My Fire Hydrant

I’m going to New York City!

On Monday, June 13, I will be in NYC to attend Bideawee’s June Gala. Bideawee (a Scottish term for “stay a while”) is one of the oldest animal pet adoption and animal welfare organizations in the United States and serves the New York metropolitan area and Long Island communities. I’m going to the Gala because Iams has been named Bideawee’s 2011 Corporate Honoree!

Bideawee is presenting the celebrated “Bideawee Corporate Award” to Iams in recognition of our corporate contributions to foster the health and well being of pets. It makes me so proud to have this incredible organization take notice of our long-standing commitment in promoting responsible pet adoption and our support of animal adoption organizations across the country. Bideawee is part of our Iams Home 4 the Holidays campaign. This past year, you may recall, we helped more than 1.1 million pets to find forever homes and donated 5 million meals to shelter and rescue pets in need. It’s icing on the cake for Bideawee to honor us with this award!

Tyler helps me to type this post.

It occurred to me today that it’s Tyler’s anniversary for finding his furever home! One year ago today I flew home to Dayton from Phoenix with my little four-pound fluff boy. Since he joined our home…

…his weight has doubled;

…his coat has grown out;

…I’ve puppy-proofed our fence–twice;

…I’ve learned how to use my laptop while fending off helpful paws (see photo, above);

…I’ve found the strength to cope with finding a wet spot on the rug (my fault);

…I’ve grown to appreciate and expect 30 minutes of playtime AFTER I’ve gone to bed;

…I’ve resolved not to feel guilty each time I put him in his crate–every time I put him in his crate;

…I’ve experienced the best of warm feelings watching him charm and bond with my mom;

…and the doggie space in my heart has increased to include this flufferbutt who now rules our home. Bailey would have adored him. I certainly do.

God bless the wonderful people of Small Paws Rescue for matching me up with Tyler. One year later and he continues to be our little sweetheart. And my little stinker.

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Petfinder is up for a “Webby” Award!

Voting for the 15^th Annual Webby Awards closes today. What’s a “Webby?” According to the Webby web site:

Unlike other award shows that crown just one winner chosen by the people, we think the public should have a say in who wins big. That’s why we give you the chance to crown a Webby winner in every category.

The Webby People’s Voice Awards honors the year’s best work in Websites, Interactive Advertising, Online Film & Video and Mobile. And while our esteemed judges have their own opinion, we want to hear from you. You can vote in every category, so go ahead. Step up on your soapbox and let the web know who rules your digital world.

Petfinder’s iPhone app has been nominated. This is an incredible tool that allows you to search for your perfect furry match right on your iPhone! You can find the furry love of your life on you iPhone through the Petfinder app!

Not only do I love this because I love Petfinder, but also because it’s putting adoptable pets in the spotlight and exposing more people to the pet adoption message. It’s the only pet-related app in the category, so it would be a big win for adoptable pets if the Petfinder app won.

TODAY is the last day to vote! Here’s how you do it:

Step 1: Go to the Webby site and register to vote (you can use your Facebook account to register).

Step 2: Go to the Mobile and Apps page and vote in the Utilities and Services Category.

Step 3: Ask your friends to do the same and help us help homeless pets WIN!

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A good friend of mine from work, Chad, just failed Fostering 101! Meet the new addition to his family, Aubry!

Meet Aubry!

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This is a sweet story! Small Paws member Michelle tragically lost Chumpie, one of her beloved dogs. Her heart was healed by little Blossom, who entered her home as a foster and stayed on as a new family member.

Last summer both of my dogs got attacked by a German Shepard. Unfortunately, I lost my 13 yr old and was still grieving but was desperately looking for another Bichon to fill the family gap. I was frustrated with trips to the shelter and came across the Small Paws Rescue website. Could this be for real? I filled out a foster application after viewing all the dogs that needed homes. I thought, why don’t I start there because at least I could see if the dog would be a good match for my survivor, Cracker. It seemed like forever, but three weeks later I got “the phone call” from Small Paws Rescue telling me that they had a puppy pair that needed a foster. What a huge task for a first time foster! Then they ended up going with a foster mom in their area. I cried. I was disappointed but didn’t really want a puppy I just wanted my senior dog back. Please Lord, just send me a dog like Chumpie. A day later, on the way to pick up my dog’s ashes I received another call. Small Paws Rescue rescued a stray dog and they were looking for a foster home for her. Everyone wanted her, but everyone had too many dogs. Absolutely! I was thrilled. So my healing process began, and even though I didn’t get pics of this dog until after I agreed I felt like it was meant to be. Blossy (Blossom) made it to my door step, into my heart and within one week joined my family. She ran right into my home and Cracker leaped off the couch and they have been wrestling ever since. Did I happen to mention that God has a wonderful way of revealing himself? Blossy looks just like my other dog, but a female puppy version. She also happens to have the same little trot, and what are the odds I would get another dog that stuffs socks in their mouth and prances around the house? This girl quickly became my little princess and got her very own rhinestone collar. She is spunky and always wants a “pawdicure” while riding in the car. She gets a plate of homemade food every day (being a stray you would think she would eat anything but that is not the case. This Diva will not touch any kind of dog food) I even sing a little jingle every time I feed or greet her. (Don’t act like I am the only one that does this. If you own a Diva Bichon you know they have at least four nicknames and own pink snowsuits). I couldn’t have gotten a better dog. She was able to be potty trained and learned tricks very easily. I love my Boo Bear so much! She has enabled me to heal and puts a smile on my face everyday. Plus, she is super cute!I feel comforted knowing my Chumpie died so Blossy could live. Heaven and Small Paws Rescue has sent me a wonderful gift!

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Tyler says, Small Paws is helping little doggies every day. Even me! They found me, kept me alive when I was full of parvo, and found me my furever home! Do you have a few dollars you can give?

Sandra found a little Small Paws angel to help heal the hurt of loosing a long-time fluffy friend.

She was Annie2, now she's Katie

I lost my little angel fluff (Little Sandy) after 19 years. She gave me a lot of love and I miss her so very much. She died in my arms and my whole world turned upside down. After a couple of months my love Don gave me a Christmas card, which said I’ll buy you anything you want for Christmas. Well I had been online with Small Paws Rescue for some time by then–yes, you guessed it. There is where I found little Annie2, a three year old little Fluff that needed a forever home. I requested an interview and was accepted. She was in Texas and we were going through there in January in our 5th wheel. We picked her up and I held her in my arms and knew right away she was the one for me–all 7 pounds of her. I now have had my little angel ever since January 8th, 2011. She is the smartest and sweetest little girl and I love her with all my heart for the rest of her life. Thank God for Small Paws Rescue and Robin. Oh, by the way, I did change her name to Katie. She loves it. Love and all my prayers go out to all the other little Fluffs that still need a forever home.

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Tyler says, Small Paws is helping little doggies every day. Even me! They found me, kept me alive when I was full of parvo, and found me my furever home! Do you have a few dollars you can give?

Anne is a very enthusiastic support of Small Paws Rescue–as you can tell by her story!

Lupina, Jeter, & Giana

HI , I WOULD LOVE TO SUBMIT A PICTURE AND PHOTO OF MY 3 SIMPLY SPOILED AND LOVED TO THE MOON AND BACK. I HAVE 3 LUPINI, JETER (AS IN DEREK JETER, ON BEST & CUTEST SHORTSTOP ON THE YANKEE’0and that is why my mommy, especially named me after him…she is crazy in love with him…BUT LOVES ME MORE….I AM REALLY A SEXY BICHON!!! OH AND THEN THERE IS MY LITTLE SISTER GIANA. SHE THINKS OF HERSELF AS THE PRINCESS, A DIVA…SHE IS SUCH A GIRL, SHE WIGGLES HER CUTE LITTLE BUTT, AND PRANCHES AROUND, AND EVERYONE THINKS SHE IS SO SWEET…DON’T GET ME WRONG, SHE IS MY SISTER AND I LOVE HER AND PROTECT HER..BUT I THINK SHE HAS PMS AT TIMES, BECAUSE SHE CAN BE SWEET AS AN APPLE PIE..AND THE NEXT MINUTE SHE WILL MAKE THIS HUGE GROWLING NOISE, THAT CAN”T POSSIBLY COME FROM THIS LITTLE ONE…BUT IT IS HER, AND THEN SHE SCARES ME AND MY BROTHER…MAYBE SHE IS POSSESED….I AM NOT SURE, BUT SHE SCARES ME SO SOME TIMES, THAT I PEE IN MY PANTS…LOL…HER DADDY, ALSO THINKS SHE IS THE PRETTIEST FACE HE HAS EVER SEEN…& LITTLE DOES HE KNOW SHE HAS HIM WRAPPED AROUND HER PRETTY LITTLE TOE NAILS….I DON’T WANT TO SEEM JEALOUS, BECAUSE WE LIVE IN NISAYUNA, IN UPSTATE NY, AND WE DON’T WANT TO TELL ON OUR MOMMY & DADDY….BUT BOY ARE WE SPOILED….WE ARE SOOOO LOVED, AND MOMMY & DADDY DO SUCH FUN THINGS FOR US..OUR DADDY, GRILLS US THE BEST HEALTHY & YUMMY MEALS …EVEN WHEN WE HAD 3 FEET OF SNOW, HE WENT OUT & FINALLY LOCATED THE GRILL AND MADE US LEAN , MEAN SIRLOIN…..OH AND OUR MOMMY HAS MADE THE MOST YUMMMMY  YUM HOMEMADE TREATS …SHE BAKES THEM IN THE OVEN, AS WE DROOL, AND WAIT FOR THE FRESH BAKED TREATS TO COOL DOWN…..
EVERYDAY, WE SIT IN THE FRONT DOOR, AND WHEN PEOPLE GO BUY , THEY STOP AND SAY,,OH HOW ADORABLE…AND MANY STOP AND TAKE OUR PICTURES, BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE PRETTY DARN ADORABLE….WE ARE TOLD THAT WE ARE THE MOST FAMOUS POOCHES IN OUR TOWN…!!!!!
WE GET TO WATCH SO MANY PEOPLE WLKING ALL DIFFERENT COLORS & SIZES OF POOCHES ALL DAY, IT’S LIKE A PARADE….SOME BARK AT US BUT WE BARK REALLY REALLY LOUD…WE 3 RULE…WE ONLY WISH THAT EVERY WHITE FLUFF COULD BE AS SPOILED AND LOVED AS WE ARE….AND WE ARE SO VERY GRATEFUL TO ROBIN…BECAUSE IF SHE DIDN’T START SMALL PAWS, WE WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE ADOPTED, BY OUR LOVING DOTTING MOMMY & DADDY…OH WHEN WE WERE JUST WEEKS OLD, WE GOT TO FLY FROM TULSA TO NEW YORK, AND THE CAPTAIN WANTED US UP IN THE COCKPIT WITH HIM….WOW, ARE WE LUCKY OR WHAT….THANK YOU SMALL PAWS…LUPINI, JETER & LITTLE GIANA

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Tyler says, Small Paws is helping little doggies every day. Even me! They found me, kept me alive when I was full of parvo, and found me my furever home! Do you have a few dollars you can give?

Here is the story of another Small Paws member who failed Fostering 101.

My name is Linda, and I am a new volunteer for Small Paws Rescue.  I picked up Miles to foster on January 9th, 2011 in Indianapolis.  I had been told he was approximately 7 years old, had seizures and was on pheno twice a day.  He had been picked up at a shelter by Sara, our Team Leader for Indiana and Illinois.  He was going to be euthanized the day Sara picked him up.  She found someone to adopt him originally in December of 2010 but they returned him back to Sara saying that it wasn’t working out due to the seizures.  Well, to make a long story short, I failed fostering 101!  My Husband and I adopted him in February.  He is still having seizures…but that doesn’t matter to us.  He is such a sweet boy and since we have three other rescues with an unknown background, what’s one more?  He is adjusting well to his life here and seems to be very happy.  I have attached a couple of pictures… he looks more like a Poodle than a Bichon in these pictures.  Sara had informed me when she had him groomed they cut him like a Poodle!

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Tyler says, Small Paws is helping little doggies every day. Even me! They found me, kept me alive when I was full of parvo, and found me my furever home! Do you have a few dollars you can give?

Sam the Man was not with Small Paws member Sandra for very long. But he made a lasting impression. Grab a tissue….

A little fluffly white hurricane swept through my heart and home for three action-packed, wonderful weeks, and I’ll never forget him.  Sam the Man was a 15-year-old nearly deaf and blind old man whose family turned him in because he had broken potty training.  (Pfffftt)  He sniffed, explored, rejected all the squishy beds I offered him and ate huge meals.  He was a fluff of strong opinions, unwilling to compromise unless it was food, and then he would eat anything.  When I stroked his back he immediately rolled over, belly up, his legs waving in the air.  He loved the fenced back yard and roamed it for as long as I’d let him stay out in the cold weather.  But I had to watch him because there were some plastic bags in the corner of the yard to be picked up and he loved tearing plastic.  If I came out and found him going at that plastic, I’d run over and pick him and he’d be growling and those little legs would be running in the air.  I’d set him down inside and then we’d repeat it the next time he went out.  Then I discovered he loved the plastic waste basket liners and rummaging in the trash.  He would leap up and grab the overlapping edge with his teeth and then swing back and forth until it would topple over and he could graze.  Lord I wish I had taken a picture of him swinging back and forth in the air. StM had many health issues, and he was in a lot of pain, so it was with a very heavy heart and a lot of tears that we helped him to the bridge where he would be happy and healthy again. So good-bye Sam the Man and rummaging in the trash.  You managed to make yourself felt and loved and you lived your life with vigor despite your pain and the loss of your family of 15 years.  He was only with me for three weeks, and I’ll never forget him.

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Tyler says, Small Paws is helping little doggies every day. Even me! They found me, kept me alive when I was full of parvo, and found me my furever home! Do you have a few dollars you can give?

A Bichon wave is sent out to all of us from Don, Donna, Chloe, Sophie and Taz  in Mebane, NC! Here’s their story:

My daughter Robin bought a Bichon for her family in the summer of 2005 and they named her Joci. This began my love affair with Bichons. My children surprised me at Christmas that very year and gave me a 10 month old little Bichon cuddle bug that I named Chloe. Chloe became such a blessing in our lives. I felt strongly that Chloe needed a little sister so I began my journey. After searching many websites looking for a sister for Chloe…..some of the sites made me pause as I found myself looking into the activities of puppy mills which I did not even know existed. Continuing to look for Bichons I came upon the Small Paws website. Immediately I felt at peace about this site. I began scrolling and reading the many stories of the Bichons that were rescued by this organization. Everybody in my life got involved in the selection as we looked and looked for the perfect little sister. We decided on a little girl that was named Summer Sophie. She was a puppy mill survivor and was 2 years old. She came to us in September 2006 a very very scared little girl. As time passed she began to trust me and no one else….and now almost 5 years later she let’s everyone pet her. Words can never express the joy I feel in watching her interact with people. Experiencing the joy that Sophie had brought into my life I wanted to be able to help other Bichons find their “forever homes” and to support this organization with a monthly donation that I continue to do to this day.

As time passed I knew that I had to have a third bichon. As Sophie’s foster mom, Wendy Ball had once told me. “Bichons are like Lays Potato Chips….you can not have just one.” Even my husband, Don agreed that we had enough love for one more. Naturally I went straight back to Small Paws and found our little Idella which we now call Taz. We adopted her in January 2009 and we call her our little princess. It is as if Sophie and Taz understand that they both came from the Small Paws family. They have become very bonded and never stray too far from each other. What joy they give us.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share a wee bit of our story and I hope that you raise a lot of money for Small Paws Rescue.

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Tyler says, Small Paws is helping little doggies every day. Even me! They found me, kept me alive when I was full of parvo, and found me my furever home! Do you have a few dollars you can give?