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LEFT FOR DEAD ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, ONE LUCKY DOG INSPIRES OTHERS AS ‘DIRECTOR OF BARKETING’ AT OREGON’S SUNRIVER RESORT

‘Tivi’ wins over hearts of adoring voters, runs away from the competition in a true ‘underdog to wonderdog’ story

(SUNRIVER, Ore.)--The results are in, the votes have been tallied, and by a landslide margin ‘Tivi’ -- a rescued 7-8 year old Sharpei mix who has found new life after enduring a lifetime of hardship -- has beaten out nearly 300 other contestants and been named the new ‘Director of Barketing’ at central Oregon’s Sunriver Resort . As such, Tivi will be the featured canine in all of the Resort’s pet-friendly marketing materials and will receive a prize package from Bend-based dog gear manufacturer Tazlab.

But to tell the story of Tivi going from underdog to wonderdog is much more than that. When Tivi was found on the side of the road, his muzzle had been taped and he had apparently been doused with gasoline, set on fire, and left for dead. His dramatic rescue took him to the Humane Society of the Ochocos, an Oregon-based no kill animal shelter where Tivi spent two years recovering from burns and trauma while waiting to find his forever home. Ultimately, Tivi was adopted in March 2010 by his new father and currently resides in Estacada, Ore., southeast of Portland.

“The Director of Barketing contest was initially conceived as a way for us to have fun conveying the fact that Sunriver Resort is a very family-friendly destination, and that pets should absolutely be included in the definition of family,” said Daryl McCarl, interactive marketing manager at Sunriver Resort. “We never dreamed that this contest would take on a life of its own, providing an advocacy platform for rescue and shelter dogs nationwide.”

With a substantial Facebook following and fans from across the world, Tivi has become an inspiration to other shelter and rescue dogs, many of which are considered ‘unadoptable’ due to a variety of reasons including post traumatic stress, appearance, mannerism, etc.

“Tivi is such a wonderful, loving dog who has endured many hardships in his life and in the aftermath of his situation,” said Randa Speck, one of Tivi’s caretakers at the Humane Society of the Ochocos. “Despite his situation, he has so much love to give and as Director of Barketing at Sunriver Resort hopefully he can be an inspiration to other shelter and rescue dogs, and the individuals who might someday make them part of their family through adoption.”



Related links:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tivis-Home/108228549221356
http://adopttivi.webs.com/
http://tivi.tumblr.com/

About Sunriver Resort:
Located in Central Oregon, Sunriver Resort features nearly 250 guestrooms and more than 400 vacation rental properties comprised of private homes and condominiums. A Destination Hotels & Resorts property, Sunriver Resort is a year-round outdoor enthusiast’s dream with 63 holes of championship golf, 28 tennis courts, 35 miles of paved bike paths, three swimming complexes, horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking, fly fishing, and skiing and snowboarding at nearby Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort. Other amenities include the Sage Springs Club & Spa, first-class programs for youth and teens, and a nearby shopping village, and the Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory. For more information call 800-801-8765 or visit www.sunriver-resort.com.

About Destination Hotels & Resorts:
Destination Hotels & Resorts is a privately held lodging management company headquartered in suburban Denver, Colo. With more than 30 independent, luxury and upscale hotels, resorts and golf clubs, Destination is the fifth largest independent hospitality management company in the country. The company’s portfolio features more than 7,000 guest rooms, 10 golf courses and 12 full-service spas. Destination Hotels & Resorts properties are located in key metropolitan and resort markets including Washington, D.C., Houston, Denver, Dallas, San Diego, Santa Fe, Aspen, Austin, Phoenix, Portland, Palm Springs, Maui and Lake Tahoe. For more information on the properties in the Destination Hotels & Resorts collection, please visit www.destinationhotels.com