Fetch the Paper: Digital Dog Edition

Good News: Novato Cat Rescued from Drain

Copy is one lucky cat.  Yesterday he was stuck for almost 4 hours in a storm drain. I posted about his rescue over on my Pets page on examiner. com:

Don't you just love a happy ending? I know I do. So does Copy the cat, and his person, Lisa Hoytt, of Novato. Monday, Copy was chased down a storm drain by an over-eager terrier in Hoytt's neighborhood, and became wedged in the drain.

Who ya gonna call? In this case, Marin Humane came to the rescue, bringing the Novato Fire Department and Department of Pubic Works into the fray. And they used a bit of high-tech help: a cable optic camera (yes, not unlike those used in colonoscopies!) to locate twelve-pound Copy in the drain so they could chart his rescue.

Read the whole thing - and more photos - here.

Pups Ahoy!

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.

Morning Musings

I've been on hiatus for a while during the time we were planning and then recovering from the 2nd Annual Bay Area Pet Fair & Adoptathon. We had more than 4500 paid participants, and around 200 animals found new homes because of the Fair. We also crowned our new "Best in Show" picks, chosen from the dozens of shelter animals who entered The OTHER Dog Show. Where else can a 3-legged pit bull and a rabbit take top honors?

Anyway, I want to thank Daneen Akers for her wonderful series "An American Dog in Paris." The full text of Pali and her peoples' adventures in the City of Love are right below. We're also sharing the story in the November issue of FETCH in an abridged form.

And now, we return to more regular blogging. Glad to be back!

Which Pit Will Be on the Cover of FETCH?

Wow! Pit bull lovers from all over the Bay Area sent us essays and photos for the September FETCH the Paper cover contest. One of these lucky pups will be featured. Check out the great photos!

The judges are judging and the FETCH team has pulled together some great prizes for the winner and runners up, too.

Calling All Bay Area Pit Bulls

Is your pit bull a BREED AMBASSADOR?

FETCH the Paper is seeking SF Bay Area dogs to star on the cover of the September, 2007 issue, which will feature one of the most misunderstood breeds - pit bulls. So we decided it was a perfect time to look for the cutest, most charming, handsome, and captivating pit bulls that serve as Breed Ambassadors to grace our cover!

To enter your dog, you will need to follow TWO steps:

1. Fill out the entry form. The entry includes a short essay on why your dog is an ambassador for pit bulls.
2. Upload a photo of your dog.

More details on the entry form. We'll select one or more entrants (depends on our creative impulses when we see the photos) to grace the cover of the September issue of FETCH, which gets extra distribution at the Bay Area Pet Fair & Adoptathon.

DEADLINE is July 25th, 2007. Entrants must be from the San Francisco Bay Area: San Francisco, East Bay, North Bay, South Bay, Peninsula.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO ENTER VISIT: http://fetchthepaper.squarespace.com/

Two Great Events this Weekend

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.

• Sunday, 9am-1pm, Bay to Barkers. Held at Cesar Chavez Park in Berkeley, and benefits the Berkeley East Bay Humane Society.
• Sunday, 6pm. SF ACC's 18th Birthday Party. Cool jazz, food & drink, auction. More info at the SF ACC  web site.

Come say hi to us, maybe we'll SNAP your pooch. We'll also have FETCH gear & wear, and special price on FETCH subscriptions.

A sad day

Michael Keenan passed away on Monday. Keenan recently returned to a burning house he had escaped, to rescue Bobby, the dog trapped inside, and was badly burned in the process. He had also risked his life a few years ago to rescue a woman whose car was driven into the Bay with her inside. He saved her life and Bobby's life, and he will be sadly missed.

Get SNAPPED!

The FETCH team will be taking SNAPS at the following upcoming events... if we SNAP you and your dog, you'll be featured in FETCH and on the FETCH web site in our SNAPS section! Come see us and support the following events:

• Petchitecture, May 4 - benefiting PAWS
• Dog Day on the Bay, May 6 - benefiting SF SPCA
• Animals on Broadway, May 20 - benefiting ARF
• Marin Humane Centennial, June 3 - benefiting Marin Humane
• Hats Off Fashion Show & Luncheon, June 6 - Benefiting SF SPCA medical fund

See the Featured Events listing, left, for more info and links.

FETCH Readers Speak Out on Pet Food Recall

In a non-scientific, informal survey, we asked FETCH readers to tell us if the pet food recall had changed their thoughts or behaviors around how they feed their pets. We got a lot of interesting responses, with fewer respondents saying they'd made changes than we expected. My own interpretation is that because so many FETCH readers already fed premium foods and/or homemade diets, that they don’t feel the need to make huge changes.

Fourteen percent of the respondents said they had been feeding their pets a food that was involved in the recall. Our respondents were mostly dog owners (86%) but with so many multi-species households, 64% also reported having cats as well.

When asked if the recall had changed their thoughts around feeding their pets, 36% said no, 57% said yes, and 7% were still researching the issue. "The recall has made me feel less comfortable about what is on the shelves…. We do not have to do the home made or raw foods for our canine and feline companions but we do need to ask questions about what is in the packaged foods that are available," noted one respondent. "We need to be more aware consumers for them since we are their voices and they depend on us."

Only 24% said that they had changed how they feed their pets since the recall. The most common change reported was switching brands, with the second most common change was adding or switching to homemade cooked or raw diets.

Our survey respondents indicated a heightened awareness of the pet food recall as being about global food and economic isses. 

"When this tragedy came to light, it is clear that this pet food company made a decision to use a supplier in China to save money... and to make more profits for themselves," said one respondent. Another noted, "This should send a message about using food products from China. Any country that would slaughter pet dogs rather than give them rabies vaccinations certainly has no regard for companion animals."

Some respondents also expressed a sense of guilt over feeding their pets the contaminated food. "I know the difference between good food and bad food and I blame myself for not reading the ingredients list; I should have known better," said one respondent.

Thanks to all who responded to our survey; we appreciate the input from our readers. --SLL

Memories of the Pet Fair

Time to mark your calendar again for the Bay Area Pet Fair & Adoptathon! Last year more than 150 animals found homes, and 5,000 guests enjoyed two days of entertainment, exhibits and FUN!

Our 2007 event will be September 8 & 9, at the Marin Center. Check out the web site.

Or how about a great photo montage from last year's Fair? Click the thumbnail below:

Scenes from 2006 Bay Area Pet Fair