Merry Christmas Everyone!

From my family to yours.......Merry Christmas!

xoxoxoxo

Nicole

Christmas Party Benefits Greek Dogs!

*Secret Santa Participants *

This years "Tails From Greece" Christmas Party was a great success raising close to $900 for the non-profit Canadian charity! Run by the incredible Dianne Aldan and her husband George, the part took place in the party room at the beautiful Esplanade building in Toronto. Some of the guests included foster moms & dads, volunteer drivers and supporters who love helping to get dogs and cats who live in dire situations in Greece (particularly Markopoulo, which is outside of Athens) and flown to Toronto where they are fostered until they find their furr-ever homes!!

*Foster parents in the back and Greek doggie adopters in the front*

Apart from all of the yummy food and socializing, attendees were treated to a guest speaker, veterinarian Dr. Sherebin, who spoke about holistic medicine and natural diets for our pets. The Secord Animal Hospital veterinarian was so informative and really brought a great discusiion to the group in regards to raw diets, major food companies and what we can do to keep our pets as happy and heathy as possible!

*Listening to Dr. Sherebin speak*

Upcoming fundraising events for Tails From Greece will include a wine tasting session at Cafe Nicole inside the Novotel Hotel in Toronto one Sunday afternoon in March. (Currently it is tentatively scheduled for March 25th, 2012) Also, Dianne would like to organize a hike within The Rouge to benefit the dogs. All money raised will help pay for veterinary bills and the costs associated with flying the dogs and cats over from Greece! If you are interested in attending any of these upcoming events please do not hesitate to contact Dianne at diannealdan@sympatico.ca

xoxoxoxox

Nicole

11 Cats Need Our Help!!

Hello my lovely readers!!!

I thought you might be able to help with this!! Death Row Dogs needs your help! A lady has approached us in a terrible situation. She took in a few stray cats off the street from the cold and they have multiplied. She had almost 20 cats but has found homes for some and is now down to 11!

We would like to fix them but the lady is on a very low income and cannot afford to pay for this. She was in tears speaking to my friend Charlie Winship and is very saddened that she has made things worse. We would like to help her and fix her cats.

The cost is going to be $600 and we need to raise the funds by Wednesday December 22nd! If $300 can be raised by this date, we will pay the rest! We need you to share this far and wide!! Please... dig a little deeper to stop the cats that this house is churning out! Just $10 a piece........please share or donate! Lets help these cats!

Thank you everyone!!

xoxox

Nicole

Jane Goodall........COFFEE!!

The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada has teamed up with Toronto-based Fresh Coffee Network & Merchants of Green Coffee to produce Canada's first Jane Goodall Institute coffee! All specialty grade Arabica beans are ethically sourced from Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia, certified Fair Trade & Organic & freshly roasted locally in communities across Canada. It's a delicious blend of bright citrus, with a smooth body and a chocolate finish. Join them as they launch this delicious blend of beans on December 8th at Mountain Equipment Co-Op (MEC) in Toronto! Come and taste it for yourself - they promise you'll be hooked! When? Thursday December 8th from 10 am to 1 pm Where? Mountain Equipment Co-op: 400 King Street, Toronto With give aways from Fresh Coffee Network, MEC and the Jane Goodall Institute! Can't make it? You can purchase the coffee any time at the JGIestore: JaneGoodall.ca/store or by calling 416.978.3711. By purchasing this coffee, you will be supporting JGIs community-centred conservation approach that helps protect African forests and chimpanzees while also improving people's lives. In Tanzania, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, we are working with local people to restore their environments and to improve their health, education and opportunities to generate income in a sustainable way. Our ultimate objective is a more secure future for chimpanzees and other wildlife, and a better world for all. A portion of all proceeds goes directly to the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada.

xoxoxox

nicole

I HATE BALLS TOO!!!

The beautiful, funny, talented & animal-lover Katherine Heigl reminds us all why balls are sooooo gross and need to be snipped off of every male............dog and cat!!!

xoxox

Nicole

Return Of The Black Sea Turtle: By Neil Osborne

Return of the black turtle by Neil Osborne from Emphas.is on Vimeo.

Pig-Nosed Turtles Return After 30 Years!

The 609 Pig-nosed Turtles confiscated in Hong Kong in January this year have finally been returned to Maro River in Papua. All the turtles survived the long journey from Hongkong through Jakarta, then on to Merauke and eventually Bupul village in Papua.

The local people in Bupul were delighted to meet the team from International Animal Rescue Indonesia (IAR Indonesia) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) who accompanied the turtles on their long journey. They held a special ceremony dedicated to the future wellbeing and survival of the turtles. Over-exploitation had driven the Pig-nosed Turtle to extinction in the river.

Mr Arnold, Head of Bupul village, said: "It's a real privilege to be able to see and touch these turtles again. They have been extinct in this area for more than 30 years. We really hope that future generations will enjoy seeing them inhabiting the river and will continue to cherish and protect them."

All the pupils from the local school in Bupul participated in the release. They were thrilled to be able to set the turtles free and swim with them in the river.

Karmele Llano Sanchez, Executive Director of IAR Indonesia, said: "The repatriation of the turtles has been a complete success. We send our thanks to the Hong Kong and Indonesian governments for their eagerness to cooperate which made it possible for us to save them. Our grateful thanks also go to Kadoori Farm and Botanical Gardens (KFBG) who have taken care of the turtles since January and paid the entire cost of their repatriation and release.

"People in developed countries who like to buy exotic pets such as turtles should think hard about the effect this trade has on wild populations that are in danger of becoming extinct. Millions of turtles are captured and transported to supply the growing exotic pet industry and vast numbers of them die before they even reach the pet shops. It is a tragic waste of wildlife."

For more information about International Animal Rescue and the amazing work that they do please click HERE!

xoxox

Nicole

What Is A Potcake!?!?

Ok so your asking yourself the same thing right? What the heck is a "potcake"?? NOOOOO its not something you ate when you were a teenager!!! It is actually the name an island dog of mixed breeding which derives its name from eating the cake (grits or rice) left in the bottom of the pot! Pretty cool huh!?!

Unfortuntely these little "potcakes" aka mutts run rampant on many, if not all, the islands of the Caribbean. Thankfully there is a wonderful organization on the island of Providenciales, Turks & Caicos, that is striving to help bring an end to the homeless dogs and cats that roam the streets.

My parents and I had the opportunity to visit Potcake Place (located inside a local vet clinic) and met the director Jane. The Potcake Place operates to rescue, foster and assist adoptions of potcakes for the Turks & Caicos Islands!! Jane was absolutely wonderful and introduced us to a few of their current foster pups, explained how they visit under privileged neighbours and try and help spay/neuter/release as many stray dogs as possible.

Since May 2006, Potcake Place has adopted 427 dogs in both the Turks & Caicos islands and North America. New Jersey came in first place with 41 adoptions while my Province Ontario came in second with 33 adoptions!! :) Jane also showed us their map which points out where in North America their local pups now live.

Next time your on the island of Providenciales, please take the time to drop by the Potcake and support their wonderful efforts. I purchased t-shirts, collars and a

re-suable tote (can't have too many of those right??)

xoxox

Nicole

Spearing Lionfish In Turks!

Turks & Caicos (specifically Providenciales) is one of my favourite diving destinations! The ocean is unlike any other hue of blue I have ever seen before and the islands are surrounded with some of the most incredible marine life you can experience in the Caribbean! I was so fortunate to be able to go back to my fav island in August for one week and dive 3 out of my 7 days! Again, I dove with the amazing Provo Turtle Divers who are always so keen on making every guest feel important and very looked after.

Of course my dives were filled with sea turtles, eagle rays, colourful fish and for my first time ever SHARKS!! However, a very special treat for me was being able to see my divemaster spear the very invasive and reef destroying lionfish!

To be honest, I am the LAST person on earth who wants to see any creature being killed, however, I kept reminding myself that the lionfish do not belong in the Caribbean waters, they have no natural enemies AND are wrecking having on local reefs by eating all the little cleaners.

Enjoy the photos of Dave, Provo Turtle Divers Divemaster, helping to preserve his local reefs!

xoxoxox

Nicole

Jane Goodall: The Walking Angel

I can't wait to see this when it hits select theatres next week!! I had the honour of meeting Jane Goodall 4 years ago and I can honestly say she was the most humbling person I have ever met. What an amazing soul she is and if you ever get the opportunity to hear you speak you will be a better person because of it!!

xoxox

Nicole