A day for dogs: Canine Christmas

If it's fall, that means it's almost time for Canine Christmas. For more information, read my Talking Pets column in Friday's Herald, or visit http://www.caninechristmas.com/.

Here's a look at last year's festivities:

 

Time to get ready for Howl-o-ween

Fall has arrived! You can smell it in the air in the mornings, and the "ber" months are finally here. October begins Friday, and that means it's time to start thinking about the holidays.

First up is Halloween, and if you like to celebrate this holiday with your pooch, you might want to check out some new goodies available from upcountryinc.com.

New Howlween Treats are all natural, pumpkin shaped and flavored, and are a great gift for four-legged trick or treaters. They sell for $10.


You can also deck your dog in Halloween Ribbon Collars, made from high-tensile strength nylon webbing with sewn on stain and fray-resistant polyester/nylon ribbons. All collar and lead hardware is cast (not welded) of solid brass and quick-release buckles are Coast Guard approved for high weight hold. They're machine washable and come in sizes XS-XXL. They go for $19

Jack O’ Lantern stuffed toys are appropriate for dogs or cats, and they sell for $9.

All  these products are available at http://upcountryinc.com/.

Less than adoptable? Sad, but true

Got this in e-mail and wanted to share it ASAP.

PETFINDER.COM KICKS OFF

ADOPT-A-LESS-ADOPTABLE-PET WEEK

SEPTEMBER 19 – 25

Survey Uncovers that 95 Percent of Shelters and Rescue Groups

Have Pets That They Are Having Extreme Difficulty Placing in a Home  

Silver Spring, MD – What if people were denied a loving home because they had dark-colored hair or were considered to be too old? According to a recent survey by Petfinder.com, the largest online database of adoptable pets, 95 percent of shelters and rescue groups currently have adoptable pets for which they are having extreme difficulty finding a home. In fact, 33 percent said they have had adoptable pets listed on Petfinder.com for one to two years, and an additional 27 percent said they have cared for pets that have been homeless even longer.

So that no pet is overlooked simply because of their age, breed or even the color of their fur, Petfinder.com is kicking off Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week from September 19 to 25 to help find homes for these loveable animals and bring awareness to the issue. So far, more than 500 shelters and rescue groups in Petfinder.com’s network are planning to participate. 

“It breaks my heart to think that some pets are homeless for years when they are just as wonderful as the younger, fluffier puppy next to them. These overlooked pets often make great additions to a family – but many people don’t even realize they are discriminating when they begin looking to adopt,” said Betsy Banks Saul, the co-founder of Petfinder.com. “The goal of this initiative is to bring the issue to the forefront and help find forever homes for these special animals.”

Petfinder.com launched the first ever Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Day in 2009, and extended this year’s initiative to a full week so that more less adoptable pets will be given the chance to find a loving home. Petfinder.com will also be featuring a gallery of “less adoptable” pets on its website during the weeklong event to highlight just how many pets need to be given a chance. While the gallery is not intended to be searchable, visitors can log onto Petfinder.com and type in their zip code to find adoptable pets at their local shelters or rescue groups.

More details can be found at http://www.petfinder.com/lessadoptablepetweek.



Guide Dogs having open house

Southeastern Guide Dogs will host its next open house 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Sept. 18, at the campus at 4210 77th St. E., Palmetto.

Visitors can join a guided walking tour of the Freedom Walk and SEGD's puppy and dog training kennels. This is an opportunity to learn how guide dogs are trained and to experience what it's like to walk blindfolded with a trained dog.

You can also get more information on volunteering to be a dog walker or puppy hugger.

For more information, call (941) 729-5665 or visit the SEGD website: http://www.guidedogs.org/.

Do you have a glamour puss?

If you think your cat may be the next Lorenzo, here's your chance to have a glamour photo taken and benefit the Humane Society of Manatee County at the same time.

A Glamour Pet photo is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, at Animal Medical Center, 3102 Cortez Road. (And of course, dogs are more than welcome, too.)

The session fee is $14.95, $10 of which will be donated to the Humane Society. Pet glamour costumes will be available, and there will be 12 to 15 poses from which to choose.

Call 753-6709 to make an appointment or visit www.humanemanatee.org for more information.

Mark your calendar for Canine Christmas

Wow ... this year is going faster than a dog playing Fly Ball. And as fall approaches, it's time to mark your calendar for Canine Christmas 2010.

This year's festival will be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, and once again it will be on the beautiful grounds of Bishop Animal Shelter, 5718 21st. Ave. W. in Bradenton.

Admission is free, with a $2 donation per vehicle for parking. Proceeds go to festival co-sponsor Animal Network Inc. to further its mission of "Helping People Help Animals."

This festival grows every year and humans and their canine companions have a blast. Dogs are most certainly welcome (it IS Canine Christmas, after all); they just need to be on a leash, have an inoculation tag and be social.

Hope to see you there!

Lorenzo the super cat

In Friday's "Talking Pets" column in the print edition of the Herald, I wrote about Lorenzo the cat, who loves to model for his human, free-lance-journalist-turned-feline-photographer Joann Biondi. He's earning his catnip through the prints Biondi sells on Lorenzo's web site.

I thought readers would like to see Lorenzo in action (or inaction, as the case may be), so here are some pix.

                                                           Photos by ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lorenzo and his human, Joann Biondi.

THE END