And the YourPets Grand Prize Winner is . . .

. . . Susan Rodnite and her dog, Daisy!  Their card, "Birthday Princess" has earned them the royal treatment.

Put your hands (and paws) together for this fun-loving duo and their Grand Prize winning card!  They deserve it, doggonit.   

YourPets Love Votes

You wouldn't deny those pets the love they deserve, would you?

There's less than one week left to vote for your favorite finalist in the YourPets contest. Make sure you cast your daily ballots from now until the polls close.

Next week we'll be deeming the top vote-getter "Grand Prize Winner!" And then it will be party time for those grandest of prize winners (of the human and pet varieties)!

Vote! We thank you. And the animals thank you.

Voting Concerns

It is very disappointing that we must, yet again, address voting problems. But address, we must.

We've been reading the blog comments and fielding emails and are aware that many of you have questions and concerns about how some entries seem to move up or down quickly and often dramatically. We hear ya and we're very frustrated by the whole thing too!

While we all hoped that entrants and their friends and families would have followed the golden rule in our contest voting, it seems that some have adopted a "win at all cost" approach. To make things fair for everyone, we have been watching carefully, over the course of the contest – reviewing voting patterns and data, looking for votes that violate the rules, especially the “one vote per person per day” rule. When we find violating votes, we remove them. Obviously, if fraudulent votes are removed from one entry’s tally, its percentage of the total votes likely goes down while the percentage of other votes goes up. Contrary to concerns raised by a few of you, we are not trying to "rig" the outcome, we are working to prevent a few bad apples in the voting world from unfairly skewing the results.

We carefully monitor voting reports on a daily basis. Our system logs which e-mail address votes for which card and we're able to quickly confirm the email addresses that are created for the purpose of fraudulent voting, so for now, the bad votes come out in large chunks (hence the percentage swings). It doesn't take CSI Miami to figure out the fraudulent voting, it's just very time consuming right now but we've been working hard to get things cleaned up. It's becoming a full-time job!

We have many ways to track votes that look fishy and we will continue to crack down on them. Please continue to vote fairly and don't let this contest go to the dogs (so to speak). We'd love to spend our energy on all the goodness tied to this contest and in dreaming up what's next, not in monitoring voting reports. So please encourage everyone you know to keep things clean through the next 11 days - the cleaner it is, the sooner we'll be able to announce the finalist that won fair and square. So vote with confidence knowing that we'll get all the bad votes out before the winner is crowned: It’s just a slow process right now, but we are on it.

In sum, we hear ya... we're with ya... and the winner will be the one with the most legitimate votes at the end of the day, of that you can be sure!

Shameless Self-Promotion #16: Dan & Lucy

Hi, I'm Dan Pinder, and this is my dog Lucy.

Lucy is a rescued dog. We adopted her last year. Although there are signs that she was abused (a scar across her neck about 5" long), she is a really great dog. She has learned a lot of commands in the last year since she has come to live with us. One thing that I think is unique about Lucy is that she purrs. Yes she does purr. Usually in the evening or late at night when I pet her, she makes a short purring sound.

If we win, I am going to donate $500 to the animal rescue groups in the Delaware/Pennsylvania area.

Shameless Self-Promotion #15: Amy & Jenkins

Hi All! Amy Parrish here, requesting your votes (while Jenkins is begging for them). While normally the life of the party, Jenkins was one party-pooped pooch the day I took this picture. If you would help him roll on over into first place he’d have another chance to celebrate!

Also (here comes the mushy stuff), I'd love to make my mom proud. Entering this contest was her idea to begin with. I love her so very much for always having such confidence in me. Both she and my dad have always let me grow at my own pace and not only experience, but also enjoy, the wonder that is life.

Thanks for reading...vote for Jenkins!

Cards Coming Soon to Stores!!

So, we went over to the Card Factory to see your card "gangs" being "cut" a while ago. The next step for our little team was to see the "ship test" -- an actual (pretend) display of what your Pets cards will look like once they're in the store. Plus, we got to see samples of your cards printed.

We were beyond thrilled. They all look so good. And they look amazing as a big group. You should be proud of yourselves. We sure were. Way to go, you guys.

Shameless Self-Promotion #14: Ginny & Nestle

Hi! I am Ginny Carter and this "shiny puppy" is Nestle... yes, like the chocolate.

Nestle, my Niece's dog, is a 2 1/2 year old, 6lb, short haired Chihuahua.

When his mommy comes home he jumps on the couch and wants belly kisses... it's a must, before you even take off your coat.

Nestle was just at his first baseball game, Dog Night at Shea Stadium...PLAY BALL! Also his favorite activity!

Vote for us... everyday, you do and Nestle will be on his back wanting belly kisses!!

Shameless Self-Promotion #13: Carol & Tucker

My name is Carol Pohlman and I'd like to thank you for considering Tucker as the grand finalist. His card doesn't give you the whole picture, so I've included it here.

Tucker's blood brother Kalamazoo was very sick and required life-saving surgery. My husband told Kal he needed to get a job to help cover his expenses, but you can see that he clearly wasn't up to it. However, big brother Tucker positioned himself for the challenge.

He's made it to the finalist stage and needs your help now! Please vote for us daily!

Shameless Self-Promotion #12: Susie & Tick Tock

Hi I am Susie Rodriguez from the Sunshine State Miami, Florida.

You should vote for me and my Oh so Photogenic and Colorful Senegal Parrot Tick Tock. Which has been named after one of my Husbands and My favorite Disney beloved Classics Peter Pan. For all of you that don’t remember its the Famous Crocodile that chases Captain Hook . Tick Tock is his name.

We thought of every GREEN thing on the face of this earth and this was really unique.
My parrot is really unique we can lay him down with his legs facing up (look at the photo).

Tick Tock is definitely a Bird-Dog for us, he is not a flyer he is a walker. The minute we say “Sleepy Time” he climbs down from his cage and follows my husband and I . He climbs up his ladder to climb up to the bed to go Night Night., He also loves to go for a ride especially to the drive thru of Burger King, that way he can grab a French fry.

Tick Tock eats dinner with us with his own mini plate his favorite foods and drink are: Spaghetti, Crackers, Cheese and loves Coca-cola (only one sip because that’s bad for him)

Vote For Us the Colorful Duet

Shameless Self-Promotion #11: Dustin & Sophia

Hey everyone!

This is Dustin Miller and my pet is Sophia!

The last month has made Sophia quite the diva - not only is she getting media coverage but she is now larger than her brother, my toy fox terrier Cooper!

Talk about letting a little fame go to her head, she will even grab him by his collar - but its all in play! She knows that she is too cute to get in trouble!

We would love for you to vote for us so that Sophia (and Cooper) can take their show on the road!

YourPets Puzzlers: #4

Post your guess. Beat the rest.



1. Trendy treat? Fun to eat.
    Doggy drool? Not so cool.

2. Sparkly smile, shiny snout.
    You can figure this one out.

3. Come on, puzzle nerds.
    This one's for the birds.

Shameless Self-Promotion #10: Elizabeth & Lucy

Hi! I'm Elizabeth, and this is my puppy, Lucy.

You should definitely vote for Lucy's card in the Hallmark yourPets greeting card contest. After all she's done for me, she deserves it.

I'd been going through some medical problems recently and medicine wasn't working. I decided that I needed some good old TLC instead, so I adopted Lucy.

Lucy and I like to work up a sweat chasing butterflies and playing fetch for hours and our new favorite place is the beach. But the times when I most appreciate her is when I'm feeling sick. I'll lay down on the couch, and she'll climb under the blankets and literally watch TV with me until we both fall asleep, no doubt drooling all over each other.

It's such a privilege to have her with me all the time, loving me unconditionally and making me laugh even when nothing else can. Thanks to her, I've never felt healthier in my life!

So vote for us, because if there was ever a dog that deserves to win, it's my best friend, Lucy.

Shameless Self-Promotion #9: Jill & Bella

Hi there! I'm Jill Williams and my darling rescue kitty is Bella. You should totally vote for us in this contest!

Bella the Beauty was rescued from a dump site back in July '07. When I met Bella last July, she was in a cage hoping to be a adopted by a loving family. She lucked out! I came along at the right moment and adopted her the day I met her.

After searching for a new companion for quite a few months, Bella exceeded my expectations on the day we met. Her scruffy, skinny body, matted fur and a lone snaggletooth may have deterred most people from giving her a second glance. But once I held her, I knew she would be my new roommate. Now she is spoiled, healthy and has more fur than I know what to do with.

Vote for THE sweetest snaggletooth around!

Real Cards! Real Soon!

We are so excited about your cards being printed, "cut," sorted into "gangs" and all of the other hocus pocus they do over in our card factories to translate our ideas into reality, that our little team took a trip to witness the action. We were not disappointed. So cool to see all your work out there in stacks and all gleaming and pretty. They look great. You people made some fine cards.

Look how many there are!! These puppies are being shipped and stocked all over the country in our Gold Crown Stores and lots of other ones, too. They are going to help make some happy birthdays out there, all over the place. Cool, right?

Seeing "behind the scenes" on the card production was like being on our own personal Mr. Rogers episode. Or some reality show about how they make stuff. Except for the fact that it actually was reality.

These are flats used by cool little fork lifts driven around the plant. The woman driving the one we saw was cruising. They didn't let us try it out for a spin. Something about safety codes.

Below is a glamour shot of the warehouse, where all the cards you created get stacked up and ready to ship...TO A STORE NEAR YOU BY MID-JUNE! Yippeee!!

Judgy
P.S. When is the next competition? Will there be a next competition? What will the next competition be about? Will I win the competition? These questions will all be answered in time. Pretty soon, even.
P.P.S. That's what I've been working on, in case you've missed me. I missed you. :)

YourPets Puzzlers: #3

Where are these from? Who'll guess first? Only you, dear bloggers, know.


1. Looks like this amazing cutie
just got back from a day of beauty.

2. When it comes to cute, this dog is it!
Huh? What's that? Speak up a bit.

3. Can't get enough
big puffy fluff.

Shameless Self-Promotion #8: Kathy & Hal

I think you should vote for me and my fabulous cat Hal Fishman... because my cat is a superstar.

I never expected the sick tiny kitten I found would turn out to be such a fixture in my life.

He follows me everywhere... into the shower... everywhere.

He has extra toes so he has very large feet and tends to be a bit clumsy, but I wouldn't want him any other way.

He makes me laugh on a daily basis and I am so lucky to have found him.

Shameless Self-Promotion #7: Sandy & Brittany

Hi! My name is Sandy Boucher and I am the proud Mama of Brittany Boucher.

She really is as sweet as she looks! She is the baby of the family with an older poodle "sister" and poodle "brother". Brittany turned 5 on April 22nd and it would be a great belated birthday present to get some extra votes!

Brittany gives "kisses" to everyone....including her dog groomer and vet! Brittany is not a morning girl though! She is the last one out of bed every morning and the first one in bed at night!

Her favorite game is throw the puppy biscuit off the couch and watch my Mama pick it up.

To know Brittany is to love her!!

Shameless Self-Promotion #6: Michelle & Zoe

Hi, I'm Michelle Trout.

I have the most spoiled adorable kitty. Her name is Miss Princess Zoe (really that's what she's registered as) and she knows it, so does our 75 lb dog.

Zoe is princess of the house, if she throws a meowing fit for something (like canned cat food) she usually gets it, she even sleeps on the dogs bed! And he does nothing about it.

Last month though, she was a completely diff cat for half the month, she had a kidney taken out and it took her a while to get back to herself. She's doing great now, thankfully because we wouldn't know what to do without her. Since we have had her, she turned my fiancé into a total cat person!

So please vote for us everyday. Zoe and I would greatly appreciate it! Her Majesty thanks you is advance ;)

Shameless Self-Promotion #5: Amanda & Jack

Hi! My name is Amanda Dunbar and you should vote for me and my dog Jack!

Jack is a 12 pound pomeranian who's a lovable bundle of fur! His favorite past times are going to the park to lay under a tree, chasing after squirrels and peeing on mom's area rug.

He doesn't really love to dress up but this picture is from Halloween. Jack was about 1 of 6 hot dogs at the park that day.

Anyway, thanks again for voting for us and don't forget to stop by daily!

Shameless Self-Promotion #4: Melissa, Chewie & Newie

Hi, I'm Melissa and these are my exceptional chinchillas, Chewie and Newie. You should vote for our card because it's unique! How many chinchillas have you ever seen on a Hallmark card? We also put a lot of hard work into this photo. Take a closer look - the entire scene was meticulously set up for maximum birthday cheer! Chewie and Newie sat through over 80 shots before we got it perfect. They're so exceptional because not many chinchillas would tolerate sitting still and wearing hats for that long! Please help make chinchilla cards instead of chinchilla coats. Vote everyday!