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By Kerri Danskin, Managing Editor
When the people of the pet boutique industry come together, great things can happen. On the morning before the start of the recent Luxury Pet Pavilion trade show in Los Angeles, some hard-working people and dogs proved it.
Luxury Pet Pavilion has adopted Angel On A Leash, a pet therapy program started by the Westminster Kennel Club, as its official charity, and the star-studded Celebri-Dog Kickoff event on February 22 made the partnership official.
David Frei, best known as “the voice of the Westminster Kennel Club,” serving as the club’s director of communications, is also the president of Angel On A Leash, which benefits both children and adults. Suffice it to say, Frei is a huge fan of dogs.
“When a dog comes into the room, the energy changes,” he said at the event. “They get people to smile. They get
their minds off the things they’re battling.”
Frei said he has personally seen the positive effects that therapy dogs can have on families who are fighting illness or overcoming grief.
“I’ve had parents say to me, ‘This is the first time she’s smiled since she’s been in here.’ Our dogs get the parents to smile too, give them some time to get away from the intensity of watching over their children. They’re doing God’s work.”
Pet therapy, once supported by anecdotal evidence only, is becoming a more scientific effort.
“What’s making us successful is that we’re seeing medical research that says that when you interact with a dog, your blood pressure goes down ... That enhances healing,” Frei said.
The morning event wasn’t all about Angel On A Leash, though. It was also about celebrating some of Hollywood’s cutest stars.
At the event, seven celebrity dogs were inducted into Hollywood Dog Walk of Fame, which entitled them to a carved crystal award, a framed star for wall display, and a “wag bag” packed with doggie goodies.
The winners were as follows:
* Abbey, a German shepherd who starred as “Sam” in the Will Smith movie “I Am Legend”
* Tubbs, an English bulldog who starred with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Disney’s “The Game Plan”
* Breezy, a beagle who appeared on the television show “Star Trek Enterprise”
* Jed, a mastiff/Labrador mix who acted alongside Martin Lawrence in “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins”
* Quigley, a pomeranian, and another star in “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins”
* Chester, a chihuahua who graced the big screen in “Transformers”
* Gibson, a harlequin great Dane, and the world’s tallest dog
Congratulations to all the celebri-dogs and to Angel On A Leash for their success! |