The 2011 HugABull Calendar is Here

The theme of our 2011 fundraising calendar is Pit Bull Perspectives, featuring original artwork alongside beautiful dog photography. A big thank you to this year's photographers:


Ashleigh Wells of Ashleigh Wells Photography photographed most of our Vancouver area dogs AND stepped in to do last-minute design work so we could meet our deadlines. Ashleigh and her husband welcomed their American Bulldog, Roxie Hart, into their lives six years ago and has experienced both the stigma and joy a bully breed brings. She was excited to combine her love of dogs and passion for photography for this project, and we're so glad she did!
www.ashleighwellsphotography.com





Tanya King of Dog & Hydrant Dog Photography and Boutique has supported HugABull for many years - photographing foster dogs to increase their adoptability, collecting items for Loki's Christmas Wish and contributing to a number of past calendars. She is committed to rescue and is seen here with Daisy, her adopted American Bulldog from Vancouver Animal Shelter.
www.thedogandhydrant.com






Don Osborne, a landscape and wildlife photographer, worked with our Vancouver Island dogs. Getting to know island HugABullers and their dogs has changed his perceptions about pit bulls over the years, and he gladly accepted our invitation to work on our calendar. He enjoyed the experienced immensely, telling us that the dogs he photographed were the some of the most loving, friendly dogs he'd had the pleasure of being around.
www.donosborne.ca




Photos by Ashleigh, Tanya and Don are matched with artwork from a number of talented individuals in our community. We'll be exhibiting the artwork at our Holiday Open House in Vancouver, and stay tuned for some images online. (There isn't space to post all 12 portraits here, so here's just one - Hunter - as a teaser!)

Want a calendar? Yes, you do! They are full-colour, gorgeous artifacts that support a great cause - and show your commitment to pit bull rescue year-round.

Here's how to get one:

Come to any HugABull event (Vancouver area, Vancouver Island, or Okanagan) where we'll have them on sale for $20. If you order 10 that will include a free one, for a total of $180.

Order through our online store. Cost is $25 due to administration and shipping fees.

Visit one of our retail partners (there are more being added every week):

• Dizine Canine Training Centre in Vancouver (East Van)
  
• The Dog & Hydrant in Vancouver (Yaletown)
• Simply Natural Raw Pet Food in Vancouver (Kerrisdale)
• Dog Utopia in Surrey
• The Bone & Biscuit in Kelowna
• Urban Canine (previously the Bone & Biscuit) in West Kelowna
• Prevost Veterinary Clinic in Duncan

Another cruelty seizure. Puppies in need.

Two weeks ago, The Province newspaper published this article about a cruelty seizure in Surrey - which included an emaciated momma dog and 10 tiny puppies left to starve in their own filth. Our hearts went out to the poor girl and we desperately wanted to help.

HugABull is still paying vet bills from another cruelty seizure earlier this summer (involving 19 puppies) so we weren't sure we could afford another litter. Furthermore, we try to focus our resources on older dogs in the shelter system, as they face more barriers to adoption.

But at the end of the day, we couldn't turn our back on this poor, skeletal momma dog who was trying to raise her puppies in a noisy and unfamiliar shelter environment. We went to meet her on Saturday and she passed her temperament test with flying colours - wiggling and dispensing kisses for our volunteers.

This weekend, momma dog Norah moved to her foster home where she is warm, safe, and has plenty of attention. It's a happy coincidence that the foster mom is the adopter of Rosie, one of our "mange girls" from the Surrey rescue who is now fully recovered and the happiest little girl you can imagine.

So far mom and pups are doing great. Norah is eating well and already starting to relax - even initiating a play session with little Rosie. When the puppies are weaned in a few weeks, Norah will go to a permanent foster home on her own, be spayed and put up for adoption. At that time we hope the puppies will be able to go directly into foster-to-adopt homes with HugABull or our rescue partners Bully Buddies and Respect-A-Bull.

For now, things are looking good. All we need is 10 puppy names.

Five pups will be named by the top five donors to Floyd's veterinary care, because without your support of Floyd we would not be able to afford these puppies.

And....we'd like you to name the other five. Please comment here or on our Facebook page with your favourite puppy name - creativity encouraged!

Stay tuned for puppy photos and an announcement on names...

HugABull’s first online auction!! Items needed.

Our annual fundraiser is going digital!

Since our supporters live throughout BC and across Canada, we realized that the only way to include everyone is to take it online.

So, starting mid-November we will auction off a selection of items through eBay. If you have something you’d like to contribute, we’d love to hear from you. All proceeds will go directly to helping the dogs in our care.

Items do not necessarily have to be dog related! We are looking for things that are:

- New and in good condition

- Minimum $20 in value, to offset our shipping and transaction costs

- Easy (and legal) to ship within Canada

Some things on our wish list include:

- Anything you would find on a store shelf. Toys, sports equipment, electronics, you name it.

- Gift cards from established services or businesses.

- Gift baskets.

Ideally, we would like confirmation and a photo of the item by Wednesday, November 10 in order to ensure it is listed in time. Our goal is to have everything sold and shipped out well before the holidays.

Feel free to be creative and please email info@hugabull.com with any questions...and stay tuned for auction launch dates!