Partying east-coast style
June 20, 2005 : 4:07 PM ET

The results are in: Atlanta can party. With the fun and success of the original Lint Roller Party in Los Angeles, the folks on the east coast wanted – and took– a piece of the action. Supporters of Best Friends’ No More Homeless Pets Atlanta walked down the red carpet Saturday to dine, drink and dance the night away.

The event was fittingly sponsored by The Evercare Company – makers of lint rollers – and held at Wag-a-lot’s new “unleashed” location. An upscale doggie daycare and boarding facility, Wag-a-lot features a 22,000 square foot theme park for dogs, with play space, water falls, Zen rooms and more.

With a stylish bow or a dashing bowtie, the 40 dogs in attendance were treated like royalty in the V.I.C (Very Important Canine) Lounge, which featured doggie pedicures, grooming, designer treats and commemorative photographs. (As with photos of any celebrities, we’ll likely see these in tabloids soon. Imagine, Fluffy in mid-coif – the scandal!).

The 400 human party-goers were also treated like nobility with culinary delights provided by some of Atlanta’s finest restaurants. Full-scale ice sculptures and a tequila and margarita bar were donated by Corazon Tequila de Agave, which gave the party an even more festive air.

The biggest part of the NMHP Atlanta fundraising event was a silent auction featuring over 180 items. Every item received a bid, but none more than a pair of tickets to an upcoming U2 concert, which caused some excitement with a good-natured silent bidding war.

“We don’t have a total yet,” said Rebecca Guinn, Program Director of NMHP Atlanta, “but all of the money raised will help fund our low-cost spay and neuter clinic and support the LAP Dog House and Kitty Motel, the first boarding facility in the nation exclusively for dogs and cats in area rescue and adoption programs.”

According to Craig Koch, founder and CEO of Wag-a-lot the event was a screaming success. “There were dogs dressed to the nines, life size ice sculptures flanking a tequila bar, two live bands, endless silent auction items ... to say the least, it was our pleasure to host Atlanta's first annual Lint Roller Party,” he said. “We are always anxious to give back to a community that has been so good to us and are delighted to be associated with a quality organization like Best Friends.”

It sounds like Atlanta has given Los Angeles a run for its money and, according to Craig and Rebecca, they are already looking forward to outdoing themselves next year.

By Lorraine Johnston

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To learn more about No More Homeless Pets Atlanta, visit http://www.atlantapets.org.