Christie Brinkley Honored as Pet Hero After Vomit Incident
Hamptons supermodel and actress Christie Brinkley was named Humanitarian of the Year and honored with the award at the 2013 Pet Hero Awards in Water Mill on Saturday. She was also splashed with a pile of dog vomit!
Fellow Hamptonite and pet lover Jill Rappaport, of NBC’s Today show, had just completed her speech announcing her friend’s Humanitarian Award, and was handing over the microphone, when the adorable (and available) rescue pup puked all over Brinkley. The model took it in stride and laughed about the incident on her Facebook page, noting that she named the Golden Retriever pup “Hurl,” for obvious reasons.
Despite his rude display, the puppy was eventually adopted from Mainline Animal Rescue in Chester, Pennsylvania, though no word on whether the name stuck, or Brinkley’s lovely white dress survived.
The second annual Pet Hero Awards was sponsored by the Pet Philanthropy Circle and held at Hobby Hill, the Water Mill home of Robert and Jewel Morris.
Along with Brinkley, Rappaport, Hurl and representatives from numerous pet charities, the guest list featured notable East End pet lovers, including Lou Wegner (actor and founder of Kids Against Animal Cruelty), Dr. Teresa Meekins, Jerome and Riki Shaw and Jane Hoffman with the Mayor’s Alliance of NYC.
“It is well known that Christie Brinkley is a super model, an outstanding mom, a gifted photographer and an expressive writer. What many do not know is that she is a very strong advocate for animals, our environment and wildlife,” the Pet Philanthropy Circle notes about their Humanitarian of the Year. “She feels a responsibility to use her voice and her stage to ensure that the public is aware of many unspeakable practices that continue today behind the scenes. From advocating against horse slaughter, bringing light to toxic environmental conditions and renouncing the abuse of animals used for cosmetic testing, she is a true humanitarian.” PPC explains, also noting that Brinkley is a longtime vegetarian (since age 13!) and advocate for the protection of marine life.
She was also honored recently at the South Fork Natural History Museum’s Gala for her efforts on these platforms. Brinkley designed pet collars for a benefit for North Shore Animal League, she adopted a rescue dog for her family and “she is determined to make our world a more compassionate, cleaner, and healthy place for the next generation,” PPC says.