I am currently visiting Hot Labrador Rescue in Texas!

Wow I am bushed!!

I spent November 7 at An Evening of Giving, Texas Style with Heart of Texas Labrador Rescue.

And WOW was it a big PAWSOME event.

It was held at the historic Fairmount Hotel in downtown San Antonio.

The Fairmount is the largest brick building ever moved.

It was moved in 1968 to make way for the Worlds Fair. It is now home to Labrador Luke who is the Hotels K9 ambassador. Luke said that people can request that he stay in their room, and they get a shirt that says “I Slept with Luke” upon checkout. That is so Pawsome.

At the event Luke and I handled the welcome table. Luke greeted everyone and I took their tickets and

made sure they got a complementary wine glass with the Heart of Texas Lab Rescue logo on it.

I got to meet some Pawsome folks, including several HOTLab ambassadors. Rolo, Raven and Mimsy

all sat down with me and told me their stories. How they were left in a shelter and were frightened not

knowing what was going on, then all of a sudden someone came to see them and told them that they

would take care of them, get them healthy and find them a loving forever home.

That someone was from Heart of Texas Labrador Rescue. I started to cry then Raven gave me a lick and said all Labbies at HOTLab find forever homes.

Raven told me about the day she came to HOTLab Rescue, how she went from being in a kill shelter to

living in a Foster home. I asked whose home it was, when she said it was Ray’s place I got all excited as

that is where I am staying. She told me about how Ray’s Lab Shaq, who just crossed over the Rainbow Bridge,

told her that she was in a safe place and that soon she would be meeting lots of people. And how she went to

several Meet and Greets until she meet the Brown family. She said she knew right away that they were her forever family. She said that now she is healthy, has food and a safe place to live. I was so touched.

While at the event I got to sample some wonderful snacks provided by Whole Foods and Cowgirl Granola.

YUM!!!! I love Granola. I then got to sample some great wines provided by Cape Classics Wines and Beer from Free Tail Brewery but I really loved the Root Beer from Blue Star Brewery and the Iced Tea from Sweet Leaf Iced Tea.

I think it is pawsome that all these companies came together to help Labrador in need.
And if that was not Pawsome enough I went in to see the Silent Auction items.

WOW!!! there was so many pawsome things to bid on. Original paintings, books on Labradors,

Jewelry, blankets, wine tastings. Incredible all donated to help my new friends. I bid on a number of things.

I really wanted that blanket, but got outbid at the last minute. Drats I knew there was a reason why that kid was distracting me.

At the end of the evening there was a raffle for a brand new Apple iPhone.

Gosh I really would have loved to have won it. But it went to a very worthy person.

I had a Pawsome evening and was glad to help Heart of Texas Labrador Rescue raise over $5,000 dollars.

That will help a lot of Labbies and I made some great new friends.
More pictures to come soon!

Love, Pups

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The Seattle Humane Society 2010 Power of Companionship Calendar is finally done and up for sale today!

It is hard for me to say this and it sounds awfully selfish, but I have never been able to work with shelters up to this point because I would either a) go home in tears or b) go home with a car full of dogs. But this year I was presented with the perfect opportunity to give back to such a beautiful organization.

I was asked to shoot a few months for the 2010 Calendar but volunteered to shoot the entire calendar as a thank you for all the work they do every single day of the year for rescue animals. I wanted to shoot the entire calendar because I believe a consistent product will hopefully generate more sales (hint, hint!)

Of course, volunteering to do 13 on-location shoots was no small feat but I was up for the challenge. It took up a good chunk of my summer, but I met some amazing dogs (and yes some cats too!) and many of them were rescued. It was absolutely worth my time.

Good photography can only go so far and I wanted to ensure that the design was complimentary to my style of work. So I put a call out on Facebook for a graphic designer to volunteer their time. Within minutes Buzz jumped at the opportunity and away we went. I couldn’t have asked for a better design. It is clean, modern, with complimentary colors and gorgeous typography. I know Buzz put in as much if not more work than I did towards the final product.

It is definitely not your everyday folded, traditional calendar. The calendar measures a full 11 x 17 on extra thick, semi-matte, cardstock. It is fairly heavy when you pick it up and I love that it doesn’t fold! The large size ensures that your calendar won’t get lost on a wall and will make a statement in any room.

Last night I got to see the finished product and I couldn’t believe how beautiful it turned out. I am so incredibly proud to be a part of this product. It would mean so much if you ordered one for yourself and while you’re at it order a second to give as a gift for Christmas!

To order simply download the form & follow the instructions.

[ PDF Order Form ]

Here are a few pictures I took of the final product.

Yummy typography.

Bluey graces the cover. This old man is 17 and going strong!


Included are meaningful words from all the owners.

Lorenzo was one of my favorite dogs. He even gave me extra kisses last night for making him look so handsome.

I love that the normally unoccupied squares on a calendar are filled with additional images from the shoots.

Doctor just might be the coolest cat I’ve ever met and he wants you to buy one. Just look at the face!

I am visiting Heart of Texas Labrador Rescue!!

Wow!!! I had a Pawsome time at the Lab Ranch the other day.  I was in the midst of not one but two puppy piles.

Heart of Texas Labrador Rescue was able to save two Momma Labs who were left at a kill shelter just days before giving birth.  Juno, a most beautiful Yellow Lab, gave birth just days after being rescued to 11 of the most beautiful puppies you have ever seen.  And just a week later Eden, a Black Lab just like me, gave birth to 10 equally as gorgeous puppies.

Both Momma’s and all their Puppies are doing well.  Which is remarkable!!

While at the Lab Ranch my job was to talk to the puppies and tell them about the pawsome opportunity that they have been given.  They were all very good listeners and then we played together.

Just before going I got to spend some time with Pepi.  Pepi is a very special puppy in Juno’s litter, he is named in honor of the great @Pepismartdog from twitter.  I told HOTLab Pepi all about him.  How his namesake was smart, brave and honest and that he had a lot to live up to but that he was given the name to provide the strength to carry on his legacy.

On Saturday I will be the guest of honor at Heart of Texas Labrador Rescue, An Evening of Giving at the Fairmount hotel in San Antonio. I am going to try on my Tuxedo today to make sure it fits still. I have been eating too many goodies lately.

Ray and I went down earlier this week to drop off supplies and to thank everyone at the Hotel for all they are doing to help Labs in need.  While there I got to meet the famous Luke Tips who is the hotel’s concierge and official greeter.  Luke is a pawsome yellow Lab.  The two of us hit it off right away.

Off to help with last second preparations.  Will be posting my adventure at the big Fundraiser this weekend. I am so excited. It’s going to be so pawsome.

Love, Pups

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Up Country Inc. has partnered with the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA) to donate a collar and lead set to every dog adopted from the shelter throughout 2009. Adoptive pet parents are given an Up Country gift certificate in their adoption packets that allows them to choose a free collar and lead from neighboring Up Country. Over 450 dogs were adopted from the shelter last year at an 88% adoption rate.

“Up Country is two doors down from the RISPCA, which is the oldest humane organization in Rhode Island and the third oldest in the country. By donating a new collar and lead set to every newly adopted dog, we hope to bring some extra joy and fun to the adoption experience,” said Alice Nichols, the owner of Up Country.

Up Country is located at 76 Boyd Avenue, East Providence, RI. Their products include collars, leads, furniture, beds, treats and toys, and they are available at retail outlets worldwide. You can reach Up Country at www.upcountryinc.com or 1-800-541-5909.

Great spirit and great product! Up Country is one company that Dogspired can’t help but support.

~Courtesy of DogNewsDaily