Houston’s Celebrity Paws Gala Draws Mayoral Candidate, Baseball Great, Young Astros Star and It Girls

It was an exceptional evening when Citizens for Animal Protection celebrated at its 33rd annual Celebrity Paws Gala with canine-loving VIPs such as Roger Clemens, mayoral candidate Tony Buzbee, Houston It Girls Frances Moody and Meredith Flores, Lance McCullers Jr., and K9s4Cops founder Kristi Schiller. And it was unprecedented for record proceeds of almost $800,000, a whopping record for CAP.

Before entering the main ballroom of the Royal Sonesta Hotel for dinner and the program, guests, 650 strong, rambled through the foyer and the reception hall where costumed characters reminded all that the evening’s theme was “A Royal Affair, Reigning Cats and Dogs.” J&D Entertainment provided the royalty while female supporters did their share by donning tiaras. Featured in the reception hall was the full house of honorees posing with their canine pals in specially-designed vignettes.

The list of CAP honorees — Debbie and Roger Clemens, Callie and Koby Clemens, Kody Clemens, Meredith Flores, Kristi Schiller, Katie Gibson, Samantha and Raz Halili, Edna Meyer-Nelson, Jennifer and Chad Pinkerton, Kristina Somerville, Beth Wolff and junior honorees sisters Reagan, Rilley and Delaney Bond. Taking top honors as Celebrity Pet(s) of the Year were Daphne and Clementine, proudly escorted by Katie Gibson.

Faithful dog lovers, Buzbee and Moody (who have five pooches between them) chaired the event that featured the honorees on the catwalk with their canines, along with the introduction of several rescue dogs. The duo was joined in the spotlight by honorary chairs Julie and Brook Brookshire.

Numerous awards were presented including the Share the Love Award which went to the Astros’ McCullers, whose namesake foundation focuses on pet adoptions and shelters. Special entertainment was electro violinist SVET of America’s Got Talent fame.

PC Seen: Emcee Frank Billingsley of KPRC Channel 2, Cherry Whitley, Sherri Fulton, Gaylon and Don Gullquist, Melna and Mike Moriarty, Paul Somerville, Patricia and Sig Cornelius, Gregory Miller, Laura and Dave Ward, Linda Schmuck and Todd Zucker, Nancy and Franco Valobra, Liz and Pete Carragher, Marian and Austin Cornelius, Renee and Alan Helfman, CAP executive director emeritus Kappy Muenzer and CAP executive director Sandi Mercado.