Purr Prints of the Heart.... dealing with pet loss and letting go

Toby here!

A dog with a blog... sharing my take on life and the great things people are doing to change the world!

Today mom interviewed Deborah Barnes on her radio show:

Deborah's book is called PurrPrints of the Heart 

Photo Credit Deborah Barnes

In the show, Deborah shared some tips to dealing with aging pets and pet loss:

- Find a support system
- Communicate and share with others
- Appreciate the time you shared with your pet
- Create a family scrapbook of your pet's life
- Allow yourself the opportunity to feel and to heal

Photo Credit Deborah Barnes

Photo Credit Deborah Barnes

 Pets aging is part of life.  Deborah's book, written through the perspective of Mr. Jazz the cat shares valuable tips for coping with your aging pet.

Thank you Mr Jazz for a book that so respects the dignity and honors pets and the value they bring to families. And most of all.... thank you for helping teach humans how to deal with letting go.

Please take a listen to the conversation that mom and Deborah had on Pawsitive Radio Show.


 

Check Out Pets Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with PAWsitive Radio on BlogTalkRadio

Please share with others you think might enjoy the show.

Thanks
Toby....

Dog Collars with Positive Messages of Kindness

 Toby the Dog Here!

A dog on a mission to build a kinder world...

Here is one way to show your support for kindness.... wear it around your neck.

Hot Dog Collars designed this awesome collar for me.




Mom loves the collars, the fact it's washable (and believe me.... my collars get dirty from all my outdoor play), it's durable (so definitely Toby proof) and... it has a super PAWSitive message about kindness. 

Thank you Hot Dog Collars for helping us share our message about kindness, acceptance and respect!

I look forward to wearing this on our fall Million Acts of Kindness tour.

Want to learn more about Hot Dog Collars?   Visit their website

Would you like us to visit your school or workplace during our Million Acts of Kindness tour?  Connect with us on Twitter or Facebook

Bring Jake Home- a rescue story with a happy new beginning

Toby the dog here!

I'm a dog with a blog on a mission to change the world through kindness.

And here is a totally pawsome story about a rescue dog Jake, who has a new beginning because of the kindness of others.

You can listen to the update on Jake's happy beginning story here:
 http://www.blogtalkradio.com/teamtoby/2015/04/14/bring-jake-the-dog-home-update-collaboration-at-its-finest-for-pet-rescue

Today's guest blog post is from my friend Lisa Litwinski. 

 thanks Lisa for sharing Jakes' story with us.

Jake’s amazing  story involves  a community of some of the most incredibly caring & dedicated people in Canada & the USA  who pulled together in a magnificent collaboration to bring this wonderful  rescue dog home to Alberta & give him the best second chance possible.  

 Lisa Litwinski deeply loves animals and has been devoted to animal rescue her whole life. She heard about an Alberta Black Lab dog who got lost,  ended up in an Imlay Shelter, and launched Bring Jake Home to Alberta.  (Jake did not have a tattoo or microchip. With extensive efforts in Canada & the US we were not able to locate his family.) Lisa partnered with Aimee Orn at Lapeer County Animal Control, Wendy Yax at Lapeer’s Adoptable Animal Rescue in Imlay, Michigan & April Oakes at Infinite WOOFS Rescue in Edmonton, Alberta so that Jake could journey home to a loving foster home while we help him to settle in & find his new forever family. (His Foster Mom Megan volunteered before we had our Alberta rescue in place. 

 Wonderful people stepped up to join Jake’s team & community of support. )Jake’s story is one of LOVE, hope, & kindness, & the positive difference we can make.  It is an honour to have worked with so many caring, thoughtful people who have collaborated to help Jake. Thank you profiles of our Jake team & family members are on Jake’s Facebook page: Bring Jake Home to Alberta, with more to come. Please stop by and get to know these wonderful people.

Our boy JAKE IS HOME & settling in very well! Thanks to everyone for caring, sharing, & helping us to help give Jake the fabulous second chance he deserves. He is one incredibly wonderful dog and everyone who meets him falls in love with him. Jake is a happy and affectionate boy who is part Lap Dog. J He loves to snuggle time, snack time, play time with his tennis ball, and truck rides.

We are fundraising to cover additional care & vet expenses for Jake in Alberta. Jake has an approved Charity ATB Financial Community Spirit bank account: Bring Jake Home. Contact: BringJakeHometoAlberta@shaw.ca for ways to donate or private message Jake’s page. We accept Pay Pal to a friend & transfer.  Check out Jake’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bringjakehometoalberta or Twitter: @BringJakeHomeAB  #BringJakeHometoAlberta    Jake’s profile is on the wonderful: InfiniteWOOFS.org 

Lisa is a Facilitative Trainer, Professional Speaker, & Mentor Coach who specializes in collaborative Team Building, Leadership Development, & Life Leadership/Empowerment. She is a Certified True Colors Facilitator who loves to work with people to focus on their strengths.  Lisa works with organizations & teams to Create Leaders at Every Level  & is the creator of Today, I Choose™ daily inspirational cards for consciously choosing successful thoughts, feelings, & actions.

Are you getting PR for your business?

Toby the dog here!

I'm a media hound (whooops for the pun)

But seriously.

I love media!

I love how media helps share good news!

I love how media helps pets find forever family and pawsome products that help.

Mom talked to Dana Humphrey of Whitegate PR. Dana is known as The Pet Lady!

They talked about press releases, building relationships with media, how to approach media and being a rock star (like me on the media)

Dana also talked about how PR can help your business. It sure has helped ours!

So as you plan promoting your next event, product launch or business event... remember to put the tips Dana provided into action. They work!!

You can listen to mom and Dana here:

Check Out Pets Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with PAWsitive Radio on BlogTalkRadio

SPIN for the PAWS!

Hi there!

The dog here.

And this is my human... Charmaine

I am a dog with a blog on a mission to change the world through kindness!

Check out the pawsome event mom is helping organize in St Catherine's' Ontario on May 30.  SPIN for the PAWS.

This FUNdraising event supports the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program Niagara Region.
Here is a video to share this pawsome organization with you.   You can see why we are so excited to support this group!



To learn more about the event, participate or become a sponsor, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1555962708010541/

Here's how the event works.....

You register with one of the event partners, Liva Health.   Your registration includes a BBQ lunch, some awesome books by Marybeth Haines and my mom, Charmaine Hammond, and a Tshirt.

 You can spin for 30 minutes up to an hour.  Your registration supports the St John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program Niagara region. 

 

Therapy dogs are such an important part of society... they accept unconditionally, provide support and love, and give so much.

It takes a community... and a pack... to plan a 4 paws up event.   Let's give a high five to our event partners....

Join us on May 30!  SPIN for the PAWS

To learn more about the event, participate or become a sponsor, please visit:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1555962708010541/

Bring Jake the Dog Home- collaboration to bring a lost dog back home

It's me again... a dog with a blog

Mom always say "animals connect people!"

Gotta say.... she's right!

Check out this amazing story of how people are coming together to bring a dog named Jake back home to Canada.

Photo Credit: Bring Jake Home Facebook page

Jake’s unusual story has a community of people in Canada & the USA collaborating to bring this rescue dog home & give him the best second chance possible. 

Jake is a Lab cross with an out of service # Drayton Valley, Alberta tag who ended up lost and in an Imlay, Michigan Shelter.  Lisa Litwinski is working with the USA Shelter in Imlay & an Edmonton Rescue: Infinite WOOFS making plans for Jake to journey home to a loving foster home while we help him to find his new forever family. Jake has a Charity ATB Financial Community Spirit bank account, Facebook page, & a twitter account. Things are moving up in the world for this boy! We are fundraising to cover the cost of expenses to bring this dog home. Contact: BringJakeHometoAlberta@shaw.ca for ways to donate. Check out Jake’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bringjakehometoalberta or Twitter: @BringJakeHomeAB #BringJakeHometoAlberta

Thank you for your caring, sharing and support. Let’s bring this dog home!

Here's some info that Lisa provided mom... with all the pawsome details and backstory:

Fundraiser to Help Bring Jake the Rescue Dog Home to Alberta

Jake is a Lab cross with an out of service # Drayton Valley, Alberta tag who ended up lost and in an Imlay, Michigan Shelter.  Lisa contacted the Shelter to explore how to help Jake in the event that his family was not located.  The Shelter was very open to working together to bring Jake home to Alberta & the initiative formally launched.  Jake has a Charity ATB Financial bank account, Facebook page, & a twitter account. Things are moving up in the world for this boy!

Hundreds of people shared Jake’s posts in efforts to reunite him with his family. We did not find them. Any inquiries about Jake came from Canadians as a result of this collaborative initiative. No one locally called or came in to look for Jake. The USA Shelter did their due diligence with the legal hold period to find the family.  Jake has been pulled by the Imlay rescue and they are working with us to bring Jake home. Lisa found a fabulous Alberta foster home for Jake and a wonderful no kill, foster home based, Edmonton rescue for Jake to help oversee the process of finding Jake his new forever home. www.InfiniteWOOFS.org. Lisa is excited about helping Jake to find his new family. Jake is a happy and affectionate dog who loves to run and play with his tennis ball. We are so excited to bring this boy home to have an amazing second chance!!

We have an approved ATB Financial Community Spirit Account set up for Jake. 100% of all donations go directly to covering our expenses to bring him home.  Income Tax receipts are available for donations over $20.00.  There are three ways to donate: 1) Pay Pal to a friend – search for BringJakeHometoAlberta@shaw.ca. Select immediate transfer.  2) E-transfer to BringJakeHometoAlberta@shaw.ca 3) Go to any ATB Financial and deposit directly to “Bring Jake Home” Community Spirit Account in Edmonton.  Please include your name, email address, & mailing address so that we can get a tax receipt to you. 

We are raising funds to cover the expenses related to bringing Jake home: pull fee from the shelter, vet exam, vaccinations & health certificate, travel crate & supplies, travel & plane fare, & further vet care upon arrival to Edmonton. Many of the expenses are in US dollars.

 Jake is now vet approved to travel and up to date on his vaccinations. We are working on finalizing some of the legal documents and travel arrangements. 

Thousands of people have been moved by Jake’s story.  There is a community of people in Canada & the USA collaborating to bring Jake home. Thank you to those who have donated & reached out to support Jake in so many ways. If you have questions please contact Lisa at: BringJakeHometoAlberta@shaw.ca

 Let's Rally together to bring this pawsome dog back home!!  Mom and I donated to this cause because we want to help this awesome dog get back to Alberta.  Hope you will too!

HUGS and Big Tail Wags of Support,

Toby...

xo

For people who love travelling, please check out canadiantraveller.com for awesome destinations, travel tips, bucket-list adventures and so much more.  Canadian Traveller is one of our amazing partners on our recent PAWs Across Canada tour, and, our upcoming Million Acts of Kindness Tour.

Rescue Madness!

It's me...Toby the dog....

A dog with a blog.

And that's my human mum, Charmaine... she is always trying to get in on my selfies....

March is Rescue Madness with our friends at DoggyBNB

Photo Credit :   DoggyBNB

They are on a mission to help rescue dogs through a super fun March campaign.... Rescue Madness!

There are great prizes and by being part of Rescue Madness, you help animal shelters/rescues and the adorable pups waiting for their FURever families.

You might be asking.... What or Who is DoggyBNB?

Here's a bit 'bout them....

Doggy BNB is all about having an inclusive community of pet care options with the people you trust and care about the most. Just like my  mom, other pet parents  love their dogs so much and have to know that when their dog is in someone's care, they are well taken care of and safe. DoggyBNB is a social connection platform to find responsible, safe loving pet care when the humans have to go away. Check out the DoggyBNB app at

http://www.doggybnb.com/

Remember to go on and pawticipate on Rescue Madness... together we can make a pawsitive difference and find some forever homes for dogs in need

Toby out.

PS  remember to follow me on Facebook and Twitter

For people who love travelling, please check out canadiantraveller.com for awesome destinations, travel tips, bucket-list adventures and so much more.

Canadian Traveller is one of our amazing partners on our PAWS Across Canada and upcoming Million Acts of Kindness tours.