Whew.  Gladys wants you to know that Trick City 2012 has not been easy.  Some really tricky dogs, like Tony

and Gator

have been balancing items on themselves.  Other dogs joined in the balancing act, & they balanced really tasty things. Barney

balanced cookies & Morgan

and Baxter

balanced  impressive stacks of biscuits.

Also balancing deliciousness, was Lemmy, with a tub of butter.

Gladys loves butter, so she tried that trick first.

Then she moved on to the other tasty treats.  Gladys was sorely disappointed to find that we have no biscuits here.  (In fact, she’s asked that I include our mailing address in this post so that you can mail some to her.)  She’s pretty sure that they wouldn’t stay on her face without glue, though.

So what kind of tasty thing could she balance?  She had a few ideas.

I told her that maybe she should just give ‘em the cold shoulder on this one.

She said, yeah, you’re probably right.  But just to make sure, I’ll give ‘em the cold shoulder

And some chicken.

Gladys

c/o Fetching Tags

po box 5557

Atlanta GA 31107

Here’s the challenge announcement – make sure you read the fine print at bottom of page:

If your dog can do it, so can Hazel &/or Gladys &/or Pursey.

If Hazel &/or Gladys &/or Pursey can’t do your trick, you win.

What:  Post a photo of your dog doing a trick on the Fetching Tags Facebook page.  Post must include dog name, title of trick (clever titles are best) & your email address.  Make sure that you include this info, we will need it to respond to your challenge & email your prize!

trick defined:  This can be a photo of your dog doing anything that could be duplicated in a normal household or yard setting.  Tricks can be as basic (sit) or as tricky (backflip) as you can capture in a photo.  No dangerous tricks or tricks like dock diving (tricks involving things – like the ocean or stadiums) we can’t recreate here.

Where:  Like I said, on our Facebook page.

When:  Post your trick by Saturday January 28th at midnight.

Prizes:

1.  Each person who enters the contest by posting a pet trick photo, receives a $5 Fetching Tags gift certificate – enter as many pets/times as you wish, but only one $5 certificate per household.

1a.  Photos entered in any previous Fetching Tags contests may not be entered in giveaway.

2. If Hazel &/or Gladys &/or Pursey can’t do your trick(s), or can’t be captured in a photo doing your trick, you get a $10 Fetching Tags gift certificate (enter as many pets/times as you wish, but only one $5  or $10 certificate per household).

3.  Grand Prize winner,  for best trick that can’t be done by H/G/P, wins a custom Paco Collar with rivet-on Fetching Tags, almost the best trick will get a $60 Fetching Tags gift certificate, and Hazel’s Choice wins $40 certificate – to be determined by an independent judge (& Hazel).

The fine print:  Hazel & Gladys & Pursey reserve the right to cheat, substitute props, &/or call on their cat, Preacher, or any other herd, flock or pack members as trick stunt doubles.

Any necessary clarification of giveaway rules will be made here on this blog post, like this:

While you may use more than one gift certificate on a purchase, any combined certificates must originate from a single person/recipient.

Yes, cats & other animals are welcome to compete.

Your official entry must be in form of photo, but you may send a video as clarification.

One trick per pet.

Let’s Get Tricky!

photo by Maggie Fan

Once upon a time, we adopted Ruth, the canine founder of Fetching Tags.  When Ruthie finally slowed a bit, at age 8, we adopted the best dog in the entire world, Hazel.  Fast forward a bit, & we adopted the most wondrous cat in the universe, Preacher*.

From the simple act of claiming these beasts, then sharing our hearts & home with each of them, our lives have truly been enriched beyond measure.  To spread this wealth as a company, Fetching Tags has supported canine rescue with a portion of every purchase made since our very 1st day in business.  We have also donated hundreds & hundreds of ID tags to dogs & cats awaiting their forever homes in rescue.

We constantly brainstorm about ways to support rescue & encourage the adoption of homeless animals.

How can our small company really make a difference?  If you have ideas, let us know!

Here’s our first crazy offer of 2012:

Adopt a dog or cat (or other homeless beast) into your home & we’ll send you a coupon code to save 40% on a Fetching Tag ID tag**.

*Fetching Tags trivia:  our adopted pets’ original names were Precious, Patty & Rocky.

** The fine print:  Simply email a copy of your dated adoption contract &/or relevant info:  dog name, shelter id, rescue name, location, contact phone.  You may scan or photograph contract & send to jen@fetchingtags.net.  This is a time-sensitive offer:  40% code for use in the coupon field at www.fetchingtags.net & will expire 30 days from adoption day.  This offer is for individuals adopting pets into their forever homes, not for rescues pulling fosters from shelters for temporary placement (we have other deals for you!)

Oh, and please post a photo of your newly adopted pet on our facebook page!

Meet Barney.

Barney will be 4 January 24 and I got him from a lab rescue in Kentucky. He came home with me when he was 9 weeks old. He would just as soon get scratched behind his ears as fetch a ball and he and Tal (my 5 y/o full blood lab) are best buds! They both love playing in the tall grass behind the baseball field at the college where I teach and it would be a toss up as to who has who trained! They are a true blessing and I am so very fortunate to have them both! When Barney does run, though,  believe me he is really fast! My favorite thing is when he comes up to me and puts his paws on my knees when I am sitting down and lets me scratch him behind the ears. Definitely a goofball! Just like the rest of us here!

Meet Bella.

Bella is 6 lbs of mini dacshund.

Look for me:   snuggling my mamma on her lap

Loves to:   go for car rides

Dislikes:   the doorbell, cause my mamma always yells “NO BARKING!”

Holiday Song Singers, you are all so clever & brave.  Thank you so much for the joy that you have brought to us this season.

We have cackled & cried listening to your songs & watching your special videos*, like this song, for Marble:

Marble’s Xmas Song

and this one

that came with lyrics & a bio:

By the way, ALL of that is true. My dog is a rambunctious, squirrely little monster who would seriously play fetch until she dropped dead of exhaustion if I let her. And she is close to four years old and doesn’t show any signs of stopping. She also thinks she is a 65 pound lap dog. Which makes for some very interesting moments around the house.

We love the way that you worked Fetching Tags into the songs, like Capone The Fetching Tag Doberman,

Capone

and this 12 Days from Abby

Even some kids got in on the action

In the end, we had no idea which song to choose. So we called in a guest judge. She said the problem was that we had a tie for Almost the Best Holiday Song between Fetching Tag Ride by Nicki**

and Deck the Collar, sung by Danica

So congratulations, Almost the Best, Nicki & Danica, you each get a $30 gift certificate from Fetching Tags.

We love the fact that the dog in Nicki’s song can safely run away since she’s wearing a Fetching Tag, and the dog in Danica’s song is sad & kinda screwed cause she doesn’t have one (but her brother does!):

My brother has one but I don’t – If I get lost I won’t find home

And Jenny, for this little Doggy 12 Day gem,

you win the $60 certificate.

* And this begs the question:  Why haven’t our pack members & customers been making our commercials all along?!
2012 Resolution: They will be!

**Our favorite lyric from the contest starts at 0:14 in Nicki’s Fetching Tag Ride. . .

You did it.  You entertained the tag elves & Baxter got lit!

Everyone was a winner in this contest, but some of you won more. . .

We love your Holiday Haikus, like this one from Mandy,