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For Hannah!

Guest Post from Laura of Sparkly to Single

Puppy Love

Animals have always played a major role in my life and I believe they are what caused me to develop such a strong sense of empathy. I have memories from my childhood of the black cats my parents had since before I was born, Hector and Basil. When I was a young teenager, we had two more cats named Freckles & Sparky, this time ginger females. At the age of 15, my family got our first dog, a golden retriever named Jasper. While I love all animals, the day we brought him home and Sparky hissed and swatted at him with her claws was the day I learned I am a dog person.

But a pet never really tugged at my heartstrings until the day I got a puppy of my very own; not my parents’ dog, but MINE. Having grown up with a golden retriever, I always thought I wanted a large breed dog. So when my fiance wanted a Shih Tzu, I didn’t think I could love it the way I loved Jasper. I thought when we arrived to pick out our puppy from the litter, that I would be the sensible one; the one who could ask about the puppy’s health and walk away if she wasn’t suitable for us. How wrong I was – the moment I laid eyes on Sierra, I fell in love with her instantly.

The bond that formed between Sierra and I goes beyond breed, beyond looks, beyond logic. It’s just pure, unconditional love. That was how I learned that I don’t need to seek out a particular breed in the future, I don’t need a puppy, I don’t need a “perfect” dog. A dog just needs love and a commitment to proper care for them, and they will devote themselves to you unconditionally. That relationship, in and of itself, is perfect.

Because of this realization, the next time I adopt a pet, it will be from the BC SPCA. Until then, I support them by being a responsible pet owner and by supporting them financially, which is why I’m donating to Jen for this Blogathon.

I’m blogging for 24 hours straight to support the BC SPCA

Pledge through the Blogathon Site
or
Directly through the SPCA Paws for a Cause donation portal.

For Chris. Not enough snow for snow angels…

Not only does the SPCA shelter animals people typically think of as pets, they work to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife around the province.

The BC SPCA rescues more than 1,800 deer, birds and other wildlife every year through its shelters and through Wild ARC, the BC SPCA’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre located in Metchosin on Vancouver Island.

Living in the city, it’s easy to forget that the vast majority of BC is made up of forest habitat, home to hundreds of species of plants and animals. It’s what makes BC Beautiful, and protecting and rehabilitating the animals that belong to that ecosystem is important work.

Won’t you donate so they can continue?

I’m blogging for 24 hours straight to support the BC SPCA

Pledge through the Blogathon Site
or
Directly through the SPCA Paws for a Cause donation portal.

We made it up! Coming soon: peak2peak gondola ride!

Waiting to head up the mountain with the Nestea team. I’ll be taking my Bikini Snow Angel photo (per Chris’) request once we get to the peak.

Any other sponsors have requests? It’s not too late to submit your ideas!

We made it!

The work of the SPCA most people are familiar with is the sheltering of companion animals – cats & dogs, birds, rodents, bunnies, etc.

Each year the SPCA finds new homes for more than 19,000 abandoned or surrendered animals. Almost all of the BC SPCA’s 36 branches post photos and stories about homeless animals online so that potential adopters can view animals at home before visiting their local shelter.

Of course we got our dog from the SPCA, and I know many friends who have rescued their cats and dogs from the SPCA and organizations like it. Many of the dogs and cats that end up in shelters come from the puppy and kitten mills that produce the cute animals you see in pet stores. Of course I encourage you to always check out your local shelters as a first (and hopefully only) option when looking for a new pet.

And if you’re not in the market for a companion animal right now, perhaps you feel like donating to the well-being of the hundreds of animals who are waiting for their forever homes

I’m blogging for 24 hours straight to support the BC SPCA

Pledge through the Blogathon Site
or
Directly through the SPCA Paws for a Cause donation portal.

The Sea to Sky’s had quite a bit of construction on it in preparation for the Olympics. I haven’t been on it much since most of the construction has been completed, but so far it looks so, so much better than it did the last few times I drove it.

The wider lanes and safety barriers make it seem a lot more suited to being the major thoroughfare it’s been for over a decade now. The upgrades were long overdue, and it’s good to see them finally complete.

And yes Neil, Gus is driving carefully

I’m blogging for 24 hours straight to support the BC SPCA

Pledge through the Blogathon Site
or
Directly through the SPCA Paws for a Cause donation portal.

Sustinence

Tethered! Hooray for Rogers, thanks for doing something right in regards to the iPhone!

I’m thinkin’ these “posts on the road” are going to be pretty short. It’s hard to type in the backseat, I’ve only got so much battery, and if I read too much in a car I get carsick. Ew. I don’t think Gus would like barf in the back of his car (Note to Gus: I don’t generally actually throw up, I just turn a bit green and moan a lot).

Next stop, Squamish for Coffee!

I’m blogging for 24 hours straight to support the BC SPCA

Pledge through the Blogathon Site
or
Directly through the SPCA Paws for a Cause donation portal.

On the road!

Not only am I blogging for 24 hours straight, I’m doing it from Whistler!

I’m heading up to the Chill on the Hill event with Tanya, Gus and Russ. We hit the road in a few minutes, and what’s a drive up the Sea to Sky highway without a roadtrip playlist?

I mentioned a couple months ago that my iTunes Genius put together an amazing playlist for me, so I thought I’d share it with you:

Float On – Modest Mouse
Lights And Sounds – Yellowcard
Sweetness – Jimmy Eat World
The Boys of Summer – The Ataris
Banana Pancakes – Jack Johnson
Banquet – Bloc Party
Rebellion (Lies) – Arcade Fire
The Sound of Settling – Death Cab for Cutie
First Day of My Life – Bright Eyes
Killer Queen – Queen
DOA – Foo Fighters
My Moon My Man – Feist
Love Today – Mika
The World At Large – Modest Mouse
Interstate Love Song – Stone Temple Pilots
Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off – Panic! At the Disco
Be Like That – 3 Doors Down
Good People – Jack Johnson
The Ghost of You – My Chemical Romance
Helicopter – Bloc Party
Hand In My Pocket – Alanis Morissette
Hear You Me – Jimmy Eat World
Fat Bottomed Girls – Queen
Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well – Mike Doughty
Brian Wilson – Barenaked Ladies
Ocean Breathes Salty – Modest Mouse
Wake Up – Arcade Fire
Title and Registration – Death Cab for Cutie
Lollipop – Mika
Vasoline – Stone Temple Pilots
Bohemian Like You – The Dandy Warhols
The Fallen – Franz Ferdinand
I Feel It All – Feist
Never Know – Jack Johnson
This Modern Love – Bloc Party
But Its Better If You Do – Panic! At the Disco
You Oughta Know – Alanis Morissette
A Praise Chorus – Jimmy Eat World
One Year Six Months – Yellowcard
Somebody To Love – Queen
A Lack of Color – Death Cab for Cutie
The View – Modest Mouse
Karma Police – Radiohead
Details In the Fabric (feat. James Morrison) – Jason Mraz
Crack The Shutters – Snow Patrol
In The Back Seat – Arcade Fire
Tomorrow – Silverchair
Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt – We Are Scientists
Head Over Feet – Alanis Morissette

I’m blogging for 24 hours straight to support the BC SPCA

Pledge through the Blogathon Site
or
Directly through the SPCA Paws for a Cause donation portal.

And we’re back!

A little more about the BC SPCA and their Paws for a Cause campaign:

It’s the largest Campaign in Support of Animals in BC

From the event website:

[I]n addition to raising crucial funds to support the BC SPCA’s work, our campaign’s communications program and the media attention that it receives helps adopt animals and raises awareness about animal welfare issues! And don’t forget that this is a campaign for all animals – companion, farm and wild!

We’re looking forward to the opportunity to embark on another successful campaign starting on June 1. Our goal for 2009 is to raise $950,000 for local companion, farm and wild animals. Join us!

Looking at the BC SPCA’s financial statements (which are a great thing to look at for any charity you plan on supporting), the largest category of income they organization has is their fundraising. The amount almost directly correlates to (actually it’s a smidge less than) the cost of sheltering animals throughout the province.

And of course in addition to sheltering costs, there are the low-cost spay and neuter programs for those who can’t afford the procedure, vet care, cruelty investigations and education campaigns to ensure as many people as possible are aware of risks to animals and how to help.

Please help.

I’m blogging for 24 hours straight to support the BC SPCA

Pledge through the Blogathon Site
or
Directly through the SPCA Paws for a Cause donation portal.

Welcome! Hello! Hooray! Here we go!

It’s blogathon time!

Reminder:

First some terminology: “blog” is a shortened version of “weblog” which is a frequently updated personal website. Most blogs have date stamps on the entries, and consist of links and commentary.

Now, remember when you were in school and you would bowl for charity? And for every pin you knocked down you got, say, ten cents? Or run for a dollar a mile? During the Blogathon, people update their websites every 30 minutes for 24 hours straight. For this, they collect sponsorships. Pledges can be a flat donation, or a certain amount for every hour the blogger manages to stay awake.

I’m collecting sponsorships for the BC SPCA, specifically their Paws for a Cause campaign. Not only am I fundraising over the next 24 hours, my pooch and I will be walking with hundreds of other animals and their people on September 13th.

Thank you for supporting us! See you again in 30!

I’m blogging for 24 hours straight to support the BC SPCA

Pledge through the Blogathon Site
or
Directly through the SPCA Paws for a Cause donation portal.