Obed & Rally match 8/28

The Dog Training Club of Durham is holding an
Obedience and Rally Obedience Show N Go
Saturday, August 28th
at the new location of  the Durham Kennel Club's December Obedience Trials

The location is: NetSports , 3717 Davis Drive , Morrisville ,NC.

This will be the weekend before the shows in Raleigh. Three rings.Rally will be in Ring 1,
Open in Ring 2, and Utility in Ring 3. Novice Obedience will start in Ring(s)2 and/or 3
whichever ends first,but not before 12:00.

Registration will begin at 8:30 and end at 1 or  before depending on the number of registrations
as we must end by 3. The first runs will begin at 9:00 am.

Enter from the back of building. Runs will be $5.00! Crates and Chairs
must be on a rug or mat to prevent indentions in the astroturf. To help prevent
spills, please do not bring canned drinks or drinks with out lids. We appreciate your help in
keeping this site in good condition.

Does your artwork get a 2 paws up?

Do your friends tell you how awesome your artwork is? Do you have a friend who is talented? Here is a chance to sky rocket an art career with he Art Show at the Dog Show! A competition limited to artists producing dog related art.

Prizes range from $100 and up, but this year's PURCHASE PRIZE FOR BEST OF SHOW offered by the Sponsors is $1250 plus it will be donated by the sponsors to the AKC Museum of the Dog in St. Louis, MO.  Wow!

The winners for 2010 have been selected, but it takes time for art - so start getting ready for next year... But in the mean time, look through these talented artist entries, who knows, you may find an artist to do a portrait of your dog... find an artist to do a logo for your new club or for your next specialty!

Talented people - congratulations to all the winners!  Special congratulations to Carolina arists:

• Artist: Danila Devins – Southern Pines, NC and her ethereal pastel, The Pac Class 
• Artist: Anita Gersch – Waxhaw, NC and Best Entry Depicting a Whippet
•  Artist:  Danila Devins – Southern Pines, NC and her entry in Other Media,  Yellow Lab’s Favorite Toy

Information for 2011 will be posted October, 2011.

2010 Hambone Awards Looking for Submissions

This is your chance to tell your funny vet stories to the world - and maybe get some national recognition for you and your fur friend.

VPI Pet Insurance sponsors an annual Hambone Award. The stories have always been amusing, but they are spicing things up and looking for submissions! The 2010 nominees run the gamut from a chain saw attacking terrier to a tortoise that was almost scalped.

I have used VPI for years and most vets in the Triangle take their claims - including the emergency vets.

Pet Loss Support Group

We have all been there - the devastating loss of one of our pets. Some understand, some don't. You can find support in a group dedicated to pet loss and grief, "The SPCA Pet Loss Support Group welcomes anyone grieving the loss of a pet, regardless of when your pet passed away or where you are in the grieving process.  The SPCA Pet Loss Support Group allows you to share with and learn from others who are grieving the loss of a beloved pet too.  

The group is facilitated by a non-denominational chaplain and, when available, a counseling professional.  While beneficial, the SPCA Pet Loss Support Group is not intended to replace professional counseling services or physician recommendations.  It simply provides a space for sharing with others who have experienced the loss of a pet while being directed to grief resources.

The SPCA Pet Loss Support Group meets at the SPCA Pet Adoption Center just off Tryon Road/ S. Wilmington Street in Raleigh. It is offered as a free service to the community."

Pet Food Pantry - Raleigh families in need

Pet Food Pantry (7/17/10) SPCA Pet Adoption Center

SPCA of Wake County

If you are a family (or individual) in need, or know a family (or individual) in need: The SPCA Pet Food Pantry distributes food on the third Saturday of the month from 8:00am to 10:00am. At the loading dock of the SPCA Pet Adoption Center200 Petfinder Lane (off Tryon Rd and Hwy. 70) Raleigh, NC 27603 See Map Here> The SPCA Pet Food Pantry will be open between 8:00am and 10:00am the third Saturday of each month. Participants of the Pet Food Pantry will receive enough food to last their pets one month. The amount of food each household receives is based on the size and number of pets. The Pet Food Pantry will distribute food on a first-come, first-serve basis. Help support the SPCA Pet Food Pantry:We are accepting monetary donations as well as donations of unopened bags of pet food dropped off anytime on the SPCA's loading dock. Thank you!Questions: Contact Darci VanderSlik at dvanderslik@spcawake.org SPCA Opens Pet Food Pantry in Hope of Keeping Pets Out of Shelters The current economy is impacting even the four-legged members of the family. During the past two months, the SPCA has seen an increase in people giving up their pets; many of the surrenders are due to cost. “We are seeing people come to us who have lost their jobs and their homes and they simply cannot afford the cost of keeping their pet,” said Mondy Lamb, SPCA spokeswoman. “It’s heartbreaking for the family and for the pet.” In order to keep families together and pets out of animal shelters, the SPCA is setting up a Pet Food Pantry to provide temporary assistance to pet owning families in need by providing a month’s supply of pet food. “For many families, a month’s supply of pet food can mean the difference between keeping their pet or having to leave their pet at an animal shelter,” said Lamb. “And for many pets, staying in their home and out of an animal shelter can mean the difference between life and death.”

Date: Saturday, July 17, 2010
Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Address:
200 Petfinder Lane
Raleigh, NC 27603
This event does not require an RSVP. Registered users can request event reminders.

Pet Hair Drive to Aid Gulf Oil Spill

    I had read several stories about using hair to soak up the Gulf coast oil, but had not seen many dog groups put forth any effort. I mean face it, I know most of us have dog hair in our house this summer. With these spells of unbelievable heat - how could we not have shedding dogs!

     Now through August 9th, the SPCA is holding a Pet Hair Drive (Dog Hair Days of Summer) to collect clean pet hair clippings to ship to the Gulf of Mexico where they will be made into absorbent oil collection booms to remove oil from the water and shore. 

      The SPCA has partnered with Matter of Trust, a San Francisco based non-profit that has been helping clean up oils spills since 1998 with effective and environmentally-friendly hair booms. Although BP is not currently using the hair booms, Gulf municipalities and harbors are using the donated natural fiber booms to protect their shores wherever they can. In addition, the hair booms are used to blot the oil from the delicate turtle nesting areas and are less disruptive than raking to remove tar balls.

      “There is an overwhelming sense of being helpless in the face of this ongoing environmental disaster,” said Mondy Lamb, SPCA spokeswoman. “Donating pet hair to help collect oil and thereby protect the environment and sea life is one small thing that each pet owner can do to make a difference.” 

      Well, the Raleigh SPCA is now taking collections!

How to Donate Pet Hair:

1) Be sure your pet's hair is DRY, clean and free of debris.

2) Take a brush and comb through your pet's coat.

3) Collect the hair in plastic bags. Please be sure the hair collected is free of twigs, 
    dirt or knots. 4) Once you're finished combing your pet/s bring the plastic bags full of hair 
    to the SPCA Adoption Center (collection open only during business hours). 
5) There will be boxes set up on the SPCA's
    Adoption Center lobby. Place the bag/s of hair in the marked boxes! 
6) At the end of the collection period, the SPCA will ship the hair to the designated 
    Matter of Trust location.

Durham Kennel Club

Have I mentioned that the Durham Kennel Club is a really great place to train?  I not only take classes there, I am an instructor. I believe in fairness, fun, and positive methods... I will post more about methods and in particular about starting a puppy off on the right foot.

Bargain Supplies - Love a Sale!

I love a bargain - better than most  I suspect. There is a new Walgreen's opening on Guess Road just above I-85 and they are having all kinds of specials. I stopped in tonight on my way home from Durham Kennel Club training classes to pick up some 49 cent paper towels and batteries (BOGO - 16 AAA/9.99=32) and they had stainless steel water bottles 3/$10. Take that along with a $3 off $10 purchase... So got some batteries for my little flashlight, paper towels for the car -- cool beans! Be back tomorrow night for the water bottles - they will make cool stocking stuffers. They also have pet items and Iams dog food on sale.

Dog Cookies from Foodista

Along with gardening, photography, and my dogs (****) I just love to cook. But can you believe I have never made homemade dog biscuits? I fed raw for years and prepared food left and right - but dog cookies for the "kids"? Never happened.

So now I am collecting recipes to make a small biscuit cookbook. Going to one of my favorite recipes pages, of course I found a simple and easy to prepare recipe. Guess what friends are getting for Xmas this year!

Airports with Pet Relief Areas

It is finally sinking in that people love their pets. Several airports have created pet relief stations for travelers!

I had no idea RDU airport had a pet relief area - I will have to check it out and report back. But if you are flying with an in-cabin pet, this link to Dog Friendly airports is a definite bookmark for you.

We're Back!

We're back! Almost 3 years to the day....

Dock Diving and Agility - all in one day!

There will be an Agility Show & Go and Dock Diving Fun Jump this Saturday from 9am-noon at Teamworks Dog Training, Youngsville, NC.

There will be two rings of nested courses - three levels of Jumpers courses and
three levels of standard courses.
There will be complimentary doggie swimming for all show & go participants.
There will also be video-taped and measured jumps available at the Dock Diving
Fun Jump.

Prices are:  $5 per Show & go run or 5 runs for $20. and $5 per measured set of two consecutive jumps or 5 sets of measured jumps for $20

Professional Pet Matchmakers

Well I am glad this kind of dog matchmaking services haven't caught on in the states!

Gougou520.com calls itself China's first professional online pet matchmaking company. The event is expected to have about 100 dog owners in the Hongqiao area to find perfect partners for their dogs.