Start the New Year with a new furry, four-legged family member to warm your heart and home

The holiday adoption celebration at the Seattle Humane Society will continue through Sunday. Adoption fees are being waived on all cats 1-year and older. Animal lovers can also adopt a bunny, guinea pig or other critter for free! This is Seattle Humane's holiday gift to the community. What better way to ring in the new year than with a pet from the Seattle Humane Society!

Visit the pets at the shelter at the junction of I-405 and I-90 in Bellevue.

The Seattle Humane Society has been offering free adult cat adoptions since the beginning of December as its holiday gift to the community. More than 290 adopters took advantage of that gift, making it a record month for adoptions. The promotion was scheduled to end on Dec. 31, but was so successful that the shelter is running it through this weekend and opening it up to include other small animals.

The Seattle Humane Society encourages animal lovers to warm their homes this season with a new furry family member who will add love all year long! To see the pets online, go to http://www.seattlehumane.org/.

The Seattle Humane Society is open seven days a week from noon until 6 p.m. and is located on Eastgate Way at the junction of I-405 and I-90 in Bellevue.

Meow!

One last suggestion for a dog-friendly place to rest your pretty head this New Year's Eve

The W Hotel Seattle welcomes you and your furry friend to say (or woof) goodbye to 2008 and hello to 2009! Guests who stay for the W Seattle's New Year's Eve package on December 31 will receive a 2009 calendar, a bottle of bubbly, W disposable camera, Bliss spa amenities, and perhaps most importantly...a 2 p.m. late check out. The New Year's Eve package starts at $265.

In addition, chef Adam Stevenson will prepare a multi-course New Year's Eve dinner highlighting a sumptuous selection of first, main and dessert offerings. Start with beef tenderloin bresaola, followed by Washington stuffed quail and finish with a baked apple tart -- your pooch will certainly enjoy a doggie bag if anything is left over! Stevenson's three-course dinner is $85 per person. After dinner, enjoy cocktails and music in the W Bar, with house soundman DjMB and friends, beginning at 9 p.m. until 1 a.m.

Or, stay in, pop that bottle of bubbly and relax with your four-legged pal. Amenities for him include custom W pet bed, food and water bowl with floor mat, pet-in-room door sign, and special treat at turndown.

W Hotel Seattle

1112 4th Avenue, Seattle

Reservations: 877-822-0000

W photo by J. Nichole Smith, Dane + Dane Studios.

How will you be spending this New Year's Eve with your four-legged pal? Let us know!

Enjoy New Year's on the edge with your four-legged friend at the Edgewater Hotel

If you're like me and waited until the last minute to make your New Year's Eve plans, here is one more idea...

The dog-friendly Edgewater Hotel, located along Seattle's waterfront, has a few guest rooms still available, starting at $279. While they do not have the staff to doggie sit during the festivities, why not avoid the crowds, order room service, curl up with your four-legged friend and watch the fireworks display from the comfort of your own room?! The hotel's city-side rooms have great views of downtown Seattle and the Space Needle for a front row show!

Then, start the New Year with an elegant brunch complete with ice carvings and beautifully composed classic fare at Six Seven. Savor the restaurant's new brunch menu featuring items such as dungeness crab frittata, eggs benedict with lemon-scented hollandaise, and smoked salmon omelets. Yum!

Edgewater photo by Emily Rieman, Best Friend Photography.

Ring in the New Year with a champagne toast at Norm's Eatery & Ale House!

Does your pooch like to party? Seriously, if your dog is a social butterfly and does well in large, noisy, drunken crowds, then head over to Norm's Eatery & Ale House in Fremont tomorrow for the festivities with your four-legged friend and join fellow two-legged revelers in a champagne toast to ring in the New Year!

Photo of Norm's by Seattle photographer Daimian Lix.

Where to stay and play this New Year's Eve in downtown Seattle

If your New Year's Eve party plans include downtown Seattle and you want to bring along your four-legged friend for the festivities, here are a few Fido-friendly places to stay while you play.

Hotel Vintage Park

1100 Fifth Avenue

Seattle, WA 98101
Reservations: 800.853.3914

Hotel: 206.624.8000

The pet-friendly Hotel Vintage Park has rooms available this New Year's Eve, with rates starting at $199. At the "Park," each pooch is greeted with organic Buddy Biscuits and hotel staff will watch your pal while you paint the town.

The Park's sister-property, Hotel Monaco (1101 Fourth Avenue Seattle, 206.621.1770), is also dog friendly, with rooms still available on New Year's Eve. It's a little pricier, starting around $260, but in-room amenities for you and your furry friend are worth the hefty price tag.

If you ring in the New Year a little too heartily, the Hotel Monaco invites you to visit Sazerac for a little hair of the dog, anytime between 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on January 1, to enjoy their Bloody Mary Bar (yum). Leave your pooch with the staff at the Vintage Park or bring him along! While dogs are not allowed in Sazerac, you can enjoy your libation in the Monaco's lobby area with your lovable Lab.

We have a couple of other feelers out there for more dog-friendly places to stay and play for New Year's Eve, so check back!

Happy New Year from all of us at Seattle's own CityDog Magazine!

Above photo of Hotel Monaco by J. Nichole Smith, Dane + Dane Studios.

Marley & Me Top Dog at the Box Office

Marley & Me, which opened Christmas Day, is top dog at the box office. I admit, I have yet to see the movie, but like millions of readers, I loved the book by best selling author John Grogan.

As the story goes, newly married John and his wife Jenny are both animal lovers, and they decide to add a dog to their home before they have children. The adorable Labrador Retriever puppy rapidly grows into a strong adult, and despite their efforts at dog training, Marley is a naughty (but lovable) dog and the high jinxes ensue.

While Marley & Me is an enduring tale, as with a lot of hit movies featuring dogs (i.e., 101 Dalmatians, Beverly Hills Chihuahua), people tend to fall in love with the breed as depicted on screen and want one of their own.

If you are tempted to add a Labrador Retriever to your family, consider adopting one of the 19,880 pure bred and Lab mixes on Petfinder.com. Petfinder also emailed us some helpful tips to avoid your own “Marley” challenges:

• Play with your dog! Exercising your dog is important but making time to play with your dog is vital to developing and maintaining a good relationship with him. Actively playing with your dog will keep him fit both physically and mentally.

• Make time to train. Every moment that you spend with your dog is an opportunity to teach him something – good or bad. If you still think you don’t have the time to work with your dog just make meal time training time. Have him earn his kibble a handful at a time.

• Keep your training sessions short. Training shouldn’t take hours a day – 2 five minute sessions or 5 two minute sessions a day is ideal for most behaviors.

• Use variety. When you are working with your dog make sure that you use a variety of people, situations and locations. By doing this your dog will learn faster and you will give him a better understanding of what you are asking him to do.

• Manage your dog. Dogs are dogs – not little furry people. Preventing them from getting into trouble is the best way to manage unwanted behaviors. Dogs do lots of things that people tend not to like, such as getting into the garbage, chewing up items we think are valuable and jumping up to say hello.

Woof!

Brandie Ahlgren, founder

CityDog Magazine

If you've seen Marley & Me, tell us what you think about the movie!

Scout and her snow goatee wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

More fun photos from the fourth annual CityDog Yappy Howlidays Party!

I love the holiday ribbons decorating his wheels! Very festive!

To view all of the photos from the CityDog Yappy Howlidays Party, click here.

Photos by John Martinotti, JM Photo Works.

The weather outside was frightful, but the CityDog Yappy Howlidays Party was quite delightful!

Elise Vincentini, owner of Downtown Dog Lounge, and Brandie Ahlgren, publisher of CityDog Magazine, enjoying some holiday cheer at the W Hotel Seattle.

Photos by John Martinotti, JM Photo Works.

Last chance to receive CityDog in time to slip under the Christmas tree!

The weather outside may be frightful, but a gift subscription to CityDog is quite delightful. We pack each issue with where to stay and where to play with your dog in the West. And, if you order your subscription by Saturday, we'll get it to you in plenty of time to sneak under the tree for that special dog lover in your life. We'll also include a cool canine gift card with your own personal greeting. Give the gift that has tails wagging or treat yourself...click HERE to subscribe today!

Looking for a last minute gift to give that dog lover in your life? The 2009 CityDogs Calendar will have tails wagging 365 days of the year! Each day is a new dog's smiling face and each month features the beautiful photography of Seattle pet photographer J. Nichole Smith. If you love dogs or know someone who loves dogs, then you will love this calendar! $19.99 plus tax/S&H

Click HERE to order today and we'll include the holiday issue of CityDog for FREE!

For more gift ideas for under $20, click here.

Happy holidays from all of us at CityDog Magazine! Looking ahead to the new year, it's never too early to mark your social calendar and we invite you to do just that...mark your calendar for the CityDog Puppy Love MuttMixer on Wednesday, February 11 at the swanky and dog friendly W Hotel Seattle.

Woof!
Brandie Ahlgren, founder
CityDog Magazine

Pasado's Safe Haven is on call to help

With freezing temperatures in the Northwest, Pasado's Safe Haven is coming to the rescue of animals, providing blankets, shelter, food and more. Many of you brought donations to the CityDog Yappy Howlidays Party last week, but if you would like to donate more, Pasado's needs horse blankets size 81 and above, dog and cat shelters, beds and dog coats plus pet food and flea treatment (very important as freezing animals will die if infested with parasites).

TIPS TO KEEP ANIMALS SAFE

• Feed your animal more (they need extra energy to combat the cold)
• Replenish fresh water (assure it’s not frozen)
• De-flea pets; de-lice farm animals as they will die from anemia in the cold temperatures
• Provide shelter from the cold against North and East winds
• If low-income, call Pasado’s Safe Haven and they’ll help! 360-793-9393

Pasado’s Safe Haven also needs more volunteers to help distribute items. Please go to www.pasadosafehaven.org to volunteer or to donate a dog house or other needed items.

Thank you!

Thanks everyone for attending the CityDog Yappy Howlidays Party!

Thank you to everyone who turned out lastnight for the fourth annual CityDog Yappy Howlidays Party at the W Hotel Seattle. We packed 'em in, with about 150 people and 80 or so dogs in attendance! And, thank you to those who brought donations for Pasado's Safe Haven. Your generous gift(s) will go a long way to helping the poor and homeless care for their pets during the holiday season.

Party pictures to come soon! And, it's never too early to mark your calendar for the next CityDog event...

What: CityDog Puppy Love MuttMixer
Where: W Hotel Seattle
When: Wednesday, February 11, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Woof!
Brandie Ahlgren
CityDog Magazine

Photo by John Martinotti

The fight against puppy mills goes on

Due to the efforts of Best Friends Animal Society and its "Puppy-Store-Free L.A." campaign, the posh Beverly Center in Los Angeles has indicated their intent to sever their relationship with Pet Love, a pet store that has sold thousands of animals from irresponsible breeders and puppy mills for 15 years.

The impending closure of a high end pet store in Los Angeles is a signal to the rest of the nation that Los Angeles consumers are becoming aware of the evils of puppy mills and how they fuel the pet overpopulation problem in the United States.

Pet Love was the subject of an undercover investigation that revealed illegal and improper usage of medication on the puppies for sale in the store, and was cited by Los Angeles Animal Control for similar violations.

Hundreds of Beverly Center patrons and employees have signed a petition expressing their concerns about Pet Love's practices of selling sick dogs. Many of these died within a week after purchase. There have been complaints and lawsuits against the store as a result of the store's responses to those incidences.

Best Friends tried to convince the owners of Pet Love to convert to a humane business model by providing the public with rescued animals for adoption. But they refused. Best Friends also offered to help in the transition, including the acquisition of animals. Not only did the Pet Love owners turn this down, they threatened Best Friends with litigation.

Bye bye Pet Love. Keep up the good work Best Friends!

2009 CityDogs Calendar Sneak Peek: December

Meet Lola, Oscar, Roxy and Josie, our calendar dogs for the month of December. These four pooches hosted a holiday party at their pad, complete with canine truffles from Petit Four Legs.

That's it for the calendar sneak peeks! To order your 2009 CityDogs Calendar, featuring close to 500 Seattle area dogs, click here.

Happy howlidays!
Brandie Ahlgren, founder & editor
CityDog Magazine

2009 CityDogs Calendar Sneak Peek: November

Meet Fergie, our gorgeous calendar girl for the month of November. Fergie's mom happens to be Seattle pet photographer Jamie Pflughoeft with Cowbelly Pet Photography.

Be sure to order your calendars soon! We want to be sure to get them to you in plenty of time for the holidays!

Five thrifty gifts for Fido that will have tails wagging

These days, it seems everyone needs to penny-pinch a little, but in the spirit of the holidays, we've found some great gifts for your hound that won't break the bank. Here are some ideas for under $20 that will have tails wagging at your house this holiday season!

Mom & Pup Bakery, $9.99. Mom & Pup Bakery specializes in gourmet soft dog treats that are easy to eat and yummy for your dog's tummy. Treats are perfect for small dogs, older dogs, and any dog that simply loves a scrumptious snack. Each 8oz package comes in a variety of lip-smacking flavors! momandpupbakery.com

Poochie Bells, $16.50. We've all seen it: that urgent look our pooch gives us when it's REALLY time to go! Or, worse - an accident when we haven't made it to the door in time. Now you can train the family pooch to "ring" when it's time to go outside with its very own designer doggie doorbell. poochiebells.com.

Doggie Tricks & Treats, $9.95. Teach your old (or not-so-old) dog new tricks with the Hat Box Series Doggie Tricks & Treats. You'll find 25 recipe cards with delicious, nutritionally-sound treats plus three, tail-waggingly cool biscuit cutters in shapes like a fire hydrant, a heart and a bone. Once you have your treats, it's time for some tricks. Also included is a cute, little guidebook with various tricks for Fido to work for his treats. amazon.com

A Very Marley Christmas by John Grogan, $10.95. I don't know about you, but I'm convinced my dogs enjoy being read to - especially, if it's a dog tail (er, tale). This follow-up to the bestseller, Marley & Me, delivers a heartfelt holiday story with many hilarious Marley mishaps along the way. amazon.com

Good Clean Dog, $8 and up. Dogs are good. Good clean dogs are even better. Good Clean Dog, based in Burien, Wash., has created a line of yummy products to keep your good dog clean. The liquid shampoo is made with emollient oils to clean your dog's coat and moisturize skin. The conditioner softens, smoothes and detangles fur with pure oils of lemongrass and bay leaf to sweetly scent your pooch. In fine pet stores or goodcleandog.com.

CityDog Yappy Howlidays Pawty less than one week away!

Next Wednesday, the W Hotel will be rolling out the red carpet for Seattle area dog lovers and their holiday hounds! It's the much-anticipated fourth annual CityDog Yappy Howlidays Pawty and you and four-legged friend are invited to join us to mix and mingle, enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, and if you're in the spirit, get a holiday portrait with Seattle pet photographer J. Nichole Smith of Dane + Dane Studios.

Where: W Hotel Seattle, 1112 4th Street, Seattle
When: Wednesday, December 10, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information, visit yappyhowlidays.com and to RSVP, email us with the number of humans and number of canines that will be attending at info@citydogmagazine.com.

Woof!
Brandie Ahlgren, founder & editor
CityDog Magazine

2009 CityDogs Calendar Sneak Peek: October

Meet Branimir, our calendar dog for the month of October. Branimir is the pride and joy of Bill and Nicki Walters, founders of Seattle's own Pooper Trooper. You can meet Branimir at next week's CityDog Yappy Howlidays Party, December 10th at the swanky W Hotel Seattle. For more details, click here.

Click here to purchase your 2009 CityDogs Calendar today! We are donating $1 for every calendar sold to Reading With Rover, a non-profit children's literacy program involving kids, dogs and reading! As a magazine, we love supporting future readers! Woof!