Fetch the Paper: Digital Dog Edition

How much is that doggy in the window?

Fans of the Shiba Inu puppy webcam are preparing to mourn the departure of several of the adorable little squirts.  However, San Francisco-based fans are in luck. The San Francisco SPCA has unveiled their annual holiday windows at the Macy's store downtown. Now the sidewalks are crowded 24/7 with shoppers gaping at the puppies and kittens playing in their (separate) windows, in holiday-themed worlds created just for them.

The windows are part of an annual adoption push, and in the past the SPCA has had huge success in adopting out that doggy in the window, along with his furry little friends.

And guess what? There's a webcam for this too. Click here to check out the cute-itude.

Today's Rant: "Please Help Me Save My Dog"

This, in a slightly different form, is my editorial in the October issue of FETCH the Paper:

Local shelters and rescue groups are steeling themselves for a new round of surrendered Chihuahuas.

Previously glamorized by films like Legally Blonde and starlets like Paris Hilton, the Chihuahua found itself suddenly much desired. But people often found the breed not as cute and cuddly as made out in the media, so many were also surrendered. Not to mention, puppy mills saw a chance to make a quick buck from the breed, so they started pumping them out, many of them with genetic defects and other health issues. Now a new film, can you believe it titled Beverly Hills Chihuahua, opens October 3rd, and there’s concern aplenty that it will spur a new round of Chihuahua desire, leading to another round of Chihuahua surrenders in a few months.

SF/SPCA Gala is back on!

The SF/SPCA has rescheduled their 140th Anniversary Celebration. Originally, this gala event was scheduled for September, but the organization has changed the date to March 4, 2009.  It will still be held in the Julia Morgan Ballroom at the Merchant Exchange Building as planned, and will feature a cocktail reception, sit-down dinner, live auction and more.

For tickets to the event, call 415-522-3564 or email lgretch@sfspca.org, or visit the SF/SPCA website at www.sfspca.org.

Do You Know About The OTHER Dog Show?

Enter Your Adopted Dog in "The OTHER Dog Show" at the Bay Area Pet Fair & Adoptathon, September 6 & 7

This event is beng expanded at this year's Bay Area Pet Fair, to include not just rescue animals looks for homes, but also family pets who came from a shelter or rescue. We've already gotten lots of entries including several Katrina dogs.

Pogo, R.I.P.

When I first heard about the death of young Pogo, the pit bull foster puppy who was found stabbed this week seven days after he disappeared while exercising off-leash at Ocean Beach, I was snapped into despair and frustration. With so much good being done for animals in our community, with dozens of groups and thousands of volunteers rescuing and caring for the homeless and sick, it's always shocking to hear a story like this.

Pogo died when he was still a puppy, about 7 months old. He was in a foster home under the auspices of Grateful Dogs Rescue, one of San Francisco's most active rescue groups, and one dear to my own heart. My own Wylie  was rescued by Grateful dogs at age 10, and fostered by them for a year until we adopted him. Until Grateful Dogs took him in, he was slated for euthanasia because of his age and arthritis.

But Pogo's story has a special twist. Pogo came to San Francisco Animal Care & Control with a genetic defect that required the amputation of one hind leg. Now with two barriers to quick adoption - his breed and being a tripod - Pogo was taken in by Grateful Dogs, who raised the funds for his surgery and would train, socialize and care for him until he was ready for adoption. San Francisco Veterinary Specialists generously donated part of the cost of his surgery. Pogo was now set for success.

All that changed in the circumstance of a moment. While out on Ocean Beach near Sunset on July 22, Pogo disappeared behind a sand dune. Seven days later, his body, brutally stabbed to death, was found, dumped in an unincorporated area of Bayview.

SF ACC is asking anyone  with  information  about Pogo's death – or who knows anything about Pogo being taken from Ocean  Beach - to call Animal Care & Control at (415) 554-9400. A $2000 reward  for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator has been established by Grateful Dogs Rescue and The Friends of SF Animal Care & Control. To contribute to the reward fund, please contact Animal Care & Control at (415) 554-9412.

Yes, I am mourning Pogo. And my heart goes out to the wonderful folks at Grateful Dogs, who have rescued, healed, fostered, trained, and re-homed thousands of dogs taken from the streets of San Francisco or who, like my Wylie, were surrendered by owners when they became old, sick, or inconvenient.

Even if you can't help solve this horrible crime, please do anything you can to support the efforts of groups like Grateful Dogs.

Ugh

This story, about a man mistreating 38 dogs in Colorado, will turn your stomach. I'm posting the link because the man was reportedly selling his dogs to people in the Bay Area as purebreds. I want to remind everyone that if you're going to buy a dog from a breeder, really look into the breeder's background. Visit the dogs, see the breeder's premises, and do your homework. And remember that if you're just looking for a dog to love you unconditionally, shelter dogs do the job just as well as purebreds.

Our shelter dog, Molly, doesn't need a pedigree to be cute.

Queen of Mean leaves billions to dog care

Hotel maven Leona Helmsley, who died last year after a life spent amassing a fortune in the hotel business, may have left somewhere between $5 and $8 billion to dogs.

Helmsley definitely left her Maltese, Trouble, a $12 million trust fund. The dog reportedly blew it all on a six-dollar box of Milkbones, barking a message that the cashier interpreted as "Keep the change."*

There's some question as to the legality of the statement Helmsley left behind instructing that these billions be used to care for needy dogs, but if it happens, it'll provide more funding for dog care than all the other animal charities in the country, combined. (Or so this article claims.) Has Helmsley, nicknamed the Queen of Mean, redeemed her reputation with one fell swoop? You decide.

*I made up the Milkbone thing. But the $12 million trust fund is true.

Liveblogging ARF's Animals on Broadway

This is FETCH's second year at ARF's Animals on Broadway, which is very well attended with many dogs of all shapes and sizes strutting down Broadway Plaza. This is truly a unique event. This high-end shopping area of Walnut Creek closes off the street for day, and the dogs (and their people) wander in front of Nordstrom, Sephora, Bebe, Macy's and other shops. And it's all for a good cause, the fine programs and services of Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF).
I'd post a photo but I don't have my digital camera's card reader with me... so maybe I'll post something later.
We're here til 4 if you want to come and check it out! -The FETCH Team

Finding the right breeder

There's a good article on Newsday.com today about how to choose a breeder which you may find helpful if you're looking for a purebred dog. Remember that there's more to being a good breeder than simply producing a pretty dog. Buying a dog from a bad breeder can mean you're getting a dog with serious health problems. Plus, you don't want to support breeders who are overbreeding or otherwise abusing the dogs in their care.

For more info on choosing dogs, check with organizations such as The American Kennel Club to find out what you need to know when choosing a dog breeder.

And don't forget, mixed breed dogs make amazing, lifetime friends too! You can find out more about adopting a shelter dog at the American Humane Society.

Who's your daddy?

This image is from here.

In Memory of Kathleen

Earlier this week, many in the Bay Area were touched by the story of a woman who died in San Francisco’s Stern Park as she concluded a walk with her dogs. A large redwood branch broke off a tree and crashed into Kathleen Bolton, 50. She died a short time later after being taken to the emergency room by ambulance.
We at FETCH knew Kathleen only in passing. We first met her during the 2006 Bay Area Pet Fair, where she volunteered for Grateful Dogs. We know she fostered several dogs, include Katrina rescues. We saw her at other dog events in Marin and San Francisco. We asked someone who knew her well to provide us with some words in memory of Kathleen. Molly Maloney of Pooches Playtime sent us the following. More information about Kathleen and her life can be found at www.kathleenbolton.org.

Kathleen Bolton died suddenly on April 14th, 2008, while doing what she loved to do...walking her dogs. I met Kathleen about 20 years ago through dog walking interests. At that time she was just beginning to look into the business as she had just taken in a young boy who needed a home and thought he might like to work with her to walk dogs. We became fast friends.
Kathleen did not limit her rescue work to just dogs. Over the years she took in anyone who needed a little help and asked for nothing in return. She always put all of her time and energy into everything she did. If she was fostering a dog, she took the time to attend training classes. If you called to talk she gave you all her attention and really listened. I was hospitalized once and she put together a care team to assist me without ever being asked. That was just her way.
Kathleen was herself disabled, but it never impeded her from enjoying life fully or helping others, especially the dogs.  She gave of herself freely, offering a warm hug and a genuine smile. Her absence is like a hole in my life and in the lives of all her were fortunate enough to know her.