Written By Bismark

We dogs know not to minimize goals but my dad has a tendency to be a bit wimpy at times. He had hoped for 10-15 Walkers who would average $200 each, resulting in a total raised of $2,000 to $3,000 for the Tortuguero School. Here is what actually happened:

Our Walker Results: (in no particular order)

Tyler - $620

Clark - $160

Jack - $40

Josie - $85

Cora - Walked in support

Bailey & Harley - $100

Bismark - $540

Sundance - $200

Sabrina - $600

Alabama - Walked in support

Sasha - $200

Teddy Bear - $100

Josephine - $305 (PLUS a full box of school supplies)

Proxy - $250

So, this is 15 Walkers total. The amount of money we dogs raised is $3,200!! (dad added a bit to make it come out even, but it was my idea).

Everyone did great, but I have to mention those in the "Six Hundred Club," which includes Tyler and Sabrina. Over $600 each! Very cool!

Several of our Walkers were able to get additional dogs involved instead of asking their owners to simply give money and this added enough to put us over the top for sure. From the lists of actual "donors," it appears that we had well over 50 people donate money to us and that is a great base for the future.

Fun and successful ... I knew it was going to happen ... and dad was nervous ... what a wimp.

Tail wags & Licks, Bismark

The WALK

Written by Bismark
(David Cleveland’s dog)

I was up before the birds, my mind racing with worries, things to do, a hundred “what ifs,” concerns about the After-Walk get together. I had so many things on my mind, I probably solved Global Warming but it got lost with all the other thoughts. Would anyone actually show up? Did everyone raise money? Will the dogs get along with each other, with the strange humans we have never seen before? Will the humans get along or be defensive about their dogs, blaming someone else for every snarl, growl and bark?

The weather was absolutely perfect by the time we arrived at Washington Park, sunny and in the sixties. By the 1:00pm start time, 18 Handlers had arrived with their 11 Walkers, and the mood was nothing less than festive. Several of our Walkers were dressed to kill and were absolutely adorable. These 80 legs took just over a half hour to complete the one human mile, seven doggie mile walk (if one human year equals 7 doggie years, it seems only logical that 1 human mile would equal 7 doggie miles). Even with many temptations from other, unleashed dogs in the park, our Walkers were perfectly behaved, absolutely perfect.

Upon completion of our Walk, Handlers and Walkers alike piled into vehicles and all returned to my house for a Thank You Post Walk Party. Tyler’s Handler, Jeff, had prepared a wide range of cold and hot goodies and for just under two hours, we all visited, talking about the Fund Raiser, planning for next year, laughing at the Walkers running leash-free in the fenced in yard. As the afternoon progressed, some of our smaller Walkers, including me, seemed to get tired and started becoming a bit cranky, but behavior was amazing throughout.

Even the two-legged beings got along! Throughout the Post Party, Handlers presented my dad with envelopes filled with cash and checks. Josephine’s mom & dad even brought a large box filled with school supplies, getting a head start on our next project for the School in Tortuguero which is planned for August & September. Later that evening, we received phone calls from the West Coast & the East Coast Handlers with the dollar amounts raised and details as to their Walks.

At the onset of this project, my dad’s expressed goal to those he solicited to take part was to have 10-15 Walkers with a goal of $200 per dog, resulting in a total amount raised of $2,000 to $3,000. The final result (with still a few more checks expected) is 15 Walkers who raised $2,766. That we will exceed $2,800 is pretty much assured.

This was a success, no matter how it can be measured. The enthusiasm, the level of commitment, the fantastic spirits of all involved was nothing less than fantastic. It turned out to be both a Fund Raiser and a Fun Raiser, which promises to grow even more in ‘08, especially if we find an official Non Profit to adopt us.

Tail Wags & Licks to all!

Bismark (I’m the really handsome, long hair mini Dachshund in the pictures)

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF THE DOG WALK:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?Uc=o8cdq62.7uyksmza&Uy=-6o80nn&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&mode=fromshare&conn_speed=1