Recently, our precious Mascot of National Dog Day, Tinkerbelle, was diagnosed with brain cancer. She was only 9 years old upon diagnosis. Because of her amazing and magical spirit, she lived six months beyond what her life expectancy was determined to be. Sadly, she lost her battle with brain cancer on February 11th, 2010. Over the course of her little life, Tinkerbelle brought love and kisses to thousands, from the everyday dog lover, to celebrities, sick and challenged children and the elderly. Through National Dog Day events nationwide, she has helped to save over 50,000 homeless dogs.

She has done so much for so many - please help us to keep Tinkerbelle's memory alive. Donate to Tinkerbelle's Fairy Dust Fund by clicking the image below. Your tax deductible donation will assist families with dogs and cats that suffer from brain cancer and provide wheelchairs for special needs pets whose families cannot afford one. A significant portion of funds will also be used to help find a cure for brain cancer.

About Tinkerbelle

Tinkerbelle was a standard Chihuahua who went from unwanted and discarded...to loved and cherished.

Children flocked to "Tink" like seagulls on French fries...and were, to her, virtual cotton candy. Contrary to what most people think, once a human  encountered this little love bug, they required a shammy and some pocket wipes to avoid patches of dried "wahwah" drool on their cheeks and lips. A veritable fairy, covered in fur, Tink carried an epic love for people {especially children} and food. If there be one single crumb of a cracker or cookie in your pocket, she lulled you into hypnosis, disarming you with coos and kisses and like a seasoned pickpocket...and in the blink of an eye - left you lint free and none the wiser. A note of caution was always offered....check your wallet!

Beings of the canine world however, were a different story to Tink. One would think the Mascot of National Dog Day would embrace her fellow fur covered friends, however she held only a preference to the Jack Russell Terrier and Pug and drew the "snuggle line" with any other four legged creature. Tink had what we call "Chihuahua-tude". Her motto was "images in the mirror appear larger than they are". This is mostly due to getting seriously beat up at the dog park as a rescued puppy that had already gone through enough uncertainty in her life. Cleverly she devised a routine called "No Bite - All Bravado" and it worked 99.99999% of the time, to stave off prospective offenders. In fact, it worked so well, that a Great Dane or Mastiff would be told where to go in the shake of a leg and unsuspecting, curious puppies were cussed at in several different languages and harmlessly chased in a game, Tink liked to call, "catch you....pant, pant, pant...if I can".

This precious little soul that helped to save over 50,000 dogs will be forever be remembered in our thoughts, our hearts and in history, as the first and only Mascot of National Dog Day.