Wow and woof, what an exhilarating, inspiring, and thrilling ride the past ten years has been for Animal Fair Media. When Animal Fair launched in 1999, 11 million animals were killed in shelters annually. As of this year, the number has decreased to five million. After adopting my Russian Blue, Pasha, and my Maltese, Lucky from local New York City animal shelters, I was deeply moved and became motivated to help more rescue animals find homes. I envisioned and created the premier animal lifestyle media company entitled Animal Fair Media, representing fairness to animals.
Animal Fair Media is the first lifestyle media company for animal lovers in support of animal rescue. Animal Fair magazine is dedicated to highlighting non-profit animal organizations, giving them the opportunity to tell their inspirational stories and to provide contact information so that our readers can get involved. Renee Zellweger and her dog Dylan shined on our very first cover. Other celebrities believing in animal rescue that have graced our cover are Beyonce, Diane Lane, Halle Berry, Regis Philbin, Bo Derek, Pamela Anderson and Matt Leinart (plus many others), Our spring cover photo session with Micky Rourke and his dog Loki, was the last before sweet little Loki passed on.
After coining the now-frequently-used phrase “Pet Lifestyle” nine years ago, I have led Animal Fair to an expanding, yet modest, animal dynasty with focus on animal rescue. Lucky and I are frequent contributors to The Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Good Morning America and media outlets around the world. They have been featured in media, both nationwide and globally, including Time Magazine, The View, New York Times, People Magazine, CBS’ Early Show, Oprah, Los Angeles Times, Extra, MTV, VH1, E!, New York Post, and London Times. Forbes Magazine went on to don me the “Canine Queen”.
Since 1999, Animal Fair Media has created and hosted four annual highly visible media events, with all proceeds benefiting animal rescue organizations. These events include Paws For Style, Yappy Hour, Halloween Pet Costume Party and Toys For Dogs. Each individual event generates at least 30 to 50 million media impressions yearly. Our events spring from Animal Fair’s commitment and dedication to providing assistance to animals in need.
Paws For Style is the very first canine charity fashion show featuring top dog designer outfits worn by celebrities and dogs walking the catwalk for charity. The roster of top dog designers who have participated in the Paws For Style event include Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana, Vera Wang, and Betsey Johnson. Celebrity dog walkers that have strutted the Paws For Style runway with canines in couture include Hilary Swank, Paula Abdul, Hugh Hefner, Lauren Conrad, Richard Belzer, Hayden Panettiere, Hilary and Haylie Duff and many others. This event has raised money for various dog charities and shelters such as The Humane Society of New York.
What would Halloween be without a pet costume party? Animal Fair’s Halloween Pet Costume Party is where pets and their people dress up in outrageous costumes. There’s even a contest to determine who is the scariest or most creative, with ten costume categories. Celebrity judges in the past have included, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Beth Ostrosky Stern and Dina & Ali Lohan.
Our Toys 4 Dogs event is a festive celebration, where guests and their pets donate a toy for shelter dogs to play with during the holiday season. “Secret Celebrity Santas” and his (or her) helpers join in the festivities making this a family fun filled event.
Yappy Hour is my soiree for singles and their pets! Animals are known to be easy conversational icebreakers and great material for opening one-liners for people looking for puppy love. Lucky and I have traveled cross-country and hosted Yappy Hour parties in major cities, with all proceeds benefiting local animal rescue shelters.
As Chairperson (and Lucky the Chairdog) for the Katrina Pet Memorial, one of the biggest honors given to was the prestigious Humane Society of Louisiana’s International Animal Ambassador Award. At Animal Fair, we strongly support and have brought awareness to the tireless work that The Humane Society of New Orleans provides to the thousands of animals left abandoned after Hurricane Katrina struck. They are still working to build a new shelter after the original was demolished by the hurricane.
While Animal Fair magazine was expanding, I penned my first book, How to Understand Men Through Their Dogs. After dating a bevy of men with different breeds of dogs, I couldn’t help but notice how often men and their dogs’ personalities matched (even if they didn’t match mine). How to Understand Women Through Their Cats was my follow up book for those curious about the felines in their life. Both made it on the best sellers list. Random House will unleash my next title, It’s a Dog’s World, The Savvy Guide To Four-legged Living, holiday season 2009. Catch my weekly pet-lifestyle column in New York City’s Metro (the 6th largest newspaper in the country).
The first Animal Fair Media docu-comedy we created was based on the Yappy Hour rescue tour (that rose $200,000 for animal rescue) titled In Search Of Puppy Love, was awarded and showcased at the Boston and Cancun Film Festivals Lucky and Wendy were also pet-expert judges on CBS’ Greatest American Dog (American Idol for pets) during the 2008 summer primetime series.
Whew! As you can see, Animal Fair Media has been incredibly active with our main goals two-fold: to facilitate a healthy and loving pet lifestyle for people and their pets, and to save as many animals as possible. I would like to personally thank every volunteer, celebrity, supporter, business associate, friend, and animal enthusiast who has generously lent their encouragement, talent and time, thereby making the past ten years the most unforgettable experience of my life, same goes for Lucky and Pasha. May the next decade be as productive, and let’s keep one goal in mind – to make this country a “no-kill” nation.
For the Best the Pet Lifestyle and animal welfare has to offer follow Wendy and Lucky Diamond on Facebook, Twitter, and right here at AnimalFair.com!
