A tradition of providing for foster dogs continues with 3rd annual karaoke fundraiser

Scotty Coppage has fostered dogs for a few years now, with the simple goals of showing them love and finding them forever homes. Most of that time, his loyal dog, Rizzo, was by his side helping out. However, his support doesn’t stop at fostering. Coppage hosts an annual karaoke fundraiser to also provide financial support to some of the foster-based programs in town. 

Coppage was teaching at a high school a few years ago when P.E.T.S. Underdog Express visited. Coppage said from that moment he began fostering dogs through their program, which ensures fosters only have a dog for a month before it’s sent to New York. The process is intended to meet a demand for adoptable dogs in New York while also helping to address the stray crisis here in Texoma. Scotty said that the program is perfect for fosters because it’s not enough time to get attached to the dogs and you can ensure they’ll find loving homes.

Coppage said when he began fostering, he wasn’t sure how Rizzo would adapt to new dogs, but she surprised him by showing love and patience to each one. Coppage credits Rizzo for his ability to successfully foster 22 dogs for P.E.T.S. Underdog Express. He noted that Rizzo “showed them how to be dogs.” Unfortunately, Rizzo died in May of 2025.

“These dogs wouldn’t have gotten through if it wasn’t for her – her helping the kids have confidence, feel safe – all these things. Helping these dogs is her legacy, and I want to continue that. She’s still saving dogs,” Coppage said.

For the last three years, Coppage has held the fundraiser to accumulate funds to cover essential supplies, vetting, and transportation costs for P.E.T.S. Underdog Express. This year, Coppage is holding the event in Rizzo’s honor. 

The event is a karaoke fundraiser and will take place June 4 at 8 p.m. at The Iron Horse Pub. The karaoke will be led by Lelani. It will feature the option to purchase a “fast pass” that enables karaoke participants to skip the line. In addition, there will be raffle tickets available for purchase for a number of great prizes — mostly gift certificates to local businesses, such as a $100 gift card to Burial Tattoo. Each raffle ticket is $5 or can be obtained by donating a can of dog food. Raffle tickets and fast passes can be purchased the night of the event. The karaoke fun will begin just as the Art Walk is wrapping up, providing the perfect opportunity to stop in. There’s no cover charge to attend.

Coppage fully believes the fundraiser is a worthwhile endeavor because it raises funds that have a direct impact on the community. Coppage noted that P.E.T.S. Underdog Express has rescued over 5,000 dogs and found them homes in New York. While Coppage began the fundraiser three years ago to benefit P.E.T.S., this year he added Texas Pit Crew as an organization that will receive funds. The funds will be divided between the two groups after the event. Coppage explained that he has a soft spot for Texas Pit Crew because they help dogs that struggle more to get adopted, such as bully breeds. Rizzo having been a pit bull, Texas Pit Crew’s mission is close to Coppage’s heart.

“I have a lot of experience with rescue dogs and they’re just so in love with you. I’m not really around like pure bred dogs, so I don’t exactly know what they’re like, but you can just feel the love a rescue dog has for you,” Coppage said.

It should be noted that while nonprofit organizations like these always require community support, Coppage said these organizations especially need that support right now. He pointed out that while inflation has impacted everyone, it’s really hurt foster-reliant animal nonprofits. In part, this is because most of these organizations cover the costs of vetting and essentials for their fosters, but it’s also because less people have been donating due to the cost of living going up. Coppage acknowledged that it’s a difficult time to ask people for money, which is why he believes fundraising events like this are so important. Such events allow people to feel like part of the community, have fun, and make a difference without breaking the bank.

Coppage is hopeful that people will show up for pups. He hopes the event will result in a little financial relief for these organizations, but he also hopes it raises awareness about the needs of nonprofits in the area to get more community members involved. Once again, Coppage recognizes that now is a difficult time for some people to donate funds, but he said that there are other ways to help. 

The biggest of these is to foster pets. One of the most significant ways to address the stray crisis is to provide a safe place for pets to stay while they find homes. This helps clear shelters so they can take in more animals, reduces the number of euthanasias due to overcapacity, and helps these animals feel loved — maybe for the first time in their lives. Coppage said someone once asked him if he got paid to foster, to which he laughed and told them no and that it sometimes costs him money to spoil his foster dogs with treats and toys. That said, what he doesn’t receive in funds, Coppage feels is made up for with the grateful and loving affection that he believes only a rescue dog can provide. For him, making a difference in these dogs' lives is fully worth the time and effort he puts in.

“We had this huge euthanasia rate from all the stray dogs and everything,” Coppage said. “We’ve seen the numbers really go down on that. They’re not as good as they need to be, but it’s definitely heading in the right direction.” 

Along with fostering, Coppage noted donating items and volunteering as great ways to help local shelters and rescues. Most shelters are always in need of food, treats, cat litter, bowls, toys, blankets, and beds. While some of these items may not seem like essential needs, they make a huge difference in providing anxious animals in the shelter with a little comfort. There are also several opportunities to volunteer to help, such as adoption events, walking dogs, feeding pets, and transporting them to events or vet visits. To learn more about how to foster, volunteer, or donate, reach out to one of the many rescues or shelters in town.