One of the ASPCA's media relations people was kind enough to email me late today this photo of Alayne at the event in New York with the award. Alayne said the luncheon was very nice and everything went well. Prior to presenting the award, the ASPCA showed a video they had produced about the ranch, and the highlight of the piece was a clip of Charlie our once-blind Beagle admiring himself in the mirror.
Alayne almost didn't make it to New York -- yesterday's trip was a real ordeal. Her flight on United from Missoula to Denver was cancelled because of weather in Denver, and then a back-up flight on Delta/Northwest from Missoula to Minneapolis was postponed by several hours, making it too late to catch her connecting flight to La Guardia. Finally the ASPCA's travel agent got her out of Missoula late in the day to Salt Lake City. She then spent several hours in the airport there before leaving at midnight on a red-eye to New York that arrived at JFK at 6 a.m. this morning. With events starting at 10 a.m. -- egads. So she is naturally exhausted from the trip and looking forward to being back home tomorrow evening!
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As Alayne was literally walking out the door yesterday for the airport, the phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID, which showed a 202 area code phone number (Washington D.C.) and the listing as "Democratic Sen." I picked it up and said, with our usual greeting, "Rolling Dog Ranch, this is Steve." The caller said, "Steve, it's Max. How about that award!"
Now, if you're a Montanan and a guy named Max calls you from Washington, there's only one Max it can be ... our United States Senator, Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. And as busy as he is, he took the time yesterday to call and congratulate us on the ASPCA award. This is actually the second time Senator Baucus has called. His first call came a few years ago, after someone had told him about us and he looked up our Web site. He was calling then just to let us know that he thought we were doing a great thing here at the ranch. This kind of 'personal touch' is one reason he's serving his sixth term in the Senate.
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Still No. 1!
Please keep voting for us every day in The Animal Rescue Site/PetFinder's Shelter Challenge. Thanks to your votes, we came in third nationwide and won $3,000 for the animals in the previous contest. Now we have a shot at No. 1 and the $20,000 grand prize! Enter "Rolling Dog Ranch" and our state postal code, MT for Montana, and it will bring up our listing so you can cast your vote. Please ask your family and friends to vote, too. Thank you!
Wanted to add how awesome it was of Senator Baucus to call RDR & offer his congratulations. Gives me hope that there are some DC folks that really do care about their people!
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | November 02, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Congratulations! This was an award that was definitely deserved. Alayne, you are beautiful! Sorry the trip was such an ordeal & I know you'll be glad to be back home but I'm glad you made it safely.
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | November 02, 2009 at 10:35 AM
great site with very good look and perfect information...I like it...
Posted by: curcuma | November 02, 2009 at 02:05 AM
Alayne...you're a Goddess!
How cool that Senator Max called (again). This speaks volumes for how important your ranch is to him.
This award is SO well deserved by you; so many people and animals love and admire you. I and my animal family, humbly bow to you.
We're throwing in a few slurpy kisses too! : P
Posted by: boundforglory | November 01, 2009 at 05:28 PM
As everyone else says GREAT JOB we are all so happy for you and all your animals.I can't think of any one more deserving of this high honor. I must make both of you fell like you have made the right choices in your life.Through you both, you are making alot of your readers wishes come true too. Keep up the great work and we will keep voting for you and all the furry friends.
Posted by: Kathy and Harley | October 31, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Everyone else has expressed it so well, I can only agree...I could never look so good! Especially on next to no rest & a hectic time getting to NYC for the award ceremony! I think all the love that the two of you give the animals come back to you in many ways, as I think you both look younger than nine years ago when you began RDR. Thank you for all that you do & I'm thrilled that you are getting the publicity that you so richly deserve. May it come back to you in donations, as more and more people become aware of the awesome work that you two are continually doing.
Big hugs to all,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger & the critters | October 31, 2009 at 03:40 AM
Congratulations to both of you! Alayne looks wonderful!
Posted by: Mary | October 30, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Congratulations! All the fuzzy kids back at the ranch are saying "way to go, Mom! We love ya!"
Posted by: Penny Heinrich | October 30, 2009 at 02:57 PM
Bravo, bravo, bravo!!! So proud of you both!! And sooooooooooo happy for you... Frankie and I doing the happy dance in celebration. Woo hoo!!
Barbara Techel & Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog
Posted by: Barbara Techel | October 30, 2009 at 02:19 PM
I'll chime in - really nice photo, no one would ever guess she'd just gone through such a grueling travel experience. I hope the trip back is easy and fast. You have an awesome Senator!
Posted by: Tonya | October 30, 2009 at 01:17 PM
Congratulations to you both. The award was well deserved. Alayne, that is a lovely picture of you.
After such a difficult trek too.
Obviously Montana living is agreeing with you.
How gratifying the award and the call from Max must be for you both. Once again, well done.
Posted by: Ev | October 30, 2009 at 01:02 PM
Congratulation Alayne,Steve and RDR....its simply stamps what us supporters have recognized long ago that you are who we want to be and you have made this world of us so much better.
I'm certain the animals( kids) at the ranch are so proud of you.
I will always recognize your work with my support
Thank you for all you do
Posted by: Mehdi | October 30, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Congratulations!!! And Alayne looks stunningly beautiful!!!
Posted by: Colleen Vermillion | October 30, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Wow - Alayne you look radiant and beautiful, even on almost no sleep! Congratulations to y'all, Steve and Alayne, and the gem of a group that makes RDR -you are the best!! Alayne, hope you can hibernate at least for a little while when you get back.
Posted by: Angela | October 30, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Alayne- I wish you a blissfully relaxing, 1st class ride back home! But if your travels were exhausting, you sure couldn't tell from your gorgeous photo - your smile absolutely beams as a focal point.
Senator Max is very cool! If I were in Montana, he'd have my vote, and hopefully he's voting for you in the Shelter Challenge, too, :)
Posted by: Margaret | October 30, 2009 at 12:02 PM
My heart is just bursting with joy for you both and for all of the animals, both past and present. This is such a well deserved award and I am sure the national recognition won't hurt either! Way to go guys. Montana (and all your fans) is very proud of you.
Posted by: Heather (aka Big Auntie) in Billings, MT | October 30, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Sorry about that weather here in Denver! ... but so glad she got there to receive the award for you guys. Congratulations once again!!!
Posted by: Rich Y. | October 30, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Beautiful picture, beautiful work!
Congratulations!
Safe travels home, get some rest Alayne. Sounds like a hard day's work on the ranch is easier than flying the 'not so friendly' skies across country.
Posted by: Jane Tunnicliff | October 30, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Conratulations on a much-deserved award! Time for a party of celebration!!!
Posted by: Nina | October 30, 2009 at 09:28 AM
No one deserves that award more than the two of you. Thank you for everything you do for the animals. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Toni | October 30, 2009 at 09:06 AM
A fantastic award and well deserved. You both work so hard and give the animals such a good life.
Posted by: Dee, KY | October 30, 2009 at 08:32 AM
Sorry you had such travel woes, Alayne....but I am thrilled it worked out! You look fabulous, dear girl!! And again, to everyone who works and volunteers at RDR...you SO deserved this honor! Congratulations!!
Posted by: Debbie | October 30, 2009 at 07:32 AM
Once again, heartfelt congratulations on a well-deserved award!
Alayne looks lovely in that photograph.
On a side note: I wish we had thoughtful politicians like Senator Baucus here in Italy...
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | October 30, 2009 at 05:14 AM
Loving Alayne's red carpet photo! Congrats to you both and to the critters.
Posted by: Vickie | October 30, 2009 at 12:02 AM
Congratulations to RDR and kudos to Alayne for the endurance run to NYC to pick up her ASPCA Bergh award.
Posted by: Roxie | October 29, 2009 at 11:25 PM
Glad Alayne made it there safely! She looks so happy in the picture!
Posted by: Lisa | October 29, 2009 at 11:23 PM
I was flying out of Denver too but not to some important Awards Ceremony.
Kristin I'm with you---I'm sure people think I'm obsessed with RDR! (I confess--I am!!)
Steve and Alayne you are angel's here on earth--I truly mean it and it makes my heart soar to see the Ranch recognized on a national level....now this is GREAT NEWS!!!!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | October 29, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Hope all the animals back at the ranch are throwing themselves an awards party! whoo hoo!
Posted by: Kate and Luke | October 29, 2009 at 10:04 PM
Alayne: You look beautiful.
Posted by: Lynn (in Louisiana) | October 29, 2009 at 09:50 PM
Congratulations! I am thrilled to see RDR honored by the ASPCA. I tell everyone I know who will listen (and even a few that don't) about RDR. You two are angels on earth.
Posted by: Kristin (in Georgia) | October 29, 2009 at 09:33 PM
AMAZING!! Sounds like a pretty awesome Senator!!
Great picture too! Alayne looks fantastic, especially given her flight issues!!
Posted by: Kenna | October 29, 2009 at 09:25 PM
KUDOS!!! A MUCH DESERVED HONOR BESTOWED UPON YOU BOTH!!! I can only aspire someday to be a fraction of goodness towards all creatures, great and small, that you and Alayne are. You two are absolutely incredible!!! Much love from Cinci-Carolyn
Posted by: Carolyn Kupferschmid | October 29, 2009 at 09:07 PM