2008 Animal Hero Award

The Animal Miracle Foundation names child actor, Dominic Scott Kay as recipient of the “2008 Animal Hero Award” for his efforts to bring public awareness to the plight of homeless animals.

This first annual award will be presented at the Calvert Marine Museum, host site of National Dog Day 2008, on August 23rd in Solomons Island, Maryland. Kay has starred in films such as “Minority Report” (2002) as Tom Cruise’s son - as young Will Turner in “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” (2007) starring Johnny Depp, Keira Knightly and Orlando Bloom - the voice of Wilbur in Paramount/ Nickolodeon’s “Charlotte’s Web” (2007) - and most recently his own film “Saving Angelo” (2007), a story based on the true events of a White Boxer that he and his family rescued in 2003, which makes him the youngest director in Hollywood.

Friends, Kevin Bacon, Eric Close and Julie Gonzalo co-starred in the film as well and it is the first of many he plans to write and direct. Part of the event in Maryland this year will include the “Animal Miracle Film Festival” in a nearly 200 seat air conditioned theater, which will run several of Kay’s films with a photo and autograph session to follow. Kay is the son of Scott Kay, the drummer for the famed band, The Commodores and son of Cindy Kay, also a writer and producer.

Event of the Year Gets Ugly…

 

Ugly has a new face… and it’s called Elwood. (who is he kidding anyway? We all agree he’s just the most darling little thing!) The World’s Ugliest Dog will be one of our pawstinguished guests at National Dog Day 2008 in Solomons Island, Maryland, on August 23rd.

This adorable, oreo cookie speckled Chinese Crested/Chihuahua mix, with a blonde punk rock mohawk and a tongue, the length of a NASA runway, who won the 2007 Worlds Ugliest Dog contest (exclusively aired by Animal Planet) is on a mission to: be a “Good Will Ambassador” for homeless animals and those with special needs; educate people on the importance of spaying and neutering their pets; teach people to be kind to animals – be kind to the earth – be kind to each other. And, most importantly laugh, smile & giggle…at least a few times everyday!

Elwood is the muse of his mommy Karen Quigley, who wrote about him in “Everybody Loves Elwood” and love him we do indeed! Karen will be offering a book signing and Elwood will be posing for photos to help raise money for AMF and all the organizations that National Dog Day will benefit this year. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to get a photo with Elwood! Also don’t miss the feature on Elwood in the summer issue of Colleen Paige’s Pet HOME magazine

Photo: Allyson Crozier Photography

National Dog Day 2008

The 4th Annual National Dog Day celebration comes to Solomons Island, Maryland on August 23, 2008.

It was National Dog Day’s founder, Colleen Paige, whose dog Spike gave her the motivation to walk herself back to health after a near-death car accident which left her scarred and battling to recover from severe head and back injuries at the age of eighteen. Due to circumstances beyond her control however, she had to re-home Spike. A year later, upon discovering he had become the victim of abuse and neglect under new owners, she attempted to rescue him from the torture he was suffering. The new owners refused to give him back and after exhausting every possible legal remedy, she was forced to walk away. Spike spent his last days under the most horrid conditions. Paige vowed that day to do whatever she could to educate dog owners about responsible pet ownership and to help prevent this from happening again to any other dog. Hence, she pursued a career in animal science.

After years of working with many different kinds of animals from dogs to wolves, elephants to dolphins, Paige blossomed as an animal behaviorist, highly respected writer, author and in 2004 became the founder of the Animal Miracle Foundation. Paige has stayed true to her loving memory of Spike and commitment to animal welfare with the inception of National Dog Day in 2004, which saved the lives of over 12,000 homeless dogs nationwide in it’s first year - inspiring a special holiday for them annually. Because of her love for all animals, Paige did not stop there – as she is also the “go getter” behind National Cat Day, National Puppy Day, National Mutt Day, National Horse Protection Day, National Wildlife Day, National Farm Animals Day and a good sized handful of other life saving pet holidays to soon be launched.

National Dog Day serves to help galvanize the public to recognize not only the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, but to also acknowledge the dogs that work selflessly each day to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort,” explains Paige. “Particularly after 9/11, I really felt it was time to honor dogs more than we currently do. Over 300 dogs assisted with that rescue effort and some gave their lives,” she notes. “I felt compelled to give them ‘a day,’ to show deep appreciation for our long connection to each other - for their endearing patience, unquestioning loyalty, for their work and their capacity for unconditional love. Animals have the ability to impact our lives everyday in the most miraculous ways. National Dog Day wishes to encourage responsible dog ownership of all breeds, mixed and pure - and embraces the opportunity for all dogs to live a happy, safe and “abuse-free life”.

Celebrated by dog lovers nationwide, National Dog Day is the day shelters, cities, businesses and humane organizations host adoption events, parties and celebrations around the country to encourage not only canine adoptions, but also donations made to local animal shelters in an effort to save displaced pets. Over 300 National Dog Day events took place across the nation in 2007, facilitating the adoption of over 14,000 dogs.

Just some of the things you will find at National Dog Day 2008

Adoptable Dogs
Vendor Booths
The Great American Dog Show
Animal Miracle Film Festival 2008
Shelter Dog Parade
2008 Hero Dog Award
2008 Great American Shelter Dog Award
2008 Animal Hero Award presented to Dominic Scott Kay
Raffle - Hourly Chances to Win!
Doggie Water Play and Daycare
Face Painting & Balloon Animals
Children’s Workshop
Police Dog Demonstrations
Educational Speakers
FURocious Concert featuring Stop Motion Poetry, Stacy Clark and more!
Celebrities & Interesting Personalities and the best food and beverages Southern Maryland has to offer!

2008 Special Appearances by…

Dominic Scott Kay, young actor best known for films such as “Minority Report” (2002) as Tom Cruise’s son - as young Will Turner in “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” (2007) starring Johnny Depp, Keira Knightly and Orlando Bloom - the voice of Wilbur in Paramount/ Nickolodeon’s “Charlotte’s Web” (2007) - and most recently hailed as the youngest director in Hollywood for his own film “Saving Angelo” (2007), a story based on the true events of a White Boxer that he and his family rescued in 2003. Friends, Kevin Bacon, Eric Close and Julie Gonzalo co-starred in the film as well and it is the first of many he plans to write and direct. Kay’s films will be featured in the Animal Miracle Film Festival, in the Calvert Marine Theater, as a part of National Dog Day 2008.

Socks the Presidential “Clinton” Cat will make an appearance with Betty Currie, the former personal secretary for Bill Clinton for photos and “pawtographs”. Some cats love dogs too ya know!

“Elwood” The World’s Ugliest Dog will be our guest for a book signing and photo opportunity!

Always a “special, secret celebrity” so keep watching the web site!
As the event is still in it’s early planning stages, many more celebrities and interesting personalities will be added to the program as the event draws nearer. So please check the web site frequently for updates.

The Great American Dog Show 2008

Enter Today! $25 per dog, per category.

My Best Friend - For Kids
Most Beautiful Female
Most Handsome Male
Most Talented
Best Costume
Owner/Dog Look Alike
Best Dog Waddle

1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize for each contest! Register your pooch online today! The event will be from 10am - 5pm on August 23rd and is FREE to the public. Dogs on a regular 6ft. leash are welcome! Please no retractable leashes or any leash over 6ft. long. Dogs in heat are also not permitted.
Proceeds from this event go to benefit:

Main organizations

Animal Miracle Foundation - Founding
Calvert Marine Museum - Hosting

Rescue Groups
Calvert County Humane Society
Calvert Animal Welfare League
St. Mary’s Animal Welfare League
Patuxent Animal Welfare Society
Greyt Expectations
Second Hope Rescue
Golden Retriever Rescue of Southern Maryland
Dogs Deserve Better
Pets with Disabilities
Tri-County Animal Shelter

Sponsor and Vendor space available! Don’t miss out! Application deadline is July 15th for vendors and dog shows. For more information, please visit www.nationaldogday.com

Sponsors for this national event will be announced in June.

Who is Tom Sadowski?

Tom Sadowski is a veritable chamelon when it comes to the camera. From commercial photography for long time clients such as Target, Marshal Fields, Kohl’s, Coldwater Creek, Bon Marche, Martin Williams, Warner Bros. and Sears {just to name a few}…to animal/pet photography for the Animal Miracle Foundation, National Dog Day, Pfizer Animal Health, the Minneapolis Animal Shelter {who has framed Sadowski prints in their lobby}, Tom Sadowski is on his way to becoming a household name as a behind the lens personality.

Donating his time as the photographer for the Animal Miracle Foundation, Tom is gearing up for another busy year with AMF, which includes cover shots for Colleen Paige’s Pet Home magazine {founder of AMF} and documenting National Dog Day 2008 in Solomons Island, Maryland, in August. Other projects with Colleen Paige include a coffee table book and special interest photographic project.

Tom and AMF will also be teaming up with local shelters and organizations in his hometown of Minneapolis, to promote adoption and to help educate the public about the importance of spaying and neutering. You will find Tom at National Dog Day offering photos with celebrity pets and humans alike… and for his die-hard fans, he may even have a few of his framed works available for purchase. For more information on Tom, please visit www.SadowskiPhoto.com

Pit Bull Awarded as Hero Dog!

The Animal Miracle Foundation awards Maya, a San Jose Pit Bull with its National Dog Day “Hero Dog of 2008” award. “We chose Maya for this award, not only because she saved her human mommy’s life from an attacker, but because the organization behind National Dog Day, the Animal Miracle Foundation, loves and supports ALL dog breeds. We don’t believe in breed bans and Maya is a testament to the fact that the Pit Bull breed can be hero dogs just like any other breed” said Colleen Paige, animal behaviorist, author and founder of AMF.

Angela Marcelino, caretaker of Maya recalls “”I opened my front door and was about to walk inside when I saw someone’s shadow out of the corner of my eye. I turned my head just as a man pushed me into my house. I screamed as loud as I could, but the man had slammed the door shut behind him.

Shut up’ were the only words he said to me. He was choking me with one hand. I was able to scream one last time. After I did, his grip tightened around my neck. That is when I saw a white streak run in from the other room. His grip was so tight that I could only gurgle the words ‘Maya, get him.’ He still had a grip on my throat, as his other hand was busy trying to fight off my angry dog.

I don’t know how, but I managed to get on my feet. His attention turned away from Maya for a second so that he could push my front door open and she followed. At that point I grabbed him in the groin as hard as I could. He doubled over and released the grip around my neck. I pushed him away and grabbed Maya by the collar. I like to think, at that moment, he told himself he had picked the wrong woman to mess with. He looked at me one last time, only for a second, and then simply walked away.”

A drop of blood above Maya’s right eye was later tested for DNA by investigators, which led to the arrest of Anthony Easley. His preliminary hearing is pending.

“All dogs are capable of biting and even attacking, but it’s my firm belief that humans are to blame behind the dogs who get a bad rap. Sadly, so many dogs suffer a tragic fate simply because of their breed. Not only is Maya our Hero Dog of 2008, she is what we’re calling our AmbassaBULL to all bull breeds. I was very excited to have a reason to show the world the good side of Pit Bulls” said Paige, “it’s clear, in this situation, as is the case in many life-threatening situations that involve attacks on women, that Angela Marcelino, Maya’s caretaker, was fortunate to have a Pit Bull as her protector. But the most heartwarming aspect of this story is that Angela rescued Maya from the Santa Clara County Animal Shelter….and on June 17th, 2007, Maya returned the favor” said Paige.

Maya and Marcelino will be presented with this award at National Dog Day 2008 in Solomons Island, Maryland on August 23rd. 

WELCOME!

Thanks for stopping by our new blog! Here you will find, (amongst the dog drool, hairballs, bird fluggers, horse hair and few slimy tennis balls) relevant news about our lifesaving animal holidays and adoption events, welfare programs, grants, wildlife conservation, Pet Home magazine, our founder, celebrity behaviorist and author Colleen Paige and her myriad projects (both animal and musical) and tid bits on the joyous relationships we are priveleged to experience with our furry and not so furry friends. Please check back often, as we are adding news often.