Two Winners!

It's been a busy day. I've spent the day going over contest entries and have had a very difficult time making a decision - who will win the ASPCA gift pack in conjunction with their Adoption Event? The field was narrowed down to two entries but there can only be one winner.  Keep reading.  It will be announced at the end of this post. 

First we need to talk about this week's Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the annual event that dazzles dog lovers. Out of a field of seven really wonderful dogs, it was the Toy Group Winner, the little Affenpinscher, Banana Joe, who dazzled the judge. And so, Joe ends his career with the coveted Best in Show at Westminster and will go back to The Netherlands in happy retirement from the show ring.

For the very first time at Westminster, a Reserve Best In Show was chosen. The first dog to earn this honor is from the Herding Group, the Old English Sheepdog, Bugaboo's Picture Perfect.

Now, for the winner of the ASPCA's Meet Your Match gift pack.  It came down to a older Border Terrier who had been a Therapy Dog and a young Flatcoat Retriever whose owner wants to pay it forward if her dog wins by donating to the behavior fund at the American Kennel Club's Canine Health Foundation. Their sponsored research will benefit all dogs, mixed breed or purebred. It's thought that behavior issues are responsible for more dog deaths than any one disease. Why?  Because owners give up on their dogs and put them into shelters. Therapy Dog?  Behavior Research?  Equally important. Each dog their family's own personal Valentine so the families win no matter who gets the gift pack. What to do. What to do...  

Keeping dogs out of shelters, resolving behavior issues is very much in keeping with the Meet Your Match Shelter Adoption Theme of the contest even though neither dog was adopted. Therefore, the gift pack from the ASPCA goes to The Schejtman Family and their Flatcoat Retriever, Karma.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to the ASPCA for sponsoring this wonderful Valentine event to raise awareness about shelter adoptions and for their gift pack to our lucky winner!

"Meet Your Match" Pet for Valentine's Day

Everyone needs someone to love who will love them in return. For so many of us, love walks into our lives and straight into our hearts on four furry feet. For those of you who are thinking of added a companion to your life, The ASPCA has a neat new event just in time for Valentine's Day; a live-streamed Dating Show called, "Meet Your Match."  

Here's how it works:

Presenting some of the most eligible pets who want to find their forever homes, the event will begin at 6 p.m., February 12th, EST at http://www.ustream.tv/aspca and will feature an ASPCA behavior person who will serve as the "Relationship Expert" answering viewers' questions about their pets. Viewers can vote for their favorite most adoptable pet on ASPCA's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/aspca).

In conjunction with the live-stream Dating Show, there will be a live Twitter party. (Here's a link to tell you how to join a Twitter party in case you're not familiar with it: http://blog.aspca.org/content/how-heck-do-i-join-twitter-party) The hashtag for the Twitter Party will be: #PuppyLove which sums it up pretty nicely.  To add to the fun, the Twitter Party will feature quizzes about legendary animal/human couples.  The Twitter Party is intended to spread adoption awareness which is always a good thing.

The ASPCA is doing something extra nice for my readers for Valentine's Day in conjunction with this wonderful event; they will send one lucky winner a super Gift Pack consisting of:

A Pugs and Roses Tee from David & Goliath
A Valentine's Day Heart Collar
ASPCA Tote
ASPCA Orange T-Shirt
Walker's Shortbread Cookies
ASPCA Orange wristband
ASPCA Magnet

That's quite a windfall for any pet owner! To enter the contest, send me a message via my website: http://www.darlenearden.com and tell me why you want to win. I'll select a winner on February 13th so hurry and get your entries in!

If you want to add a pet to your life be sure you have the time to spend with your companion and that includes positive training and daily exercise. Also be sure that you can afford food, regular veterinary check-ups and put aside a little extra every week in a special account in case there's an emergency later on.  

Valentine's Day is a great time to think about sharing love and giving a shelter pet a new leash on life.

 Note:  I am not a paid spokesperson for the ASPCA. They are providing the gift pack to one winner. I am helping spread the word about this wonderful event in the hope that at least one shelter pet will get a forever home because someone somewhere was inspired by reading this.