Last month we told you about Dawn Rizos, the owner of a popular Dallas strip club who was going to be honored with an “Entrepreneur of the Year” award from Newt Gingrich’s conservative group. Rizos planned to attend a private dinner in D.C. and made a $5,000 donation to Gingrich’s group, American Solutions for Winning the Future, before the invitation was rescinded and the donation returned — presumably because Gingrich’s group realized they were about to honor a strip club owner.
Now Rizos is striking back. She’s taking the $5,000 she tried to donate to Gingrich and building a shelter for unwanted pit bulls at an animal shelter outside of Dallas.
In a statement, Rizos said, “At first our feelings were hurt. But then we figured at least we could make something positive out of his bad manners.”
The name of the shelter? “Newt’s Nook: A Home For Pit Bulls.”
Rizos’ spokesman, Mike Precker, told me earlier that the shelter will house dozens of dogs, be air conditioned in summer and heated in winter, and should be finished by November.
“We’ll certainly invite Mr. Gingrich to the dedication, and of course he’s always welcome at The Lodge,” Rizos said in her statement. “We don’t hold a grudge. And we still have a lot to talk about.”
