Penny's Blog



DOGTV Guest Blog Post
Hi, everyone!

I'm very excited to announce that my mom is a guest blogger for DOGTV's Everything Dog Blog! You can read her very first guest post by copy and pasting the link below into your web browser.

http://blog.dogtv.com/delightfully-different-dogs/


Until next time!


Hugs and Wags,

Penny

Find Your Fido in October
October is one of my favorite months. I love running through the leaves. The smell of burning leaves and kettle corn always makes me smile. Seeing pumpkins lying in the field brings a spark of excitement to my soul.

Now, I have another reason to love October. It is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month! Adoption of shelter animals is a cause that is very close to my heart. All of my furry siblings have been adopted from local animal rescue groups and shelters. Adopting saves the lives of wonderful animals that may otherwise be euthanized for issues as foolish as lack of spacing or medical care.

I am proud to be partnering with the ASPCA for their Find Your Fido campaign. Fido is a cardboard cutout ambassador for shelter dogs. He will be traveling on adventures throughout the country spreading the message that shelter dogs rock!

You can show your support for this awesome campaign in numerous ways. The first is by sharing a photo of your favorite rescue pooch on your social media channels using the hashtag #FindYourFido and tagging @ASPCA.

Another way to show your Fido pride is by adding the special Find Your Fido filter to your Facebook and Twitter profile photo. To download the filter, click the link: https://twibbon.com/Support/aspca-findyourfido.

We want to see your precious pooches! If you adopted your dog (or dogs) from an animal shelter or rescue group, then you must enter our giveaway. All you need to do is post a photo of your furry rescue pup in the comments section. One winner will receive an ASPCA tote bag filled with amazing goodies. The winner will be announced on October 31st.

Join the Find Your Fido movement today! Together, we can find a home for every shelter dog.

Hugs and Wags,

Penny

Story Monster Approved
Hello, everyone!

I am so excited to announce that my book has been Story Monster Approved! Read the official press release below.


�Priceless Penny� Earns Story Monster Approval

CHANDLER, AZ (July, 2016) � The judges of the Story Monster Approved program, which recognizes accomplished authors in the field of children's literature have spoken, and Priceless Penny by Lauren Kramer-Theuerkauf has earned approval.

The colorful, kid-friendly Story Monster Approved seal attracts the attention of young readers much more than a sticker intended for adult scrutiny. Kids know when they see the Story Monster Approved patch it means children their own age enjoyed the book and are recommending they read it, too. How do they know that? Because after books pass the first round of rigorous judging � which is done by industry experts, the books are then judged by a panel of youth judges who must also endorse the books before they can receive the official seal of approval.

"Who better to judge children�s books than the children who read them?� explains Linda F. Radke, president of Five Star Publications, Inc., the same company that launched the Dragonfly Book Awards program, now in its fourth year.� Judging these books gives children a wonderful sense of importance and responsibility. Some of our judging coordinators have told us that students who usually don�t enjoy reading or have difficulty reading have gotten a much-needed boost due to their judging responsibilities and have requested to serve as judges again."

Authors interested in having their books considered for Story Monster Approved designation should visit www.StoryMonsters.com and download an entry form. Books are divided into the following categories with distinctions made between fiction and nonfiction: Preschool to Kindergarten, Grades 1-3, and Grades 4-6.

The cost to enter is $85 for one title in one category. There is no deadline to enter. Books are sent for judging as they are received. Results are generally announced 4 � 6 weeks after submission.

For more information on how to get a book Story Monster Approved, visit www.StoryMonsters.com. To learn more about Five Star Publications, Inc., which is celebrating 30 years in producing award-winning books, visit www.FiveStarPublications.com, email fivestarpublications@gmail.com or call 480-940-8182.


Thank you for all of your love and support!


Lots of Love,

Penny

Penny Featured on Dogster.com
Hello, everyone!

Mom and I are so honored to announce that I am currently being featured on Dogster.com as part of the Monday Miracle Series! Please share this article with your friends and family and help us spread the word that different is beautiful!

Check out the article here: http://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/priceless-penny-proves-tripod-dogs-can-triumph

Thank you for your support!


Lots of Love,

Penny

Exciting News!
Hello, everyone!

Mom and I have some very exciting news to share. I am going to be featured on the Dogster.com website! My mom did a telephone interview with writer Heather Marcoux on Friday, October 16th.

The article will be part of a series on the Dogster.com website called "Monday Miracles." I am so honored to be able to share my story with fellow dog lovers! I hope that people will be inspired to adopt differently-abled animals.

Guess what else? My children's book is almost finished! James Sell, our super-talented illustrator, is currently working on the cover as we speak. Mom will be posting a special sneak preview here on my website, so be sure to stayed tuned!

We also have a BIG surprise in store for the book launch party. Mom won't let me spill the beans yet, but I can tell you that it's going to be fun!

Until next time!

Lots of Love,

Penny


Tripod Power!
Hello, everyone!

I am so excited to announce that I am one of the featured Chiweenies in this month's Chiweenie Pack newsletter! Check out my photo and Pack page by clicking on this link: http://bark.packdog.com/w/kMt1SPE2smO76eZKSxgYJQ


The Pack website (http://www.packdog.com) is a wonderful community of dog lovers from all around the world. Creating an account is free and fun! Once you have an account, you can post photos and videos of your own precious pooches as well as sign up for monthly newsletters that are breed specific.

Mom and I love the track (a.k.a. follow) feature that keeps us up to date on our favorite dogs. Pack is always evolving. Their newest feature allows you to follow groups that include veterinarians and rescue organizations.

Be sure to check out Pack today! Don't forget to follow my Pack page at: http://packdog.com/penny-147


Lots of love,


Penny


Anxious Anticipation
Hello, everyone!

When my mom showed me the PDF attachment that our illustrator had sent her, I gasped. I was looking at the final line art for my children's book, "Priceless Penny." Everything looked amazing and I was completely blown away.

I am not easy to draw with my severe overbite and special front paw. Yet, our illustrator was able to perfectly capture the two features that make me the special pooch that mom says I am. She keeps everything that is related to my book in a large binder. Once she placed the line art inside, she flipped back through the pages.

It was truly an wonderful feeling to look at the original storyboards and see how my story had taken shape through each phase of the illustration process. The book was literally coming alive right before my eyes. I cannot wait for everyone to see it!

Be sure to check out my mom's official author page on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/laurenkramertheuerkauf

Her author profile is now listed on JacketFlap.com! Find it here: http://www.jacketflap.com/profile.asp...

Want access to exclusive sneak peeks of upcoming projects, access to limited edition merchandise and more? Head over to my mom's official website at: www.theuerkaufstails.com and sign up for my monthly e-mail newsletter!

I look forward to you joining my pack!

Lots of love,

Penny

Penny's Birthday!
Hello, everyone!


Today is a very special day! Not only is it National Walk n' Roll Dog Day, but it is also....my 4th birthday!

National Walk n' Roll Dog Day helps spread awareness about Dachshunds living with IVDD. There are options and there is hope. Roll on, wheelin' weenies! Be sure to visit the official National Walk n' Roll Dog Day Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/NationalWalknRollDogDay.


Today is also my birthday! I am officially 4 years old. My family celebrated by giving me a big Halloween bone and gave small "frosting" covered mini bones to the rest of the pack. Mom and Dad say that they can't imagine life without their little Stumper!

No doubt about it, I am one lucky tripod! Be sure to check out photos and videos from my birthday party on my Photo Gallery and Videos pages.

Lots of love and birthday bone kisses,

Penny

Tricky Tripods
Hello, everyone!

My mom recently wrote a post for her pet blog, Theuerkauf's Tails. Since it was about me (and other tripod dogs) I wanted to share it with you. Enjoy!




One evening my husband began to tell me about a contest that he had heard about on the radio. InstaCredit Automart was having a photo contest and the winner would get to be in the next InstaCredit Automart commercial! We looked at each other and said, �Penny!�



She is our adorable tripod baby that was born with a deformed front paw and a severe overbite. Aside from being the gorgeous girl that she is, Penny is also super friendly. She loves everything and everybody. In fact, she practically raised the cat that we rescued off of the street as a two week old kitten.



Young and old alike cannot seem to get enough of her. Everyone is always surprised at the softness of her fur. She might just be the softest dog in the world. We had no doubt that Penny could win.



I uploaded a photo of Penny in her Christmas dress to the InstaCredit Automart Facebook page. Then, I began my ruthless social media campaign. I posted the link on my Facebook page, Penny�s Facebook page, my twitter page, Penny�s twitter page, my Instagram, Penny�s Instagram�



The votes began to come rolling in. Like any good pet parent, I was checking her totals every day�sometimes twice! As the numbers climbed higher, I felt more confident that Penny would be crowned the winner.



Soon, I was fantasizing about what could happen to Penny if she won. She would be asked to be a spokes dog for Purina, get her face on bags of dog food, be the guest of honor at dog events like Bark in the Park. After that, she would be asked to appear on the Today Show to explain her incredible adoption story. This news would spread to the beloved Ellen DeGeneres, who would soon book us for her show. Penny and I would get to live the dream of traveling the country spreading her message that different is beautiful and nothing is �impawsible.�



On June 2nd, I received a phone call from InstaCredit Automart. Penny was a finalist! We were invited to the Ultimate Pet Play Date where she would compete with the other finalists for the coveted commercial spot. The weather that day was anything but supportive. We got caught in two torrential downpours on our drive there.



We arrived early (as usual) and decided to sit in our car until the event official kicked off. Naturally, we went into full-on pageant parent mode. We silently judged Penny�s competition that began to fill the parking lot. Honestly speaking, I thought Penny was a shoe-in.



We headed into InstaCredit Automart and waited for the contest to begin. Dogs of all shapes and sizes were everywhere. Most of the owners were in competition mode and did not really mingle with the other pet parents. That didn�t bother Penny one bit. Her tail never stopped wagging.



She happily sniffed each pooch that passed by. She even got sniffed by Buckley Jr. and Buckley himself. In case you aren�t familiar with these dogs, they are the �famous� InstaCredit Automart dogs. Buckley�s handler kept bringing him past Penny. I took this as a very good sign.



Before I knew it, it was time to line up to be judged. The announcer began to tell everyone the rules. The dogs were going to be judged on a 15 point system: friendliness, presence on camera�and agility. My heart dropped. They wanted the dogs to perform tricks!



I was livid. Nowhere in the rules did it mention tricks. I frantically began to ask my husband if I should make Penny stand up at the end of the �red carpet� and make her dance for a treat. We agreed to just let Penny be Penny and see what would happen.



We have not trained Penny to perform any tricks since she is a tripod dog. The issue isn�t that she cannot perform tricks. She jumps over our 3 foot pet gate on her own! The issue is that we love Penny and know that her three �good� legs have to work much harder than a �normal� dogs� in order to compensate for her �stump.� This puts extra pressure on her joints since the weight isn�t evenly distributed.

Also, she is part Dachshund and we are trying to be very careful with her back. My friend had a doxie that slipped a disc. The surgery cost $5,000! While we would do anything for our fur babies, we would rather not take the chance of injuring them.



Penny did her very best as she strutted down the red carpet. She even stopped to sniff the judges. We stood by the front doors, watching and waiting. Suddenly, a little fluff ball of a dog came running over to Penny.



�Oh, my gosh! She�s a tripod, too!� squealed the dog�s owner. The tiny long-haired Chihuahua�s name was Lena. She had to have her front right leg amputated due to abuse from her former owner. Lena was a smiling ball of energy. I could see why she bonded with Penny. And her owners were thrilled to meet another tripod pooch. We took several pictures of Lena and Penny together. You can check them out on Penny�s website at: www.pricelesspennyp.com.



We turned our attention back to the contest just in time to see Boomer, a homely looking Boxer, come schlepping down the carpet. That�s when the show began. His owner dropped to her knees and proceeded to have Boomer give her a high-five, dance and do the exploding fist bump. I knew at that moment we were toast.



As they began to announce the winners, I saw several of the judges look at me and Penny. They started talking to each other and I thought that we might still have a chance. Little Miss Lena won second place! My husband instructed me not to scream as he figured that Penny won first place.



My heart was beating wildly in my chest. I was ready to parade Penny up in front of the judges and pose for pictures.



�And our first place winner is�Boomer!�



WHAT?! There had to be some sort of mistake. While I understand that every pet parent knows that his/her baby is the cutest, I can honestly say that this dog was very plain. And I am not speaking as a sore loser. I even told my husband that I would have been completely happy if any other dog would have won. There was an adorable miniature Greyhound, a dazzling Yorkie, the list goes on. Why Boomer was picked as a finalist in a photo contest, I will never understand.



This brings me to my major complaint: Boomer won because of the tricks that he performed. I do not feel that this was fair. A dog should not be judged on what types of tricks it can do unless the contest is specifically for tricks. This was supposed to be a photo contest. The dog�s personality was supposed to be judged to assure that he/she would get along with the InstaCredit Automart dogs that he/she would be filming with. But, they chose to boil it all down to tricks.



Penny is such an inspiration. She doesn�t need any tricks or gimmicks to make her special or unique because she already is. Abandoned as a stray in California, Penny has remained sweet to everyone that she meets, even though she had been tossed aside like garbage. Being born with several deformities doesn�t stop her from doing anything that a �normal� dog can do. She continues to amaze us daily with the power of her loving spirit.



We don�t need to win a contest to validate how wonderful Penny is. We have the honor of getting to experience Penny every day. Our lives were forever changed for the better the day that we made her a part of our furry family.

Big News!
Hello, everyone!

I have very exciting news! We have decided to work with a brand new illustrator. His name is James Sell. He is from England and is super talented.

Check out his sketch of me on the home page! James is currently working on a storyboard of images for my book. I cannot wait to see what fabulous illustrations he has in store!

Be sure to check my website often for updates!


Lots of Love,

Penny

Instagram War
Hello, everyone!

I am in the midst of an Instagram war with my sister, Hope! She currently has 446 followers. I have 320. Please help me to earn the bragging rights of being "top dog." Be sure to follow me @pricelesspennyp.

There is also an exciting development with my book! Our literary agent will be presenting my manuscript to over 30 publishers at the annual Book Expo America. I can hardly wait for May!

In honor of my two favorite fur siblings, I have created some new boards on my Pintrest page. One is called "Mighty Miracle: The Journey of a Rescued Kitten." The other is "Having Hope Always." Follow these boards to keep up on the latest photos and videos of my sisters.

Lots of love,

Penny


Penny Gets Social
Hello, everyone!

Since I love to meet new people, my mom has created an Instagram account just for me! Check me out at: @pricelesspennyp. You can catch some never before seen photos and videos of me that are not posted on my website.

My mom and I are both so inspired by my new sister, Hope, that she created a Facebook page and Instagram account for her, too! You can find her at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Having-Hope-Always and @havinghopealways on Instagram.

I thought that we should also create a Facebook page for my fur sister, Miracle. Her rescue story is even more amazing than mine! You won't want to miss the adorable pictures and videos on her page. Check her out at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mighty-Miracle-The-Journey-of-a-Rescued-Kitten.

So, what are you waiting for? Connect with me and my furry family today! I can't wait to meet you!

Lots of love,

Penny

Hope has Arrived!
Hello, everyone!

I have some very exciting news! My mom and dad adopted a special needs Doxie named Hope. She came from a backyard breeder who did not know that you are not supposed to breed two Dapple Doxies together. As a result, Hope was born with no eyes and is mostly deaf.

But, just like me, she doesn't let her disabilities stop her! She loves to run with me and our fur siblings out in the backyard. Hope can also jump onto chairs all by herself. Now, if only we could get her to stop chasing Miracle, our cat.

Remember, special needs animals deserve love, too. You would be surprised what these amazing creatures can accomplish with a little TLC.

We are still anxiously awaiting for a publishing company to pick up my book. Our literary agent is working very hard to make that happen. I cannot wait to share my story with the world!

Lots of love,

Penny

New Year News
Hello, everyone!

I hope that you are all having a wonderful 2014. We certainly are! My mom recently received a promotion at work! I am so proud of her. While this means that I may not get to spend as much time with her as I used to, I know that she loves me just as much as she always has.

Miracle, our little kitty, has been recovering from several surgeries. I am ready to play with her, but mom and dad keep telling me and my fur siblings that we need to wait until she is completely healed. I hope that it's soon!

We are still anxiously awaiting for a publishing company to pick up my story. I am very hopeful. I think that this year is going to be THE year.

I am also very glad to see that Trooper, our local celebrity pup, has finally found a loving forever home. He has been through so much and deserves to be happy and loved.

Please let me know how your new year is going. And I would love to see pictures of your furry friends.

Lots of love,

Penny

Weekend Fun
Hello, everyone!

I had a super busy weekend. Mom and dad took me, Domino and Adriel to the Pet Expo in St. Charles, MO. What an amazing day! I got lots of belly rubs and met the coolest dogs.

One dog's name is Pixie. She is a white tea cup Chihuahua. And guess what? She only has three legs, just like me! We had fun playing together. Check out our group photo in my photo gallery.

I also met a very special dog named Baby. She is also a Chihuahua that has "lobster paws" like mine. Even thought both of her front paws are deformed, she walks and runs just like other dogs.

Mom and dad took me to a Halloween party yesterday at Smarty Paws Dog Training Facility. What a blast! I dressed up as a taco. And guess what? I came in second place! My sister, Adriel, won fourth place for her angel costume.

I am being nice and sharing all of my winnings with my brothers and sister (and Miracle, too). We especially love to play with the Miss Piggy toy.

I cannot wait to dress up again for Halloween!

Lots of love,

Penny

Big News Revealed
Hello, everyone!


I have had a very exciting weekend. I got to go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society�s annual Light the Night event with my mom in Forest Park! I loved all of the belly rubs that I got from fellow walkers. Now if only mom would have dropped part of her sandwich�

Be sure to check out the new photos of me at the event on my Photos page!

Unfortunately, I do have some bad news to pass along. The Kickstarter.com campaign for my book was not successfully funded. I know that my mom and dad worked very hard on the video and spreading the word via social media. But, I have no regrets!

Now, on to the big, HUGE, super-wonderful news! Priceless Penny has been offered representation by a literary agency! My mom just signed the contract this morning. We are all incredibly excited to see where this collaboration will take us.

I hope that you will continue to follow me on my journey by visiting my Facebook page, twitter page, Pintrest page, and of course, my website! I need your help to get the word out about my story. I greatly appreciate each and every one of you!



Lots of love,



Penny

Penny's Birthday!
Guess what everyone? Today is my birthday! I am officially 2 years old. Whoo!

My parents stayed up extra late last night so that we could celebrate at midnight. They even surprised me with my very own birthday cookie! It was so delicious! Head over to my videos page to see me enjoying it.

My other fur siblings joined in the fun by snacking on smaller versions of my cookie. I had such a wonderful time! Check out the latest pictures from my birthday party on my photos page.

I would also like to say a big thank you for all of the birthday wishes that I have received! You are all so wonderful!

And I haven't forgotten about our BIG news. I should be able to tell you in a few more days. So, hang in there!

Lots of love,

Penny

Nifty News
Hello, everyone!

My parents have so VERY exciting news...coming soon! I really wish that I could spill the beans, but, they want me to wait for now. Drat!

Be sure to visit my website frequently so that you will be up to date on all of the latest news from the Priceless Penny Project!

Don't forget to check out my Photo Gallery! My mom just uploaded some pretty cute pics of me.

Have a wonderful day!

Lots of love,

Penny

Pledges Needed
Hello, everyone!

We officially have 2 backers for the "Priceless Penny" children's book project! Whoo!

I hope that more people will be inspired by my story. Currently, the manuscript is being professionally edited. I cannot wait to see the end result!

Once we have the edited manuscript, we can begin the design process. How exciting! So, please help to make my book a reality by supporting our campaign at www.kickstarter.com.

I appreciate your support!

Lots of love,

Penny

Kickstarter Cover Update
My mom was quite surprised when she received an e-mail from our illustrator, Shameema Dharsey. She had been viewing my Kickstarter.com project page and came up with an amazing idea for the cover photo.

She took an actual photo of me and then placed her cartoon creation on top. Shameema then added the words "Priceless Penny" in a cool font and color. We are continually blown away by this woman's talent!

So, please head over to Kickstarter.com and check it out! We are still in need of your support to make this book a reality.

Lots of love,

Penny

First Pledge Received
I don't believe it! Within just 15 minutes of my mom launching the Kickstarter.com campaign, we received our very first pledge!

I am so happy that my story is important to others. I hope to show the world that there is nothing that cannot be achieved with a little courage and love.

Please help me to spread my message by making a pledge on my Kickstarter.com project page. I truly appreciate your support!

Lots of love,

Penny


Kickstarter Campaign Goes Live
Hello, everyone!

I am very excited to announce that my official Kickstarter.com campaign has gone live! We are now accepting pledges for my children's book project and offering some pretty neat rewards in return.

Check out our pledge video featuring...me! Simply click on the link below:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/838723198/priceless-penny-childrens-book

I greatly appreciate your support in helping me bring my message of courage and hope to the world! Thank you!

Lots of love,

Penny

Friendly Fans
Hello, everyone!

I can't believe that my website has 53 Facebook likes! I am honored that people want to learn more about me and my adoption story.

My parents have just created a Kickstarter video starring me! We are eagerly awaiting approval before we will be able to go live. Once we do, people will actually have a chance to support and be a part of my book.

I hope that I will be able to spread my message of courage and hope to the world! And I would not be able to do that without wonderful fans like you! Keep up the great work! I appreciate it!

Lots of love,

Penny

Illustrator Announced
Good morning, everyone! I have a BIG announcement to make! My parents have officially selected the illustrator of my book.

Congratulations to Ms. Shameema Dharsey! She is one super-talented woman who lives in Cape Town, South Africa. Be sure to check out her website at: http://shameemadharsey.artworkfolio.com/

I know that you will be just as impressed with her artwork as we are. And, as a sneak peek to all of my loyal fans, I have uploaded her preliminary sketch of me in my photo gallery. Check it out!


Lots of love,

Penny

Puzzling Process
I cannot believe that it is already August! It seems like just yesterday, summer was starting.

My owners are making progress on my book! I believe that they have finally decided on an illustrator. But, there is still much work to be done. Now, they need to find someone to do the layout and design of my book.

We want this book to be the best that it can possibly be! I never realized exactly how much work goes into making just one book. Wow! Thankfully, I get to sit in my mom's lap and relax while she works on her computer.

Lots of love,

Penny



Wonderful Works
What a complex process this is! I never realized how much work went into producing a book. And the illustrations are a huge part of my story.

I am excited, though! I think that my mom and dad have selected an illustrator for my book. And I cannot wait to share that news with you!

They have looked at numerous versions of me. We have seen everything from digital art to an oil painting! I feel like Mona Lisa! There are definitely some talented people out there.

Please check back soon!

Lots of love,

Penny


Amazing Artist
Today, we are meeting with one VERY talent artist who could become the illustrator of my book. I am feeling both honored and nervous!

I am looking forward to playing in the park that we will be meeting at. I just hope that the rain will hold off until later in the afternoon.

Wish me luck!

Lots of love,

Penny


Imaginative Illustrators
Hi, everyone!

I cannot believe the amazing preliminary sketches that we have received so far. I have never looked so good! Choosing just one to illustrate my book will be a tough decision (I'm glad that my mom and dad will be handling that!).

I am also touched that so many people are interested in my story. I hope that it will inspire you and make you run to your nearest animal shelter so that you can give another pooch the same amazing chance that I was given.

That's all the news for now!

Lots of love,

Penny

Penny Preview
Hello, everyone! My name is Penny and I am very excited about my upcoming book. I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I do.

Please check back soon for updates and new posts!

Lots of love,

Penny
Check out this amazing video of me jumping over our pet gate!  My parents were very surprised when I landed in the middle of the living room!
© 2020 Priceless Penny