I’m just back from Seattle and the thrill of bringing the Dog Film Festival there, with a phenomenal turn out! Fully half the audience members had four legs and brought along their enthusiastic and appreciative humans! During the showings of short films, all of which included dogs, the dogs in the audience made sporadic barking commentary; the people laughed and cried and applauded every film, including the excellent PSA’s with wonderful adoption stories from the Petco Foundation, the presenting sponsor that made it possible for me bring the Festival across the country.
Our beneficiary partner was Seattle Humane, which had terrific volunteers on hand giving out biscuits and encouraging donations to help build their new shelter. They were already pretty happy because our Founding Sponsor of the Dog Film Festival – Halo, Purely for Pets – had sent the shelter 10,000 meals of food through Freekibble.com. Seattle Humane was already ahead of the game before the lights went down in the theater – but the big triumph was yet to happen!
A lovely van arrived transporting three darling adoptable dogs, who came out of their crates a little rattled from the trip, but putting on a brave face. They stood with their volunteers on the Green Carpet wearing hopeful smiles. You could see they were imagining that one day they, too, might be a fully loved dog, who got to go to the movies with their people like everyone on the line that wrapped around the block.
Able was a darling, energetic 10-month-old Boxer mix, and Dakota was a sweet Chihuahua mix. You could see how much they craved attention and did whatever they could to get a little love. As it turned out, they both got a whole lot of it: the Dog Film Festival changed their lives forever! I felt privileged to bring the Festival to Seattle. It was gratifying how receptive the audience was to the canine-themed films; it was wonderful to be in the position to help support the growth of Seattle Humane. But the highlight of the whole trip for me was to know that because of the Festival, two lovely dogs would not have to return to the shelter and sleep behind bars in a public place. Abel and Dakota were going home! Two families that had come to see the films wound up finding a new four-legged family member; Able and Dakota would never have to go back into a shelter cage. They would be curled up cozily with their new people, the circle of love that is adoption, complete.
Thank you Seattle for showing what a big heart you have!
Tracie began her fascination with dogs and cats by turning her eye as a former investigative reporter on every aspect of living with them, resulting in her encyclopedic resources THE DOG BIBLE: Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know and then the THE CAT BIBLE: Everything Your Cat Expects You to Know. Before long, Tracie was established as a leading pet wellness advocate as her all-encompassing books covered everything from medical issues to behavior, nutrition and environmental enrichment.
Tracie began her career as a radio personality with a live show – DOG TALK® (and Kitties, Too!) – on the local NPR station in the Hamptons, Peconic Public Broadcasting (WPPB) from Southampton, New York (the show is now also carried on the NPR station Robinhood Radio in Connecticut and the Berkshires). DOG TALK® won a Gracie® Award (the radio equivalent of an Oscar) in 2010 as the “Best entertainment and information program on local public radio” and continues weekly after more than 450 continuous shows and 9 years on the air. Tracie’s live weekly call-in show CAT CHAT® was on SiriusXM satellite radio for seven years until the Martha Stewart channel was canceled in 2013.
Tracie lives in Vermont where the Radio Pet Lady Network studio is based, on 13 acres well-used by her all-girl pack – two lovely, lively Weimaraners, Maisie and Wanda, and a Collie-mix, Jazzy.