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Seattle Weekend Dog Events Oct 5-7!

Seattle Dog Events BarkofSeattleFound some fun dog events around Seattle to enjoy this weekend. Some are re-occuring – like Reading with Rover which will always get a shout out from me for their great work with children’s literacy – and then some are super extra special like the Dock Dogs Competition. So here we go…

Reading with Rover
October 6; 11-12noon (Snohomish Library and Edmonds Library)
This organization uses therapy dogs to help kids have confidence while working on their reading skills. It’s a brilliant program that really helps kids and reminds us of how powerful dogs can be in helping us deal with difficult life challenges. So in this case, the kids are awesome for making the effort, and the dogs are awesome for being there! Reading with Rover will hold two sessions on Saturday, October 6th from 11am-12noon at both the Snohomish Library and the Edmonds Library. For more information visit the Reading with Rover’s events page.

Blue Dog Bakery’s Pet Treat Palooza
October 6; 3-6PM (Seattle – Genesee Park)
This event celebrates the launch of Blue Dog Bakery’s Pet Treat Pantry program which helps place  healthy pet treats in the food pantries around the country so that both people and pups can get a little help in tough times. There will be live music, a caricature artist, complimentary dog nail clipping and brushing, and food for all. Great cause and sure to be a fun event!!

Puget Sound Dock Dogs at Issaquah Salmon Days Festival
October 6-7th; Sat. 9-5PM/Sun. 9-4PM (Issaquah – 155 NW Gilman Blvd.)
Does your dog dive? Does your dog totally get stoked at the prospect of fetching and retrieving stuff floating in the water?! Mine doesn’t. But if yours does, you should try entering the Dock Dogs canine aquatics competition in Issaquah this weekend. There will be Big Air, Speed Retrieve Wave, or Extreme Vertical competitions. Any one can enter as long as your dog is a good swimmer and loves bringing toys out of the water. And even if that isn’t your pooch’s thing you can have fun watching those other dare-devils! Register and get more information at the Dock Dogs site.

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Awesome Treat Alert: Stella & Chewy’s!!!!!!!!

Best Dog Treats ReviewJust to start this off – Stella & Chewy’s are so crazy, ridiculously good that my friends and I call it ‘doggie crack’.

To be clear I have not personally tried Stella & Chewy’s. Not just because they are for dogs (there was that late-night Milkbone incident), but because they are a raw food. However, the trembles that go through my dog’s body and the creepy way she stares at me when I say “You want a Stella & Chewy’s?” is all the proof I need that these treats are perhaps the best treats on the planet.

I’ve got a picky dog so I spend lots of time and money buying treats that end up going moldy or going to other dogs. Plus I started researching how to properly read nutrition labels and now I actually agree with Pip’s sorry opinion of many of the treats that are on the market.  So when I came across Stella & Chewy’s a few years ago, I was tickled pink to see that these ‘treats’ were actually a primo freeze-dried dog food made from things like:

* Naturally-raised meat, poultry and fish sourced from USDA-inspected facilities
* Organic fruits and vegetables including cranberries, carrots, apples, spinach, broccoli and beets.
* Direct-fed microorganisms (probiotics)

Then on top of that, she actually took them from the person at the store!

The words “Stella & Chewy’s” bring the same level of doggie joy and excitement as “Car ride”. That says A LOT.

So quick rundown: Stella & Chewy’s can be a bit tricky to find in the store. You need to check pet stores that carry a lot of natural and organic brands. Here in Seattle I know that Fido-n-Scratch (Leschi & Madrona), Immortal Dog (Central District), and Happy Endings Urban Mercantile (Capitol Hill) carry these treats. If you have trouble finding them near you, check out Stella & Chewy’s website: www.stellaandchewys.com. You can either get the actual treats (Carnivore Crunch and Carnivor Kisses) or the Freeze Dried Dinners which come in Chicken, Beef, Duck, Lamb, and Surf & Turf. I prefer to get the dinners and break them up into treat sizes.

I strongly recommend you give these a try  – you (and your dog) will be very happy you did!

2 Million Dogs Puppy Up March (Seattle Area) March Against Canine Cancer!! Sept. 29th

2 Million Dogs Canine Cancer Seattle EventIt seems as though dogs are getting cancer at younger and younger ages. My dearest friend’s dog was diagnosed with cancer at 3 – thankfully it was easily removed and she is now a grande dame at 15. However, another woman recently told me of how her 5 year old Golden passed away from cancer and my heart broke for her. It’s ALWAYS too early to loose your dog, but the idea that you don’t even get to 10 is simply unbearable.

2 Million Dogs is an organization whose mission is to discover the causes of cancers and their common link in both pets and people. 2 Million Dogs was sparked by a Luke Robinson who embarked on a walk from Austin, TX to Boston, MA  – along with his two dogs – after being inspired by the loss of his Great Pyrenees to cancer.

Luke and his dogs built a nationwide grassroots movement as they walked from town to town sharing Malcolm’s story and educating people about cancer in dogs. Since that first walk they’ve had hundreds of events across the country that to draw attention to canine cancer and raise funds for research.

This Saturday, September 29th in Issaquah, WA there will be a 2 Million Dogs Puppy Up! walk. The walk will start at 10am from the Earth Pet store at 1175 Nw Gilman Blvd Issaquah, WA.  After the walk there will be vendors, food, games, prizes, raffles, adoptions, blood drive, local artists and more!!

For more information about tomorrow’s event email Earth Pet at earthpetevent@gmail.com and visit the 2 Million Dogs site to find out more about how you can get involved in the fight against canine cancer.

Awesome Deal Alert!! Up to 64% Off Pet Grooming in Bellevue (1 Day Left)

Groupon Pet Deal Seattle

If you’re anything like me, you generally ignore Groupon emails unless the subject heading refers to a deal that’s:

A. Such a magnificent/horrendous waste of money you simply MUST buy it, like Cheese Making classes, or

B. Such an incredibly useful and responsible allocation of funds that it would be silly not to buy it like……

Up to 64% off of Services from

A Pampered Pooch (NW Bellevue)

Choose from Three Options

  • $29 for a grooming package for any size dog, plus nail grinding (up to an $80 value)
  • $39 for three nights of dog boarding (up to a $105 value)
  • $49 for five days of doggy daycare (up to a $125 value)

The grooming package (up to a $65 value) includes a bath, brush, and dry, as well as ear cleaning, gland expression, and a pad regime. Nail grinding (a $15 value), as opposed to a standard nail trim, smoothes each nail to a soft finish. For dog boarding, owners must drop off their dogs before 9 a.m. on the first day and pick them up before noon on the last day. Daycare dogs may be dropped off and picked up anytime within daycare hours.

For details check out the Groupon deal for A Pampered Pooch. To find out more about A Pampered Pooch check out their site.

FidoFest 2012 Pictures!!!

It was all sorts of doggy Nirvana at FidoFest yesterday. Seriously, I squealed and smiled so much my cheeks still hurt.  Basically, it was a perfect day in my books!

The event was action packed with a mini-agility course, a proper photo shoot booth, fabulous vendors, contests galore and superb swhag! (I’m still finding treats in random pockets.)

The fact is I went nuts and took a million photos SO after this row of highlights there’s a huge slide show that will show you the cavalcade of cuteness that was FidoFest 2012.

FidoFest Seattle Humane

The Welcome Wagon
Rufus was literally the first dog I met when we got there and this is what he did immediately after I pulled out a camera

FidoFest Seattle Humane

Tag.
Just what else can I say?

FidoFest Seattle Humane

Gracie
Someone came dressed to impress

FidoFest Seattle Humane

Tillie Goes Shopping

FidoFest Seattle Humane

City Dog Cover Model Contest
They’re ready for their close-up

FidoFest Seattle Humane

Lorenzo Competing
Loved this guy! His name was inspired by Lorenzo Lamas. Comparing this Lorenzo with 1990s Lorenzo, I’d say it was a tie for ‘Handsomest Man’

FidoFest Seattle Humane

Jacko Casanova & Gabriella Valentina
Relaxing after a hard day of being pampered

Thanks – of course – to the Seattle Humane Society and all of the great work they do for animals. If you’d like to donate or find out more about upcoming events, visit Seattle Humane‘s site.

AND…. Thanks to Bowser & Marcos (from the absolutely scrumptious Trophy Cupcakes), Deana McReynolds DVM from Broadway Veterinary, Magnus & Ryan, Quddus, Nel & Buoy, Bentley, Gizmo, Pepper, Phoebe, Jaunty, Si & Bruce, Jr., Louis, Maysie, Oliver, Santana, River, Kai, Smallz/Sassy/Molly/XeXe and everyone else at FidoFest!

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DogtoberFest at Fremont Oktoberfest This Sunday, September 23rd!!!

And ONE last thing for this weekend…

DOGTOBERFEST!!

(Putting it in all CAPS makes it kind of unintelligible, but you get how exciting this is right?!!)

Dogtoberfest Fremont OktoberfestThis Sunday Fremont’s Oktoberfest becomes all sorts of dog friendly with a bunch of pup-approved activities…. and apparently beer-swilling parents approve as well. Let’s go through the list of things that make this event neato:

1. ‘Hair of the Dog’ Day

This is the only day your dog is able to join you in the Fremont Oktoberfest Tasting Garden.

2. MOViN 92.5 Dog Lounge

If just having your dog stare at you while you drink isn’t enough, then you can get them in on the action too with the Dog Lounge’s doggie water tasting.

3. Strut your Mutt in the CityDog Magazine Cover Dog Model Contest

CityDog Magazine wants to see if your dog has what it takes to be the next Cover Dog in their annual Cover Dog Model Contest. Let “Fido” strut his stuff on the runway and be in the running to be a Cover Dog Model for CityDog Magazine. The contest starts at 3:00 pm.

4.Run with your dog in the Fremont Oktoberfest 5K or Street Scramble

Take a break from the Green Lake loop and run along the Fremont Ship Canal or scavenge through the streets of Fremont! Fremont Oktoberfest 5K starts at 10:00 am. Fremont Oktoberfest Street Scramble starts at 10:30 am.

Oktoberfest is open until 6PM so if you’re checking out FidoFest at UVillage earlier in the day, you can still make it here! For more information visit the Fremont Oktoberfest site.

Reading w/Rover Today – Therapy Dogs Helping Kids Read!

Just had to add this event –

(TODAY) September 22 11:00 – 12:00 PM
Reading With Rover at Edmonds Library

Edmonds Public Library, 650 Main St, Edmonds, WA
Reading with Rover Therapy DogThere’s nothing worse than being made fun of when you’re trying your best. It makes you want to just give up and that feeling sticks with you. Us dog lovers know that dogs don’t judge, love you no matter what, and look at you in a way that makes you believe you can do anything. That’s the idea behind reading therapy dogs. One of the best ways to learn how to read is by reading out loud.  Kids who have trouble reading can read to therapy dogs and work on their reading in a safe environment filled with doggie support.
Reading with Rover‘s mission is: “To inspire children to discover the joy of reading while developing literacy skills and confidence in a safe environment with Reading with Rover dogs.”

Today, Saturday, September 22nd, therapy dogs and their handlers will be at the Edmonds Library to listen to children read aloud. For information about the event visit the Reading with Rover event page.

PAWS Takes in Refugee Dogs from Iran

PAWS Takes in Iran Refugee Dogs

PAWS Takes in Iran Refugee Dogs – Video

[This article on PAWS’ efforts to help Iran refugee dogs is from Lynnwood Today. For more information on the proposed Iranian dog ban, check out this NPR article.]

By Mike Murphy

A proposed ban on all pet dogs in Iran had led to some new, adoptable dogs at the PAWS animal shelter in north Lynnwood.

So far, PAWS has taken in two of these endangered animals and expects to receive even more in the near future.

One of the rescues is a Border Collie mix from Tehran named Shabnem. Staffers say she was frightened upon arrival but is now getting more comfortable. You can watch video of her arrival below.

“She actually has a couple of doggie friends she plays with,” said Lisa Hockins, shelter manager. “She’s even starting to warm up to the volunteers.”

A second dog from Iran arrived at PAWS Tuesday night.

“Our commitment will always be to serving our local communities, but the strength of our donors and an amazing volunteer corps allows us to lend a hand during this crisis,” said Kay Joubert, director of companion animal services.

Anyone who’s interested in adopting either dog can fill out an application and schedule a visit.

FidoFest This Sunday 9/23!!

Seattle Humane Society FidoFest

Boy oh boy it’s amazing I haven’t tried to adopt a dog this month! With so many events I’m seeing pooches that I could love EVERYWHERE! However, my babygirl Pipa would have none of it – and my less than stellar vacuuming skills also remind me that for now I need to be a one dog girl. That being said, if you’ve got the time to come out and help raise money for the Seattle Humane Society (and if you have the space for another wet nose) then definitely check out FidoFest this Sunday, September 23rd at UVillage.

There will be an Adoptable Animal Parade and a bunch of competitions including Beautiful Baby, Cutest Mutt, Savvy Senior and Pet & Owner Look-a-like. Plus Seattle Magazine and University Village will award Seattle’s Favorite Fido 2012 and because this event is super snazzy, the winner will recieve a dog tag from Tiffany & Co. and $100 U Village gift card!

Also, for the stage mommas and papas out there – City Dog Magazine will have there Cover Dog Model Search! (Yes let the squealing commence.)

Of course ALL dogs should be pampered so there will be fancy treats, fabulous dog products, and cuddles galore!!

Ok – may be going crazy withthe  exclamation points, but I am really excited.

All competition entry fees will go to the Seattle Humane Society and you can donate online or on the day of the event as well.

Visit the Seattle Humane Society’s FidoFest website for more information and hope we bump into you this weekend!

WagFest 2012 Pictures!

PAWS WagFest 2012

Nellie & Pickles take home the “gold”!

This past Sunday PAWS of Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap held their WagFest at Battle Point park. This fur-tastic event (sorry just couldn’t help myself) gave dogs and their people a great way to enjoy the day and support a good cause. WagFest featured a number of fun events including small dog races, the waggiest tale competition, and the pet & owner look alike contest.

In addition to vendors giving pups the opportunity to sample  the newest and most delectable of canine culinary creations – such as Sweet Potato frozen yogurt – there were also organizations sharing information valuable information on keeing our furry friends healthy and safe. In this category I must give special thanks to technician Rachel Higgins at Tender Touch Animal Hospital who let me film her demonstration on how to do dog CPR. (I’ll get that video up shortly for anyone who’d like to see how it’s done.)

So enough with the words and stuff – here are some great shots of dogs and dog-lovers having a ball at WagFest 2012!

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Thanks to Nellie & Pickles, Honor & Justice, Arya, Baron, Bogart, Good Girl, Nora and everyone else at WagFest!!