MARK YOUR CALENDAR -- May 16th, 17th and 18th

WHAT IS A WADDLE ANYHOW??? The Waddle is a three-day event that you won't want to miss. It's Michigan Basset Rescue's largest fundraiser of the year and people come from all over the country as well as Canada and Ireland to participate. It's the original and best basset waddle - don't be fooled by imitations! Most importantly, this is a FUNDRAISER. People collect money for MBR. Waddlers gather so much per block that their dog completes (like a walkathon).  The parade is just ten short blocks and ALL dogs complete the route (see "Pooped Pup Pickup Trucks" below.) We don't tell anyone how much to collect per block. We do have great prizes and trophies for the people with the most pledges and those who have traveled the farthest with their pet(s).

NEW!!! Get your WADDLE PACKET now for ALL the details (pdf file requires Adobe Acrobat).

(Note that the WADDLE PACKET is a VERY large file. So if you're having trouble viewing it, we've broken it into two smaller files: WADDLE PACKET part 1 and WADDLE PACKET part 2.)

Order your WADDLEWEAR now to assure you get the size you want. It's easy, either print off and mail or fax our Waddlewear Order Form or go to our Online Shoppe and place your order there.

FRIDAY EVENING PIZZA PARTY AND AUCTION. The fun begins on Friday evening, May 16 with a pizza party at the hotel. There is a cash bar, and a disk jockey. We hold an auction where we auction off basset items and the titles of King and Queen, Lady in Waiting and Court Jester. The King and Queen lead the Waddle parade on Sunday in a horse-drawn carriage and are followed by the Lady in Waiting and Court Jester on a float. After the auction we hold the coronation of all the royalty and they are provided with royal robes and thrones (VERY fancy dog beds). The royalty auction is very popular and many folks collect money all year for their bassets to win. All new this year, the auction will begin on-line. We'll be taking proxy bids starting two weeks prior to the event. Friday evening is something you won't want to miss.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON PICNIC. On Saturday the 17th there is an off-lead picnic at a securely fenced park area where all the bassets run off-lead to sniff each other, steal food and have a wonderful time. Many of our Waddlers think this is the most fun event. We have food, a disk jockey, and raffle items. We sell basset items and have basset games. Basset games include a dog show, costume contest, longest ears, closest to the ground competition as well as basset 'musical beds', boxer shorts relay, limbo contest, etc., etc. That evening at the hotel there will be basset bingo. We also have basset sitting for those humans who would like to go out for the evening.

SUNDAY WADDLE AND LAST SUPPER. Sunday the 18th is the Waddle itself, in beautiful downtown Birmingham, Michigan. We have approximately 500 bassets waddling up Woodward Avenue. The bassets are at the end of the parade and we have "Pooped Pup Pickup Trucks" in case any of the little dogs decide they've gone far enough and 'go flat'. The parade is actually quite short. Participants park at a parking structure (no charge) which is right across the street from our sign-in area where we have items for sale. All walk to the staging area and the parade ends up right back where you parked and signed in. That evening we have what we call "the last supper" where all those who are staying Sunday night can meet for dinner. We hate to say "Goodbye".

NEW HOTEL THIS YEAR. We have a new hotel this year and it's wonderful. Much nicer than our former one. The hotel is where everyone from out-of-town can meet and hang out with their pets. After you've done it for a couple of years it gets to be like a family reunion. The hotel is one of the best things about the Waddle. The hotel is The Holiday Resort Inn in Southfield, Michigan. You can make your reservation now. Call (248) 353 7700 and identify yourself as being with the MBR Waddle (a must to get the special rate.)

To stay informed of Waddle information (and to save us postage costs) please consider signing up for our online newsletter and don't forget to download the WADDLE PACKET.

And please support our Waddle Sponsors, without whom we wouldn't have a waddle.