pa r t I E S
Phran Galante, Whitney Daane
Curtis and Christine Smith
Laura Citron, Andrew Clancey with Jovi
Cassadee Pope with Cuppy, Laura Chavarria
Walk This Way Nashville Humane Association invites supporters to an ‘80s prom
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t was a blast from the big-haired past at Nashville Humane Association’s Unleashed: Dinner With Your Dog, the annual event that turned Loews Vanderbilt Hotel into a totally tubular ’80s prom. Partygoers of both the human and canine variety zealously committed to the theme, showing up and showing off in hilarious, over-the-top, throwback threads. During the bustling cocktail hour, we spotted no shortage of mullet wigs, neon and pastel hues, puffy sleeves aplenty and at least one oversized cell phone. The accompanying pups — which, let’s be honest, make the best prom dates ever — sported corsages and looked quite dapper in everything from gowns and pearls to leg warmers to piano neckties. Backstage, this year’s celebrity dog-walkers wholeheartedly committed as well. Oz Arts Nashville’s Tim Ozgener was hardly recognizable in a dark mullet wig and boxy royal blue suit, which perfectly matched wife Arnita’s ruffled satin gown in the same hue. Looking like a prom queen contender, host Cassadee Pope wowed the crowd in a frothy pale pink strapless gown with the most adorable accessory of all: her French bulldog, Cuppy. She was going head-to-head on the Royal Court with longtime co-chair Marcia Masulla, whose sparkly tiara was the perfect accessory for her side ponytail. After dinner, guests got to see the local celebs strut their stuff on the runway beside adoptable pups. For the first time in Unleashed history, every dog walking the runway was a participant in the NHA’s new foster program. The lineup of walkers included a well-dressed group from Channel 2 (Neil Orne, Danielle Breezy and Nikki Burdine), City House chef Tandy Wilson and Nashville Scene editor D. Patrick Rodgers. These local celebs did more than show off their modeling skills — they personally raised $11,000 for the Nashville Humane Association. The sold-out event attracted the largest crowd ever at 350. Funds raised from Unleashed help protect the well-being of animals in Davidson County. In 2018 alone, Nashville Humane Association had a 99 percent save rate and placed 3,400 animals in forever homes. Most of the dogs that walked the runway this year were adopted within 24 hours. That’s, like, totally awesome — to the max!
Co-chair Marcia Masulla, Kenny Tallier
Nikki Burdine, Danielle and Joe Breezy, Neil Orne
by Nancy Floyd photographs by Eric England continued on page 32
30 >> March 2019 | nfocusnashville.com John Cooper with Ranger Unleashed.indd 30
Stephen Dodd with Parker Grace, Nick Albano 2/21/19 11:19 AM
