Blessings

The Blessing of the Animals, officiated by the Reverend Pattie Handloss.

Hudson and Murphy being blessed.

Today’s The Day!

It’s been 826 days and 2301 miles in the making, but today’s the day Luke, Hudson, and Murphy have walked their final mile into Boston. Earlier this morning the Memorial Service was introduced by our long time friend and supporter, Lydia Best, who lost her own dog, Princess Daisy, to cancer. (Princess Daisy was the cover girl of our first Calendar.) Luke then spoke briefly, welcoming everyone to the Memorial and Final Mile walk, then introducing the Reverend Pattie Handloss. The Reverend, retired associate vicar of the Old North Church in the North End and Animal Rescue League of Boston overseer, gave a moving service, reading the prayer of St. Francis. Later today she will be officiating at the Blessing of the Animals. There’s a nice article about Reverend Handloss here.

After the Memorial Service, Luke and The Boys led the Final Mile to the Boston Common, followed by friends they’ve made from over 20 states. As the Walk progressed more and more people and dogs joined them. What a thrilling accomplishment! As he spoke to the crowd, all spoke of all the Angels who are on the Memorial Shirt. He said they watched over them and inspired him to continue when he thought he couldn't anymore. And he thanked Malcolm: "It's been some grand journey and today we will fulfill Malcolm's legacy. I just wish he was here to welcome us home."

After the Final Mile, people will share an afternoon of fun at the Puppy Up! Festival in the Boston Common. After posing with The Boys for photos, Luke will have the ceremonial cutting of the hair, which will be donated to Locks of Love. He’ll then be whisked off to get a proper haircut and get spiffed up for the Gala. In the meantime Puppy Up! partiers will enjoy a Boston Police K9 Demo, Top Hat and Tails Canine Freestyle Performance, Owner/Dog Look-Alike Contest, Children’s Pet Show, and lots of vendor and sponsor booths. The weather so far is looking good for the whole day!

Check out the special shirts The Boys got for the event!

And then of course in the evening the Puppy Up! Gala gets underway. Dinner, cocktails, the Puppy Up! song sung by Luke, more live music, silent and live auctions, dancing – well, a regular pawrty! Murphy will give a live demonstration of his passion for The Honest Kitchen food, there will be a few speeches and much congratulation, and Luke will tell everyone about 2 Million Dogs, our next project.

It's turning out to be a full and wonderful day for everyone.

Lone Star Pyrs and Paws already set up at the Puppy Up! Festival. All the way from Texas!

Almost Home?

Hudson and Murphy are almost home! And honestly, Hudson is wearing Murphy and Papi out with his constant, “Are we there yet, are we there yet, are we there yet???” Yes, Hudsy, you are almost There Yet! And wait until you get there. What fun is in store for you and all the people who have fallen in love with you and Murphy over the last two years. And just think, maybe you won’t have to wear booties for a while. (Shall we spoil it for him and tell him that he and Murph will be in black tie and tails Saturday night? Naw … let it be a surprise!)

Speaking of Saturday night and the Gala ...

Registration for Gala is Reopened – In the last 2 Dogs 2 Day I said the registration for the Gala had closed and that tickets would be available at the door. Well, I got part of the story right. The registration had been closed but due to popular demand REGISTRATION for the GALA has been REOPENED and will stay open until FRIDAY! Yeah! But if you’re going to the Gala, please reserve your tickets NOW. I can’t stress this enough. If you want a seat at the table (quite literally), you need to register for the Gala here . Ginger needs a head count for the chef, like yesterday.

Oh, and the part I got wrong? There will be only a very limited number of tickets available at the door. Ginger couldn’t stress this enough. Because the Copley needs to know how many people they will be feeding Saturday night, we can only offer a very few tickets at the last minute. This makes sense, right?

So, please, if you’ll be breaking bread with us at the Copley at the Puppy Up! Gala Saturday evening, and you haven’t already put in your reservations, please get your reservations in now. If for some reason you can’t register on the site, please email Ginger and register through her at: ginger@2dogs2000miles.org. Like Ginger said, “If I don’t know they’re coming, they might not get it!” So register on-line or email her to assure yourself a delicious dinner and great evening at the Puppy Up! Gala. If you do email Ginger, (and please try on-line reservations first), put in the subject line “Registering for Gala.” This little piece of information will be a big help to her as she sifts through the hundreds of emails she gets. Whether you order through the site or via Ginger, you will need to provide the following:

choice of dinner (chicken, vegetarian, or children’s plate), your first and last name, street address, city, state, country, phone number, zip code, email address, and credit card information.

If you have already registered, you’re fine. You’re ‘in the system’ and your tickets will be under your name at the door. Yes, we have your number! So you needn’t do the panic dance. But if you haven’t reserved your tickets, please do so now. Thanks!

Pictured from top to bottom: Frog Pond in the Boston Common; walking though the almost 50 acres of the Boston Common -- dating from 1634, it is one of the oldest city parks in the country; the Parkman Bandstand, built in 1912 and restored in 1996, where many of the Puppy Up! Festivities will take place. We hope to see you there!