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 PET OF THE MONTH…Unforgettable

*To be published in the Sept/09 issue of BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER


For me, there will always be two famous ‘Darwins’ in history - Charles Darwin, Origin of Species, and my Darwin, origin of everything else. That’s stretching it a bit, but mothers have the right to embellish.

In Darwin’s defense, he truly did discover many things over the years. Mind you, these things almost always belonged to someone else and were often edible by nature. Darwin remained oblivious, celebrating each discovery to the fullest…from a pack of gum foolishly presumed safe in a purse to an entire family picnic. Being the great explorer that he was, Darwin felt a certain entitlement to whatever his nose sniffed out. Call it beagles’ logic, as illogical as that might be.

Despite constant embarrassment, I was crazy for Darwin. Love made living with the Baddest Beagle in the Universe for 14+ years worth every red-faced apology I made on his behalf. When it came to our love story, love meant always having to say I’m sorry. But he made up for all that by turning me into a hopelessly devoted helper of homeless howlers. He was the first beagle I saved and the very reason I started Big On Beagles (B.O.B) Rescue.

This summer, I lost Darwin to cancer. I’m supposed to look on the bright side. Our little canine crusader outlived his prognosis by more than a year. Don’t forget the average life expectancy of a dog is 12 years old and Darwin turned 15 on April Fools Day – the date aptly chosen to celebrate his birthdays.

But none of this is much consolation for a paw-stained heart counting on forever. And yet, there is a bright side. It dawned on me the moment I met Francesca Davino, a fellow Beacher about as stubborn as a beagle when it comes to fighting back. One inspirational conversation with her and I was singing “Hot Diggity Dog!” for the future ‘Darwins’ of the world.

The expression may date as far back as 1928 but you’ve got to admit it’s doggone catchy! Something tells me it’ll make one howl of a comeback this September 20th. That’s when Special Events expert, Francesca, will be shining a hopeful light on the dogs that enrich our lives through her fur-flying FUN-raiser for canine cancer research --- “Hot Diggity Dog in the Beaches!”

There’s an undeniable optimism in Francesca’s approach. Although it shook her to the core to learn 60% of all dogs will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, she’s encouraged by the strides being made in the research labs for both humans and companion animals.

The Ontario Veterinary College boasts a world-class center for canine cancer research. That’s where Francesca will be directing the funds raised through her event via The Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund.

Francesca’s preferred weapon in the fight against cancer? The love bomb! Invented by Sunny, a dog she once knew. Love bombs are the only way she can accurately describe her hugs. They were devastating. No frown could survive a love bomb from little Miss Sunshine.

There will be plenty of love bombs going off at Hot Diggity Dog in the Beaches! After all, it’s more than a fundraiser. It’s a celebration of the dogs we adore – past, present and future.

The sparks start flying on the Boardwalk at 11:00am with The Parade of Stars! Imagine all our beach dogs marching to the beat of their tails from Woodbine to Silverbirch! There will be prizes to win for the walkers with the most pledges, awesome auction items to bid on, performing dogs to marvel at, and contests to participate in! “If that doesn’t put a smile on your face, then the Live Steel Band will!” Francesca exclaims, with a sparkle in her eye, “You can’t listen to a steel band and not get happy!”

I know nothing lasts forever, even gum-chewing beagles with original charm. But I also know love is the kick-in-the-pants for all good deeds. I wouldn’t be surprised if a dog as unforgettable as Darwin will one day be the inspiration behind the cure for cancer.

This article is dedicated to my infamous beagle, Darwin. He would have approved any event that includes picnics! So grab your pooch, pack a picnic and be part of this good deed! HOT DIGGITY DOG IN THE BEACHES! takes our community by sandstorm on Sunday, September 20, 2009 starting with the Parade of Stars at 11:00am, followed by fun-filled furstivities from 1-5pm! Visit: www.hotdiggitydoginthebeaches.ca for more dazzling details! To lend a helping paw on Event Day, email: Francesca@hotdiggitydoginthebeaches.ca!

This article was published in the June, 2008 edition of the Beach Metro Community News.

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PET OF THE MONTH… I (HEART) HUCK-A-BEAGLE!


I think of my column as the canine comics section of our paper. There’s the ‘Headlines’ and then there’s me – the ‘Tail Ends’. Anybody looking for a heartwarming chuckle can flip to the funnies, or furries as is the case, where I’m only too happy to accommodate. My ulterior motive, of course, is that your laughter will lead to love and the characters of my comic strip will spring from the page paws first straight into your laps forever! But for this article, I simply want to tell a heart-tugging tale. No ulterior motives…just a worthy plug along with the tug.


I remember the first time I met Huck. The little jailbird scored an early release from doggy prison courtesy of Big on Beagles (BOB) Rescue. Without batting a tail hair, Hucky made the 3-hour road trip from the rural pound to the Beach. He’d been accompanied by a doting shelter volunteer and his parrot. You’d think he would have been exhausted after such a journey but Huck the Beagle bounced out of the car as fresh as a daisy! That was about 5 years ago. Huckleberry Hound was ancient even back then. Shelter records indicated he’d been around since before the Blue Jays won the World Series. Huck is at least 20 years old now. You might wonder what sort of joy a 20-year-old beagle could possibly paw out of life. You might even think he’d be better off pushing daisies than watering them at this late hour. Beagles, however, are stubborn by nature, even when it comes to getting old. Huck may love listening to the blues, but he’s definitely not crying over them. Thanks to his forever foster family, he’s discovered that life this side of the clouds is gosh darn heavenly enough. So he’s working on breaking the world record for Oldest Dog.


It’s not always the case that the beagles we rescue find adoptive homes in the end. They’re either too expensive due to chronic health issues, too old like Huckaroni, or too something. But no matter what lies ahead, our homeless howlers can always depend on a hook to hang their leash down at what one of our foster parent’s fondly describes as BOB’s Beagle Repair Shop.


Huck’s “Mr. Fixit”, aka Foster Dad, recently sent a perky pupdate on our oldest rescue beagle ever. Foster Dad is a musician and Huck is his favourite critic. “The Ancient One” pretends to be completely deaf when Dad gets out his guitar and plays classical, jazz or celtic. But when he starts strummin’ the blues, Huck is front row center and all ears. There will come a day when the music will end for our little blues hound. We all know it’s inevitable. But the music will play on in celebration of this extraordinary dog. And it will play on for the next beagle determined to break a record – reparable or not. It’s what we do.


It’s also what so many fellow rescue groups do – phenomenal folks that I’m proud to know personally. That’s why it’s such an honour to come together with them once again to raise funds for these many dogs I write about, these dogs whose triumphant tales give us reason to smile. All of us are reunited for the 6th Annual K9 Rescue Me Walkathon at Woofstock on June 14, 2009!


So set a pledge goal for yourself and walk for your favourite dog rescue! And while you’re walking, think of the dogs you’ll be helping. Dogs like Huck with personal goals of their own…such as, living to see the Blue Jays win another World Series.


Huck is a 20-year-old veteran beagle who loves the blues! He’s got a permanent gig with his foster family at BIG ON BEAGLES (BOB) Rescue, www.bigonbeagles.ca. But he’s not getting any younger so let’s make howl while the sun shines! Walk for BOB in the K9 Rescue Me Walkathon at Woofstock on June 14, 2009! To learn more about this fur-raising event and the other participating dog rescue groups who need your support as much as we do, visit www.k9rescueme.com!