connie's blog

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

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. 

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.

The nominations for the American Humane Associations 2^nd annual Hero Dogs award will close in just under two weeks (March 26^th), so there's no time to waste. Every dog is a hero in their eyes (and in ours!), so even if your dog isn't a professional Service Dog, Therapy Dog, etc., there's an "Emerging Heroes" category so even ordinary dogs whom you think have made an extraordinary difference in your life have a chance at being honoured.

Dogs. They make our lives complete. What would we do without them? Well, now's the time to repay their love and loyalty. You and your furry friend could end up being honoured on national TV, win a trip to Hollywood to participate in the awards ceremony, and win up to $15,000 for a charity dedicated to dogs just like yours!

There are seven categories in which you can nominate your dog. Here they are:

1.     Law Enforcement/Arson Dogs;

2.     Service Dogs;

3.     Therapy Dogs;

4.     Hearing Dogs;

5.     Emerging Hero Dogs;

6.     Military Dogs;

7.     Guide Dogs;

8.     Search and Rescue Dogs.

To get started, just click on this Nominate Now link to enter your dog.

To find out more about the AHA's Hero Dog Awards, click here.

(continued from previous day's blog)

Tuesday, Feb 14^th (Valentine's Day), marks the final day of this 136^th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. In total 2076 dogs were entered with a total entry of 2106 in 185 different Breeds or Varieties. Throughout the day the breeds that hadn't competed the day before try their luck in the ring for the chance to go on to compete for Best of Group. Interestingly, all dogs that are in the ring either day must remain benched until 7pm that day giving Westminster spectators the opportunity of seeing the dogs up close and personal.

The dogs that were judged the previous day that didn't make the cut are now out of the running; however, those that did win are back to further compete in their Groups in an evening show that starts at 8pm. The winners in each of the seven groups then go on to compete for the prestigious Best in Show title which marks the grand finale wrap-up of the show. Many spectators are dressed to the nines and the excitement and tension is palpable.

This fellow and his Pyrenean Shepherd wait for their turn in the ring.

A German shorthaired pointer and handler make a striking pair against the  black backdrop:

This sweet tempered Samoyed was a perfect photographic model:

This Komondor is ring-ready and raring to go:

Here's a spectator sporting similar cords:

A Mastiff strikes a gallant pose:

The bigger the dogs the more laid back they seem. Here's a Dogue de Bordeaux quietly awaiting his turn in the ring:

A Schnauzer is trimmed and groomed to exacting perfection:

Here's dapper duo Ron Trotta with Schmitty the New York(ie) Weather Dog. Can Schmitty predict the Best In Show winner as well as he does the weather?

Following the Group judging, the winner from each group goes on to compete for Best in Show.

And here he is, 2012's Best In Show winner: Malachy, the prize winning Pekingese!!

 Click here to watch the official video