PETaPOTTY.COM Blog

October 06, 2009, 10:1AM MT
By Ted Brewer, Best Friends staff writer
This year’s Best Friends Lint Roller Party was one befitting the 25 years of saving lives, and the 25 more years to come.

Back in 1991, Francis and Silva Battista would sit at a card table in front of a market in West Hollywood and ask people to donate to an organization the couple had helped found, an organization that ran a no-kill animal sanctuary in southern Utah.

The mission of that organization — to save as many animals as it could from having to enter shelters and face euthanasia — is still very much the same, but the size and scope of its impact have come a long ways, to say the least, in the 25 years Best Friends has been in business.

Just how far the organization has come since those card table days was made rather evident at the 16th annual Lint Roller Party, held Saturday night, Oct. 3, at the iconic Hollywood Palladium to benefit the work of Best Friends’ Los Angeles Programs.

Live and silent auctions, an award ceremony, video presentations, vegetarian buffet catered by Wolfgang Puck, psychic readings, a wheel of fortune, caricature drawings, a rocking live performance by the Bangles and a bevy of other attractions and fundraising events drew a sweeping array of supporters, members, and benefactors from all over the country to the party. Approximately 600 people attended the event.

“We are celebrating 25 years of saving lives,” said Best Friends co-founder and interim CEO Gregory Castle in his opening remarks to the evening’s presentations. “With your help, we’re saving lives all over the country…. It wouldn’t have been possible without the support you’ve given us.”

Among those in the audience were a host of celebrities, including Lisa Edelstein from the television series “House.” Edelstein delivered the anniversary toast.

“A million thanks to all the founders of Best Friends,” Edelstein said. “We love you and appreciate you, and we’re so happy to be here.”

Other celebrities to walk the red carpet and pay tribute to Best Friends included Phyllis Smith from “The Office,” Monty Python’s Eric Idle, Amy Smart from the film “Mirrors,” Rachelle Lefevre from the film “Twilight,” Anna Faris from the “Scary Movie” series, M.A.S.H.’s Loretta Swit, film and television legend Robert Culp, as well as veteran actor and newly elected president of the Screen Actors Guild, Ken Howard.

Also there to pay tribute to Best Friends, especially to our work in Los Angeles, was the city’s mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa.

The anniversary celebration wasn’t just about looking backwards, but also of looking forward in anticipation of what the next 25 years will bring,” she says. “I think people [at the party] were inspired not just about the work we’ve done, but about the work we’ll continue to do in the future.”
What can you do to help? Give the Gift of a Best Friends membership to family and friends.

The big night is approaching for 2,400 pampered dogs in New York.

T.J. Simers
February 8, 2009
Los Angeles Times

From New York — Page 2 here at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which begins Monday, but first the PETaPOTTY party.

Try saying that three times in a row while having a drink and watching the floor to avoid stepping on a Shih Tzu.

The Celtics are playing across the street in Madison Square Garden, while here at the Fashion Show on the 18th floor of the Hotel Pennsylvania, hundreds of guests and dogs are dressed alike, Eli the Chihuahua wearing a wonderful silver satin fabric shirt, full vest, of course, with black and clear rhinestones.

Eli the Chihuahua, by the way, is better dressed than Myung J. Chun, The Times’ videographer, who is here to document the next few days. Chun, told he’d be shooting video of the dogs in New York, initially thinks he’s going to a Clippers game.

AIRFARE TO New York, cab ride, hotel room, expensive restaurants and there is no prize money at Westminster. Yet there are more than 2,400 dogs here representing 170 breeds competing for ribbons and an ego boost — Choking Dogs for some reason not recognized as an official breed, but still California with 265 entrants to lead all states.

A beagle, Uno, won last year. A Brussels griffon, Lincoln, is favored this year. A writer, Charlotte Reed, quotes Uno extensively in something called “the blue boo,” and people think Uno is special.

There are 1,000 dogs staying in the Pennsylvania, and while I wonder who is checking into these rooms next week, there’s no containing the excitement of Jerry Grymek, who is wearing a name tag that identifies him as hotel “doggie concierge.”

“We welcome you with open paws, ha, ha,” Jerry says, obviously wanting to be a doggie concierge ever since he was a little pup.

“Oh, let me show you our doggie spaw — ha, ha,” he says, “where everyone is considered a VIP, ha, ha, very important pooch.”

There isn’t a blade of grass or a tree within miles of here, “but we have a loo downstairs for our guests with separate his and her areas because everyone gets their privacy,” says the concierge.

SKYBARk Pre-Westminster Fashion show Golden Paws Award was the place to be Friday night in NYC! who’s who in the dog community were there to network a parade of “well behave owners” and “fashionable dogs” filled the Red Carpet reception area, were celebrities such as “CELEBRYPUPS” Bocker, Eli, Tito, Andrew, Jilli and Elvis posed with Dr. Ruth…whom after spending a lond day giving speeches at universities came to support her good friend Dr. Dave and Elvis. Ada Nieves “Moulin Rouge” Fashion Show was part of the entertainment… Our Master of ceremonies was Maria Milito (Q104.3 fm) a list of models include guests from the shows :The greatest American Dog ( CBS ) Andrew & Elvis From Underdog to Wonderdog; Andrea Arden & Ali Mclean Groomer has It Jonathan David , Jorge Bendersky faithful friends (Animal Planet ) Kathleen Sepulveda The newly formed group ; Celebripups – Eli, Tito, Jilli, Andrew, Bocker, Vanilla , Elvis The NJ Dog Whisperer, janice wolfe Philantrophist ; Erika Searl with her furkids Ginger and Cubby the event was produced by Petapotty and 1st In-Line with a list of sponsors like Fido Friendly magazine, les pooch, comfy and cozy pet furniture, buddyg’s, happy paws, lunas brat pack and ruff doggie style

http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/videos/fullep/group.html?id=1010522

Located adjacent to Madison Square Garden, the prestigious Hotel Pennsylvania is a Madison Square Gardeninstitution that personifies the city’s style, essence and history. Glenn Miller played there and wrote the famous song and band number entitled “Pennsylvania 6-500,” consequently the Penn’s phone number still reflects the song’s title. It’s tradition for the Hotel Penn to act as a media and social hub for Westminster. No matter where the exhibitors and spectators stay, they converge at the Penn for everything dog related. Skybark transformed the Penn Top Ballroom into the “place to be” for anyone looking to bring their pets, cut loose, and have a great time before the Westminster Dog Show commences. The glamorous ballroom met the high standards of Skybark and featured immaculate views that looked upon the Empire State Building and the marquis of Madison Square Garden.

The Hotel had a large lower-level conference room that was converted into an indoor bio-break facility for the competitors. The facility is referred to as “the Green Room” and PETaPOTTY, was found there taking care of the dogs’ potty needs. Droves of high society pooches clamored over the best pet potty space. The dogs loved it. Judy Davis of First in Line Animal Grooming Products and the veteran host of the Penn’s Green Room Salon, Spa and “Paw Mall’ brought us on and PETaPOTTY was overjoyed to be taking care of prestigious pet business. The accommodations for Westminster entries have made the Hotel Pennsylvania the Travel Channel’s “#3 Bathroom”. The Hotel draws in a great deal of media coverage. There are always paparazzi scouring the place for great shots and videos of the world’s top dogs. The Hotel Pennsylvania was where all the action is, which makes it perfect for an event like Skybark and PETaPOTTY.

Wow! We didn’t know it was the “Top Pet Product Of The Year“-
“Pet-a-Potty Named Top Pet Product of the Year on About.com’s ‘Weird News’”
"Great news everyone. On the CSN Blog, They’ve been HUGE advocates of the Pet-a-Potty ever since they began carrying this wonderfully quirky item. The Pet-a-Potty, the revolutionary indoor dog toilet that features real grass and a unique drainage system, is the ideal accessory for the always working pet owner. Though it may look a little silly, it sure beats having your rug transformed into a toilet every time you stay at the office a little late.

“We’re big proponents of items that serve a purpose and also have a sense of humor and that’s we’re excited that About.com’s ‘Weird News’ named the Pet-a-Potty ‘the top pet product of the year.’ Author Buck Wolf included this in his ‘Weird Gift Wish List,’ a gift guide in which two other blog favorites also appeared – an Aquarium End Table and a Giant Croc Pet Bed. It’s important to chuckle more than ever these days, so it’s great when silly products like these get recognized. Great work Buck and your ‘Weird News’ Team. Also, be sure to check out this past Tuesday’s Top Ten for Ten Great Silly Gifts.” -CSN

Here is the “Marley and Me” Album:
http://web5.sendtoprint.net/proofbook/MarleyAndMe/Cover.asp?sets=MarleyAndMe
Event I.D.: “MarleyAndMe”