Orthodogs' Second Annual "Celebration of Life" Event

Best-Selling Writers Join OSLF for Our Second Annual "Celebration of Life" Fundraiser, to Celebrate the Dogs Who Have Inspired Us.

Welcome to Orthodogs' Silver Lining Foundation's Second Annual Celebration of Life, taking place during the week of October 14th through the 20th. This year we're celebrating the amazing ways that dogs inspire us. We hope you'll join us and share your stories, photos or anything else that your dog has inspired you to do or to be in your life.

Inspiration is a word that has become commonplace. We hear it often in reference to athletes and other famous people. Parents with disabled children will say that these little special needs people are an inspiration to them. We've all seen groups of youngsters pretending to be Brett Favre or Oprah Winfrey because these people are inspirational to them. Inspiration by definition is "the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions". If each of us were to sit down and ask ourselves what moves us, we'd likely all come up with different answers. But for many of us, the answer can be found at the end of that wet nose that's made its way to our laps for a nice snooze. Can our inspiration really come from an entirely different species? A species with which we do not even share a common language and yet communicate with each and every day. A species that is supposed to be below us in the world's hierarchy and yet has earned our undying devotion and respect. Ask any dog owner and they will tell you without a doubt that yes, inspiration for them comes from these four legged creatures who share our joys, our sorrows, our hearts and our homes and make our lives better just by virtue of being in them.

Much of what moves and inspires us in our lives can be traced back to our dogs. Dogs are such inherently good natured beings that they seem to be able to exert considerable influence over our own behavior. We suddenly become more patient and that expensive crystal bowl that we got for our wedding, that's now sitting in a million pieces on the floor, seems so much less important than the oversized and wildly wagging tail that is just inches away from the table upon which the bowl used to reside. All of a sudden we're not as interested in going out for dinner with our co-workers and would much rather go home, find that soggy tennis ball and play fetch with our dog who has been waiting patiently for our arrival from places that he cannot comprehend but he's just so glad that once again you've survived and made it home to enjoy some much needed outside time. Out of the blue we become much less self absorbed because we realize that we need our dogs much more than they need us. But how did that happen? How did these little bundles of fur take such a hold over us? In some ways I think we really wish we could be like them. We wish we could just enjoy a nap in the late afternoon sun. We wish we could take pleasure in watching a bug crawl all the way across the yard only to disappear under the fence. We wish we could eat the same thing for every single meal and still be excited about it as if we're tasting it for the first time. We wish we could greet people each and every time we see them as if they've been gone for weeks when in reality they've only been gone a few minutes and were just in the next room making the bed. We wish we could reach out to someone in tears with just a look with our big, thoughtful eyes. We wish we could love unconditionally but we don't seem to be able to allow ourselves to do that. Not when it comes to other humans anyway. When it comes to our dogs we love them, adore them, cherish them and in our eyes they are perfect. Even when they're running around the yard with your slipper in their mouths and it no longer bears any resemblance to a slipper. Or when they're standing in front of a freshly dug hole in your garden with dirt covering their noses looking like they have no idea why you appear to be upset about something so they just run off looking for the next great adventure while you fill in the hole, for the tenth time that week.

Dogs have accomplished what no other species has or likely ever will again. They’ve touched our lives and our world in truly amazing ways. Search and Rescue dogs will work tirelessly to find each and every survivor buried under feet of rubble and will mourn when no survivors are found. Therapy Dogs make terminally ill children smile again and give nursing home residents some much needed company. Service Dogs give new meaning to the word "freedom" for countless disabled people around the world. Canine Officers protect and serve with their life, literally. When we see dogs at their best, we are moved to tears because we know they don't have to do what they do. We know they do it because we ask them to. And we ask them to because we have created an unbreakable bond with dogs in which there is a mutual understanding that we will each be there for the other when they need us the most. I don’t know a single person that hasn’t been inspired by the actions of these amazing animals. Dogs have been the subject of great works of art and literature and have even inspired changes in government legislation when dog lovers around the country were horrified as we watched the victims of Hurricane Katrina being forced to leave their beloved companions behind. When we look into our dogs’ eyes we see pure love and devotion. We can only hope that they see the same when they’re looking back at us.

So join OSLF and dog lovers from around the world, including acclaimed authors Merrill Markoe and Whitney Otto, and help us celebrate these inspiring lives with which we share the world. We've got some great new "Inspirational T-shirts" and we're giving away our Inspirational Magnets with each donation made to OSLF during this year's Celebration of Life. We also have a dog blog set up where we’ll post your personal stories of inspiration and those stories will be in some pretty good company. Where else will you be able to share the page with famous authors like Markoe and Otto? And of course Paola has created another wonderful video so grab some tissues, gather up all those photos that you love to share, tell a story or two and let's do some celebrating!

» Read "The Dog Diaries" by Merrill Markoe.

» Read "Marley's Mentorship Program" by Whitney Otto.

Please contribute with a donation, if you can, so that we can raise money to support the service, rescue, and companion dogs that approach OSLF as a last-chance resource to raise funds for desperately needed orthopedic surgery. Our goal for this fundraiser is to raise $10,000, so that we can resume accepting applications.

All donors will get to choose one of the 2007 commemorative magnets.

All donations over $75 will be entered into the raffle of one of two OSLF gift totes full of dog toys, treats and grooming tools, generously donated by our supporters.

Celebrate with us. Together we can make a difference in the lives of dogs.

How To Participate

If there's been a special dog in your life that you would like to honor, join us September 30 through October 20, 2007, and make a donation to OSLF. All donations are tax deductible, and donations of any amount are welcome and greatly appreciated. Every donation will receive a commemorative "Celebration of Life" magnet, so please include your mailing address with your contribution.

Donations over $75 will be entered into the raffle of one of two OSLF gift totes full of dog toys, treats and grooming tools. The totes are canvas, with a stenciled Lab on one side, and the handles are either light blue or burgundy. Measurements are approx 10' x 6' x 5' (L x H x W).