Published Wednesday, November 25, 2009 10:55 AM

Strip club owner's dog pound in Newt's name opens

Associated Press

DALLAS -- A North Texas shelter for pit bulls has opened this week, thanks to a Dallas topless club owner's contribution after Newt Gingrich's conservative group snubbed her donation.

The former U.S. House speaker's political organization was set to give Dawn Rizos an "Entrepreneur of the Year" award last month. But the group reneged, saying it had mistaken her business for another. Rizos, who owns the Dallas topless club The Lodge, was refunded the $5,000 fee required to receive the award.

Disappointed, Rizos says she decided to "make something positive out of his bad manners."

She redirected the money to Animal Guardians of America's sanctuary for rescued dogs in Celina, about 35 miles north of Dallas.

Gingrich didn't attend the opening of "Newt's Nook -- A Home for Pit Bulls."

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