Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship by Tom Ryan is published by William Morrow. It tells the story of my adventures with Atticus M. Finch, a little dog of some distinction. You can also find our column in the NorthCountry News.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

How to contribute to our fundraising efforts for Angell Animal Medical Center

Atticus and I will be attempting to hike each of New Hampshire's 48 4,000-foot mountains twice in winter. That's 96 peaks in 90 days, starting on December 22, 2007. This is not just an endurance event for us but also a fundraiser for a very special place, Angell Animal Medical Center. There are various ways to contribute to this amazing organization:
  • Dedicate a mountain for your pet or remember a beloved pet that has since passed away. We will hike the mountain and dedicate it to your pet on the website. In return you will get a 4" x 6" photo of Atticus atop the summit of your pet's mountain. There are 48 4,000-footers and we will be attempting to hike them each twice so you have 96 peaks to choose from. If you wish, send in a photo of the pet you are dedicating it to and once the peak is hiked we'll post the trip report, post a photo of Atticus on top of the summit, and also post your pet's name and photo on our website. Cost of dedicating a mountain is a minimum of $50 (feel free to give more if you wish). Check the Mountain Dedication page to see which mountains are available and then email us with your dedication.
  • Corporate sponsorship is a great way for businesses to get involved and give to Angell Animal Medical Center. Each mountain will be dedicated to a pet, but businesses can sponsor any of the mountains they wish. Again, there are 48 to choose from. Sponsorship covers both rounds for the same mountain. When that peak is climbed your business will receive an 8" x 11" color photo of Atticus atop the mountain. When the hike is posted, your logo (if you email it to us) and company name will appear on that post as a sponsor where thousands of people will see it as they follow our progress throughout the winter. Corporate sponsorship costs $500.
  • Individuals can also pledge to sponsor us by mountain hiked. This amount can be 50 cents, $1.00, $5.00, $10.00 or $20.00 a summit.
  • Individuals can also pledge a flat rate for the entire winter. Give whatever amount you wish to this good cause.

To make a contribute in any of the above ways make a check out to Angell Animal Medical Center and send it to us at...

Tom & Atticus
PO Box 111
North Woodstock, NH 03262

All money raised goes to Angell Animal Medical Center.
That's why checks are made out to them.


If you have questions feel free to email us at atticusmfinch@gmail.com.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Tom & Atticus to raise money for Angell Animal Medical Center



I am pleased to announce that Atticus and I will be using our winter hiking to raise money for Angell Animal Medical Center. This is a perfect fit for us since Atticus has become a patient at Angell this past spring and summer. When he became sick I had no idea how I would pay for his medical costs after we spent last winter raising money for the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Luckily Atticus has friends, many of them; specifically the "Friends of Atticus" raised money for his bills. This winter we will be raising money for an organization that goes out of its way to help animals in the same manner. Call it payback.


It was an easy decision to go to bat for Angell Animal Medical Center after having but two visits there. Our experiences with Dr. Maureen Carroll and Dr. Greg Rapoport were of the best kind and it is good to know such professionals are in Atticus's corner.


In our own little way, I hope we can some raise funds for this great organization and help make the world a little better place for some animals who are in need as much as Atticus was when friends came to his aid.

Change is afoot


As you will note, if you have visited this site before, change is afoot. We have a new look to go along with the other changes in our lives. I’ve sold my paper, The Undertoad, and I will no longer be writing about Newburyport politicians. Instead I’ll be writing about the White Mountains. Atticus and I are moving north. We’re leaving Newburyport, home for the past 12 years, and are headed north to Lincoln, New Hampshire.