Brandy and Val

REAL DOGS WITH REAL TALES

Welcome to the Dog Days of Summer!  Brandy and Val are enjoying their ice cream to beat the heat and we hope you are having your own “fun in the sun.”  Our big news is that Brandy and Val, LLC just celebrated its’ first anniversary.  We are very proud of our accomplishments this year in “doing good where good is needed.”  To name a few, the following charities have benefited from the sales of our products: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary; Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary; Prader-Willi Association; Cabrini Connections Tutor-Mentor Connection and, of course, Fortunate Pooches and Lab Rescue, where Brandy and Val were adopted from!  So, a big thanks to all of you who have supported us throughout our first year and who helped make this possible.

Continuing to make news with our fabulously fun books and toys for tots, we appeared this past month in PET PRODUCT NEWS and NATURAL DOG.  If a child you know doesn’t have one of our books or toys yet, order one now as they make great diversions for the kids while on car rides, at the beach or anywhere toddlers become restless, in other words, EVERYWHERE!

We would LOVE for you to comment and suggest stories for our blog, “What We are Barking About” and don’t forget you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter, too. Also, look out for our article in the September edition of Women’s World magazine. I hear it will be on newsstands in mid-August.

In closing out the month, Brandy and Val also want to say thanks to the Center for Independence Camp for allowing us to read to and work with your special children.  We hope that through our pet therapy duties, we can enhance the lives of children in some positive way!  Please contact us at info@BrandyandVal.com if you would like Brandy and Val to visit a school, library or children’s program in the Chicago area.

Enjoy the rest of the summer.  As always, thanks for your support,

Ilene Fine, Author,

Brandy and Val, Brandy and Val’s Favorite Things, Brandy and Val’s Special Story

Animal relief efforts are underway in the aftermath of  the earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12. Food, water and first aid are desperately needed to help the animals that survived and vaccinations are needed to help curb the onset of disease.  Haiti will not be able to rebuild and renew if its’ animals, including their livestock, die off!  BRANDY AND VAL will donate $5 to Best Friend’s Haiti Animal Rescue, a member of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) from EVERY Brandy and Val book and toy purchase now through 2/28/10.    We are especially fond and thankful to Best Friends since they were so instrumental in coordinating relief, pet relocation and reunification efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (Val is a Hurricane Katrina survivor!).

The Season For Giving rings even truer this year with so many people, pets, families and not-for-profit organizations in need.  Sure, we feel warm and fuzzy when people make donations in our names but, if you’re contemplating material gift purchases for loved ones this season, why not consider ones that give back to a cause that you believe in, as well?  Gifts such as these abound!

Of course, nearest and dearest to my heart are the ones that help animals, including my series of Brandy and Val books and toys. Since most of the gifts given out during the Holidays go to kids, these books fit the bill as they help animal sanctuaries throughout the U.S.  with 100% of  profits from Brandy and Val’s Special Story being donated to the rescue Brandy and Val were adopted from, Fortunate Pooches and Lab Rescue.  While we’re on the subject of books, Happy Tails Books aims to donate 20-25% of their net proceeds to animal welfare groups through the sale of books about adopted/rescued dogs.  What’s cool about their books is that they’re breed specific and they’re comprised of stories submitted by the guardians of the pets that were saved.  Help Save A Stray’s Shop offers t-shirts, tote bags, doggie bandannas and more and YOU get to select  where your donation goes from over the two dozen animal shelters they have listed on their site.

In no particular order, here are a few other unique gift ideas and sites that I’ve come across that help support our furry friends: Laughing Dog Art Studio creates pet portraits with a donation made to the animal shelter of your choice; The Dog Lover’s Wine Club of Carivintas Winery support a variety of animal rescues.  Wine selections can be chosen that support dogs, cats and horses!  Silver Bean Coffee sells a special blend that supports one of our favorite animal sanctuaries, Best Friends

I was even surprised to see how many Yahoo Groups there were that held discussions about gifts that give back to charity and My Shopping Connection has a section on gifts that give back to charities.  Brandy and Val made that list!  Finally, most rescue organizations have a myriad of gifts bearing their own logos, books etc. that support their causes and there are several companies such as Giftback.com contribute a back to a variety of charitable organizations with every purchase.

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Mini even has pink pads and a pink nose!

Aren't we handsome?

OK, I’m partial to dog books, especially funny ones and ones that have cute pictures of mans best friend.  I also love books that “give” back in some way to those in need or requiring extra love and care!  So, here goes my one and only plug for why Brandy and Val books and toys make great gifts:

100% of profits go to animal rescue

IN THE FEEL GOOD CATEGORY:  Brandy and Val books and toys donate a portion of sales back to animal rescues in our community and nationally.  100% of profits from BRANDY AND VAL’S SPECIAL STORY are donated to the shelter we adopted the dogs from: Fortunate Pooch and Lab Rescue.  Other rescues and pet sanctuaries we donate to include:

• Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
• Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary
• Animal House Shelter

The books were originally written for a child afflicted with Prader-Willi Syndrome and, therefore, a donation is also made to The Prader-Willi Syndrome Association.

We're fun to play with

IN THE ENTERTAINMENT CATEGORY: They’re for toddlers (ages 3-5 is perfect) so they have to be cute, amusing and fun!  The books use actual, unstaged photos of Brandy and Val in action that children can relate to, especially if there is a pet in the family.   Brightly colored pages hold their interest and the tabbed pages make it easier for little fingers to turn the pages.  The plush toys that look like the dogs are cuddly and kids can use their imaginations to make up their own stories about Brandy and Val.

THEY’RE EDUCATIONAL: The simple themes in each book can be opened up for further discussions.  Topics like sharing, being a family, healthy eating, pet adoption, to name a few and, along with the Mini-Brandy and Mini-Val toys, the stories can be “acted out.” Color and shape recognition can be taught since each page is easily identifiable with a single predominant color and most pages have one or two primary shapes in their layouts.

OTHER NIFTY STUFF: Brandy and Val books and toys are easily put into a tote for travel!  Keep your kids occupied at restaurants, on planes, wherever.  Books are compact 4 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ and toys can be squished in anywhere.  We are also affordably priced.

We have lots of Favorite Things