feiger, Dr. Deborah Westergaard, Brent and Pam Nicholson, Tricia Linderman, Kevin and Michelle Kemp, George and Barbara Langdon, Dr. and Mrs. Richard Gray, Rebecca Marabito, Dr. and Mrs. John Vandermeer, Cassie Evans, Robert Frierson, Dr. P.M. Parker, Eric Johnson, Becky and Greg Fisher, Phyllis and CJ Comu, Don and Anne Short, Gus Hinojosa, Miguel and Andrea Trejo, Kurt VandeMotter, Pam Brock, Shannon Welch, Sandra Fite, Michael Kaufman and Durward Watson.

Fur Ball is DFW’s salute to the bond between people and their pets and a celebration of the SPCA of Texas’ important mission to provide every animal exceptional care and a loving home. All money raised through Fur Ball 2015 will go directly to the SPCA of Texas to help rescue, heal and find homes for thousands of animals.

Next year’s event is already in the works. The chairs for Fur Ball 2016 are Phyllis Comu and Kristen Greenberg, with Sandra Fite as auction chair. Fur Ball 2016 will be held on Saturday, September 24 at the Omni Dallas.

On Sunday, June 14, the SPCA of Texas’ Paws Cause 20^th Anniversary Celebration at the SPCA of Texas’ Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center brought more than 300 animal lovers together to benefit the SPCA of Texas’ Mary Spencer Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic at Village Fair. The event attendees were welcomed with elegantly tropical décor, beautiful sunshine, bright flowers and puppies galore.

Inside, guests enjoyed gourmet burger sliders and a mashed potato bar, imbibed luscious libations--including the signature Whiskerita and the Tailwagging Rum Punch, danced the night away to classic rock hits played by The British are Coming, took part in the Bone Appetite drawing and had their pictures snapped at a fun photo booth. The Silent Auction tempted attendees with fine art, spa treatments, pet care products, travel packages, delicious wines, fine jewelry and more. Celebrity Chef Blythe Beck offered a very special silent auction package that included five-course chef tasting dinner for eight.

Paws Cause 2015 was a tail-wagging success thanks to Event Chair Phyllis Comu and Committee Members Andie Comini, Gianna DePaul, Kristen Greenberg, Mary Lozano, Kassira McKee, Christina Miller, Kerry Sullivan, Linda Walters, Mindy Wood and Karen Urie.

The event raised more than $180,000 for the SPCA of Texas Clinic at Village Fair. These much-needed funds will help provide more than 11,000 free and low cost surgeries and 15,000 health and wellness treatments in 2015.

All proceeds from the Paws Cause event benefit the Mary Spencer Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic at Village Fair and fund spay and neuter efforts in the Dallas community. The compassionate, mission-minded volunteers of Paws Cause have been assisting the SPCA of Texas for a total of more than 20 years, and their work has saved thousands of lives.

Attendees included hosts Phyllis and CJ Comu, Presenting Sponsor Russell E. Dealey, Jan Rees-Jones, SPCA of Texas Board Chair Jocelyn White, Ellen and Don Winspear, Diane and Hal Brierley, Gwen and Leldon Echols, Marsha and Richard Gray, Mary and Skip Trimble, Hillary Hurst and Mark Schwarz, Stacey and Don Kivowitz, Mary Spencer, Holly Forsythe, Katy Murray, Celebrity Chef Blythe Beck and SPCA of Texas President James Bias. 

The gorgeous and well-heeled mingled with the latest pumps, platforms and peep-toes at the Jimmy Choo boutique at Highland Park Village in Dallas on Wednesday, May 20. And it was all to benefit the SPCA of Texas in partnership with this year’s Paws Cause 20th Anniversary Celebration and Fur Ball 2015. Delectable hors d’oeuvres and bubbly prosecco refreshed attendees as they browsed Jimmy Choo’s 2015 pre fall collection and the debut of a capsule collection of accessories created by artist Rafael Mantesso, starring his own Bull Terrier named Jimmy Choo.           

Jimmy Choo donated a portion of the proceeds from purchases at the event to the SPCA of Texas. Special thanks to Jimmy Choo and boutique manager Catherine Kemp for hosting the party. 

The 20th Anniversary Celebration of Paws Cause will be held on Sunday, June 14th from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center at 2400 Lone Star Drive in West Dallas. All money raised through Paws Cause 2015 will go directly to the SPCA of Texas’ Mary Spencer Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic at Village Fair to help provide more than 11,000 free and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries and 15,000 health and wellness treatments in 2015. For more information, visit www.pawscausedallas.org.

Paws Cause 2015 is shaping up to be a tremendous success, thanks to Event Chair, Phyllis Comu. The event committee includes Andie Comini, Gianna DePaul, Kristen Greenberg, Mary Lozano, Kassira McKee, Christina Miller, Kerry Sullivan, Linda Walters, Mindy Wood and Karen Urie. To celebrate its 20th year, Paws Cause is recognizing past Event and Honorary Chairs. The Honorary Chairs include: Jane Arrington, Rebecca & Jim Belew, Diane & Hal Brierley, Andie Comini, Terry Cook & Steve Yevich, Wynne McNabb Cunningham, Cassie Evans Decker, Barbara & Steve Durham, Gwen Echols, Holly Forsythe, Janelle & Larry Friedman, Gemma Galeoto, Brenda Gray, Claire Heymann, Hillary Hurst, Susan Jones, Whitney Keltch, Stacey & Don Kivowitz, Lynn Knox, Ann Marcus, T. Boone Pickens, Madeleine Pickens, Sarah Potter *dearly missed, Martha & Larry Powell, Melinda & William Rathke, Gigi & Roy Salley, Mary Spencer, Mary & “Skip” Trimble, Karen Urie, Karol Wilson, Cheryl Wyly.           

All money raised through Paws Cause will go directly to the SPCA of Texas’ Mary Spencer Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic at Village Fair to help provide more than 11,000 free and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries and 15,000 health and wellness treatments in 2015.

Fur Ball 2015, You Only Live Twice, will be held on Saturday, September 19 at the Omni Dallas Hotel from 6:30 p.m. to midnight. For more information, visit www.spca.org/furball2015.

Fur Ball Co-Chairs Stacey Kivowitz, Katy Murray and Jocelyn White and the Fur Ball committee will make this a gala to remember. The Honorary Co-Chairs for Fur Ball 2015 are Janelle & Larry Friedman, Jan Miller & Jeff Rich and Lynn & Allan McBee. The Fur Ball 2015 committee includes Fur Ball Underwriting Chair: Claire Collins Schwarz; Underwriting Committee Members: Joyce Fox and Stephanie Fox; Auction Chairman: Nicole Rosenblum; Auction Co-Chairman: Mary Elizabeth Kappes; and committee members: Lona Crabb, Sandra Fite, Lezlie Goad, Morgan Souza, Kelly Thompson, Denise Wallace and Lane Wells.

All money raised through Fur Ball will support the SPCA of Texas, as the organization rescues, heals and finds homes for more than 50,000 animals each year.         

Attendees included Phyllis Comu, Katy Murray, Stacey Kivowitz, Jenny Anchondo, Tricia Sims, Carmen Surgent, Joyce Fox, Holly Forsythe, Kerry Sullivan, Leslie Eastwood, Cathy Vieth, Camille Umland, Dan Pritchett, Doug and Nida Hamblin, Carol Nelson, Caroline Nelson, Annette Crow, Doris Jacobs and J. Faridy Cocco, MD.