Orange County Pet Expo...

[Frances Pendrous (Horan)]

Does anyone have any information about the OC Pet Expo at the Orange County Faire. April 15th - 17th. Apparently, it is a lot of fun and different breeds all get together and have a booth. I think this would be a lot of fun and was wondering if anyone would like to get together with me to exhibit our doodles??? You can check it out online.

[Jill Ziegler]

I have a friend who attends the OC Pet Expo every year and she says it's really good.  I do not believe that you can bring your pets though.  I would be shocked if we could exhibit our Doodles.

[Frances Pendrous (Horan)]

Thanks Jill. Upon Richard's information, I guess I will just be attending (without doodle) this year. It is just when we all get together for the doodle romps, how I love seeing them all together and thought is would be a lovely thing to show off our collection of doods..but at that price..I guess we will pass for now.

[Richard Crowe]

The Southern California Pet Expo charges for booth space.  For a 10'x10' size booth the price is $775 to non 501C3 exhibitors.  Non profit tax exampt (501C3) agencies can rent a booth for $100.  They must show proof of their tax status and not be selling any items. If they are selling items, it must be organzational related items and the price for a booth in that case is $200.

 

Unfortunately, we cannot bring our dogs to the Expo unless a booth is rented for the purpose of showing them to the public.

 

 

[Frances Pendrous (Horan)]

Oooch..that is quite a fee. I did not realize that they would charge just to have a booth to exhibit your dogs...Thank you Richard for checking this out. I guess that is a bit too pricey for us to show off our gorgeous doodles. I knew pets were not allowed unless they were being exhibited but I did not realize they would charge so much. Oh well...it was a thought but I appreciate the input.

[Richard Crowe]

I wish there would be a way to show off our Doodles.  I have never owned any dog (and I have had many-many dogs over my long life) that attracts as much attention as Holly.  People are just drawn to this lovely and well behaved dog.  Some people can identify her as a doodle (usually asking if she is a Labradoodle) and some folks ask if she is a Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier, but everyone asks questions about her.  She is a great Doodle ambassador.

 

My wife is going to the Silver Bay AKC dog show in Del Mar California today.  They have a "Meet The Breed" section where different breed organizations introduce their dogs to the public and answer questions about the breed. The American Maltese Association has a booth there. Judy is bringing two of our rescue Maltese along with pictures of the other rescue Maltese we are fostering. (see these dogs at:  http://rpcrowe.smugmug.com/Other/Available-Rescue-Maltese/15961516_... )Hopefully we will get some interest from people who might want to adopt or even foster a Maltese Rescue,

 

I know that we would draw interest towards our Doodles needing to be re-homed if we could show off our Doodles. However, unfortunately AKC events are only open to breeds accepted by the AKC.

 

There are occasionally "Dog Walks" or "Pet Walks" in San Diego County.  It would be nice if we could get several Doodles together and walk as a group in one of these events.  It would be nice if we had some typical Doodle looking dogs, like my Holly and many others; as well as the non-typical Doodles like Chloe, the Labradoodle, whom I transported from the Hesperia, California Animal Control Shelter to her new foster home in Anaheim, CA near Disneyland.  People would see that even the non-typical looking Doodles have the wonderful Doodle personalities.  Chloe is certainly a great dog.

 

I will keep a lookout for dog events in which we might participate and will announce the ones I learn about here on Doodlekisses.  Perhaps other Doodle owners might do the same in their geographic areas. 

 

In preparing for Maltese Rescue events, we had a banner made at a local advertising shop.  This banner cost only forty-five dollars and works great. Actually we could use one banner in many places by just mailing it to the next place we need to use it. We have also purchased a folding canopy since all of us got sunburned at the last event we attended.  We were the only group that didn't have a canopy.

[Frances Pendrous (Horan)]

Sounds like you are up to your eyes in "fur-kids". Good for you Richard. There is nothing more enjoyable or rewarding. Just wanted to say great job for transporting the gorgeous Chloe...I am sure she will find her forever home in a nano second. We recently found our Johnny formerly known as Figaro from DRC thanks to people like you who took the time our of their busy lives to transport him down from your neck of the woods to a foster home in Anaheim so that we could have this precious gift forever in our lives. Johnny was found with another dog running up a free way in San Diego County, taken to a shelter where DRC heard of him and rescued him. Paid for his multiple surgeries (he had entropian and a hernia) cleaned him up and we got him.  I did a small fund raiser to help towards the cost of his surgeries and in the proceeds of planning another one. It is people who step up to the plate (like you and the wonderful people at DRC) who make this world of ours a better. place:) These rescued dogs are the best ever. We have our "purchased" big girl Frankie who we obtained at 10 weeks for a disgraceful amount of money (for a dog that is not even recognized by the kennel club) but she truly is a darling in every sense of the word, except she we spoilt her and, unlike our Johnny, never knowing any adversity in her life....she is a princess. These doodles as you say, are amazing and like you, I have had dogs all my life, but never anything like these.  I would love to come down to San Diego for any dog walk that you hear about as thanks to Doodlekisses, I now have dear friends, who also own doodles down that way. I love your Maltese rescue dogs and would love to own one or two, but space does not dictate any room for anymore furkids right now... Keep in touch :)

[Richard Crowe]

Hi Frances...

Judy and I are work with the American Maltese Association in rescuing Maltese.  We used to breed and show these little dogs but, have given up breeding in favor of rescue work for the last three or four years.  Rescue is more fulfilling than breeding.  Saving the lives and finding "furever" homes for dogs who have been abused, neglected, dumped or just dogs whose owners cannot keep them anymore for one reason or another is wonderfully rewarding to us.

I want to help rescue Doodles in every way that I can.  That is why I think that getting our breed into the spotlight is the way to go.  As with Maltese, I think that one of the key elements in rescuing dogs is to have a listing of available foster homes.  That way, we could distribute our efforts and always have a temporary spot for a needy dog.

We are fortunate in our Maltese rescue in that we have the financial support of the American Maltese Association.  THE AMA reimburses for the vet care we provide the rescue Maltese.  The money comes from various AMA functions including their yearly Specialty Show.  During the show, they have auctions, raffles and other money making activities.  We also have some generous donors, who either cannot for some reason foster or adopt a Maltese or who own several Maltese.  A Los Angeles doctor provided us with a case of Pee Pee pads and a couple of gallons of urine remover at the time we had twenty Maltese (including five litters of puppies) in our home.  We are fortunate in that we live in a very large home in which, over the years, we have replaced all carpeting with tile.  This generous doctor is planning to pay the hundred dollars for a non-profit booth at the Orange County Pet Expo.  We are trying to muster enough Maltese Rescue people to man the booth over the three days of the expo.

The American Maltese Association is incorporated as a non-profit 501C4 organization.  However, they would need to be a 501C3 organization in order for people to deduct cash and in-kind donations from their taxes.  I have been bugging the board of directors for several years to get the status changes to 501C3 and have only recently been heard.  It appears that the organization is taking steps to get the rescue portion of the AMA certified as a 501C3 activity.  That way, we can solicit for private and business donations as well as deduct our mileage and other Maltese care expenses from our taxes.

I do wish that the Doodle community could have a financial base like the Maltese people have.  Here is a picture of the booth we had at a pet rescue function in the PETCO store parking lot, across from the San Diego Sports Arena.  Judy and I have purchased a folding shade canopy since that event.  All of us got sunburned and we had problems providing shade for the Maltese we had at the event.

 

[Frances Pendrous (Horan)]

Thanks for sharing. They are truly gorgeous little things...Would love one or two one day...space allowing. Right now, my doodles are about 160 lbs between the two of them and that is a whole lot of dog to walk. Thanks for sharing the pics. They are great and those pups are so darling, I am sure they were all snapped up....hopefully, to the right homes.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I agree with Richard that our Doodles really do attract attention.  We can't go anywhere without being stopped and asked about Gracie Doodle.  Everyone wants to pet her and ask questions.  I too think it would be awesome if we could do walks or events in a group with our Doodles.  Richard...I would be interested in participating with Gracie if anything comes up.  I love showing her off.  We will be taking her to the St. Patrick's Day parade here in San Diego in Balboa Park.  We take her every year.  I wonder if we could be in the parade with our Doodles???  I know there have been groups in the past with their dogs...I think once it was Golden Retrievers.  Keep me on your contact list if you ever come up with anything.

 

Frances...that was a great idea.  I was getting ready to contact you and say "count us in" but I guess not.  I do want to come up to the Expo though.  I will be sure to mark my calendar and come up for one of the days.  Darn..I want to bring Gracie Doodle!!!!

[Frances Pendrous (Horan)]

Great Nancie. I'll join you (minus Frankie and Johnny) at the pet expo. I should imagine it will be such a lot of fun. Sadly, I wont be able to join you on the St Patrick's Day walk as that weekend I am going back to England to celebrate my mum's 94th birthday. She's quite the lady and her one regret in life, now that she is so old, is that she can no longer take care of a dog...she misses that. Anyway, let's keep in touch regarding the Pet Expo. Maybe some other So. Cal. doodlers wish to join us and we could make a group day...minus the dogs :(

[Richard Crowe]

Bringing Holly to the St. Patrick's celebration at Balboa Park is a great idea.  I have not thought about it.  However I might have met you several years ago before we got Holly or right after we got her.

 

I usually go to the parade to take pictures but, bringing Holly would be more fun. 

 

And, yes, a Doodle contingent in the parade would be great.  Especially if we all wore some sort of Doodle garb, T-shirt, banner or hat. This would need to be next year because I am certain that the parade is all booked up.

I'd like Holly to wear an Irish hat but, she absolutely hates hats and goes crazy trying to take them off.  I was thinking of a green T-shirt but, she has such a pretty coat that I'd hate to hide it.