Mutt Match

Love is in the air at Camp Bow Wow Pittsburgh South! Have you ever wondered who your dog's favorite playmates are at Camp? Now is your chance to find out. During the first two weeks of February, the Camp Counselors are playing matchmaker, and your dog might get hit by Cupid's arrow.

Just make a $1 donation to the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation, and we will enter your dog's name into our doggy dating pool to come up with his or her perfect complement. On or shortly after Valentine's Day, you will receive a detailed profile of your dog's "mutt match," including the days you are most likely to find their mate at Camp so that you can arrange a play date!

Play Mutt Match during your next visit to Camp and help your pooch find true puppy love!

Tiger Ranch Rescues Need Your Help!

At Camp Bow Wow, all of us are dog lovers, but most of us are animal lovers in general, too. Therefore, when we hear of any creature, great or small, in need of help, we certainly want to get the word out.

You may have heard of Tiger Ranch in the news lately. If you haven't, you can read about it here.

Hundreds of feline survivors from Tiger Ranch have been rescued and are now up for adoption. The catch is, however, that they will be leaving their home at the Clarion Shelter soon and sent to various other places most of which are kill shelters. There are only 16 days left to adopt these cats before they are left to an uncertain fate.

All of the Tiger Ranch rescues are up to date on shots and vetting, spayed and neutered, and microchipped. The adoption fee is only $60 per cat.

If you can find room in your heart and home this Christmas to adopt one of these lovely kitties, please visit this site for more information. If circumstances prevent you from being able to adopt a cat, please help by getting the word out to your friends and family on Facebook and other social networking sites and through e-mail.

An Early Christmas Miracle

In the spirit of the holiday season, we thought we'd share a story with you that happened just the other day at Camp.

It was a typical afternoon at Camp Bow Wow Pittsburgh South. The dogs were barking, the phone ringing, and the mops swishing. Rachel was at the front desk when a woman came in with a flyer for her lost dog. We occasionally get these types of visitors, asking for our help to get the word out about their lost pet, and we're happy to do whatever we can to reunite them with their companions. This time was a bit different, however, because the dog was blind. Rachel took the flyer but couldn't help but feel like the situation was bordering on hopeless. How would a dog with no sight be able to find his way home? As the day went on, the dogs continued barking, the mops continued swishing, and the phone continued ringing. It was one phone call, though, that brought an early Christmas miracle to our doorstep. Pam, one of our Camp Counselors, called us to say she had found a dog in her back yard. She had put water and food out for him, but she thought he might be blind. Could it be that this dog that somehow ended up in Pam's yard was the same lost blind dog that we had gotten a visit about just a few hours earlier? It seemed too good to be true, but it was! Pam was able to get in touch the dog's owners, and he was soon returned to his own back yard. It could have been a coincidence, or maybe it was fate, but we are all truly glad to know that this lost-and-found story had a happy ending.

Win Big with Swiffer!

Swiffer is running a great Halloween contest for Camp Bow Wow clients. You have until October 29th at 6:00 p.m. to e-mail your spookiest, funniest, Halloween-iest photos to swiffercampbowwow@mslworldwide.com for a chance to win a year's supply of Swiffer products! Three grand prize winners from Camp Bow Wow locations across the country will be chosen in the categories of "Best costume," "Best group costume," and "Best pair costume (owner and pup)." Not only will you receive a great prize package from Swiffer if your dog is chosen as a winner, but the winning photo will be featured on CBW's website. Nothing better than fame AND fortune, right?

If you'd like to enter, please read the not-so-fine print below and provide the following information:
1. Upload photo to one or all three categories via e-mail to swiffercampbowwow@mslworldwide.com (files must be under 3 MB)
2. Full name (first and last)
3. Age
4. State of Residency
5. List your camp location as Camp Bow Wow Pittsburgh South
6. Contact info (phone number or e-mail address)

*Winners will be chosen and notified on October 30th, 2009 and will have five days to claim their prize
**Information submitted for the contest will not be sold or used for marketing purposes

One last thing -- if you're thinking what I think you're thinking, which is "Didn't I hear that Swiffer products can cause harm to my pets?," please read this article on snopes.com which thoroughly debunks the rumor.

Saturday Afternoon Humor

For some odd reason, I have a subscription to Reader's Digest. This is taken from an article they had entitled "Zoological Nicknames." These are real pet names submitted by Veterinary Pet Insurance.

Dogs:
Rush Limbark
Peanut Wigglebutt Ed
Admiral Toot
Sophie Touch & Pee
Doogie Schnauzer MD
Angus Sir Loin
Inspector Foo Foo

Cats:
Edward Scissorpaws
Buddha Pest
Rosie Posie Prozac
Toot Uncommon
Eartha Kitty
Clawed Monet

And maybe now is a time to bring up my future pets' names -- Tomato & Tomato (pronounced Toe-MAY-toe and Toe-MAW-toe).

Getaway Cafe Fund-raiser

If you would like to attend our fund-raiser at the Getaway Cafe on Thursday, 10/29, please print out the flyer below (right click, choose "Save Image" and then open the image on your computer and print it out) and bring it with you!

Daisy

Daisy, an 11-year-old Beagle, is the Camper of the Month for September. Rescued from a shelter late in her life, Daisy was not the senior-citizen adoptee her mom, Nancy, was expecting. She may look cute and innocent on the outside, but, as they say, looks can be deceiving. In Daisy’s case, her frail appearance is certain to fool any onlooker. However, both in Camp and out, she is quite the little mischief-maker.

Daisy has been known to break down any barrier her mom sets up for her at home, and if the staff members at Camp aren’t quick enough, she sneaks right out of the play yards any time the gate is opened. Daisy may be a bit of a pistol, but we love her just the same, and we are happy to bestow upon her the honor of being Camper of the Month!

**URGENT MESSAGE -- One of Daisy's owners was recently diagnosed with cancer, and they had to make the difficult decision to return her to the shelter because they could no longer care for her. Daisy does not want to spend the remainder of her years behind bars. If you or anyone you know could provide Daisy with a loving home, please contact Animal Friends at 412-847-7000*