Howl-O-Ween is fast approaching… and you're invited to our Big Dogs Costume Party!

What: Big Dogs Costume Party and Photo Shoot!

When: Saturday, October 23, 2010 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Where: Only Natural Pet Store
2100 28th Street #1C
Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 449-5069

Join us for fun, photos and to show off your best dressed pets in our costume contest at Only Natural Pet Store in Boulder on Saturday, October 23rd from 1-5pm!

Costume Party Event Details:

* GREAT PHOTO OPP! Photographer Samantha Grey will have a staging area set up for mini-sessions with your pet. She's waiving her sitting fee so bring your pet(s), their favorite toy(s) and treats and smile for the camera!

* BRING YOUR DOGS, BIG AND SMALL! Well-behaved dogs of all breeds, ages and sizes are welcome and encouraged to attend with their humans.

* PRIZES! Everyone who has their photo taken with their pet (or of their pet - you don't have to be in it if you don't want to be) will have their pet entered into the costume contest and the winner will receive a $40 gift card from our friends at Only Natural Pet Store. (Winner will be notified the following week)

* ORDER FROM HOME! Photographer Samantha Grey will provide each "model" a link to view their photos via her website, www.samanthagrey.com, and you'll have the option to order various packages after viewing your prints online, including holiday cards! *Special promo packages available! Details posted soon, or feel free to contact Samantha in advance.

* ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER: Samantha Grey is a professional pet photographer and rescue advocate. In addition to running her website, samanthagrey.com, she also photographs adoptable dogs in Denver for her rescue awareness project: Good Dog Seeks Home. She will be giving back a percentage of all photo purchases made by costume party attendees to Big Dogs Huge Paws.

RIP Laka

Laka was a precious English Mastiff that came to BDHPI from the Humane Society of North Texas in Fort Worth, Texas. She was dumped there by her owners and sprung from the shelter by our wonderful volunteer Crystal who hung on to her temporarily until transport could be arranged and fell in love with her right away! She then went to live with her foster family, Matt & Kathleen, in Austin, TX where she got along great with their other Mastiff and couldn't be sweeter or more gentle with people.

Sadly, this special girl was in such bad shape that all she would do was just lay in one place most of the day and she was horribly depressed and very painful. We took her to the vet and they diagnosed her not only with SEVERE mange, but also very bad entropion in both eyes, horrible ear infections, malnutrition, and she was heartworm positive (meaning the treatment for mange would likely kill her). There was really nothing we could do to save her life and the vet recommended not moving forward with treatment, but humanely euthanizing her to put an end to her suffering. She was the victim of horrible abuse and cruelty and we are all heartbroken that she came to us too late!

Laka has crossed the rainbow bridge and is now pain-free with a beautiful coat and running around doggie heaven with all the other dogs who have gone before her!

As Officers of this organization, we cannot thank our volunteers and foster families enough for what they do for these dogs. Cases like this are heartbreaking, but we find peace in the fact that in Laka's last days she only knew kindness and love...something that has escaped her before finding her way to BDHPI. It takes someone very special to give in such a selfless way.

Thank you to all those that tried to help her along the way!

Upcoming Colorado Events! Please come see us!

Saturday 9.25.10: Bring your dog(s), tell your friends and join us for Yappy Hour at the Gin and Sin Speakeasy on Saturday, September 25th from 4-8pm! In addition to an opportunity to meet fellow dog lovers in the area and enjoy a Saturday afternoon at a dog-friendly bar in Denver, Big Dogs Huge Paws will have fleece tug toys, dog treats and BDHP gear for sale, a drawing for great prizes and more! The Gin and Sin Speakeasy is located at 3862 High Street, Denver, CO 80205, online at www.ginandsin.com.
Questions about this event? Details posted on our meetup group site, or email Renee at Renee@BigDogsHugePaws.com. See you at Yappy Hour!

Sunday 9.26.10: We'll be back at the Old South Pearl Street Farmer's Market on Sunday, September 26th from 9am - 1pm with some of our adoptable gentle giants! ** The market is located on the 1500 block of the Old South Pearl Street between Florida Avenue and Iowa Avenue in Denver. ** Questions? Want to help out? Please email Lisa L, BDHP Event Coordinator at LisaLbdhpi@Gmail.com. See you there!

Saturday 10.9.10: PETCO in Golden, CO is hosting another adoption event on Saturday, October 9th! ** Event location: PETCO, 17132 West Colfax Avenue, Golden, CO 80401 ** Questions? Want to help out? Please email Lisa L, BDHP Event Coordinator at LisaLbdhpi@Gmail.com. See you there!We'll be back at the Old South Pearl Street Farmer's Market on Sunday, September 26th from 9am - 1pm with some of our adoptable gentle giants! !

Paws in the Park-TOPEKA, KS (Sept 18th!)

Join us Saturday, September 18th from 9-1 for the Helping Hands Humane Society's Paws in the Park 2010 in Topeka, KS! This is being held at Gage Park.

Details at bigdogshugepaws.com/events (look for Kansas listings). See you there!