The excitement has settled down following the Paws For A Cause walkathon in Spring Grove two Sundays ago where dogs and their walkers raised $5,660 for the Centegra Gaver’s Breast Cancer Center and Breast Care Fund. Things are getting back to normal at Aldens Kennels, in Ringwood, too.

Aldens was a corporate sponsor for the event for the second year in a row (this was the event’s second year in Spring Grove). A major contributor from Aldens is their celebrity K9 – Bambi.  The black-and-white, and ultra-cute Pomeranian has made both walks and is probably the leading individual fund raiser among four-legged contributors.

During the walkathon, Bambi led a team of walkers from Aldens, including dogs, owners and rescue dogs. Each dog earned contributions for walking. But, Bambi went further than that, contributing motorcycle rentals from McHenry Harley Davidson.

As Al Domrase, the owner of Aldens Kennels, put it, Bambi has a “great-big heart.”

When Bambi isn’t raising money for events, such as the walkathon, he’s out making videos, posing for portraits by world-class photographers or just making public appearances. Still, as with any other celebrity, he also enjoys those rare opportunities for solitude and relaxation.

Some of his fans have asked, “How does Bambi kickback?”

Janet Domrase, a member of Bambi’s celebrity posse, said Bambi actually relaxes around the kennel by greeting guests as they come in for dog boarding. Aldens offers a world-class dog boarding experience with a full menu of options, including:

• Nature walks on the southern boundary of beautiful Glacial Park Nature Preserve
• Playtime with our expert animal care specialists
• Transportation to and from spa and veterinarian appointments (Don’t have a favorite hair stylist for your dog. We work with some of the best and can arrange and facilitate the entire pampering experience for your dog)
• Grooming and Baths in our own facility
• Soft music at night to help our guests sleep after busy days

Clearly, this keeps Bambi’s days busy. Actually they’re busy from early in the day until late in the day. Along with Al Domrase, one individual Bambi even looks up to in terms of how much work he does, Bambi opens the kennel at 9 a.m. and then stays through the day to help close in the evening.

On occasion, Bambi checks in on the dog training lessons offered at Aldens. The trainers at Aldens are as qualified as any in the industry. Their philosophy is to ensure that obedience school is as fun as possible.

As Al Domrase explained, “If the dogs are enjoying the lessons, they learn faster and retain more. The owners and handlers appreciate it, too.”

Bambi is a stickler for quality and insists that each lesson is tailored to fit the individual needs of each client. He has also established individual and group lessons for the dogs that come to Aldens. Those lessons are offered in puppy, beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, and in a wide range of disciplines, including:

• Agility
• Rally
• Search and Rescue
• Scent Detection
• Tracking
• CGC
• Schutzhund
• Obedience

As Bambi can attest, the life of a celebrity K9 is not all glamour. It’s a lot of work, too. But, he insists that it’s well worth the effort. You’ll get an idea of how passionate he is about what he does by asking him a simple question: “What is Board & Train.” Of course, make sure you’ve got a few minutes to absorb all the details.

For more information about Aldens, call 815-278-0559 or visit http://www.aldenskennels.com.