National Geographic Channel’s “DogTown” “Will to Survive,” 10 p.m. Eastern Time, May 1 Featuring Chico, Tuxedo and Scone To read more about Best Friends’ Dogtown and the “DogTown” series, click here

Every Friday night National Geographic Channel offers you a behind-the-scenes look at the life-saving work happening at Dogtown, the dog care area at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Now, Nat Geo and the pet supply retail chain Petco want to offer some lucky person and a guest the chance to see the sanctuary first-hand and to help with that work at Dogtown.

The two are joining to present the “Welcome to ‘DogTown’ Sweepstakes,” where the winner and a guest will spend four days, three-nights at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, all expenses paid.

Chico

The contest begins Monday, May 4 and runs until Friday, May 29. To enter the sweepstakes, click here.

Not only will the winner and guest be able to revel in the gorgeous landscape in and around the sanctuary and meet the sanctuary animals, they will also get to meet the stars of “DogTown,” and even help them change the life of one of the resident dogs.

“The sweepstakes gives viewers an opportunity to extend their show experience, participate in all the great work at Best Friends and learn how dog adoption may be a path they'd like to consider,” says Meredith Conte, associate director of advertising sales and partnership marketing, at the National Geographic Channel. “We could not think of a better way to expand our campaign for the current third season of ‘DogTown’ than partnering with both Best Friends and Petco on this exciting promotion.”

Scone

Publicity for the sweepstakes will take place at each Petco store, which means Best Friends will have its name splashed at more than 960 locations across the country. The stores will carry information about Best Friends and provide forms for store customers to become members of the organization, helping us spread our message and bring about a time of No More Homeless Pets.

Also, be sure to watch “DogTown” this Friday, May 1.

This week’s episode features Chico, a border collie mix with a strong prey drive. Trainer John Garcia must teach him to resist his instincts, so that he may one day safely live in a home with other animals.

Tuxedo

It’s not all work and no play for the pair, as Chico had been among the 25 canine athletes who accompanied Garcia in his successful Guinness World Record, having walking the most dogs at one time for one kilometer in 2005.

Also featured on this week’s “DogTown,” Tuxedo arrives at Best Friends sightless and near death from Salmonella poisoning. The puppy recovers from his illness and must learn obedience skills from trainer Ann Allums.

And Scone, a Labrador mix, is rescued from a local animal control. He arrives severely emaciated with an odd gait from a past injury. Trainer Pat Whitacre helps the gentle-natured dog recuperate in the hope he will find a home.

Tune in to “DogTown” on Friday, May 1 at 10 p.m. ET, to see how Chico, Tuxedo and Scone overcome their challenges.

Written by Best Friends staff
Photos by Best Friends staff

As part of Best Friends’ 25th anniversary in 2009, our goal is to double our membership, so we can double our efforts to bring about a time when all companion animals have a forever home. What can you do to help? Give the Gift of a Best Friends membership to family and friends.

May 30, 2009 : 3:44 AM ET
posted by: terry gibson

My wife and I would rather have an opportunity to visit Best Friends than to win the lottery. Money comes and goes,but the love of an animal is something you cherrish for a lifetime.My wife workes for an organization called Shepards Ranch. She is a equine specialist. She workes with a thearpist that specializes in child behavior and juvinal justace problemed kids.They also work with handycapped and autistic children. They use horses for their therapy tools.They have had amazing results using horses to teach thes kids about life. What's really amazing is how these horses "know" these kids have problems and develope a "helpful" nature to reach out to them.This make's these kid's feel needed and wanted.Most of them come from broken homes or have been abused. We have alot of pet's ourselves.These are our kids. We were in Utah 3 years ago in Ogdon for a convention my wife had to attend for her work.We didn't know about yall then or we would have visited best friends on our trip.An oppurtinity to return to Utah and visit with you guy's would be so awsome,especially for my wife!!!!!! Thank you for the oppurtinety to win a trip to best friends,you guy's are God's appointed "ANIMAL ANGLES". Take Care and God bless!! Terry Gibson, Cherryville N.C.

May 27, 2009 : 11:03 PM ET
posted by: janice leszczynski

Still hoping and praying to win this trip to dogtown. Watching so often I feel as though I already know so many of the people from the show and even my way the around santuary, as silly as that sound's. Many people wish for many things in life and I can honestly say getting this opportunity to get out there and learn as much more as I can to help rehabilatate dogs would be an absolute dream come true for me. I can't think of anything I want more. My dog's are the light of my life, truley angel's that were put into my life for a reason. I have recently discovered that my true purpose is to dedicate my life to animals and I am looking into how to pursue my love for them into a career. Keeping my finger's crossed to be able to learn from some of the best in the business...here's hoping :) Good luck to all the other animal lovers out there that are as passionate about getting out there as me. If I don't win I WILL make it there one day I have made it a goal for myself.

May 27, 2009 : 8:19 PM ET
posted by: clanosborne

Many thanks for all the team at Best Friends does for our animal friends! To win the sweepstakes is a huge opportunity b/c I woud love to learn the in's and out's of operating a sanctuary. We lost our first rescue a few months back to cancer, and are holding the other four very close. Knowig that when my husband returns from his next deployment we can bring another home. Again, many thanks for all you do! Elizabethe

May 26, 2009 : 9:33 PM ET
posted by: LaVerne Hamilton

Hi there everyone,

I love dogtown. I watch everytime you air a show. I have a loving, intelligent, long haired, black cat I rescued and named cookie, and feather, a female cockateil, I rescued from the isolation and boredom of a pet store cage. We, the three of us, are a family. Cookie pets feather's tail feathers with her paw, and feather casually lands in front of cookie as she cat naps on top of her open bird cage. All that's missing is a dog, an exercise buddy for me to take long walks with as I explore the utah landscape. I fell in love with Georgia. I don't know if it's possible, but I would love to take care of her and welcome her into my family. I'm sure we all agree ... she deserves the best life that we can possibly provide..

May 25, 2009 : 2:03 PM ET
posted by: Louise

It would be a beautiful way to spend a vacation. My heart breaks when I see the suffering and cruelty of animals throughout this country. I wish I could take them all home with me but I know that is unreal thinking but I do what I can for no kill shelters in the area where I live. It could be referred to as saving a life one animal at the time. I am blessed in the company of animal lovers.

Congrats to whoever wins.

Louise Gallagher

May 23, 2009 : 7:59 PM ET
posted by: nodogleftbehind

I too would love to win the trip, I love the show, and watch it every week..I am a pet sitter here, and meet all kind of new dogs, and love each one, some I have had for 15 years..I recently lost my beloved dog, who I rescued 19 years ago, and he was the runt, he grew to 130 lbs...just a tiny thing..I have a 23 year old cat also..so my love for animals has been a lifelong thing..my ideal retirement plan is to move near dogtown to volunteer..So this trip would mean the world to me..I think you all are doing a great job, and I just love John Garcia..He has the best job in the world..

May 22, 2009 : 11:11 PM ET
posted by: BKINDTOK9S

it would be so wonderful to win this trip . i want to thank BEST FRIENDS for saving the pitbulls from michael vick . not all people in virginia are as mean and dispicable as vick!! BEST FRIENDS has my heart and we have been following the rescued animals like cherry and georgia,these dogs would be dead if not for you. i have a 4 year old pitt as well as a lab and my life would be so boring without my dogs. Tubby and Sam send wet sloppy kisses to everyone at BEST FRIENDS!! ps PITTBULLS RULE!!!!

May 21, 2009 : 9:45 AM ET
posted by: richaunajones

Winning this sweepstake would be a dream come true for me! Dogtown is where I am supposed to be. My world pretty much centers around animals and their well-being. My hope is to someday live close enough to Best Friends Animal Shelter to be able to volunteer and help as much as I can! Forget Hawaii or Florida, Dogtown is my dream vacation!

May 20, 2009 : 12:04 PM ET
posted by: ilio2

much aloha to you guys!! we love da show and dvr all the episodes so we can rewatch them wheneva. especially aristotle's episode, we can relate for we adopted a dog,come to find out she has a skin problem,many dr visits and mitaban treatments she's still bumpy but we couldn't love her more.keep up the good work!!!

ps. on ari's follow-up story the new owners give a daily med.anyway we can find out what. demodectic mange is what our sophie has much appreciated mahalo

May 19, 2009 : 6:54 AM ET
posted by: JoAnnD

I too, would love to win a trip to Best Friends. It would be a dream come true.

May 16, 2009 : 1:22 PM ET
posted by: hugs914

I entered the contest and I am so excited. I watch the show every Friday night, even repeats, sometimes. I loved the episode with Remington and Reuger. (2 liver spotted pointers). John had brought both dogs to an adoption day at a Pet Smart or Petco (not sure which one) in Tempe, AZ, not far from where I live. I only wish I had known he was coming. I would of loved to see those two in person. Anyhow, I hope John get's a chance to read this so he knows what a great job he did with these 2 dogs, and all of them for that matter. They ALL do a fantastic job. I do volunteer work at the AZ Humane Society, so I do know first hand what it is like to see and work with some of these unwanted and abused darlings. And then to see them find a new home is so awesome. I only hope I win this contest as I cannot afford to get there on my own. It would be a dream come true. I have actually gone to the Best Friends site to check out going there, its just too much $$ right now. But I will keep entering and pray for the best. All of you who work or volunteer there are wonderful, compassionate souls. Thank you.

May 13, 2009 : 1:53 AM ET
posted by: chrissiedr

Does anyone know when the new DOGTOWN episodes will air in Canada?

May 12, 2009 : 8:11 PM ET
posted by: nicole

Please also see:

http://www.denverkillsdogs.com/

http://www.roverlution.org/

for more on the breed ban in Denver and the thousands of dogs they have massacred, simply because of the way they look.

May 12, 2009 : 1:21 PM ET
posted by: janice leszczynski

I am totally hooked on your show. Every time I watch I think how I would love to come out there and check this amazing santuary out in person. I live in Philly, have 2 wonderful dogs of my own and volunteer and foster dogs in my area for a local orginazation. If I ever come into money I would love to open a santuary of my own and I could only hope it would be half as great as dogtown. I really hope I win. I love animal's dog's especially and I don't know if I'll ever get the oppurtunity to make it out there any other way. No matter what keep up the good work guy's, I loved your last episode that showed updates on your past dog's and was so happy to see all the little guys doing so well. You guys are an inspiration to many animal lovers out there. Thank you for all you do!!