| Reality TV star to hold animal boot camp Friday | | Posted: Friday, November 16, 2012 12:00 pm
| By BRAD GASKINS
News Editor
A reality TV star will conduct an “Animal Army Boot Camp” at 6 p.m. on Friday at the Union City National Guard Armory.
Angie Ballard, co-star of “Full Throttle Saloon” on TruTV, will host the camp for children up to 18 years old. The event coincides with an annual pageant to raise money for local animal shelters.
“I have the ability to really get some education and information out to people,” Ballard said Wednesday. “I would be disappointed in myself – and I’m sure God would be disappointed – for me to be handed this opportunity and not do something with it.”
That opportunity, Ballard said, is the forum that comes with being on a well-known reality TV show. “Full Throttle Saloon” follows Ballard and her husband, Michael Ballard, as they operate a biker bar in Sturgis, S.D. The show is in its fourth season, with new episodes set to air in December.
“It will be my very first boot camp,” Ballard said of the Union City event.
Ballard said she’s been saving animals since she was a little girl, from field mice to birds that fell from trees. She’s owned about 50 dogs throughout her life. She now cares for nine dogs, including a three-legged Shiatsu rescued from a hoarder.
“It’s been a passion of mine for a long time,” she said. “What made me turn it into something that could have national status (is the reality TV show).”
Ballard said she plans to start the boot camp by having the kids draw their favorite dog. Whatever breeds the kids draw will be discussed, including general information, energy levels and temperament. She will also cover proactive ways to keep dogs from chewing on shoes, children’s toys and other household items.
A vegetarian meal will be served to camp participants.
It’s all about brining awareness to local animal shelters and rescue groups in Weakley and surrounding counties, she said.
“Part of the problem with our society right now, and the biggest reason we’re doing this fundraiser, is people don’t even know their local shelters,” Ballard said. “There’s a lot of private shelters that are trying hard to help with animal welfare, but people don’t know about them.”
For more information on the boot camp or pageant, contact Dana Brown at (731) 514-9723.
Published in The WCP 11.15.12 | | | | |
