Golf tournament to benefit family of Collin County animal control officer Mike Cook

by Rebecca Poling of DFW Animal Rescue

This year’s Juan Bogan Memorial Golf Tournament takes place on Monday, February 7.

Mike Cook at work

Since 1994, a close group of friends have made a tradition of playing golf together on the Monday after the Super Bowl. In 2009, after the death of Grapevine City employee Juan Bogan at age 29, the group decided to turn their tradition into a benefit to help others, and the Juan Bogan Memorial Golf Tournament was born. This year’s tournament benefits Kids Matter International and the family of Michael Cook, the Collin County Animal Control Officer who died unexpectedly after a fall in November of 2010.

In addition to his work as an animal control officer with Collin County, Michael was a dog trainer and animal lover, who frequently spent a lot of his time caring for and comforting sick animals in the shelter. “So many people are overwhelmed by the emotions that are involved in animal services and they become numb to the pain and suffering” noted Misty Brown, Development Services Division Manager for Collin County. “But not Mike. Mike’s sense of duty and purpose continued to grow with each day and each case that he worked."

It was Mike’s genuine love of animals that allowed him to excel in physically demanding and often heart-breaking field. Misty recalls how Mike had even talked about starting a rescue group himself- one that would focus on less adoptable animals that were ill or about to be euthanized. It’s fitting then, that his obituary carried a request from his family for donations to Mazie’s Mission instead of flowers.

This year’s Juan Bogan Memorial Golf Tournament takes place on Monday, February 7th, 2011 at Bear Creek Golf Club in Dallas. Sponsored by Boston’s Restaurant & Sports Bar in Grapevine, the $85 tournament fee includes green fees, cart, buffer & player drink specials. Sponsorship opportunities range from $100 to $500. For more information, or to register, contact Tiffany at Boston's Restaurant & Sports Grill at 817-907-8342.