Can I ask a huge favor?

[Neecy]

Okay, this is shameless but here goes :)

I live in one of the worst areas of the country for puppy mills (KS/MO). I work with a local vet tech who, through puppy mill auctions and surrenders, rescues dogs from the worst of the millers. I'm part of her network who take these dogs into their homes and work with them to socialize them for adoption. Most have serious medical conditions and show signs of abuse. Many of the surrenders are older dogs who can no longer breed and are the hardest to train and socialize (and adopt).

I love doing this work and thanks to my 'guide dog' Luigi, who is an amazing help when it comes to socializing these dogs, I've been able to rehabilitate and place a good number of family pets who finally have a chance at a decent life. I don't mind the trips to the vet and the follow up care, the cost of the food or the time but since I primarily rehabilitate Pomeranians the wear and tear on my vacuum (I've gone through several) is getting annoying. These guys have a lot of hair and I end up vacuuming twice a day. It's good exercise, I guess!

Bissell makes a pet hair vacuum that's perfect and it's also about $200. I can get one free if I win their weekly MVP photo contest. I entered a photo of one of my mill rescues that I ended up adopting because he and Luigi became inseparable buddies. Now he helps socialize the new guys and he's very good at it.

So, to make a long story short, will you vote for him? It just takes a second and you'd be really helping me take care of some very deserving dogs who have been through hell. Here's the link:

http://www.bissell.com/redirect.asp?page_id=47118&Pet=6460

If you can do this, I love you! :)

[Trailrider1951]

1. Done!

I can sympathize. I have an ACD that sheds like he's going to be bald in a month. The only vac that I haven't worn out is a small shop vac. Oh, and I have two shedding kitties too!

[Neecy]

3. I love your little gang!

Thank you for the vote, too. I've thought about getting a shop vac and that's plan B.

I comb these guys out daily and that controls most of the shedding. One that I'm fostering now has some skin conditions and is frightened of his own shadow and I can't approach him yet to groom him. I have to sedate him to take him in for his monthly grooming (and that's an ordeal in itself) but my inability to comb him out is taking a toll on my carpet. Most of these dogs don't like to be handled in the first couple of months and I give them time to build trust but there's hair everywhere. He's the main source of my twice-daily runs with the vacuum cleaner, but that's okay. He's a very sweet little guy.

[virgdem]

12. Done

Best of luck to you. I hope you win.

[alstephenson]

2. Done. Good luck!

[yellerpup]

4. Done.

Good luck, Neecy!

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Done. How adorable.

[Coyote_Bandit]

6. Two Japanese Chins here

I thought the carpet was supposed to be covered with a thin layer of recently shed dog hair.

One of my chins was rescured from a puppy mill in MO. He was nearly a year old, had a bloody gash in his eye where he had been attacked by another dog, had very little socialization and had never been insiode a building of any kind. He's 8 years old now and is a very sweet if somewhat independent and stubborn little fellow.

[elleng]

7. Done

and THANK YOU!

[Longhorn]

8. Done!

What a cutie!

[lavenderdiva]

9. done-

and good luck to you! Thank you for the work you are doing- :hug:

[Neecy]

10. I love you guys!

Thanks to everyone...DU is the best!

[AZBlue]

11. Happy to do it! Great photo!

Hope you win!!!

[Blue Gardener]

13. Done!

I hope you win!!!:hi:

[RebelOne]

14. Done. Good luck.

[Tammie]

15. Very happy to oblige!

Beautiful pup. Good Luck!

[iris5426]

16. Done :-)

It costs way more, but the Dyson Animal is possibly the best vaccuum I've ever used...

[Neecy]

20. Dyson makes a pet hair specific model?

Wow, that might be even better. If I don't win this I'm going to look into that. I have friends who have Dysons and they love them. So now I have a plan B and a plan C - thanks!

[Seedersandleechers]

17. Done

Please let us know if you won. I'm crossing my fingers.....

[demnan]

18. I voted for you

I just want to also remind people that if they have small financial needs, there is a great website where you can go and get those needs fufilled. I've donated in the past and will do so in the future.

http://www.modestneeds.org/

[Bluestar]

19. Done--best of luck to you and your pups

[KC]

21. Done

nt

[smokey nj]

22. Done!

[pnwmom]

23. Done. Good luck! n/t

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

24. Done...

and not shameless at all! Rescuing mill doggies must be one of the most difficult and rewarding things to do. Lots of good wishes for you and your rescue pups!

[Asia Expat]

25. Done.

[Silver Gaia]

26. Done! I have one of those Bissell vacuums. It's fantastic!

Good luck, Neecy. I hope you win it!

[Vincardog]

27. This is the photo you have selected. However, voting is complete for this period.

[Neecy]

28. thanks, everyone!

The contest is over and unfortunately Dodger didn't win. But all is not lost - I went out today and bought the damn thing and I have to say it's terrific! So if nothing else it educated me to a vacuum that would finally do the trick.

Thanks again! You guys are the best ---