From the mouth of babes.... Kindness is the new cool!

Toby the dog here with another blog by a dog.  Www.theOriginalTeamToby.com

When you want to know what kindness really is.....

....Just go ask a few children..... the experts!

Children had great ideas about kindness that they have been sharing on our PAWS Across Canada Tour 
Kindness is (according to students):

• saying nice things to others
• helping your mom or dad
• holding a door open
• cleaning up the classroom
• taking good care of your pets
• being gentle with your baby sister
• cleaning your toys when you are done
• smiling at people
• telling people they look nice
• giving your dog water when he's thirsty
• sharing your toys
• picking up garbage

And the list went on... the get it!

We've partnered with Orange Dog Foundation for a grant through Field Law, so we can get our children's books into the schools that need them the most, continue the work we are doing around kindness, and to support a Freedom Flight, to save more dog's lives.  Your Vote Matters.  Simply visit  http://www.fieldlawcommunityfund.com/2014-ideas/team-tobys-paws-across-canada-is-two-dogs-pawsitive-mission-to-build-a-kinder-canada-one-paw-one-person-at-a-time/

and scroll down to find out project Team Toby's PAWS Across Canada and click VOTE.  Simple and your vote makes a difference!

We appreciate your support.

To hear more fun stories about our PAWS Across Canada and tips from the mouths of babes, listen to mom's radio show here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/teamtoby/2014/05/11/team-toby-gets-kindness-tips-from-children-the-experts

Thank you to our PAWS Across Canada Partners!  We love you guys.

Orange Dog and Team Toby partner up for rescue dogs!

Toby the dog here with another dog blog...

Toby the dog in a reflective blog writing moment.  www.TheOriginalTeamToby.com 

Team Toby’s PAWS Across Canada is two dog’s PAWsitive mission to build a kinder Canada one paw, one person at a time.

Toby is the star of several bestselling books for adults and children, is travelling the world with his pet parent Charmaine teaching lessons about kindness, acceptance and respect. RJ is the face of globally renowned Freedom Flights rescuing death row dogs from shelters and bringing them to loving forever homes in partnership with international humane organizations. Their partnership will provide Canadian schools with classroom programs teaching children kindness values in a method that only the human-dog bond can communicate. These values instill the foundation needed to create a bully-free educational environment while Freedom Flights teach parents and communities the importance of responsible pet parenting uniting at risk dogs with families that have prevented the unnecessary loss of life.

Imagine a Gulfstream jet, the epitome of luxury and success uniting the discarded dogs left for death with forever families anxiously awaiting their landing at Edmonton airport.  Dogs anxious and barking while children excitedly await the moment when they may extend kindness, love and acceptance of their new loved one. Jan Folk, preeminent Edmonton entrepreneur along with the help of a local marketing company and co-operation of pilots from Global Exec Aviation launched Freedom Flights. To date they have rescued and placed 468 shelter dogs with loving forever homes along with the help of EHS.

Jan Folk and actor Kevin Costner on an Orange Dog Freedom Flight

Charmaine Hammond identified an opportunity to teach Canadians kindness and respect through media attention and message taught by Orange Dog through the Freedom Flights. If we can get people to understand the value of life regardless of breed or age we can teach them the greater message of being kind, respectful and accepting each other. Charmaine realized this starts with children.

Your Vote Matters!

 Simply visit http://www.fieldlawcommunityfund.com/2014-ideas/team-tobys-paws-across-canada-is-two-dogs-pawsitive-mission-to-build-a-kinder-canada-one-paw-one-person-at-a-time/ 

Scroll down to find the Team Toby's Paws Across Canada project (you'll see the photo with RJ and I) and click VOTE.  Please ask your friends and family members to do this too, the more votes, the more dogs we help!

Humans, dogs, schools, workplaces and community groups will benefit from PAWS Across Canada. Thousands of students in Edmonton area-northern Alberta will participate in Toby’s presentations, story time with Toby, and his kindness classroom kits. His books will remain in the schools he presents at so future students will benefit as well. The student’s families will also benefit from this project as Charmaine and Toby will work with schools to  provide Toby tips for families.

The project is built on a foundation of collaboration, partnership and working together to make a difference. The dogs rescued from the Freedom Flights will benefit, as will the families who adopt them. The chosen animal shelter/adoption organization will also benefit from this project in terms of marketing support and adoption fees.  Because the Freedom Flights receive a great deal of media exposure, the animal shelter/adoption organization, and the general public will benefit as the media pours out good news stories, and, learning about dog adoption and rescue.

Your Vote Matters!

 Simply visit http://www.fieldlawcommunityfund.com/2014-ideas/team-tobys-paws-across-canada-is-two-dogs-pawsitive-mission-to-build-a-kinder-canada-one-paw-one-person-at-a-time/ 

Scroll down to find the Team Toby's Paws Across Canada project (you'll see the photo with RJ and I) and click VOTE.  Please ask your friends and family members to do this too, the more votes, the more dogs we help!

Team Toby appreciates the PAWS Across Canada Partners!! Your support makes a PAWsitive Difference!

How to get your pet parent to unplug

Life as Toby the Dog's eyes....

Photo Source: TheOriginalTeamToby.com  Photographer: Ealanta Photography

I don’t know about you but I don’t like it when my pet mom goes on to the computer to do her work. I never know if she is writing more books about me, Tweeting, Facebooking or checking her email. 

All I know is that her attention is not on me, I can’t easily get eye contact, and sometimes I notice she needs a break, especially when her computer freezes…. The big sigh is the clue.  

Here’s what I’ve been doing when she goes on to the computer.

• Nudge her arm gently under the elbow. Then smile that “puppy love” smile. It is a showstopper.

•  Your pet parent will probably scratch your ears, smile, say “who’s a good boy. Are you a good boy?” (in that “weird voice”) and turn back to the computer.

This is where you need to ramp it up!   

Show your pet parent you are really wanting their attention…. Here’s what works for me. Knock garbage can around, put chin on desk (adorable and gets attention), put a paw on his/her lap. Last resort? Booming bark.

At this point you probably get put on a time out. Or, you pet parent will do what our trainer Gila from Dog is Good is teaching mom and dad. Mom brings up my blanket and some treats (YUM!). 

Then she tells me “On Your Mat Toby.” Of course I go, there’s a treat involved, and I love making my human parents happy.  Then “Toby Settle, Stay.”  Tongue out, big smile, wait… and … I get the treat.  Then she makes it a longer time between treats. Eventually after a few little treats (by the way, she cuts one small treat into little pieces, I am so onto her strategy), I go to sleep. It’s all about getting caught up on sleep so I can play fetch longer when she is done on the computer. Hint…sleep with one eye open just in case your pet parent finishes off on the computer early. You never want to miss fetch time.

Until next time,

Have a PAWsome day!  Help your humans be the person you know they are!

Toby! 

Team Toby is on a mission to Improve Lives by Teaching Kindness, Acceptance and Respect.  To find out about Toby's books, 

      

Toby’s children’s book series (Toby And His Hospital Friends, and, Toby Says Be a Buddy Not a Bully) has been named among the best in family-friendly media, products and services by the Mom’s Choice Awards, a Mom’s Choice Awards® Gold Recipient.

 Don't forget to tune into PAWsitive Radio - All things Pets!

And... Please come and friend me on Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeamToby2

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalTeamToby

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/teamtoby1

Pet Safekeeping for Domestic Violence Victims

Today's blog is provided by an organization for whom we are champions and appreciate all the incredible work they do....Alberta SPCA.  

A study released by the Alberta SPCA in November 2012 revealed that 59% of pet-owning women in emergency shelters delayed leaving the abusive environment out of concern for their pets. In 36% of the cases, animals were threatened by the abuser – and 85% of those threats were carried out. Interviews with victims show how difficult it can be for women with pets or livestock to leave a violent relationship, and how the animals suffer as an abuser controls the victims by threatening or harming the animals.
 

Photo credit: Alberta SPCA

In addition, children often witness the animal cruelty – and in half of the situations it’s the child’s own pet that is threatened or harmed.

To address this situation, the Alberta SPCA is working with many other agencies to help both animal and human victims of domestic violence. A major goal of the partnership, known as the Alberta Alliance for the Safety of Animals and People (AASAP), is to provide a province-wide pet safe-keeping network for family violence victims while they are in emergency shelters. 

AASAP includes professionals from law enforcement, social services, veterinary services, health, animal welfare, women’s shelters, legal education and other communities.
AASAP wants to start a pilot project in the Edmonton region, with the hope that it can expand to the whole province. 

This will involve hiring a coordinator to take calls from human services professionals and match the pets with a volunteer network of clinics, shelters and foster homes. Working out of the offices of one of the partner agencies, the coordinator will also maintain a database of volunteers and ensure that adequate records are maintained. After a year, the pilot project will be assessed and an expanded program will be designed based on lessons learned; the pilot project is also anticipated to demonstrate the need to prospective funders.

 

Photo credit: Alberta SPCA

This initiative will have direct benefits to numerous individuals in need:

·       Domestic violence victims who would be able to leave violent situations to seek safety for themselves, knowing that their pets will be kept safe and cared for.
·       Children of domestic violence victims who will also be reassured knowing that their pets are safe.
·        Human services professionals – social workers, police, women’s shelter staff – who are often forced to scramble to find accommodations for pets of victims.
·        The animals themselves will be kept safe from abuse and neglect.

To find out more, please visit:   http://www.fieldlawcommunityfund.com/ideas/pet-safekeeping-for-domestic-violence-victims/

Team Toby appreciates the work Alberta SPCA and the AASAP is doing to help individuals and animals in need.  Thank you for sharing your project with us.  Together, we can make a PAWsitive difference!

You can extend your vote for Alberta SPCAs project at:
http://www.fieldlawcommunityfund.com/ideas/pet-safekeeping-for-domestic-violence-victims/