A message from Dr. Papidies

Dear family, friends, patient's of Dermatology Associates and Cara Mia, The Max Fund, The Denver Dumb Friends League, and all of you in Colorado and across the country that have voted for me and backed my cause.

Thank-you for voting for me and helping me win week four of the cutest dog competition contest. I am now one of the 12 finalists and am so excited I get to go to a panel of judges that will pick three finalists. I think all of the dogs entered are very cute and feel privileged to have gotten this far, thanks to all of you!

Most of you already know that I am donating all of my winnings to two wonderful Colorado non profit shelters, The Max Foundation and The Dumb Friends League. All of my furry friends at these two shelters thank you for your vote and help to date!

I had a rough start in life. I came from a puppy mill that was masquerading as a kennel. That place has been shut down! I was lucky to land in a home where I am loved. I get to go to work everyday with my Mommy, Dr. Capin. She is one of the owners of Dermatology Associates of Colorado and the Medical Director of Cara Mia Medical Day Spa. My Mommy has always believed in giving back to the community, so as you can see she is bringing me up right. I am only three years old, have Addison's disease, and am blessed my Mommy can afford my medications and care. My Mommy decided she would carry a line of doggie products in her spa and donate all proceeds to charity. I even have bathrobes that have the Cara Mia emblem on them. Last year I helped my Mommy and Cara Mia donate more than $30,000.00 to different charities. Being the mascot of Dermatology Associates of Colorado and Cara Mia, I am blessed to be involved with all of the benefits and fund raisers. Most of the patients and people my Mommy does business with know me and my special causes. Last year we gave money to Malignant Melanoma research, Psoriasis research, Adam's Camp (for disabled children), The Rotary club for many of its wonderful charities, and breast cancer, The Susan G. Komen Breast Caner Foundation. Cara Mia even gave 3% of its total income last October to the Komen foundation and is doing the same this year. In fact, my Mommy and I are challenging all physicians in the state of Colorado to give a percentage of their proceeds the month of October this year to breast cancer research.

I am so glad my Mommy, Dr. Capin, entered me in the cutest dog competition to help raise awareness of the plight of the shelters across the country. With the downturn in our economy many of my furry friends are finding themselves homeless. I along with my Mom am passionate about helping these animals!

In closing, thank-you again for all of your support. I am now in the hands of the judges. I am fortunate that I am very cute! Please let the cutest dog competition know how cute I am by continuing to vote for me. Send them e-mails, blogs, and letters asking them to let the judges know about my crusade.

"Dr. Papidies Capin"

Students Pitch In

Dr Papidies Capin would like to thank Mr. Taylor and his class from Mountain Vista High School for the encouragement and help in accomplishing our goal.

Greetings,

My name is Tim Taylor. My wife and I are avid animal lovers (no kids, just animals) At our peak we have owned 10 animals at one time (4 dogs,5 cats and a rabbit all found on the road at various times - as theywere abandoned or strays). We are now down to 5 now due to old age. Just last Tuesday we had 6 companions but Tuesday morning our Australian Shepard apparently had a tumor that ruptured and passed away very quickly and unexpectedly.
That evening on 9 News I saw your story. In memory of our dogs passingI decided to find a way to help your cause.

Contrary to the ignorance, jealousy and self serving opinions posted onthe 9 News blog by so many people, I would like to congratulate on such a benevolent endeavor and I would like to continue to help you in your goal of supporting the DFL and Max Fund. My reasons for contacting you are nothing more than to support and help you in your efforts and to let you know the effect your efforts have had beyond the competition.

Your ad in the Saturday Post was a great idea. The 9 News story was another great idea. Your email response to the 9 News blog was very well done. I do not know if I could have been so professional and cordial when replying to such ignorance and absurdity.

I teach at a high school. I explained your reasoning for entering Dr.Papidies into the competition to my classes at school and asked them to help out. All 150 students in my classes voted on Wednesday Thursday and Friday at school. Additionally I sent an email and instructions out to our staff and invited them to vote along.

With the week #4 victory, my students want so desperately for Dr.Papidies to win, they now feel compelled to "help" you with their ideas. For me, this has turned into an invaluable lesson to teach my students they can make a difference when they get involved. Part of our discussion was to come up with ideas how Dr. Papidies might win the next level. I am hesitant to share their ideas, but at the same time I want to honor their excitement and involvement. So... please take their suggestions with a grain of salt.

After lengthy discussions, I told them they had to narrow their ideas down to two suggestions (and please remember, high school students know everything or at least they think they do). They offer these two suggestions for you to consider:

1) Many students do not feel the current picture honors just how cute Dr. Papidies really is, they feel a better picture of Dr. P would help with the next round of voting;
2) Some student's feel Dr. Papidies dressed in a coat may turn away voters in the finals (but some felt this may have some appeal too).

We have had great discussions about your goal and my students believe to truly help the Max Fund and DFL an approach that appeals to as many people as possible when all 12 finalists are decided upon, will help Dr.Papidies get the most votes.

My students have been contacting their contacts to "prep" and make as many people as possible aware. We will continue our efforts and if you end up having any additional information or ideas before the next vote,we will be glad to help out. My students are ready to assist through their Twitter, Facebook, and My Space accounts. They also think that contacting other news media (maybe another news channel or two?)

This has turned into a great community involvement exercise for our students. They now know their efforts can make a difference. I want to emphasize they are not trying to tell you what to do, they are just excited about this event and they just want to throw out some ideas to consider.
Personally, I already feel you have done an outstanding job to bring attention to these shelters and awareness. I am in complete awe of how you have used your knowledge, intelligence, and network to do such a great thing.

Thanks for taking the time to read our letter.

Tim Taylor -Teacher
Physical Education /Adventure Education
Boys & Girls Head Golf Coach
Mountain Vista High School