Out & About
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Children, lovers — even cousins from Minnesota — are all acceptable dates at some of New York’s fanciest fundraising events. But not cats and dogs.
Guests at the Animal Medical Center’s bash Tuesday night were left to make-do by talking about the furry friends they left at home.
The chairwoman of the Animal Medical Center, Cynthia Phipps, has a small toy poodle named Truffle who is 8 years old. She was spayed and once had a skin treatment at the center, which sets the standard in health care for pets, and also leads research in treatments of pet diseases. “Truffle’s basically in good shape,” Ms. Phipps said. “She doesn’t need much attention.”
Just because humans socialize together doesn’t mean their dogs do. “Our dogs know each other, but not well,” Gail Gilbert said, referring to her clumber spaniel, Molly, and Donna Acquavella’s blonde cocker spaniel, Tomba.
Although missing their new puppy Maggie, an English cocker spaniel, Cary and Sherry Koplin snuck eight dogs into the Rainbow Room: small chocolate ones placed at each setting at their table.
Dasha Epstein wore a gold dog pin purchased in Paris, but she said it does not look anything like her black Labrador, Sunnyboy, who has diabetes.
Some guests published photographs of their dogs in the journal. Kenneth and Elaine Langone’s ad shows their three shiatsus, Koko, Frankie, and Dino, on a stretch of green lawn. Ellen and James Marcus chose a close-up portrait of their dog Maisie, who died last month.
There were in fact two dogs attending the event: honorees Bravo and Taz, German Shepherds who are nearing the end of their service in the New York Police Department’s K-9 unit. Both helped in the relief efforts after hurricanes Rita and Katrina.
The gala also paid tribute to designer Geoffrey Beene, who upon his death left $10 million to the Animal Medical Center. The bequest will pay for a linear accelerator for precision radiation treatments, improvements to the client waiting room, and enhancements to its post-graduate teaching program. Among Beene’s associates attending the event, which raised $750,000, were his chauffeur, Jack Bair, and favorite model, Liz Lee.
In time for the holiday season, the Animal Medical Center unveiled a new book, “It’s Reigning Cats and Dogs,” the sales of which will benefit the center. It contains pet-themed New Yorker cartoons selected by members of the junior committee, Ashley Phipps, Daisy Phipps, and Kirstin Fisher.
“Anyone who shares a home with dogs (Annette and I have three) — or cats — is sure to find many hilarious truths here,” Oscar de la Renta writes in the book’s foreword.
The book is $50 and can be ordered through the center.
