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.

Three Years Later: Are Your Pets Ready for Disaster?

Three years ago this week in 1995, Hurricane Katrina blew through the Gulf states with disastrous results. This year, we sit and watch helplessly as Hurricane Gustav does his business in the same region. 

One big difference: this time, more people are ready to safely evacuate their pets, and rescue workers are more prepared to deal with the special task of caring for animals who are either lost or left behind.

In 1995, hundreds of thousands of family companion animals were left behind and found themselves in a horrible crisis. More than 6,000 of those left behind made it to makeshift rescue. About 100 times as many – yes, more than 600,000 – died.  Oregon film maker Mike Shiley documented the rescue – and our society’s failure to adequately deal with the staggering task of saving those left behind – in his film Dark Water Rising.

Today, as Gustav gains force and heads for Louisiana, there is one thing you can surely do. Make sure you think about, document, and prepare your own disaster plan, and include your pets.

Californians must prepare for, and do encounter flooding and earthquakes. In the last three years winter storms have caused serious flooding throughout the Bay Area, so it’s not just the more easily disregarded “Big One” earthquake for which we need to prepare.

I am willing to guess that many of you don’t even have an adequate disaster kit for yourselves, much less your pets. (My own kit is a small box with a smattering of useful things: a hand-crank radio that I got as a premium for my last donation to KQED; some rations I got for going through a disaster training workshop; batteries; and dog food; I still have more work to do.)

To make sure your pets are ready, research and then put your plan into action. Start by collecting everything you need for your evacuation and first aid kits. San Francisco Animal Care & Control provides a useful guide that includes checklists for your pet’s first aid and other needs, as well as making sure your neighborhood has a plan to help animals if residents are not able to return home during a disaster.

If you really want to dig into this topic, the American Veterinary Medical Association has a comprehensive disaster preparedness and response guide on its site. By the way, while there I learned that California is one of about a dozen US states and territories that do not yet have a state disaster plan, so you might want to contact your favorite state legislator and find out why. Another great asset on the AVMA site is their Saving the Whole Family brochure (PDF). 

Well, off to the store now… need to stock up!

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.

Wine Country Weekend

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

Operation Teacup Comes to the Bay Area

Once again, the fine folks at Marin Humane come to the rescue. Late last week, when more than 800 dogs, mostly teacup varieties, were found in horrid conditions in Arizona, Marin Humane stepped in to take 150 of them and bring them here to be rehomed and cared for as needed.

Friday, March 14th was the big day of arrival, and Carrie Harrington in the PR department sent me this photo of 4 of the new arrivals.

We imagine that once the dogs have had a chance to be evaluated and treated, if needed, Marin Humane will be looking for foster and/or forever homes for them... you know what that means!

Last Day to Comment on GGNRA Beach Closures

SF Dog President Sally Stephens sent us this reminder for dog owners to comment on the GGNRA proposed closures of Crissy Field and Ocean Beach (to protect the Western Snowy Plover). If you have not commented on this very important issue, we urge you to do so now. Here's Sally's letter:

Today, Monday, Jan 21 is the final day to submit public comment on the GGNRA's proposed closure of parts of Ocean Beach and Crissy Field to off-leash dog walking because of the presence of Western Snowy Plover birds. It's important that people set aside their cynicism and comment even if it's just to say "I oppose the closure. There is no scientific evidence that off-leash dogs are deterimental to the plover population at Ocean Beach or Crissy field."

It's too late to mail a comment in, but you can comment online at:

http://tinyurl.com/299re6

For more detailed talking points, you can go to: http://sfdog.org/news/news.htm

Vote for the Dog Park!

Don't wait on this one.... Marin IJ has an online poll today asking if the Field of Dogs dog park should be replaced by an office building. Chime in.

Chihuahuas Rule! Boxers Too!

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!

Dog Saves Healdsburg Family from Fire

Early Saturday morning in Healdsburg, Fargo, a labrador retreiver, jumped on a bed to alert a sleeping teenager that the house they were in was on fire. His quick alert resulted in the both parents, the daughter, and several other pets, all making it out of quick spreading fire alive and unharmed. The house and several cars were damaged to to tune of more than $500,000 according to initial estimates.

Story here, from the Press Democrat.

Off Leash Proponents: Last GGNRA Committee Meeting

SF Dog just sent this; please make sure you attend or send your comments as instructed.

FINAL MEETING OF GGNRA NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING COMMITTEE

Saturday, October 27, 2007
9 am to 3 pm
Building 201, Upper Fort Mason
San Francisco


Beginning in March 2006, a Negotiated Rulemaking Committee has been meeting to see if any consensus could be reached about a Dog Management Policy for the Golden Gate National Recreational Area. The Committee is composed of representatives from a variety of dog groups (including SFDOG), local environmental groups, equestrians, the SF/SPCA, and other "stakeholders". The October 27 meeting is the final scheduled meeting of the Committee.

The GGNRA has restricted the sites that the Committee can consider for off-leash recreation to 12:

1. Ocean Beach (north of Stairwell 21 and south of Sloat Blvd, excluding the Snowy Plover area
2. Baker Beach
3. Lands End Trail
4. Crissy Field (excluding fenced tidal marsh and dune areas, and the Wildlife Protection Area on west beach)
5. Upper Fort Mason Great Meadow and Parade Ground
6. Muir Beach (excluding tidal lagoon, Redwood Creek, wetland and dune habitat areas)
7. Rodeo Beach (excluding Rodea Lagoon, and fenced habitat protection area)
8. Homestead Valley
9. Fort Funston (excluding fenced and/or signed areas closed for protection of endangered species, habitat restoration, erosion control and public safety)
10. Oakwood Valley trails (Marin)
11. Cattle Hill (San Mateo)
12. San Pedro Point (San Mateo)

Eight areas are under consideration for on-leash only access:

1. Mori Point Trails (San Mateo)
2. Sweeney Ridge trails, excluding the Notch trail (San Mateo)
3. Milagra Ridge trails
4. Ocean Beach Snowy Plover Management area between Stairwell 21 and Sloat Blvd
5. Sutro Heights Park
6. Alta Avenue trail (Marin)
7. Fort Baker (excluding fishing pier and Chapel Trail)
8. Other areas with threatened or endangered species (if potential adverse impacts can be mitigated)

This meeting will be the first time that the Committee will discuss the specific sites under consideration and where dogs can be off-leash at each site.

If you care about off-leash recreation in the GGNRA, you should try to attend this meeting.

There will be a period for public comment at the end of the meeting. This is your chance to let the GGNRA and the Committee know that you support off-leash access in the GGNRA. Let them know which of the sites under consideration you use and how many years you've been using them. Let them know that there are few problems with off-leash dogs at the sites you frequent. Support continued off-leash access at these and other sites.

Unfortunately, at the urging of representatives of some of the environmental groups, the Committee voted in one of its first meetings to limit the total length of public comment to 20 minutes. Bring a written copy of what you want to say and give it to GGNRA staff and tell them you want it included in the public record as your public comment. You can also write a comment down on forms available at the meeting. You can submit written public comment if you are denied the chance to speak because of the time limit.

If you cannot attend the meeting, you can submit the public comment you would have said at the meeting to:

Public Comment for 10/27/07 NR Committee Meeting
c/o Chris Powell
Golden Gate National Recreational Area
Building 201
Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123

Be sure to indicate you are submitting public comment for the meeting, and that you want your comment to be included in the public record for the Committee meeting.

Sally Stephens
Chair, SFDOG

Please feel free to post this notice to other pro-off-leash listserves and websites.