When you visit one of British Columbia’s world-class wineries the first one to greet you at your arrival is likely to be the winery dog. If you fall in love with more than the wine you will now be able to take the dog home with you (or at least a paper version of him!).
After visiting more than 100 BC wineries wine-author and radio columnist Troy Townsin recognised the “wine to K9” relationship and decided to put together a project with the BCSPCA to celebrate it.
With help from Vancouver based designer Cassandra Whalen he has created an attractive full-colour 24 x 36 poster and large 12 x 12, 2008 wall calendar featuring the winery dogs from around 35 BC wineries. “The professionally designed poster will look fantastic in your living room or bar and the colour calendar will have you smiling every time you turn a page” says Townsin.
“It is just uncanny how many winery dogs there are in BC” he comments. “As I traveled the province visiting wineries while putting together my book ‘Cooking with BC Wine’ I met so many dogs with such huge personalities that I wanted to do something different. I thought that maybe we could document and celebrate this wonderful feature of BC’s wineries that not everyone knows about and at the same time raise some money for a worthy cause”. Partial proceeds from the sale of these ‘Winery Dogs of BC’ items are donated to the BCSPCA.
All the dogs involved in the project have unique backgrounds. Some of them are working dogs who actually help out in the vineyards by keeping away unwanted animals and birds or by removing old canes from the vines. Some of the dogs are BCSPCA dogs that have been abused or discarded by their former owners and now they get this second chance at life at the winery.
“For me the coolest part is that these dogs are doing their part to raise this money for the BCSPCA that is going to help out other animals” says Townsin. The BCSPCA is responsible for rescuing over 50,000 domestic, farm and wild animals each year.
Winery Dogs of BC posters and calendars are available now at featured wineries and select wine stores that support the BC wine industry.
For further information, product samples, photographs or for an interview with Troy Townsin he can be contacted during the day or evening at (250) 984 4088 or by email at contactus@polyglotpublishing.com
