Canine couture on display at Humane Society Silicon Valley's Fur Ball
Who needs the Met Gala when you can have the Pet Gala? That’s what Humane Society Silicon Valley event chair Andie Sobrato was thinking when it came to picking a theme for this year’s Fur Ball.
And the fundraiser at PayPal Park in San Jose last Saturday didn’t disappoint, as there were sparkling dresses, elegant bow ties and a little bit of bling on the guests — the dozens of canine guests, that is. The 660 people who accompanied them looked pretty good, too, but they weren’t the stars of this swank-fest.
“None of my pets growing up would wear a bow tie or a satin dress,” said emcee Kira Klapper, weekend news anchor for NBC Bay Area. “Anna Wintour, eat your heart out.”
Sobrato, who shared the stage with Otis Redding, the pit bull she adopted from the Humane Society shelter last year, reminded everyone that the event was about more than canine couture. It was really about giving dogs, cats and other animals a second chance. The evening’s honoree, shelter veterinarian Dr. Cristie Kamiya embodies that idea, as she literally provides care for injured and sick animals who can then be adopted.
If there was one human guest at the event who grabbed more attention than the pups, it was 49ers Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, who once again donated a game-day experience with him at Levi’s Stadium to the auction.
Humane Society Silicon Valley Interim President Nancy Willis — who was accompanied by her adorable pup, a.k.a. Special Assistant to the Interim President Buddy Willis — said the celebration and the support that comes with it are important as the organization aims to “build back better” following a December 2024 fire that has required major repairs to its Milpitas facility. You can find out more about Humane Society Silicon Valley’s three-phase plan at www.hssv.org/rebuild-initiative.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER: The new name for the inflatable duck mascot perched on the roof of the Children’s Discovery Museum is Roofus. The moniker was revealed Saturday at the Purple Museum’s birthday party, the last celebration of its 35th anniversary year, and if I have to explain it to you, you’re not as clever as the kids who voted for it.
And speaking of new arrivals, Monty and Hartley — the current resident peregrine falcons who roost at the top floor of San Jose City Hall — welcomed a brood of four eyases (that’s falcon chicks for the non-bird folk) around April 21. The Predatory Bird Research Group at UC Santa Cruz will be entering the nest May 13 to band the chicks and determine their gender. You can keep an eye on the feathered family on YouTube thanks to three nest cams. Get more information on the falcons at www.sanjoseca.gov/news-stories/city-hall-falcons.
BERRYESSA TRADITION: The Berryessa Art and Wine Festival returns this Saturday to Penitencia Creek Park in San Jose, with live music, vendors, food and, of course, art and wine. There’s beer, too, but the Berryessa Art, Music, Wine and Beer Festival looks lousy on a sign. The event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is free to attend, and all the proceeds benefit the Berryessa Union School District’s students and teachers.
SKATE, RATTLE AND ROLL: Roller derby is back in San Jose. Newcomer Heart’s Delight Roller Derby hosts its first home bout at Roosevelt Park Hockey Rink on Saturday against Flood Water Roller Derby of Sacramento. Heart’s Delight was founded last summer, but this has been its first opportunity to show its skills off in front of a home crowd.
Tickets to the 5 p.m. match are $15 (kids 7 and under get in free) but must be purchased in advance at www.tinyurl.com/HDRDhomebout. You can get updates on Instagram and Facebook by following @heartsdelightrollerderby.
“Our first home bout is a big deal for us and our community,” said Cyanide Siren, president of Heart’s Delight Roller Derby. “We worked hard for this — HDRD is not even a year old yet — so we are stoked to share this milestone with our city and supporters.”
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This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 4:32 PM.