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The 4th Annual Boston Tea Party was a super success! We had over 250 dogs in attendance.
2009 Boston Tea Party Video Montage Thank you to all who came out the support the Buddies!
On Saturdays at 7:30 a.m., Huntington Central Park in Huntington Beach, CA near the familiar, green Park Bench Cafe hut stands serene, mostly deserted except for a few dawn-treading pups and their owners strolling park pathways. Once each year, a large rented truck pulls into the parking lot where a few cars occupied by committed volunteers are waiting. The Boston Tea Party setup is about to begin! The volunteers unload the truck and Mark, Jack, Michael, George and Brady (who also brought breakfast goodies to feed the volunteers) start to construct the tents. Canopies and tables go up, table cloths and table skirts are put out, the contest ring is built, silent auction and raffle goodies are put on display, the Tea Party T-Shirts and 2010 Rescue Calendars arrive and the fun is set to begin.
This year on Saturday, September 12, 2009, by 11:00 a.m., the Park is definitely “alive,” as 250 Boston Terriers and their people transform Central Park at this 4th Annual Event, into a sea of black/white and red frolicking pups! After each Boston stops at the sign-in tent to be greeted by Dale Anne, Kay, Shauna, Diana and Suzanne and receive their personal Polaroid picture under the tiki arch, a “Come Play with Me” bandana (donated by a generous volunteer), and a fabulous goody bag featuring a stuffed Mighty dog (courtesy of Jen and Erica at Almighty – www.all-mighty.net), many attendees nosh a tasty breakfast or lunch with their pups at one of the Park Bench Café tables. It doesn’t take long for everyone to gravitate to the surrounding booths. The Silent Auction tables are a real attraction, and folks know that they will find a dream, dog-lover’s keepsake to take home or give as a gift. We and our rescued Bostons adore these supporters whose generous bids facilitate the fostering, proper medical care, and behavior training the pups need while they are awaiting their special forever homes. Everything from note cards to a Mack truck hood ornament, photo and portrait sittings, training sessions (for both dogs and people), gala baskets, Boston and human apparel and fashion accessories, prints, books, home and garden items, original artwork, and a night at Brea Improv were snatched up by bidders assisted at the tables by Karen, Betty and Tami Thanks to so many generous donations, our Tea Party displays truly an amazing array of coveted merchandise for bidders! Several Buddies and their families rushed over to the Jackie Bass Photography Booth for their official, pre-scheduled photo session, and although Jackie was booked pre-Tea Party, she was able to take some last minute sittings and give information about her captivating photography. We hope everyone visited Leslie, Tony, Amy, and Owen as they sold our Boston Buddies Tea Party shirts, our new BB Ball Caps and the 2010 Rescue Calendar. These items are such a great way to remember Rescue and our day together, and the sales go a long way in supporting our rescue efforts. Amy and Owen are both proud Boston Buddies Alumni pups! Rocco, a Special Needs Buddy, was the star foster dog meeting and greeting the crowd who stopped by the Boston Buddies Booth to learn all about our adoptable Bostons and the adoption process from volunteers Katie and Jennifer. Besides Rocco and pictures/bios of the currently available dogs, a very special history of Boston Buddies is displayed in the collages made by Rachael. Each collage lovingly depicts dogs rescued over the past four years. Rocco is such a sweetheart, and he is still patiently waiting for his own wonderful forever home. The Raffle Table was a hit, and Nancy and Jim sold the chances to win a Boston Terrier Basket chock full of special items, a fragrant and beautiful Candle Basket, or a personalized, comfy Photo Throw. One lucky gentleman had two winning tickets! The Luck ‘O the Bostons was with him! George and Annette manned the informational booth regarding the Surf City Surf Dog competition – photos of the Boston Buddies Surf Team USA abounded and a lucky few even got a pawtographed postcard from Mugsy and Pixie! This year we added two new booths. Representatives from Animal Dermatology Clinic , highly recommended by Boston Buddies and Rocco for the good work they do, were on hand to answer questions and offer advice.
Also new, the Almighty girls hosted a booth featuring their human and dog fashions selling for an unheard of $1 each! It was hard to get near the table, and attendees were seen modeling their new accessories throughout the afternoon! Everyone,( including Kathy, Rachael, Belle and Tami, who presided over the antics), so enjoys watching the dogs enter and compete in the Contest Arena. This year the competition was stiff for: Biggest Boston: Reggie #1 Smallest Boston: Abbie #1 And Winnie also got an Honorable Mention! Longest Sit: Stitch = the last Boston sitting (#1) We didn’t have many “oldest” Bostons but: Pippita (Old as the Hills) Mom, Suzannah, says was #1 Shortest tail: Frank the Tank #1 Most Corkscrew Tail: Monty #1 Looks Most Like Owner: Jimi and Jackson #1 Biggest Ears: Lucy #1 And the highlight of the contests is always the Costume Parade! Again this year, it was really hard to choose: #1 Flock of Sheep Honorable Mention: Uncle Sam Everyone who enters this event is a Winner in our book, and each Boston left the ring with some token of appreciation for their participation in this delightful contest! An attendee suggested that next year we consider giving a human a prize for the Best Boston Tattoo. We will think about that one! Throughout the day, the ultimate in mood setting music was provided by “Soulcultured,” and our DJ was Robert. Jack was the day’s Master of Ceremonies, and did a fabulous job of informing the crowd of all the day’s activity. If you haven’t had a chance, please take a few minutes and enjoy our video montage of this magical day! 2009 Boston Tea Party Video Montage - Click Here We think you’ll agree that we “let all our dogs out,” as the friends, families, and dogs of Boston Buddies transform Huntington Central Park into the happening place to be one Saturday each year!
A special thank you to all our wonderful donors to the Silent Auction and Raffle Robert Albini All Mighty Animal Dermatology Clinic Back Bay Vet Hospital Anne & Bean – BeanTownHandmade (Etsy) Gail Belliveau Linda Bondi Morrison Betty Burkhart Hereta Cervantes Chinamommy (Etsy) DAV – Kerri Sengstaken Jenny Heid and Aaron Nieradka - JennysBakeShop (Etsy) Lili Chin Dawn & Brian Decker Leslie Edwards Kathy Engberg Karen Engman Rachael Farmer Annette Ferriero Mary Fleming Erika Griffiths Patti Hale Lori Hermann Kerilyn Art lab/kabn photography Jordan Lorah Judy Marks Amanda Morehead Diane Olson Brian Rubenacker So-Cal Tactical – Kelly Thibault & Beth Riley Some Like It Shot Photography – Alisha McGraw Thank Dog Bootcamp - Jamie Shindle Trudy and Tiffanie San Paolo Michael Ventre WelcomeToTheDogHouse.Net – Alexis Trice
For photos and video from past Tea Parties Click Here
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