My Furry Valentine Contest

The winner will receive a $25 Gift Card to PetsMart.

And The Winner Is....CHARLIE

Charlie, age 9, Black Lab.Black Lab

Charlie’s Love Story

Charlie’s love story begins when he was ten weeks old. He was donated to the Leader Dog Program. I was able to get this pup to raise as a Leader Dog. When I first laid eyes on this black Labrador Retriever, I said his name is “Charlie”.

It wasn’t too long before we realized Charlie had stomach problems and could not be a Leader Dog. It was time to make a career change. The vet mentioned that with Charlie’s wonderful winning personality he should go into Pet Therapy. Charlie received six months training and graduated from Therapy Dog International. Charlie worked hospitals, hospices, and helped promote the Leader Dog Program. At age 8, he was made an Honorary Flint Township Lion and received his vest and patch. He worked Lion’s conventions, conferences, and meetings to support lionism. He would carry a wicker basket at Lion conventions collecting money for Leader Dog.

At age 12 a tumor was found on Charlie’s spine and in April 2007 at age 13, Charlie passed away from cancer. Charlie’s greatest love was children, with adults coming in second. He was a “gentle giant” and had and held my love from the first moment I saw him. I will never forget Charlie, one of the greatest loves of my life. Submitted by JoAnne.

Other Entries in the Contest...

This is a photo of Jake, a golden retriever, who was 3 months old in the picture. Each week this summer he participated in "Walk Mount Pleasant" and here he is seen resting by some wildflowers in along the greenway. Jake turns 1 year-old on the 27th of February and his time with us is nearly over as he soon returns to LeaderDog. We have enjoyed our time with him. He likes people and all the dogs in our neighborhood. He's our favorite Valentine because his happiness is contagious when he smiles and wags his tail! Submitted by Kate.

Ryka is my very furry valentine. She is an adorable eight-month old German Shepherd puppy in the Leader Dog program. On her outings, she is alert, curious, and very well-behaved. She has a wonderful future ahead of her with someone very special - her Valentine! Submitted by Linda.

Indy (6 mos.) is my special furry valentine! I started Middle School where I didn't know many people. I didn't make the basketball team, and I was having a hard time. I have always wanted to train a leader dog, and so I had signed up for one last August. Instead of waiting the nine months is usually takes to get a leader dog, I was able to get Indy in September. She has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. We love to cuddle and watch the Colts play.  She loves the Peyton Manning football! I know she will be a great leader like Peyton one day. I know it will be hard to let her go this summer, but I know she will be someone else's little Valentine as she gives them a better life. Submitted by Christa.

Our Future Leader Dog Ransom was 6 months old when this photo was taken at a rest stop on our trip between Michigan and Connecticut. Ransom, a black lab had to stoop pretty low to look into the eyes of Dizzy, a Minature Dachsund who is being trained as a Therapy Dog. Submitted by Chris.

My dog's name is Hans and he is five years old. He is a career change canine. He was trained from a puppy to be a leader dog to help blind people. He developed an allergy and was unable to fulfill that purpose. I was given Hans to help fulfill his true calling. He is trained now as a search and recovery canine. He is a cadaver dog. He fulfills this purpose great...Submitted by Mack.

Luke, 4 years old, Indy, 6 months
 
Indy is my fuzzy Valentine. She came to stay with us in September. We get to keep her for a year as we raise and train her to be a Leader Dog for the Blind. Indy has brought a lot of love to our family. We love to pet her soft fur and give her lots of kisses. I know it will be sad to give her back to Leader Dogs, but my mom tells us that if you love something, let it go. We know Indy will bring someone else a lot of love and help improve their life. Submitted by Luke.

Sgt. Pepper is my furry Valentine. We adopted him from Cherryland Humane Society in October of 2000. He was a stray who was wandering around and picked up by Animal Control. He was approximately a year old when we adopted him and about 3 years old when this photo was taken.

Pepper has short legs and a long body and a long tail that seems to wag almost continuously. He is the happiest dog I have ever known and can brighten most anyones day with his  contagiously joyful personality.

The fur around his mouth and on his "chin" has turned white with age since this photo was taken, but he is still the same happy dog he has always been. 

Sgt. Pepper is an 8 year old Cocker Spaniel mix. Submitted by Karen.

Mefford is my new grand-puppy and is being raised as a future leader dog for the blind by the Thompson Family. Last year my daughter & family were raising their first future leader dog for the blind, a yellow lab named Deacon. Deacon and I have a very special bond and it was so hard when my daughter said it was time for Deacon to go be a Leader dog for the Blind.

Deacon was leaving, and the whole family was sad to see him go but what his future held for someone else made us very proud of him.Deacon will always have a place in my heart and I know he is going to be the best Leader dog for the blind EVER!  I always told him “You’re the best grand baby puppy any Nana could ask for. 

My daughter & family received their new future leader puppy and named him Mefford. Mefford is a chubby round beautiful black lab. I didn’t think it was possible but Mefford was just what we all needed to help cheer us up. 

Mefford is the complete opposite of Deacon in every way, but that’s what makes him so wonderful. He is a fun playful puppy, and he loves everyone. He loves his food time a whole bunch too! He loves to come over to my house and play, I also sneak him extra treats. (shhh don’t tell his mommy!)
Now I have a new saying, “Deacon and Mefford are the best grand baby dog/puppy any Nana could ask for”.

Mefford is for sure our families Valentine, just look at the LOVE! Submitted by Mary.

This is Mahtchia, the sweetest yellow lab ever. He is an eleven month future leader dog. He is the perfect Valentine dog not only becausing of how loving he is but, or that he likes to cuddle, but also because he was born February 14, 2007. Submitted by Sheila.

My name is Debbie and I live with my husband and 3 adorable dogs. We call them "our boys." Dusty is a samoyed golden mix and is almost 13 years old, Marshall is the leaner blond boy and is just a year old. We think he has golden in him, and maybe Saluki?? The smaller black dog is Shadow. Shadow is 3 and is a border collie mix. We picked up Dusty from a farm in Cedar when he was a puppy and have spent 13 wonderful years together. Shadow was a part of the Petsafe "Bark in the Park" in Lake Ann, and was too cute to leave in the cage another minute. Finally, Marshall was found in a box at the end of a dead end road, with two other puppies.  A rescue operation in the area took care of him until he was ready for adoption and we were the lucky family chosen to take him into our lives.

Dusty, Marshall and Shadow are part of our family and enrich our lives daily; traveling with us on camping trips, helping in the woodshop, always eager to go for walks and even welcoming a foster pup or two every once in awhile. They make life fun and meaningful! Submitted by Debbie.

My Furry Valentine will only be with me a year, but will have a permanent place in my heart. Joy is the fourth puppy I have raised for Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester, MI.  She is a very sweet little yellow Labrador Retriever. She lives up to her name. She is a "Joy". Hopefully she will bring "Joy" to a blind person someday as a guide dog.  If she should not make it through the program she will have a permanent home with me as I adore her.  None of my puppies have been easy to return to Leader Dogs, and Joy will be no exception. I raise them knowing someone else needs the dog more than I do. Joy is a 6 month old Labrador Retriever. Submitted by Jennifer.

Trebor is a beautiful Yellow Labrador Retriever and is being raised as a Future Leader Dog for the Blind. He is 8 weeks of age at the time this photo was taken in 2007. He has been with us for 8 months now and is a very intelligent and loving companion. As one of many volunteer puppy raisers with Leader Dogs for the Blind located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, Trebor will live with us in our home for approximately one year before being returned for formal training as a future leader dog. Trebor is the love of
our life. Submitted by Judy. 

Bonnie is a Yellow Lab who is currently in training at Leader Dogs for the
Blind in Rochester, Michigan. I had the privilege of being Bonnie's Puppy
Raiser, where she lived with me for her first year of puppy hood so she
could be socialized and learn the basics of becoming a Guide Dog.
If all goes well, she should be available to make a blind person very happy
by Valentine's Day 2008! Bonnie was 5 months old in this photo. Submitted by Linda.

The sweet boy in the photo is Deacon, a yellow lab who was 10 months at the time of the picture. Deacon is a sweet boy who is always ready to put
his best paw forward as he works hard daily on reaching of his goal of working as a Leader Dog for the Blind. When not working on commands or socialization this big yella' fellow could be found playing in his kiddie pool. Submitted by Trish.

Pet Friends MY FURRY VALENTINE
CONTEST Rules

The last day of photo submission is February 14, 2008. Winner announced online February 17th, 2008.

Please read our terms of use and rules carefully before participating in the contest.

1. Only online entries will be accepted. Submit an email with the following required information: Your full name and phone number (this information will not be posted to the site).

2. You will also need to submit the following information which will be posted along with the pet's photo: the name of your pet(s) in the photo being submitted, the age of your pet/s at the time the photo was taken; the breed, if known.

3. Photos need to be sent in a jpg format. Attach photo to your email and submit to: info@petfriendsmagazine.com by 11:59 p.m. on February 14, 2008 and put "photo contest" in the subject line. Photos can be old or new and contain more than one pet.

4. There will be one grand prize winner that will be selected by a panel of judges appointed by Pet Friends Magazine. That winner will receive a $25 GIft Card to PetsMart.

5. Entries are limited to photos of the following types of pets: cats, dogs, birds, reptiles, small animals (e.g. guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets, chinchillas, and like small pets) and horses. Farm animals and images that include animals other than those listed in this paragraph will not be accepted into the contest. Photos can be of just the pet or have humans in the photos.

6. One entry per person.

7. Contest participants can be any age.

8. By participating in the contest, you agree that you have read and understand the rules and terms, you warrant that you are the copyright holder of the photo and grant Pet Friends Magazine a royalty free use of your photo. You also agree to hold Pet Friends Magazine harmless against any and all costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind without limitation.

9. Pet Friends Magazine is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, stolen, misdirected, or illegible entries.