Madison WI

Taken from The Puppy Up Foundation Blog by Erich Trapp

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On Sunday, May 7th over 1,300 people and 900 dogs attended the 4th Annual PuppyUp Madison Walk at McKee Farms in Fitchburg, WI. This is the largest PuppyUp Walk the Foundation holds each year, and each year the PuppyUp Madison Team surpasses their goals.

Their beginning goal in 2014 was $10,000 and 50 participants and they passed that goal by raising approximately $87,000 with over 750 participants. This year the goal was $135,000 and 1,000 participants; they again blew their goals out of the water by raising over $156,000, having 106 Teams and 52 Sponsors and vendors.

Success at this level is not gained over night. Many steps are planned with precision for months, progress is monitored daily and often by the minute. The dedication and passion of the Madison Committee (Beth Viney, Dr. Kai-Biu Shiu, Ann Lippincott, Lana Hesch, Mel Stodola Taylor, Mary Ann Francis, Katie Martz, Danielle Kay, Courtney Tyson, Jennifer Schleicher, Vicki Nussbaum, Lori Gibson and Dr. Linda Sullivan) inspires all who meet them. The hours they spend away from their dogs, family and friends in order to fight cancer in pets and people is much appreciated not just by me, Luke and our Board of Directors, but by all the people they encounter along the way. They have created a community in which others feel free to seek help, advice and even a shoulder to cry on. Many now feel that there is hope that one day we will have better cancer treatments for our two and four legged companions. And some day through the research that we are funding …. a cure, so that others do not lose loved ones to this horrible disease.

A special thanks to Beth Viney (co-founder of PuppyUp Madison) who works tirelessly in memory of Czar and is an inspiration to all who meet her; Ann Lippincott (2017 Chair) who dedicates her fight against cancer to Velma, (or Miss V as she is sometimes called); and Dr. Kai Shiu (co-founder of PuppyUp Madison, Veterinary Oncologist and Chair of the Puppy Up Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Committee) who fights cancer on all fronts in his office, and for the Foundation.

Through their efforts, they have raised $500,000 in the past 4 years allowing the Foundation to add funding to much needed research, awareness and education.

When asked to comment about the 2017 PuppyUp Madison Walk, Luke Robinson, the Founder of the Puppy Up Foundation stated “Trail Magic has taken The Puppy Up Foundation from just 2 dogs and a homeless dude to funding cutting edge, peer reviewed cancer research in exciting areas like immunotherapy at world class institutions, and it led us to Madison, WI. And where Kai and Beth and all of Team Madison have taken it from there is nothing short of awesomeness! My proudest achievement aside from getting the Fuzzybutts safely across 4,000 miles for this cause is how Puppy Up Nation has inspired the best and greatest in all of us.”

We’re looking forward to 2018 PuppyUp Madison.

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YBD's Notes - the photo above is of the Puppy Power Team led by Michael, a 9 year old lad I had the honor of meeting who became one of Madison's top fundraisers and at last count that was $5,800.  Congrats and cheers to a job well done!

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Of course, Hudson, the famous Fuzzybutt, had his own take on Madison.  As some of you know, he's become some what of a degenerate in his old age, humping indiscriminately.  Boy dog, girl dog it doesn't seem to matter one bit earning him the nickname Humpson we just chalk it up to the French in him. The Old Perv wrote a Haiku about his recent time up in Madison WI, home of the Badgers, and what's become the town where the Fuzzybutts ring in summertime.  

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Hudson Haiku

Madison blossoms.  

Where is dat lil badger at?

I hump it too!

Cancer for President 2016

I took time out of my crazy busy schedule to watch the debates last nite. I wish I didn't but I'm glad I did.  It's time to face facts folks.  No politician gives a shite that you lost a loved one to cancer or that you yourself have it.  DC has a 'deaf ears' policy towards cancer even though it is the greatest global killer ever.

Check out this graphic

Every scientific and medical organization agrees that cancer is the deadliest and most pervasive pandemic afflicting not only adults but innocent children as well.  It no longer discriminates.  

And yet as we bear witness to a cross species scourge that's killing not only millions of people every year but millions of companion animals as well, what does our president do - a systematical and systemic reduction in funding for the National Cancer Institute.  I wrote previously about this and put forward the facts in my blog #NotMyPresidentDay 

Now I'm not just Obama bashing since the past two administrations are guilty of hamstringing the NCI budget but the most egregious sin Obama committed was funding $6.2 billion in Ebola virus research - almost twice the budget of NCI for a disease that claimed only a few lives in the US.  

Oh and nevermind that he gave out over $20 billion last year to 'renewable energy' concerns that failed so piss that money down the toilet. 

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From all of the death and tragedy I've witnessed on my travels, I'm truly at a loss why cancer is not front and center in any and all national debate and discussion.  

Yes I've heard all of the reasons and rationalizations but my conclusion comes down to this: cowardice and political expediency.    

We used to be a nation of hope and resolve.  Of dreams and ideas.  It took us only 10 years to put a man on the moon defying all odds and previous scientific limitations.  

But now we either relent because big pharma is making so much money from selling blockbuster cancer drugs and politicians are in their pocket or we've given up as a nation and accepted the inevitability of complacency.  

There is no one in this world that has put their life and the lives of their dogs at risk for as long and far as I have for this cause but given the current political environment, every day I ask why?  

We're only a couple of fuzzybutts and yes, we've shown what two dogs can do for the world but it's not enough.  It's time to make cancer a national referendum or else..

#CancerWins2016

TAGG

 I wrote sometime ago about still being haunted by Highway 40 out of Baltimore on the first walk. For some it's like the naked nightmare when you're in public completely unclothed and exposed or others the one about missing the final exam and failing the semester even years past graduation.

Mine is losing my boys. 

It almost happened on that highway.  I'd been given collars to test out for a potential sponsor. Slim sleek with a few bells and whistles I outfitted Hudson and Murphy with them and hoped they'd work but at that critical point - they failed and slipped off within 50 feet of 4 lanes of traffic traveling 60 mph.  

I had like four heart attacks in the time it took me to secure them.

That wasn't the first time nor the last they got loose and during the 2,300 mile walk and I always imagined, no I hoped for a better solution than microchips which is basically, 'you lost you're dog,well maybe he'll turn up when someone finds him.'

TAGG offers that kind of hope to pet parents and that's why we're partnering with them on this walk.  

Not only does TAGG have GPS tracking if your dog gets lost but you can also monitor their daily activity and they're the only company that does that.  And while we're on the road, TAGG plans on having contests for the pups with the most points though expect some stiff competition from the fuzzybutts.  We're averaging around 500 per day!

Also the folks there have a promo called TAGG it forward and if you purchase a pet tracker you'll get 10% off and they'll donate $25 towards our cause.  Sweet.  Just enter 2dogs in the promo code.

Now that the sites are live, you can track the fuzzybutts as they walk the west coast on the awesome micro site TAGG has built for us at www.2dogsagainstcancer.com.  This is my first time using an iPad and I haven't figured out yet how to hyperlink.  

Thanks to the folks at TAGG & for loaning us one of their teammates Erick who flew up for our launch to walk with us for a few days.  More on that later...  

The Turn

Tomorrow begins training day.   

The immediate moment that Hudson was diagnosed with a mast cell tumor, I knew my plans for walking cross Japan would be delayed or discontinued indefinitely at best.  The red cranes of Hokkaido have to wait another day.  

Still, it is time for me to return to the road.  

Come this May the fuzzybutts and I will walk from Seattle to San Diego (which, yeah, pains me especially since they sneaked into the playoffs), the California corridor from Canada to Mexico. 

Over the past few days I have chewed this thru with my trusted compadres, that's Spanish for knuckleheads, and made my decision.  Hudson and Indiana are def on board.  

Most certainly Ginger will say the idea came from her.  Hey, I just go where I'm told to go.  

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2 Dogs 2000 Miles 2.0  

Haven't slept much since the inspiration and there's a bit of planning and preparation between now and May.  But I have made a few important decisions.  I'll embark with the same amount of money in my pocket as in 2008 which was $200. 

I have most of the gear and won't require anymore save a few pairs of socks and liners.  My right strap on my Osprey pack is still bound only by a crimp and a carabiner which tore apart in North Attleboro just weeks before the final mile.  

I might get that fixed but it kinda reminds me of me.  

Osprey declined to sponsor my first walk for which I cannot fault them but they were a big big help when the frame snapped on the Great Allegheny Passage. 

Speaking of sponsorships, I'm not really keen on the idea on seeking very many though the ultimate determination probably won't be mine.  First I spent a lot of my time chasing pairs of socks and hiking shoes and the lot.  Second, we don't need much to get from Canada to Mexico.  What we will be looking at are strategic long-term partnerships with companies committed to work together to end cancer in our lifetime.

This is our second last and there will be a third and a fourth, maybe more and I'm a patient man to wait and find those partners.   

Also, (1) There won't be a follow vehicle like our first walk. (2) We'll have a vet clear Hudson's health at every leg of the journey.  (3) We won't be staying with host families (even though we've had the greatest of experiences doing so - this walk is all about time and efficiency).  (4) Nor will we be doing media or press events throughout other than start and finish perhaps.    

While I'm still mapping out the route, it seems 1,500 or so miles from border to border.  East CA is out of the question so I'm trying to determine a coastal route given Google maps.

Four

The new blog for finding a mate (My fourth fuzzybutt) for Hudson is live and already there are 70 or so dogs up there – Finding Fuzzybutt Four

All of these beautiful puppies need a good home and if you find one you fall in love with, please contact the shelter or rescue about adopting them. This is not a competition and we want all of them to find the right family. We are adding new ones as they come to us so check back often.

This week I’m going to take Hudson to meet a few and will post videos of the experience there.

Email Sheila Rinks with any questions...

puppy up!

Hudson & Luke

Snow Monkeys in "Snowmageddon"

In Washington, the federal government was closed for a fourth straight day. The nation’s capital joined Philadelphia and Baltimore in logging their snowiest winters in history. Paul Kocin, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Washington, said the storm was among the most disruptive ever because of its timing. Approximately 50 million people were affected.

“The big difference is that it occurred within a week and a half of three other storms,’’ Kocin said. “The combination of storms is almost unprecedented - the amount of snow, the amount of impact.’’

The latest storm dumped more than 19 inches in Baltimore, 10 inches in Washington, D.C., and 16 inches in Philadelphia. About 20 inches fell in central New Jersey, and totals ranged from 10 to 16 inches around New York City.

As for Hudson and Murphy? Well, they couldn’t have cared less! Along with Luke, they were guests of Andy and Dawn Donelson who live in Maryland. And while most of the country was digging out from blizzard conditions these past few weeks, The Fuzzybutts were obviously having the time of their lives. After all, that's what those big, furry, white coats are for.

Murphy only stopped for a while when Hudson told him that a snowflake consists of roughly 10 to the 18th water molecules. Murphy absolutely hates water and was temporarily dumbstruck when he realized he was chest-deep in the stuff. But after going back indoors for a while and looking out the window and seeing how much fun Hudsy and Papi were having, he decided to return and brave the elements.