Angela (Pet Care R&D) with Cheech, Asanya, and Samson (AKA Bubba).
"All of my pets are seniors now, which makes them all-the-more valuable to my husband and me. Even though they're way passed the puppy years, we still catch them doing the most adorable things."
Jason and Woody strut their stuff!
Jason leads our North American External Relations team. He’s been with Pet Care for 11 years.
1. What pets share your life?
Wow – there are several. Since my wife and I raise and show Afghan Hounds, we share our lives with many of them! Some of the notables are Woody, a 4 year old blue brindle male (and the man of the house), Bella, a 3 year old black-masked red female who’s as sweet as sugar pie, and Rush, our Italian import. Black, lots of hair, handsome!
2. What is the funniest thing your pets have ever done?
These are too numerous to mention. They make me laugh every day, and I love them for it.
3. What’s your favorite story about pets in the office?
My favorite story is about Vicki’s dog Rocky (Vicki is a coworker in External Relations). Now mind you Rocky is the number 1 Boston Terrier in the country – but don’t be fooled. We came back from a meeting, and Rocky had DESTROYED Vicki’s cube!!! Her phone was in the floor, receiver over here and base over there. The contents of her purse were EVERYWHERE. The lipstick was open. The pens had chewed caps. Papers littered her desk, her chair, and all over the floor. It was hilarious! And who could get mad at a face like Rocky’s?
4. What is your favorite part of working at Pet Care?
I love being around people with a passion for cats and dogs. For so many of us, what we do at work and how we live at home are pretty inseparable – pets are what we love. So to do work where pets not only can have a place, but are featured and our sole reason for being is wonderful!
The folks at the Helen Woodward Animal Center are holding a “best adoption story” essay contest for the participating Iams Home 4 the Holidays organizations. The finalists have been narrowed down to 5. Between now and the end of February, we are all invited to vote for our favorite!
My buddy (and hero!) Mike Arms says:
Mike Arms, President of the Helen Woodward Animal Center and founder of Home 4 the Holidays
“These stories all have happy endings but for some of them it was a long, hard battle. Some make you cry, others make you laugh, they all touch your heart.
We need help from animal lovers worldwide to select the most heart-warming and most successful pet adoption story from this past holiday season. There are so many great stories about pets that were saved during the holiday season. Now they’re starting the new year with a new, “leash” on life.
We’ve narrowed this down to the top five. Between now and February 28 we’re asking people to vote on their favorite story. The animal shelter or rescue group that submitted the winning entry will receive a $500 donation from Helen Woodward Animal Center.
One vote per person. This isn’t about which organization can convince the most people to vote. It’s about which story touches your heart.”
If you love animals, then these stories will make you cry–but in a good way. I just cast my vote–you should too!!
Meet Truman!
New photos from my friend Daniel! He adopted an Iams Home 4 the Holidays dog in late December.
Truman is a 3-year old Cocker Spaniel mix. In his email to me, Daniel says:
“He’s a fantastic little stray rescue but clearly has a loving owner in his past – he is brave, smart and extremely well behaved and is settling in nicely to his new home. No surprise that our home is an Iams home, and he goes crazy for his Lamb & Rice meals. The shelter described him as ‘the perfect little cocker spaniel with a perfect little way about him’ and I couldn’t agree more!”
I am so happy for Daniel to have such a wonderful new companion in his life! And I’m thrilled that Truman has found such a loving furever home!
Somewhere my little Bailey is giving a paws up to Daniel and Truman for their good fortune in finding each other.
My good buddy Kris was in New York City this morning, at the New York Stock Exchange, with some of my favorite people–including Laura Nativo and her pooch Preston Casanova
This is the third Christmas Eve that the New York Stock Exchange has honored Iams Home 4 the Holidays with the opening bell. This year, Laura and Preston got to ring it–OMD poor Preston was so startled when it rang! (Video here.)
Ready to Ring the Bell!
Culver, a puppy up for adoption, gets some attention from Peter Elkins.
Culver offers some distraction to Chris Geiger. I'd rather cuddle a puppy than work, too!
And the best thing of all is that all the pets who were there to help ring the bell were signed up to be adopted! (Except for Preston Casanova–he already has a very loving mom). I love happy endings!
SIDEBAR: The holidays are delaying our adoption numbers for the past week. I will post them as soon as I have confirmation.
PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD HOMES FOR PETS!
Tomorrow our holiday season hits a crescendo with everyone coming to our house for “Family Christmas.” I feel properly smug–got my shopping and wrapping all done.
It snowed overnight.
Before you become enchanted with the scene, remember: Today’s White Christmas is tomorrow’s slush!
Bailey, who is famous for refusing to potty outside if there is even a remote possibility that her feet might get wet, was heard to mumble “Bah! Humbug!” in her native Bichonese.
Not everybody likes the snow.
This past Saturday and Sunday (12/12-13), Long Beach California hosted the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. My buddy Emily was there and she tweeted (@askEukanuba and @EukanubaEmily) some great photos! Since not everybody is on Twitter, I thought I’d share them here (Em’s tweet is the photo caption).
Check out this pretty banner at the entrance to the big show ^Em #eukdogshow Can't wait for all the fun events tomorrow.
Check out the trophy!! Very cool!#eukdogshow
This is what they’re all after!
OMD!!!! just met Shawn Johnson w/my coworker Jason..Great start to show #eukdogshow
Another great photo of Shawn Johnson w/my fave breed!!! #Eukdogshow
Another great photo of Shawn #eukdogshow
Emily had a great time with Shawn Johnson–maybe you don’t remember her? Shawn won gymnastic gold in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics, and she has a dog named Tucker.
Shawn autographed some really beautiful dog collars that were given away as prizes:
Are you at #eukdogshow? Go to stage in main entrance at 2:30 for a chance to win a collar autographed by @ShawneyJ
@ShawneyJ was giving out collars on the stage earlier this afternoon!! The collars were pink & sparkly 
We had 5 lucky winners.
Just finished watching Justin Tackett w/Yella!!!What a dynamic duo #eukdogshow
Emily also got to meet Justin Tackett and his beautiful dog, Yella.
There were some pawsome dogs in the Meet the Breed area:
Here is a pic of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever puppy. Enjoy! #eukdogshow
This is Ditto-the brother to Knotty, previous AKC/Euk Nation'l Champ. He is a sweethart!! Look at those sweet wrinkles!!!
Look at these giant beauties!! #eukdogshow ^Em
Check out this cute Beagle!! What a face ^Em
Look at this face!!!! This is my new fave breed (of course Goldens still rule my heart) #eukdogshow ^Em
Em also got to meet Officer John Azevedo and Blitz:
What a day so far!!! I was able to meet Officer John Azevedo & Blitz. What a great team! Blitz is beautiful #eukdogshow
Another new friend!
Just met @LauraNativo & @PrestonCasanova by the dock jumping area. Preston had the cutest bag and necktie!! What a cutie
Eukanuba and Orvis presented a check for $150,000 to the Morris Animal Foundation to help their Canine Cancer Campaign. Is that Betty White up there on the stage?
This afternoon Eukanuba & Orvis presented check for 150,000 to Morris Animal Foundation to help K9 Cancer Campaign ^Em
Just sat down for evening show!!..how exciting #eukdogshow
And then it was time for the show! The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship will be broadcast on Animal Planet on February 6. If you want to know who won, visit this spoiler link. You’ll also find more show results on Dog Show Poop.
What a fabulous weekend. Maybe I’ll get to go next year!
This is a big weekend for us–and by “us” I mean Eukanuba! This weekend many of our Eukanuba team are in Long Beach, California for the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship.
My buddy, Emily, is there covering the show for our new blog Eukanuba Unleashed. I get to stay home and “cover” some of Em’s work! Which is fine with me because I get to immerse myself in some of the Eukanuba-oriented stuff that Emily gets to do.
So first thing this morning, I took the time to catch up on videos that have been posted to the Eukanuba Channel on YouTube. There’s some really wonderful new ones, but I think my favorite is this one:
Four years ago today, Bailey had surgery to remove her left anal gland and 2 sub lumbar lymph nodes because of cancer.
Snoozing on the Sofa!
Yesterday, we had our monthly check up with Bailey’s dogtor, Dr. B. We’ve been doing a monthly check up for four years, just waiting for the cancer to come back. I don’t want to jinx it by actually saying that Bailey is in remission–but it sure looks that way to me!!
We now are dealing with the little illnesses that come with old age.
I have so many things to be thankful for. A wonderful dogtor and vet clinic where Bailey gets great care and I get support and empathy. My family and good friends whose eyes don’t glaze over when I mention Bailey’s health for the gazillionth time. And time with my pooch–4 years so far, instead of only 6 months.
Oh, and I’ve got all my Christmas decorations up, lights lit, and presents wrapped. (It’s been a busy weekend!)
Life is good!
This turkey is in the bag!
Bailey grabs a snooze while she waits for company to arrive!
Now we wait for our company to arrive. Bailey is putting the time to good use by resting up so that she can be a sparkling hostess!
A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY READERS!!
(And for those of you participating in tomorrow’s madness, good shopping!)
