Mardi Gras is always a blast but add puppy dog tails and paws, Sean “Diddy” Combs and kids, and you have the recipe for a party to remember!
Last Saturday, at the Four Seasons Westlake Village, Diddy and his twins, D’Lila and Jessie Combs, dressed up to celebrate the Paw Works 5th Annual Ties & Tails Gala. With a theme of “Mardi Paws,” the night consisted of exciting auctions, specialty cocktails, and a 3-course dinner. The event was hosted by Paw Works Ambassador and Master of Ceremonies, Jai Rodriguez.
“Our goal was to raise funds and awareness for abandoned shelter pets, in an effort to reduce the millions of animals unnecessarily euthanized in the U.S. each year,” said Chad Atkins, Founder and Executive Director of Paw Works. “We have successfully rescued and rehabilitated over 5,000 dogs and cats in our first five years, and run costs exceeding $1.2 million every year to do so. Mardi Paws Ties & Tails was not only a tremendous opportunity to shine a light on those who assist us in our life saving, daily work and thank our supportive community of friends and family but was also the perfect occasion to set our sights firmly on our future goals to shift the status quo, and save more animals in-need!”
Later during the event, Paw Works Child Pet Ambassador (CPA) volunteers, D’Lila Star and Jessie James Combs, Ava Baroni, and Lily Felippe, were honored on stage with a surprise appearance by Combs, who came to present stunning bouquets to congratulate his daughters on their contribution.
Paw Works was founded by Chad Atkins and Christina Morgan. The initial intent of the organization was to make Ventura County “No Kill,” a goal they achieved less than one month after starting the organization. Paw Works is now the largest animal non-profit 501(c) (3) in Ventura County, already placing over 5,000 abandoned shelter dogs and cats in permanent homes.
