From Pittsburgh to DC

Yesterday (Sat) while making our way down Rte 51 to Elizabeth PA, a guy in a van stopped us. He'd heard about us and suggested we take the Rails to Trails hiking path from Pittsburgh to Washington DC. It wasn't the first time I'd heard about it but since our mission is about awareness & education, I never seriously considered it. Afterall, this isn't a nature walk we're on.

He made the case that not only are there a ton of people on it this time of year but lots of cities lie on its path, too. So I gave it a hard look and consulted with a few knowledgeable about it.

In many ways its ideal for us. (1) It's a fairly direct route to Leesburg VA which is our next major stop and (2) As it is basically a converted railroad line, the grade of the hiking trail never exceeds 2% despite that it starts at 850 feet, climbs to over 3,200, and back down to sea level in DC.

Third and most importantly - no cars! Like some live version of Frogger the Video Game, we've been battling traffic for the past 1,300 miles and honestly, we could use a break.

Tuesday, we'll start back in Elizabeth PA, continue down Hwy 51 to Cedar Creek Park where we'll pick up the first leg of the Trail called The Great Allegheny Passage. This stretch is approximately 150 miles and ends in Cumberland, MD where we will connect with the old C&O Canal that'll take us right to Leesburg VA.

We have big plans for the area and can't wait to get there!

If you'd like to meet up with us at any point of our travels from Pittsburgh to DC, please contact ginger@2dogs2000miles.org and she'll tell you our exact location.

PyrNic at Southpark Park

Before The Boys hit the road again, they had some fun at the PyrNic at Southpark Park July 5th. What’s a Pyrnic? Well, apparently it’s a gathering, assembly, meeting, and conglomeration of a lot of Great Pyrenees and their people for a picnic – thus, PyrNic. Pretty clever, don’t you think? Hudson counted “1073 big white friends & 2000 big black noses!” but Murphy was quick to point out (because he is The Smart 1) that “u don't know how to count u can't have more noses than dogs silly!” In actuality there were NOT 1073 Great Pyrenees at the party, but there were a lot, all of them smiling! Of course, Murphy wanted to know if there would be food, and Hudson wanted to know if there would be girls. There were both, so both Boys were happy. And Luke got to meet some great people, so he was happy too!

Champ is a Landseer Newfoundland. Now, how did he get in here? Well, maybe they let him in because of his size!












Sadly, Susan lost 3 Pyrs in four months to
cancer.











Mike, Tammy, Logan, and Maya drove in to enjoy the day with other Pyr friends.

the Fourth

Last nite was bittersweet. I watched a magnificent display of fireworks atop the Western Penn Humane Soc building. This brilliant show was staged at the 'Point', the confluence of 3 rivers, the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio. These awesome explosions of light were amplified by reflections off the rivers and it was truly something to behold.

But it was bittersweet because this past week 3 of our supporters' dogs were touched by cancer, two of them passed & another just diagnosed. All were under 4 years.

My heart's afire...

What rage must've burnt deep inside the souls of the Revolutionaries and last night, witnessing the fireworks from dowtown Pittsburgh, I really felt it. Happy Fourth.

Welcome to Woody's!

Losing a pet is tough. When my beagle died at the ripe old age of 14 it was harder than I ever realized it would be. Woody was the greatest. He was there with me when the kids grew up and he was a part of our family. Ten years later I opened my dog wash and named it Woody's. The store revolves around relationships with your dog ... bathing your own dog so you can spend time together, selling healthy pet items, and working with shelters for advocating adoptions. Dogs are treated the way I would have wanted my dog to be treated. Woody is gone but his memory lives on.

Luke has gone much further and it is obvious that losing his dog has been a life changing experience. Hopefully this walk will benefit awareness & research of canine cancer. His walk from Texas to Boston is proof of the strength of the relationship between people and their dogs.

I am totally looking forward to meeting Luke & his boys on Thursday at Woody's Dog Wash & Boutique. Murphy & Hudson will be getting bathed and fussed over and should be looking dapper for their evening at the Humane Society. This is an experience that most of us will never have the resilience to do, but we can all relate to Luke's love and dedication to the dog he lost. He is an inspiration to the rest of us. I know that Woody would be happy to know how much good has come out of our shop and that Luke, Murphy & Hudson will be visiting.

Ann Cipriani
Woody's Dog Wash & Boutique
5843 Brownsville Road, Unit 1
South Park, PA 15236
412-714-4644
412-714-4633 (fax)
info@woodysdogbath.com
www.woodysdogbath.com
"Conveniently Located Near South Bark!"

Pictured above: (1) Ann and Emily; (2) Hudsonhead "gettin' a good scribbin'."

2010 Cancer Can't Keep a Good Dog Down Calendar II

Last year we published our first Cancer Can’t Keep A Good Dog Down Calendar. We received 82 submissions and because of its success, we were able to donate $1,100 to the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) in support of their Canine Cancer Campaign. MAF is one of the leaders in funding comparative oncological studies.

Going forward, we want to recognize other institutions and individuals who work tirelessly for the advancement of companion pet cancer research and this year, we've designated two that have played an important part in 2 Dogs 2000 Miles:

Tufts Veterinary School Harrington Oncology Program. Not long after Malcolm was diagnosed with osteosarcoma I spent months trying to understand canine cancer. I met two pivotal people at Tufts, Shelly Rodman and Dr. John Berg who not only provided me with the latest research articles, they gave me insight into how I could one day help.

While walking through Jacksonville Texas last year, we almost had another brush with cancer. Murphy was limping and we got a consult from Dr. Kenita Rogers an oncologist with Texas A&M Veterinary School. Thankfully it wasn't cancer but not only did the folks at TAMU take excellent care of Murphy but they shared their vision of their Imaging and Cancer Treatment Center

You can learn more about how to be a part of the 2010 Cancer Can't Keep a Good Dog Down calendar here.

Come Walk With Us

You are invited to join Luke, Hudson, and Murphy Tuesday evening, June 30th, as they walk across the West End Bridge and head into Pittsburgh and PNC Park for Pup Night with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Luke and The Boys will be accompanied across the West End Bridge by a police escort and they hope everyone and their pups from the Pittsburgh area will join them. Folks are to meet at 6:15 PM EDT at the south side of the bridge, walk cross the bridge with The Boys, and enjoy Pup Night together.

Make sure if you plan to attend Pup Night after the walk across the bridge that your bring your dog’s proof of vaccination, as that will be checked where tickets are purchased at Federal Street ($20.00 includes one people and one pup).

It should be a great night of new friends, baseball, and more dogs than you can throw a stick for! We hope to see you there.

Should the weather look iffy, please check the Pirates’ web page to see if the game is a go or has been canceled. If the game is canceled, Luke and The Boys will not be crossing the bridge. (Murphy HATES water, remember?)

Let’s hope for great weather, lots of company, and a great game!

For some interesting info and photos of PNC Park, click here.

Batter Up … Puppy Up!

(Check out the photo Luke took of the West End Bridge -- somewhere amongst the clouds. A follower on Twitter posted the comment: The views from the Bridge are awesome. It's not that high, and not that long. Pittsburgh will embrace you! Let's just hope the weather holds!)

The Holland Working Dog Hospital

While on break I toured the new $15 Million Holland Working Dog Hospital at Lackland Airforce Base in San Antonio TX.

Lackland has the largest of two training centers in the country for military and service dogs, with some 800 trainees at any given time and the hospital's charter is caring for them. Colonel Vogelsang, a vet surgeon who runs it, was kind enough to spend a couple of hours showing me around.

I've been fortunate in visiting many veterinary facilities while on the road and Holland is truly impressive. It boasts $3 Million in state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and their protocols are equally advanced. All female trainees being spayed receive prophylactic gastroplexy which essentially removes the risk of bloat.

Providing the best care for dogs seemed to be factored into every aspect in the design of the hospital and it should serve as a model for the entire animal community.

Following the tour, Colonel Vogelsang gave me a Challenge Coin from the U.S. Army Veterinary Corp. I'd never heard of these before but he said they're given in recognition of service and he wanted us to have it in honor of our mission for the betterment of dogs.

It was totally unexpected and I was so surprised I almost got teary eyed - how embarassing that'd been, me getting all weepy in front of a soldier. But it's a tremendous honor and this coin will travel with us all the way to Boston.

O.L.G.F.

Okay, since Robin Williams' rant on golf was a little less than PG, I moved it to my personal blog, Midnight with Malcolm, http://midnightwithmalcolm.blogspot.com/2009/06/olgf.html

Upcoming Events in Pittsburgh

Luke and The Boys will be back on the road soon and have three events back-to-back in the Pittsburgh area they’d like you to know about:

The Boys will arrive in the Pittsburgh area Tuesday, June 30th. They plan to walk across the West End Bridge to PNC Park (115 Federal Street) at about 6:30 PM where they will appear at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Pup Night, Tuesday, June 30th. How cool is this?? And entire night of baseball AND you can take your dog. Look for Luke, Hudson, and Murphy there.

This is the 3rd Annual Pup Night with the Pirates. Before the game there are always great activities and things to do. Pup Night at PNC Park starts about 7PM local time (EDT) Tuesday, June 30th. It’s Pirates vs. Cubs. Enjoy a night of baseball and festivities with your pup on the Southwest Flight Deck! Watch the game, socialize with the other dogs and their people, visit the animal shelter booths, enter the doggie costume contest and raffles, eat ballpark food. (Yes, there is a special doggie potty area to keep your canine companion comfortable during the game. They also supply water for your friend.)

The $20 ticket includes your ticket and your dog's ticket (limit one dog per person) and a portion of the proceeds benefits Animal Friends and the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society. If you want to attend all six Pirates Pup Nights, the season can be purchased for $108 (one person, one dog, six games).

Proof of vaccination must be presented upon entry. All tickets must be picked up at the Pup Night table on Federal Street starting 2 hours prior to game.

Please be aware that Pirates homeruns and victories are celebrated with a small fireworks display.

They’ll then have a Meet and Greet the next day, July 1st, at Market Square from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. If you’re in or near the Pittsburgh area, please come out and meet the trio. There are some great restaurants in the area as well, so plan to make a day of it!

Additionally, Luke will be visiting with the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society at the Mall at Robinson, Thursday, July 2nd, from 5:30 to 9:00 PM. You’ll find them at center court in the Mall.

A lot going on! We hope to see you there.

Toxic Twinkie Shock

"Everyone knows there are only two things that can survive a nuclear holocaust: cockroaches and Twinkies." Family Guy

Um, yeah, about that...

I started my morning the other day with a power bar, a shot of wheat grass, and a bowl of organic berries... Nah, just kidding. I'm on vacation so I picked up a coupla Twinkies at a C-store.

I snarfed the first down in mere seconds and it tasted a little off -chalky, crusty, a bit like aged sheetrock. But operating under the assumption that Twinkies are immortal, I didn't think anything of it. Upon unwrapping the second I was shocked to discover I had just eaten a rotten Twinkie. Take a look at the green mold on that little cowboy. Yikes!

I thought I'd encountered about everything on the road and then I ate the fetid Twinkie. I survived but just barely and I have to admit I've had nightmares about gigantic Twinkies chasing after me and Hudson and Murphy since. From here on out, I think I'll stick to hoo-hoos....

It’s Time for the 2010 Calendar Submissions to Begin!

2010 Calendar Submission Instructions

We’re collecting submission for the 2010 “Cancer Can’t Keep A Good Dog Down” Calendar. Here are the basics:

Where to send your submission(s): calendar@2dogs2000miles.org

Photo: 1 photo per dog. Please make sure the photo is at least a minimum of 300kb resolution. We will not be able to accept any photos under 300kb resolutions as these do not duplicate well on the final calendar.

The following file formats are acceptable: .jpg and .gif. Please do NOT send them in a PDF or Microsoft .doc or .docx file as we cannot use these.

Story: Preliminary story length must be limited to 1000 characters or less. That’s 1000 characters not 1000 words. Winners will be asked to write longer stories for the calendar, but for your initial submission we must limit you to 1000 characters because of the restrictions of Click-n-Pledge.

If you have more than one dog you’d like to enter into the contest, please do so! Same rules apply.

Deadline for submissions is TBA.

If you have any questions, please email me at: erich@2dogs2000miles.org.

Dogs 'puppy up' in canine cancer walk

Thanks to Linda Fuoco of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for this great article published June 6, 2009.

Two dogs are walking more than 2,000 miles from Austin, Texas, to Boston to raise awareness, and maybe some money, for canine cancer research.

Murphy, 8, and Hudson, 2, are expected to arrive in Downtown Pittsburgh June 30. They hope to make a grand entrance by walking across the West End Bridge to PNC Park, where they will attend a Pirates game. It's one of those really cool "Pup-Night" events in which dogs get to go to a baseball game with their people.

It would be hard to miss these two, for they are very large, very white Great Pyrenees.

Murphy and Hudson are traveling with their owner, Luke Robinson, 38. He conceived the Texas-to-Massachusetts trek after the death of a beloved dog "changed my life," he says.

"Luke and the boys," as their fans and followers call them, have been on the road for about 1,000 miles and 12 months. People follow their progress at www.2dogs2000miles.org and on Twitter. Mr. Robinson carries their sleeping tent and other supplies in a giant backpack. The dogs wear much smaller packs.

They walk 8-10 miles a day, when they're moving. The trio makes frequent rest stops, such as in Pittsburgh, where they plan to stay for two weeks. They've done volunteer work at animal shelters along the way, met with veterinary cancer specialists, and lined up "meet and greet" events to raise awareness about cancer research.

Their Pittsburgh schedule includes a meet and greet in Market Square 11:30 a.m. July 1 and an appearance with the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society 5-9 p.m. July 2 at center court in the Mall at Robinson.

Mr. Robinson (no relation to the west suburban mall) also plans to walk homeless dogs housed at the North Side shelter, as if he hasn't done enough walking in the past year.

Malcolm, his first Great Pyrenees, was a healthy, active 6-year-old when he was diagnosed in 2004 with osteosarcoma. Mr. Robinson was devastated. He was also angry and puzzled because "no one could tell me why."

"Why are so many dogs dying from cancer? Why are so many dogs dying at younger ages? What are we doing wrong?" he asked in a cell phone interview from the road. "Is it diet? The environment? Pesticides?"

Osteosarcoma is bone cancer, and some of the large breeds of dogs seem to be particularly susceptible. Malcolm's cancer was in a leg bone. Amputation and chemotherapy prolonged his life for two years, but the cancer ultimately spread to his lungs, and he died in 2006.

"I sold my truck and put my stuff in storage and got in shape for this trip," Mr. Robinson said.

Born in Galveston, Texas, Mr. Robinson grew up in Austin. He operated a consulting practice for biotech companies first in San Antonio and then in Boston, where he moved in 2003. He put the business and the rest of his life on hold to walk with Murphy and Hudson.

"I'm just an average guy" not an athlete, he noted. "I had to get in shape for this trip. I'm 6-foot 2 and I was up to 250 pounds. When we started the trip, I was 195 pounds. I consume about 4,000 to 6,000 calories a day, and my weight has fluctuated between 184 and 215 pounds on this trip."

On the trio's Web site, visitors can follow their progress on a map, their blog or on Twitter, where "we have 1,800 followers," Mr. Robinson said. The Web site also includes a shop where you can buy a variety of merchandise, including canine cancer survivor T-shirts.

"This is not so much about raising money as it is about raising awareness," Mr. Robinson said. "We do accept donations to help defray the cost of travel," but he indicates they don't need much.

"When we get back to Boston, we will concentrate more on fundraising."

Kind-hearted strangers put Luke and the boys up in their homes. Other times they sleep in a tent. "I'd say it's about 50-50, sleeping in the tent vs. staying in homes."

The boys are having a great time.

"I think this may be the ideal life for dogs," Mr. Robinson said with a chuckle. "The biggest challenge so far has been ticks in Ohio. I counted 120 ticks that I picked off the boys. An upcoming challenge will be crossing the Appalachian Mountains."

High up on Mr. Robinson's wish list would be the chance to meet someone from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"I have a great deal of respect for your quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. I took a day off to watch the Super Bowl, and I thought, 'Wow! What a team!' I'd love to give the Steelers some of our 'Puppy Up' bracelets" for cancer awareness.

Tickets are $20 for you and your dog to attend Pirates Pup-Night. Part of the ticket price will benefit local shelters. The June 30 and Aug. 25 Pup Night games benefit Animal Friends in Ohio Township. The July 21 and Sept. 22 games benefit the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society. You must present proof that your dog is up to date on inoculations. To order tickets, call Kevin Roach at the Pirates, 412-325-4797.

To assist Luke and the boys during their Pittsburgh stay, e-mail ginger@2dogs2000miles.org. That's Ginger Morgan of Memphis, Tenn., a friend of Mr. Robinson's, who helps with their schedule and logistics. Watch the Post-Gazette for updates on their itinerary.

Pet Tales appears weekly in the Saturday Home & Garden section. Linda Wilson Fuoco can be reached at lfuoco@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3064.

Murphy Sammich

Murphy turned 8 this past Sunday, May 31st and I had this idea of making something really special for my little snowflake.

We've been through a lot together - he was rescued from an abusive home and came into my and Malcolm's lives as a wee lad. And with a whole host of behavioral problems, too! He used to run around my townhome peeing in a continuous stream like writing in cursive and he hated my wallpaper, preferring rather the rustic look of shredded sheetrock.

Malcolm helped him through these issues and years later, Murphy became the loyal brother to Malcolm as he went through cancer, amputation, and chemotherapy. Murphy's strength helped me deal with his loss..

This is his second birthday we've celebrated on the road and I wanted it to be Murphy's very best and that means one thing - Food! His favorite being, of course, The Honest Kitchen and that became the inspiration behind the Murphy Sammich...

Step (1) Purchase two pizza pie crusts in a package like Boboli. I used Kroger brand - it's thinner and didn't have seasonings.

Step (2) In a bowl, take 2 cups of the Honest Kitchen's Embark (that's what Murphy loves but you can substitute it for Force, Verve, etc.), add 3-4 cups of water, then stir thoroughly. You want it a tad watery since it'll be baked. Spread on the bottom pizza crust.

Steps (3): Add cheese - I think I used 10 slices of American cheese.

Step (4): Cook 8 strips of bacon in a microwave and after they've cooled, tear them up into pieces, placing them on top of the cheese.

Step (5): Place the second pizza crust on top making the 'sammich' and put it into a pre-heated 450 degree oven for about 15 minutes.

Step (6): Let it cool then decorate with Cheese Whiz. Like a dunderhead, I tried to cut it with a pizza cutter first and the result was pretty much as you'd expect. Not much to look at but boy, was it a hit at the birthday party! Then again, I'm a walker not a baker! Enjoy...

Walking Plan

My team has finalized the dates and destinations for the remainder of the walk (Read - they've given me my marching orders) Love you guys!

Some of these, like DC are hard dates, the others 'ish'ish. We're planning a march across the Potomac to Capitol Hill on September 18th to talk to legislators about committing more funding to comparative oncological studies. Some of that trillion dollars should go to canine cancer, don't you think?

Since we've made some changes to our route and it's a tad different from our http://www.communitywalk.com/2dogs2000miles map - I'll try & update that soon. If your city isn't on our route, the cool thing about walking through New England is everything is two hoots & a holler away. Contact ginger@2dogs2000miles.org for event information.

Pittsburgh PA -June 30th

Leesburg VA -September firstish

Washington DC -September 18

Baltimore MD -End of September

Harrisburg PA -Mid October

Allentown PA -Early November

Philedelphia PA -Thanksgiving

New York City NY -Christmas Week
Hartford CT -February

Providence RI -April

Boston MA -Mid May

Since we'll be on the road for another year, we've got to take some time off for maintenance. My Osprey pack needs some repairs & that'll take a couple of weeks. Secondly and perhaps most importantly, Hudson is getting snipped.

All of us have been waiting for the opportunity to present itself and it has now. I know I've explained why Hudson's still intact ad nauseum and I apologize for the repeat but as I volunteer at animal shelters, the reason is important. When Malcolm was diagnosed with cancer I regretted having him neutered. I had this romantic notion that after we crossed the country, I'd sire Hudson out and continue his line and legacy. But after spending so many hours in shelters and meeting so many awesome dogs that need good homes, I'm a changed man. Kinda like Hudson next week!

While all of that takes place, I'm going back to Texas to see my mother who has Alzheimers. I try to call her every Sunday and when we talk she always asks when I'll be home. "Next week, Mom" is how I answer and I'm happy that'll be true this time. I'll also get to meet my new niece, Sarah Elizabeth, who was born last November.

Thank God for Rudy Greens!

Back in Somerset Ohio Murphy took ill. He must've gotten into something he shouldn't have which is not surprising since he's a stomach on four legs. He awoke me at 5am trying to get out of our tent to vomit.

Several days later he still was a little gacky and I made the decision to put him on a strict diet to clean out his system. Thank God one of our supporters is Karla Haas, CEO of Rudy Greens! She delivered a case of her awesome frozen meals for Murphy and in no time, he was back in full form and ready to return to the road..

I've had the great benefit of meeting and talking with many thought leaders in the animal community and veterinarian oncologists, too and without exception all believe that nutrition plays a key role in canine cancer. An all natural diet will be increasingly essential for keeping your dogs cancer free and Rudy Greens food fits the bill.

Thanks for caring for Murphy, Karla, and treating him as he was your own!

Stories from Ohio

Chasing Spring

We've been walking on Highway 22 on a North-North-East heading over the past two months, witnessing spring unfold around us; first the forsythias then the azaleas all abloom, and the pink and white dogwoods and weeping cherry trees.

The fields of winter wheat amidst which we've sometimes slept are almost ready for harvesting and the barren buckeye tree for which this great state is known has finally blossomed... I've never experienced anything quite like it and indeed it's like we've been caught in time, chasing spring...

Photos: Top Right taken at our hosts, Signe & Greg's place in Circleville. Left and Right photos taken outside of Lancaster OH.

We found this Alpaca farm near New Holland. Never seen an alpaca before but we camped out at a Llama farm outside of San Gabriel, Texas and boy were they mean. They put the owner in ICU for a couple of weeks with a kick. These alpacas, however, seemed like sweethearts and as always, Hudson wanted to make some new friends.

"God Hates Mobile Homes"

Signe has another place she's let us stay at in Reynoldsburg and when the fuzzybutts and I were there alone one Friday night, a wicked storm clamped down on us. I turned on the Weather Channel and it indicated that funnel clouds had been spotted in Whitehall OH. Having no idea where that is, I got on Google maps and discovered it was just west of us. Then the red, flashing subscripted alert for Reynoldsburg came across the screen, "If you're in a mobile home evacuate now." No doubt about it I was worried but dragging the boys out in torrential rain and flash flooding didn't seem that smart to me either. And then I remembered something Jeff Foxworthy once said, "When are you people going to learn, God hates mobile homes!" I laughed and got the boys on the couch with me. Thirty minutes later, the worst had blown through and as we have been so many times before; spared.

Masterson Vet Clinic

The inclement Spring weather didn't spare us entirely though as Murphy took ill last week with vomiting and general malaise. He's never been that sick before and it was a real mystery what was ailing him. While on the road when it happened and miles away from a vet, we were fortunate to have a team who stepped up and already had contacts and contingencies in the area.

Mary, an administrator with the Lancaster Police Department, got us to her vet, the Masterson Clinic, and we ruled out my greatest concern - bloat. Everyone there was so helpful and generous due in large part to Dr. Masterson's daughter, Danae (just center in the Photo left), whom we met earlier in the day...

Somerset Elementary School

We were invited to speak at the local elementary school while passing through Somerset Ohio. It was an amazing experience from both the turnout (a few hundred students) and their knowledge of geography (most knew where Austin and Boston are) I only knew where the snack cake vending machines were..

I love talking to kids about our journey because they ask the most clever questions. One of them asked me if I've ever lived in a house, another whether I've bathed before.

Still, despite being homeless and stinky, we received this email from a mother of one of the kids, Cecilia, about our visit to the school.

"Just wanted to let you know that my son met you at somerset elementary on may 5 he was excited with meeting you and your boys he got to ask you a question and pet the boys now when he grows up he wants to travel the world thanks so much for what you are doing."

You know, one of my favorite quotes as a young man was by T.S.Eliot, "We shall not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time."

Memorial Shirt 4 Is Here!

OK, I'm so excited, I could (as Hudson would say) just pee. Memorial Shirt 4 has come back from the printers and is now available. Ginger says the shirts are 100% cotton but already pre-shrunk, so keep that in mind when ordering. You can order them through Click and Pledge here.

You’ll see a picture of a guy wearing just a plain blue Tee-Shirt with no lettering. That’s the COLOR of our shirt -- stonewashed blue (the shirt has white lettering), but for a look at what the layout is on the shirt, check out the picture of Luke with The Boys.

Ginger is already filling orders. If you have any questions about Memorial Shirt 4 please email her at ginger@2dogs2000miles.org.

Mutts & Co Meet & Greet

Luke, Hudson, and Murphy will be in Dublin, Ohio this Saturday, May 16th from 11 AM to 2 PM at Mutts and Co. for a Meet and Greet. Mutts and Co. is located at 7549 Sawmill Road, Dublin, Ohio. For more information, please give them a call at 614-792-MUTT (6888).

If you’ll recall, that’s where Luke took Hudson and Murphy to get delightful baths. Well, Hudson thought so – Murphy wasn’t real keen on the whole idea. Murphy is of the opinion that if you’re a dog you should SMELL like a dog. Luke says Hudson has a more Metrosexual attitude. He’s convinced that smelling good and being well groomed will attract the ladies. I personally think both Boys are right as neither of them seems to have trouble attracting admirers!

Here's a bit more about the great things Mutts & Co. does:

Mutts & Co. offers self-service dog grooming. They will also do bathe your dog(s) for you if you call ahead: "Washing your dog shouldn't mean cleaning the bathroom, scrubbing the tub and doing laundry. Avoid the mess and reduce the stress at Mutts & Co. - a fun and convenient place to get your dog clean for a price that can't be beat. If you want to avoid the mess altogether or run some other errands while you wait, use our professional grooming services. Call ahead for an appointment today! (614)-792-MUTT (6888)"

They also "offer a full line of ultra-premium dry, wet and raw foods, plus gourmet treats made with human grade and organic ingredients. We also offer a great variety of supplements to further encourage optimal health."

Additionally, they have some "uber-cool stuff" for your dog to play with and use -- really neat toys, grooming supplies, leashes and harnesses, and beds.

And finally they have a rescue partnership. "We believe in doing all we can for animals in need as our furry family members have given us so much. In that spirit we have partnered with local rescue organizations. Our hope is to lighten the financial burden they carry in their effort to help homeless, abandoned and abused animals. We hope that you will join us in giving back to these great organizations." Please visit their site to find out more.

So stop by on Saturday, May 16 from 2 to 4 PM, meet Luke and The Boys, and check out all the great things that Mutts & Co. offers for your best friend.

Argh! TICKS!

We're in Eastern Ohio right now about 100 miles outside of Pittsburgh suffering from one of the worse tick seasons in anyone's reckoning. Hudson & Murphy are tagged by 10-20 a day. It's so bad that they crawl on the mesh trying to get into our tent. In the south we have fire ants and I'm really starting to miss them!

Dealing with ticks has become a big part of our daily routine so I'm kind of a pro now in removing them. I just came across this great blog at Dogster and wanted to share it with you. However the absolute key in pulling ticks out alive and with the head intact is keeping the the tweezers horizontal to the plane of the skin. Essentially, you’re backing it out - not pulling up. Hope this helps!

Recipe for Migas

Sometimes I make Migas for the host families we stay with but unless you're from Texas like me, chances are you have no idea what Migas is or even how to pronounce it (Me-Gahz). It's a traditional Mexican breakfast made from leftovers so there are tons of different ways you can make Migas but here's my recipe:

Take a coupla tortillas & tear them into strips. Fry them in oil with some minced garlic until they start to look a little like George Hamilton. Add a half dozen eggs or so & a can of Rotel. I season it with cumin and cayenne pepper or if you really want some heat, throw in some jalapenos. Cumin is a must though.

About cheese. You can use cheddar but come on, Jack's the cheese of choice with Migas. Monterey is fine but Pepper Jack kicks it up a notch.

Now, when I made Mommy's Day Migas yesterday the host family didn't have tortillas BUT they had Tostitos Multigrain Chips. I added them at the tail end and I must admit they worked just fine. I think Migas actually means crumbs (like leftover tortilla scraps) - how appropriate!