It's National Animal Rights Awareness Week! Tell someone that you l♥ve them...

“It is written in our own hearts - more clearly than in any book - that we should take pity on animals in the same way as we do on humans." ~ Leo Tolstoy

This week take your dog for one more walk. Play with your cat one more time. Volunteer at your local animal shelter one more day. Tickle the tummy of your hamster or guinea pig one more minute. Sing to your bird one more song.

It takes such little time, and so little of our resources, to enrich and enhance the lives of those wonderful animals that grace our days and nights with their presence, affection and devotion. This week when you look at those furry and feathered family members of yours, tell them you l♥ve them one more time and then when you have done that - do it again and again and again. Because - after all - they'd do no less for you.

Wanna help animals in need? Nominate someone for the PETTIES!

WOWZA! We know of several dog and cat bloggys that we truly admire. They are easy to navigate, consistent in posting (not us☺), have great content and always have us leaving better educated about animal issues or with a smile on our face. You know one, too? Well, get busy and nominate them! You've only got until the end of this month!

It's the 2011 Petties Awards!

Ice the champagne, roll out whatever color carpet best hides fur — the Petties are upon us!

The Petties Awards are Dogtime's annual celebration recognizing excellence among animal-loving bloggers of all stripes. The Petties are the only awards nominated by, voted for, and presented to individuals in the pet blogging community.

How it works

Between now and June 29, 2011, ­we invite all readers and writers — that means you! — to nominate your favorite blogs. This year, we’ve added four new categories to the ballot for a total of eight awards:

• Best Dog Blog
• Best Cat Blog
• Best Cause-Related Blog
• Best Overall Pet Blog
• Best Designed Blog
• Best Individual Blog Post
• Best Social Integration Blog
• Funniest Blog or Blogger

You can nominate a single blog/blogger for as many categories as you like, and you can nominate as many different blog/bloggers as you like for a single category — or as many categories as you like. (You may not, however, nominate the same blog/blogger in one category more than once. In the highly unlikely event of a tie, DogTime will choose the finalist.)

At the close of the nomination round, the four bloggers with the most nominations in each category will become finalists. The voting round then begins on July 5, 2011. Don’t miss out — mark your calendars for these important dates:

June 29, 2011: Nominations close

July 5, 2011: Voting for finalists open

July 29, 2011: Voting for finalists closes

August 26, 2011: 2^nd Annual Petties Awards ceremony, held at the BlogPaws Conference in Tysons Corner, Virginia

Glitter, glam, and giving

Like the Academy Awards, last years winners are eligible to win again this year. (Missed the 2010 ceremony? Check out the wrap-up or relive the magic here.) And just like the Hollywood event, the Petties will feature shameless paparazzi, magnificent pageantry, and touching acceptance speeches.

There is however, one major difference between the Petties and the Oscars (aside from a consistently hilarious host, year after year). In addition to a mantel-worthy statuette, DogTime will honor winners with a $1000 donation to the shelter of their choice. It’s our way of saying thanks for being a voice for those who need it most.

If you could talk like your cat...

Biggy-fy so your human'bean eyes can read good