Dog Lovers Meet Up at Our TweetUp

More than 50 dog lovers, most of them escorted by their pooches, gathered on Hotel Maya‘s beautiful Luna Solstice Patio in Long Beach recently for the i Love Dogs and Hotel Maya TweetUp/Facebook MeetUp to benefit spcaLA.

Guests were asked to bring a bag of kibble to help relieve spcaLA’s dog food shortage, and did they ever deliver – a grand total of 390 pounds was donated!

Thanks to the generosity of Dogswell and the Animal Care Center of Huntington Beach, who both pledged to match the donations pound-for-pound, spcaLA will receive a whopping 1,170 pounds of dog food – more than half a ton! – for its hungry shelter pooches.

In addition to the dog food, nearly $500 was raised for spcaLA from raffle ticket sales and a silent auction. Among the fabulous prizes were a night’s stay at the Hotel Maya, doggie photo sessions with Bark Pet Photography or Vincent Sandoval, a consultation with holistic pets/toxic-free living consultant and pet bereavement facilitator Nadine M. Rosen, and goody-stuffed gift baskets from Chewsy Dog and i Love Dogs.

After a complimentary sangria welcome toast courtesy of Hotel Maya, the pawty got started.

Among the event’s two- and four-legged attendees were Judy Garland and her poodle Gaby, who won Best Dog Costume at last year’s Haute Dog Howl’oween Parade in Long Beach. Just as she did in the parade, Gaby entertained TweetUp guests by pushing a mini shopping cart to spread awareness about homeless pets.

Photographer Vincent Sandoval presented packets of biscuits to delighted dogs including Bella, Am”Bassett”dor of Bassett Hound Rescue of Southern California. Bella was attending her first party ever with her dog mom Denise Dochnahl.

Another happy pawty pooch was Cardiff, who came to the party with his dog dad, veterinarian Patrick Mahaney, who writes about pet care for examiner.com. Cardiff had such a good time that he blogged about it. And speaking of blogging, TJ.LA K-9 reporters Irie, PJpupp, Rickie Roo and Gigi worked the Fuego patio, meeting and greeting their fans.

All of these furrific photos were snapped by Kim Rodgers of Bark Pet Photography, who volunteered as the party’s ”puparazzo.”

PHOTOS: Bark Pet Photography

Laura Goldman

Laura Goldman is senior social media writer for i Love Dogs, Inc. She does love dogs. And elephants and turtles. Along with writing about the loves of her life, Laura likes to play with her two pound pups and tell anyone who’ll listen just how awesome Pit Bulls are.