Mar-a-Lago Has Gone to the Dogs: Inside a Surreal Canine Fundraising Gala

Raising more than $4 million for a dog rescue is unquestionably a noble feat. Yet the Big Dog Ranch Rescue fundraising gala hosted at Mar-a-Lago managed to blur those lines in a culture in which one’s voting record now defines their perceived virtue. The setting, which is so inextricably linked to Donald Trump that it’s been deemed the “winter White House,” raised more than a few eyebrows. Still, the event was a financial success even before a single adoption took place, with table tickets ranging from $7,500 to $25,000.

At the helm were Lauree Simmons, a longtime Trump ally and the CEO of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, and Nicola Verses, a member of the family that founded Conair. And with rumors of Trump’s attendance swirling, it quickly became clear that this wasn’t just a dog-rescue gala; it was a political spectacle in its own right. After all, Simmons has known the Trumps for 12 years, and Mar-a-Lago offered her the space and allure for wealthy and well-connected guests, including Elon Musk, who stood in as a sideshow with his son X on his back, who was wearing a rocket ship backpack. Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara, was the master of ceremonies, while his granddaughter Carolina paraded his “granddog” down the runway. And the president himself, never one to miss the opportunity for self-promotion, eventually made a short appearance.

The highest adoption bid, $18,000, went to the coveted “pick of the litter.” But funds from every auction were earmarked to support the rescue’s mission of pulling dogs from kill shelters, covering lifesaving veterinary care for rescued dogs, and providing US veterans with fully trained service dogs at no cost.

Simmons, who wants liberals and conservatives to “come together” for future fundraisers, holds that “dogs aren’t political.” It’s hard to argue with that. But BDRR’s choice of venue definitely raises a debate: How much should we let our principles yield to a greater purpose? Vanity Fair’s photographer Sarah Rae Sherman captured this bizarre and spectacular gala through her lens.