3rd Annual Canines 4 Kids Dog Walk!

Hi Humans!

Bismark, here again, letting you know about the most exciting thing to happen in 2009! The picture in this entry is of my cousin Tyler. Isn't he just the best? He's so fun to play with and he has committed himself to the very important cause of (drum roll please...):

The Third Annual Canines 4 Kids Dog Walk

September 12th, 2009 at 2pm in Albany, NY!

The last two dog walks have been incredibly successful. Through YOUR donations and support, we have been able to add a new roof to a Costa Rican Elementary School, soccer uniforms for an inner city school team, and a concrete floor for the Bri Bri Tribe school. We have also sent several boxes filled with supplies and reading materials.

Our effort does not go unappreciated and it's more important than ever that you take part in this worthwhile effort.

We know that this is a tough time, economically. But please keep in mind, that our toughest time is nothing compared to the lack of financial aid these children receive throughout their vital education. One dollar makes a massive difference to each child in these schools.

Click here for the details of the 2007 Dog Walk and click on the right for the pictures of the 2008 Dog Walk.

Since the money we raise supports two vital organizations, focused on the well-being of Costa Rica, click on the links referencing the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation and the EcoTeach websites for further information. If nothing else, it will warm your heart.

If you would like to give a little bit of money to this cause, we have installed a "PayPal" button on the top right of this website. All major cards accepted.

Your donation is tax deductible if you donate directly to EcoTeach. If you would like to donate to the CRHF, please contact Dave (k94kids@aol.com) so that he can help you do so. Either way, let us know that you support this cause so that we can keep a tally of the money we managed to raise.

This is one man's dream to help a community that he has grown to love. Your donation will be used exclusively for this project and you will be sent a thank you email with a link to this blog that will show how your money was spent.

Whether we raise $1,000,000 or $10, we are grateful to do our part.

Thank YOU for supporting us by coming to this website and making a mental note.

Tail Wags and Licks,

Bismark

Clark

Usually, Bismark writes these Blogs and since his sense of humor is so much better than mine, I gladly let him. This time, however, I wanted to do the entry since it is one of a serious nature and one I feel compelled to write.

Throughout the past three years we have had over 25 dogs take part in our two "Canines for Kids Walks"- from Albany to Long Island to San Francisco. For the pooches, that have taken part in the Albany Walks, we have had them back to our house for a short get together and snacks.

Each of the two years, one of our most beautiful and well behaved Walkers was Clark, a Golden Retriever, owned by two dear friends, Sean and Tina. Susi and I had the privilege to dog-sit for Clark when he was just a puppy and, even then, it was obvious that this was an exceptional dog. He was so smart, learning our “house rules”, the very first day, and even though he was only a pup, he still towered over Bismark. Yet he was sweet, gentle, and allowed "The Bis" to be the boss of his own home.

While back at the house, after each Walk, Clark played in the back yard with the others while avoiding the tempers of some of the smaller dogs. A few times I remember watching Clark as two other canines were having a bit of an argument. He simply sat and watched, virtually regal in his stance and stare. The expression on his face almost said, “Come on guys, play nice.”

Because of Clark’s participation in our two "Canines For Kids Walks", the nearly $400 raised by him has made its way to Costa Rican children and their schools. Regal, smart, gentle and just plain fun, anyone who ever met Clark could not help but fall in love with him immediately. He was beautiful on the outside and on the inside.

This past Spring, Clark started to get sick and after several trips to the vet, it was determined that this three year old, amazing dog, had cancer. In spite of all efforts to defeat the disease, Clark succumbed to the cancer on July 7, 2009. Susi and I share in the grief felt by Tina and Sean’s family.

We extend our most sincere hope that the pain will soon pass and only good memories will remain.

How special are these animals to us?!

How much we love them-even more, how much they love us! I have often said, I wish I was half the man my dog thinks me to be. They fill such a need in our lives and leave such a void when we lose them.

We are in the early stages of planning another Canines For Kids Walk for the Fall. I look forward to seeing all of our Walkers, meeting new ones, and again, seeing old ones.

Regardless, we will miss Clark.

No other way to say it. Purely and simply.

We will miss Clark.

Dave Cleveland

Back to Costa Rica!

I just got back from my two week vacation in the Big Apple while Mom & Dad jetted off to Costa Rica. While I had a lot of fun playing with Jeff, his partner Andrew and my cousin, Tyler, it seems that my folks had an even better time in the "Land of The Ticos".

While they seem to have several highlights of the trip, one of the biggest parts was a visit to the Turtle Station which was created and run by EcoTeach, for the purpose of protecting the eggs of the Leatherback Turtle.

EcoTeach brings groups of students down to Costa Rica to see the nature firsthand, its commitment to the environment and their dedication to the Indigenous People of Costa Rica (including their schools).

Mom and dad were allowed to join one such group from the Fergus Falls Community College in Minnesota (or, as several of the students called it, Minne-snow-ta). My folks loved all ten of the students and teachers and were so grateful that they were welcomed in to their group as if they were not a couple of “old farts” (dad’s words, not mine… I still need dad to rub my belly from time to time). Mom and dad were SO impressed that these young people would brave the back country of Costa Rica during their Spring Break while so many of their friends hit the beaches of Cancun and other more “comfortable” spots.

While at the Turtle Station the whole group patrolled the beach at night, seeking out Leatherback Turtles laying eggs (they saw three). The eggs were then dug up and relocated to the Station and reburied in a secure Hatchery to save them from poachers, who used to dig up all the nests and sell the eggs. The EcoTeach project has virtually stopped that practice and the Groups that visit Costa Rica with them are a major part of that process.

Last year, K94Kids was able to send EcoTeach money for the Indigenous Peoples’ school within the BriBri Tribe which Mom & Dad and the Fergus Falls folks got to visit. This was accomplished after taking two dugout canoes, crossing a river holding onto a rope stretched across it, taking a bus (which looked like a 1955 US school bus) and trekking up a mountain to actually get to the school.

I’ll write more about mom & dad’s trip in another entry as soon as I can get them to stop talking about the Turtle Station, Fergus Falls and the turtles who are over 5 feet long and weigh over 1,000 pounds (not to mention being around for more than 150 million years!).

Looks like this year’s K94kids Walk will be in the Fall. Stay tuned!

Pura Vida Ya’ll!

Bismark