Can you believe it has been almost a year since beautiful Hickory, a Scottish Deerhound, captured the “Best in Show” title at the 2011 Westminster Kennel Club Show? Competing against nearly 2,600 other canines, Hickory claimed the coveted purple-and-gold ribbon and silver bowl in the annual event (taking place this year on Feb. 13-14).

On Saturday, February 11, New York City dog lovers will have the chance to meet Hickory at a personal appearance at the Union Square Petco where she’ll meet and pose for pictures with her dog-loving fans.

All guests who attend will receive a free photo of Hickory, along with other special offers and discounts from Purina® Pro Plan®, official pet food sponsor of the 2012 Westminster Dog Show. Petco store associates and Pro Plan representatives will be on hand to answer questions and provide helpful tips on which products are best for their very own four-legged champion.

WHEN: Saturday, February 11, 2012,  1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

WHERE:  Union Square Petco, 860 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, phone 212-358-0692

The event will benefit the Humane Society of Williamson County’s mission of finding forever homes for deserving pets. Along with the chili competition, the HSWC is hosting their “Adopt the Love of Your Life” adoption promotion with reduced adoption fees. Lots of deserving pets will be on hand to greet you and you might even find your new best furry friend.

Attendees can vote for their favorite chili, and the three top chefs will win  great prizes. There will also be plenty of fun activities for the whole family. Contestants in the cook-off can register in advance on the HSWC website. The cook-off entry fee is $35 and cooks should bring their own ingredients; tables, chairs, bowls and spoons will be provided by HSWC. For more information on entering the contest, visit www.hswc.net/chilicookoff.

Eran Fehily, HSWC Community Relations Manager, says

“We are so excited about our 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off, as this event has always been such a great success and the perfect winter activity to help keep you and the family warm! Who knows, you might also find the new love of your life among the many wonderful animals available for adoption that day!”

When: Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012; noon to 3 p.m.

Where: Humane Society of Williamson County, 10930 E. Crystal Falls Pkwy., Leander, TX

Price: $10 per person for all you can eat and a soft drink; beer available with donation

For More Information:

• visit www.hswc.net/chilicookoff
• call (512) 260-3602

On February 4, the Escondido Humane Society in Escondido, California, is hosting their Valentine’s Day Pet Portraits event. Whether your sweetheart is a smoochy pooch or a purrfect feline, their loving image will make a great furry Valentine!

For a modest $10 donation to EHS, you’ll receive a 4 X 6 professional photo of your pet, posed before a festive backdrop. Digital versions of the photos on CD can be had for an additional $10 donation.

Since 1915, EHS has promoted responsible pet ownership by teaching compassion, respect, and caring treatment for all living creatures. EHS has a long and rich history of involvement with human-animal relationships, caring for more than 5,000 animals a year, and thousands more in the field.

When: Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Escondido Humane Society, 3450 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA

For More Information:

• visit www.escondidohumanesociety.org
• call (760) 888-2235

Photo courtesy of the Escondido Humane Society.

Pet parents can enjoy a day devoted to our four-legged friends at the Bay Area Pet Expo in San Jose, California.

Celebrity Spotting

Making his first ‘Pit’ stop on the 2012 leg of the Shorty Rossi & Hercules Tour, the star of Pit Boss and his high-profle Pittie pal will sign autographs and pose of photos will fans in support of a paws cause that’s close to the Animal Planet personality’s heart– the protection of bully breeds from BLS.

Activities

• Fashion forward Fidos can put on the dog for the chance to win the Pet Costume Contest.
• Spots can show off their skills at the Animals Got Talent! competition.
• Talented tail-waggers from MHDogSports will perform in an agility demonstration that will include maneuvering through weave poles, negotiating a teeter and springing over agility jumps.
• Diving into the hearts of dog devotees, sports-loving Spots will take part in a DockDogs showcase, which will feature retrieving Rovers flying in the air in the Extreme Vertical event, Big Air Waves and the Speed Retrieve. Along with professional DockDog pooches, young pet guardians ages 7 – 14 are invited to compete with their canine companions.
• Pet parents can mull over merchandise, find out about canine and cat care services and discover various rescue groups from more than 200 exhibitors.

Adoptions

Dog devotees and fans of felines can find a furry friend among the adorable adoptables from the following rescue organizations, which are scheduled to attend:

Bay Area Poodle Rescue

Big Dawgs Rescue

California Chins Chinchilla Rescue

Camp Cocker Rescue

CARE Companion Animal Rescue Organization

Cat Support Network

Cavy House

Doggie Protective Services

East Bay SPCA

Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue

Humanimal Connection

Lake County Animal Services

Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue

The Milo Foundation

Norcal Golden Retriever Rescue

Paws and Tails Animal Rescue

San Francisco SPCA

San b2ce Animal Care and Services

South Bay Purebred Rescue

Southern California Dachshund Rescue – North

STAR Animal Rescue

Westside Animals for Adoption, Inc.

Admission: Free

When: February 4, 2012 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Where: Santa Clara County Fairgrounds Expo Hall at 344 Tully Road in San Jose, California

For more information:

• visit www.bayareapetexpo.com

Photo Credit: Bay Area Pet Expo

Combining philanthropy with fashion, fashion-forward Fidos will join with famous faces and Big Apple bigwigs at The New Yorker Hotel to raise funds for the Angel on a Leash foundation, a non-profit which creates therapy dog programs for hospitals.

Last year’s list of participants who posed with pups on the catwalk include Oscar winner Celeste Holm, Bravo personality Nikki Cascone of Top Chef fame, Bravo star Cindy Guyer from Millionaire Matchmaker, former NFL star Mitch Marrow, Doggie Moms star Karen Biehl, Schmitty the Weather Dog and meteorologist Ron Trotta and the Voice of the Westminster Dog Show, David Frei.

Dog devotees who would like to strut with their Spot on stage are invited to participate in the New Yorkie Runway Auditions, which will take place at the pet-friendly New Yorker Hotel on January 7, 2012 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Canine contestants will have the opportunity to audition their talents, show off their fashion style, or share their story before a panel of judges. Ten semi-finalists will be chosen and their auditions will be posted on-line where people can vote for their favorite. The finalist will be chosen by a combination of online votes and the judges’ scores.

The winner will receive a two-night stay at The New Yorker Hotel, two tickets to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, an autographed copy of Angel on a Leash (the new book by David Frei) and the chance to take the stage with their tail-wagging chum on February 10, 2012, along with a lineup of luminaries and their canine companions.

The event is free to the public. Donations to Angel on a Leash will be accepted throughout the day.

When: February 10, 2012 (with auditions held January 7, 2012 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

Where: The New Yorker Hotel at 481 Eighth Avenue, across from Madison Square Garden in New York City.

For more information:

• visit www.newyorkierunway.com

New Yorkie Runway Highlights from New Yorkie on Vimeo.

Photo Credit: New Yorkie Runway

Fans of Fidos are singing the praises of platinum-selling country crooner Luke Bryan (who is the proud pet parent of an English Cocker Spaniel named Maggie), Timothy B. Schmit of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted group The Eagles, Tom Johnston of The Doobie Brothers, Broadway star Christopher Jackson (In the Heights, The Lion King) and John McDaniel (former band leader on The Rosie O’Donnell Show), who are scheduled to take the stage for the sake of shelter pets in the St. Louis area.

Proceeds from the presentation, which will include a silent auction, will provide support for ARF’s programs well well as those of the following rescue organizations:

Act Now Rescue
Animal Protective Association of Missouri
Animal Rescue & Relief Foundation
Bond County Humane Society
Clowder Foundation
Eureka large Animal Search & Rescue
Franklin County Humane Society
Gateway Pet Guardians
Happy Hearts
Humane Society of Monroe County
Impact for Animals
Metro East Humane Society
Open Door Animal Shelter
Op-Spot
Partners For Pets Humane Society
Randolph County Humane
St. Charles Humane Society
Stray Rescue of St. Louis

Tickets: $25 and $75, general admission; $250 for VIP passes, which include premier seating and a reception after the show.

When: January 14, 2012 starting at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Peabody Opera House in St. Louis, Missouri

For more information:

• visit the events page on the ARF website

Photo Credit:  Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation

A multi-pet parent who used her star wattage to promote North Shore Animal League America’s 2011 Tour for Life mobile adoption drive, the singer will perform for the former World Series-winning MLB manager’s paws cause at Lesher Center for the Arts. Comedic star George Lopez (who will entertain an animal-loving audience on January 6, 2012 during ARF’s Comedy Night) will also take the stage, as will vocalist Jeff Scott Soto and San Francisco dance company RicaSalsa.

Tickets for Stars to the Rescue: $75 – $250

When: January 7, 2012 starting at 7 p.m.

Where: Lesher Center for the Arts: Hofmann Theatre at 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek, California

For more information:

• visit www.lesherartscenter.org

The following video offers an in depth look at Tony La Russa’s ARF:

Photo Credit: Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation

On January 21, 2012 ticket holders will not only watch the Blues face-off against the Buffalo Sabres at Scottrade Center, they will also get the chance to meet adorable adoptables from two organizations which are close to the hearts of players Barret Jackman, who promotes pet adoption through the Barret’s Buddies program for Stray Rescue of St. Louis, and David Backes, who shines a spotlight on homeless dogs through Five Acres Animal Shelter‘s program, David’s Dogs.

Attendees can show their support for the rescues by bidding in a silent auction and purchasing special merchandise during the game, and fans can also get a great rate deal on tickets, with a portion of the purchase donated to either Stray Rescue of St. Louis or Five Acres Animal Shelter.

When: January 21, 2012

Where: Scottrade Center at 1401 Clark Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri

For more information:

• visit http://blues.nhl.com

Captain of the St. Louis Blues David Backes and his wife Kelly give a tour of Five Acres Animal Shelter (a no-kill facility) in the following video:

Barret Jackman of the St. louis Blues gives animal lovers a look at the construction of Stray Rescue of St. Louis’ new center in the following clip:

Photo Credit: St. Louis Blues

The event draws a passionate and distinguished crowd of animal lovers who come to spread holiday cheer by having their beloved furry, finned or feathered pets blessed by New York City Senior Minister Stephen Bauman and Senior Rabbi Peter J. Rubinstein. The renowned Brooklyn Youth Choir will perform at the family-friendly event, which is free admission to the public. Treats will be available for pets.

The event will be drawing celebrity dog lovers; “The Bachelorette”’s Ashley Hebert and J.P. Rosenbaum will be attending with their beloved yorkie, Boo. And this past Friday, supermodel Irina Shayk (photo, above) joined Santa Claus at the ASPCA adoption center in Manhattan’s Upper East Side to pick animals that will be blessed at Sunday’s event.

WHEN: Sunday, December 11, 2011, 2–3 p.m.

WHERE: Christ Church, 520 Park Avenue at 60th Street, New York City

Photo courtesy ASPCA

UPDATE: This event has been postponed. The new date for the benefit, which will raise funds for Pryor’s Planet and ARME, will be posted as soon as it is announced.

An evening of comedy and compassion to honor Richard Pryor’s passion for animals, West Hollywood’s landmark of laughter The Comedy Store invites dog devotees to a jest fest benefiting Pryor’s Planet and ARME (Animal Rescue, Media and Education).

Dubbed Laughter, Libations & Inappropriate Behavior, event includes a line up of comedic luminaries who will tickle funnybones for the sake of Fidos:

George Lopez
Chris D’Elia (from the new Fox series Whitney)
Russell Peters
Eleanor J. Kerrigan
…with other stand up stars and celebrities still to be announced.

The event will also include a silent auction featuring never before seen and one-of-a-kind items from Richard Pryor and other notables.

Admission: Tickets start at $50 for general admission

When: December 2, 2011, starting with red carpet arrivals at 7:30, followed by the show at 8 p.m.

Where: The Comedy Store at 8433 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California

For more information about Pryor’s Planet:

• visit www.pryorsplanet.com

For more information about ARME (Animal Rescue, Media and Education):

• visit http://arme.tv

Photo Credit: Pryor’s Planet