North of LBJ, Dallas honcho-types looked more like Justin Bieber groupies on Tuesday, September 15. The reason: the Dallas Zoo residents were garnering cellphone salutes at Barbara and Don Dasekes’ home overlooking a woodland for the Zoo To Do patron party.
In one room was Kruger the owl giving everybody “the eye.” In another was a South American three-banded armadillo that unlike its Texas relatives can roll up in a shell looking like a blonde coconut. As the littler alligator was brought in, one gal commented, “I’ll never buy another pair of alligator shoes.”
Kathy and Richard Holt were still trying to acclimate to the Texas heat after returning from the Russian River with its cooler temps…. Joan Walne was solo. Husband Alan Walne was out of town, but she wasn’t going to miss seeing the zoo ambassadors…While leopard prints were the design of the night, Jennifer Houser wore a pair of red heels with gold cheetah heads on them. She had planned to wear them last year when she co-chaired Zoo To Do, but something came up. So, she pulled them out for the 2015 patron party along with her cheetah necklace and faux leopard print jacket. BTW, no one was so tacky as to wear real furs or leathers.
As the crowd grew including Diane and Mike Gruber, Diane and Hal Brierley, Gregg Hudson, Michael Meadows and Jennifer and Doug Houser, inside the Dasekes’ teak house word was passed that the “main man” was on his way for a see-and-shoot opportunity. It was two-year-old cheetah Winspear, complete with his own personalized harness and entourage of handlers. Before making his way through the house to a table on the back deck, the two-legged guests were held at bay. While the humans looked in awe at the lean, spotted big cat, Winspear strolled through, nonchalantly hopping up on the table for photo opps which were countless. Despite wishing, no selfies were allowed for guests with the Winspear.
Though cheetahs are typically shy, Winspear proved that he had adjusted to the limelight. He also had learned how to get treats from his “assistants.” With guests aiming cellphones at him, he turned his head away. Chief handler Alyssa pulled out a treat and placed it strategically on the table so he faced the guests. After devouring the treat, he gave Alyssa a lick, purred and posed for the cameras. Then he turned his head away again, resulting in a second treat for Winspear and another photo opp. In other words, Winspear has got his handlers trained.
It was then time for Winspear to retreat to his “green room.”
Before the next zoo ambassadors appeared, Zoo To Do Co-Chairs Cindy and Chuck Gummer with their kids and kids-in-law announced they were aiming to meet last year’s fundraising total of $1M. Already just from underwriting, they’d passed the $700K mark and Chuck said they still had the live and silent auctions to go on Saturday, October 17, at the zoo. With a twinkle in his eye, Chuck suggested that the “man cave” that was in the auction lineup was really something to consider.
The Gummers’ comments were brief because the next team of Dallas Zoo residents were waiting in the “wings.” These two had required some preparations for the Daseke household. They were African penguins. The idea was for the penguins to splash around in the pool overlooking the backyard. However, penguins and chlorine-treated pools don’t mix. So, Barbara had the pool drained and refilled with spring water. When she asked her pool man how much it would cost to do such an operation, he said he would do it for free, if he could bring his son to see the twosome. Barbara laughed, saying that she would have had them come regardless.
Well, the penguins took to the Daseke pool like ducks to water. They showed off their various swimming strokes — splashing, submarining, breast strokes, etc. Barbara walked to the edge of the pool looking like she was going to join them.
Laree says
LOVE your pics!!!!