Sundance Film Festival

Pacific Pet Transport was asked to help sponsor the House of Hype (a hospitality suite that caters to celebrities) this year at the Sundance film festival. We were part of the "Pet Pad" which Featured Best Friends Animal Society, celebrity dog trainer Tamar Geller, and celebrity vet Dr. Karen Halligan. Some other sponsors of the event included Nintendo, Vespa, Nivea, Skull Candy, and Def Jam.

The picture on the left is courtesy of Clay Meyers and includes Sherry from Best Friends, also star of "Dogtown," and President of Pacific Pet Transport James Nelligan.

Let me give you a little background information regarding Best Friends and the wonderful work they do (check them out on their website and donate to further the cause http://www.bestfriends.org/aboutus/):

"The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary at Angel Canyon, at the heart of the Golden Circle of national parks in southern Utah, is home on any given day to about 2,000 dogs, cats, and other animals, who come from shelters and rescue groups around the country for special care they can only receive at Best Friends. Most of the animals who find their way to Best Friends have special physical or behavioral needs, and our expert staff of veterinarians, trainers and caregivers offer them all the help they require. Most of them are ready to go to good new homes after just a few weeks of special care. A few, who are too old or too sick, or who have suffered extra trauma, find a home and haven at the sanctuary, and are given loving care for the rest of their lives.

Best Friends works with our members -- and with humane groups, individuals and entire communities -- to set up spay/neuter, shelter, foster and adoption programs in neighborhoods, cities, and states throughout the country. Through this work, Best Friends is helping to save and rehabilitate tens of thousands of animals each year. Through the online Best Friends Network, the society reaches across the nation and around the world, helping local communities to rescue animals in distress and to create their own No More Homeless Pets communities. At home and abroad, Best Friends has led some of the largest animal rescue efforts in recent history. These rescues include natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, wartime situations, and animal hoarding or failed shelter situations where hundreds of dogs and cats need urgent and continuing care for many months before they can be placed in good new homes. With its sanctuary and rescue experience, Best Friends is the only organization in the country capable of mounting such major rescue efforts.

At home and abroad, Best Friends has led some of the largest animal rescue efforts in recent history. These rescues include natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, wartime situations, and animal hoarding or failed shelter situations where hundreds of dogs and cats need urgent and continuing care for many months before they can be placed in good new homes. With its sanctuary and rescue experience, Best Friends is the only organization in the country capable of mounting such major rescue efforts."

James and I flew into Salt Lake City, Utah on Thursday the 15th and went directly up to Park City to get set up. We didn't really know what to expect, but were well received. In preparation for the event, we did a run of limited edition scarves with a custom Pacific Pet logo to give away to everyone and anyone that came through "The House". We used black American Apparel scarves and burned the logo onto the end of them with white dye. Needless to say, they were a huge hit, we even had the security guards at the door rocking them all weekend.
The event started every morning at 11am and went until 5pm, during this time celebrities and entertainment executives were escorted through and introduced to the sponsors and given free swag. We ran into a few clients we had worked with in the past (Christy Brinkley, Paramount), along with some friends including Matthew Gray Gubler from "Criminal Minds."
The real fun began during the Ultra Lounge, which went from 10pm to 3am every night we were there. Def Jam brought in the entertainment which included DJ Clinton Sparks, DJ Felli Fel and a few live performances as well.
Overall the event was a huge success and was definitely more like a vacation than a business trip. Pacific Pet made some great friends and received some great international exposure. We are already planning for next year.