It's a FROSTY INVASION!!!

Daddy-Dog came home the other night to an alarming sight:

INVASION OF THE FROSTYS

It took several minutes for us to reassure him that we had the situation under control.  This is not -- as it might seem -- an invasion of Frosty plush toys.  These are actually the Frosty plush toys for my Frosty Paws Giveaway.  I'm giving away TEN Frosty Paws prize packages.

They really are quite cute when they're not swarming.  See?

Each Frosty Paws Prize Package contains
a Frosty plush toy (for your human pup sibling)
and TWO Frosty Paws coupons (for you)

 

TWO coupons for a FREE box of Frosty Paws

If you are a U.S. resident dog*, and you LOVE Frosty Paws like I do, or if you've never tried Frosty Paws and would like to, just enter my giveaway.  You can find all the details on how to enter in my post Frosty Paws Giveaway for National Adopt A Shelter Dog Month.  If you don't already follow my blog, start following to stay up to date with news about the Frosty Paws Giveaway and the announcement of the winners.  Also, if you're on facebook, check out the Frosty Paws Facebook Page.  (Please note that following my blog and "liking" the Frosty Paws Facebook Page are NOT requirements for contest entry.)

The deadline for entry is 12 midnight Eastern Standard Time on October 27.

The ten winners will be randomly drawn from all of the entries.  To enter, all you have to do is tell me about one thing you have done to support a shelter or rescue organization or to help a homeless animal.  (If you have done more than one thing, that's GREAT.  Tell me all about what you've done to give ideas to others.)  If we ALL do one thing, it adds up!  If you're looking for ideas on how to help, read the comments to the Giveaway post.  My readers are doing wonderful things!

Frosty Paws has generously provided the prize packages and shipping boxes with prepaid postage.  How cool is that?!?!

Frosty Paws sent me all of this

 

 Of course I needed some help opening the package

Hey, you with opposable thumbs! 

Help me!

*Sorry, this is only open to U.S. residents because Frosty Paws are only available in the U.S. -- until I'm able to deliver them on my private jet!

Fall 2012 Florida Keys Adventure - My Travel Journal, Part III

Part III: Key Largo to Key West

Day 6 - Key Largo to Key West

We began the day with a sunrise walkie to see the ocean.  Then we packed up our stuff in the Daddy-Dog-mobile and headed south down the Overseas Highway.  We were very sad to leave Key Largo because we had gotten to know some very nice humans and puppies there.  Also I didn't get to see Southernmost Moose 'cause he had that surgery and was walking funny afterwards and didn't feel too good.  

We loved the small town feeling in Key Largo, sitting in front of the Blue Cow where everyone who walks by says hello.  We loved our sweet suite with the big balcony and fabulous view. 

Mom really liked the view

On our way south, we saw a bright red Citroen on the side of the road with a "For Sale" sign, so mom and dad had to stop to check it out.  It was a 1970 Citroen CV Special!  We took a bunch of photos to show my buddy Tim back home.  A delightful French couple on a HUGE motorcycle had also stopped to look at the car, and they told us all about it, because they said when they were teenagers in France, everyone had a Citroen like that.   

This is a funny car!

I'd look so good cruising around in this.

Of course, I look good anywhere.

OMD!  It has horizontal shocks!

I know what I'm getting Tim for Christmas.

Our next stop was Anne's Beach for a water romp.  I LOVE Anne's Beach!

When we got to Key West, we checked in to our hotel and had dinner at Bistro 245.  The bartender there was SOOOO nice!  She brought me a huge drink (of water of course), and later another bartender brought me a cup of ice.  It's awesome the way I'm welcome in so many restaurants in the Keys.

Walking down Duval St, everyone wanted to say hello to me and pet me.  I must have been petted by a gazillion peoples!  This would continue throughout our stay in Key West.

Coming next -- Part IV: Key West

Fall 2012 Florida Keys Adventure - My Travel Journal, Part II

Part II: Key Largo

Day 3 - Key Largo

Mom, dad and I went on a sunrise walkie.  We walked all the way across the island to see the ocean!  During the morning, I napped while mom and dad went swimming.  Dad overcame his fear of water and learned that he is part fish!  He learned to use a mask and saw a bunch of fishies and a starfish!  

Napping on the balcony

Then during lunch at the Blue Cow Cafe, I made a new friend named Buoy, and Buoy's dad gave me a treat!  Then I made friends with Bentley who works in the boutique nearby.  

Me and my new friend Buoy

Buoy

For dinner, we all went to the Conch House, and the very nice lady there gave me BACON!  After dinner, we stopped by Divers Direct and a guy in the store said I could come inside too.  I'd never been in a dive shop before.

That night I had very active dreams -- I dreamed I was hunting bacon on the plains of Africa.

Day 4 - Key Largo

We started the day with another sunrise walk across the island to the ocean.  

After lunch at the Blue Cow Cafe, we went into the dog-friendly UPS Store because in the window they had a sign that piqued our curiosity -- it said "we send coconut postcards".  The very nice lady in the UPS Store gave me treats and explained that a "coconut postcard" is when you put an address on a coconut and ship it to someone.  This is why I love the Keys!  Every place is dog friendly and everywhere I go, they give me treats!  And they do crazy things like ship coconuts to people instead of a postcard!  We wanted to get a coconut postcard for Grandma Joyce, but the only ones they had said "Happy Birthday" and it won't be her birthday again until next July.  But I got treats, and that's all that mattered.

Me and Hector in front of the Blue Cow Cafe

I LOVE this place

Excellent service at the UPS Store

I was very proud of Daddy-Dog because he was learning basic swimming and was rapidly gaining confidence in the water.  Mommy-Dog tried SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) for the first time ever and paddled a couple miles down the shore and back.  She "totally rocked it" according to the 18-year old SUP dude.  Momma was quite proud of herself at receiving such high praise.  And her newly-mended-with-a-titanium-plate-and-8-screws arm didn't bother her AT ALL, which is really amazing, considering she broke it into a bunch of pieces only a little over two months ago.

Day 5 - Key Largo

We had an early morning walkie, then went to the Blue Cow Cafe for breakfast, where we saw my new friend Bentley.  Everyone who walked by admired me and petted me.

Dad continued to amaze us by trying stand-up paddle-boarding.  He didn't fall off and was actually able to keep up with Momma.
During lunch at the Blue Cow Cafe, we saw my new friend Buoy.  The UPS Store lady brought me treats so I did some tricks for her.  Then Buoy had to show us HIS tricks.  Then we met Uncle Randy & Aunt Cara at Snook's for drinks.  It was great to see them!

The Blue Cow Cafe is VERY dog-friendly (and people-friendly!)

Buoy and Hector make sure everyone
knows dogs are welcome

Buoy has the best eyebrows EVER

We went back to Snook's later for the MarrVelous Pet Rescue Yappy Hour.  You wouldn't believe the number of dogs there!  You can see some photos at Yappy Hour at Snooks.  I REALLY missed seeing my buddy Southernmost Moose though.  Hopefully we will see him next year -- if not before.

Me at Yappy Hour

More scenes from Key Largo:

This little dude was walking across the driveway of our hotel

Lizards were EVERYWHERE

Relaxing on the balcony of our sweet suite

Big jaws at Shell World

Now this is just silly

Stay tuned for Part III: Key Largo to Key West

Key Largo on Dwellable

Fall 2012 Florida Keys Adventure - My Travel Journal, Part I

14 days, 5 states, 2500 miles

Part I - The LONG Drive Down

Day 1 - RVA to Port Wentworth, GA

Not a particularly exciting day.  Momma and I went on an early a.m. walkie because we knew we would spend lots of time riding in the car (and momma & I both get restless if we haven't had a walkie).  We drove and drove and drove (actually dad drove, we rode) which was kinda' boring, but I got to smell North Carolina smells and South Carolina smells at rest stops along the way, then Georgia smells when we got to the hotel.  We spent the night near Savannah, GA at the super dog friendly Hampton Inn in Port Wentworth.  (We love this Hampton Inn because they don't charge a dog fee and they don't have one of those silly weight limits.)  They even gave me a bag of cookies at check in!

Riding in the car

Interesting stuff in the Hampton Inn parking lot:
Who knew BBQ was a sport?

LOVE this license plate

Snuggling with momma
after a long day of traveling

Riding in the car for 8 hours is exhausting

Day 2 - Port Wentworth, GA to Key Largo, FL

Momma & I went for a morning walk while the moon was still out.  I tested mom's arm repair job when I saw a cat, and the repair job passed the test!  Her arm held up quite well and didn't even hurt in response to a sudden major jerk of the leash!  (This was great news because our later adventures would require the full use of both of her arms.)

We hit the road early, but Florida is a very long state.  

We saw an awful lot of this

I love the signage at the Florida rest stops,
but what about the 'gators???

We got to Key Largo around 8:30 p.m., tired and hungry.  We had dinner at the Blue Cow Cafe, and mom and dad said it was awesome, and it was doubly awesome because the lady there was very nice and there was a big sign that said "Dogs Welcome" and a bowl of water.  We checked in to our hotel after mom and dad had dinner, and I was VERY tired.  Exploration would have to wait.

A very tired pup

Stay tuned for Part II, about our stay in Key Largo

(It gets more exciting, I promise.)

Fighting Canine Cancer, In Memory of Jake

Momma and Puppy Jake, May 1999
Ocracoke, NC

Jake at Booga's house, one of his favorite places

Before I came to live with Mommy-Dog and Daddy-Dog (that's what I call my human parents), they had a black lab named Jake.  Jake died of cancer when he was only eight years old.  

To honor Jake's memory, mom, dad, and I formed Team Garth to participate in the Fetch-A-Cure Mutt Strutt to raise money for Fetch-A-Cure, a Richmond, Virginia-based 501(c)(3) organization that educates humans to raise awareness about canine cancer and its detection, treatment, and prevention.

If you are in or near Richmond, Virginia, please join us in the walk.  It's only a mile long.  If you would like to join or support our team, check out the Team Garth Fundraising Page.

Many thanks to those who have already made donations to Fetch-A-Cure in support of Team Garth.

Jake
January 19, 1999 - December 1, 2007