Flowers, Balloons and Dogs

Flowers, Sunday brunch, heart-shaped balloons and dogs bearing gifts... what could be better?!

I knew Mother's Day weekend was starting off right when I received a special Mother’s Day e-card compliments of my dog Penny (see previous blog). Then leaving work early on Friday (see it’s already getting even better!), my sisters, my dog Penny and I flew to visit my mom for the weekend where we celebrated Mother’s Day with loads of great food (not to mention loads of good wine), then we wrapped up our fun-filled weekend with a fabulous Sunday brunch. Upon my return home, my own daughters had a special surprise for me… a gorgeous bouquet of Peony roses and two heart-shaped balloons brought to me by two very sweet grand-dogs. What could be better?!

Aren't they darling?! Rose and Esther bearing heart-shaped balloons for me (In case you're wondering, Esther is wearing a BooBooLoon pet recovery collar as a result of lumpectomy surgery). 

 

Peony flowers, a favourite, grace my desk and cheer up my office.

Penny flies with us to Kelowna and rolls conveniently and effortlessly along in her Sherpa travel bag. It fits under the seat so she can ride in-cabin. If you're planning to fly with your own pet be sure you check your air carrier's rules and regulations prior to getting out to the airport. For instance, we flew with West Jet and they allow a very limited number of pets per flight (I believe four) and there's a $50 (each way) surcharge. On our flight back to Vancouver there was another dog right across the aisle from us and also a cat! Each was tucked into a comfortable ventilated travel bag.

 

My Dog Sent Me A Mother's Day Card!

I didn't know my dog was so talented... not only was she able to use a computer to send me an e-card for Mother's Day, she's also an aspiring poet. Check it out above, then send your own e-card to a dog-mom you know. It's free (and fun!).

Click here to see Modern Dog's e-card library.

The Voting's Begun!!

Between April 1^st and June 30^th you can vote to select the finalists in the 2012 American Hero Dog Awards. You’re allowed to vote once a day up until June 30th for dogs in each of these categories: Law Enforcement/Arson Dogs; Service Dogs; Therapy Dogs; Hearing Dogs; Emerging Hero Dogs; Military Dogs; Guide Dogs; Search and Rescue Dogs (you can see all the nominees by clicking here ). The dogs with the most votes in each of the above categories will be chosen to walk the red carpet at the Hero Dog Awards weekend, October 5-6, in Beverly Hills, California. All finalists will also have a chance to be chosen as the Grand Prize winner (the “American Hero Dog”). For more info and official rules, click here.

Browse the nominees and place your vote today!

Must-See TV For Animal Lovers!

 

If you missed the 26th Genesis Awards back in March, fear not! Tune in to Animal Planet on Saturday May 5th and help to recognize the important role media plays in animal welfare. Do it up celebrity style and throw your own red carpet party. The HSUS has put together a fun Genesis Awards party pack to get you started: humanesociety.org

Penny In The Box

A big box arrived in the mail today and my curious girl Penny jumped in to see what it was all about (and probably to claim it as her own)… it was a West Paw bed, a favourite among the dogs in the office!  I hadn’t had a chance to remove the labels though and soon Penny was busy trying to get the label off, scratching and pouncing on it, to no avail. It was hilarious to watch and gave me a much-needed distraction from my work. After a bit, she just gave up and sat there looking at me.

Taking pity on her, I removed the bed from the box, took off the label and soon she was stretched out comfortably enjoying her new digs. This super-soft and cushy bed’s fiber fill is made from 100% recycled soda pop bottles (Penny’s bed, a size small, is stuffed with fill made from over 28 plastic bottles!)… eco-conscious manufacturing strategies such as this really helps lessen the impact we make on our environment…just one more reason to love West Paw! To read more about West Paw’s creator, Spencer Williams click here.

 

Snack Attack

 

Every day numerous parcels and boxes arrive via mail or courier; however, not all incoming packages attract the attention of our office dogs, but should there be food in any of them, the dogs just seem to know and they're all excited, prancing about, tails a-wagging as they vye for a close-up position so they can be first in line for any offerings. My dog Penny was particularly interested in a box that was dropped off on my desk. Upon opening it, I understood why... it contained a cookie jar from Purina, filled with an assortment of colourful and interestingly shaped dog biscuits called Beneful Baked Delights (some even had soft centers) and they looked very much like home-baked cookies! When I opened the lid, a bacony aroma wafted out (what dog doesn't love bacon?) and soon not only did I have the attention of Penny, but also the editor's dog Esther.

Here's a photo that I took looking down into the cookie jar (I love the little duckie!). The dogs love them and for pint-sized dogs like Esther and Penny I was able to break them into smaller pieces so I could share one biscuit between them thereby keeping an eye on portion control and their weight.

Here's my dog Penny who asked to be picked up... I thought she wanted a cuddle, but no, she simply wanted to get up on my lap, using me as a stepping stone to get up on my desk and walk over to self-serve a biscuit. 

 

I'll be immersed in work and then I'll hear an rrrrrrrrr kind of sound, upon looking around to see what's up, I then hear a  swoosh, swoosh, swoosh sound... it's Esther, sitting beneath my chair, tail swooshing against the carpet, telling me in her own sweet little way that she's having a snack attack. When I pick her up, she, too, heads up onto my desk hopeful that it's treat-time. 

A Chance to Meet Uggie, Star of The Artist!

Joining prestigious attendees Colbie Caillat and Ian Somerhalder (amongst other celebrity guests) at this year's gala Genesis Awards ceremony in Beverly Hills is Uggie, the Jack Russell star of the Academy Award-winning silent film, The Artist! Uggie will serve as a presenter at the only major award show where animals take center stage getting the chance to "speak out" on behalf of his fellow creatures.

See my blog below for further details on this gala evening. Tickets are available by clicking here

 

If you can't make the event, mark your calendars so you don't miss its airing on Animal Planet May 5 (encore presentation on May 6).

The 26th Genesis Awards

March 24, 2012 marks the 26^th Genesis Awards where tribute will be paid to major news and entertainment media for producing outstanding works that raise public awareness about animal issues. Held each year in Beverly Hills, Calif, the Beverly Hilton is once again the prestigious venue where the event will take place.    

 

Amongst the nominees are DreamWorks' Academy Award-nominated "War Horse," Twentieth Century Fox's "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and "Rio," and Alcon Entertainment's "Dolphin Tale" that lead the eclectic field of 58 nominees. To see a complete list of nominees, click here.

 

Amongst the prestigious attendees are platinum-selling multi-Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat who will sing for the guests, plus "Vampire Diaries" star Ian Somerhalder who we’ve been told will be taking home The Wyler Award (each year the coveted Wyler Award is presented to a celebrity or public figure who has raised awareness of animal issues via the media).

 

As we all know, media can effect our decisions, choices and consciousness and when media uses its reach and influence in positive ways such as bringing light to animal issues, those efforts deserve recognition. If you’d like to purchase tickets to attend this star-studded event, click here, or simply find out more about it, by clicking here.

Photos Colbie Caillat: Josh Newton & Christianne Taylor; Ian Somerhalder ©2012 WBEI. All rights reserved.