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NewsHound 006
December 14, 2006 |
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Dear urbanhounders,
While much of the country is dreaming of a white Christmas, the only snow we're likely to see in the Bay Area is on television. But that doesn't mean we don't have holiday traditions of our own. One of our favorites here at urbanhound SF is the annual appearance of furry faces in the windows of Macy's Union Square store.
Now in its 20th year, the Take Me Home for the Holidays event showcases adoptable dogs and cats from the San Francisco SPCA. A live web cam lets you watch the pups at play in the windows and imagine them at home with you. Brilliant!
Even if your home is at maximum canine capacity, you can support your local rescue group by purchasing holiday gifts that give back: t-shirts and hats from the SF SPCA or East Bay SPCA; ceramic tiles emblazoned with your hound's name from the Friends of San Francisco Animal Care & Control; books, videos and more from the Marin Humane Society. Just about every organization offers something fun to stuff in a stocking or slip under the tree.
Or, consider simply writing a check to help a worthy organization continue its good work for another year. Any amount is deeply appreciated, and you may find you've hit upon the best holiday tradition yet.
Happy New Year to you and your hounds,
Laura Cavaluzzo ,
Editor, urbanhound San Francisco
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Book Signing
Thursday, December 14, 6 PM to 8 PM
549 Castro St., San Francisco
Under One Roof hosts a book signing for "Tails of Devotion", a collection of essays about people and their pets edited by Emily Scott Pottruck.
Oakland Adoption Event
Saturday, December 16, Noon to 3 PM
Rite Aid, 1991 Mountain Blvd, Oakland
Featuring dogs from Hopalong Rescue. May be cancelled in case of heavy rain; call 510-703-6881 after 11 AM to confirm.
San Francisco Adoption Event
Sunday, December 17, Noon to 4 PM
Corner of Castro & 18th St., San Francisco
Rocket Dog Rescue will be on hand with adorable dogs for adoption.
Lunchtime Adoptions at City Center
Monday, December 18, 11 AM to 2:30 PM
City Center, 12th & Broadway, Oakland
All year long, the East Bay SPCA sets up shop at City Center on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays to find homes for pets.
Adopt-a-Pet
Saturday, December 23, 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM
George, 1844 4th St., Berkeley
Home At Last Animal Rescue will be at George with a passel of adoptable dogs and cats, all spayed/neutered and finished with their shots.
Fort Funston Clean-Up
Saturday, January 6, 9:30 AM
Upper Parking Lot, Fort Funston, San Francisco
Give the Fort a good tidying to start the year off right. Hosted by Fort Funston Dog Walkers, the event includes free coffee and donuts. Dogs and kids are welcome, and all clean-up equipment and supplies are provided.
Ceramic Tile Project
Saturday, January 6, Noon to 3 PM
Animal Care & Control, 1200 15th Street, San Francisco
Customize a glazed ceramic tile in honor of your hound, and support ACC's efforts to protect and assist San Francisco's lost and homeless animals. The 6" square tiles will be permanently installed on the shelter's outside wall. $25 (gift certificates are available). Contact the
Friends of San Francisco Animal Care & Control for more information.
Working with Fearful Dogs
Saturday, January 13, 9 AM to 5 PM
171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd, Novato, CA
This seminar led by author and certified trainer Nicole Wilde addresses the challenges of working with dogs that have anxieties, phobias and fears. Topics include working with fearful dogs in clients' homes, skills to teach clients, desensitization and counterconditioning, appropriate training equipment and more. Registration is $100 (register by December 15 for $85). For more information, visit the Positively Trained website.
Different Faces of Aggression
Sunday, January 14, 9 AM to 5 PM
171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd, Novato, CA
Organized by Positively Trained, this seminar features Trish King, Director of the Animal Behavior & Training Department at the Marin Humane Society. She'll discuss ways to recognize aggression and differentiate between types, as well as possible behavior modification techniques. Registration is $100 (register by December 15 for $85). For more information, visit the Positively Trained website.
2007 Canine Behavior Academy
Saturdays, January 20 to April 28, 1 PM to 4 PM
Marin Humane Society, 171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd, Novato, CA
Considering working with dogs professionally? Just want to learn more about how your hound's mind works? The Marin Humane Society offers this weekly class, which covers ethology, breed differences, social and learning theory, behavioral problems and more. The cost is $600 for 12 weeks, and enrollment is limited. You can download a registration form here.
If there's an event you'd like us to mention in the next NewsHound, please email us.
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Volunteering for Disaster Relief. After Hurricane Katrina, animal welfare volunteers rushed to the hardest-hit areas to rescue lost, abandoned and injured pets. If you are interested in joining the efforts in the next time of need, now's the time to prepare. The Humane Society of the United States is accepting volunteer applications for its National Disaster Animal Response Team online. HSUS recommends that those interested in applying first complete the Independent Study Program offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency among other courses. The HSUS website also offers information to help you create a plan to ensure that your own pets are safe in case of disaster.
Good news for New York gives hope to San Francisco. When a Queens neighborhood group mounted a lawsuit to end the long-standing but informal 9 PM to 9 AM off-leash hours policy in New York City parks, Gotham dog folks feared the worst. But the state Supreme Court ruled the policy legal and, just this month, the NYC Board of Health voted unanimously to codify the rule. The policy will become part of city law in 2007. What saved the day in New York? Dog lovers made their voices heard. Some 13,268 people wrote in support of off-leash. Only 202 folks rang in with complaints. San Franciscans can consider that an object lesson as off-leash hours are considered for some of our own parks. Visit the San Francisco Dog Owners Group website for updates and opportunities to get involved.
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Copyright (c) 2006 urbanhound, LLC.
All rights reserved.
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