Puppy Up!

Before I head off for a week for my fast I wanted to share my speech from the Chicago walk with you.  I had intended to post it when we arrived in Memphis but that Monday kinda threw a monkey wrench into my plans with Hudson's diagnosis.  

But here it is.  

I wrote on Facebook awhile back as response I made to one of our supporters who said, 'You sure have started a great organization.'  

'I didn't found an organization', I replied. 'I started a family.'  

And at every Puppy Up! walk we've been to these past four years that's precisely what I've felt.  A simple pride not only for all of the people a part of it but how 2 Million Dogs has effected their lives, too, and the pleasure it gives me when a city organizer, or PUPP as Ginger calls them, puts on a successful walk.  

Two years ago back in San Antonio, one of the participants in the walk there said, 'I've been to a lot of these dog events but none of them had an energy like this.'  Well said.  

As we continue to grow this great grass roots movement of ours, my Chicago speech was about the meaning of 'Puppy Up!' since I'm the knucklehead who came up with that rally cry prior to my Austin-to-Boston walk back in 2008.  And I still get questions about it.    

I hope the speech finds you well on this special day and forgive the Ray Charles like swaying.  I was freezing my bollocks off.    

Happy Thanksgiving.  Now Puppy Up and Chow Down!

The Murphy Mobile Rides Again

It's great to be back on the road again educating and raising awareness of cancer in pets and people and promoting the cause that we all so passionately believe in.  

Two weeks ago, the Fuzzybutts and I drove from Newport RI, crossed the Berkshires, transversed upstate NY on into Erie and Northern PA, down to 80/90 to the Twin Cities to get to the Veterinary Cancer Society Conference in Minneapolis.

From there our travels took us to Des Moines IA onto to Madison WI then horseshoed up to Grand Rapids MI and did a slingshot around Ann Arbor MI back to the Chicago area for the upcoming Puppy Up! Walk next Saturday, the 2nd.

The only reason I bring up geography is that, when added to the 12,000 plus miles of the Summer of Murphy Tour last year, the Murphy Mobile has pretty much circumnavigated the Continental US, except for a few swaths here and there.

Next blog... 'This Is' -  Pics from our travels!

Puppy Up! Mini Walk in New London, CT

It's beginning! Puppy Up! Walks are starting to catch on.

Coming up this Sunday, April 25, there will be a Puppy Up! Mini Walk, sponsored by the City of New London and Spirit Gallery in New London, CT.

Luke will bring 2 Dogs 2000 Miles and its message to New London with a dog mini-walk along the waterfront, canine freestyle dancing and a meet and greet at Spirit Gallery. The walk and corresponding events are free and open to the public. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome.

The 2 Dogs 2000 Miles Puppy Up! mini-walk will span from City Pier Park, continue down the waterfront and end at the south end of Waterfront Park. Participating parties and their canine companions will meet at 1:00 P.M. at City Pier Park. Luke and his dogs will start the walk at 1:15 P.M.

The walk will conclude with a performance from the Connecticut-based canine musical freestyle group Top Hat & Tails Canine Dance Troupe. The performance will include traditional obedience tricks and choreographed dance set to music. Top Hat & Tails will perform from 1:30 to 2:30 P.M. at Waterfront Park.

To help celebrate the occasion, Spirit Gallery – New London’s tattoo studio and art gallery hybrid – will hold a 2 Dogs 2000 Miles meet and greet from 1:45 to 3 P.M. Attendees will get a chance to personally meet Luke and his two Great Pyrenees, Hudson and Murphy. Refreshments will be served. Spirit Gallery is located at 207 Bank St., New London, Conn.

After his stop in New London, Luke will continue on his journey to Boston, bringing his 2 Dog 2000 Miles travels to an end on June 18.

For more information, visit www.2dogs2000miles.org or www.spiritgallerytattoo.com .

(Pictured are Jackie Proko and her dog Shot, going through some of their moves.)