Something I’m going to be doing as soon as possible is joining Winging it in Motown’s inaugural playoff prediction contest. Each correctly predicted winner (and game totals) will bring you closer to bragging rights and immortality among Red Wings fans.

To sweeten the pot a tiny bit, the fine fellows at WIIM, On the Wings, and The Production Line are offering a prize pack that contains t-shirts and internet fame if you’re entry into the contest is accompanied with the proof e-mail that you’ve donated to Michigan Humane Society and helped to get Patrick Eaves out of the doghouse. The top predictor who has also donated $10 will win some swag from their favorite Red Wings blogs.

You remember Patrick’s hilariously gigantic doggie Rueben. When we posted last week, he was only 39% of the way to his goal. In the few days since then, he’s nearly doubled that — just under 70% as of this writing. I’m confident that with WIIM’s tournament’s help and your continued generosity, we can hit that goal and we can do it before the parade through Campus Martius.

Go Wings! Go Winging it! Go Humane Society!

The Detroit Red Wings organization, its players, and its fans are the furthest thing from strangers to a good cause. In the two years we’ve been involved with H2H, I’m proud to say that we’ve raised just under $20,000 for Children’s Hospital of Michigan and the Red Wings just announced that they’ve teamed with The Canadian Club to give $10,000 to the USO.

Something that hits close to home is animal rescue and safety. I grew up with dogs (and cats), worked on a television series about rescuing abused and neglected dogs, my wife and I are moving out of New York soon — and among the reasons at the very top of the list is so that we can have a large yard and rescue a dog (or 19).

When I heard about the Humane Society teaming up with Patrick Eaves, I contacted them immediately — as in, before I closed the browser window. I wanted to partner with them all season, in hopes to bring TPL’s fundraising ways to a cause that sincerely means the world to me. Sadly, we weren’t able to come together and make that happen, but I’d still like to urge everyone to spare a few dollars and help Patrick Eaves get out of the doghouse!

As of this writing, Patrick and his (outrageously massive) Newfie Rueben are about $3,000 away from their season-long goal. Anyone that loves their pet as much as Eaves does, and treats them (correctly) as a member of their family, has my vote.

If you have a few bucks to spare this month, consider giving to the Humane Society or your local shelter. Go now before I start relaying the awful, AWFUL stories I heard every day working at Animal Planet.

When you’re done, check out this adorable (and heartbreaking) video featuring both Eaves’ on the ice at Joe Louis.