Hello everyone and Happy New Year!

As the next couple of months are going to be very busy for us, we'd like to have a Meetup earlier in the year than we usually do. Vancouver Shiba has an amazing track record for good weather on Meetup day but in the event that we don't, I may have to postpone the meet.

So on that note, the Meetup will be on SUNDAY January 29th from 12-2pm at the David Gray dog park in Burnaby – McKay Avenue and Rumble Street. Parking is available on McKay Avenue, on either side of the street. There is an entrance to the dog park on McKay Avenue. Directions

I will be having a raffle for a gift basket and 100% of the money raised will be donated to NW Shibas4Life Rescue. A huge thank you to Bosley's Pet Food Plus of Yaletown for donating several of the items for the raffle! There will also be some very cute and unique Shiba items in the gift basket donated by a friend of mine living in Japan. 

Bosley's Pet Food Plus Yaletown is extending a very special offer to Vancouver Shiba Meetup members! They are offering a 5% discount on everything in the store. Owner and operator, David Burnie, will be present at this Meetup to answer any questions you may have and he will have special cards available to our members. *Please note: the discount will be only be honoured at the Yaletown store*

I'd like pass on a warning from another Meetup member. While returning home from walking her Shiba early one morning, she was charged by a coyote in the middle of her driveway. She quickly picked her dog up and managed to scare the coyote away. She would like to remind everyone to be aware of their surroundings while walking their dog, keep them on a leash and away from bushes when it's dark. The Coyote Hotline recommends putting several pennies in a pop can and throwing it at the coyote if it gets too close.

See you at the next Meetup!

Jen, Koshi & Barkley

Hello everyone!

I hope you have all been enjoying the great weather we've been having the last few weeks. It looks like it's going to come to an end very soon. August and early September have been very busy for us and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to squeeze in a Meetup for this month. I've managed to free up one day so I apologize for the short notice! 

The next Meetup will be this SUNDAY, September 18th from 12-2pm at the David Gray dog park in Burnaby – McKay Avenue and Rumble Street. Parking is available on McKay Avenue, on either side of the street. There is an entrance to the dog park on McKay Avenue. Directions

**It might rain this weekend so please come prepared**

I have a few extra NW Shibas4Life 2012 calendars for sale and they will be available for purchase at the Meetup. They are $22 each and the money will go to rescue. There are still a couple of prepaid calendars waiting to be picked up. If you're unable to attend the meet this Sunday, I may contact you about making other arrangements to claim your calendars.

Eric and I have been house sitting for the last 4 weeks (from the time of the August Meetup) so I've fallen a little behind on my Meetup duties. At the August Meetup, we raised $250 for the BC SPCA'S "Paws for a Cause" fundraiser. That amount combined with the previous money raised totalled $500. I decided that the money should be used to help Justice Janveaux (click on her name to read more) reach her Paws for a Cause fundraising goal. She is 15 years old and has been involved with Paws for a number of years. In 2010, she raised over $15,000 for the SPCA and over $10,000 in 2009. I thought if anyone deserved to be sponsored by Vancouver Shiba, it should be her. I should also mention, she has four dogs of her own and one of them is a black & tan Shiba. Yay!

Fingers and paws crossed for decent weather this Sunday and I'll see you at the Meetup.

Jen, Koshi & Barkley

Hello everyone!

I'm a little late announcing it but the date has been set for the next Meetup: SUNDAY, August 21st from 12 – 2pm at the David Gray dog park in Burnaby – McKay Avenue and Rumble Street. Parking is available on McKay Avenue, on either side of the street. There is an entrance to the dog park on McKay Avenue.  Directions

I will be fundraising for the BC SPCA's "Paws for a Cause" event at this Meetup. There will be dog treats for sale and a raffle for a framed, whimsical dog print (there's a cute Shiba in it!) and a small gift bag. See photo below. (Please note, the print isn't as dark as it appears in the photo)

Eric and I had the pleasure of attending the annual NW Shibas4Life Rescue picnic and fundraiser in Oregon last weekend. We met a lot of wonderful people involved in rescue and had a great time. We also picked up the 2012 calendars and they will be available for distribution at this Meetup. For those of you that have pre-ordered your calendars but haven't paid me yet, the calendars are $20 each. I will have 8 extra calendars available for purchase at $22 each.

If you are unable to pick up your calendar at this Meetup, please contact me for other arrangements. I am hoping to have another Meetup in September. I would appreciate payment from those of you that still owe me for the calendars as soon as possible. Thank you!

Hope to see you all next Sunday!

Jen, Koshi & Barkley