Brandy and Val

Summer is finally here, although, at times, it doesn’t much feel like it.  There’s been lots of rain throughout the country but we try to focus on the sunny, warm days that we can all be outside to play!

Brandy and Val wrapped up their pet therapy school year on a very positive high note.  The kids really responded this year and were much more comfortable and interactive in the pups’ presence.   The strides taken are a cumulative process and  we can’t stress how important we think our work is to the kids.  They have really warmed up to them and we can see how much they appear to enjoy having Brandy and Val around and interacting with them.

Our work on the top of pet therapy was featured in two articles this past spring.  One on the website Acting Balanced which is hosted by a mom with a child who has Autism Spectrum Disorder.  The other appeared in the Calgary Herald.  We are grateful for the opportunity to speak about what we do and spread the word about how pet therapy dogs enhance the lives of others.

Continuing on with that theme, Brandy and Val will be making another appearance at the Center For Independence camp the end of the month.  The campers are comprised mostly of children who have CP (Cerebral Palsy) and MD (muscular dystrophy).  We enjoy bringing added happiness to their day.

As our mission is “to do good where good is needed” we hope you will continue to remember that with the continuing sagging economy, many pets are being neglected and abandoned.  It is through the sales of our toys and books -BRANDY AND VAL, BRANDY AND VAL’S FAVORITE THINGS and BRANDY AND VAL’S SPECIAL STORY — that we also help animal sanctuaries throughout the country such as Best Friends and Pets Alive.   In addition, 100% of the sales from BRANDY AND VAL’S SPECIAL STORY go to support Fortunate Pooches and Lab Rescue, the shelter that both Brandy and Val were adopted from.  SOOOOOO, feel good knowing that you are helping and animal in need with every item purchased from us!

As always, thank you for your continued support and enjoy the season!

Ilene Fine, Author

Brandy and Val, Real Dogs with Real Tales

BRANDY AND VAL, REAL DOGS WITH REAL TALES

December update

Brandy and Val packing away
To get the books shipped for Xmas Day
If your order’s not in, do not delay
Give us a click & we’ll ship it today.

Consider that a portion of sales from Brandy and Val, LLC are donated to help animal rescues throughout the country.  100% of the sales from BRANDY AND VAL’S SPECIAL STORY are donated to Fortunate Pooches and Lab Rescue, the shelter Brandy and Val were adopted from in Palatine, IL. Pet’s Alive in Middletown, NY, and Best Friends in Kenab, UT, are also recipients of funds.   The students in all of Brandy and Val’s pet therapy classes also received gifts this year of Brandy and Val books and toys.

Without everyone’s continued support, we would not have been in a position to make this happen.  Thank you!

We hope everyone has a wonderful, healthy and safe Holiday Season and Best Wishes for 2011.

Ilene Fine, Author,

Brandy and Val, the dogs!

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

Val, what a sorry state we found him in!  We weren’t necessarily looking for another dog, but my husband and I were at a vet’s office looking at one who, we were told, was Brandy’s biological brother.  Without going into the details, we all recognized, including Brandy, that this would not be a match made in Heaven.  There was another dog at the clinic that I noticed because he was so emaciated and his eyes were so full of loneliness and sadness.  I was told FPALR was trying to find a home for him but we went home, not giving it another thought…..or so I thought.  My eye contact with Val haunted me,  I ultimately relented and told my husband that if he wanted a 2nd dog, the sickly yellow lab we saw from the other day would be it.

We didn’t know anything about Val’s history at the time but when Val walked through the door, further explanation was warranted ASAP!  His belly was full of surgical staples, he smelled, his leg had a big protruding bulge of bone on it and he was covered in some form of skin rash.  I was not  thinking of giving him back since I felt even sorrier for him now but I definitely was thinking “what did we get ourselves into with this one?” AND “ka-ching, ka-ching on vet bills!”

Ileana brought over Val’s papers.  A Katrina Dog.

We heard of all the abandoned pets and saw the pictures of the lost souls wandering New Orleans, standing on roof tops, etc. and felt awful.   It turned out that FPALR brought up 30 dogs to place (they did) and Val was part of the group.  We know nothing of his background but can only assume that he had a family since he clearly was trained, obedient, walked easily on a leash and adores being around little children.  As for his name?  Don’t really know but he was called “Valenti” and the school of thought is that the ASPCA veterinarians in New Orleans oversaw the care of  groups of animals and they were identified by the name charge or some variation of that theme.   By the time we adopted him, he reasonably enough responded to his new name and we didn’t have the heart to change it again.  He was 40 pounds upon arrival to our home; he truly must have been at death’s door when he was picked up in New Orleans.  I wonder every day why he was chosen to survive and what his story was.  How I wish he could talk.

Needless to say, we nursed him back to health.  He weighs in at 72 pounds and shows very little signs of his traumatic past.   He remains petrified of heavy rains and storms and can detect thunder and lightening at a distance.  He shakes so much and it is so pitiful.  Many dogs, however, fear storms so I’ll never really know to what extent Katrina played in this.  Surprisingly, Val loves to swim.  We thought, for sure, he would stay away from water.

Fortunate pooch, indeed!  One look into Val’s eyes and I know each and every moment how grateful he is for his new family.

Before we continue on with the “nitty gritty” of the blog since, like people, our personalities generally result from the cumulative products of our pasts, I’d like to share with you some background on Brandy and Val.  The dogs are very lucky, indeed, and given what I know of their histories, it appears they both overcame incredible obstacles with little psychological ramifications.  Each day, I am thankful for them and am so overwhelmed by how little emotional scarring they seem to display.  Talk about picking yourself up by the bootstraps and moving on!

Brandy was originally discovered in a kill shelter in southern Illinois.  Why Ileana, from Fortunate Pooches and Lab Rescue (FPALR), decided she was a “keeper” I’ll really never know unless she saw the same qualities in Brandy that my husband and I did–boundless energy, a great disposition, interesting looks and smarts.  She was quickly adopted by a family but ultimately, became the casualty of divorce  so back she went to FPALR.  Next up was a couple who caged her with another dog for 10 hours a day while the pair was away at work. Needless to say, with her energy, the cage wasn’t the place for her, let alone one with another dog.  Back again to FPALR, being told she didn’t get along with the other dog and had social issues.  DUH.    At 11 months, Brandy finally found us and we her!

As I write in BRANDY AND VAL’S FAVORITE THINGS, Val’s story is even more amazing……