A big thanks to all who braved the rain for the February Meetup. We raised a total of $250 for Shiba rescue and donated it to NW Shibas4Life. Great job! 

** WARNING ** This is a long but very important notice

I must apologize for the delay in getting this message out. I had hoped to announce the date of the next Meetup sooner but we received some unexpected news last week. Eric was offered and accepted a job in southern Ontario and will be leaving for Toronto on March 25th to begin his training. This will likely be his last Meetup. I'll be staying here for a few months to sell our condo, pack and plan the big move. I will do my best to have another Meetup or two before I leave. 

So here we go! The Meetup will be on SUNDAY March 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 to the dog park 

Eric and I have been organizing and running the Meetups going on 5 years now. During that time, Vancouver Shiba has raised over $17,000 for various animal charities and rescue organizations thanks to the efforts and generosity of our members. Thank you, members, for making a difference in the lives of animals in need! As this chapter in our lives draws to a close, there is a very special charity I would like to support and fundraise for at this Meetup.

The organization that we will be raising money for is Senior Animals In Need Today Society – (SAINTS) located in Mission. They are an end-of-life sanctuary for senior and special needs animals that have no where else to go. SAINTS provides full medical care for these ailing and elderly animals and ensures that they live out their remaining days in comfort and peace. Many of their animals are adoptable and are looking for a loving home. Please consider adopting a senior animal!

As this will be our last fundraiser at a Meetup, it's going to be a big one! There will be another raffle for a gift basket with cool Shiba merch straight from Japan (there's a magazine with some hysterical photos!) as well as a few other Shiba items I still have leftover from my "buying everything Shiba related on eBay phase". A shout out to Bosley's in Yaletown for kindly providing many of the other items for the raffle. I will have liver brownies for sale and I'm planning on having a mini yard sale of new and gently used dog related items and a few household goods. I've listed a few of the items below. Prices to be determined but are completely negotiable!

• leashes (new & used)
  
• dog pillows (one is plaid, the other is a cow. Thanks Mark & Ito!)
  
• pet food dishes (cat & dog)
  
• a large, nearly full, jug of Nature's Miracle stain and odour remover 
  
• a framed 11" x 13" Roy Vickers art print of Siwash Rock
  
• a unique glass and metal hanging ornament of a Husky (thank you Sheila &   Pierre. I've been saving it for the right fundraiser)
  

Burgundie, a friend and Shiba Meetup supporter has taken it upon herself to hold a massive fundraiser of her own for SAINTS. She's had a t-shirt designed as well as wristbands made. We are teaming up together at this Meetup and she will have a few shirts and wristbands available for sale. The shirts come in all sizes with many colours to choose from for $15. The wristbands are $2 each also available in several colours. Please contact Burgundie at tripweber@gmail.com for more info and/or to pre-order some SAINTS merchandise. She has also created a wish-list for SAINTS which I have included here. If you would like to help and maybe donate a few items on the list, bring them to the Meetup! Burgundie will be there to make sure it all goes to SAINTS. Please see the images of the wristbands and logo featured on the SAINTS t-shirt below.

** SAINTS also welcomes donations of Canadian Tire money **

If you have a stash of Canadian Tire money gathering dust (like we do), consider donating it to this worthwhile charity! I will have a collection specifically for your Canadian Tire Money donations set up at the Meetup.

Alright Vancouver Shiba members it's all in your hands and paws now! Please help Vancouver Shiba raise money for an animal charity that means a lot to us! As many of you are already aware, our own little Barkley is a special needs dog so the mission of an organization such as SAINTS is one we hold close to our hearts. This really is our last hurrah as the organizers of Vancouver Shiba. Please help us make it count!

See you at the Meetup and don't forget to say your goodbyes to Eric!

Jen, Eric, Koshi & Barkley

Here is an image of the Gift Basket that will be available at the February meet. 

All proceeds from the raffle will be donated to NW Shibas4life - So come on out and help Shiba Rescue while you're here. 

See you all soon!

Eric