After last-last-last week's cover story on Dallas Animal Services, I have become the go-to person for animal welfare inquiries here at the paper. And I am happy to oblige. Especially when inquiries come with adorable videos, and this latest sure does: Shelter Chic is a Dallas-based web video series that features adoptable dogs in need of "makeovers."
First up, after the jump: a McKinney shelter and "Isabella Ruffalini." Jaime Anderson is the human host, and she told me via e-mail that she started the series after years of volunteering with rescue groups. "So many dogs get overlooked simply because they need a haircut or are a little dirty," she wrote. They're looking to expand to any shelter that'll have them -- "anyone that will let us in with a camera!"
Next up, Anderson tells me, they'll be making-over a pit bull in the wake of perpetually gauche Dwaine Caraway's weekend spent buddying up to noted animal abuser and convicted felon Michael Vick. She writes: "This will be more of an 'image' makeover, but we plan to parade a pit around in a pink tutu and show how "vicious' they really are (not)!" Rescuers and shelter folks can head over to the Facebook page if they'd like to get their pups spruced up.
If videos of rehabilitated dogs make your heart go pitter-patter, mark your calendars for this Saturday's launch of "Dallas Loves Animals," the joint venture between the city and the SPCA of Texas, Dallas Animal Advocates and the Metroplex Animal Coalition.
During the kick-off at the Westmoreland Road shelter, folks can adopt pets, get Valentine's photos with ones they already own, and meet Grace the DLA spokesdog, who Dallas Animal Services rescued from a hoarder last year. Adoptions are open from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with events from noon to 4 p.m.
Now I've got to figure out which one of my cats will get to make the trip. They do love having their photos taken.
