Dogs have their day at bow wow benefit

Oprah lost to the dogs. At Saturday's Tuxes & Tails Bow Wow Meow Luau, the auction grossed a record $550,000 for the Humane Society for Seattle/King County. Among the most popular items in the live auction were tickets to television's "Oprah" show, selling for $7,500.

However, the hottest tickets were to next year's auction. Eastsiders James and Bet Schuler and Roger and Linda Kuula formed a bidding consortium and paid $14,000 to have the choice of table location, limousine ride to and from the party and a backstage preview of the animals for the 2006 party. This is the third consecutive year the Schulers and Kuulas bought the Top Dog table package.

Even with the Hawaiian theme and fresh-flower leis, the air in the Washington State Convention and Trade Center was perfumed with coffee. The Bellevue-based Humane Society launched its signature specialty-roast coffees at the party.

Sample bags were in each guest's goodie bag, and bags of coffee were on each table. The Humane Society will receive $2 from each pound of coffee sold through www.petcoffee.com.

Fan from Down Under

Jack Lane of Melbourne, Australia, may never see the Giants Little League team play, but he's cheering for the Bellevue boys. Developing an international fan base for the Giants, part of the Thunderbird Little League in South Bellevue, was accidental.

It happened via e-mail. Connor Lane, a sixth-grader at Tyee Middle School, plays with the Giants. His father is Jack Lane of Bellevue. Team information was being e-mailed to parents, but the Australian's similar e-mail address led to some confusion.

He sent back an e-mail to the local parents with an encouraging message. He wished the Giants many victories, even though he mixed up the sports of baseball and basketball.

"Don't be sad by sending your information to the wrong one. It was very funny to get all the information about your basketball team," he wrote.

The best part? The Australian asked to be kept on the team e-mail list so he can continue getting game reports.

Striking for fun

Looking for a kids' activity during spring break? Bowl with purpose today.

Bob Oliver, the Bellevue D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer, will host a bowling benefit from 1 to 3 p.m. at Sun Villa Lanes. Tickets, available on site, are $10 per person.

Sun Villa Lanes are located at 3080 148th Ave. S.E.

Helping hands

When she hasn't got her hands on boat oars, Anna Mickelson of Bellevue lends them to needy causes.

Mickelson won a silver medal in rowing in the 2004 Olympics. She just finished a women's rowing camp in San Diego and will be in Vancouver, Wash., this weekend to start the regatta circuit for U.S. National team trials. Mickelson said she appreciated the local warm weather last month as she prepared for the season by training on Lake Washington and Lake Union.

Between rowing expeditions, Mickelson volunteered on a recent radio campaign that raised money for Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center. Although she toured the hospital after the Olympics and shared her medal with patients, this one was a personal crusade.

She is a friend of Pam and Gary Shavey's of Seattle. Their infant son, Chase, was treated at Children's for bacterial meningitis.

"Who wouldn't want to volunteer after that?" Mickelson said.

Sherry Grindeland: 206-515-5633 or sgrindeland@seattletimes.com