Pop Dog is on MySpace!

My human now has a MySpace presence for Pop Dog Portraits! If you are on MySpace, please feel free to drop by and add her to your friend list, leave a comment and look around! She'll keep you updated on her latest paintings and other things Pop Dog related!

The POLL is back!!

Check out my new poll in the sidebar of my blog! What kind of sports do you pups "pawticipate" in??

I'd love to find out!

YOUR HELP NEEDED!! FOR US FLOOD VICTIM!

This was barked to me in one of my Manchester web groups. As many of you know, devastating floods have ravaged parts of Washington State, in the US. One victim in particular, Nancy Punches, a beloved dog breeder and trainer has been hit particularly hard by this tragedy.

Here's her story. You can also check it out from local station KOMO TV.
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Dear friends,

We need some help.

A good friend of ours, Nancy Punches, has suffered a terrible disaster. Her home was not too far from the Chehalis River, in coastal Washington. On Tuesday morning when the river crested at 75 feet, she lost nearly everything. Nancy is in her early seventies, a fiercely independent and remarkable woman-- generous, kind and an extraordinary part of the purebred dog world.

She has raised, trained and exhibited dogs from the early 1960s, first Doberman Pinschers, then Pulik, Smooth Fox Terriers, American Foxhounds and most recently she had acquired a much loved Black Russian Terrier, Dali. She is also an AKC judge, but is so busy with her work in the lab of the Morton Hospital and with her own dogs that she doesn't accept many assignments. She is however, always ready to help out, she chairs shows and ring stewards, helps build majors and offers advice and comfort and guidance to all.

Nancy spent many hours of the night and into the morning, alternately treading water and clinging to a china hutch as water in her home rose to within ten inches of the ceiling. When the China hutch gave way and fell into the water, Nancy kept her head above water by clinging to a plank. Just before the flood, knowing that bad weather was coming, she brought her most beloved dogs into the house for safekeeping. Dali, the black Russian terrier. The Foxhounds-- Cruise, Whistler, Jack, Priss, Minnie, Precious, Dixie. All champions. All beloved. One by one they each drowned in front of her.

She did manage to save a litter of five week old puppies. She had placed them in a styrofoam cooler and floated them alongside her all through the night. Like Nancy, they survived and were rescued by helicopter late on Tuesday morning. Nancy thinks that one of the Foxhounds in the kennel also rode out the storm, but all the others, more than thirty dogs in all, perished.

Nancy is in Providence Hospital in Chehalis, WA with frostbite to her feet. Her home has been demolished, and everything she has, save four little puppies and maybe one lone foxhound, everything else is gone. She did not have flood insurance, so the loss of her home, her van, her motorhome, her kennel--- none of that is covered. Some philanthropic organizations have been contacted and we are doing our best to find help for Nancy. She will need every dime.

Please, would you consider making a donation to help ease the anguish that has befallen this wonderful woman? It doesn't have to be much-- even a few dollars makes a difference. If you like to use paypal, here's the link:

http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/ema/index-outside

A special account has been set up with the recipient nancypunchesfund@earthlink.net

If you would prefer to send a check, it can be made payable to Nancy Punches and sent to:
P.O. Box 2022, Livingston, MT 59047.

We will send an acknowledgment of your donation with our great thanks.

If you've ever loved a dog, if your life was ever changed by a remarkable woman, please consider helping Nancy now.

Larkin Vonalt
Redchief Kennels
406 222 2736

Pooch Pals website is LIVE!

Exciting news! My human mom designed a logo and website for my dog walker...and it’s now LIVE!

Pooch Pals

There are a few broken links to images…they didn’t like the name..so they have to re-upload those images/pages…but all in all, I think it turned out pretty good for my human's limited web knowledge!

Stay tuned...she's starting a blog soon about our adventures!!!

GQ Baby!

WOW! Look what an anonymous pup pal from Dogster sent me! I'm on the cover of GQ baby!!

DWB Holiday Cards!!!

I'm such a lucky pup!!! I've been getting great holiday cards from my Dogs with Blogs pals!!

Thanks to Maggie & Mitch, Dory, Katie, Zorra & Sam, Sitka & Tia, Willie & Waylon and Comet Blue & Lucy!!

I'll be sending mine out this weekend!

Winter Fur

If you are a four-legged friend, then sometimes you may be the bane of your humans existence. Not because you chewed a favourite shoe, or barked at the mailman. No, it's because you shed. Even now, that winter is here and I'm growing my winter coat (my human mom likes to call me her little hairy chested man-pup!) I still shed. They were quite misguided in buying a white couch, and a black dog.

So what's a pup to do? Hope the humans get a kick-ass vacuum that can handle the tough job of pet fur (ahem...and dander and dust in general).

Mine have had three different kinds, and although the canister they have now is ok...what they covet...and are saving for is the Dyson. It even gives my human dad the urge to vacuum!

Sidenote for human moms: A recent survey said 75% of men would vacuum if they had a Dyson. So if you're human mom wants more help around the house, tell her to check the Dyson line.

They have developed a system where the Dyson parts create 45% more suction and remove more dust than other vacuum brands. WOW!

For pet owners, like our humans, they even have search categories that help choose the vacuum for you! The website is very helpful and easy to navigate. So whether you like the cannister or upright, if fur is an issue, Dyson has a solution for you.

DC 20 Stowaway

DC 14 Telescope Reach

Deep in it!

Snow that is! We had an overnight blast of snow again! This time is came up of my armpits!!! At first I didn't want to walk - er, jump in it...but tonight I was running around like crazy loving it! Not sure if it's gonna last...it's now begun to rain! Crazy weather!

Power of the Paw! Your help is needed in Animal Cruelty case!!

Thanks to Jake and Just Harry for barking this story to me!
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Marc-Andre Laporte, 59, was found guilty of two counts of animal cruelty at the St. Jerome courthouse in Montreal this week, following the seizure of 97 fox terriers in November 2005 from his Blainville puppy mill. Judge Jean Sirois rejected Laporte's argument that he loved his dogs too much. When police raided the property, they found dogs matted in feces feeding on dogs' carcasses and stronger dogs preying on weaker ones.

Click here -- if you have a strong stomach -- to see the photos:
http://www.spcamontreal.com/english/pages/whats_new/news.html

Almost 40 animals had to be destroyed. Laporte's home was later condemned and demolished in March 2006. The surviving dogs were cared for by the SPCA and later, with the help of devoted fox terrier lovers, found wonderful foster homes where they have been living for the past 2 years. Despite his horrendous treatment of these innocent creatures, Laporte, who wil be sentenced on February 22, 2008, is facing only six months of jail time and up to $4,000 in fines. At the same hearing, the judge is to decide if Laporte is to get any of his fox terriers back!

WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. The surviving mill fox terriers took months to recover physically, medically and emotionally from their ordeal. To even consider removing ONE wire from the safety and care of their loving foster families back to Laporte is OUTRAGEOUS!

Today we are launching a two-fold campaign to prevent Laporte from getting his dog/s back. We know we can count on you to take action and spread the word:

1: Please go to http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/no-dogs-for-laporte to sign the online petition that has been set up. Once all the signatures are entered, it will be printed out and given to Elizabeth Pierce who has been instrumental in saving and caring for the Blainville wires, for distribution to the media (unfortunately it is illegal in Canada to hand petitions to the court).

2: Please take a few minutes to write a letter to Judge Jean Sirois imploring him to prevent Laporte from ever taking possession of his former fox terriers or of owning any dog again. If you can, include a photo of yourself and your foxie/dog. All the letters received will be put in a file and also handed to the media.

Letters should be mailed to:

Elizabeth Pierce
119 16th Street,
Roxboro, Québec
Canada H8Y 1P1.

The sentencing hearing is February 22, 2008 – so write those letters soon. Please cross-post this information on your blogs, to your fellow dog owners etc. Thank you for your support in this important matter.

Remember, this could have happened to any of us or our friends. It's not just about wire fox terriers. It's about treating all animals with the love and respect they deserve.

What I want for Christmas...

is the Chilly Dogs Great White North coat. I covet this coat. It comes in a pawesome turquoise fleece that contrasts my fur quite nicely!

Puuuhhhllleeeeezzzze Santa Paws!! I've been a good pup all year!! (well, mostly....but good enough!!!)




[photo credit]