It's certainly no secret that I am an animal-lover. In fact, our Beagle Buddy was my first true love. He is actually about to turn 15yrs old in July 2009. It may be hard to imagine looking at him now, but he was a very playful dog during his more youthful years.
When I think about Buddy's favorite toys during his lifetime, two especially stand out to me. The first was a stuffed squirrel with a bushy tail, which buddy loved to play indoor fetch with. Then he would shake it to make sure it was sufficiently subdued before he would lie down with one paw on it to take a rest. The other toy was a squeaky rubber Woodstock toy (the bird from Peanuts). A friend of mine bought it for him because Woodstock's best friend Snoopy was a Beagle too. Buddy loved to play fetch and tug-o-war with this toy and would gum it again and again to make it squeak. Even though he played with this toy all day long, he was actually very gentle with it and had it for many years.
In many ways, dogs are like children. That is why Cheryl and Jeffrey Katz, the authors of the book Dirty Wow Wow, which told stories about children and their favorite gently loved toys, wrote this book Dirty Bow Wow. You don't have to be a dog-lover to think this book about dogs is adorable, but it does touch a special place in the hearts of those who cannot imagine their lives without a canine companion. Each page has a portrait and tells a one-paragraph story of a dog who has found a home in my neck of the woods . . . Massachusetts. The stories that especially touched me were the dogs who had been homeless, but were rescued, like the American Pit Bull Terrier named Malibu who was left behind during the Hurricane Katrina evacuation.
If you know a dad who is a dog-lover through and through, then this book would make an endearing and affordable Father's Day gift. I think it would also put a smile on some one's face who has recently suffered a loss of their beloved dog.
For all of May 2009, you can bring a new dog toy to donate to the Dirty Bow Wow Dog Toy Drive at 50 bookstores nationwide. So next time you are out shopping, try to remember to pick up a toy to donate. You can find dog toys at the supermarket, stores like Walmart and Target, and of course your local pet supply stores. Much like with children, a toy does not have to be expensive for a dog to love it.Thank you to Ten Speed Press and the Family Review Network for this opportunity.
What you can win:
One person will win the book Dirty Bow Wow: A Tribute to Dogs and the Objects of Their Affection.
Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.
How to Gain Entries:
Leave a comment telling me what your dog's favorite toy has been since he or she became part of your family (if you don't have your own dog, tell me about someone else's dog's favorite toy). You must do this to be eligible to win this contest.
Extra Entries:
1) For 3 extra entries, make a quick blog post about the Dirty Bow Wow Toy Drive with a link to the toy drive information page. Then leave THREE separate comments here with the link to your blog post.
2) Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so and under what username. Add to Technorati Favorites
3) For 5 extra entries, blog about this giveaway linking back to this post AND to Ten Speed Press. Then come back here and leave FIVE separate comments with the link to your blog post.
4) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.
5) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment.
6) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.
7) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.
8) Add my "Dr. Hippo" giveaway event button to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.
9) Add my "Father's Day Fling" giveaway event button to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.
(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)
Random Drawing:
This contest will be closed on Monday, May 18th, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.
Good luck in the drawing!
