All Things Dog Blog

Showing posts with label prize drawing. Show all posts

Friday, February 25, 2011

Assistance Dog Stories
to Tug Your Heart Strings

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

A couple of months ago, out of the blue, I received an email from a writer/editor of a new collection of stories about assistance dogs. I had absolutely no idea what to expect when my free copy arrived, but I already had two reasons that I knew would weigh in on my decision to review the book. I had not shared these with Kathy Nimmer, the writer/editor, for fear she would know what a shoe-in her book was, in a pitch to me.

As a freelance writer, I once collected, edited and published the written works of others. My book was not one of dog stories, but I clearly had a soft place in my gut for this lady's task. I knew how difficult her job had been in preparing her book--the locating of writers, selection of the best stories, collecting of photos, obtaining permissions, and such. There's another piece of irony to toss into this surprising turn of events. I am not unlike the people in this book; I live with Multiple Sclerosis. Knowing that I might encounter stories of my own future, I opened the cover and began reading.

Two Plus Four Equals One is a celebration of the partnership of people with disabilities and their assistance dogs. For me that celebration began with the connection I experienced with Shannan Dumke in her story, The Gift of Zen. The ending caught me so off guard I found tears running down my cheeks as I absorbed the exciting climax.

A shiver ran down my spine when I read Canine Relief, a story that describes the experience of a paranoid schizophrenic who chose to train her own dog to help her gain confidence and independence. And another when I realized that the service dog for a seizure patient was none other than a Bichon Frise that has saved her owner's life.

By this point, I needed a good laugh. I got it with How Does a Service Dog Spell Relief? I could truly relate to Chauncey's predicament; so will most of you!

Now I found myself in Chapter 7, The Agony of Retirement and Loss. Having only recently lost my Retriever mix, Xena, who spent two years of her life nurturing me through frequent migraine headaches, I put the brakes on and lay the book down. I wasn't sure I was ready to read this chapter.

A few days later, while straightening up, I noticed a photo on the back of the book, which was lying upside down on the desk. I immediately realized this must be the author--my contact person. Her dog drew me in and I read the bio. Kathy Nimmer, the book's writer/editor is blind, and yet lives a full life with her third guide dog, Elias. What's more, she's a speaker, author and award-winning teacher. Suddenly I had the strength to pick up the book and continue.

When reading about another seizure patient with a dog that had an innate ability to signal its owner of impending trouble, I remembered the Bichon and grinned. This story featured a Pekingese/Pomeranian mix. Who knew toy-sized dogs could be service dogs?, I asked myself outloud. Oliver's ear twitched as if to signal his understanding.

Going Home, Mom is one of many poems in the book written by Kathy Nimmer. Each offers another peek into her unique experiences, and this one hit home with me--a gentle goodbye from a dog that has accepted her fate naturally, as dogs generally do.

Rounding the last bend I found pay dirt in The Best is Yet to Come. This story of a young boy with cerebral palsy took my breath away, both with its writer's skill and the amazing bond between Cole and his dog, Ilia. You'll never be the same after you read this story. I've added a sticky note to that page....and a mental note to re-read it every month or so. It's nourishment for the spirit.

Want to read this book? I'll be giving away 3 copies in a drawing. Enter by leaving a comment here or on my Facebook page by 4:00 PM, Friday March 4. The drawing winners will be announced on Saturday, March 5. If you simply don't want to wait on the contest, you can order from this link, or from Amazon, right here: Just click the ad and you'll be on your way.

Other great book reviews on All Things Dog Blog:
The Darkest Evening of the Year, by Dean Koontz
Oogy--A Dog Only a Family Could Love, by Larry Levin
Barkonomics, by Paris Permenter and John Bigley
A Small Furry Prayer, by Steven Kotler (reviewed by Kristine Tonks)

Thanks to the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop hosts, Two Little Cavaliers, Life with Dogs, and Confessions of the Plume, for handling the plumbing to collect us all into every participating blog. Feel free to hop from blog to blog, give thanks and leave a few comments. It's a great way to spend a lazy Saturday. Happy tails!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Pet Charity Spotlight: Best Friends Society

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

You may have noticed a new ad in my sidebar. As a part of the Blogpaws initiatives to help homeless pets, a number of us are participating in an effort to help bring about a time when there are no more homeless pets. Best Friends Animal Society is more than just a friend to animals; they are making a real difference.

With Valentine's Day approaching, love is in the air. This is the time of year when we all tend to think of those we care most about. Hopefully homeless animals are on your list. Best Friends Animal Society has many ways that you can help. Visit their site and you can read about their programs. You might even decide to sponsor an animal or treat your human sweetheart to something from their store. In this way, you will be supporting homeless animals at the same time you take care of your Valentine's shopping. Handy, right?

Speaking of Valentine's Day, I announced a bracelet giveaway last week and lots of you entered the drawing. I'm sure the folks at Freaky Dog People will be glad to know you love their bracelets.

It's time to announce the winner of that drawing. I stirred and stirred the box of names from all you readers that have entered the rolling drawings. The lucky ladies that win today are Vicki R.B. and Gail (you commented here on the blog). I'll get a message to Vicki, but Gail will need to contact me with a full name and address through my email at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com, in order to retrieve her prize. First come first serve on the design choice: heart or paw print. Congratulations!

courtesy Freaky Dog People

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Thursday, November 4, 2010

MANKINDdog™ and All Things Dog Blog™ Vow to 'Be the Change' for Animals

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Celebrating the relationship between humans and their dogs is what MANKINDdog™ is all about. And what a perfect day to join in this reverence for our canine companions. Go take a walk with Fido after you're finished reading this.

Today, in partnership with MANKINDdog™, All Things Dog Blog™ is launching another fun product giveaway along with a charity drive for 2 pet charities. I need all you bloggers out there to check this out. It's part of the Be the Change movement started at the Blogpaws Conferences, and you can get a Thank You gift and a link to your site for helping!

I know how much my readers have hated the recent onslaught of freebies--tongue in cheek! It's written all over my analytics program. You know, that tekkie report that says my site visits have risen 200% since August. Thanks, by the way. I love you guys AND your dogs. Keep those emails, comments, and photos coming. And I'll keep giving away these great goodies.

Let's start by telling you a little about my new friends at MANKINDdog™, which was started as an offshoot of the love for their collective pack of 7. Talking with them was quite an experience for me. Loving both big and small dogs, I wasn't quite sure what to expect with these folks after visiting their website, where their handsome Mastiff takes front and center.

The first image you see there is a hunky guy (imagine a George Clooney look-alike!) hanging out with an awesome Mastiff named Gotham. Great name, huh?!! This hardly created an image of Papillon lovers. Much to my surprise, there's a diverse assortment of all sizes and breeds in the MANKINDdog™ 'family'. I think I'm liking this team!

As our conversation progressed, I continued to be impressed by their commitment to the dog community. From their past years of support of their local Humane Society to a new plan to give a percentage of sales to Canine Companions for Independence, it is clear that MANKINDdog™ really does care about dogs and their owners.

The folks at MANKINDdog™ are also committed to bringing you excellent gifts for both dog and owner. MANKINDdog™ has a huge assortment of gifts and merchandise for both dog lovers and their dogs. This is just the place to find the perfect gift for your hard-to-buy-for pet loving friends and family. Are you an online shopper? I find that I like my furry companions' input, if only by having them sleep at my feet while I browse the web, avoiding traffic, gasoline consumption and the ever-present holiday crowds.

So what does MANKINDdog™ carry in their product line? Let's get a sneak peek at their Signature Collection right here:

I love the way they describe their Signature Collection on their site:

"MANKINDdog's Signature Collection is a treasure of delights designed to celebrate the love, kindness, and bond that exists between Mankind and Dogs. Indulge in a collection of fantastic, select gifts and merchandise for the dog lover and the dog. Celebrate the love, embrace the companionship, and live the bond."

I'm sure you'll agree that was quite poetic. I'd like to meet their copy-writer.

Let's move on and introduce you to your raffle prize. Then we'll go over the entry stuff; you know--the 'rules.' MANKINDdog™ is generously offering two prize packages, each valued at a whopping $112:

All Things Dog Blog's Raffle Prize

Here's the inventory for each of the two prizes: 1 MANKINDdog mug, 1 large short-sleeved Tshirt (with their logo), 1 Isola Luce Candle (in the colorful boxes shown above), 2 boxes of organic dog treats (from an assortment shown above), and a hand-crafted dog sculpture by David Voisard, all delivered in a MANKINDdog™ tote bag. Have I got you drooling yet?

Here's all you have to do to get into the All Things Dog Blog raffle drawing:

Visit www.MANKINDdog.com and peruse their product line. Enjoy a leisurely shopping expedition without crowds or long lines. Why not get a head start on your holiday shopping now?
Make any purchase of $40 or more by November 19th, the cutoff for the raffle drawing.
Your qualifying order of $40 or more will also get you two free Thank You gifts from MANKINDdog™. They'll be sending you--just as part of this special deal--the following free items: 1 MANKINDdog™ bandana and 1 MANKINDdog™ coffee mug.
Be sure to leave me a comment below or drop me an email, telling me you placed a qualifying order. We'll announce the winner here on November 20th, and you'll be notified by email as well.
Did I mention that you'll enjoy free shipping on all orders, not just those for this raffle! I think you'll agree it's a no-brainer; don't miss this opportunity!

Be the Change on World Animal Day

Now, I'll put out an all call to my fellow bloggers. Are there any bloggers out there that want to help All Things Dog Blog™ and MANKINDdog™ Be the Change for Animals? With your support, MANKINDdog™ AND All Things Dog Blog™ will each donate $1 per link, up to a $100 maximum each. All Things Dog Blog's donation will go to a local Central Florida rescue that is under enormous recent pressure. A New Beginning has recently taken in 257 Labs for re-homing. MANKINDdog's donation will also be going to a local charity, the Humane Society of Nogales, Arizona--just inside the Mexican border. Both of these organizations will be thrilled to receive our donations, but we need your help!

Be the Change!

$1 per link to our event
Goes to Pet Charities

Link to this raffle post in a blog post on your site, link to www.MANKINDdog.com, link to this raffle post on your Facebook page, or link to this post in a Tweet about the raffle. For any of these actions you'll receive a free gift from the folks at MANKINDdog™ for your efforts--a MANKINDdog™ bandana and pen for you and your favorite Fido. There's just one caveat: You'll have to be among the first 100 bloggers to email me or message me that you've gotten involved to help us Be the Change. Don't waste a minute; do it now! Oh, and there's more...

Collecting your 'Thank you' bandana from MANKINDdog™ and All Things Dog Blog™ is as easy as 1-2-3:

I'll be sure to thank you by blog name in my blog post for our prize announcement on November 20th. That will get you an incoming link as an additional thanks. We appreciate your support to help us Be the Change for Animals! Finally, feel free to hit that ReTweet button at the top of the post.
Again, to qualify, you must: Link to this raffle post in a blog post on your site, link to MANKINDdog™, link to our raffle on your Facebook page, or link to this post in a Tweet about the raffle.
Drop me an email at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com, or message me through FB or Twitter, to let me know what you did to help us Be the Change.

Have I given you enough reasons to get involved? Hope so! I'd really like to see your blog's link in our raffle award post. Now, let's go shopping.