Fun – Page 2

obx 2014 – a distant memory

December 27, 2014 | Leave a Comment

FEATURING THE COROLLA WILD HORSES

This year we did something a bit different for our holiday. A ‘family’ holiday. Not just the ‘Parker Pack’, the majority of the clan!

Sister, with her husband and two small children, picked Granny and Granddad up from the airport nearest them and also travelled by car to Outer Banks, North Carolina.

Henry, Reese, hubby and I packed up the truck and headed out to join them. We made one stopover en route just outside Washington. Next day we collected Father-in-law and his lady friend from the airport a little more than an hour from our rented accommodation. The long story version includes luggage issues and a second trip to the airport. We’ll stick with the shorter version.

My husband scored points for finding The Dolphin Inn. This beautiful seven bedroom home located in Southern Shores, North Carolina sleeps 17. Our group consisted of 8 adults, two children, and two dogs. Yes, The Dolphin Inn is Pet-friendly and has a Fenced-In Dog Kennel Area under Live Oak Tree for shade.

Staying at The Dolphin Inn is like staying at a friend’s place – and from now on when we visit, we will be staying at a friend’s place. Our host Jorge Herrada checked in with us to make sure we had everything we needed and provided so many suggestions regarding places to visit and things to see and do. Thank you, Jorge!

The layout is perfect – you certainly don’t feel as though you’re tripping over each other. The spacious kitchen, dining area with large table and plenty of seating and great room are all open on the top level. The great room boasts a selection of books, games, movies, a gas Fireplace, and a Large Screen Television with an abundant selection of Movie Channels (HBO, Showtime, Cinemax), a Tivo/DVR, and free Netflix shows. If you need to stay connected to work amenities also include free wireless internet. Budding astronomers in your group will enjoy the 70MM Refractor Telescope on the top level, set up to capture the galactic views on one of the many clear evenings.

The accommodation is situated just over a block to the ocean (a nice little walk with the dogs) and with decks framing the Inn, there is no shortage of picturesque views of the ocean. The Inn has a private pool, hot tub, volleyball court and pirate ship playhouse for the kids. View of deer not guaranteed but a definite bonus!

Windblown Pups

Guest privileges include Golf Club membership at the local Kilmarlic Golf Course, Bowling Club membership at the Outer Banks Bowling Center, as well as free boat launching at a nearby Marina. There is also free Tennis at the private tennis courts nearby and discounted rates on several other activities such as the wild horse tours.

We made several trips to visit the quaint town of Duck, which is located just over two miles North of Southern Shores. We rented kayaks from Kitty Hawk Kites (located in Duck) and enjoyed the beautiful views while burning off a few of the calories consumed at some of the local eateries.

One additional shop to mention is ‘Salty Paws Biscuits ‘ for All Natural Dog Treats!

Kitty Hawk, located just two miles south is convenient for groceries and other conveniences.

During our stay, we also visited Currituck Beach Light Station. Henry & Reese waited with Granny as John (hubby) and I ventured up the 220 steps to view the horizon at the top. It seems Henry & Reese were as much of an attraction to other visitors as the lighthouse! I’m sure Henry enjoyed the attention.

Lloyd Vernon Gaskill (and his companion) – Lighthouse Keeper 1939 – 1940

The one definite thing on my list to do was the Corolla Wild Horse tour. The Spanish Mustangs living in Outer Banks are the last in the world. We booked our tour with Corolla Outback Adventures. Proceeds from the tours are used to ensure the herd of wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs are protected, and responsibly managed. The tour company was founded by the Bender family who also generously donated a large portion of land on the northernmost Currituck Outer Banks where the horses roam freely.

Our history began in 1962 when the Benders began taking folks on tours from Kill Devil Hills to Corolla, there was no paved roads past Kitty Hawk to Duck, and phone numbers had 4 digits.

Over the years Corolla Outback Adventures has preserved a family history and tradition that was started in 1962 by my mother and father. Bender’s Beach Service guided fishing, hunting and sightseeing parties, sharing with them the beauty of the area we call home.

Growing up beyond where the road ends has given me an entirely different perspective. Things may change around us but this area remains timeless. Our family donated over 60 acres of land as a Wild Horse Sanctuary and we are fortunate to have exclusive access to observe them in their natural habitat.

I hope you’ll join us on our next OBX wild horse tour!

– Joan Bender, Owner & Jay Bender, Manager

Cattle Egrets perch on the backs of the wild Mustangs. The horses welcome them as the Egrets feast on bugs, horse flies, and ticks, keeping them away from the horses.

At one time (centuries ago), these tree stumps (buried far beneath the sand) were part of a Maritime Forest.

After the tour we enjoyed a beverage in the ‘Beer Garden.’
Henry & Reese were quite happy to relax at the Dolphin Inn when their people were out doing ‘people things.’ As you can see, there were plenty of opportunities to take them out (and wear them out) on other occasions. OBX offers the best of both worlds. A ‘dog-friendly’ holiday destination. We will visit again.

http://www.dolphininnobx.com/default.html

https://www.corollawildhorses.com/

http://corollaoutback.com/

http://www.corollabeergarden.com/

http://www.currituckbeachlight.com/

http://www.saltypawsbiscuits.com

THE NORTH POLE IS LOCATED IN TORONTO, ONTARIO

December 16, 2014 | 1 Comment

GIFT IDEAS (not just for Christmas)

I’m normally very organized when it comes to shopping, ordering, wrapping and shipping of Christmas gifts. Highly motivated by my lack of desire to bounce around like a pinball amongst the crowds; people that seem to appear from nowhere from mid-November.

For as long as the exhibition has been in existence, I have been building up the courage to attend the ONE OF A KIND SHOW. I was informed the event has the most incredible and unique items you could ever imagine – and I soon learned there are just as many you never would! The OOAK show, which takes place just before Christmas and again in the spring, is situated within the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto, Ontario. I’m located less than an hour north of the city yet never made it to the show – until this year! I’m such a fan I plan to go to the spring show too. And why not; as well as a day of fun with friends for me, the event supports local causes..

Give local when you purchase your ticket to the show and support Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter as our dedicated charity for Christmas 2014

I invited friends to join me and offset the experience of jostling around in the crowds with several laughs and perhaps and couple of Christmas cocktails. The organizors of the event know what they’re doing; the booths of more than 800 artisan exhibitors are lined up in rows from A – Z with fairly generous paths between the rows and separate break areas. No anxiety and no captive Ball today!

Here are some of our fun finds for the Pet-Lover’s on your list;

Made in Brockton Village
I learned a valuable lesson at the show; if you find something that resonates with you BUY IT! It most likely won’t be there when you make your way back to find it. LOVED the small vintage typewriter print on wood at ‘Made in Brockton Village.’

my quick pics do not do justice to these works of art. Please visit their website!

http://www.madeinbv.com

Dotti Potts – Sandra Silberman
I will definitely be purchasing a piece from Sandra. Decisions, decisions…

http://www.dottipotts.com

Romy + Jacob = Colour + Fun!

http://www.romyandjacob.com

Jacqueline Poirier

OMD!!! How fun are these? You can definitely look forward to learning more about Jacqueline (check back soon…)

http://www.jacquelinepoirier.com/

Ruckus Dog
Love vintage poster style!

http://www.ruckusdog.com

Sa Boothroyd

‘Home’ is on my bookshelf!

http://www.saboothroyd.com

Colours By Chris Artware

Milk jugs, coffee mugs and more!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Colours-By-Chris

Water In My Paint
Only a peak now – more later!

preview of future featured artist!

http://www.whenwatermeetspaint.com

Cat

Glass Blown Critters!

http://www.catherinelabonte.com

kiriki
Embroidery kits – of critters!

photo courtesy of kiriki

http://www.kirikipress.com

Birdhouses by Don Hudgin

(Montreal) 514-631-6416

The Silk Pulp

http://monoahn.com/Paper-cut-Illustration

SPARROW AVENUE
Beautiful soft furnishings

https://www.etsy.com/shop/sparrowavenue

Fusion Art – Art Glass by Nancy Legassicke
fusionartcanada@gmail.com

Magic Villa

ornaments, musical art, water bowls and more!

http://www.magicvilla.ca

Even though Santa travels the world to deliver gifts, he need only visit the One Of A Kind Show to find something for everyone on his list (naughty or nice)!

Captive ball
A pinball trapped within a small area of the playfield. The captive ball never leaves this area, and the free ball can never enter it. However, the free ball can knock into the captive ball, which in turn can knock into targets in its area. Some tables even feature multiple stacked captive balls (e.g. Judge Dredd, Theatre of Magic).

http://www.oneofakindshow.com/artisans

http://www.oneofakindshow.com/toronto/index.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_pinball_terms

PARTY GUESTS

November 23, 2014 | Leave a Comment

Halloween Party Guests

Party Guests

Gus reminds me of our neighbor dog ‘Chap.’ Notice the (left) paw? It’s not a handshake position, it’s a “hey; you stopped paying attention to me” pat. The behaviour frustrates to his parents who apologetically try to correct it. I consider it part of his charm.

Gwen is quite like one of the other three Golden Retrievers that live on our Street. Most days when we walk Henry and Reese, the Goldens run to the fence (just as in the image below) to say “Hello” to us. Reese slows her pace deliberately in anticipation of a group discussion. The Golden’s family are also Foster Carers for Golden Rescue.

Merlin (the Magician) is another story completely!

Leanne, a fellow volunteer at Georgina Animal Control was one of the first people to hear this story, she listened patiently until it was over and then she asked ‘do you have a Merlin?’ I did not. Leanne informed me there had been a mixed-breed adopted from our local shelter, and that he was now called Merlin. Leanne put me in touch with Merlin’s mom Sarah, who also listened to the story, and agreed that I should feature her Merlin in the book. Sarah informed me she is a Marketing Designer and Graphic Designer and that she and her team would be happy to help with marketing and provide and design the book template. It’s almost like Merlin waved his wand and everything just WAS!

Eva the Ghost and Betty the Bee

When I was a little girl, my dad bought my mom a timid little beagle named Wimpy (read more about Wimpy in a future post).

Henry borrowed Betty’s costume and Reese is a ‘mini’ Paige

There is no such thing as white – at least not that I found in watercolour painting. In order to show the creases and folds in Eva’s ghost costume, I had to add various shades of grey. The same with Betty’s white bits which we can imagine were in the shadows. I have learned a lot about the process of translating watercolour artwork to print-ready book files. White does not translate well for a start!

See book for completed illustration.

http://www.goldenrescue.ca/

http://www.eventsbysarah.ca/

COVER PUP

November 9, 2014 | 1 Comment

The Cover Illustration – Henry and Pumpkins

Henry with Pumpkins – unfinished

Henry with Pumpkins

This illustration was inspired by a photo taken during one of Henry’s Birthday celebrations – one of my favourite photos.

Henry is giving my friend Lourdes (the photographer) a huge ‘toothy’ Henry grin. Those smiles are contagious!

A PAGE OUT OF THEIR BOOK

October 19, 2014 | Leave a Comment

A page from the book ‘Henry says, “Hello”

The above images are from our photo shoot to create marketing images for the book ‘Henry says, “Hello.” The children arrived, smiling. Immediately they started playing with the dogs – it was so natural and incredible to watch. The dogs appeared comfortable in the presence of the children. When children behave respectfully around dogs, it is an enjoyable experience for everyone.

These are not only campaign models; they are role-models. We should all take a page out of ‘their’ book.

My thanks to Ava, Henry, Jack, Alyssa, Jake, Cassandra and Reese.

Photographs courtesy of Nexus Photography www.nexus-photo.com

ready, steady, go

September 24, 2014 | 3 Comments

I wrote my first book, at the age of 6, while sitting at my Grandparent’s kitchen table. I should say I illustrated my first book, and dictated the story to a friend and member of my grandparents church – Jeannette Reome (sp?). My Grandmother never minded me going to the cupboard and taking out her ‘fabric painting pens’ to use during visits. I would spend hours squeezing measures of paint out of the tubes, and working the paint across the paper into whatever images came into my head on the day.

I don’t even remember what that first book was about; I enjoyed the process, and as my penmanship improved, I continued writing short stories and poems, on my own.

My biggest project to date and the one closest to my heart is a children’s book I wrote to teach youngsters how to introduce themselves to, and behave respectfully around dogs. It has been a long process (I’m embarrassed to say, more than two years in the making).

I can now see the finish line. If this lesson reaches only a hand full of children, I will feel victorious!

The following is a link to the campaign I created in order to raise the funds necessary to print the book, and start circulating the message.

http://www.igg.me/at/henrysayshello.com

Please stay tuned for more stories about the creation and promotion of the children’s book ‘Henry says “Hello”

(random trivia)
Ready Steady Go! (or simply RSG!) was a pioneering British rock/pop music television programme which used to air every Friday evening from August 1963 until 23 December 1966.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ready_Steady_Go!

SUMMER – POOL PARTIES

August 1, 2014 | 2 Comments

Let’s get this party started!

What does one wear to a pool party? If you’re a dog, I highly recommend this high quality, 100% weather resistant and totally waterproof collar by ‘Henry pet products’ (yes, we agree, it is a great company name).

Much research has gone into the making of this product. The collars have also been vigorously tested by hardcore chewers and pullers, remaining intact and without a scratch or stretching. Also tested through tough weather conditions, they have proven durable through Ontario winters and the heat and humidity of our summers. Left outside for long periods, this product does not crack or fade. Good thing as we love the vibrant pool party colours available; Hyper Orange, Hyper pink, and Hyper lime. Royal Blue works too. For other activities, there is also Olive green and Carbon. The ‘no smell, quick dry’ quality makes the collars perfect for all occasions.

Great looking, high-functioning collars for dogs!

http://henrypets.com

There is something completely alluring about the cool blue of a swimming pool, in the summer heat. The way the reflection of light dances right out of the water. I would be happy spending my days relaxing in this tranquil environment, but I also love sharing it with friends. Pool parties in the summer; vibrant coloured outfits and beverages (Cosmo cranberry, fruit punch red, vivid shades of orange, lemonade yellow and margarita lime) against the blue and complimented further by lush greenery in the background.

The only thing missing is the music!

Here’s our poolside playlist – please comment adding your favourite summer song for the party (no explicit versions please):

1. Honey in The Sun – Camera Obscura (love the album art)

2. Put The Lime In The Coconut – Harry Nilsson

3. Will Smith – Summertime

4. Billy Idol – hot in the city

5. Bran Van 3000 – Drinkin in LA

6. Len – Steal My Sunshine

7. Will Smith – Welcome to Miami

8. Bob Marley – Three Little Birds

9. The Lovin’ Spoonful – Summer in the City

10. California Gurls – Katy Perry (feat. Snoop Dogg)

#SPONSORED

Disclaimer: Her and her dogs received collars from HENRY PETS for posting an honest review of this product. The feedback and opinions shared in this post are ours, in our words. We did not receive monetary compensation for this review, and it is our choice to share this product/service information.

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summer – fun in the sun

July 4, 2014 | 6 Comments

The Executive team at Must Luv Dogs

Many years ago, I watched the now iconic movie Gremlins. I was probably too young, but everyone was talking about it so my dad treated my siblings and I to an outing at the cinema (that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it). For those of you not old enough to remember, the 1984 horror-comedy was about an adorable little creature, a Mogwai, given to Billy Peltzer by his father. Billy named his new little friend Gizmo and after being warned, Billy accepted the huge responsibility that comes with looking after him. There are rules that Billy must follow; the Mogwai must be kept away from bright light, never made wet and never, ever feed them after midnight. In the movie, things turn ugly when two of the three simple rules are not adhered to.

Much responsibility comes with dog-ownership too. When my husband and I plan to be in and out of stores or offices, we leave the dogs at home where they will be comfortable. We never leave them in the car in soaring summer temperatures – heat stroke occurs quickly, and nothing is worth that risk. If we are outside, or spend time in the lake, we take them with us. Henry and Reese, my little Mogwais, appear to be possessed and about to transform into Gremlins when introduced to a body of water. They prefer to watch from the dock. That said, even though they are groomed every five weeks in the summer due to their thick, curly coats, Henry and Reese are not fans of hot, humid days. They prefer early morning, or late evening walks before the sun rises fully or just as its setting. I was beginning to think my pack would have to become nocturnal until I learned about ‘Cool Coats’.

Valerie Wilson, owner and creator of this wonderful product, is also from Ontario and understands the heat and humidity. When noticing her own beloved companions struggling in the heat, Valerie decided it was time to do something about it. “I searched everywhere for cool coats that were functional, stylish and durable. I bought many different styles of cooling coats and vests on the market and tested them all on my dogs and one by one, I ruled them out”. With years of product development experience, Valerie set about researching leading edge materials to create coats initially for her own dogs. “This was the only way to get exactly what I wanted.” After finding a unique cooling material that was lightweight and would keep dogs cool and dry, Valerie designed a pattern and searched for ‘a top notch production facility that manufactures to high quality standards and got to work.’ In 2007, Cool Coats was born. Today, Cool Coat customers include; owners and handlers of agility dogs, flyball dogs, conformation show dogs, breeders, groomers and companion family pets all over the world. The coats fit a variety of sizes from Papillions to Great Danes, and is available in three gorgeous summer colours.

Saturday morning, we arranged to collect our coats from Valerie. Valerie is passionate about her dogs, her business and her products and it shows. I originally provided sizes via email and explained that Reese was not a typical size, due to her growth being stunted while living her first two years in a small cage (for those who don’t already know, Reese is a Puppy Mill rescue). Valerie suggested physically trying the coats on to ensure a comfortable fit for both dogs and kindly offered to meet with us.

It was before 9:00 am when we set out, and the temperature was already nearing 30 degrees C (without factoring in the humidex factor!). There was a trail not far from the location of our meeting that was at least shaded from direct sunlight by trees. My parents were visiting as it was our Canada Day long weekend, and I thought it would be a nice outing for my mom and me with the dogs (our boys were fishing). As soon as we got in the car I put the air conditioning on. It does not make a difference straight away, and poor Henry was still panting when we arrived at our destination half an hour later. In the future, Henry and Reese will be fitted with their cool coats prior to departure.

Valerie pulled her car up alongside ours, armed with several different coat sizes. As she went about fitting and checked for adequate coverage on the fluffy mogwais, Valerie spoke to both Henry and Reese in a calm, assuring tone. The material reminded me of a wet suit, and I learned it should fit in the same snug manner, keeping the ‘cool’ close to the body.

We stopped at Starbucks; mom grabbed tea and then I went in and soaked the coats, squeezed out the excess water and suited up the pups. Before we had even pulled out of the parking lot, both dogs were ‘chilled out’ in the back seat. The hatch had been open during the fitting, so this relaxed state had nothing to do with the air conditioning. As well as keeping pups cool, Valerie pointed out that it’s fit, similar to that of our beloved Thundershirt, has proven cool coats to have a calming effect.

My husband and I love spending time out in the beautiful summer weather. We have noticed an incredible difference in both Henry and Reese during our walks and have modified the rules in relation to mogwais:

-Keep safe and cool and away from direct sunlight (shade is the best option)
-Add water as needed (often for hydration)
-Never, ever feed after midnight. After a day of fun in the sun, we’re all sound asleep by midnight.

Thank you so much Valerie – your coats have made the difference between night and day (literally).

A note from the team at Must Luv Dogs:
Because we love dogs please remember…
-this product is not intended to prevent heatstroke
-it is not a life jacket and does not float
-do not leave your dog in the car under any circumstances
-always have fresh drinking water available for your dog

Why Cool Coats?

http://mustluvdogs.ca/why-buy/

Movie trivia:

My favourite quote from Gremlins:

Grandfather : He has something he wants to say to you.

Billy Peltzer : You mean you can understand what he says when he speaks?

Grandfather : To understand, one has only to listen.

It’s been three decades since the Steven Spielberg-produced Gremlins first hit theaters and both delighted and frightened an entire generation of kids and it’s being released as a digital download – a modern celebration of the film’s 30th anniversary.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/gremlins-star-zach-galligan-on-gremlins-at-30

Gremlins (1984) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087363/

Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087363/

A Duck’s Tail

May 11, 2014 | 4 Comments

Although he lived on a farm, had plenty of room to roam, and was fed and cared for by humans, our friend duck’s tale starts off quite b(l)eak; Duck and his two sisters were joined at the feathers, until one evening, a mystery predator entered their sleeping quarters and killed both girls. Poor duck witnessed the tragedy.

Fearing for his safety, his people decided it would be best to secure duck in a cage in the garage at night. So during the day duck would wander solo, not venturing far from the safety of his human’s dwelling; the people would look out and see duck alone, on the porch. The people felt bad for duck, and made the decision to find him a home with other ducks, preferably somewhere with a pond also. I learned of the situation simply by walking into the room where the conversation was taking place. The duck’s options were not good: he was going to have to fend for himself in the wild if left by a pond with other, (strange) ducks, or take his chances at the farmer’s market the following Sunday – hopefully someone would decide he would make a good pet and he wouldn’t end up in the pot! Not one to miss an opportunity to help a being in need, I offered to contact my brother – who lives on a farm, with a pond and other ducks and geese.

My brother works away from home two weeks at a time, and isn’t always good at replying to messages. Sometimes he replies, sometimes, he does not – I’m not sure the working away is any excuse, but, we’ll give him that. Imagine my surprise when, five minutes after sending my message, I received the following response from him: ‘Ya, I can take a duck. My place to a duck is like Disneyland to a five-year old child!’ He would definitely be a lucky duck!

It just so happened, I was heading to the town near to my brother’s farm, the following weekend to see my Aunt who was visiting from Kelowna. My brother would also be home during this visit. It seemed we had all our ducks in a row!

When my husband asked what the plan was for departure day, he didn’t even blink when I told him we would head out earlier than we normally would because we were picking up a duck along the way. He knows me well.

The duck’s owner consulted with her vet who advised her how to make a travel carrier for the duck. We arranged our pick-up location and packed my car, leaving space for our special passenger. The weather on the day of our trip was appropriate – favoured only by a duck.

We met at the carpool, where the lady apologized for the fact that duck had done his business in the box and we would be subjected to the smell for the duration of our journey. She suggested that if my car needed detailing upon our return, she would be happy to ‘foot the bill’. We loaded the duck onboard, covered the box with a light blanket (as you do with birds) and took flight. We were heading South – to the pond. The odor was not offensive, and it was a relatively quiet ride considering the length of the journey.

We weren’t sure what Henry and Reese would think of their new travel companion and after a few initial sniffs no one’s feathers seemed to be ruffled. Occasionally, there would be a chorus from ‘Old MacDonald had a farm’ with a duck quack here, followed by a Reese bark there, here Henry would squeal (at a higher decibel than usual it seemed), and John would bark at me! E-I-E-I-O!

The rain had cleared by the time we reached the farm and my brother greeted us in the driveway. As soon as we opened the back of the car, Henry assisted with duck’s exit by head-butting the box, tipping it forward. Thankfully, the wide base of the hand-made carrier kept it from falling over. Unfortunately, the base and size of the box also made it a bit awkward and as my brother lifted the box out of the car it slipped from his grasp. “FOR DUCK’S SAKE IAN”, I yelled, “BE CAREFUL”. My brother had managed to tuck his knee under the box as it was slipping. No harm done and our new winged friend didn’t seem to be bothered – ‘water off a duck’s back’ (so to speak).

‘How should we do this?’ My brother asked. ‘Should we just ‘wing it?’

Never having dealt with ducks before, I reached out to my friend Jennifer, who provides ‘animal interaction consultations’. Her advice for the ‘intro-duck-tion’was to allow the duck to remain in the comfort of his box with food and water, while becoming familiar with the scents and sounds of his new environment. So, my brother slowly lifted the top of the box to allow me to place some food and water in with him. As soon as the lid was high enough, duck decided he’d been ‘cooped up’ long enough and wanted to stretch his wings. He headed straight for the pond!

Lord love a duck – sometimes things just don’t go as planned.

Ian: What will we call him?

Me: Stu

Ian: As in duck stew?

Me: Ya. Cuz he’s not!

B-I-N-G-O

April 12, 2014 | Leave a Comment

There was a farmer had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
B-I-N-G-O!
B-I-N-G-O!
B-I-N-G-O!
And Bingo was his name-o!

Chubby is one of many Boston Terriers being rehomed through Boston Terrier Rescue Canada

(Record scrrrrrrrratcccccchhh)

This post has nothing, and EVERYTHING to do with dogs (and cats).

I’d like to tell you about a different kind of B-I-N-G-O, and a different kind of Boston. Music B-I-N-G-O, was the name of the game at my local Boston Pizza. General Manager, Shawn Parkinson doubles as d.j. for the event, which packs a pretty full house. I love music, especially the older tunes so what could be better than a few drinks, and a trip down memory lane, jammin’ to the music? A one-man comedy act performed by said d.j. This evening of light entertainment also packs some pretty hefty benefits for local causes.

Tricia Soulier, of Pawsitive Approach Pet Services Inc. was having lunch at Boston Pizza when she learned of the community program. Daniel Landry, team member at Boston pizza, explained the program to her. Tricia, who, as well as walking Henry, Reese and other dogs in the community, is also on the advisory committee of the local animal shelter and has been an ‘off-site’ volunteer for the shelter for more than fifteen years. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that Tricia decided to set up an “account” to raise funds for Georgina Animal Shelter. Tricia explains that “Being a Town facility they are not permitted to ask for donations. I however am free to do so. I set this up so that the cheque comes to me. It will be used for veterinary and medications/medical supplies only.” Tricia has been promoting the program via Facebook, emails, Twitter, as well as, word of mouth.

All I had to do, was write the name of the organization I wished to support on the back of my receipt, and drop it in the ‘Earn Back’ box on my way out. Boston Pizza then donates 10% of my bill to my selected cause!

Afun night with a cause!

Trish, you are a shining example within the community. I hope others will follow your lead and take the initiative to set up programs within their communities also.

Pawsitive Approach Pet Services Inc.
http://pawsitiveapproach.ca/

Georgina Animal Control
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/on53.html

Thank you Boston Terrier Rescue Canada for sharing the adorable photo of Chubby – we hope he finds a loving home very soon:
http://www.bostonterrierrescuecanada.com/

And finally, thank you Boston Pizza for the ‘Earn Back’ programs;
http://bostonpizza.com/en/school-programs/fundraising/

a real doll

March 3, 2014 | Leave a Comment

There are many different stories behind the arrival of a dog to the shelter. This beautiful girl was a stray.

Loving her new life

Dolly (found wandering), was emaciated, and although they could not be located there was evidence that she had had puppies. It was also apparent (based on behaviour), that she had been abused.

It was love at first sight for her new owner – a volunteer at the shelter. The feeling was mutual.

Dolly is a happy girl, enjoying life as a dog should.