Banjo & Millie's Newest Addition

That's right, we have a new addition to our household. And his name is Pablo... Let me back up and tell you how we met Mr. Pablo and his introduction to our home!

Some of you may have read about my involvement with FETCH a Cure, a local organization that raises money for canine (and feline) cancer awareness/research. This past weekend was its biggest fundraiser, the Pets on Parade Gala, which took place Friday night at the Science Museum. Leading up to this event, artists paint and decorate large steel pups that are then auctioned off at the gala to raise money for Companions in Crisis, the wonderful FETCH financial assistance program to help families pay for treatment and care.

These steel pups spend their days stationed around Carytown (thanks to these kind "foster home" organizations: All Fired Up, Nacho Mama's, The VEC, Ellwood Cafe, Mezzanine, Mongrel, Pink, Murphies, Helping Hands, Franklin Goose, and World of Mirth) leading up to the big event to help generate excitement about the upcoming fundraiser, and on the night of the gala, they are the stars of the show on the auction block.

Needless to say, I was quite surprised when my husband raised his bid number on the last pup of the night, "Picasso Pup," designed by artist Jessica Norris. Inspired by the recent, highly successful Picasso exhibit at the VMFA, Jessica used the master himself's style to create a pup that honors Picasso's love of his own dachshund, Lump. Going once, going twice, SOLD to the two crazy dog lovers in the back (that's us)!

We couldn't be more excited to not only have one of these unique pieces in our home, but we are so happy to be able to contribute to FETCH a Cure's cause. Not only was the event itself a blast, but we got to hang out with other pet lovers in the area, like our friends over at Richmond Pet Lovers and the Richmond Animal League! All in all, a great night for a great cause.

And without further ado, meet Pablo!

Therapy Beagle Extraordinaire

As many of you know, Banjo has a full-time job as a therapy dog. As part of a program that rehabilitates shelter dogs in correctional institutions, Banjo had an inmate trainer/handler who for several months helped to train Banjo to make him "adoptable." Of course, I've always known Banjo as the most well-behaved, chilled out dog in the universe, but I suppose there may have been a time that he wasn't. The world may never know the real, pre-therapized Banjo.

But what does it take to be a therapy dog, you're asking? Well, after Banjo's training, he had to pass a series of tests from the Delta Society to receive his credentials. The Delta Society trains and employs volunteers and their pets to visit various animal-assisted programs such as those found in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and the like, and therefore requires the proper training for both human and animal partners to ensure everyone's health and safety.



To become a registered Pet Partner team, there are 4 steps:

Train the human-end of the leash by attending a Pet Partners team training course. You have the option of completing a workshop or, if you cannot physically attend one, you may complete the home study version (To find a workshop near you, click here.) The human training course will teach the skills you need in order to safely visit the animal-assisted facilities, and include topics such as: facility health and safety codes; identifying and decreasing stress in your animal; preparing for animal visits; and the special needs of specific client groups.

Have your animal partner's health screened by a veterinarian. Your animal must pass a general physical exam, be current on rabies and other immunizations, and be free of internal and external parasites, disease, infections, and illnesses.

Have your human-animal team's skill and aptitude evaluated. You will be evaluated by a Delta-Licensed team evaluator, in order to see how well the handler interprets the animal's behavior, and how well the animal responds to the handler. To ensure everyone's safety, the animal must be under control AT ALL TIMES. The evaluation consists of two parts: the Pet Partners Skills Test (PPST) that shows the animal's understanding (and compliance) of basic commands; and the Pet Partners Aptitude Test (PPAT) that is designed to simulate the conditions you may encounter on your facility visit in order to tell what environment you and your animal are best suited for.

Submit your registration application. The application costs $75 for a handler with one animal. Check out the details of the application submission process here.

A Round of Applause, and a Word of Thanks!

Give yourselves a round of applause! Thanks to everyone's generosity and support, Banjo and Millie reached our personal goal of $500, the Richmond Pet Lovers blew our goal of $1,000 out of the water with a total of over $3,000, and the entire Strut Your Mutt event (consisting of just 11 teams) raised over $20,000! Even the drizzly weather that rolled in couldn't rain on our parade! A big thank you to Sarah of Richmond Pet Lovers for including us in the pack!

Elizabeth, Dewi and Jon Farleigh of The Chronicles of Cardigan, stopped in and made a generous donation to the cause, and Banjo and Millie want her to know just how much we appreciate her kindness! We also want to thank each of you for stopping in to read about the event, and for sharing our fundraising efforts around the blogosphere/Twittersphere. I've said it before, but I want to say once more just how wonderful we think you all are. We are very grateful to be part of this dog blogging community that is full of so many thoughtful and selfless people.

Blog The Change: The Richmond Animal League's Woofstock

Blog the Change falls perfectly in line with a big event Banjo and Millie have been fundraising for, so we're very excited today to share with you an organization we are happy to support, the Richmond Animal League. RAL is a local no-kill shelter in Richmond, Virginia, and this weekend they are holding one of their biggest fundraising events, Woofstock. 

The event kicks off with the Strut Your Mutt Walk, a short jaunt with the pups down historic Monument Avenue. We have joined the Richmond Pet Lovers pack, and so far, our team has raised over $2,800 to go straight to RAL. My personal goal or this even was to raise $500, and I am 70% of the way there. With just one day left to raise money, I am asking for your help to find that last $150. That's where you come in. I am reaching out to you all to share this with your fellow animal-lovers, and to let you know that no donation is too small. 

And did I mention that today is my birthday? Yes, this is a guilt trip. Consider it my birthday present.

If you would like to make a donation, 

please visit my Strut Your Mutt page for more information.

Ninth Annual Dog Jog!

Banjo and Millie had a great time at the ninth annual Richmond SPCA Dog Jog! We have never participated before and were not expecting as many people and pups as there were. It was a dog lovers dream! Here are just a few of the pics from our fun Saturday.

Banjo & Millie Adopt the Internet!

In honor of Petfinder.com's 15th birthday, they're asking pet bloggers to "Adopt the Internet." More than 320,000 pets are waiting for homes on Petfinder.com, and we want to help Petfinder Adopt the Internet today, and find forever homes for as many as possible! In order to do that, we want to share with you a pup on Petfinder.com that we just adore, and hope that we can help him find a home. 


One of the dogs we want to help find a home is one of our favorite breeds, and just happens to share a name with one of the stars of Banjo & Millie - a shih tzu named Banjo! 


Here's a description of the little man:
"Banjo is a handsome little Shih Tzu.  He is a little timid but does like to snuggle with you.  He gets along great with other dogs and would do best in a home with another dog.  Banjo is up to date on vaccines and is neutered.  He will be microchipped prior to adoption.  Banjo will need a home with a secure fence.  If you are interested in possible adoption please go to www.DelawareRescue.com."
If you want to know how you can help Petfinder find homes for these wonderful pets, check out how to "Adopt the Internet" today! 

Banjo & Millie have joined the Richmond Pet Lovers Pack!

Banjo and Millie are so stoked to be part of the Richmond Pet Lovers Strut Your Mutt pack!

Strut Your Mutt is a half mile walk that kicks off “Woofstock,” the Richmond Animal League’s big fundraising festival! The festival includes the Strut Your Mutt Walk, music, canine contests, food (for both people and pups alike!) and local vendors. It all takes place on Saturday, April 16^th, and we will be out there proudly wearing our Richmond Pet Lovers shirts in order to help RAL raise money for homeless animals. Since Banjo spent several years of his life in a shelter, it’s very near and dear to us that we give back to the people and organizations who care so much about finding forever homes for these sweet animals who otherwise may not have second chances.

Not to mention, Millie seriously loves to strut her stuff. Banjo, well, he won’t strut, per se, maybe more of a beagle saunter, but he will be thrilled to be out in the warm spring air on beautiful Monument Avenue!

If you live in the area, we encourage you to participate, and if you don’t, you can still help by donating to the RAL via our event page.

Hope to see you all there!

Annual Richmond SPCA Dog Jog & 5k Run!

Banjo & Millie have just signed up to participate in the Richmond SPCA's annual Dog Jog event! The event is two-fold - a 1 mile walk (with your dog) and a 5k run (without your dog). We will of course be participating in the portion that Banjo & Millie can both walk in, a whopping 1 mile! I encourage anyone who lives nearby to participate. It's going to be a great time, and hopefully it will be just in time for some nice spring morning weather!

Hop on over to our event page to learn more!

Henrico Humane Pet Expo

Over the weekend, Banjo & Millie (and Mom & Dad, of course) went to our first Henrico Humane Society Pet Expo, and boy, did we all have fun! The Expo consisted of over 75 local vendors (grooming, daycare, artists, retail, rescue groups and more), and even more exciting, there were HUNDREDS of other dogs who came out and supported the Humane Society. Dogs of all shapes and sizes paraded around the Showplace, and Banjo & Millie had a good time making all kinds of new friends. We also found a few new local vendors that we're excited to get to know, so we will be showcasing/reviewing them here in the near future!

Here are just a few photos we took while wandering the Expo.

The Flying Jacks Stunt Dog Team Setup

Millie found the jackpot of rawhides!

Frosty Paws Eating Contest

Two tired pups after hours of fun!

H.B. 2482 Pulled!

Well done, friends! After a massive response from animal lovers, Delegate Lee Ware pulled H.B. 2482 from the 2011 Virginia General Assembly session. Check out Richmond SPCA CEO Robin Starr's message about the bill here.Thanks for letting your voices be heard! Banjo and Millie are moved that there are people who will stand up and speak for them! 

Love,

Banjo & Millie

Virginians Unite Against H.B. 2482!

Banjo and Millie just learned of a House Bill that has been introduced to the Virginia General Assembly by Delegate Lee Ware. The bill, in essence, would erase 20 years of progress made on behalf of abused animals in the state of Virginia. Here are a few key takeaways:

• It would allow an abuser to keep the abused animal during investigation and prosecution.
• It would allow the abused animal to return to the convicted abuser.
• It would allow pet dealers/stores to keep selling animals even after being convicted of abuse, cruelty or neglect.
• It would allow convicted abusers to have animals in the future.

Please visit the Richmond SPCA blog to get details about the bill and how you can make your voice heard to your delegate, and to Delegate Lee Ware. And please, pick up the phone and express your opposition - Let's put the pressure on! 

Blogging the Change: FETCH's Pen Pals

With our new involvement in FETCHaCure, we were really pumped to learn about Blog the Change. And since we are still relatively new to blogging, we are excited to see how we might be able to help spread the word. We feel small sometimes, like we can't do much as just one small voice, but a bunch of small voices in unison add up.

So Blog the Change asks that we make a fresh commitment to act on behalf of animals. And that's what Banjo & Millie are doing. There are so many causes that we want to support, but thought we might have the most impact by focusing on just one for the time being, and that's FETCHaCure. We hope that through our involvement with the organization, we can educate our followers and inspire them to get involved too.

In my previous post on FETCH, I explained that FETCHaCure works on behalf of pets and their owners who are or have been affected by cancer or aging. The organization also has a program that I have mentioned called Pixie's Pen Pals. Banjo is a veteran of Pen Pals. He was taken from a shelter where he spent two years, and was trained in a Virginia correctional center by the inmates with the help of two trainers. This gives the inmates the chance to bond with the animals, reinforcing responsibility, patience, and tolerance, and it gives these now fully-trained dogs a second chance to find a permanent home.

If you or anyone you know is looking for a new furry family member, I highly recommend checking out one of these Pen Pal Pups. Not only are they in need of a home, but you get the added benefit of getting a dog who is already fully trained!

Volunteers for FETCHaCure!

Banjo & Millie want to help FETCHaCure! Back in November we attended the Million Paws Walk in which proceeds went to help find a cure for canine cancer. Though we are blessed to have two happy, healthy dogs at present, we know how painful losing a pet is. So when we received an email from FETCHaCure asking for volunteers, we jumped at the chance to see what we could to do help. (And Banjo just so happens to know something about the FETCHaCure Pen Pals Program. That’s because Banjo is a Pen Pals veteran! Before Pixie’s Pen Pals was a part of FETCHaCure, it was called SOS (Save our Shelter) Pen Pals program. Our sweet Banjo was in a shelter for 2 years - which I find just absolutely impossible to believe as he is one of the most loving, gentle and well-behaved dogs I have EVER known. And I’ve known a lot of dogs. But thanks to Pen Pals, Banjo became trained at a Virginia correctional institution before receiving his therapy beagle certification, and now he goes to work every day in the prison. But more on that at a later time.)

So last night we attended FETCHaCure’s first volunteer meeting of 2011 to see how we could get involved in the organization and are so excited to get started! There were 35+ volunteers present at the meeting, all of which were so excited to see how they could help. Being in a room with that many passionate dog people is inspiring. We are total strangers who happen to share a bond that requires no explanation. For me, it’s the things like this that really energize me and give me a purpose that is greater than some of the trivial things of day-to-day life. Thanks, FETCHaCure for your work, and for letting us be a part of it. We can’t wait to see what wonderful things the organization does this year! Look for posts to come about what FETCH does for canine cancer research as well as the ways we are going to try to help contribute!

Redemption for Michael Vick?

If you haven’t heard, President Obama called the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, Jeffrey Lurie, this week and praised him for giving Michael Vick a “second chance” by signing him after he spent time in jail for running an interstate dog fighting ring.

As an animal lover and advocate, I find myself conflicted with this praise.

On the one hand, I despise what Michael Vick represents on so many levels. Excess. Ego. Celebrity in America. As a Southwest Virginia native, I also had the added annoyance of hearing about Michael Vick constantly while he played for Virginia Tech (ugh!), so I am somewhat predisposed to dislike him anyways.

And as if I didn’t dislike him enough, Vick made sure to solidify my distaste for him with his dog fighting operation. Quite clearly I despise Vick's treatment of animals. I believe a human that can be cruel to an animal is likely capable of being just as cruel to another human being. So as a person, I believe Michael Vick is pretty low.

But on the other hand, he did his time and paid for his crime (at least according to the law), and now speaks out against animal cruelty. Part of me just wonders how sincere can he really be in his advocacy. It all seems to me that Vick is just trying to save his reputation and return to his former glory by making nice with animal rights advocates.

As a person who believes in redemption, I am pleased with President Obama’s faith in humanity and the possibility of redemption after such a fall. Also, having grown up with a father working in the judicial system and now a husband who works in corrections, I would like to believe that there can be rehabilitation for offenders, that they can truly have a second chance at life and become positive, contributing members of society. I find blogger Anne Althouse’s thoughts and perspective interesting:

“How inspiring is the return of Michael Vick? Will it hearten those who are attempting to return to society after serving time and make the rest of us more likely to welcome them back? Or will it make us more likely to think cynically that the rich and famous get special exceptions from the rules? Does Vick make the field look more level or less level?"

PETA President Ingrid Newkirk has deemed President Obama’s praise for vick as “appropriate,” stating that “We all want a president who can lift us up and move us forward when ugly things happen, but that cannot let us forget and remain watchful to avoid future abuses.”

I’d like to know, what do you think about Obama’s praise of Michael Vick?

Puppy Up!

Sean and the Pups who Puppied Up!

Rockwood Park

Today, Sean, Banjo, Millie and I participated in the Puppy Up Walk for Fetch-a-Cure to help raise money for canine cancer research. I felt so proud of the little munchkins out there with all the big dogs, joining the team, no hesitation. Though I've never had a pup with cancer, I've loved and lost my share of dogs, so it felt good to be a part of something with a group of people who all share that love. And hopefully being part of those 2 million dogs walking today around the country, we were able to contribute to a cause that is often easily overlooked. 

Super Millie, off to fight canine cancer!

Help Fetch a Cure!