Can a rescue dog save your life? Marlo Thomas thinks so ...

Award winning author, actress, and activist Marlo Thomas makes no bones about it.  "Adopt a Shelter Dog. It Could Save Your Life", she wrote in her blog dated 10/23/2012.  You may read it here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marlo-thomas/adopt-a-shelter-dog-it-could-save-your-life_b_2001925.html

Since October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, Marlo encourages anyone thinking of getting a family pet to at least consider adopting instead of buying a puppy.  She mentions that it's a common misconception that all shelter dogs are damaged or unsuitable.  The vast majority are just animals looking for love.  We at www.DogShirtStore.com and www.Pet-Fanatic.com feel the same way.  We've known many rescued pets (and rescued a few ourselves) who have been nothing short of wonderful family members, companions, and sport dogs.  Many of our flyball and agility friends have won numerous awards and titles with their rescued dogs, in such venues as NADAC (North American Dog Agility Association), USDAA (United States Dog Agility Association), CPE (Canine Performance Events), NAFA (North American Flyball Assocation), and UFLI(United Flyball League International).  And even the AKC (American Kennel Club), once only for "purebred" dogs, has softened its stance to allow some "mixed breed" dogs to compete. 

DogShirtStore supports rescue organizations whenever we can.  Some of the organizations we are pleased to support include GREAT, Inc. of Florida (www.great-greyhound.org), Greyhound Rescue Adoption Team of NY (www.greathounds.org), Gold Coast Greyhound Rescue (www.GoldCoastGreyhounds.com), and Lost Angels Animal Rescue (www.LostAngelsAnimalRescue.org).  You may find shirts and other products we do for these organizations on our website at www.dogshirtstore.com, under the heading "Rescue & Adoption Stuff". A portion of all sales in this category is donated to the rescue organizations. 

Of course, one of the best things you can do to help rescue organizations, if your circumstances permit, is to become a foster family.  Says Kelly Faircloth of GREAT, Inc. (Tampa), "Donations are always welcome, but sometimes there are just so many of these beautiful dogs in need of a place to stay while they find their forever homes that our foster families are stretched to the limit to care for them.  More foster families are always needed."

If you can find it in your heart to either adopt or foster one or more of these animals in need, why not contact a local rescue organization to see how you can help?  You may find the rewards you reap far outweigh the sacrifices.  And, at least according to Marlo Thomas, it might even save YOUR life!

DACOF - Dog Agility Competition of Florida

One of the most appealing aspects of running agility is the fact that it's an activity between just you and your dog, creating a wonderful bond. However, there is annual event in Florida where being a participant is very exciting. It is called DACOF (Dog Agility Competition of Florida), which embraces all Florida agility clubs.

If you run and/or train agility in Florida, whether you prefer NADAC (www.nadac.com), CPE (www.k9cpe.com), AKC (www.akc.org), or any other agility organization, this competition is open to you!

The teams consist of a minimum of six dogs/handlers to compete, and the scores from the dogs are added together to get a team total. There must be two novice, two open, and two excellent dogs on each team, and a club may have multiple teams. If you have three dogs per level on a team, you can drop the lowest score and keep only the best two.

We have attended as competitors since 2006, and as a vendor in 2008 and 2009. This year's event will be June 26 and 27, 2010, which is a departure from the traditional Independence Day weekend (July 4th). Once again we plan to attend as a competitor and a vendor ... if you're going to be there, please stop by our booth to say hi and enter our give-away drawing! DACOF will be at the Silver Springs Arena in Kissimmee, Florida. If you want more information, the best place to get it is to join the DACOF Yahoo group, at http://pets.dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/DACOF/

Here's a video we shot of one of Trooper's DACOF runs in 2009, and a couple of pictures from the event; one a general shot of the arena, and the other is our vendor booth (while we were in the process of getting set up).

DogShirtStore Creates New NADAC Designs

We are so pleased to be able to offer products we have created especially for NADAC (North American Dog Agility Council)! Tees, polos, magnets, decals, and window vinyls are available so far. Check them out under "NADAC Stuff" at http://www.dogshirtstore.com/.

For more information about NADAC, go to: http://www.nadac.com/.