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. 
Forget Napa. This weekend, anyway.
Two of my very favorite dog scenes are happening this weekend in Sonoma County's bucolic (isn't that an odd word?) Wine Country. And the weather promises to be perfectly restrained (read: not too hot) for hopping into the car with Fido and Fluffy, enjoying a scenic ride up the valley or coast, with a final destination at Mutt Lynch and/or Trentadue wineries.
Mutt Lynch Winery only opens its doors to the public once a year, and that's for its Dog Days weekend. Just a short hop outside Healdsburg in Alexander Valley, the winery overlooks the acres of lush vines that cover the valley floor. You can taste to your heart's delight with your (leashed) dog at your side.
If you haven't already had some eats at a Healdsburg sidewalk cafe, get a hot dog and chips to munch while you sip, and then stroll the local art (much of it dog-themed) and information booths. Brenda and Chris Lynch have been doing this event for at least 4 years now, and they donate a portion of the proceeds to the Healdsburg Animal Shelter. I like it because we always see a lot of great dogs and people, and everyone's so relaxed. Be sure to say Hi - I will be the FETCH The Paper booth.
Just a few miles further north between Healdsburg and Geyserville, Trentadue Winery is also having its Dog Days celebration. On Sunday, this winery will have several indoor and outdoor areas with lots of shade devoted to dogs. There will be games, vendor booths, training tips, and, of course, sipping of wine by humans. This event also gives proceeds to the Healdsburg Animal Shelter. Daniel from FETCH will be at Trentadue, too.
De-tails
MuttL ynch Dog Days: Saturday & Sunday August 9 & 10, 11am-5pm. Admission free. Dogs on leash welcome. Tasting fee donations benefit Healdsburg Animal Shelter. 1960 Dry Creek Rd, Healdsburg
www.muttlynchwinery.com
info@muttlynchwinery.com
Trentadue Winery Dog Days: Sunday August 10, 12-4pm. People $5 each, dogs $5 each, on leash.
19170 Geyserville Ave, Geyserville
www.trentadue.com
At the last minute, we just got word that Karen Dawn, animal rights activist and author of Thanking the Monkey, will have a book launch part in San Francisco on Tuesday July 1.
The event will be held at The Usual Suspects, a North Beach vegetarian restaurant located at 450 Broadway. Karen will do a reading upstairs at 7 pm, and attendees are welcome to have dinner downstairs after the reading.
Karen's trying to round up a few local "special guests" so you never know who might show!
Karen's email about the event instructs folks to go to www.thankingthemonkey.com and click "Readings" to RSVP if you plan to be there. Please spread the word and let everyone know.
Join the San Francisco SPCA for “Yappy Hour,” 6-9 pm On Friday, June 20th at Dragon Bar, 473 Broadway in North Beach, to celebrate Take Your Dog to Work Day.
There's a $10 admission fee which gets the human a specialty cocktail. There will also be a raffle and door prizes. Proceeds benefit the SF SPCA.
Whatever you do on Friday, remember to honor dogs in the workplace!
Pet Sitters International is once again the lead sponsor of the annual "Take Your Dog to Work Day" which is this coming Friday, June 20th. The event's purpose is to encourage employers to consider allowing dogs in the work place and to honor employers who already have dog-friendly policies. In the Bay area, many high-tech employers such as Google and Autodesk allow dogs at work.
Ask your boss if you can bring your dog to work on Friday and enjoy having the four-legged companionship all day.
I won't have photos for a couple of days but just wanted to say we had a great time at today's Dog Day on the Bay event. This annual cruise around the bay is loved by the dogs and people who attend. And it raises money for SF/SPCA, too. We saw a lot of people who were there last year, too--it's a great annual draw for dog lovers who want to do something fun with their pooch.
We took some SNAPS and those photos will be on line ASAP.
I've been working on the 2008 Bay Area Pet Fair & Adoptathon web site--and it's now ready for all to see. Check it out, and mark your calendars now for the biggest pet event of the year, September 6 & 7 at the Marin Center in San Rafael.
Don't forget to buy your tickets for the upcoming Bark & Whine Ball! This glam fundraiser benefits the San Francisco SPCA's Cinderella Fund, which provides extra medical care to shelter animals, helping them to stay healthy and find homes faster.
Guests will come in formal wear: expect to see tuxedos, ball gowns, rhinestones and tiaras. The humans also dress up.
Check out the website to see more details and buy your tickets!
I was asked to be a judge at two different dog costume contests this past weekend. The images are still fresh in my mind: everything from a gaggle of border collies redone as a herd of cows, to two young boys dressed as space pilots with their dog as Princess Leia. I don't have many photos because as a judge, I am too busy to take pictures. But here's a few I took during my down time.
On Saturday at Humane Society of Sonoma County's annual bash, two Boxers dressed as FBI agents took top honors (I will try to get a photo). On Sunday FETCH was at SFACC's Pet Pride Day in Golden Gate Park and top honors went to a trio of Chihuahuas dressed as lobsters in a pot. Second and third place also went to Chihuahuas: one dressed as Marie Antionette, and the other as Pochahontas. Don't underestimate the attention to detail and historical accuracy that went into those costumes. 
Before I started judging on Saturday, some of the more experienced judges teased that judging dog costume contests was a dangerous occupation. Apparently the human entrants can take the whole thing quite seriously. This was confirmed on Sunday, when a woman came to the FETCH booth and said "How dare you give second place to Marie Antionette! She was the BEST!"
Whether you dress your dog up tonight or just lay around au naturel, have a Happy Halloween!
Well, there are probably more than two, but these are notable because FETCH will be there, and anyone in the East Bay or City who loves dogs and pets and cares about supporting local shelters will want to be there, too.
Come say hi to us, maybe we'll SNAP your pooch. We'll also have FETCH gear & wear, and special price on FETCH subscriptions.
