IT’S THE DOG DAYS of summer  and that means it’s time for the annual Daily Drool Secret Pawtner Exchange!  What is this? Well, it’s a fun end-of-summer project, a way to make some great new friends and help basset rescues all at the same time! Sign-ups start Fri. 8/7 and end Wed. 8/12.  You’ll receive your pawtner’s info a day or so after sign-ups end. Then it becomes your mission to find a great basset-related gift for your pawtner along with some treats for the hounds.  Keep your identity a secret until your pawtner receives  your package, but  you may post clues on the new Drool Secret Pawtner site, which works just like the Drool digest,  to tease everyone (details below, under sign-up info).  Please keep in mind that NOT everyone posts clues.

RULES & REMINDERS: 1) The gift is for the human  but treats are a MUST for the hounds. 2)Stay within a $35 budget for the human gift ($20 if you are doing the “mini” secret pawtner exchange). 3)Mail your package in time for it to REACH its destination by Sept. 5th. This means you have to plan ahead for your mail or ship date. 4)A prompt thank you directly to the person who sent your gift is a MUST even if you post about what you got to the Drool Secret Pawtner site.  5)Be sure to include your name and at least your e-mail address as well as a picture of  your houndage in your package. If you have a rescue send your package, be sure to have them include your information in the package. If you’re sending more than one package, just be sure to let them know your identity by the last package. Do make  your package fun - be creative with the presentation! 6) If you make homemade goodies, be sure to include the ingredients in case of allergies. 7)If you don’t have time to get a package out on time, please don’t sign up.  It’s very disappointing to put a lot of effort into a package for your pawtner, then read what fun everyone else has opening their goodie box and not getting yours - anyone who signs up and then doesn’t send a package will not be allowed to participate again.  Again, THANK YOUs are an absolute  must.

BUT WHAT IF. . . something dreadful and unexpected happens?  What if I’m going to be out of town when my package might arrive?  E-mail me right away and let me know so I can let your pawtner know to make an adjustment.  Please don’t wait until the last minute and leave your pawtner hanging.   And don’t wait until the last minute to let ME know.  Here I have to say that is terribly unfair to not have your package arrive on time. If you have an emergency, there are rescues that  will send your package out the next day. Or  you can arrange with another Drooler or a friend to have your package sent out.  The best advice I have for everyone is to plan ahead. If the potential for a problem to arise is there, make a back-up plan NOW.

SUGGESTIONS:  1)For great gifts, shop rescue! They’ll all be chiming in on the Drool Secret Pawtner site. They have great stuff and they are very efficient. 2) Homemade gifts are fun, too. 3).Clues are fun. You might think it’s hard, but it’s really not. This is where the archives come in handy. There’s links to the archives in the list just below the basset on every Drool - use it to find out something about your pawtner or their houndies. 4) Plan ahead. It’s so much more fun if you’re not doing this at the last minute.  5) Enlist a friend to help you send clues through the mail  -  posting clues is not the only way to tease your pawtner! If  you have questions, email me at dlindy@mac.com    (Clues are hints as to whose name you have . . . as in my secret pawtner lives in a state that is west where I live.)

HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR SECRET PAWTNER?  Email the following information to me in the same format, please. Be sure to put your name in the subject line.   Droolers who live outside the mainland U. S. are encouraged to sign up!   And, one more time, please PUT  YOUR NAME IN THE SUBJECT LINE when signing up.   If you’re signing up for the “mini” secret pawtner exchange, please add “mini” after your name in the subject line.

YOUR NAME  (be sure your name is also in the subject line; add “mini” if you’re  doing the $20 gift limit)

YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

YOUR HOME ADDRESS (if you have a P.O. Box, please give street address for UPS or FedX deliveries)

NAMES  & AGES OF YOUR BASSETS (indicate M or F if the name doesn’t make it obvious)

NAMES OF WANNABES

ANSWER THIS QUESTION:  YES, I will be posting clues  or  NO, I will not be posting clues.

OPTIONAL: favorite color, tee shirt size, etc

ALSO OPTIONAL: indicate if you’re willing to have a pawtner who lives outside the mainland USA - keep in mind that this will mean higher mailing expense and an earlier deadline for mailing.  Also, if you are willing to help out in the event someone has to drop out or doesn’t send a package or if you’d like to send a package to someone who is unable to participate due to hardship.

                                                                   ____________________________________________

NOW THAT  YOU’VE SIGNED UP FOR SECRET PAWTNER, SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY DROOL SECRET PAWTNER DIGEST TO SEND AND RECEIVE CLUES!  Be sure to sign up using the same email address you’ll be sending your clues from or your posts will be rejected.  This works JUST LIKE the Daily Drool digest but is for secret pawtner posts and clues ONLY.  This will make it easier for  you to keep up with clues and be less frustrating for those Droolers who aren’t participating in the exchange. 

It’s easy to sign up! Just go to:  http://lists.dailydrool.org/listinfo.cgi/secretpawtner-dailydrool.org

Still have questions?  Click on  Email Me below on lower right corner.