Humans and canines alike feasted at The Metropolitan Club for Bide-A-Wee’s Ninth Annual Have a Heart Gala Dinner Dance, launching its second century of caring for homeless animals. The chairman and CEO of Baytree Capital and Broadway producer, Michael Gardner, was honored for his long-standing commitment to the advancement of animal welfare, as was Natasha, the Siberian husky that he and his wife, Lynda, adopted nine years ago from Bide-A-Wee’s West-hampton shelter. Adorned in a huge, red bow, Natasha welcomed guests at the door.

Other furry four-legged friends and Bide-A-Wee alumni sat at tables with their black-tie-clad owners, lapping water from fancy glassware, stealing wayward bites from china plates, and noshing on dog-bone-shaped cookies. Founding Gala Chair Elizabeth (Buffy) Cooke and Bide-A-Wee Prez and CEO Rey Samala welcomed dog-loving guests, including: Ernie Anastos; Lorraine Bracco’s two daughters, Margaux Guerard and Stella Keitel; One Life to Live’s Catherine Hickland; WB11 Morning News co-anchor Lynne White; actress Gena Oppenheim; and Tena and Peter Vallone.

By the end of the night, conversation had truly gone to the dogs, especially when Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’s Carson Kressley was overheard musing that if he were asked to select his own “would-be drag-queen name,” he would pair the name of his first dog with his mother’s maiden name, ending up with “Cricket Smith.” Loyal as a dog!