We would like you to meet Blou, our new official mascot for Letters From Home.

He is a rescued, blue-eyed border collie, who brings his own cards for the troops on letter stuffing day.  His card message gives thanks to the troops and wishes them a safe return. He and his owner, Jay Monti, live in Bradford but own and work in The Monti Gallery in Ellicottville, NY.  They come, with no hesitation, to help in any way they are needed.  When we asked if the fundraising pooch would like to help the soldiers...help he did!  Looks like he found a way to brighten a day in the life of a soldier just as Jay had helped him, giving him a good home.  Jay says they are two lucky dogs, having found each other.

Clad in his trademark American flag bandana, Blou can be found resting near the feet of Monti, as well as keeping everyone in good spirits.  His big blue eyes and warm disposition quickly win people's hearts.  He would pick up the spirits of the most lonely soldier and the wounded in military hospitals with those big beautiful eyes and his comical glasses when he wears them. He has made friends with our Flat Stanley as well.  Blou inserts a few hundred of his cards into the individual boxes each time a shipment is made.

He has received responses to his cards from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and from sailors at sea.

Between shipments Blou collects donated items at the Monti Gallery to bring to the program.

 The philanthropic pooch is by far not your average dog, as in the last three and a half years he has raised and donated over $18,000 to the Pet Emergency Fund of Western NY, which provides life-saving medical treatment for pets whose owners cannot afford to pay the full cost of required care.  He also supports SPCA, Humane Society of the US, and Almost Home Animal Sanctuary in Little Valley, NY.

He raises most of his money through "Code Blou", established in March 2003, in which Monti sells note/greeting cards featuring the border collie.  He even has plush life-size images of himself, made by a German toy company, that are available in the Gallery as well.

He has appeared on the Wonder Pets Program on Nickelodeon, Jr. TV network and has also modeled for Dog Fancy Magazine.  People have commented that he is almost human.

He is a great child motivator as he visits elementary schools and inspires the youngsters who haven't done a lot of work before his visit, to want to read and write dog stories and draw dog pictures after his visits.  He even has his own website www.bloudog.com.

Blou is pictured wearing the presidental volunteer award pin/ ribbon  for his help with the Letters from Home Program.

Come join our special helper when we pack the boxes for the soldiers at the end of each campaign.