Meet Ross Alan, the creator of a program designed to change the public's perception of animal shelters in an effort to get pets adopted into loving families. Alan is the CEO of Pet-Peeps PetCam, which allows a pet owner to see his or her beloved Fido or Fluffly 24/7. In order to jump start shelter adoptions, Alan is spearheading a special plan with the company he started in 2009. Once 75 people use a specific hash tag, the shelter or resuce will receive the wifi PetCam free of charge. Alan says this will begin to change the view that shelter pets are damaged goods. He says many people still think shelters are depressing and dirty, which just isn't true. 

Since childhood, Alan has enjoyed the companionship of rescue and shelter dogs. Today, he has several dogs adopted from kennels. Unfortnately, many animals aren't so lucky. The numbers are staggering. 60% of all pets in animal shelters are euthanized. In 2013, nearly 2.7 million shelter pets never found a home.  Unfortuanaelycked to hear that 60% of all pets in animal shelter are euthanized. In fact, in 2013 nearly 2.7 million shelter pets never found a forever home. With the holidays and many people considering giving a pet as a gift, we wanted to know hear more about Ross Alan and his PetCam program. 

Ross Alan: Giving a pet at holiday time or any other time isn’t like giving somebody a new blender. A pet can’t be blindly bought for someone as a novelty.  A pet is a special animal that brings unconditional love to a family or companionship to an elder.  The pets at these shelters are desperately in need of a good home and some are fighting the clock just to remain alive. The program we’ve started will greatly help in matching the perfect family with the perfect pet and give a each what they both need in their lives.

DT: It is startling to many people to learn that the majority of animals sent to shelters don't survive. They are euthanized. You are working to change this. Why is this so close to your heart? 

RA: As a kid I remember picking out FLOPPY my first dog from a kennel.  I saw a friend, a companion and comfort in him from the moment I saw him. I didn’t need some designer dog from a pet shop I just wanted a buddy to play with and at the time I was too young to understand that most of the kennel dogs I saw were on a schedule to be euthanized if not adopted.  Floppy stayed my friend for many years and saw me through every childhood disaster without a complaint and unwavering love.  Since then I’ve never been without a dog or two or three all adopted from kennels.  We all need that special bond with someone and I want to do my part to see that happen for both, a loving family and a pet that deserves that good love.

DT: Why do you think some people are reluctant to adopt a dog or cat from a shelter or rescue organization? 

RA: For some reason people think that because a dog or cat is in a shelter that it’s “broken” or “sickly.”  True there are many that are but not all and it’s those “broken and sickly” pets that need love the most.  It takes a special person to see beyond a pet that was abused or just spent too much time on the streets trying to stay alive and adopt it to give it a new chance at a good life.  All it takes is one good lick on the nose from a pet at a kennel to begin a wonderful relationship.  There are hundreds and thousands of wanting pets that can’t speak with anything but their eyes to tell you to take them home and they’ll love you for life.

DT: Where did this idea of Pet-Peeps PetCam come from? It seems like an idea that could inspire people to think about adopting from a shelter? 

RA: A PetCam at a shelter allows a family to see the rescued pets up for adoption.  This is very important because not every pet is suited for every family.  The live stream from a shelter that we’re proposing to do on a large scale will allow a family with children to watch an adoptable dog or cat for it’s personality.  You wouldn’t want to match a frisky energetic dog that needs lots of exercise with an elder that may be homebound and just needs a loving companion.  And you wouldn’t want to pair up a family with several young children with a frail small dog. A PetCam located at a shelter allows potential owners to watch a pet over a period of time to see if they can give that animal the type of home it deserves.

DT: At our house, we have a rescued Shih Tzu and Dash is the best, most loving dog ever! Do you have any adopted or rescued pets that you would like to talk about? 

AR: Well you’ve come to the right person to answer that question. Every pet I’ve ever had has been a rescue. Currently I have Roxxii Grace my Rodesian Ridgeback mix that is the love of my life. Don’t tell that to my wife. Roxxii has mastered talking to me with her eyes.  We have a special bond so tight that all she needs to do is look at me and somehow her eyes tell me she’s hungry, needs to go out, worried or sick.  Roxxii goes everywhere with me when I leave the house. Then there’s Georgia Brindle our Boxer mix.  Her name comes from the state that we adopted her from while moving my daughter here to Dallas.  We stopped by a rescue just to take a break on the long drive and before we knew it we were traveling home with a new member of our family.  Georgia solves all of her issues with her tongue.  There is not a situation that Georgia can’t fix with a few licks of love.  She’s a real mommas girl and my wife has a bond with her that sometimes makes me jealous.  She’s the middle child to this pet trilogy and loved just as much as any of them. Finally there’s LuLu Chuweenie our Dachshund and Chihuahuamix.  LuLu is a rescue from one of the rescue shows I attended as a vendor with my PetCams.  I sent my wife around the convention hall with flyers to pass out and she came back with LuLu.  She fell in love with her the second she saw her and was determined not to leave the show without adopting her.  LuLu is 12 lbs of cuteness but a fighter when it comes to defending her dog bone.  The other two girls know to stay away from her bone or suffer the wrath of the Chuweenie.  We call her our cuddle doll because you can’t sit anywhere without her nestling up next to you wanting and giving love. 

DT: What is your wish for pets still in a shelter this holiday, waiting for a loving family?

RA: That’s like asking Santa Claus if he thinks every kid should have a toy. I hope we can empty all the shelters this holiday season with adoptions to good families that need the love of a beautiful dog or cat.  We know that’s not going to happen but if we can reduce the amount of pets in need of a home by just a fraction then we’ll have a great start for the new year. If our PetCam program can help those in need of a relationship that is like none other with an eager and sometimes desperate pet then we’ll be so pleased.

DT: Do you think people should go to a breeder and pay hundreds of dollars for a pet?

RA: Absolutely not.  Just take a trip to a shelter and see how many beautiful animals are waiting for you to take them home for usually nothing more than a small donation and a hug.  I never could see the importance of a designer dog just to be seen with it or prance it around a ring to win a trophy.  A pet is an extension of your family and like I said at the beginning of this interview, picking a pet is not like shopping for a new state of the art blender.  Our shelters are getting more and more crowded with abused and abandoned pets that only want one thing.  Love.

If you'd like to nominate a local resident for a BubbleLife community profile, contact Dawn Tongish at dtongish@yahoo.com or find her on Twitter at @DawnTongish.

Meet Jeanna Doyle, founder of Suite HOPE, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide women with education and support to address the often dramatic changes in appearance that happen during cancer treatment. Doyle, who is a Licensed Cosmetologist Medical Aesthetic Provider Oncology Esthetician and Corrective Makeup specialist has a dual career in medicine and fashion. Her passion to help others find their beauty during a medical crisis was a natural fit. 

Doyle believes that with the help of Suite HOPE women will find the strength to maintain a positive attitude through their cancer diagnosis, recovery and beyond. Doyle was inspired to begin the nonprofit after seeing a close friend struggle with the aesthetic difficulties of coping with cancer. She decided then she could make a difference. Since then, Suite HOPE's website has received national attention. Leading beauty experts and medical authorities contribute to the website, which also features survivor portraits and inspirational stories. Suite HOPE also participates in educational seminars and live demonstrations across the county. We wanted to know more about Doyle and her mission to spread confidence to cancer survivors and she was kind enough to answer a few questions: 

Dawn Tongish: Please begin by telling us about Suite HOPE.

Jeanna Doyle: HOPE is an acronym that stands for Helping Oncology Patients Esthetically. We are a newly approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to assist cancer patients with the appearance related concerns they have as a result of treatment. Suite HOPE assists patients with things like wig selection and recreating the appearance of a natural looking eyebrow and lash line, as well as consulting them about skin and nail changes. We do this with the use of certified oncology estheticians trained in the special needs of persons with cancer. We provide these services for ANY one with ANY type of cancer, from the newly diagnosed to the long-term survivor. Currently we serve the women of the Dallas-Fort Worth. We offer lectures and day workshops throughout the United States. Our website, www.suitehope.org, is a resource that has been viewed in 24 countries.

DT: What are your duties at Suite HOPE? 

JD: My primary focus is in the development and delivery of programs and services. However, we are a new organization - so I get to wear a lot of hats.

DT: How did you become involved with Suite HOPE, and why are you so passionate about the work being done at the organization?

JD: I founded Suite HOPE as a way to support women. My background is in both corrective makeup and in makeup for advertising and fashion. I have a girlfriend, Ruth, (Story on the site at http://www.suitehope.org/cover-story/ruth) who I help with her cancer journey. Through that experience it was clear there was a need for this type of support for other women. With a cancer diagnosis there can be sudden and dramatic changes in appearance. We are an organization that starts care from the moment one is diagnosed, and continues the education and support throughout their journey and into survivorship. Just as a cancer patient’s needs change with different stages of treatment and recovery, so do our programs and services. We offer women the tools they need so they can take control of appearance and resume daily activities with confidence. What Suite HOPE is doing is also groundbreaking. Suite HOPE has a pilot program at an NCI ranked cancer hospital, and will be presented as a “best new practice” at a national and international meeting next year to oncology social and psychosocial workers.

DT: Why do you work in the nonprofit sector?

JD: I started the Suite HOPE concept as a free support group. Through feedback about the need for this type of programming, I decided to turn the concept non-profit so that it can be studied and duplicated. Currently we have two NCI ranked cancer hospitals interested in doing evidence based research studies on this program, which will help us to duplicate this program in other locations. The Dallas philanthropic community is outstanding. Since starting on this path I have met some of the most amazing people who truly want to make this world a better place. There is no end to the things you can accomplish in a community like ours that cares about and champions great causes.

DT: How can the people of DFW and beyond help meet your needs for 2014? What are your biggest needs?

JD: Funding and awareness. As a new organization we have made major strides gaining the attentions of some of the largest cancer hospitals and research centers in the US. What we need most is funding and the public awareness about who we are and what we do. Suite HOPE is positioned to bring this platform to a national audience, where we can continue helping to meet the needs of these opportunities and expand our services to the women of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Looking ahead, we are excited to be in talks here in Dallas to expand our services to the teen and young adult community: a population that is especially vulnerable to the sudden changes to appearances.

DT: What is the most memorable moment in your experiences at Suite HOPE?

JD: It is hard to explain the daily rewards of working with these women. I recently shopped for a wig with a woman who had a young child who knew she was looking for a wig but did not realize it was because she had cancer. Imagine shopping while, with childhood excitement, suggestions for outrageous wigs came at us fast and furious; each one crazier than the next! I tried to stay focused on a believable and practical solution. After a few different tries we had what we thought was a really good option. Suddenly this beautiful, innocent human being looked up and said sadly, “But that looks the same as your REAL hair!” In that moment we knew we had the best option.

If you'd like to nominate a local resident for a BubbleLife community profile, contact Dawn Tongish at dtongish@yahoo.com or find her on Twitter at @DawnTongish.

Meet Trisha Murphy Rae, the founder of the nonprofit organization, Christmas Is For Children. Rae began the charity, along with Laura Alston decades ago after reading Christmas letters from underprivledged children that touched her heart. Really, the charity began in her heart years before when Rae saw her own struggling, single mother receive a Christmas basket from strangers. The then-teenager vowed to give back when she grew up. She has lived up to the that teenage goal. Since it's start, CIFC has served more than 43,000 children in several states.

Rae, who is a social worker sees the need each day for not only gifts that will provide joy at Christmas time, but food and clothing items. She is asking for the public's help in donating warm coats, cereal and canned goods this holiday season. We wanted to know more about Rae and the needs of Christmas Is For Children. She was kind enough to answer a few questions:  

Dawn Tongish: Can you tell me about the roots behind Christmas Is For Children? 

Trisha Murphy Rae:  I started Christmas Is For Children in 1991 while in graduate school in NJ. I was pregnant with my first son, and decided to go answer letters in what's called the dead letter box on NYC of children writing letters to Santa from around the country. I started CIFC with my friend Laura Alston, another social worker, and it was from answering four Christmas letters that season from poor families in the New York tri-state area that got us started.

DT: CIFC started in 1991, but the idea came to you years earlier seeing your own mother experience the kindness of strangers. Can you share more on what inspired your will to give back when you were just a child? 

TMR: My mother was a single mother of 5 kids and we were really struggling once she got divorced. My mother had helped in our local church years earlier putting together food baskets for families in need during the holidays. Now this season we would be on that list. From that one food basket as a 15-year old teenager watching the tears of gratitude from my mother receive that food basket, changed my life forever. CIFC was born that night in my heart as a teenager. I knew at 15 I would do something when I got older to give back.

DT: How many families has CIFC helped since it began? 

TMR: CIFC is now 23 years old, we have served over 43,000 children in 3 states and we expect to serve over 2500 children this year alone.

DT: Each year you must witness so many tears of joy from grateful families. What touches you the most? 

TMR: It is hard to say because there are so many stories. We have seen joy and gratitude of children receiving bikes, coats, sneakers and even last week new eye glasses. It is wonderful beyond belief. 

DT: What are the needs of CIFC in 2014 and beyond?  

TMR: As a social worker I see people in need every day. We need cereal, peanut butter and jelly, pasta, canned goods and pancake mix donated to the Southlake and Westlake stations for our food drive. We will be delivering 1000 food baskets on Dec 20th to area charities throughout the metroplex. Donors can also drop off new coats, barbies, board games, Legos, trucks, cars, baby dolls and any other unwrapped children's toy to the station that they would like to help us make this a great Christmas for the 1500 needy kids we adopt at Christmas time. 

If you'd like to nominate a local resident for a BubbleLife community profile, contact Dawn Tongish at dtongish@yahoo.com or find her on Twitter at @DawnTongish.

The Trains at NorthPark is considered the most elaborate toy train exhibit in Texas and this year the celebrated display will mark its 27th year in Dallas and its 16th year at NorthPark Center. This massive work of moving art wouldn't take shape without the tireless efforts of two volunteers, Jamie Singer and Tia Wynne, co-chairs of The Trains at NorthPark. Singer is a community leader, who often uses her marketing and events consulting experience to shape fundraisers beginning to end. She has chaired many events including the Dallas Museum of Art's Affair of the Art and The Family Place's Partners with various vignettes.

Tia Wynne is a professional real estate agent with Allie Beth Allman and Associates, who also lends her time to plenty of community events. She is the co-chair of the Cattle Baron's Ball for 2015. Visitors to The Trains at NorthPark will again see the trains rolling across 1,600 feet of track on a journey across America as seen through Santa’s workshop with various vignettes. New this year is the Perot Museum, which will be featured in the Dallas cityscape. The attraction rolls through January 4, 2015 and benefits The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. We wanted to know more about Singer and Wynne and both women were kind enough to answer a few questions:   

Dawn Tongish: You are the co-chairs for The Trains at NorthPark. Why is this attraction so popular each year? 

Jamie Singer: The Trains at NorthPark is a sign that the holidays are here as well as the spirit of Dallas’ generosity. The children love to come see the trains going through a journey across America. Many of our sponsors have also generously donated various landmarks. 

Tia Wynne: The Trains at NorthPark is an event that little children and their families love and look forward to attending because it is part of the spirit of holidays. Children and adults love to see all of the different city scales and local attractions.

DT: The Trains at NorthPark helps to shape holiday memories for so many people. What does it take to make the project happen? 

JS: It takes a love and passion from many volunteers every year!! I have personally volunteered when I was in high school. The Trains at NorthPark has become a staple to the Dallas holiday scene.

TW: It takes amazing leadership and organization from the staff at the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas (the nonprofit that organizes the exhibit and benefits from it), the support of our amazing sponsors as well as help from our tremendous volunteers.

DT: Why are each of you so passionate about The Trains at NorthPark? Tia, it seems that you have made this a family affair getting your children in on the project? 

TW: I feel extremely blessed to have two healthy young children and can only imagine what families with sick children must go through. The Ronald McDonald House is such a welcoming and warm place for these families in their time of need. My kids have enjoyed going to the exhibit for the past seven years.  I hope this year they will begin to have a better understanding of what The Trains at NorthPark really does for our community.

JS: The proceeds go to such a worthy cause, the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. Yes, I have volunteered since high school. I was a House volunteer when I went to Episcopal School o f Dallas.  Then at Southern Methodist University in my nonprofit marketing class, I picked The Trains at Northpark as my class project.  During my time at Junior League of Dallas, one of my placements was at the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. So this is definitely a full circle moment for me to chair The Trains!

DT: Can visitors expect anything new this year? 

TW: Tia: Yes, thanks to a generous donor, we have the Perot Museum as a new addition to the Dallas skyline. The exhibit has a Colorado Rocky Mountain theme with trees and four-foot elves hanging from the trees!

JS: We will also be selling plenty of fun new goodies to benefit the House, like conductor hats and cookies, so be sure not to miss them!

DT: Can each of you share your best memory about being involved in The Trains at NorthPark? 

JS: Mine is actually a special memory from the House when I was in high school. A boy had a successful brain surgery and was leaving the House. The parents were checking out and told the boy to smile and say goodbye, but he wouldn’t. It wasn’t until his parents looked away that he gave a huge smile and waved goodbye on his own terms. We all just laughed and smiled back!

TW: I have a feeling that this year will be my best memory of the event. It has been a great year! 

If you'd like to nominate a local resident for a BubbleLife community profile, contact Dawn Tongish at dtongish@yahoo.com or find her on Twitter at @DawnTongish.

Meet Angela Brumbaugh, a Texas-based writer who has penned nearly a dozen books for children under the name Angela Winegar. The books vary in theme, but there are life lessons that run throughout the literary works that seek to inspire children to work hard, bring passion to each endeavor and never give up despite life's struggles. Brumbaugh also puts her creative use of words to work as a lyricist and songwriter. Her song, Between Black and White, was selected and incorporated on Celeste Savoie’s album titled Exposed. Brumbaugh's poems have been featured on blogs and magazines and even presented as gifts to distinguished community leaders.

Brumbaugh is also an accomplished actor and model with the Kim Dawson Agency in Dallas. She has appeared in numerous commerical, TV/Film and documentary projects, along with various print campaigns. Angela lives in the DFW-area with her husband, son and dog. We wanted to know more about her her creative inspiration and she was kind enough to answer a few questions:

Dawn Tongish: Please begin by telling us about your children's books? 

Angela Brumbaugh: I wrote A Very Backwards “What-If Book” specifically to encourage children to challenge norms in our society in a very fun and whimsical way.  The question “What-If” not only gets children actively engaged in the story, but it also has the reader predicting outcomes with no right or wrong answer.  This creates a learning environment that fosters creativity without boundaries.  Several schools around the DFW area have implemented “What If” special activity days.  They include FWISD, Ashley’s Cedar Hill, Pantego Christian, Lancaster, Primrose, Kinderplatz, and many more. You can find my books at Amazon.  

Excerpt:

What If You Walked On Your Hands Instead Of Your Feet? Would Your Gloves Be Your Shoes As You Walked Down The Street? “What If” days include:

1)     Writing Your Own What-If

2)     Kids Wearing Clothing Backwards

3)     Kids Doing Homework Upside Down  

The “Music Man” series focuses on children discovering their musical gifts after they meet a magical music man.  The Music Man guides them through the ups and downs of choosing an instrument and offers them advice they will remember long after he’s gone.  Currently, there are five books in the series and many more on the way. “The Adventures of Grinn and Barrett” – This is the story about an unlikely friendship between a dog and donkey.  After some time, the two learn to see the best qualities in each other and become best friends. “Missy’s Memoirs” – This is a chapter book that focuses on an amazing dog’s very unique perception of the world around her.

DT: Why did you decide to write for young readers?  

AB: The main reason I chose writing books for children is to create something that would not only entertain and teach important life lessons, but to also inspire kids to keep reading.

DT: What is the message you hope to share in your books for young readers? 

AB: The messages and themes all vary, but they share some basic commonalities such as work hard, follow your heart, learn from others, and to never ever give up.

DT: With all of the video games and technical devices today, children can be pulled away from reading? Does that concern you?

AB: I do wonder what today’s generation will gain or lose from having an abundance of entertainment options at their fingertips. On one hand, I see the downside, but on the other I see that kids now have more options to learn.  I look at it this way, people who enjoy watching actors perform live will always go to the plays and those who like to watch television programs will always choose television.  It’s the same concept with reading.  Those who love getting lost in a book will always love getting lost in a book.  Those who do not enjoy reading will find another way to learn or understand a topic.

DT: What is your best advice to parents on how to keep their children interested in reading? 

AB: The best advice I can give to parents is read with your children at all ages.  When they become teenagers, continue to read what they are reading.  I’m not saying sit down and read to your teenager, but be interested in what they are reading.  I know day to day it can seem impossible to add one more task to your plate, but it keeps the children interested if you can ask them relevant questions about the book they are reading. 

DT: You recently have experienced success as a songwriter. Can you share your exciting news? 

AB: Yes, a song I wrote “Between Black and White” was selected to be on Canadian Artist Celeste Savoie’s album titled Exposed.  The meaning behind the song is very personal and I am proud that it was produced and released by such an amazing group of artists. My poems have also been featured on blogs and magaines. I wrote one poem to honor WWII Veteran Delbert Belton. 

DT: You are also an actor/model with the Kim Dawson Agency in Dallas. Can you talk about some of your past projects and potential ones on the horizon? 

AB: My past projects include portraying Jackie Kennedy on the Discovery and National Geographic documentaries, Dave and Buster’s Commercials, Beneful Advertisement (a favorite because of the amazing dogs and puppies), Samsung Tablets, Zales print, AAFES, HEB and many more. Only time will tell about future opportunities. 

DT: You are so creative. To who or what do you credit all of this talent? 

AB: I believe wholeheartedly my abilities as a writer are God-given, and that every experience good and bad has made me the writer I am today. 

If you'd like to nominate a local resident for a BubbleLife community profile, contact Dawn Tongish at dtongish@yahoo.com or find her on Twitter at @DawnTongish.