SEIU Pooch Barks Up the Right Tree to Win Union Plus Pet Photo Contest

Heads often turn and tongues usually wag, when Katie Erlandson takes her 5-pound Yorkshire terrier, Olive, for a walk on the streets of Santa Rosa, California. Seems some people actually wonder if the matching coif of owner and pooch is the result of a pricey hair color treatment �?? at a doggy salon!

The striking owner/pet resemblance came in handy recently when Katie and Olive�??s coordinating tresses of glistening gold and warm tans helped them win the Union Plus Pet Photo Contest - a pet look-alike themed contest. 

The fun-filled competition, aimed at promoting using social media to tap into Union Plus�?? myriad of benefits, pitted dog against cat; foal against foul; and reptile against rodent. In the end, two-year-old Olive was the canine barking up the right tree, as she and her owner garnered 162 online votes to win the contest.

�??I have to laugh when people ask me if I dye my dog�??s hair to look like mine,�?� says Erlandson, a staff member of Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 1021. �??I think we look alike, but I�??m always a bit surprised when strangers mention it to me. When I read about the contest, I knew I had to enter.�?�

As the grand prize winner, Erlandson will receive a professional photograph of her pooch (valued at $750).

The popularity of the online contest, illustrates both the love Americans have for their pets and the important role that websites, Facebook and other social media serve as tools for sharing information. Union Plus�?? wide array of benefits �?? safety net grants, consumer discounts, home and life insurance, and the Union Plus Credit Card �?? are available online, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Katie Erlandson, who works in member services of SEIU Local 1021, is familiar with Union Plus benefits both professionally and personally. �??Our union makes a point of letting members know about all the Union Plus benefits that are available to them. I�??m glad that I can personally vouch for the program. I use the AT&T discounts and have used the pet insurance. I know you can save money by tapping into Union Plus.�?�

Union Plus has long recognized the value of pets to America�??s families and has provided two programs specifically designed to help pet lovers curb the cost of caring for a pet: a pet insurance for medical veterinary care and a discount program for a wide ranging list of services from a national network of veterinarians.

The Pet Insurance Program, offered through Pethealth, offers:

• 70 percent of pet medical voluntary expenses paid up to insurance policy limit �?? a high percentage compare to what competitors offer.
• The lowest co-pay of any similar insurance program. Most programs require at least a 20 percent co-pay; the co-pay through Union Plus is only 10 percent.
• For as low as $11.95 per month, Union Plus pet insurance can guard against large, unexpected veterinary medical expenses for your dog or cat.

Union members participating in the Pet Insurance are free to choose their own veterinarian. All breeds of cats and dogs are accepted into the program. The program is available in most of the U.S. and in Canada; it is not available in Alaska, Guam, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

For more information on the Pet Insurance Program, please click here, or call 1-866-473-7387.

The Veterinarian Discount Program, available through Pet Assure, offers additional substantial savings in a wide variety of ways, including:

• A special union-member only 40 percent discount off monthly and annual enrollment in the Pet Assure Program (Union members pay as little as $5.99 per month or $58.99 annually).
• 25 percent discount on veterinary services �?? no pet exclusions.
• Up to 30 percent off pet services, including boarding, pet sitting, and pet training from a wide selection of companies.

Nearly 3,000 veterinarians throughout the United States compromise the network. The program is not available in Canada. More information on this program can be obtained by clicking here, or by calling 1-888-789-PETS (7387).

In addition to visiting the Union Plus website, union members can connect with Union Plus on www.facebook.com/unionplus & www.twitter.com/unionplus.

Tips for Photographing Pets

Capturing our pets in snapshots isn�??t always easy, but with the following tips from experts taking the purr-fect photograph will be doggone easy. 

1. Capture Your Pet�??s Personality

Do you have a playful Poodle or a lazy Labrador? Think about settings that can help you capture what makes your pet unique.

2. Keep it Candid

Don�??t try to hard to create a cute picture. Animals are at their best when they are being themselves, so keep a camera handy for the ultimate candid snapshots.

3. Make them the Star

Yes, pets are part of the family, but sometimes they should be the star in the photograph.

4. Get Up Close and Personal

Experiment at taking photos from different distances. You�??ll be surprised that the most compelling images tend to be taken at close range.

5. Try for Unusual Perspectives

Get on your knees or stand directly above your pet to gain a different perspective.

6. Frame Your Pet in the Photograph

Fluffy peering over a bedroom sheet or Fido popping his head out of a pile of leaves are examples of how to frame your pet perfectly.

7. Use Rewards for a Reaction

Buy a new toy, offer a special treat, or sing a silly song �?? do whatever you think will evoke the look you want to treasure in a photograph for years to come.