Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Lemonade for Shelter Aid

As part of Be Kind to Animals Week (May 2-8, 2010), American Humane is sponsoring Lemonade for Shelter Aid, a contest that encourages children to set up lemonade stands to raise money for their local animal shelters. The contest runs until May 10, 2010, and is open to children and teens (ages 6-14). One grand-prize winner/team will be randomly selected to receive three Nintendo DS Lite game systems. Learn more and enter!

Monday, April 26, 2010

Upcoming event to bark about!

Pasado’s Safe Haven’s 4th Annual Dog Bowl
May 2 • Bothell, Wash. at Kenmore Lanes (7638 NE Bothell Way). Join Pasado’s rescued senior dogs as they host one of the most barked about charity fundraiser events of the year. Ways to participate: Get a team together to bowl, ‘sit up and beg’ for sponsorships and pledges, or just come and have fun!  Fantastic raffle prizes including an Argosy cruise, treats for your dog for one year from Blue Dog Bakery and lots more. To register or find out more information, please visit pasadosafehaven.org.

For more doggone fun events, visit the CityDog Social Calendar by clicking here.

Follow up from ASPCA: New, Improved Crush Act Introduced--Let's Get It Passed!

From the ASPCA:

Dear Animal Advocates,

Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court declared an important federal anti-cruelty law known as the “Crush Act” (18 U.S. Code Section 48) unconstitutional and therefore unenforceable. The Crush Act banned the creation, sale and possession of materials depicting genuine acts of animal cruelty where such acts are illegal. The Court made it clear that its major concern was the broadness of the law’s language, which could make the law applicable in many circumstances not intended by its authors.

While the ASPCA is disappointed with the Court’s decision, we are moving forward! Representative Elton Gallegly of California has acted quickly and introduced a bill to amend the law. H.R. 5092 will make the Crush Act’s language more specific and resolve the over-breadth concerns raised by the Supreme Court.

Passage of H.R. 5092 will help prevent a revitalization of the crush video industry. The original Crush Act was passed with little opposition—help us ensure that this revision passes, too.

What You Can Do
Please tell your U.S. representative that you support H.R. 5092, and that he or she should co-sponsor the bill and help move it quickly through the legislative process. Visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center online to email your representative now.

Thank you for helping us fight animal suffering and exploitation.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

CityDog Living: Big dogs, tiny spaces

Mixing mutts with small-home living isn’t always easy. After all, cooped-up pooches can bark up a storm, alienating apartment neighbors. Out of boredom, they’ll turn your Italian leather loveseat into a chew toy. And a furry friend can really spread messes around your 450-square-foot condo.

So we’ve asked several experts to provide tips on sharing a modest domicile with your dog, without driving each other howling mad. Read more.

Photo by J. Nichole Smith, dane + dane studios

Cruelty to Animals Is NOT Free Speech

CityDog received the below press release this morning from the American Humane Association and I feel compelled to share it with you. How does the First Amendment and the right to free speech in turn give a person the right to abuse and exploit animals?

I don't get it.

American Humane Association: Cruelty to Animals Is NOT Free Speech or Entertainment

Congress must act to protect animals as Supreme Court reverses federal law against commercial trade in cruelty images

Denver, April 21, 2010 > The American Humane Association urges Congress to act immediately to protect animals from abuse, in light of Monday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision to invalidate federal law that prohibited videos, photographs and other depictions of acts of cruelty to animals for commercial gain. The law, the Depiction of Animal Cruelty Act, was intended to prevent the creation and sale of dogfighting, other animal fighting, and “crush” videos that show real and intentional harm to animals for “entertainment” purposes.

“Congress must take immediate action to pass legislation that protects animals from the type of horrific cruelty this law was meant to prevent,” said American Humane’s interim president and CEO, George C. Casey. “Deliberately killing animals for entertainment has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Americans are within their right to keep blatant animal torture and killing out of the marketplace, and the Supreme Court should have made that the priority over the supposed protections of those who take sick pleasure in this material.”

“We are extremely disappointed that the Court felt it necessary to throw out a law that so obviously was intended to stop criminals from using the First Amendment to defend their horrendous and illegal behavior,” Casey said. “Now we call on Congress to act quickly to remedy this unacceptable situation.”

American Humane’s deep concern about this ruling directly relates to the organization’s mission to protect both children and animals. The connection between violence to people and violence to animals is undeniable, and many studies indicate that animal maltreatment is part of a complex constellation of family violence. While not all children who harm animals go on to become violent adults, and not all adult animal abusers necessarily harm their partners or children, there is compelling evidence to view animal abuse as a signal for potentially more, and even more violent, antisocial behaviors.

American Humane urges Americans to learn about The Link between violence to people and violence to animals at www.americanhumane.org/link and to demand that Congress pass new legislation making it unlawful to produce, sell or own videos and other entertainment materials showing illegal acts of animal cruelty.

The case addressed by the Supreme Court’s ruling is the United States of America v. Robert J. Stevens. Stevens was convicted of selling videos of dogs fighting each other and attacking other animals. The section of the law in question states: “Whoever knowingly creates, sells, or possesses a depiction of animal cruelty with the intention of placing that depiction in interstate or foreign commerce for commercial gain, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years or both.”

Sounds reasonable to me, but apparently the Supreme Court doesn't agree.

Brandie Ahlgren, founder
CityDog Magazine

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Rub A Dub Dog: Spring Cleaning Tips for House and Hound

There’s something about spring that just makes you want to clean and spruce up your surroundings. Dog owners especially notice the odor and accumulation of fur around the house after a long winter of being indoors with your pup. If you’ve got the spring cleaning bug, here are some tips and products to help freshen up your hound and home. Read more.

Photo by Aimée Herring

Friday, April 16, 2010

Update on our blog

In the next couple of weeks, we will be switching the CityDog Blog over to our newly redesigned website launching soon. You will definitely notice changes to the design plus we are adding guest bloggers to our repertoire. We're excited about this new endeavor and hope to see you at our new blog location!

Woof!
Brandie Ahlgren, founder
CityDog Magazine

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Something to put a smile on your face

Love animals? Love babies? Then, check out Seattle-based Swedish Hospital's "I Love My Pet" photo contest! It's adooooooor-able! Nuff said...you just have to see for yourself

Check out close to 50 upcoming events for dog lovers!

Here is an updated calendar of dog happenings throughout the West, from Washington to California and everywhere in between. We searched high and low and found close to 50 fun events coming up in the next few months for you and Fido, including our own CityDog Cover Dog Model Search!

Click HERE to check it out now. And, be sure to check back often...we continually update our online calendar with new events as we hear about them. If you have an event you would like us to consider, please email info@citydogmagazine.com.

And, be sure to visit our Web site at citydogmagazine.com. You might be surprised at what you find in the next few weeks! Shhhhhhh...it's still top secret, but hot diggity, do we have a surprise in store for you!

Woof!
Brandie, Scout & Ziggy
CityDog Magazine

Friday, April 09, 2010

This week's adopt-a-shelter dogs: Gaia & Maggie

Gaia is a very sweet eight-year-old beagle who would love a home where she can spend her sunny days going for a nice long walk then spending the rest of her day hanging out with her family. If you're looking for a companion dog who can jump in the car with you while you run your errands, or spend the day out in the yard while you garden, stop by the NOAH pet adoption center and visit with her today.

Maggie is a high energy dog who would love a family that will take her hiking, camping, jogging, etc. She is a very sweet dog and would greatly benefit from some Good Manners classes to help her bond with her new owners while also learning rules and structure. If you are looking for a dog who will keep up with an active lifestyle, stop by the NOAH pet adoption center and ask to visit with Maggie today!

Monday, April 05, 2010

We'll Get By With a Little Help From Our Friends



Since launching CityDog Magazine five years ago, it's been growing ever since - that is, until 2009. Last year, was the toughest year we've faced and I don't think there is a single magazine out there that didn't struggle. The good news is...things are finally starting to look better - way better! However, we still need a little help from our friends.

We intend to keep subscription prices at an affordable price ($18 a year) as well as maintain the high quality publication our readers have become accustomed to, including beautiful, full color photography and outstanding editorial from local contributors. We also plan to continue our extremely popular CityDog Muttmixers and the CityDog Cover Dog Model Search (which has enabled us to raise tens of thousands of dollars for animal welfare organizations).

We are also completely redesigning the CityDog website (www.citydogmagazine.com) to bring you a fully interactive online community, where you can meet and engage with fellow dog lovers, search for and review local businesses and services, find out about area events or post your own, and start conversations/forums/groups with your peers.

But, all of this comes at a price and with a little help from our friends we can weather this storm and continue to bring you the best darn dog magazine in the West. Thank you!

Woofs & Wags!
Brandie Ahlgren, founder
CityDog Magazine

Friday, April 02, 2010

Because pets can’t recite their phone number

Dogs and Cats Need Visible Identification -- Pet ID Tag Day is April 3

Lost Pet Facts
  • Sadly, only 16 percent of lost dogs and 2 percent of lost cats are reunited with their owners.
  • Over 35,100 stray animals were received by Oregon shelters in 2008.
  • Visible identification is the fastest way to getting your pet back -- your pet’s identification tag should have, at a minimum a contact telephone number; the best tags include the owner’s name, address, and telephone number.
  • Indoor only cats should always wear identification just in case they get out.
  • Microchipping is a permanent form of identification and chips can be scanned at your local veterinarian, animal control, or animal shelter.
  • If more pets wore visible identification, the number of animals entering animal shelters would decrease.
Resources to Help you Find Your Lost Pet
  • Start looking as soon as you realize your pet is missing.
  • Keep current color photos of your pets handy to use for identification and posters.
  • Keep your contact information current on your pet’s ID tag and with the microchip company.
  • Register your pet with 24 Pet Watch (a 24 hour/7day a week pet recovery). www.24petwatch.com
Get a Pet ID Tag

WHAT: The Oregon Humane Society is giving away free pet ID tags and offering a low cost microchip clinic ($25). The public can bring their dog, cat, or rabbit and get a microchip implanted for only $25. (No birds please.)

WHEN: Saturday, April 3 from 11 am – 2 pm

WHERE: OHS Animal Medical & Learning Center, 1067 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland OR 97211.