Today Show's Wrangler Named 2016 Guide Dog of the Year

He won the hearts of millions of television viewers by raising the public's awareness of the vital work of service dogs during his 14-month stint on the NBC daytime show Today. Now Wrangler the Labrador Retriever has won the honor of being named 2016 Guide Dog of the Year.

A 19-month-old guide dog-in-training, Wrangler is a national ambassador for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. The non-profit organization, which launched in 1954,  provides guide dogs for those who are visually impaired and service dogs for children with autism.

A diligent student, Wrangler will soon complete his final, formal training and will be paired with a person who is blind or is facing the challenges of vision loss. He will bond with his new person as they both spend three weeks training together at Guiding Eyes for the Blind's Yorktown facility.

Wrangler received his accolade (a trophy and a basket filled with toys and treats) during a presentation which followed the June 13th Guiding Eyes Golf Classic, which was hosted by two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning.

The 2016 Guide Dog of the Year Award was presented by Canine Company President and CEO Jennifer Hill, who stated that Wrangler's “…happy confident personality helped us all understand more about the important work these amazing dogs do, and we are proud to celebrate him with with the 2016 Dog of the Year Award.”

For more information regarding Wrangler's journey on the road to becoming a guide dog:

• visit https://www.guidingeyes.org/wranglers-blog

Photos courtesy of Canine Company

#PawPromise Adoptable Dog of The Week: Rocket

Hi! My name is Rocket, and I'm ready to zoom right into the heart of a forever pet parent!

Like my name implies, I'm always ready to blast off on a new adventure, so if you want to go for a run around the block or go exploring in the park, I'm your guy! I need a human who will encourage my athletic aspirations and will want to join in on the fun! I also like to play with other pups, if they aren't too rowdy, and I would love to have a new brofur or sisfur!

I'm also as smart as I am sweet. I've been brushing up on my manners with help from a trainer, and you'll be impressed by my calm demeanor when I dine or go for walkies on a leash.

Approximately 18 months old, Rocket is an American Eskimo Dog/Finnish Spitz. He has been neutered, is up to date on his vaccinations, and has been fecal and heartworm tested.

Rocket is just one of the many dogs who have received a new lease on life thanks to Fido's Companion Rescue. Located in Avon, Ohio, the small volunteer-operated non-profit organization saves dogs who are facing their fate in area animal shelters, educates the public about pet overpopulation and helps to fund the spay/neuter procedures for homeless companion animals for veterinary clinics and independent rescuers.

Help the Adoptable of the Week with Your PawZaar Purchases!

Ten percent of the week's proceeds from purchases in our PawZaar store will be donated to help the adoptable dog and cat of the week. Help with your purchases of our pet-friendly jewelry, bags, cookie cutters, and more!

Photo Credit: Findo's Companion Rescue/ PetFinder.com

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Is the #DogFilmFestival Coming to a City Near You?

We are excited to announce that PawZaar is the media sponsor for The Dog Film Festival. Watch DogTipper for news of each city stop on this one-of-a-kind film tour and follow The Dog Film Festival Facebook page and @DogFilmFestival on Twitter for details as the tour travels to a city near you!

The Dog Film Festival™ has unleashed a 12-city tour that combines flicks, Fidos and philanthropy. After the first annual event was held in New York City last year, The Dog Film Festival, with a grant from the Petco Foundation, is now taking its show on the road. In loving memory, Tracie Hotchner - founder of the Radio Pet Lady Network and the Dog Film Festival - is dedicating the Dog Film Festival tour to her godmother, Joan Rivers.

“We are thrilled to help bring the Dog Film Festival to cities across the country,” said Susanne Kogut, executive director of the Petco Foundation. “This series of films visually relay the Petco Foundation's core mission to create a better world for animals and the people who love them. We are excited to celebrate with all dog lovers during this fun-filled festival and showcase these wonderful films that demonstrate the positive impact dogs have on people's lives.” 

The festival features two 90-minute programs, each with family-friendly flicks. The first screening features a medley of over 10 light-hearted, animated and narrative shorts. Renowned photographer William Wegman's 30-minute film, “The Hardly Boys in Hardly Gold,” starring four of his own Weimaraners in costume, will be highlighted at the first screening. Other fun and uplifting feature films include “The Lewis Lectures,” a hilarious depiction of what dogs are actually thinking; “Beta,” a delightful tale that answers many questions we've all had about dogs; and “Useful Dog Tricks,” an inspirational short about the myriad ways a dog can help around the house.

The second screening features a more sophisticated program that includes a series of 14 short documentaries, narratives and subtitled narrative films.  This screening is also appropriate for all ages however subtitles may challenge younger viewers. Films in this screening include “New York Dog Concierge,” a witty documentary that follows a dog walker picking up more than 20 dogs from their city apartments;  “Second Chances,” a PBS film about dogs who are paired with incarcerated women, who train them to become service dogs; and “La Vie D'un Chien,” a sci-fi film about a scientist who transforms himself into a dog.

In each city, a local humane society or shelter has been named beneficiary and will receive 50% of ticket sales and Halo, Purely for Pets, in conjunction with Freekibble.com, will donate 10,000 bowls of food to homeless pets in each community.

The Dog Film Festival Calendar

Following its launch in Los Angeles earlier this month, The Dog Film Festival will sit and stay in each of these cities:

• Seattle, Washington: June 26, 2016


• Rochester, New York: July 17, 2016


• East Hampton, New York: August 2, 2016


• Great Barrington, Massachusetts: August 14, 2016


• Chicago, Illinois: September 11, 2016


• San Diego, California: September 25, 2016


• New York City: October 15, 2016


• Sacramento, California: October 30, 2016


• San Antonio, Texas: November 13, 2016


• Santa Fe, New Mexico: March 5, 2017


• Kansas City, Missouri: April 2, 2017

The Los Angeles Launch

A party for a paws cause, the Los Angeles launch raised funds to aid the ongoing efforts of The Lange Foundation. Since its start in 1993, the non-profit organization has saved the lives of more than 25,000 dogs, cats and horses who were facing their fate in L.A. animal shelters.

Helping dogs and cats who long to be cast in the coveted role of the furry family member of a forever pet parent, famous fans of our four-legged friends (and the canine companions who star in their lives) recently gathered at the VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital to mark the start of The Dog Film Festival tour with an Afternoon Tea Pooch Party.

Among the stars who showed their support were:

Melissa Rivers, who continues to honor her late mother's commitment to help dogs in need:

Golden Globe-winning actress Andie MacDowell (with her barking buddy, Ava Gardner), who often uses her star wattage to shine a spotlight on animal welfare issues:

Actor/Kids Against Animal Cruelty founder Lou Wegner, who enjoyed the event alongside his rescued Rover, Joey:

Dance Moms and Raising Asia star Asia Monet is waltzing away with the hearts of dog lovers for helping animals in need:

Watch DogTipper as we bring you details about each city's special events and how you can purchase tickets to see these unique films!

Photo Credit: Bill Watson

Win 2 Special Dog Toys from Something Special Pet Supplies!

Are you looking for some special toys to entertain your dog this summer? We've got a great giveaway from Something Special Pet Supplies to share with you for TWO special prizes that one lucky dog is going to love!

Something Special Pet Supplies was created by Sharon Conger with the goal of providing an online shop that caters to people who feel strongly that their pets are truly companion animals, living in our homes with us and who are cared for just like any member of the family. Sharon has volunteered and held board seats for two dog adoption organizations over the last ten years and has seen the full spectrum of human-animal interaction. When “rescue fatigue” set in, she decided to turn her energy to promoting the ideal of animal care and welfare – by promoting animal companionship and education about proper care of those we call “best friend”.

While there are many places to shop for pet supplies, SSPS aims to provide only high quality products that promote the mental and physical well-being of our pets. According to SSPS, “We also strive to provide the highest level of customer service. We love to get product inquiries from customers and do our best to find sources for products that we don't currently carry but that do fit in our vision.”

For this giveaway, SSPS is featuring items from two of their very favorite product lines: the Mighty Dog toys and Nina Ottosson puzzle toys:

The Mighty Dog toys are hard-stuffed dog toys designed to be super-durable and hard to destroy. Dogs can chew them, throw them around, and play tug with them for quite a while before they tear. They come in a huge variety of shapes that appeal to both dogs and their humans: ocean creatures, farm animals, forest animals, safari animals, dragons and more! According to SSPS, “Many pet stores carry them, but we offer the largest variety available from the manufacturer. We love the Mighty Dog toys and their enormous variety so much that we're testing customer interest in the idea of offering a “Mighty Dog Toy of the Month” program! Why not leave a comment here if you'd be interested in something like this?”

We also adore the Nina Ottosson puzzle toys because they are designed to foster learning and interaction between you and your pet. While most are marketed as dog toys, we occasionally encounter photos or videos of cats and ferrets playing with them! Any animal with a high intellect can enjoy them. Each one is designed to provide several layers of challenge, from simple to advanced. This helps you guide your pet in the learning process, prevents him from becoming frustrated, and provides years of enjoyment. They're constructed from durable hard plastic, with no sharp or swallowable pieces. They are dishwasher safe. Some puzzles have a fairly simple “highest” challenge, like the Tornado and Dog Brick. Others are pretty advanced (like the Twister) and require the dog to learn to pull out pegs in order to “unlock” the drawers containing the treats. If you have a dog that requires child-proof locks on your cabinets, then the advanced Nina Ottosson puzzles are ideal!

Thank you for participating in our giveaway! We hope that you'll browse our store, enjoy shopping, and don't hesitate to contact Something Special Pet Supplies with any questions or product suggestions!

How to Enter

As always, you'll enter in the widget below. You may return to the widget any time during the giveaway period for more entries. Good luck!

Entry-Form

This giveaway is sponsored by and fulfilled by Something Special Pet Supplies.

Visiting the Highland Lakes After the Texas Floods

The month of May was a soggy, soggy one in Texas–so we've been homebound for the past several weeks. Along with Irie and Tiki, we were getting cabin fever so, with this week's sunshine, we decided to hit the road for a quick day trip to explore the Highland Lakes chain.

The Highland Lakes are a stairstep series of lakes that wind through the Hill Country, designed to prevent flooding and, in the process, providing electricity and recreation on the dog-friendly lakes. The chain begins with Lake Buchanan, the largest of the Highland Lakes, then continues through the constant level Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, and Lake Marble Falls before reaching the varying level Lake Travis, closest to us. From there, the chain winds on into Austin, creating Lake Austin and downtown's Lady Bird Lake.

Since the floods, boating has been prohibited on lakes south of Lake Buchanan but the lakes and parks themselves are open so we headed out to have a look. Our first stop was Inks Lake State Park, one of our favorite dog getaways. Even though this is a constant level lake, the water levels were very high…

Irie and Tiki insisted on going to our usual picnic spots, though…

Well, if you can't picnic, you might as well swim!

The park had many campers and swimmers but was extremely quiet since there were no boaters (which was just fine with Irie and Tiki!)

The fishing dock was submerged, so John tried casting…and literally fishing in the parking lot!

We had a great visit, though, and enjoyed walking around and seeing the wildflowers which have really hung on a lot longer this year than usual.

From Inks Lake, we headed on up to Lake Buchanan. Stopping wasn't permitted on the bridge overlooking the spillway but you can see from this online drone video how much water is being released:

Lake Buchanan was very muddy but we wanted to take the chance to see Canyon of the Eagles, a park and resort where we hosted a book signing for Texas with Dogs a couple of years ago. We remember that weekend stay very well–it was 112 degrees and the signing was outdoors–but this week's visit was much more pleasant!

Tiki and Irie had a great time walking around and meeting some guests, and, I think, they remembered their visit!