De Nicolas dressed the space in traditional red, white, and blue, complete with flags, balloons, and blue sparkler necklaces handed out by some 60 volunteers. “I want guests to feel as if they're at a political convention,” she said. Guests could also take family portraits with their dogs (some dressed in tuxes and gowns to match their owners) in front of an American flag backdrop.

At the predinner reception, the two-legged guests perused a silent auction and noshed on passed spring rolls, olive-stuffed tomatoes, and vegetable kebabs, while the four-legged guests had their own designated snack table from Doggie Style Bakery with pet-friendly cookies, cupcakes, and treats (which some of the larger dogs attempted to help themselves to). 

For de Nicolas, accommodating the dogs was all about strategic planning. “There are no freestanding objects, and tables are spaced extra far apart so leashes don’t get caught around them,” she said. Cleaners were also on hand for any pet mishaps, walkers were available to take excited dogs out for a breather, and Nomad Event Systems upped the volume to quell any barks during the hour-and-a-half program led by Alison Seymour of WTTG-TV (though a video showing an adopted cat stirred several of the canines).

After dinner, which included mesclun greens with roasted portobello, corn chowder, and tempeh with saffron couscous from the Renaissance, the evening continued with an hour of dancing for both attendees and their dogs, which kicked off with Baha Men's "Who Let The Dogs Out."   —Robyn Mincher