I’m breaking some rules today. Rules plural. In for a penny in for a pound and all that. Plus, rule breaking is exciting. Even if they’re your own.

What rules am I breaking?

#1. I’m skipping Money Saving Monday. That’s more of a guideline than a rule. Not that exciting. We’re just getting started.
#2. I’m revealing a little personal information. This is a big one. I’ve kept much of my identity shrouded in myserty, secret agent style, but a lot more boring. I’m making an exception here. For a good cause.
#3. I’m bringing Dogs or Dollars to Facebook. A bandwagon I never thought I’d jump on. Again, good cause, more accessibility to my readers, and hopefully a little more free form dialogue between us.

Why am I doing all this?

To give you free stuff! Free dog stuff!!. And to ask a favor.

A favor for me, and for a little business I know. A certain Pet Store, I may have mentioned a time or two. We’d like some votes.

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Mission: Small Business promotion currently going on courtesy of Chase. I’ve mixed feelings about Chase, of course. What they are trying to do here though, is good in my book. Rewarding solid business planning with size-able grants to fund expansion. Another bandwagon I could get on.

And I’d like to with your help. We’ve been beating the bushes, tapping our customer base, and drumming up votes. We need 250 such votes to get to round two of consideration. We’re getting close! I’m asking my Dogs or Dollars readers to help put us over the top.

Here’s the deal. (I’m all over the numbered lists today!)

#1. Go to the Mission: Small Business webpage and login with your Facebook credentials.
Side Note: You’ll see a message about installing an app. As far as I can tell it doesn’t do much of anything except capture some data. I really wish they hadn’t done this part, but I’ve voted, as have umpteen people I know, with no ill effects.
#2. Search for Paddywack in Washington State.
#3. Very important step: VOTE for Paddywack!!
#4. Once you’ve voted, leave a comment on this post indicating as much. For another chance to win, like Dogs or Dollars on Facebook and leave a separate comment telling me that too. Please include a valid email address in your comment as contact information.

All this gets you one (or two) entries into a drawing for our fabulous Kibble Enhancement Package. Look for a post tomorrow on the details of the pack. It consists of (again with the lists)…

1 – Pack of Primal Freeze Dried Raw Food (a $25.95 value). Pictured in lamb, but can be swapped with any of the available flavors.
1 – 16oz bottle of Spike Salmon Oil (retails for $16.95).
1 – 3.5oz container of OptaGest Digestive Supplement (worth $17.95).
And because all dogs need good toys
1 – Tuffy’s Mighty Hammerhead Shark. Rated a 7 on the Tuff-Scale, usually retailing for $23.95.

That’s almost $85 worth of stuff!! Just for your vote!

Other important details: Voting is open between now and Saturday June 30th at Midnight EST to correspond with the close of the Mission: Small Business voting. The winner will be chosen at random by yours truly and my handy number generator. I will notify the recipient via email, and ask that they provide confirmation of their vote (via the Small Business website) or Facebook like (which I can confirm myself).

Who knows what will happen, even if we make the 250. Probably not much. But I’d like to get to round two of consideration. As part of my business venture ruminations after a year in Corporate Servitude, I’m working with my wonderful former Boss Lady on a plan. A business plan for a new breed of Pet Store. That’s about all I can say, but I’d like to get our idea a little scrutiny. If nothing else comes of it, the feedback alone will be worth the effort.

I appreciate your help in getting us there.