GIBSON...World's Tallest Dog Speaks to Buddy the Dog

August 1, 2007

Buddy the Dog

Gibson dog is the tallest dog in the Guinness World Records. He can also say “I LOVE YOU”. I wonder how he learned to do that, I thought I was a smart dog, but Gibson is the smartest dog that I know.  He is a service dog and visits people who are ill or dying.  He can warm anyone’s heart.  He is my new friend, thanks to my mom.  She invited Sandy Hall, Gibson’s mom, and Gibson to our house. We had a great visit.

“When he stands on his hind legs, the 170-pound "Harlequin" Great Dane is more than 7 feet tall, and has a shoulder height of 42.6 inches (topping Harvey's old record of 41.5 inches). Thankfully for everyone, Gibson is just a big, friendly puppy dog.

Actually, he's the tallest dog in the world. Gibson holds several world records, including the world's tallest dog, tallest therapy dog and tallest Great Dane. And he's been turning quite a few heads outside of his native Grass Valley. In fact, Gibson has appeared on these television, magazines and radio shows:

• Oprah Winfrey Show | Harpo Productions
• Ellen Show
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | NBC
• Good Morning America | ABC News
• Inside Edition
• Guinness World Record Amazing Animals | Animal Planet
• Ladies Home Journal
• Life Magazine | photos by Pulitzer Winning Photographers David Hume Kennerly & Deanne Fitzmaurice

Gibson's owner, Sandy Hall, says that even though her dog is a giant and has been receiving some giant publicity, there's more to the dog than just his size. "He just puts a smile on people's faces," Hall said. "In one split second, people forget their cares and worries."

When Gibson’s mom drove up in her Gibson-van, I could smell him.  I ran out to the van and climbed in the back with him; we were wagging our tails real hard.  It was instant friends for us.  He peed in my front yard and that was ok with me, so I peed there too, just to be like the Big Dog.

Gibson visited for several hours.  He sniffed everything in our house.  I offered him my favorite tennis ball but he did not take it.  He sniffed my dog bowl.  He drank water right from the kitchen sink.  He is so tall that he could see all the goodies mom keeps on the kitchen counter; what a lucky dog.  I am not allowed to jump on the kitchen counters.

Gibson thought about going out my doggie door but he knew he was too tall.

The funniest thing Gibson did was sit on my mom’s lap.  He is so big, but real gentle.  He is a gentle giant.  He liked sitting on my mom’s lap.  She hugged him and asked him to get up but he stayed.  I kept looking at Gibson in wonderment.  I have never been as humble as I was with Gibson around.

Gibson’s mom, Sandy Hall, raises Great Danes and they are the best looking Great Danes ever.  She lets good people take the puppy’s home. Mom said those puppies are bigger than me and they are still growing.  How would you like to own a beautiful Great Dane?  Visit Gibson’s website to see more of the Big Dog’s.  You can hear Gibson say, “ I love You” from the website.  It is very cool.

Visit Gibson’s website:

http://www.gibsondog.com/
 

Gibson said to tell you “I Love You” and thanks for reading Buddy the Dog’s column. 

Buddy and Bruddah IZ

July 1, 2008

Buddy the Dog

Did you know my mom helped Jan-Michelle Sawyer, the sculptor with the Brother IZ Sculpture project?  Yeah, the bronze sculpture of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole that is in Waianae.  It is a tribute to IZ and his love for the Hawaiian peoples and the Hawaiian lands.

Liz Rizzo and Jan-Michelle Sawyer with statue of IZ

I went to see the bronze sculpture of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole in Waianae with my mom and got doggie chicken skin again.  My mom and her friend Jan-Michelle Sawyer worked on the “Brother IZ Sculpture Project” for years.  My mom got to help make IZ’s fishhook during the clay process and was honored to be part of the IZ sculpture history.  Jan-Michelle sculpted the likeness of Bruddah IZ, but gave mom the honor to do the fishhook that was IZ’s signature piece.  I am proud of my mom and her friend, Jan-Michelle, the talented sculptor. Maybe someday I will be sculpted by someone and my likeness will be in remembrance of all the dogs in Hawaii who cared for our humans.

Fishhook on Bruddah IZ sculpture 

http://jan-michellesculptures.com/

My mom and her cohort (JanM) went to see John DeMello and Leah Bernstein at Mt. Apple records to get their blessing for the IZ project in the beginning.  They were gracious and donated some money to help fund the project.  This all took place before IZ became so famous worldwide.  Liz and Jan-Michelle collaborated to honor IZ and be a reminder for the public about his message to the children of Hawaii.

Some links to news articles about the Bruddah IZ Sculpture Project below.

http://www.mountainapplecompany.com/Content37.aspx?NewsID=1218
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/08/28/DD273558.DTL

Years later my mom and Jan-Michelle went to Mike Gabbard’s office to get help raising the remainder of the monies needed to bring home IZ’s sculpture. The two of them raised money in the community and were unable to raise the last funds needed after the 9/11 tragedy.

Rizzo,Sawyer,IZ, Marlene Kamakwiwo'ole, Mike Gabbard

The following is a quote from former Honolulu City Councilman Mike Gabbard’s website:

A "Can Do" Attitude
"‘Where there’s a will there’s a way.’ It’s a cliché, but it’s true," said Mike. People who know Mike know that he genuinely cares and that he can be counted on to make good things happen. When lack of funds threatened to derail the establishment of a permanent tribute to the late, internationally-renowned musician, Bruddah Iz, supporters of the project went to Mike Gabbard for help. Appealing to local businesses and Iz fans as far away as the mainland, Mike raised $20,000 to make the Bruddah Iz tribute in Wai'anae a reality.

"I've always been a fan of Bruddah Iz but I hadn't heard of the effort to honor him with a sculpture until the artist, Jan-Michelle Sawyer came to my office," Mike said. "As soon as I got the blessing of Iz's wife, Marlene Kamakawiwo'ole, I set out to do whatever I could to ensure that one of Hawaii’s greatest sons would be appropriately honored - and in the place that meant so much to him: Wai'anae."

Thanks to Mike Gabbard and his 11th hour help with the Brother IZ Sculpture project, the bronze sculpture was place in its current location in Waianae at the neighborhood community center.  Thanks from Buddy’s mom (Liz Rizzo) and from Buddy. 

Bruddah IZ facing the ocean in Waianae

IZ had so much love for the people of Hawaii and the land.  One of his songs has the following words that sum up how he loved the land and the Hawaiian peoples. His message still lives on from the spirit world.

“Ua mau  ke ea o ka ‘ina i ka pono” was a strong message in a song sung by Bruddah  IZ  which translates in Hawaiian: “The life (sovereignty) of the land is perpetuated in (by) righteousness.”

It is also the state motto of Hawaii.  The link below will give you more history about this Hawaii state motto.
http://www.netstate.com/states/mottoes/hi_motto.htm

People and animals need to preserve the land because it is sacred to all peoples.  In Hawaii we especially need to honor the land as our resources are limited.  As a resident dog of Hawaii I hope do my part to honor the land and the humans of Hawaii.