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NewsHound 016
October 11, 2007 |
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Dear Urbanhounders,
Happy Howl-o-ween! Dogs don't know from ghosts and goblins, and they aren't supposed to eat candy, but that's no reason they can't participate in the fun. After all, Halloween is the one time of year we get to dress them up in goofy costumes with complete impunity. And what better time to do tricks for treats?
Deck your hound out as a firefighter, Princess Leia or even (horror of horrors!) a cat, and head out to the great events happening all around the Bay Area.
But with all the fun, bear in mind that Halloween can be a scary time for dogs. Costumed kids can make normally docile dogs nervous, and candy -- particularly chocolate -- can be poisonous. The ASPCA has issued a release about safety during the holiday; it's worth a read.
Cheers and Happy Haunting,
Laura Cavaluzzo,
Editor, urbanhound San Francisco
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» City dwelling means stairs. But some dogs are afraid to make the climb (and or descent). Our resident trainer, Andrea Arden, has some hints about how to get your dog used to stairs.
» Halloween is good ghoulish fun, but if your dog gets into the candy, it can get scary fast. Our vet Dr. Betsy Brevitz has the facts on the evils of chocolate.
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Book Signing - Dogs I Have Met
Friday, October 12, 7 PM
The Booksmith, 1644 Haight Street, San Francisco
Ken Foster speaks about Dogs I Have Met, his follow-up to The Dogs Who Found Me.
North Bay Adoption Event
Saturday, October 13, Noon to 3 PM
Discovery Shop, 761 E. Blithedale Avenue, Mill Valley
The Marin Humane Society brings adoptable animals to Mill Valley. For more adoption event dates and locations this month, visit the Society's events page.
Small Dog Beach Walks & Park Gatherings
Saturday, October 13, 10 AM
Ocean Beach, San Francisco
Owners of small dogs (under 20 lbs) meet every Saturday on Ocean Beach, across from the Beach Chalet, to stroll the sand together. This active group also gathers every Tuesday at Pine Lake Park (6 PM) and Alamo Square (6:45 PM).
Rocket Dog Rescue Benefit
Saturday, October 13, 6 PM to 11 PM
Cydonia Glass Studio, 935 Natoma, San Francisco
The 7th annual Big Blast fundraiser for Rocket Dog Rescue features a silent auction, raffle prizes, food, drinks and photos of your hound. Contact Rocket Dog for more information.
Low-Cost Vaccination & Microchipping Clinic
Sunday, October 14, 10 AM to Noon
171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Novato
Vaccinations for $5 each, microchipping for $20, courtesy of the Marin Humane Society.
Bernal Hill Clean-up
Sunday, October 14, 10:30 AM to Noon
Bernal Hill Park, San Francisco
Meet the neighbors and help keep Bernal Hill poop-free. Dog owners meet at the South Gate, near the water fountain. Bio-bags are provided. The event is organized by (and more info is available through) Green Dog Walks.
Animals in the Arts
Sunday, October 14, 1 PM to 5 PM
Herbst Theater, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
In celebration of its 60th Anniversary, Pets Unlimited hosts an art exhibition and sale, followed by the Baroque Chamber Orchestra performing Carnival of the Animals, by Camille Saint-Saens. The concert will be conducted by Emmy-Award winner George Daugherty and narrated by author Amy Tan. Admission to the exhibit and sale is free. Tickets for the concert are $50 to $500 and can be purchased online .
David Frei Lecture
Monday, October 15, 7 PM
SF/SPCA, 243 Alabama Street, San Francisco
David Frei, host of the USA Network's Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and founder of Angel on a Leash, will speak about living and working with dogs and, in particular, his involvement with therapy dogs. Sponsored by the SF/SPCA, the talk is free, but a donation of $20 is suggested.
PAWS 20th Anniversary Gala
Wednesday, October 17, 6 PM to 10 PM
Old Federal Reserve Building, 301 Battery Street, San Francisco
PAWS celebrates 20 years of helping low-income San Franciscans with HIV/AIDS and other illnesses keep their companion animals. The sit-down dinner event at the stately Old Federal Reserve Building will be co-hosted by legendary haberdasher Wilkes Bashford and Emily Pottruck, author of Tails of Devotion. Former Mayor Willie Brown will bang the gavel at the live auction. Tickets range from $250 for an individual to $20,000 for Platinum Sponsorship of a table of ten. Contact Development Director Henry Lucero for more information.
Intro to Animal Communication
Saturday, October 20, 10 AM to 2 PM
171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Novato
If you've ever wondered how Dr. Doolittle did it, here's a lesson on talking to the animals. Local experts Marta Williams and Lisa Hartnett will tell you how animal communication works and how you can learn to communicate with your own pets (though you should leave them safely at home during the seminar). Hosted by the Marin Humane Society, the seminar costs $50. To register, call 415-506-6288.
East Bay Adoption Event
Saturday, October 20, 11 AM to 3 PM
Redhound, 5523 College Avenue, Oakland
The Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society will be on hand with hounds who need homes. Throughout October, BEBHS will give away a free Trick-or-Treat Bag with each adoption. For other dates and locations, check the Society's mobile outreach page.
Dogs & Tales
Sunday, October 21, 1 PM
Cody's Books, 1730 Fourth Street, Berkeley
Children ages 4 - 9 are invited to share story time with a dog and learn dog safety at the same time. Sponsored by the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society. For more information visit the Society's website.
Party at the Wag Hotel
Wednesday, October 24, 6 PM to 8 PM
25 14th Street, San Francisco
Join 7x7 magazine for a party supporting the San Francisco SPCA at the Wag Hotel. Dance to music from Energy 92.7 on Wag's rooftop lawn and have a photo taken of your pet. Well behaved pets on leashes welcomed. For more information call 888-wag-line or visit the Wag Hotel website.
Pet First Aid & CPR
Saturday, October 27, 9 AM to 1 PM & 2 PM to 6 PM
171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Novato
Learn lifesaving techniques, including CPR, poison response and choking management, at this hand-on workshop at the Marin Humane Society. Please leave your pet at home, as mannequins will be used for demonstrations. Register for either the morning or afternoon session. Registration is $35, and space is limited. Call 415-506-6288.
Pet Pride Day
Sunday, October 28, 11 AM to 3 PM
Sharon Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Still the main event of the year for San Francisco's dog lovers, Pet Pride Day offers a costume contest, trick competition, product vendors, a parade and more fun than you can shake a stick at. Don't have a pet? Rescue groups will be on hand to make you a proud pet parent on the spot. Did we mention admission is free? Contact Animal Care & Control if you'd like to be a sponsor or vendor.
Trick or Treat at ARF
Sunday, October 28, 1 PM to 3 PM
Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek
Kids of all ages are invited to get spooky with the therapy animals at ARF. The free afternoon event will feature ghoulish games and creepy crafts as well as the requisite tricks and treats
Howl-o-ween 2007
Sunday, October 28, 1 PM to 3:30 PM
Alameda Small Dog Park, Lower Washington Park, 8th at Portola, Alameda
Dogs 30 lbs and under are invited to don costumes and join the parade. Sponsored by Alameda Small Dogs this free event includes a costume contest with 10 - 15 prize categories, including grand prize. Get to the park by 1:15 PM to register.
Fort Funston Clean-up
Saturday, November 3, 9:30 AM
Upper Parking Lot, Fort Funston, San Francisco
Hosted by Fort Funston Dog Walkers, this monthly clean-up event includes free coffee and donuts. Dogs and kids are welcome, and all clean-up equipment and supplies are provided.
Monthly Low-Cost Vaccination & Microchipping Clinic
Wednesday, November 7, 6 PM to 8 PM
12 Airport Blvd., San Mateo
The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA offers vaccination for rabies, distemper and DHPP ($10 each), plus microchipping ($20). For residents of Belmont, San Mateo, East Palo Alto and the unincorporated areas of the county, microchipping is just $12.
Nathan Winograd Seminar & Book Signing
Thursday, November 8, 6 PM to 8 PM
Women's Community Building, Audre Lorde Room, 3543 18th Street, San Francisco
Among the no-kill movement's most passionate and articulate leaders, Nathan Winograd has spoken on the topic around the world. This free seminar includes a multi-media presentation and information on how communities can adopt no-kill policies successfully today. Though there is no charge, registration is required, and if you'd like Nathan to sign a copy of his book, Redemption, you'll need to pre-order one here.
If there's an event you'd like us to mention in the next NewsHound, please email us.
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Oakland considers 15-minute tethering law. The Oakland City Council is considering a proposed change to the city's municipal code, authored by Sue Piper in councilwoman Jean Quan's office. The change would allow dogs to be tethered to lamp posts, parking meters, etc., for up to 15 minutes, while their owners are shopping, getting coffee and the like. California legislators recently passed a law that prohibits tethering a dog to an immobile object for more than three hours in any 24-hour period, but when it comes to public land, the state law is trumped by local ordinances in cases where those ordinances are more restrictive. Oakland's current code (chapter 6, section 04.070) prohibits tethering dogs on public property entirely, so the proposed 15-minute grace period would actually improve the situation for dog owners who combine dog walks with errand-running. Other proposed changes include the addition of a poop-scooper law, a change in the fine schedule and adoption of the state language regarding leaving dogs in parked cars. Visit Oakland's official website and download the agenda from the Council's October 16 meeting to see the proposed new language.
Dog detective sniffs out invaders. Dogs have long been used to sniff out bombs and drugs, and lately they've had a nose for counterfeit money and pirated DVDs. Now it appears they can also detect invasive plant species. Montana State University grad student Kim Goodwin has taught Camas, a nine-year-old German shepherd, to find dyer's woad, a weed from Russia that displaces native vegetation. Efforts to eradicate the plant rely on finding every last sprout, and Camas can do that faster and more consistently than any human. Goodwin had previously studied dogs' ability to find spotted knapweed, another European invader.
Do Microchips Cause Cancer? A purported link between Microchips and cancer has been getting a lot of attention. The American Veterinary Medical Association issued a statement calling for further study of the issue, which seems warranted. While there may be cause for concern (and most stories focused on the human implications), it seems (at this point, anyway) that getting a microchip for your dog still carries more benefit than risk, though it is an issue we will be watching closely.
What's On. On Sunday, October 14. Animal Planet takes on the problem of canine obesity with a special airing of It's Me or the Dog, in which U.K. Trainer Victoria Stillwell puts three dogs through a weight-loss regimen. The episode is followed by Fat Pets, a documentary covering how England became the "fat pets capital of Europe." On Saturday, November 10, the cable network airs the Animal Planet Dog Championships from Houston, Tex.
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Copyright (c) 2007 urbanhound, LLC.
All rights reserved.
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