Official Wags Update

mhstuart · #1 11-16-2007, 09:52 AM

Hi all,

First of all I want to welcome Brian Sardo to the Wags for Wishes steering committee. Everyone knows Brian and the type of enthusiasm he brings to Splash Dogs and his participation in the first meeting on Nov. 8th was no different.

1) The horsepark will not be available for the next couple of years, and maybe not again, so therefore MAW has been searching the entire county for a suitable site. Literally no leaf has been left unturned. There is no similar and suitable site for Wags to remain in its current state and format.

2) At the meeting it was presented to the dog clubs in attendance that Wags would change format due to the lack of a suitable venue. We were to come up with a new plan and create an event that would be different, but still revolve around dogs and their special relationship with us two legged animals.

3) After some time discussing this possibility, Brian and I raised a point about reinventing Wags, but at more than one venue. Though this is not the ultimate situation, when working through it the synergies between say Flyball, Splash Dogs, and say Lure Coursing exist and could be located at one venue, while Disc Dogs, AKC GC, Herding, et al could be located at another venue that would be suitable for them. This changed the course and agenda of the entire meeting.

4) The Final Word: There is no final word on the structure or dates of Wags. No venues have been selected, no events have been coupled together. The main office is working feverishly to research the feesability of this new idea and trying to make it work for the competitors and most importantly for MAW and the Wish Kids.

I wanted to post this because I started to hear rumors and wanted to post the truth directly from the meeting and the committee. Anything that is being circulated out there is merely speculation and does not have basis from the most current meeting. As anything new arises Brian or myself will make sure everyone knows exactly what is happening.

Thanks again to Brian for your generosity of time and the energy you bring to Wags for Wishes!

Sardo · #2 11-16-2007, 10:34 AM

Mark, I would like to thank you for letting me be a part of this committee. I have been a part of wags for the past three years. My first year just being a competitor and I have been getting more and more involved as each year passes. I am very happy to be a part of this year's committee even though they have some tough decisions to make but I am very confident they will come up with something we can all still enjoy. We all need to remember that this event isn't about us or the dogs but about the children, and I will and hope everyone else will support the MAW.

legallyblonde · #3 11-16-2007, 11:28 AM

Wasn't there a Wags out in Missouri this past year? Were you guys a part of the planning for that and was that the same type of thing? What about the possibility of having one again in the Midwest this coming year, maybe a little more North? I would love to help with that in any way I can. I've heard such wonderful things about the one in California it would be awesome to do one out here as well. With all the wide open spaces here in Michigan I'm sure we could find a spot. : )

Sardo · #4 11-16-2007, 12:10 PM

Sara,

Maw has started to expand into other states but the one here in San Diego is the only we deal with. MAW will also be having there first event coming up in Arizona. I'm not sure if they have a committee for every state or not but I'm sure Mark might have the answer or I can ask it about it at our next meeting and see how it's gets started in a particular state.

P.S. You up for another Arizona trip???? LoL

legallyblonde · #5 11-16-2007, 12:22 PM

Hmmm, another trip to AZ......I might consider it as long as there is no trip to Sugar Daddys! How bout ya'll schedule it for February, when the weather is at its worst here?

Seriously though, I would really like to find out more about getting a Wags going out here. The more Wags events the better right? I'd love to make it out to CA for the one you guys have out there too.

mhstuart · #6 11-16-2007, 03:26 PM

Wags was the brainchild of the former director of the San Diego Chapter of MAW. She was also involved in Flyball, so that is how it started. It was created here in San Diego directly for the benefit of the San Diego chapter.

Obviously, it has been quite successful, last year alone raising $145,000 for the local wish kids.

Other chapters have been visiting the last few years to understand how it works and have been began to replicate the idea around the country. Expect to have a flock of Wags events around the USA in the coming years.

Splash Dogs events are quite expensive and labor intensive, therefore Tony continues at this time to support the San Diego Wags due to our personal relationship and mostly his extreme generosity of time and equipment. Last year Splash Dogs was able to generate a donation of over $6,000 to MAW. This money would normally go to Tony to cover his business costs, invest in equipment, pay down debt, etc.

Thank you Tony.

Because of this, there is no guarantee that where there is a Wags that there will be a dock jumping event unless the DJ organization's operator feels as Tony does about MAW.

cbrrescuemom · #7 11-17-2007, 09:45 AM

IDC was held there a few years back - they must have the space.

cbrrescuemom · #8 11-17-2007, 09:51 AM

Events might need to be held at different locations on their property but they have open spaces.

all4sadie · #9 11-17-2007, 07:54 PM

Congrats Brian...they are lucky to have you. I will keep my fingers crossed that Wags is there in S.D. again this coming year. I will be coming up on my three years at Wags and know how great it is to raise money of MAW..those kids are just awesome.

Thank you Mark and Brian for all that you do.

Cindy & Sadie

SplishSplashCrash · #10 11-18-2007, 01:27 PM

I have been talking to my manager about a possible event here at the Huamne Society that involves splash dogs and other sports.

We have a beuatiful facility with a huge back parking lot and beautiful agility field.

She loved the idea but I haven't heard back from her. I am going to bring it up again!