Author: Amanda Gill

The B.A.A.R.K. Foundation is gearing up for the DockDogs World Championships in Dubuque, Iowa on November 13-17, 2013. This year will bring a whole new adventure!

On Friday night The Golden Paw Awards Gala will be held at the Five Flags Theater. The magical event will start off with The B.A.A.R.K. Foundations Silent Auction where the bidding will begin at 6:30 PM during cocktail hour. Then the Golden Paw Awards Ceremony will start and it includes the People’s Choice Awards, Year End Rankings, Contributor Awards, and the prestigious Global Recognition Award in addition to Feature Entertainment Acts.

WOW with all that going on I am really getting excited! There will be an intermission to break up the evening, where you can get your last minute bids in for the Silent Auction. There are so many wonderful items that were donated that it will be hard to choose which one or two to take home.

The winning bids will be announced before the wrap up of the Golden Paw Awards, and the purchased Auction items can be paid for and collected prior to departing the theater.

So bring cash or credit card to help support The B.A.A.R.K. Foundation in their continued effort to support the DockDogs community in a time of need.

We will be adding items to our website so please keep checking back to see the updated items. Visit www.baarkfoundation.org or visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/baarkfoundation

See you in Dubuque!

The B.A.A.R.K. Foundation traveled to the DockDogs Worlds Competition in Dubuque, Iowa in November to watch some high flying dogs compete.

Wanting to bring awareness to what the B.A.A.R.K. Foundation does for its DockDogs community we held a fund raiser called Ducks for Bucks. People bought little duckies that we placed in the make believe stream where everything from ducks, frogs, turtles and fish were available for a donation. All donations went into the general fund.

At the awards banquet a presentation given by Tina McLaughlin, the Executive Director of B.A.A.R.K. the community was made aware of all the people we have helped during the 2012 season.

We have helped numerous people in the past, but this year alone we have helped a family when their dog was hit by a car and they did not have the funds to have pelvic surgery so he could walk again and make a little girl happy to have her best friend back.

A family started a business and their brand new kennel and training facility was burnt to the ground by an electrical fire. With the loss of her dog and a litter of pups this was just devastating!

A 4 month old pup who was born with a correctable heart defect, but her parents could not afford the heart surgery that would spare her life at a very young age. Without B.A.A.R.K.’s help to provide that lifesaving surgery little “Flower” would only live to be about 1 – 1 1/2 year old.

A fallen competitor whose family could not afford to put a headstone on his grave was given a farewell tribute by his DockDogs family. Clubs that he supported and clubs that never even knew him made contributions to make sure he would be remembered.

None of these people thought that they would need our support but were happy when we were there for them.

If it wasn’t for Cera and her never ending battle to Chase Away K9 Cancer we may never find a cure that takes one in three of our furry friends.  But when cancer strikes one of our beloved pets The B.A.A.R.K. Foundation will be there to help support you. If we work together there is strength in numbers and we can be there if help is needed.  Your support is what makes this happen.

These are some of the things the B.A.A.R.K. Foundation supported this year and it could not have been done without your support. I want to thank each and every one that has supported us. We have more support now than we ever before and it’s because of you.

Thank you and have a happy & safe holiday season!

All roads are leading to the DockDogs® World Championships in Dubuque, Iowa on November 13^th – 17^th 2013 at the Five Flags Center.

The Regional Championships are almost set in stone.

Western Regionals are May 30^th – June 2^nd

Mid-Western Regionals are June 20^th – June 23^rd

Eastern Regionals are June 27^th – June 30^th

Canadian Regionals are getting finalized right now. Soon to be updated here.

 

We are excited that the 2014 DockDogs® season is underway.  The B.A.A.R.K. Foundation has spent the past few months brainstorming fundraising ideas to introduce & implement this year!

Since the B.A.A.R.K. Foundation was originally conceived in order to help members of the DockDogs® community in times of need, and the DockDogs® community has been shown overwhelming support from the B.A.A.R.K. Foundation over the years; this year we wanted to really show off how connected we all are and to reinforce that in struggling times and hardships, that you have someone here to lean on.  Or in our case, an entire nationwide community!

For the 2014 season, we want to build a Caring Chain.  Our Caring Chain will represent those we have loved & lost, those we love currently and want to recognize, and those who we wish to send love to overseas and at home.  A custom message can be written on each link, dedicating the link to someone special.  Friends, family, and spectators can purchase a chain link for $1.00 per link and the links will be connected and displayed at that current event.   But that’s not all……… At the DockDogs® 2014 World Championship event, we will connect all of the Caring chains we have collected from the various 2014 DockDogs® events and display our Grand Caring Chain proudly, for everyone to see. Proceeds from each link will go to the B.A.A.R.K. Foundation to help DockDogs® members in need.

The links are available for clubs to purchase and sell at events throughout the 2014 DockDogs® Season.  Please contact Teresa from the DockDogs® office at office@dockdogs.com.  Links will be sold in bulk and arrive with the DockDogs Admin at your event.  Please encourage your club members to sell the links.  It may help to have a volunteer head up the operation so that your club members have a go-to person for questions or to obtain more links.  The links and money can be turned into the DockDogs® administration person at the end of your event and will be forwarded to the B.A.A.R.K. Foundation on the Club’s behalf.

As a special thanks, the DockDogs® Club that sells the most links this year will be rewarded with their affiliation fees for 2015 paid in full by DockDogs® Worldwide.  So rally your club members and show everyone how much you care about your friends, families and fellow DockDoggers!

Help us build a chain that stretches beyond our imagination, showing those that you love – human and furpanion alike – just how special they are to you; and in doing so you will be supporting the efforts of the B.A.A.R.K. Foundation in its mission to help those in need within the DockDogs® community.

The B.A.A.R.K. Foundation, Inc. is getting geared up for the DockDogs® Regional Championships!

B.A.A.R.K. will be holding a Jump-A-Thon at each DockDogs® Regional Championship where members of the DockDogs® community will be acquiring sponsorships to help promote The B.A.A.R.K. Foundation.

A friendly fundraising competition at each of the 4 Regional Championships will be a fun spirited challenge between the teams to see who will hold the crown for the most money collected in 2012. The sponsorship forms will be sent out to members by DockDogs® Club presidents. All Worldwide members can send an email to tina.mclaughlin@baarkfoundation.org and a form will be emailed to you.

All roads are leading to the DockDogs® World Championships at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque, Iowa on November 15-18, 2012.

We will beginning our 2012 Jump-A-Thons with the Eastern Regional Championship on June 29th – July 1^st at the Wisp Resort in McHenry, MD. Then we head north to the Canadian Regional Championship on Cornwall Island in Cornwall, Ontario on July 13^th – 15^th. We will be following up with the Central Regional Championship in Conway, Arkansas August 17^th – 19^th. Our final Jump-A-Thon will be held at the Western Regional Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada October 12^th – 14^th.

If you would like to sponsor a team you can do so by clicking on the tab above marked Jump-A-Thon; payments can be made online by credit card or PayPal.

You can also make a donation to The B.A.A.R.K. Foundation general fund to support our many needs to help the community.

We hope to see you at one of the DockDogs® Regional Championships on the competition dock as a DockDogs® competitor; or if you are a spectator we hope to hear you cheering on your favorite team while they are on the dock.

Thank you in advance, for your kind donation!

With the Eastern Regionals behind us, I want to thank everyone that has donated or collected for The B.A.A.R.K. Foundation.

We had a wonderful time at the Wisp Resort and the weather was fantastic during the day! We raised some additional funds at a spur of the moment auction at the Saturday night cookout. Thank you everyone who made this possible and for your generous donations!

The Eastern clubs for DockDogs have raised $2,801.00 and are in the lead to say they have raised the most money for the regional championship series. The Western clubs are right behind with $1,150.00. The central clubs are in 3^rd with $65.00 and the Canadian clubs need to get started as their regionals are July 13th–15^th.

We hope the other regionals have as much fun as we did and the fund raising continues.

All clubs can collect pledges, raise money or have fun jumps until October 15^th for their donations to count towards the Jump-A-Thon.

Good Luck and have fun!

The B.A.A.R.K. Foundation will be attending the 2012 World Championships in Dubuque, Iowa on November 15-18, 2012.

There will be a “Ducks for Bucks” program where you can purchase a rubber duckie for a $5.00 donation. These duckies can be placed in our duck stream or you can take your purchase with you. You can also let them swim in the stream and collect them before Worlds comes to a close.

There is a large variety to choose from and you can place a tag around the ducks neck. It can be a Remembrance Tag of lost love ones or pets that have crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. It could be a Support Tag of anyone needing support at this time in their lives. What about a Good Luck Tag to support our competitors that are participating at Worlds. It can be whatever you want it to be so be creative and get ready to find a duckie that fits your special needs.

All proceeds will be going to the B.A.A.R.K. Foundations general fund. With your help and support we will be able to help our DockDogs family members when a tragedy or hard times come. Let’s all hope that we do not need to personally use The B.A.A.R.K. Foundation for assistance, but I hope you will find comfort knowing we are there in case you need us.

Please plan on setting a duckie free from the holding pen to swim in the stream with all his friends and help support a great cause.

Good luck to all the Worlds competitors, both human and canine!

Rubber Duckie you’re the one
You make DockDogs lots of fun
Rubber Duckie I’m awfully fond of you

Rubber Duckie joy of joys
When I squeeze you, you make noise
Rubber Duckie you’re my very best friend it’s true
I find a little fellow who’s cute and yellow and chubby
Rub a dub dubby
Rubber Duckie you’re so fine and I’m lucky that you’re mine
Rubber Duckie I’d like a whole pond of you
Rubber Duckie I’m awfully fond of you

The Jump-A-Thon has rocketed off the dock and is in full swing for the 2013 challenge. 

Starting May 1^st to October 1^st 2013 all members in the DockDogs® community will be collecting pledges to help support The B.A.A.R.K. Foundation.

The B.A.A.R.K. Foundation helped numerous members of the DockDogs® community last year, when they were in need. The foundation is now in need of your support so we can continue to assist when needed.

Please visit the Jump-A-Thon page above to make a pledge for your club and individual members.

We would like everyone to get involved!

A friendly fundraising competition at each of the 4 Regional Championships will be a fun spirited challenge between the teams to see who will hold the crown for the most money collected in 2013. The top club will have their 2014 affiliate fees paid for by the DockDogs World Wide office. Last year the Las Vegas DockDogs® club won the challenge and they will not be easy to beat this year.

New for 2013 Individual Member Prizing:  Any and all clubs that raise $1,000.00 or more will have the top person in the club who raised the most money win a $100.00 Visa card.  There is opportunity for each club to reach this goal and have one lucky member within each club!

Please go out and start collecting now from family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and strangers.

Click on the link below to access your club page

Thank you for your support of The B.A.A.R.K. Foundation!