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.

Writing By Angie Pines
Huntington Beach, CA.- (July 12, 2009)-  PETaPOTTY was a proud partner at The first annual SurfinPaws Dog Jam, a surf competition for dogs of all ages, sizes and abilities, benefiting the Orange County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, that took place on Saturday July 11, 2009. The event started at the Huntington Beach Dog Beach with a Dog Surf Competition and finished with an elaborate Dog friendly Hollywood style, Red Carpet awards party complete with a doggie fashion show, awards ceremony & silent auction held at the Waterfront Hilton in Huntington Beach.  

The first annual SurfinDogs Surf Competition drew over 45 dogs that surfed their way into over 5,000 spectators’ hearts. As the dogs strutted their stuff on the red carpet, and mingled with their owners at the after party, PETaPOTTY was on hand throughout the event to make sure The Pets had a place to do their business. The Pooches were definitely pampered at this event; dogs were even greeted with Mutt-tinis as they waited to strut their stuff on the Red Carpet.

PETaPOTTY has been featured on many of today’s hottest TV shows such as MTV’s, Rob & Big’s Fantasy Factory, where PETaPOTTY built a special Custom Poo Garden for Rob Dyrdek’s best friends Meaty & Beefy. PETaPOTTY was also recently featured on E! Entertainment Celebrity Dog Special, A day in the life of a Hollywood dog, as well MSNBC, ABC, LA Times and many more.
 
About PETaPOTTY
The PETaPOTTY is an eco friendly, self-draining toilet system for animals.  Made of non-porous polyvinyl, the PETaPOTTY is guaranteed for life not to rot, warp, discolor, fade, or retain moisture. Each unit is designed to allow pets the freedom to do their business whenever necessary and to provide pet owners with the satisfaction of not having to deal with unwanted messes and carpet stains. Liquids drain through a layer of soil-less organic or synthetic sod pulling unwanted bacteria away from a pet’s potty space and into an easily removable pan.   The system’s top pallet is seal to ensure proper drainage and to keep the PETaPOTTY and its surrounding area sanitary.  For additional information, Please visit http://www.petapotty.com .

About SurfinPaws
SurfinPaws was started by René Bruce in 2009. It was inspired by his dog Kia’s first surf competition that was put on by a friend of Bruce’s in Del Mar, California. Kia, seven year-old Jack Russell Terrier, is the “spokes dog” of the event. Kia has been riding boards, scooters and jet skis since she was a pup when, at 16 weeks, her paws hit a skateboard for the first time. Since then Kia, has been featured on various news sites, Reuters, Yahoo! and even National Geographic and The Discovery Channel because of her riding talents. For additional information, please visit www.surfinpaws.com .
Surf City USA is a registered mark of the Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau.

Monday’s TV Hot List, Going to be on E! Television tonight! Exclusive called , Insanely Pampered Hollywood Dogs

The lengths rich dog owners are willing to go to pamper their pets.

Hollywood-style Mutt Mingle featuring delicious treats for all, fabulous pet fashion and … many of our fabulous clients!

Hollywood has gone to the dogs and celebrities are more than happy to do what it takes to make sure their best friend has access to all the finer things in life. From a doggie Bar and park to a member’s only country club, these are the places to sniff and mingle. E!’s Insanely Pampered Hollywood Dogs will take an insiders look at the day in the life of a Hollywood dog, and show you how far a wealthy pets parent is willing to go for the love of a good dog.

Tune in for “Insanely Pampered Hollywood Dogs” That’s how we roll!

Farmers Market a rich history
In July 1934 a contingent of farmers pulled their trucks onto an expanse of empty land at the property known as Gilmore Island at the corner of Third and Fairfax in Los Angeles. They displayed their produce on the tailgates of their vehicles, to their delight, customers quickly arrived and parked their cars on a hastily created dirt parking lot in spaces designated with chalk. They strolled among the trucks purchasing fruit, vegetables, and flowers.

The atmosphere was casual, the open air commerce enticing, the goods fresh, and the result remarkable. Farmers Market became an instant institution.

With a partner, Arthur Fremont Gilmore purchased two ranches in the Los Angeles vicinity. The purchase inaugurated a string of serendipitous events which not even the far-sighted Gilmore could predict. When Gilmore and his partner elected to dissolve their arrangement, they drew straws – Gilmore’s straw secured 256 acres on which he created a successful dairy farm. A.F. Gilmore had no plans for a world-renowned institution when he moved to Los Angeles from Illinois in 1870. Rather, he was seeking a better life on the promising West Coast. When he married Mary Elizabeth Bell in 1882, the small adobe on the property became the new home for his family.

At the turn of the century, while drilling for water for his herd of dairy cows, A.F. Gilmore hit oil. By 1905, the dairy was gone and the Gilmore Oil Company born.

As Farmers Market at Gilmore Island became an international landmark, the property surrounding it grew famous with it. E.B. Gilmore, rarely missed an opportunity. Thus in the 1930s and ’40s, he gave Angelenos the opportunity to experience live sporting events.

In 1934, a few months before Farmers Market opened, Gilmore built the first race car track designed specifically for midget car racers, a venue built of love and commercial savvy. Gilmore loved racers and his marketing sense led him to support them as a “demonstration” of Gilmore Oil products.

His romance with cars extended well beyond the construction of Gilmore Stadium. As a sponsor, E.B. Gilmore took vehicles to the Winner’s Circle at the Indianapolis 500 in 1935 and 1937. As a patron, he helped establish a land speed record which lasted for eight years. As a businessman, he created “Economy Runs” which evolved into modern stock car racing. In 1987, E.B. Gilmore was elected to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame and in 1992, he was inducted into the Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa.

Gilmore Stadium was also home to the Bulldogs, the first professional football team in Los Angeles. Art Aragon, the Golden Boy of boxing, fought in the 18,000 seat stadium. The site was also used for rodeos, wrestling matches and even swimming. This was also where presidential candidate Harry Truman delivered his famous “stiff upper lip” speech.

PETaPOTTY products and services are proud that they will now be available in what is truly the heart of LA. Look out for events as well
Three Dog Bakery and PETaPOTTY 6333 W 3rd Street. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (323) 935-7512