Nashville Humane Association’s Unleashed is Full of Wagging Tails

One thing was clear when walking into the grand lobby of the Hilton Downtown Nashville — guests of Nashville Humane Association’s 17th annual Unleashed: Dinner with Your Dog fundraiser understood the assignment. The theme, Barks & Bonfires, brought Nashville’s pet and rescue lovers together in festive attire and spirits. Attendees (both furry and human) dressed as campers, glampers, scouts of all varieties, fly fishers, lumberjacks, and even a campfire, donning their finest outdoor couture. Flannel may have held court, but there was plenty of sequin and sparkle to go around, too. 

Greeted by co-chairs Heather Derrick and James Held, four-legged guests (from tiny Chihuahuas to a 200-pound Saint Bernard) and their humans ascended the lobby staircase to find a lively silent auction and a photo booth bringing a wooded camping scene to life. After the humans grabbed a beverage, they visited a patio outfitted with everything you’d need to spend a night in the wild — a tent, camping chairs, a campfire and a cooler — all while enjoying downtown views and a relief turf.

Guests enjoyed dinner in the ballroom, alongside a program that highlighted NHA’s 80 years of incredible work helping pets find loving homes. Hosts carefully considered every detail, from the napkins folded into dog bones to the runway staged with firewood, evergreens, a dog in a canoe and ice coolers filled with freshly caught fish. 

As always, the runway show showcasing 10 celebrity walkers and an adorable lineup of adoptable pups took center stage. Dog walkers included Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones, actor and director Melissa Joan Hart, and fashion designers Laura Citron and Andrew Clancey (of Any Old Iron). 

While every pup in attendance had a warm, happy home to retreat to at the end of the night, the lights for NHA’s adoptables surely shone a bit brighter, thanks to the funds raised at this year’s Unleashed.