Uggie, the adorable and very talented Jack Russell Terrier who nearly succeeded in stealing The Artist out from under star Jean Dujardin, has won  his category at the First Annual Golden Collar Awards! Uggie's closest competition for Best Dog in a Theatrical Film, Blackie from Hugo, famously championed by the film's director, Martin Scorsese, took his loss in stride. In fact, he sent two stand-ins to the ceremony, both of whom slept through the prize-giving. The awards, created by web-based dog magazine Dog News Daily, honored the best performing pups on the large and small screen. Uggie was one of six talented dogs receiving awards at the festivities held last night, February 15 in Los Angeles.

• The Best Dog in a Foreign Film category was won by Koko from the Australian film Red Dog, which is definitely on my list of must-see dog films. In Australia, Koko is just as famous as Uggie. A tongue-in-cheek video by Koko’s people said Koko wasn’t at the Golden Collars because the people of Australia refuse to let the dog leave the country.

• The Best Dog in a Television Series category went to French bulldog Brigitte from the ever-popular TV series, Modern Family.

• There was a tie in the Best Dog in a Reality Television Series category, with Hercules from Pit Boss and Giggy from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills sharing the award. After the ceremony, Pit Boss star Shorty Rossi said he hoped that his loveable, mellow pit bull’s win would help the public see pit bulls as “the fantastic dogs they are.”

• For Best Dog in a Direct-to-DVD Film category, the yellow Lab pup Rody, from Marley & Me: The Puppy Years.

“He is a great family member as well as a great performer, and he will be enjoying a lot more couch time now,” said Uggie’s owner-trainer, Omar Von Muller, with Uggie trembling lightly in his arms. (Contrary to initial reports that Uggie was retiring to rest and relax, there is a darker reason for the dog’s departure from the spotlight. Uggie has an as-yet-undiagnosed  neurological disorder.) “He has helped pave the way for other dogs and trainers to get the recognition they deserve for their hard work in the future.”

There are also conflicting reports as to whether or not Uggie will be at the Oscars. One report has him expected to take his final bow by opening the show beside host Billy Crystal. Other reports state that he hasn’t been invited and without an express invitation he can’t even accompany the stars of The Artist onto the red carpet.  I guess we’ll see on Sunday February 26.

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Remember last week when we told you that Martin Scorsese had decided he wasn’t going to take the omission of Blackie, one of the stars of his Oscar nominated film Hugo, from the list of nominees for the first ever Golden Collar awards, lying down?

Scorsese composed a letter to the LA Times urging Dog News Daily, the awards sponsoring organization, to reconsider the slight. In the letter he wrote, “I’m proud of Blackie, who laid it on the line and dared to risk the sympathy of her audience. Let’s just say that on the set, she had a fitting nickname: Citizen Canine. The bath scene alone is a masterpiece of underplaying, with Blackie’s wonderfully aquiline face accentuated by the 3-D.”

Dog News Daily stepped up by offering Blackie a nomination if they  got 500 “likes”on their Facebook page, after which Blackie would be considered a “write-in” nominee. Not only did they get the asked for 500, but they far exceeded the goal. So Blackie is in! (Why didn’t anyone think of this for Fassbender? We should have set Scorsese on the case. I don't think very many people say no to Marty.)

Now of course, the inclusion of Blackie to the list of nominees for “Best Dog in a Theatrical Film” gives real competition to The Artist’s Uggie, who is competing against himself, as he’s been nominated for his work in Water for Elephants as well. Both dogs are up against Cosmo the scene-stealing pooch from Mike Mills’ Beginners. 

The Golden Collar awards will be held on February 13 when they will also present an honorary award to Charlize Theron for her work on behalf of animals. I’m a huge Uggie fan, but Blackie is very deserving of the nod. Good luck to all of the nominees!

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NOTE:  I’m SO sorry but I have to take these pics down.  The photo agency thought they could publish them, but the Wildlife Sanctuary had not approved it unbeknownst to the agency.    Again, I’m really sorry. 

If you’ve been on this site for a bit, you know I’m a huge animal lover.  Particularly dogs.  I find the love of a dog to be so pure.   I think us humans need to look at dogs and how they live.  They live in the moment, are not judgmental, love unconditionally and are loyal to a fault.  I think if people approached relationships the same way, there would be less heartache.  Just my two cents.

This is the story of this loving dog according to WENN:

Jasmine the greyhound is the most caring dog in Britain – she has become surrogate mother to every abandoned animal rescued by staff at a wildlife sanctuary.  The racing dog has taken rabbits, badgers, chickens, foxes, and even DEER under her paws and nurtured them to safety since arriving at the centre. 

Jasmine was taken in by staff at Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary in Warwickshire, England, when she was left to die in a garden shed.  Since then, the kind canine has become mum to other frightened creatures when they arrive at the headquarters.  Staff say that in the past five years, she has looked after 50 other animals until they are healthy and confident enough to survive by themselves.  Manager Geoff Grewcock says, “She simply dotes on the animals as if they were her own, it’s incredible to see. Having been neglected herself, it’s a real surprise to see her show so much warmth and affection to other creatures.”

I’m always amazed (and utterly disgusted) that people can treat animals with such disregard and cruelty.  To think this beautiful creature was left abandoned in a shed is heartbreaking.  But this story has a happy ending and despite how she was treated, she isn’t affected by it.  That’s a beautiful thing.

WENN.com

The Clintons bid farewell to their adorable cat, Socks after he was battling throat cancer since November.  Socks was 20!

Socks came to be in the Clinton household when Chelsea discovered him as a stray.  Isn’t that beautiful?   Socks lived in the governor’s mansion in Arkansas and later moved with the family to the White House.

The Clintons released the following statement to People.com:

“Socks brought much happiness to Chelsea and us over the years, and enjoyment to kids and cat lovers everywhere,” “We’re grateful for those memories, and we especially want to thank our good friend, Betty Currie, for taking such loving care of Socks for so many years.”

Betty Currie and her husband Bob took over the care of Socks when the Clintons left the White House.  Socks was put to sleep Friday morning.  According to family friend and presidential historian Barry Landau:  “He could no longer stand and wasn’t eating,”  That is so sad to envision, isn’t it?  The Clintons did not abandon Socks, as Betty had asked if she could keep him.  According to Landau:

“The truth be known, Betty asked if Socks could come live with her. The Clintons didn’t abandon Socks. They were totally conflicted. It broke their hearts, but they knew it would be the right thing for Socks’ welfare.”

“Betty had lost a close family member and a dog and they wanted to do something nice for her,”

During their days in the  White House, Socks grew close to Betty:

“Socks was always curled up on a blue striped silk chair, next to Betty,” in her office outside the Oval Office, Landau says. “Socks didn’t act like a cat. Socks was very dog-like, and Buddy and Socks got along well.”

When Socks left the White House and lived with Betty:

“Socks had an incredible life. Betty cooked for Socks,” he said, noting the cat loved chicken. “

Hillary Clinton even wrote a book based on Cats and their dog Buddy entitled:  Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids’ Letters to the First Pets

G-d bless this angelic pooch.  Leo the dog refused to leave his masters house after a fire started because Leo didn’t want to leave the baby kittens behind.

Leo suffered smoke inhalation but is okay and so are the baby kittens.   Is that not a beautiful thing or what?

You may have seen some of these already, but I hope you enjoy nonetheless.