Paws and Hearts Jamboree - It Was a Fun Day!

A Beautiful Day to Be Outside With the Dogs

I'm so happy that the weather was good. With a bad weather, everything looks different no matter how hard you were working on everything. And we were working hard on this alright! Our Event Planning Committee (along with GPAWS) met for two hours every week for four weeks to make sure that you and your dog had a great time. And it seems like you did!

We had one of the best local bands play music for us all day - Sean & Dave's Duo, Hard Tymes, Loud n' Clear and The Winter Vault.

Our Silent Auction was a great success, with lots of items and donations. Some people were able to get some really good deals! Our thank you goes out for the following people and companies who donated:

Inner Reflections Massage, Marie, Ladybug Massage, Cedarcove Wellness, Indulgences Gifts & Decor, Karen Koene, 99th Monkey, Aye Lighthouse, Dr duQuesnay, Valerie, Nicky MacDonald, Heather, Sandy, Andrea, Spinning Wheel Alpacas, Green Street, Nikki, Adrienn, Spruce Tree Unique Gifts & Home Decor, Hampton, Shari's Quest, Janet, Eldon Lighting, Christmas in the Village, Rolling Acres Restaurant, Blunt, Timeless Essentials.

Having such a huge dog park has its advantages - there were lots of people with lots of dogs. It was the perfect way to socialize! We got to meet many of our former TAGS dogs, too! Our selection of vendors were great, our visitors had a big variety of items to browse from. A big thank you for the following vendors for coming out and making this day more colourful: Scentsy Consultant, 5 Tails Boutique Dog Clothing, Norwex, Stewie's Cool Stuff, Tangles Pet Grooming, Apple Melon Designs, All Pawz, Multi Menu, Outside the Box, Parkadilly, Indulgences Gift & Decor, Marion's Dog Coats and Shari's Quest.

Everyone loved the doggie games, directed by our very own Sandra. We had racing, Simon says and hot dog eating from a water bowl. I would say that the dogs' favourite was the hot dog one!

A special thank you goes to Emma Joynson and her agility group, performing some cool jumps and sprints during the agility demonstration.

The food court was busy as you can expect from a busy jamboree! A big shout out goes to our food volunteers, especially for the cooks. Great job, everyone, thank you for helping us raise some much needed funds.

Check out this little video below of our food court, the TAGS booth and some of the vendors. Stay tuned for a longer video to come soon...

Thank you everyone who came and participated! See you next year on September 13, 2014!

Wordless Wednesday: Paws and Hearts Jamboree edition

Boomer, our success dog who was adopted not too long ago, is now happily playing with a child. What a great day!


This is a blog hop. Don't forget to check out the other participating blogs, as well by clicking on the image below:

Wordless Wednesday: Paws n' Hearts circa 2007!

Playing a game at the TAGS corn roast in 2007!
(The event is now called Paws n' Hearts, and this year it's on September 14.)

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This is a blog hop.

Click on the image below for more Wordless Wednesday photos!

The Paws n' Hearts Jamboree

Mark your calendar! Paws n' Hearts is only a month away! 

What is the Paws n' Hearts Jamboree?
It's an outdoor fundraiser hosted by TAGS in partnership with Guardians Promoting Animal Wellness (G.P.A.W.s). All of the money raised will be used to support animal rescue initiatives.

Who is invited?
Everyone!

How much does it cost to go?
Advance tickets are $7.00, and tickets at the door are $10.00.
* Kids under 12 are free

Can I bring my dog? 
Of course! This event is all about dogs, after all. The event site includes a fenced-in dog park, but we ask that every person supervise his or her own dog or arrange for someone else to do so. In other words, no dog should be in the park without supervision! 

Where is it and how do I get there?
Paws n' Hearts is being held at the TAGS dog park.

Click on the map to view a larger version. 

What can I do there?

• Listen to live entertainment from three different musical groups throughout the day, including Hard Tymes and The Winter Vault. Make sure you bring a lawn chair! 
• Watch demonstrations in between musical sets from G.P.A.W.s, TAGS, a local groomer, and more!
• Bid on items in the silent auction.
• Participate in the 50/50 draw and other contests running throughout the day.
• Play doggy games with your furry friend(s).
• Eat! (There will be burgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks for sale for $5.00).
• Browse vendor booths and purchase items (not all are dog-related, so there will be a big variety)! 

Dexter is excited for Paws n' Hearts!

I want to be involved! What can I do? 

• We will be accepting donations for silent auction items or door prizes until Monday, September 9. The more items you are able to contribute, the better! This way, we will be able to raise more funds to allow us to continue to do our rescue work. 
• Volunteer! We need people to help supervise the dog park, sell draw tickets, handle cash at the BBQ, and assist with setup and take down of booths. 
• Spread the word! Join our Facebook event and let everyone in your social circle know what you'll be up to on September 14. The more, the merrier! 

Can I be a vendor?
Yes! The cost to set up a vendor booth at Paws n' Hearts is $25, and there will be room for two or three people per booth. Remember, your business does not have to be dog-related.

What else do I need to know?

• It is likely that Paws n' Hearts will be a cash-only event. Please plan accordingly because there are no banks or ATMs near the TAGS dog park.
• For tickets and vendor information, contact Kathy (tagsinfo@yahoo.ca), Shari (sharis.quest@yahoo.ca) or Rick (rickrene@bell.net). 
• For other information, please ask in the comments! 

Oshawa Centre Community Contact Day

Are you still hesitating about volunteering? The Animal Guardian Society promotes its volunteer and foster programs every June at the Oshawa Centre. 

Our table

If you have any questions or concerns and don't want to write lengthy emails, come out and talk to some of our volunteers to get a better picture of what TAGS is about. We always need volunteers or foster homes, and you can apply online.

Some of the positions available:

-PetSmart volunteers
-Fosters
-Designated cameraman or -woman for our YouTube channel
-Graphic designer

 

We will also be selling various dog toys, dog jackets, magnets, stickers and much more in order to raise money for our dogs and cats in need.

Our big red dog has become an attraction of its own over the years. Come and take a photo with him!

Dates: June 22, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
            June 23, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Oshawa Centre, 419 King Street West, Oshawa, ON L1J 2K5

Our big red dog

5 Reasons You Should Attend a Charity Yard Sale

Every year, TAGS organizes a yard sale.

What separates it from other yard sales is the fact that at ours, all your money goes to charity. When you purchase something, keep in mind that it's going to help sick dogs like Shyla, and it may even help fund our next trip to pick up a couple of puppy mill dogs. Everybody wins here—you get to find great treasures for a reasonable price, and our charity can add some much-needed funds to meet our tight budget. 

People cookies and dog cookies are always a bestseller!

5 Reasons You Should Come:

1. Every penny will help homeless dogs.
2. There's always a great selection of items—some gently loved and even some new.
3. You will meet other dog-loving people.
4. You can ask our volunteers questions about volunteering, fostering or adopting.
5. You get to enjoy some nice June weather (yes, TAGS guarantees that it won't rain by doing a special rain dance!).

Among this year's great finds are a big-dog cool-down jacket (XXL), two sets of cross-country skis, household items, furniture (such as this type of chair), doggie accessories, books and much more!

Date: June 8, 2013. 8 a.m - 1 p.m.
Location: 77 Allan Street, Port Perry, ON.

It's a relaxed, fun event every year.

Wordless Wednesday: Off to the Races!

Jill having fun at the Furry Friends 5K on Sunday. 

Throughout the event, Jill wore a race shirt that identified her as a dog up for adoption.
Make sure she doesn't need this shirt next year. Put in an application to adopt Jill! 

This is a blog hop. Check out the other participating blogs as well by clicking on the image below.

A Weekend Family Program - Whitevale Spring Festival

Now that winter has finally given up trying to stay with us for the rest of the year, we must take advantage of the nice weather.

If you've been planning on getting out of the house and doing something with the family, plan no more—the upcoming Whitevale Festival in Pickering is a great opportunity for a lovely family day. Everybody will find activities to suit them. Past events have included a bake sale, book sale, beer tent, games, petting zoo, face painting and much more!

Watch this teaser promo of the upcoming festival.

The Animal Guardian Society will have a booth there, as well. We'll have a variety of doggy collars, dog toys, jackets, magnets and lots of other adorable knickknacks for sale. All proceeds go to helping our animals in need (such as Shyla's treatments).

Our volunteers will be more than happy to answer your questions about adopting, volunteering, fostering or donating. We hope to see you there!

Date: May 25, 2013 (10 a.m - 4 p.m.)
Location: Whitevale Village

You can RSVP on our Facebook page.

View Larger Map

Why I Signed Up for The Furry Friends 5K

I am a wannabe long-distance runner. I like running because of all the usual reasons: it's good exercise; it gives you an endorphin boost; you can do it anytime you want; it's free; you can go alone and reflect or go with a friend and make it social.... The list goes on. 

But honestly? I also really like it because it doesn't involve catching, throwing, volleying, kicking, dribbling or any of the other hand–eye coordination–related factors surrounding athletic activity that plagued me in gym class. With running, it’s okay if you lack coordination because as long as you get out there and put one foot in front of the other, you can still be considered athletic. You just might have more mud on your calves than others from kicking yourself.

The problem I have with running is finding motivation to actually go and do it.  However, last summer I discovered that if I registered for a running event in advance and set a goal, that was motivation enough to keep me running regularly as the date approached.

A friend and I signed up for a 5K race in May, and another one in October, with the idea that the May race would keep us motivated throughout the end of winter and into spring, and the October one would allow us to improve on the May results. It worked! I ran regularly from February until October, which I never would have done without knowing that race day was looming.

Now that spring is here again (apparently), I’m ready to sign up for more, and one race I am really excited about is the Furry Friends 5K on June 2 in Whitby. Not only is it in the Durham Region, which is great (I went to Toronto for both races last year, which meant more travel time and larger crowds), but dogs are invited too!

Yes, dogs! The Furry Friends 5K is a unique charity race for people and their furry friends. It’s also quite flexible: participants can run or walk, with or without a dog. Collecting pledges (online or in-person) from friends and family is encouraged, but it is not a requirement. The event is also stroller-friendly so non-furry babies can come, too!

The Furry Friends 5K, now in its third year, is organized by a group of animal lovers who find generous corporate and individual sponsors to cover as many expenses as possible so that any extra monies from registration fees can go directly to local animal shelters of their choosing. Additional fundraising efforts the day of and donations have also made this event a great success in the past.

This year, The Animal Guardian Society has been chosen as one of the animal rescues that will be receiving proceeds from the Furry Friends 5K, and our volunteer team could not be more excited to be a part of this event. Many of our adoptable TAGS dogs will also be there to enjoy a morning of exercise and fun.

Photos courtesy of the Furry Friends 5K Facebook Page

Come run with us! Visit the Furry Friends 5K website to register, donate, volunteer or become an official sponsor of the event. Curious about what a race with dogs looks like? Check out The Furry Friends 5K Facebook page and view pictures from last year's event! 

Boston Pizza Celebrity Server Event!

You are invited to attend the Boston Pizza Celebrity Server Event!

This Wednesday, March 13th, volunteers from TAGS will be pairing up with servers at Boston Pizza (Whitby North location) to serve you and your friends hot, delicious meals between 5:00 and 8:00p.m. 

We are so excited about this fundraising event because it allows us to meet more members of our community. Also, since part of the proceeds from the food sales are going to TAGS, the event will raise money for our rescue dogs, some of whom desperately need some help.

Photo by : Robert Duncan

Look at the picture above and slowly count to five. 

Still not convinced that you should spend your Wednesday night with us? Here are the top reasons why you should attend the Boston Pizza Celebrity Server Event: 

1. You get to eat pizza! (and other delicious menu items)
2. It's on hump day. Sharing a meal with friends or family is the perfect way to start the second half of your week.  
3. 10% of the food sales from the night will be donated directly to TAGS, which will help us pay for things like vet bills and dog food.
4. You will get to meet some wonderful volunteers from TAGS!
5. You...get...to...eat...pizza! 

RSVP on our event page and invite your friends. See you on Wednesday! 

A Microchip Session in Photos

TAGS can microchip your pet for only $30 at various Pet Valu locations. Find out more about microchipping from this blog post or visit our website for microchipping dates.

Promotional poster of one of our microchip clinics	TAGS volunteers (and Boomer) waiting for customers
TAGS bulletin board at the entrance of the clinic	Needle (still in the protective cap) attached to a plunger gun
A close-up of the needle	This cat came to get his microchip!
First, we make sure he doesn't already have a microchip.	We rub some alcohol in the area where the needle will be inserted.

Click on the video to see how fast and painlessly we insert the microchip! It takes no more than eight seconds!

Pub Night Fundraiser for the Dogs

TAGS had a really good year, both fundraising- and adoption-wise.

But this is a new year now, and we have prepared fresh ideas to save more dogs and cats from high-kill shelters or pounds.

Click on the image and like this event on Facebook!

During times like this, when people think twice about where to spend their money, it becomes especially hard to receive donations. That's why we are always trying to come up with new, creative ideas that will give people something in exchange for their generous donations.

On January 12, we are gathering together in the Portly Piper Pub in Ajax for a wonderful night that will include a fun 50/50 draw, live music and food. And the entry fee is only $10! Live entertainment will be provided by Loud'n'Clear.

You can buy tickets even at the door. The event starts at 8:00 p.m. Don't miss out on this great night!

View Larger Map

 
Don't forget to RSVP to this event on our Facebook page!

Santa Photography Day in PetSmart

Thank you all who came and helped out or supported our charity on this rainy winter day! 

Mr. and Mrs. Claus with June Bug. June Bug is up for adoption!

Despite the weather, the Whitby PetSmart store was extraordinarily busy. A lot of people came to have their pets' holiday photo taken with us. We ended up selling 63 pictures! TAGS received half of the proceeds, which can go toward rescuing more dogs in need.

Many people were interested in our program, too. Our helpful volunteers were there to answer any inquiries. Thanks to them, no one had to wait long for their pictures, because our helpers were handling the printing of the photos, as well.

It was a great opportunity for us to let people know about our charity and what we do. Very often, we find new additions to our volunteer team during these events or even a potential new home for our dogs!

Kadein was also there. He's up for adoption!

It was hard not to believe Santa Claus exists because our Santa and Mrs. Santa made the dogs' day magical with their enchanting presence. 

For more photos, visit our Facebook group or Facebook page. 

Were you there to have your pet's photo taken? Leave a comment about your experience!

TAGS Event: Santa Pictures

Russell is ready for his close-up with Santa.

It's that time of year!

Riley is ready to sub in as a backup reindeer.

Every year in December, Santa Claws spends a weekend with TAGS at the Petsmart in Whitby and helps us raise some much-needed funds by posing for pictures with the pooches. All pets are welcome to have their picture taken with Santa. Santa, Mrs. Claws and their helpers will be at Petsmart between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for pictures on Saturday, December 8. 

 

A portion of each of the picture packages will be donated to TAGS by Petsmart and will go a long way to helping our dogs, whose only wish this Christmas is to find their fur-ever homes.

 

So, come on down to Petsmart this Saturday—unless you know you're on the naughty list, like Russell here!

JKGEB8VBKM8K

Play Bingo for Charity!

Do you love playing bingo? Did you know that you can support a good cause just by playing at the Red Barn in Oshawa?

CC image courtesy of sarae on Flickr

If you have never tried bingo, start with us! The proceeds go toward helping our rescue dogs. You can enjoy your game, knowing that we will be able to save many more dogs' lives thanks to you.

There are several sessions each day, and sometimes there are up to 200 people playing. The atmosphere is always great, especially on TAGS dates. Currently twice a month, from 3:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., four of our volunteers help out and make your afternoon of bingo even more fun. And since the funds raised are shared on the basis of pooling, the more often TAGS participates, the more revenue we receive. Therefore, we are always looking for new volunteers who are interested in helping at bingo sessions.

But if you can't volunteer, you can still help by playing. Visit the Red Barn in Oshawa (directions here) and raise funds for our rescues! Your help is greatly appreciated.

Remaining dates for 2012: December 2 & 18.