Hurray for Kind Humans!

Hurray!

We've raised the $500 needed to pay for Theo's echocardiogram.

But please keep buying raffle tickets, dear FOT (Friends of You-Know-Who). Because these beautiful dogs need help too and all the money raised from this point on goes to make sure they can pay for it.


This is Bryan and if you don't think he's cute, there is really no hope for you.

Bryan has been to see the opthamologist (who found that his eyes are just a bit buggy--is there a cuter way to say that?--but they are fine) and an orthopedist (who says that he'll grow into those bowed legs) and vets don't actually charge less for good news than bad (though some very special vets do give a discount to rescue organizations and HT appreciates it!)

Learn more about Bryan



This is Elaine the 50 lb lap dog and at a recent adoption event she climbed right into mine. Like my good friend Theo, Elaine is heartworm positive, and that treatment costs money.

Learn more about Elaine

Anthropomorphize Much?

I'm Theo and I've hacked Rachel's account to bring you this important message:

I LOVE YOU!

Thank you to everyone who donated, is about to donate, or will donate before the raffle drive is over and thank you to everyone for all your well wishes. They mean a lot. Along with the belly rubs and treats and coos, they add up to a pretty wonderful existence. Who knew life could be so good? Well, I did. But I'm a pretty big optimist.

Looks like we'll meet our goal (and goal rhymes with bowl and bowls hold kibble, so I know that goals are good), but I wanted to ask that you buy raffles even if you see that number go beyond $500. That's because Homeward Trails has lots of wonderful dogs and cats in need and 100 percent of your donations will go toward their care.

Please remember to email Rachel or Lois and let them know how many tickets you bought so they can give you the raffle tickets or email you the raffle ticket numbers. More prizes will be announced soon.

Thanks again, and many thanks to Rachel for the spell-checking. Now that I know how "kibble" is spelled, I plan to scribble the word all over her walls.

Even if you can't give, remember: I LOVE YOU!!

-Sweet Boy Theo

Theo Sees the Cardiologist (A Happy Story with No Moral Beyond This: Love Dogs and You Can't Go Wrong)

Theo the Wonderdog had a rainy-day outing to the cardiologist and the news is very good!

He's got a minor valvular leakage that may progress or may not. The cardiologist told him (and Lois) that "given the mildness of the lesion, I would not anticipate problems for years even if it does progress."

In other words: YAY THEO!

She did ask that he come back in 12-18 months for another echo (but might that just be because he's too cute to not want to see again?)

Oh, and if it does progress, he'd need heart meds.

But he's all great and once his heartworm meds have completed their work (mid-August) he can be just as active as any other dog. Though he'll probably still prefer cuddling to running around :).

Theo came back to Rachel and Bella's house, ate a big bowl of food and went for a nap. It's all good.

And the formerly skinny Sweet Boy (he was 26 pounds and his hip bones jutted like a supermodel's when we first met him) is now a bruiser at 31 lbs.

All together now: HURRAY THEO!

(Remember to buy a raffle! Thanks!)

How Do I Buy Raffles?

It's easy!

See the widget on the right?--The one that says "First Giving"--if you give your money through that and email Rachel your phone number at writer_safier@yahoo.com as soon as you do (because the widget gladly takes your money and records your name, but it doesn't record your email address or phone), I in turn will email you your raffle number/s. Feel free to cc Theo's rescue coordinator at Homeward Trails, Lois, at loislht@yahoo.com.

We have not yet picked the exact date for the drawing. It will be by the end of July, latest. Someone unaffiliated with the Sweet Boy or Homeward Trails will pick the numbers out of a hat (or other concave device) and the winners will be listed on this blog and contacted by email and phone (or one or the other if you specify).

Raffles are $5 each and all money raised goes to Homeward Trails Rescue. Any money raised in excess of the $500 needed for Sweet Boy's echocardiogram will go to help out other animals with their own medical needs.

Yes, it says "Donate," but you are buying a raffle ticket--or 10, depending on how much money you give. But if you don't email me or Lois, it's just a donation because we have no way of reaching back to you.

If you have further questions, email me or Lois.
Unless your name is Stacey, in which case you have reached your quota of questions ;).

THANK YOU!

Great News! Two new prizes!

The Washington Ballet has kindly donated a pair of tickets to opening night of the Nutcracker on December 10, 2009. Here's what the Washington Post has to say about this talented troupe's rendition of the classic:

The Nutcracker
Warner Theatre, Washington, DC
Holiday cheer and history intersect in the lush world of Septime Webre's The Nutcracker. Starring George Washington as the heroic Nutcracker and England's King George III as the villainous Rat King, this whimsical delight is quickly becoming one of Washington, DC's newest holiday traditions. Secure your seats now for a taste of this "bonbon of a 'Nutcracker,' a bite-size sweet!" (Washington Post)


Certified Reiki Master and Teacher Amanda Johnston has kindly donated a free Reiki session! ($75 value). For more on Reiki and Amanda, visit www.pathtoreiki.com. This session can be arranged at the winner's and Amanda's convenience and will take place at Woodley Park Yoga, across the street from the Woodley Park-Zoo metro in Washington, DC.

Buy a Raffle--Buy 6!

It's a homegrown affair, this raffle for Sweet Boy. We've got these prizes--but even more, we've got the good feeling you'll get knowing you helped a very sweet dog (with very large ears) get the help he needs for his very loving heart.

*Homemade candy (from a super talented caterer friend)
*A private yoga lesson (from an awesome teacher who loves Theo--she can't adopt him bse she already has two beautiful pups)
*A collection of cookbooks signed by the authors (from a woman who has never even met Sweet Boy Theo, but reads his blog and knows how great he is. And no, it's not my mom)
*Homemade lipbalms and fair-trade African soap (a very, very talented makeup artist friend)
*A pass for 5 free yoga classes at the amazing Woodley Park Yoga (a $75 dollar value)
*A cool quilted purse with a sweet butterfly necklace

If I haven't represented your donation adequately, please email me your edits!

You can purchase raffles using the widget at right. Please also email me --the widget doesn't record your email address.

Tickets will be sold til the end of the month and the raffles will be picked out of a hat by someone unaffiliated with Theo or Homeward Trails.

Lois, am I leaving anything out?

HAVE A HEART FOR THEO!

Raffles are $5 apiece. Buy 'em through the widget over there on the right side of the page. When you buy them, please email me at writer_safier@yahoo.com to tell me you've done so; this way I'll have your email address (which the widget does not record) and I can email you back your raffle number/s.

More info on prizes is below. Full lineup of prizes to be posted here today!

Hurray Theo!

Always Ready for His Closeup

Theo Loves Children

Sammi loves Theo and it looks pretty mutual!

Not a lot of people made it to the latest adoption event, which was a real shame because the dogs were so wonderful! Elaine, Lilly, Pax... I could go on and on.

But four (4!!) FOT (Friends of Theo) --including the beautiful Sammi--made a point of stopping by. None of these fine folks can have a dog for various reasons, but they all follow the Sweet Boy on his blog and took time out of their beautiful Sunday to come cheer him on.

You'll love him too!

Also: This is the last week I'll be fishing for raffle prizes. I've got homemade candy, signed books, specially made makeup and handmade jewelry. Can you donate anything?

Next week I'll begin selling tickets!

Come Meet Theo On Sunday in DC

Theo will be at the Homeward Trails adoption event this Sunday, June 7 from 3:00-5:00 p.m.

The event will be at PetMAC DC (4220 Fessenden Street, NW, Washington, DC. For directions, please go to petmac.org