Taking my dog's picture is something I love to do. Like every dog lover who is in love with their own dog, it is easy to snap away. Click.Click.Click. Cleo looks amazing to me. Her face is expressive! She does cute things with her paws. Every year she adds a new trick to her adorable arsenal. This could be how Cleo snagged a spot in The Impossible Project.

I want to document every second of our time together. We don't know how long we will be together. Granted part of the reason for this intense coverage is blog-related, but truthfully, I would be doing it anyway.

Like a new parent, I think my dog is the cutest dog in the world. I am not surprised when people ask to pet her or tell us that she is beautiful. I expect strangers to smile at Cleo and I am shocked if they do not when we pass them on our daily walk.

For 45 years Mike Arms, President and CEO of the Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC), has dedicated his life and career to saving all the orphaned animals he could. He has a wealth of knowledge that needed another outlet for offering his advice and wisdom from that long career. 

HWAC already offers Animal Center Education Services  (ACES) a free four-day conference dedicated to teaching animal welfare professionals and animal advocates the best non-profit business practices, which generate more animal adoptions and save the lives of more animals each year.

“Mike is often overrun with questions when he speaks at ACES and other conferences, both locally and internationally. He takes as much time as he can with each person, but there are a lot of questions he simply doesn’t have time to answer.” ~ Marcie Grube, HWAC social media staffer

@HWAC resident momma on a mission to keep her puppies fresh, Petunia knows how to get those faces and ears spotless!

Thanks to Houston Dog Blog for tagging us in Tripbase's My 7 Links blog post project, created to unite bloggers of all types to dig up some of their favorite posts that deserve to get a spotlight shined on them. The idea is, we post our links in the 7 categories below and then we nominate five bloggers to carry on the torch.

So here we go:

• Most Beautiful Post: Every post that features Cleo is beautiful to me, but every Christmas we have together is extra special because we're so grateful.

Naps courtesy of @HWAC volunteers and for the Awwwwws you're experiencing blame Petunia's Puppy Posse.

Pie or Cake? Biscuit or Cookie? How would you celebrate a milestone birthday? The American Craft Council celebrates their 70th birthday this weekend August 12-14, with the works of 230 artisans at Fort Mason Center. 

Joining in the birthday bash are Bay Area bakeries, including two that focus wholly on our canine companions.

Canine Confections and Barkn Belly Bakery were invited to design unique doggie treats and cakes inspired by the various artists’ handmade pieces of jewelry, pottery, glass, fiber art and multi-media masterpieces that will be on display at the show this weekend - we got a sneak peek and they didn't disappoint! The star shaped dog treats Sandra created give you an idea of the level of detail, she puts into her creations for Canine Confections. 

Sandra & Caesar Estrada bake their hearts out for dogs. Their recipes at Canine Confections reflect the incredible love, passion and gratitude they feel towards all dogs.They brought Chalupa and her younger "husband" Durango with them to our get together at Fort Mason Center. These two furry taste testers for Canine Confections were the cutest distractions, to me and the every worker that passed by setting up for the big show!

When I asked about their inspiration for their bakery business and their recipes, Sandra looked over at 12 year old Chalupa and said, "She deserves the best, anything we do is a drop in the bucket."

Puppies always get attention. They are fawned over by strangers no matter what they look like. Older dogs may get an empathetic smile or a misty eye from a stranger at best. With my dog Cleo, I am constantly amazed at the varied reactions to her by strangers. She has people smile at her and frown at her antics.

Why do some dogs attract strangers love?

This week is Assistance Dog Week. What better way to mark the occasion than to honor all the service dogs, guide dogs, and therapy dogs busy doing what they do best - help and assist humans. Why challenge this canine talent?

Cleo is a furry version of Inspector Columbo, Dr. Phil and Jerry Seinfeld all-in-one. She uncovers missing items, listens to my problems and makes me laugh. However, the New York Times is reporting a challenge to the presence and ability of Rosie, the first judicially-approved courtroom dog in New York.

Is it work? Cleo might define herself as a guard dog, but I think she is an uncertified therapy dog. She comforts, she encourages, she gets us out of any dull mood and has us smiling again in minutes - that is a talent not all dogs possess. (Though you'll likely find many as Courthouse Dogs)

*Sleepy sweetness courtesy of @HWAC Helen Woodward Animal Center foster family for Petunia's Puppy Posse.

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Kyla Duffy, Founder and Co-Editor of Happy Tails Books. Kyla fell in love with dogs after becoming an emergency foster for a Boston Terrier with kennel cough. She lives in Boulder, CO with her husband, two rescue kitties, ex-puppy mill breeder Bill, and a perpetual stream of foster dogs. She enjoys rehabilitating the tough cases, and helps them build up muscle and confidence on long hikes through the beautiful Colorado Front Range

Get to know Kyla Duffy before BlogPaws 2011 by reading Kyla's February Influence Positively Interview. She will be at BlogPaws on August 25-27, in Tyson's Corner. Kyla will be leading a session called..

You Said What!?!! Basic Writing and Communication

Professional photographer and lifetime animal lover, Brett Chisholm, is dedicated to combating the animal overpopulation crisis sweeping the country. To help educate and provide free and low-cost community resources, Brett gives his time and creativity to support Texas-based nonprofit SNAP (Spay-Neuter Assistance Program, Inc.). In 2006, Brett founded SNAPshots, an annual fashion fundraiser for SNAP that has successfully helped raise funds and awareness for the group, while becoming a must-attend event in Houston.

In 2010, Brett working with SNAP created Collars For A Cause, a new fundraising initiative involving one-of-a-kind dog and cat collars designed by artists, celebrities, fashion designers and more, all with the goal of increasing awareness and funds to end the cycle of animal overpopulation. At the same time, Brett followed his dreams and launched LIFE+DOG Magazine, a monthly publication celebrating "Modern Living with Man's Best Friend". As a dog lover and the Publisher of LIFE+DOG Magazine, Brett gives a fresh view of trends, products and individuals making a difference in their communities.

Do you know one way the millions of Baby Boomers could use their powerful force to help improve the lives of animals? They could foster or adopt a senior dog. 

Walking a senior dog, keeps you both healthy! 

Living in San Francisco, the hills make it easy to get daily exercise. At the start of her walks, Cleo jogs down the street, before taking a sharp turn straight up a steep incline. This daily exercise helps maintain her weight at a steady 85 lbs now for two years in a row. As a senior dog, it is important to keep excess weight off so we don't put any additional stress on Cleo's joints.

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As the Social Media and Public Relations Director for FIDO Friendly magazine and writer/editor for one of the nation’s largest online learning institutions, managing multiple priorities with skilled confidence is a mainstay for Carol Bryant. As the author of numerous feature articles and original educational content, diversity is a well-managed craft. Dogs to digital, canines to career certification, Carol’s writing has produced training and advancement programs for usage by thousands of students in an online, e-learning capacity.

Get to know Carol Bryant before BlogPaws by reading our Influence Positively interview from August 2010. She will be at BlogPaws on August 25-27, in Tyson's Corner. She and Ryan Rice, from Houston Dog Blog will be conducting a panel session together. 

Beyond the Blog: Getting Your Platform, Business or Cause Covered in Traditional Media

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Robin A.F. Olson is author of Covered in Cat Hair.com and the President & Founder of Kitten Associates, the New Breed of Cat Rescue. Robin is also a Graphic Designer and member of the Cat Writers’ Association. She lives in Connecticut with an unknown number of cats, but judging from her cat food bill, a good guess would be “more than a few.” CoveredinCatHair.com is a 2010 Pettie Awards Finalist for Best Cause Related Blog.  You can follow Covered in Cat Hair on Facebook or follow Robin on Twitter: @KitschKat

Get to know Robin Olson from our Influence Positively Interview we shared in September 2010. She will be at BlogPaws on August 25-27, in Tyson's Corner. She and Sam Moore, from Resonetrics will be conducting a panel session together. 

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