A doggone birthday party aids homeless animals

Tahoe and friends unite to support a dog-rescue group

By Barbara Sherman

The Regal Courier, Jul 30, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

MANY HAPPY RETURNS — Michele Miller watches her 2-year-old dog Tahoe as guests at his birthday party sing “Happy Birthday” before pieces of the “cake” were placed on plates on the floor for his guests to lap up.

Barbara Sherman / Regal Courier

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Birthday parties are always festive occasions, and at one such party in early July, it was hard to tell who was having more fun - the canine guests or their human friends.

But the birthday celebration on Bull Mountain had a deeper purpose as well - it was a fund-raiser for a dog-rescue group.

About 18 dogs and 30 people gathered at the home of Dianne Hill and Dick Franzke to celebrate the second birthday of Tahoe, an English springer spaniel who has a bit of a claim to fame.

Tahoe, who is owned by Michele and Shane Miller of Tigard, is the son of the 2007 winner of the Best of Show Award at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the annual competition held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Tahoe might have credentials, but rescue dogs and everyday mutts ruled the roost at the party, where they feasted on doggy birthday cake and enjoyed snacks and treats made especially for them.

Co-hosts of the party were Cody, Zack and Brodie, the three dogs belonging to Hill and Franzke, who happily shared their yard and patio with newfound friends.

"Tahoe and his canine buddies enjoy a dog's life at its best," said Hill. "They get plenty of food, water, treats, rides, walks, health care and most of all, a very large abundance of love. There are many rescue organizations and foster parents with dogs and cats waiting for a good home of their own like Tahoe and his friends have.

"Tahoe, Zack, Cody and Brodie and their moms and dads thought it would be a great idea for Tahoe's party to also be a benefit for those animals that are still waiting for a good home. The rescue organizations do an amazing job, and donations are always needed and very much appreciated."

The invitation to the party asked guests to bring a small donation for a rescue organization, and Hill chose the Gold Bond organization that helps golden retrievers.

As the dogs at the party ran, played and enjoyed treats, their owners shared stories of how their four-legged "children" came into their lives.

Tammy Kasch brought her full-grown American pit bull/golden retriever mix to the party and explained that her dog was a 12-week-old puppy that showed up at her front door. The pup was part of a litter born to irresponsible neighbors living down the street.

A friend of Hill's found his dog in the middle of the road in Palm Springs, and another guest at the party, Judy Vliestra, rescued her English bulldog Hannah from a puppy mill.

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