Sabrina works for an advertising agency, Park & Co, and she needs our help. Her office decided to see how creative its staff was by putting on a Video Film Festival and Contest.

Sabrina and three of her colleagues got together, along with 6 adorable pups, and showed what great results can be produced with a collaborative effort. The most watched video is going to win a $1,000 prize. If Sabrina’s group wins she is going to do something really special with the prize money which is why we all need to watch this adorable video.

If we win, we will be donating the $1,000 to the Arizona Animal Welfare League and SPCA, the state’s oldest and largest no-kill shelter. Their shelter facilities provide a temporary home for nearly 2,000 dogs and cats every year, offering medical and behavioral treatment for those in need. They are an amazing organization. Maricopa county has the second highest “kill-rate” in the nation.

If you can’t see the video then click here.

This is a wonderful, and uplifting, article on the trials and tribulations that go along with rehabilitating rescued fighting pit bulls. A number of the dogs seized from Michael Vick’s, former football star, dogfighting camp in 2007 went to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary for rehabilitation.

Vick’s former fight dogs live in a facility within Best Friends called Dogtown, and according to Besmehn nearly all have made major improvements since they arrived, both physically and emotionally.

Tonight you can watch Dogtown, on the National Geographic Channel, as it follows Cherry and Georgia, two of the surviving pit bulls.

Best Friends was criticized earlier this year when it took in the abused pooches.

“Definitely, there were groups that recommended that these dogs be euthanized, that they can’t be rehabbed,” Besmehn said. “For us, we’ve taken challenging dogs on a regular basis. We feel these dogs, at a minimum, deserve a chance. We’ve seen these dogs are doing really well with a little bit of patience. … They can make progress. It takes time.”

The full article is rather long but very inspiring and worth reading in full. It shows that these dogs shouldn’t arbitrarily be put down for a choice one human made that sealed their fate. Humans on the other hand…..

Here’s something you don’t see everyday, an article on a dog getting a kidney transplant. At the University of Pennsylvania surgeons are getting ready to try and save the life of an ailing 14 month-old boxer terrier, Zani, who is suffering from a diseased kidney.

The surgery, which will take place at Penn Veterinary Hospital, will be headed up by primary surgeon Dr. Heidi Phillips. Zani’s twin sister will be donating part of her kidney to help save him.

“We’re only able to do dogs that are related to each other. We need a related donor in order to give a kidney to the recipient in order to minimize the amount of side effects,” said primary surgeon Dr. Heidi Phillips.

I wonder if they got Zani’s sister to the hospital by telling her they were taking her to the park. She’s not going to be happy when she wakes up in a backless white gown and an IV in her arm.

We hope all goes well for both Zani and his sister. A special thanks to Bo’s friend, Eddie, for sharing this story.

I received a message about Casper, an adorable 7 month old Pomeranian, who is in desperate need of a heart operation.

He was diagnosed with Pulmonic Stenosis, it affects the right artery so that it is barely pumping blood into his heart. Casper is at risk of his heart enlarging on the right side; leading to cardiac arrest and possible sudden death.

The operation is very expensive so Casper’s buddies put together a raffle to raise money to help out. Some very generous Dogster members donated great gifts for you to win.

We are holding a raffle of Gift Baskets and other prizes to raise funds for Casper. You can purchase the tickets now and choose which prizes you want before the drawing on September 8.

PRIZES
Here is a list of donated gifts so far as prizes for the raffle. I will update this list as more donations come in.

$5.00 TICKET CATEGORY

A. $20.00 gift certificate to www.dieseldoggie.net
-Donated by Diesel (ID146642)’s Mom Sherry

B. Basket of doggie cookies
- Donated by Cosmo Enyce Politan (ID380677)’s mom Raquel. www.tiptopwebsite.com/noahsbarkwoofery

C. A Tastefully Simple gift package include items from

www.tastefullysimple.com

- Donated by Tessa (ID 121303)’s mom.

D. A butiful blanket made and donated by Dayzee (519632)
’s mom

$10.00 TICKET CATEGORY

A. $55.00 gift certificate to The New York Dog Shop
www.thenewyorkdogshop.com
-Donated by Brodie’s mom (ID690517)

B. Basket of doggie grooming supplies. Shampoo, brushes etc. valued over $50.00
-Donated by Sophie’s (ID679446) and my mom

C. A Bath & Body Works gift card value $50.00. Check out Bath & Body Works at

www.bathandbodyworks.com

- Donated by Tessa (ID 121303)’s mom.

$20.00 OR ABOVE TICKET CATEGORY

A. $200.00 gift basket of women’s fashion jewelry
-Donated by a very generous Anonymous Donor

If you’re interested in buying a raffle ticket, or making a prize donation, stop by Have A Heart for Casper. Good luck little buddy!

Has the age old debate been solved? You be the judge….

If you don’t see the video, click here.