Puppies, pizza and football. Can you think of anything better on a drizzly Saturday in Savannah? Pulling up for puppy bowl at Donatos on Waters Avenue on Feb. 6, I park next to the Humane Society for Greater Savannah’s van and see the funniest sight — a big white bulldog is sitting in the passenger seat looking at me!
Meet Jake! Two years old, 65 pounds and a Humane Society alumni, Jake is waiting for his person Montana Tohm to escort him out of the van. Sporting black and white referee attire, HSGS’s development and foster coordinator is busy unloading race props while Donatos partner Adam Kureno sets up tents.
Handing me a pizza box and telling me to “snack on crunchy, cauliflower crust topped with chicken bruschetta,” Adam doesn’t have to tell me twice! Grabbing a slice, I mosey over to introduce Adam and his business partner Jason Greene to muscular Ray Rosario.
Looking super buff, Renew and Rejuvenates’ leading man is picking up seven pizzas for his son’s birthday, saw the dogs running around getting ready to race, and didn’t realize he would be posing for pics.
Leaving the Benedictine College alumni in good hands, I head over for a mini posing session with Rick and Carol Armstrong and their frisky dog Jake, then pose their daughter-in-law Dutchen Baker and her dog Blue with Maryann and Tybee Mirzai.
Loving the photo request from Dutchen with her mother-in-law Carol and photo resistant daughter Lauren, I snap a memorable three generation pic while talking to Dutchen about having a twin brother, being a nurse at Chatham Ortho Surgery and how priceless the pic is of the three of them holding their dog Dixie.
Before Montana kicks off Puppy Bowl, I snag her for a photo with high school volunteers Ilana Green and Jenny Kyle, Cassandra Cates with Mary Spangler, then follow Montana over to the mini football field to officiate the race to see which energetic dog will retrieve the football first.
Waiting with me is Savannah Arts Academy’s Robin Leske, a 17-year-old writer-videographer who has been the best thing to happen to me this year! I see her great package together with a minute-long video with an interview, b-roll and sound.
My next arrival is Ohio native Noelle Wiehe and her attorney friend Jennifer Brownell. Quizzing the ladies on their love of axe throwing, dog events and social activities that involve spirited beverages, they pose for a pic then head inside to grab a four-cheese pizza.
It’s Puppy Bowl time! After watching Tybee take the win for the Chiefs, I sit with Adam to catch up on what is new in the pizza world. “Starting on Feb. 21, we are donating lunch to teachers at Hess K-8 School and then at different schools every week. After receiving so much support for Meals for Medical last year, we wanted to give back to the people that deserve it. Who better than the unsung heroes that teach our children?” shares the community champion.
After Montana loads Jake back into the front passenger seat, she tells me, “Donatos raised $2,500 today! From helping take care of Olivia and her seven puppies, surgeries for some of our new dogs, to dental work for our cats, this money helps us care for, love and support our four-legged best friend.”
In need of wet kitten food and formula for kitten season, The Humane Society is always in need of blankets, toys and pet food donations and is gearing up for Bully Brunch on Feb. 21 at Habersham Village. With 18 vendors, a deejay, photo booth and puppy mimosas, Montana invites us to support our local economy while saving the lives of our furry family members!
Learn more at humanesocietysav.org.
During these events, when people are wearing face masks, I suggest they remove the mask, I quickly take the photo, and they put the face mask back on.
See more columns by Bunny Ware at SavannahNow.com/lifestyle/.
Invite Bunny to your gathering, gala or other social event. Contact Bunny at 912-844-1122 or email her at bunnyware@aol.com.
Read the Article