Top 5 Champion of My Heart News for 2011

Doesn’t every media outlet release a list of some sort this time of year? We’re joining the fray with our top 5 news items for 2011.

The year didn’t go at all as we’d planned, which is disappointing in many ways, but you can only do what you can do when distractions and demands leave zero time for pursuing your bigger goals.

I suppose the biggest feelings at the end of 2011 are relief and gratitude that we survived relatively unscathed. C’mon 2012, we’re counting on you.

1. Herding

Lilly learned to herd goats (not sheep, because goats are safer for green dogs and green handlers). We only had time for a few lessons before things got to busy with work and family things. We’re not very good, but we try hard.

2. Award

Lilly won the first-ever Humane Society of Boulder Valley Community Engagement Award  … mostly in recognition for Never Shock a Puppy efforts that raised money for the group’s No-Choke Challenge.

3. New Book / Anthology

Champion of My Heart posts were included in a new book called 15 Great Pet Blogs, including this one … 5 Ways a Fearful Dog Improves Your Life.

4. Spider Bite

Lilly survived a badly infected spider bite to the neck, which happened essentially on our every-6-month medical drama schedule. The previous adventure? Paintball poisoning in a dog.

5. Biopsy

Lilly had a surgical biopsy for what turned out to be weird lesion, not a tumor. We are ever so grateful for that news.

We remain, as always, grateful to all of you for your readership, loyalty, and support. Happy New Year!