You may recall that last year Charleston and I participated in the Wags & Whiskers Walkathon & Pet Fair to benefit the Westchester SPCA. It was a fun event and I met tons of fellow animal professionals and pet owners. The weather was perfect for the walkers and we had a great turnout for the fair and other events.
This year it will be held on April 25th, 2009 (10am-2pm) at FDR Park in Yorktown, NY. I can not attend this year because I will be teaching classes at the same time. However, if you want to have a terrific day out with your dog that also benefits a great organization click here to see how to participate. Everyone who raises at least $100 gets to walk for free!
In addition to the dog walk, there will also be agility demonstrations, competing musical disc dogs, activities for kids, music, doggie contests and a mobile adoption unit - maybe you'll come home with another best friend!
Willie's Dawgs in Park Slope is presenting an evening of short films this Saturday, March 21st at 7:30pm. It will be at the Old Stone House in Washington Park, 5th Ave. between 3rd & 4th Sts. Tickets are $20 and includes popcorn, hot dogs and beer (and films, of course). The best part is that ticket sales benefit the Stone House Dog Run!
The Daily News has compiled a list of the best dog runs in New York City. Is your run on the list?
Here are the runs mentioned from Brooklyn and Manhattan. I'm happy to see that Hillside Dog Run in Brooklyn is on the list. Not only is it a huge puppy play space, but the Friends of Hillside Dog Park take a great amount of time and care to continually maintain and improve the conditions of the run. Way to go guys!
MANHATTAN Tompkins Square Park Dog Run www.firstrunfriends.org Hours: 6 a.m.-midnight Location: Ninth St. path in Tompkins Square Park, between Avenues A & B. What you'll find: After a renovation last year, this 18,500-square-foot area boasts three bone-shaped doggie pools, an eco-friendly crushed granite surface and dog wash near the exit so dogs don't bring the dirt home. People perks: Watch in the summer for low-cost obedience courses and a dog expert speaker series.
Sir William's Dog Run at Fort Tryon Park www.ftdog.org Hours: Sunrise-1 a.m. Location: Inside Fort Tryon Park, Broadway & 192nd St. What you'll find: One of the first dog runs in the city includes a 1-acre fenced-in area for dogs to roam free under shady trees, plus a separate area for small dogs. People perks: A "coffee bark" is available the first Sunday of each month where owners can enjoy coffee and doughnuts.
Dog Run 105 www.dogrun105.org Hours: Sunrise-1 a.m. Location: 105th St. in Riverside Park, near Riverside Drive. What you'll find: With water for people and pets, this cozy spot with a crushed stone surface is a neighborhood gem. People perks: Volunteers organize events throughout the year. Plus, during the summer, a wet bar is open at the Hudson Beach Cafe, just across the promenade.
BROOKLYN Hillside Dog Park www.hillsidedogs.org Hours: Sunrise-1 a.m. Location: Columbia Heights & Vine St. What you'll find: Natural wood chips made from recycled tree pruning, plus 24 large trees to keep this 2-acre run shady in the summer. People perks: Owners can lounge on circular benches or at picnic tables.
Check out the whole article for runs in the other boroughs.
This may fall into the same category as the awful Lolcats, but something about it works for me. It's Upside Down Dogs. That's all it is, just photos of dogs in the upside down position. Maybe it works for me because months ago, I also took a photo of my own dog when he was upside down. Clearly, Hank has no shame.
Sergeant's Pet Care Products is hosting a "BadDog" Contest. Does your dog chew shoes, tear up the house when you're gone and/or destroy everything in its path? Perhaps your pup is a whirling dervish of terror? If so, take a photo of your dog's 'bad behavior' and enter this photo contest.
To enter, visit their Facebook page and upload your photo. Dog owners can compete for the title of 'Worst Behaved Dog' and a prize worth $500 including training classes and pet products!
So far, my favorite photo is the one of the Doberman with flour all over himself and the kitchen. Be sure to upload your naughty pooch by April 1st to compete with him!
Remember Crumb? You can read his story here, but in short he arrived at Banfield, The Pet Hospital in Cherry Hill, NJ looking like this:
Well, Alanna's just sent me an update. Six weeks later and he is so much better. The doctor performed surgery to repair the ulcer in his eye and now it is almost entirely healed. His fur continues to grow in and he just got neutered! He's still living at the office waiting for a forever home, but he is totally happy and much much much more healthy. Check him out:
How handsome is he now? It's an amazing transformation for this sweet guy. That's Alanna with him above (isn't she pretty?).
If you are interested in adopting him, contact Banfield, The Pet Hospital and call the office at 856 317-0505.
My friend and colleague, Dani Santanella of Urban K-9 is helping a client of hers re-home their dog Jaguar. She is a super sweet 7 month old mix, but her current owners do not have the time to care for her and are looking for a more suitable forever home. She is in need of some basic obedience, but has not shown any behavioral issues.
So, if you have room in your life for a gorgeous, active puppy, contact Dani directly at dani@urbank-9.com. Let her know you heard it from Doggie Academy!
Our friend (and photographer) Ixiana Hernandez of Petographs is participating in the 2009 Faces Photo Contest. She is obviously competing in the Animal Portraits category. Here is her entry:
Click here to vote for Ixiana. You will need to register a valid e-mail to vote. She's an amazingly talented photographer so let's help her win!!
I do not think I have come out and said it here, though you may have guessed, that I am not a person that believes that all Pit Bulls are dangerous. I have known many Pits and Pit mixes that are lovely pets and a few have stolen my heart.
Breed specific legislature is popular topic these days, with many towns, cities and states contemplating banning Pit Bulls and/or other so-called dangerous breeds. I usually stay as far away from politics as possible, but I do take a stand here.
Senator Bruce Starr of Oregon has authored a bill proposing a ban on all Pit Bulls in the entire state. The punishment for owning a Pit Bull would be a $6,250 fine and having your dog euthanized. I've read the bill, and one of the scariest part is the definition of "Pit Bull" which includes:
Has an appearance and physical characteristics that substantially conform to the breed standards of the United Kennel Club for an American pit boll terrier or of the American Kennel Club for a Staffordshire bull terrier or an American Staffordshire terrier, as those standards existed on January 1, 2009.
Who decides what "substantially" is?
Should Petey be euthanized?
If, like me, the thought of this type of legislation makes you sick visit StopBLS.com. They have a lot of great resources (including alternatives) as well as how you can voice your opinion.
