Team Toby- a dog with a blog on a kindness mission!

Dog Sledding Anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 14:53:00 +0000

Back in the spring, Team Toby travelled all the way up to the Yukon, where Charmaine spoke at the Parent Council Association Conference. During our stay in Whitehorse, the team had the pleasure of working with Manuela from Muktuk Adventures Ltd, who took part in the Twoonies for Team Toby fundraiser, which provides Toby's Kindness books for schools. The company offers Yukon wilderness experiences, including canoeing, hiking, horseback riding in the summer and dog sledding in the winter. They also offer a cozy B&B, in an off the grid lifestyle.

We asked Manuela to share how kindness has impacted her life and her business.

“We are having over 110 Alaskan Huskies, but only 80 of them are still working, the remaining 30 dogs are our oldies, we keep our old dogs past their working time and take good care of them. They are full of stories from the trails, and every single one taught us something about ourselves along the way. We are also having about 1/3 of rescue dogs in our yard, either from the shelter or from other mushers as well as dogs we adopted from others if they did not see any fit for them. We only breed if there is no other dog looking for a home.”

Photo Credit Muktuk Adventures

Why you chose to show kindness to Team Toby

“Because we support animal welfare in any way we can and we understand how much we can learn from dogs. Using a dog to go to schools and talk to kids is a great way of teaching.”

Planning any trips out to Whitehorse? Make sure you check out Muktuk Adventures, as they offer some amazing activities!

Social Media links:

http://muktuk.com

https://www.facebook.com/MuktukAdventures

https://twitter.com/MuktukAdventure

Some of the programs offered at Muktuk Adventures:

Rookie Ranch +2 come out and stay with us for 8 days and experience what it takes to be a dog musher. Take care of your own team of dogs, experience how friendly working dogs are, take them to bed at night if you want to (only possible if you stay in a cabin), to make the experience complete we take you out for 2 nights camping along the trails.
Cheechako Winter - for guest who want to experience more than just the dogs and don`t have as much time. It is a 4 day and 3 night stay including dog sledding, ice fishing, snowshoeing and snowmobile or horseback. Guest are still more than welcome to help our with daily chores around the lodge and with the dogs.
Cheechako Summer - a nice way to experience the beauty of the Yukon in the summer. Guest will stay with us in our B&B and be part of our family. We will take them canoeing for one day, of course there will be at least one dog joining us. We will go hiking with the dogs, and also will go horseback riding. One day is reserved to get to know all our dogs and learn about what we do summer and winter. The program is from Sunday to Friday

Our Million Acts of Kindness tour so appreciates the kindness of Muktuk Adventures and our tour partners! Together we make a difference.

Teamwork makes the Dreamwork!

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 14:43:00 +0000

Toby has been fortunate to have awesome vets at Blueridge-Cove Animal Hospital in North Vancouver. He loves going to his check-ups and really enjoys visiting the staff. That’s because caring for your pets isn’t something Blueridge-Cove does for a living, it’s something they live for.

Since 1979, they have dedicated to offer complete pet care and ensure a healthy lifestyle for your animal companion. Blueridge Cove Animal Hospital has on-site radiography, dentistry services, surgery and more!

The team at Blueridge-Cove share their top tips in preventative pet safety and health care.

1) As the weather gets colder, looking out for your pet's safety regarding poison control becomes even more important. Antifreeze on driveways, sidewalk salt, and other chemicals create a serious risk for your pet. If your dog walks on roads or sidewalks that could be contaminated with these chemicals be sure to wash their paws before they go back inside or have a chance to lick them. Ingestion of antifreeze is extremely toxic and can cause death. Call your veterinarian or an emergency hospital immediately if you think your pet may have ingested something.

2) This year we have seen an overwhelming amount of fleas on both dogs and cats. With the dry weather and possibly dry winter ahead we encourage everyone to maintain proper flea prevention all year round. Contact your Veterinarian for their recommendation on the best Veterinary approved flea control products.

We asked the staff how kindness has impacted their business, and why they chose kindness to Team Toby in helping us reach our goal of one million acts of kindness.

In the spring of 2015 we held a fundraiser for a local charity to help animals in need. A young boy named Isaac and his family brought in a cheque to make a donation. When we asked him more about his donation he revealed all the money he was donating was from his birthday presents. At such a young age he had asked his family and friends for money as presents so he could give it all to charity. This act of kindness amazed all of our staff and inspired us to remember to be more like Isaac, especially when we have the chance to do good for others!

We chose to support Team Toby as we love the message that Toby is helping to spread! As a patient of ours, Toby was always a sweet and happy dog when he came to visit us. We think everyone could use a reminder to treat people and pets with respect, kindness and acceptance. Toby's great attitude and demeanor has shown that he can inspire students across North America and help children listen and remember an important lesson!

Social Media Links:

www.blueridgevet.com

https://www.facebook.com/BlueridgeCove

Thank you to the team at Blueridge Vet from mom and I!!

We appreciate all the support from our partners on this Million Acts of Kindness tour.

RV Travel with your Dog

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 00:51:00 +0000

This was our FIRST RV travel experience. A beautiful 31 foot motorhome sponsored by Fraserway RV for our Million Acts of Kindness Tour.

Part of our preparation for the six week journey was learning as much as we could about:

1) the areas we would be travelling,
2) RV travel
3) campgrounds and rest areas
4) what to bring and how to make it the best trip ever.

I'd say we succeeded.

We researched the communities, and thanks to Telus, who provided the WIFI for the RV, we could be online anywhere anytime! This was a HUGE help!

We also found the KOA Campground guide to be a useful resource, it provides maps, KOA site details, and useful community information. Provincial and State Tourism webpages were also a big help in finding places to park the RV and camp, and attractions to visit.

Now, preparing for RV travel was likely our bigger education as this completely new experience for us.

The Fraserway RV staff were extremely helpful in educating us about the RV and provided great RV travel hints and tips.

The RV comes with a very detailed book with tips, troubleshooting and contact information.

We also completed the Preparation Checklists provided on the Fraserway RV website.
These preparation checklists are extremely helpful when preparing to travel in an RV. The checklist about the Supplies Needed was extremely helpful.

We also completed the Pre Trip Checklist and used this as a guide especially in the early days of travel. We felt much more confident when we drove away for the first time.

To read more about the article we wrote for Fraserway RVs blog, check it out here:
http://www.fraserway.com/discover/blog/fraserway-blog/2015/10/08/have-dog-will-travel-5-tips-to-ensure-a-great-pet-friendly-road-trip Please share with people you know going on a pet friendly adventure in an RV.

What is your BEST learning from travelling in an RV?

What was your favorite place to camp or visit in an RV?

Follow our Million Acts of Kindness tour. Share the acts of kindness that impacted your life on our Kindness Matters Page.

Taking care of your dog's teeth

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 22:30:00 +0000

The Million Acts of Kindness tour would never have been possible if it weren’t thanks to our many partners who have supported us and our mission.

This week, Team Toby got the opportunity to connect with Robin Canuel, the owner and operator of K9 Gentle Dental, who provides gentle and effective teeth cleaning to dogs without using any medications or anesthesia. According to Robin, they aim to help pet owners stay on top of their dog's oral care needs by providing a teeth cleaning that is able to be done more frequently than the normal anesthesia method.

Their goal is to have dogs go under anesthesia less often for their teeth and for pets have less severe dental issues throughout their lives by providing frequent cleanings and educating pet owners on how to maintain their dog’s teeth and the dangers of dental disease.
3 Tips Robin offers for dog owners:

1. Brushing dogs teeth on a daily or regular basis (at least 3 times a week) will give your dog the best chance of maintaining their oral health into their elderly years.

2. Coconut oil makes a great doggie toothpaste. Not only is it naturally antibacterial but it is also naturally anti-inflammatory and dogs love the taste!

3. Using an extra soft toothbrush, like an infant brush, will be extra gentle on your dogs sensitive gums. Slightly bleedy gums is fairly normal but if you notice excessive amount of blood when brushing please have your vet examine your dog’s mouth thoroughly at your next visit.

We asked Robin to share an act of kindness that has impacted her life, and why she chose take part in our goal to reach one million acts of kindness.

Wow what a question! We see so much kindness everyday in our profession but to name a specific moment... We took in a little 4 pound rescue Maltese who needed serious dental surgery (among other things). The vet we work with in Steveston, BC, Little Paws Animal Clinic, took our little man in and gave us an honest rundown of our options to help the little guy in his old age (he was 15!). They provided us top notch service and medical treatment for a reduced rate. I know first hand that Dr. Martinez helps so many rescues who need vet care by offering massive discounts or free services to rescue doggies all over Vancouver. On top of all that, we found Little Man the most wonderful home with a family who took in this old doggie knowing very well that he would cost them money in vet bills and probably not be around for too long. They gave him the most amazingly loving home for his remaining time on this planet, and considering what a terrible life that little guy had endured he must have thought he had died and gone to doggie heaven! People amaze me everyday with their kindness and generosity towards animals.

It was a very simple choice to show kindness to this movement! Using animals to teach kindness and patience is an amazing tool and I felt like it had the potential for a huge impact. Kids these days are bombarded by advertising, internet and terrible role models and by introducing children to animals in an educational way can definitely better their development in so many different areas. I also very much respect the fight against bullying and love this approach to the subject.

Social Media Links:

Our Blog - http://k9gentledental.ca/blog/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/k9gentledental

Instagram - https://instagram.com/k9gentledental/

Twittter - https://twitter.com/K9GentleDental

Website - www.k9gentledental.ca

Thank you K9 Gental Dental for your support and the guest blog!

Collars, Treats and Kindness! All in one day.

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 22:19:00 +0000

Today’s guest blog post feature is both a partner and good friend of Team Toby, Shannon Barnard from K9 Bytes.

Love that Shannon is wearing our Million Acts of Kindness tour tees sponsored by Peace Love Paws

K9 Bytes creates handmade fabric dog collars, dog leashes and cat collars. Their handcrafted quick release dog collars are as unique as your dog. Shannon fabricates matching pet leashes with their collars to make a real fashion statement! Cat collars come in many fun fabric patterns and you can choose from many fabric patterns including holiday designs. They also offers a line of home baked dog and cat treats and cuddly pet blankets.

Here are some examples.... these are the collars that Shannon donated as an act of kindness during our day in Portland on our Million Acts of Kindness tour. The collars all were donated to a no kill shelter in Portland called Family Dog New Life.

K9 Bytes’ products are handmade in the USA and collars and leashes are made from soft cotton fabrics. They offer a fun, inexpensive product that let pet parents express the love of their furry friends and celebrate holidays and seasons. Treats are made from wholesome, human grade ingredients. They are baked until crunchy with no preservatives, yet have a long shelf life. It is clear that their love and passion for pets is apparent in each item that they create!

We asked Shannon to share a time when kindness impacted her business, and why she chose to kindness to Team Toby in helping us reach our goal of one million acts of kindness.Here's what Shannon said:

Receiving little personal notes of appreciation from my customers lets me know that they value me and my products. We are all busy. Taking that little bit of time to let someone know you appreciate them can make their day.

Team Toby’s message of teaching kindness, acceptance and respect is key to changing the world for the better. If we all show a little more kindness, it impacts the whole world in a positive way, one act at a time.

Shannon’s advice to dog owners:

Exercise with your dog. Walking with your dog is beneficial to both of you. It strengthens your bond as well as your fitness. It’s also a great way to meet other dog lovers and increase socialization for both you and your pet.

K9 Bytes Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/K9BytesPets

Twitter: https://twitter.com/K9BytesPets

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/k9bytes

Google +: https://plus.google.com/+ShannonBarnard or https://plus.google.com/b/112106131860983170605/+K9bytesgifts/about

Instagram: https://instagram.com/k9bytes

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/k9bytes

Charmaine and Shannon are both members of the Women in the Pet Industry Network.

A day in the spa from the dog's perspective....

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 22:04:00 +0000

Bark Avenue Grooming & Bath is ranked as one of Toby’s top groomers in North Vancouver. Not only is the staff PAW-some, but they share the same interest and goal as Team Toby; sharing the message of kindness.They sold our cut out paper pawprints to raise funds for putting Toby's books in local schools.

Bark Avenue Grooming & Bath provides top quality grooming services by certified groomers who also hold a certificate in pet first aid. They welcome all breeds of dogs and cats are welcome too! They even have a facility where you can wash your own and leave the mess to them! Perfect for owners who don’t have the space or resources to wash their dogs, or for getting your pup primped up in a hurry.

I Love the smell of this shampoo. And, I am focusing on the treat on the shelf.

I am SO relaxed I can hardly keep my eyes open.

Bark Avenue takes great pride in having a hygienic, safe and fun environment to provide the best grooming experience for your pet.

I love squeaky toys.... did I say I love them?

Just got a puppy and not sure how to approach grooming? Bark Avenue suggests you get your puppy in for their first grooming session within the first 4 months. This will help get them used to the sounds, smells and experiences of a grooming salon. They also suggest to play with your dog’s paws to help your puppy get used to getting his nails done and to being touched.

We asked Bark Avenue how kindness has impacted their business and why they chose to support Team Toby with an act of kindness of their own. Here's what they said:

Becoming part of the Lower Lonsdale business community was daunting at first, however upon starting here, we were welcomed and understood the importance of friendship and neighborly support because our neighbors were so welcoming. This feeling inspires us to be supportive of our fellow business community and entrepreneurs and it has driven us to supporting more local businesses and giving back to our community.

Team Toby's message of kindness is perfect for young children as it teaches them to be kind and respectful of other people and animals. At Bark Avenue, we see every single day the undying support and kindness animals show to their owners and us; dogs are so unconditional in their love and Team Toby's message conveys that perfectly.

Social Media Links

Website: http://barkavenuegroomingandbath.ca

Facebook: www.facebook.com/barkavenue

Instagram: www.instagram.com/barkavenuegroomingnv

Thank you Bark Avenue!!

I look good and smell great!!

3rd Avenue Businesses 4 Paws Up for Kindness!

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 16:56:00 +0000

There is a beautiful quote that says "It takes a community to raise a child" and the kindness of local businesses on third street in North Vancouver have helped us in creating a kinder community during our Million Acts of Kindness Tour.

Prior to leaving on our Million Acts of Kindness Tour we decided to take a walk down to two businesses on 3rd Avenue in North Vancouver that we love.

Mom always goes to Escape Hair and Body to get her hair done. Not only do they do an awesome job, there is always great conversation there!

...and....I get my hair done at Bark Avenue Grooming and Bath.

I love that they have squeaky toys... I love squeaky toys...... I realllllly love squeaky toys.....

I was so relaxed and zenned out after my pawsome spa......just like mom is after she gets her hair done!

Stella owns Escape Hair and Body, and is a huge champion for my books and our kindness tour! She made a donation so we could provide some schools with my books! Thank you for the kindness Stella and Escape Hair and Body!

Bark Avenue Grooming and Bath has been doing the Twoonie for Team Toby, raising funds in the spa which also support local schools.

We are so excited this week to go and pay forward the kindness from these two amazing businesses and surprise some schools with books.

Thank you to Bark Avenue and Escape Hair and Body for all you do for the community! You make a difference.

What an incredible journey our six week Million Acts of Kindness tour was. We travelled in the Kindness RV, sponsored by Fraserway RV.

This tour was on our bucket list.... what's on your travel bucket list? Check out Canadian Traveller and share what your travel bucket list items are, and see what others are doing to make their travel dreams come true.

Thank you all from mom, dad and I:

Santa Ana was a four paws up stop!

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 23:46:00 +0000

The Million Acts of Kindness Tour stopped in Santa Ana California, and a great time was had by all!

It started off by Dogtopia South Coast picking us up in Sport, the Dogtopia mobile pick up service. They came right to our motorhome which was parked at Bolsa Chica State Park campground. This was most appreciated as otherwise we would have had to move the motorhome.

Toby was greeted by the Dogtopia South Coast staff and enjoyed a day of play and fun at doggy daycare. The standout for me as a pet parent was the:

- cleanliness of the facility,
- the engagement and support from Dogtopia South Coast clients,
- the exceptional customer service from the Dogtopia South Coast team, and,
- the way in which Dogtopia South Coast supports so many great community organizations and causes.

The team also created a fundraiser for Toby's kindness mission, supporting local schools receiving copies of Toby's book.

Dogtopia South Coast also launched their blanket and towel drive supporting a local shelter. This was the support the minute they launched. Got to love the Dogtopia South Coast client support :)

At the Saturday Park and Bark Beach Bash, three more huge bags of blankets and towels were dontated. Talk about kindness!

On Satuday Oct 10, the Park and Bark Beach Bast was a huge success!

A good time was had by all.... tour legged and four legged attendees!

Thanks again to Dogtopia South Coast for hosting us in Santa Ana, and for all that you do to make a difference in the community you serve!

A big thank you to our tour partners who helped us travel North America to share our message of kindness.

What is on YOUR bucket list for traveling this year and next? Follow Canadian Traveller Magazine to see where people are travelling and what they are crossing off their travel bucket list.

Million Acts of Kindness Prairie Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 15:30:00 +0000

Today's Team Toby blog is written by our team member Julie Angeletti! Thanks Julie

The Million Acts of Kindness tour bid farewell to the beloved city of Edmonton, and hit the road heading east. Our next stop on the tour route was Winnipeg, but the 14 hour drive would be broken up with a quick stop in the city of Humboldt, Saskatchewan. Thanks to Deb Nyczai from the Chamber of Commerce in Humboldt, the team was set up with a complimentary night stay at the Canalta hotel, as well a campground for the RV!

We so appreciated Debs kindness in greeting us when we arrived, hosting our stay, gathering media to showcase the tour and getting elected officials and the chamber president to meet with us!

What was originally planned as a quick night’s rest to break up the long drive, turned into an amazing day spent with community members of Humboldt, all thanks to Deb. It was great to see the progress that Humboldt has made in making their community more pet friendly, and putting in a large fenced in playground for dogs at the campground, right beside the family mini put area. This is going to be a spectacular dog friendly feature that campers, visitors and locals will love and appreciate. The community businesses came together to raise all the funds needed for this project.

Our grand finale in Winnipeg happened at Petland Canada’s Pembina store location, where multiple businesses in the plaza came together to host a TAIL-gating party! We had so much fun meeting the participating businesses and guests that came by to say hi! Toby even had the opportunity to meet retired football player Chris Cvetkovic.

We enjoyed the opportunity to talk to youth about kindness, and encourage them to complete an act of kindness in the next 24 hours. They all went home with copies of Toby's books, thanks to Petland Canada's support.

We are sending out a huge barking thank you to all the guests that visit Petland Canada stores. Your support of the Twoonie for Team Toby program raised almost $10,000 which provided a number of youth organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs, Schools and Foster care agencies with copies of Toby's books and a personal visit with Toby and Charmaine.

It’s a shame the prairies are stereotyped as flat and boring, as I was quite amazed of their vastness. Field upon field, the prairies make you realize just how large of a country Canada is. We had fun stopping at various little communities along the way and did a few acts of kindness by dropping off Toby’s books at schools. We got to visit little towns such as the city of Mundare which boasts it has the world’s largest sausage, and Watson Saskatchewan which built a 25 foot Santa Claus statue!

After two full days of driving, the team was ready to arrive in Winnipeg. I was very excited to finally visit the infamous Mere hotel, a luxurious, pet-friendly boutique hotel that hosted Team Toby once before, on their previous visit to Winnipeg. I was happy to learn the rumors were true, as the hotel exceeded my expectations. The rooms were beautifully decorated, with ample amount of closet and storage space for long-term visits. The contents of the mini-fridge came complimentary with the room, so there was no guilt in enjoying fresh bottles of water and juice, along with some snacks. The hotel also provided the most plush and luxuriously soft bathrobes to lounge around in, which were the absolute cherry on the cake. Located in the heart of Winnipeg, the hotel is situated right on the river, surrounded by beautiful paths to walk your dog. Cibo, the hotel restaurant located right on the water, was a fantastic spot to grab breakfast in the morning. I was very impressed with the prices, considering the quality of food, the views and level of service this establishment offered.

The team took advantage of the charming hotel location and enjoyed a long walk with Toby along the Red River.

We also took this moment as a great opportunity for some more kindness activities, and brought along some of our trusty poopbags and rubber gloves to clean up any trash we found along the way.

That afternoon, Charmaine led a business workshop to local entrepreneurs at the Mere hotel.

Thanks to the kindness of our amazing sponsors, each attendee was able to walk away with a Million Acts of Kindness t-shirt designed by Peace Love Paws, a Canadian Traveller Magazine and a roll of The Original Poopbags!

Thanking all our partners who help us make a difference.

Million Acts of Kindness stops in Edmonton and meets a life size Beaver?

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 15:30:00 +0000

Edmonton was a special stop on the Million Acts of Kindness tour because Charmaine had spent 10 years living just outside of the city in Sherwood Park.

We had spent the better part of 4 days in the city, and enjoyed a well deserved couple of days off. I had the luxury of staying at the Matrix Hotel, located in the heart of downtown Edmonton. The hotel itself was quite beautifully decorated, having a modern and upscale design. The rooms were absolutely beautiful, contemporary styled and convenient, as they had multiple easily accessible plugs for laptops and cell phone chargers. It was very obvious that this hotel had been made with business people in mind. I also enjoyed the scenic view of the city from my 15th story window!

Charmaine, Chris and Toby stopped by a few Petland Canada stores to say hello and meet their awesome teams!

The next few days of our trip were quite busy, as Charmaine had the opportunity to provide presentations to several organizations, including McMann Family Services and the Holistic Chamber of Commerce in Edmonton. We really enjoyed working with these groups, as they both share the same values as we do and sharing the importance of kindness!

Team Toby presented at the Boys and Girls Club of Edmonton, where Toby got to meet over 20 children and teach them important values of compassion and kindness. The children loved the presentation as they cheered when Toby crashed into a pile of buckets trying to find the hidden treat labelled as ‘kindness’.

All of the students in the two groups each committed to do an act of kindness in the next 24 hours, their commitment and pledge to making the world a better place through kindness.

We would love for YOU to join our kindness challenge, one act of kindness for ten days (the 10 day challenge). Then, go onto our website link and upload your acts of kindness to inspire others:

http://charmainehammond.com/

Read some of the acts of kindness here: http://charmainehammond.com/kindness-matters/

Thanks to Petland Canada and the generous amount of funds raised by their guests, each child was able to walk home with a copy of Toby’s book in hand.

Want to support the Million Acts of Kindness? For less than a cup of coffee you can put a kindness book in a child's hands. Visit our kindness fundraising page and if it resonates, we welcome you to give. Your act of kindness will make a big difference!

And of course a big shout out to all the amazing businesses and people who have made this tour possible.

Today's blogpost written by Julie Angeletti, Team Toby

Million Acts of Kindness Tour stops in Airdrie, Alberta

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 16:00:00 +0000

Our Airdrie stop in Alberta, was a very short but sweet stop on the Million Acts of Kindness tour. A huge thank you goes out to Best Western Airdrie, who graciously hosted us for a night, and went above and beyond with their hospitality. This hotel wins the award for ‘Best Rest’ along with the ‘Toby Tested, Toby Approved’ award, as it was by far the best sleep I had on the tour. The rooms were very quiet, while the bed was plush and the pillows plentiful. The breakfast was also top-notch, as it included all of my breakfast favorites. Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, toast and a hot coffee!

We had the chance to visit Fraserway RV that afternoon at their Airdrie location. Luckily for us, the staff was eager to help us out on our kindness mission, and teach us important RV maintenance, such as making sure our water levels are full, and how to empty the septic tank! Unfortunately, not all parts of the tour can be glamorous, but the team at Fraserway RV was very knowledgeable and helped teach us how to perform these tasks efficiently, and without making any messes (thankfully!). With our RV inspected and topped off, we were ready to hit the open road!

Our last stop in Airdrie brought us to the Boys and Girls Club, where Toby had the chance to make some more friends. As we were unloading the RV, we had the opportunity to meet a gentleman who was a huge advocate for sharing the message of kindness! What started as a group for local dads, Airdrie Dads, to get together and socialize, quickly grew into something amazing. We were so happy he spotted the Kindness RV and stopped to talk to us!

We had a lovely visit with our friends from Petland Canada, one of our tour partners. They do amazing things to support local animal charities, like this:

Their team made Toby a new tag for his tour.

Special thanks to our Million Acts of Kindness Tour sponsors, champions and partners. Your support is helping us make a difference through kindness.

Written by Julie Angeletti, Team Toby Event Coordinator

Please remember to share how kindness has impacted you or someone you know. Put your story, or photo on our Kindness Matters page: http://charmainehammond.com/

Are you travelling anywhere this year? where to? What's on your travel bucket list, share it with Canadian Traveller Magazine.

Million Acts of Kindness Tour Movie Night in the Park....in the rain...

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 16:00:00 +0000

Red Deer Alberta was a highly anticipated tour stop, as we had much excitement and engagement from locals and the community. We were also excited to stay at the Microtel Inn and Suites because they had hosted Charmaine, Chris and Toby originally on the Paws Across Canada tour in Lloydminster. A great hotel with friendly customer service as you can see.

The hotel itself is newly built, very modern and clean. They are the perfect place to stay with your pet, as it is located right next door to a beautiful memorial park where you can walk your dog. Toby had an awesome time stretching his legs in the park and jumping in the lake!

We had to get Toby dried off and cleaned up because we had a big event to attend that night… Red Deer movie in the park night! With the help of Petland Canada, and collaboration from the City of Red Deer and Green Deer, we were able to host a family, dog-friendly movie in the park at Bower Ponds. The film screened was Home, a tale about an outcast alien, who teams up with a lost girl on a mission to find her mom. The theme of the film coordinated perfectly with our kindness mission, as the lesson learned from the story is not to be so quick to judge others, and to always treat each other kindly. The City of Red Deer and Green Deer were also present at the event, and helped spread our message of kindness through their community clean-up programs and opportunities to volunteer.

Let me just take a moment to commend Red Deer and the people that live here. About an hour before the movie was set to start, big, dark rain clouds started looming over what was supposed to be a bright and beautiful day. But it soon became very clear that a few rain clouds weren’t going to stop this party! Despite the lack of cooperation from the weather, everyone stayed to enjoy the movie, and eventually the clouds parted and we were able to enjoy the rest of the night. For Team Toby and Petland Canada’s first movie in the park night, we are glad to report that it was a huge success!

Red Deer Child Magazine provided us with print copies of their magazine for everyone who attended.

Big Appreciation to our tour sponsors, partners and champions! Your support is helping us make a kinder world one paw one person at a time!

Julie Angeletti, Team Toby Event Coordinator

Ps... what's on your 2016 Bucket List for Travel? Our partners Canadian Traveller Magazine would love to know.

Million Acts of Kindness Tour in Calgary

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 15:00:00 +0000

On the second day of the Million Acts of Kindness tour, the team made the long voyage over to Calgary, Alberta. A long drive through the mountains in rain and fog. Arriving quite late at night, it was convenient to be able to park the Fraserway RV in the Wal-Mart parking lot, which was situated right across the street from our hotel sponsor for the night, Super 8 Shawnessy. This hotel generously hosted Team Toby for the second year in a row. I was pleasantly surprised with this hotel, as the decor was quite modern and the service was fast and efficient. You know you’re at a hotel that loves dogs when there is a huge vase full of dog treats on the counter!

Thankfully, the team got a good night’s rest that night, because our agenda was full of kindness events and activities! Early that morning, the team made their way to CTV, where Charmaine and Toby were featured on Morning Live. We are so fortunate to have the local news channels support our cause and help Toby bark his message of kindness across the country.

We also enjoyed a park clean up at Shaganappi Park with members of the

Evolutionary Business Council. The park was so clean we were done in no time!

CBC showed up to cover the event.

Toby got to make some new friends at the Boys and Girls Club of Calgary that afternoon, where Charmaine, Chris and Toby were able to teach the students valuable lessons, such as how to treat each other with kindness, love and respect. Toby helped the students find ways in which they can help each other out, as well as ways in which they can be kind to family members and club staff. Thanks to Petland Canada, all the children were able to take home a copy of Toby’s book and kindness bracelet, so they can remember Toby’s positive message.

That night the team celebrated yet another fun and successful day at Petland Canada’s store in Shawnessy. Charmaine and Toby were thrilled to meet the staff that helped out on the Twoonies for Team Toby fundraising campaign. Because of their hard work and dedication, hundreds of students across Canada will now have access to Toby’s books and kindness presentations. It was also great to see some of Charmaine's friends who came to support the event.

That night we left Calgary, andwe had a short and pleasant drive to Airdrie.

Julie Angeletti, Team Toby Event Coordinator

Thank you to all our sponsors, partners and champions on the Million Acts of Kindness Tour... you are helping us make a difference!

PS..... What's on your bucket list for travel this year? Please share. Canadian Traveller Magazine, one of our sponsors, would love to know.

Team Toby Social Media Links

https://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalTeamToby

http://www.pinterest.com/teamtoby1/

http://instagram.com/originalteamtoby

https://www.youtube.com/user/TeamTobyTv

https://twitter.com/TeamToby2

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/teamtoby

http://tobytalesblog.blogspot.ca/

Million Acts of Kindness Tour Kick Off Event

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 02:46:00 +0000

Today's blog is from our Team Toby event coordinator extraordinaire Julie!.

Photo Credit Team Toby

The Million Acts of Kindness tour

, created by North Vancouver resident Charmaine Hammond,

kicked off at the end of August in Port Coquitlam.

Our amazing sponsor, Petland Canada, kindly hosted the event at their store location and celebrated

the

launch

with us

. Toby the dog, and star of this tour, had the opportunity to meet some of his fans, as well as give-away copies of his book “Toby Says ‘Be A Buddy, Not A Bully’” and “Toby and His Hospital Friends” to students and children that came to the store. Petland Canada

participated

in the Twoonie for Team Toby campaign,

and

old

cut out paper pawprints for $2, with all funds supporting donations of Toby's books and classroom resources into local schools.

Photo Credit Team Toby

Anticipation was building the closer we got to our take-off time, but the team was really excited to hit the open road in the Kindness RV sponsored by our friends at Fraserway RV!

Our first stop on the tour was beautiful Kamloops, and we took off,

driving

into the sunset towards interior BC. Despite enjoying the scenic views from our

Fraserway

we were happy to arrive to our first destination safely, and we pulled into the Best Western Kamloops for the night.

Photo Credit Team Toby

Wired from the excitement from the launch of the tour, I didn’t think I would get any sleep that night. But I was pleasantly surprised! It had been a while since I slid into a king sized bed with multiple excessively plush pillows, which instantly put my body into relaxation mode. Not surprising for a hotel that has hosted dog-whisperer icon Cesar Millan. It didn’t take long before I was seeing Z’s. Charmaine, Ch

is and Toby had a restful sleep in the RV. The generosity of this hotel

was

greatly appreciated, this was the second year that they hosted Team Toby.

Photo Credit Team Toby

The next morning, I had a chance to meet the general manager Tim at the front desk. He and his staff took some time out of their day to show me around the hotel and impressed me with their love for animals. Not only did they double their pet-friendly rooms within the last year, but they renovated all their pet-friendly rooms to hardware floors! Toby gave his bark of approval and promised the staff he’d see them again on his next visit to Kamloops, and the team took off to our next stop.

Written by Julie Angeletti, Team Toby

Photo Credit Team Toby

Family Fun TAILgate Parties with Pets

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 01:29:00 +0000

It's me....Toby the dog... travelling across North America on a Million Acts of Kindness tour with my humans! And this is my blog.... life through the eyes of a dog.

All along the way we see so many acts of kindness....

People being loving and kind to one another..... and to animals....

Julie and I in Winnipeg Photo credit Team Toby

... like our team member Julie. She is PAWsome!

Businesses collaborating to make a super fun event for families, kids and pets. Thanks Westoba Credit Union, Petland Canada, Fraserway RV, The Original Poop Bags, Telus, Holiday Inn, and Canadian Traveller Magazine!

And of course all TAILgate parties need awesome music! Thanks to the DJs at the event.

Family Fun TAILgate Party At Petland Canada Winnipeg

Have you posted your act of kindness on our Kindness Matters Page? Share the acts of kindness that have impacted you or someone you know. Together we can make a difference!

Thank you to our incredible Million Acts of Kindness tour partners!

Remember to follow our tour on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Fitness gives a new leash on life...for pets and their humans

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 04:59:00 +0000

Photo Credit Charmaine Hammond Team Toby June 2015

It's me Toby... a dog with a blog!

How active are you? How about your pet?

Mom and I walk about 6000-12,000 steps together a day, that doesn't include all the running through the house as I chase my toys. I get lots of exercise and I make sure mom and dad do too.

When I am in St Albert, I love to visit my friend Kaytie's K9 Awareness Centre and go on the doggy tread mil.

Mom interviewed Tricia Montgomery on her PAWsitive Radio show. Tricia is the CEO & Founder, K9 Fit Club® who is the Nation’s leading expert and pioneer in human/canine fitness. Her diverse experience in veterinary medicine, public relations, animal rescue, personal training, and her own weight loss journey gave her the perfect combination of skills to create a nationwide community of certified trainers – dedicated to the health, fitness, and wellness of dogs and their people.

Several years ago, after a visit to the veterinarian with her dog Louie, Ms. Montgomery realized the need for a fitness program, not just for Louie, but for herself as well. She ended up losing 130 pounds and Louie was able to shed four pounds. After her personal journey, she wanted to help all people and their dogs be happy and stay healthy and fit together. Her passion and love for both people and dogs led to the creation of K9 Fit Club. Montgomery introduced the nation’s first online education platform for teaching the standards of excellence in human and canine fitness. Today, K9 Fit Club is now turning those certified trainers into franchisees around the globe, as they roll out K9 Fit Club franchises Summer 2015. K9 Fit Club, giving both humans and canines a New Leash on Life™

You can listen to the show here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/teamtoby/2015/06/22/what-dogs-can-teach-humans-about-health-and-wellness

How can you improve your fitness with your pet?

What 3 things can you do to improve your health and your pet's health?

What you can do to ensure you move with purpose, every day?

To find out about our upcoming Million Acts of Kindness Tour or to order a copy of Toby’s books check out our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalTeamToby For people who love to travel, please check out canadiantraveller.com for awesome destinations, travel tips, bucket-list adventures and so much more.

Does your dog have etiquette?

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 13:30:00 +0000

It's me!
Toby the dog.
A dog with a blog and
a big mission of kindness.

I tried to sneak the crumbs from my pupcakes at my last birthday picnic...and was caught.

Mom interviewed behaviourist Amy Shojai on her PAWSitive Radio show, and Amy was talking about pet etiquette.

Now, I think I am pretty good...most of the time. I don't mooch from the table. I mostly don't drool when humans are eating. I've never stolen food off the counter, but I did help myself to mom's friends' leftovers (and discovered I like Pad Thai noodles) once and sometimes I like it when someone drops food so I can grab it. But mostly, my etiquette is pretty good.

How about your four legged family member? How does he/she rate on the PETiquette scale?

Amy Shojai a certified animal behavior consultant, and the award-winning author of 30 best selling pet books. She created the Puppies.about.com site as the Puppies Expert and was the cat behavior expert at cats.About.com, and you can find her half hour Internet Pet Peeves radio shows here. Amy has been featured as an expert in hundreds of print venues including The New York Times, Reader’s Digest, and Family Circle, as well as national radio and television networks such as CNN, Animal Planet’s DOGS 101 and CATS 101. She’s been a consultant to the pet products industry and a host/program consultant for select “furry” TV projects.

You can listen to mom and Amy talking about how to stop your pet from stealing food at the picnic or mooching at the table, here.

Guess what September is? Our Million Acts of Kindness Tour.....

Conscious Travel, Natural Paws and More!

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 21:20:00 +0000

Photo Credit Charmaine Hammond: TheOriginalTeamToby.com

Toby the dog here....blogging up a storm....

Today mom interviewed two pawtastic guests on PAWsitive Radio.

Carlos Cymerman and Elyse Horvath. Carlos was talking about tips for businesses when recruiting new employees and the importance of having the right employee in the right job. Carlos also talked about how he has built a charitable side to his business through We Travel for Good. Mom thought this was awesome!

Elyse talked about the Natural Paws products... mom's used them on me and we love them! And provided some tips for taking care of your pets outdoors in the summer. It was a good reminder about how fast our paws heat up on pavement, thanks Elyse!

You can listen to the great information from Elyse and Carlos here:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/teamtoby/2015/06/20/conscious-travel-recruiting-right-and-wellness-for-pets-and-humans

Speaking of travelling for good, we are leaving in two months on our Million Acts of Kindness Tour,
our mission to build a kinder world one paw one person at a time. What;s your favorite story or quote about kindness? How has kindness impacted you, or someone you know? Please share with us by leaving a comment on the blog, and by going to our facebook page and liking the page and leaving a comment there too.

Change begins with a conversation.... Let's get so much talking going on about kindness that things change quickly. :))

To find out about our upcoming Million Acts of Kindness Tour or to order a copy of Toby’s books check out our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalTeamToby

For people who love to travel, please check out canadiantraveller.com for awesome destinations, travel tips, bucket-list adventures and so much more.

Spinners Raise Funds and Awareness for St John Ambulance Therapy Dogs

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 20:12:00 +0000


Photo Credit Charmaine Hammond team Toby

Toby the dog here.

You guessed it.

I 'm a dog with a blog!

Do you travel?

Do you travel with your pets?

Do you travel for good....with your pets?

That's what our family is doing September 2015... our Million Acts of Kindness tour...we're on a mission to make the world a better place through kindness.

Thanks to one of our amazing PAWtners, Carolyn Ellis of Brilliance Mastery created this amazing image of what our tour is all about...

While mom was in St Catharine's Ontario, she had the chance to participate in an exciting event SPIN 4 THE PAWS with an incredible line up of pawtners..

and

Thanks to the amazing partners, volunteers, sponsors, attendees, exhibitors, and those who cycled to raise funds and awareness.... THANK YOU!! Together we made a difference.

The Power of Pets, Liva Health and Niagara Region St. Johns' Ambulance Therapy Dog Program... it was great to collaborate with you on this event!

Check out the conversation that mom and Denis had about the event on her PAWsitive Radio show. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/teamtoby/2015/05/09/spin-for-the-paws-cycling-to-raise-funds-for-therapy-dogs

To find out about our upcoming Million Acts of Kindness Tour or to order a copy of Toby’s books check out our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalTeamToby

What's on your dream or bucket list for travel in 2015 and 2016? For people who love to travel, please check out canadiantraveller.com for awesome destinations, travel tips, bucket-list adventures and so much more.

A Happy Tail about Spinning to Raise Funds for therapy dogs

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Sat, 09 May 2015 18:47:00 +0000

Toby the Dog here....

A dog with a blog on a mission
to change the world through kindness.

This is a happy tail about people and businesses coming together to plan an event to raise funds to support the St John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program in Niagara Region.

Mom interviewed Denis Dallaire, the event coordinator for the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program.

You can find out how to register, or provide a donation here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1555962708010541/

You Can listen Here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/teamtoby/2015/05/09/spin-for-the-paws-cycling-to-raise-funds-for-therapy-dogs

Check Out Pets Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with PAWsitive Radio on BlogTalkRadio

Natural products for your Dog

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Thu, 07 May 2015 01:15:00 +0000

Toby the dog here...
A dog with blog

You might remember when I was on my tour last fall that mom had done posts about the ear spray that she used to get sticky pine needle sap off the inside of my ear.

My ear was a mess!

I smelled like a Christmas tree.

Then mom used a product from a lady she knows from WIPIN (Women in the Pet Industry Network).

It was the Natural Paws Ear Wash

It cleaned up my ears and mom also used it after play dates in the dog park and swimming in the lake.

Elyse from Natural Paws says she's "always been crazy about dogs".

Sweet Pea, her dog, inspired her to find products that would help with Sweet Pea's paw pads as they were really getting worn. When she couldn't find a product to solve the problem guess what she did?

She created one herself.

I love it. Another dog inspired product.

Until next week,
Let's be kind to one another.
Toby

Purr Prints of the Heart.... dealing with pet loss and letting go

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 20:21:00 +0000

Toby here!

A dog with a blog... sharing my take on life and the great things people are doing to change the world!

Today mom interviewed Deborah Barnes on her radio show:

Deborah's book is called PurrPrints of the Heart

Photo Credit Deborah Barnes

In the show, Deborah shared some tips to dealing with aging pets and pet loss:

- Find a support system
- Communicate and share with others
- Appreciate the time you shared with your pet
- Create a family scrapbook of your pet's life
- Allow yourself the opportunity to feel and to heal

Photo Credit Deborah Barnes

Pets aging is part of life. Deborah's book, written through the perspective of Mr. Jazz the cat shares valuable tips for coping with your aging pet.

Thank you Mr Jazz for a book that so respects the dignity and honors pets and the value they bring to families. And most of all.... thank you for helping teach humans how to deal with letting go.

Please take a listen to the conversation that mom and Deborah had on Pawsitive Radio Show.

Check Out Pets Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with PAWsitive Radio on BlogTalkRadio

Please share with others you think might enjoy the show.

Thanks
Toby....

Dog Collars with Positive Messages of Kindness

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 01:09:00 +0000

Toby the Dog Here!

A dog on a mission to build a kinder world...

Here is one way to show your support for kindness.... wear it around your neck.

Hot Dog Collars designed this awesome collar for me.

Mom loves the collars, the fact it's washable (and believe me.... my collars get dirty from all my outdoor play), it's durable (so definitely Toby proof) and... it has a super PAWSitive message about kindness.

Thank you Hot Dog Collars for helping us share our message about kindness, acceptance and respect!

I look forward to wearing this on our fall Million Acts of Kindness tour.

Want to learn more about Hot Dog Collars? Visit their website

Would you like us to visit your school or workplace during our Million Acts of Kindness tour? Connect with us on Twitter or Facebook

Bring Jake Home- a rescue story with a happy new beginning

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 17:00:00 +0000

Toby the dog here!

I'm a dog with a blog on a mission to change the world through kindness.

And here is a totally pawsome story about a rescue dog Jake, who has a new beginning because of the kindness of others.

You can listen to the update on Jake's happy beginning story here:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/teamtoby/2015/04/14/bring-jake-the-dog-home-update-collaboration-at-its-finest-for-pet-rescue

Today's guest blog post is from my friend Lisa Litwinski.

thanks Lisa for sharing Jakes' story with us.

Jake’s amazing story involves a community of some of the most incredibly caring & dedicated people in Canada & the USA who pulled together in a magnificent collaboration to bring this wonderful rescue dog home to Alberta & give him the best second chance possible.

Lisa Litwinski deeply loves animals and has been devoted to animal rescue her whole life. She heard about an Alberta Black Lab dog who got lost, ended up in an Imlay Shelter, and launched Bring Jake Home to Alberta. (Jake did not have a tattoo or microchip. With extensive efforts in Canada & the US we were not able to locate his family.) Lisa partnered with Aimee Orn at Lapeer County Animal Control, Wendy Yax at Lapeer’s Adoptable Animal Rescue in Imlay, Michigan & April Oakes at Infinite WOOFS Rescue in Edmonton, Alberta so that Jake could journey home to a loving foster home while we help him to settle in & find his new forever family. (His Foster Mom Megan volunteered before we had our Alberta rescue in place.

Wonderful people stepped up to join Jake’s team & community of support. )Jake’s story is one of LOVE, hope, & kindness, & the positive difference we can make. It is an honour to have worked with so many caring, thoughtful people who have collaborated to help Jake. Thank you profiles of our Jake team & family members are on Jake’s Facebook page: Bring Jake Home to Alberta, with more to come. Please stop by and get to know these wonderful people.

Our boy JAKE IS HOME & settling in very well! Thanks to everyone for caring, sharing, & helping us to help give Jake the fabulous second chance he deserves. He is one incredibly wonderful dog and everyone who meets him falls in love with him. Jake is a happy and affectionate boy who is part Lap Dog. J He loves to snuggle time, snack time, play time with his tennis ball, and truck rides.

We are fundraising to cover additional care & vet expenses for Jake in Alberta. Jake has an approved Charity ATB Financial Community Spirit bank account: Bring Jake Home. Contact: BringJakeHometoAlberta@shaw.ca for ways to donate or private message Jake’s page. We accept Pay Pal to a friend & transfer. Check out Jake’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bringjakehometoalberta or Twitter: @BringJakeHomeAB #BringJakeHometoAlberta Jake’s profile is on the wonderful: InfiniteWOOFS.org

Lisa is a Facilitative Trainer, Professional Speaker, & Mentor Coach who specializes in collaborative Team Building, Leadership Development, & Life Leadership/Empowerment. She is a Certified True Colors Facilitator who loves to work with people to focus on their strengths. Lisa works with organizations & teams to Create Leaders at Every Level & is the creator of Today, I Choose™ daily inspirational cards for consciously choosing successful thoughts, feelings, & actions.

Are you getting PR for your business?

noreply@blogger.com (Team Toby) — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 02:57:00 +0000

Toby the dog here!

I'm a media hound (whooops for the pun)

But seriously.

I love media!

I love how media helps share good news!

I love how media helps pets find forever family and pawsome products that help.

Mom talked to Dana Humphrey of Whitegate PR. Dana is known as The Pet Lady!

They talked about press releases, building relationships with media, how to approach media and being a rock star (like me on the media)

Dana also talked about how PR can help your business. It sure has helped ours!

So as you plan promoting your next event, product launch or business event... remember to put the tips Dana provided into action. They work!!

You can listen to mom and Dana here:

Check Out Pets Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with PAWsitive Radio on BlogTalkRadio