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

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

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

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!

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

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

• Oregon Humane Society’s Lost/Found Pets web page is full of information, tips, and resources to help you find your lost pet. http://www.oregonhumane.org/lost_pets

• 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.

This week's adopt-a-shelter dogs: Troy & Lucy

My name is Troy! I am a five-year-old Chow mix. I am friendly, tolerant and playful with the kids. I am typically quiet while hanging out indoors, but can be a bit more talkative while outdoors. I know how to sit, stay, come and lie down. I absolutely adore my Kong toy and would love to have someone willing to fill it up with peanut butter or dog food for me regularly. I've lived with other dogs and cats, but sometimes I can't resist chasing the cats. Come visit me at NOAH today!

My name is Lucy and I am hoping to find my forever home with you. I am a gentle and loving 12-year-old beagle, and just want someone to call my own. I am mostly blind, so you will want to be prepared for helping me to adjust slowly to my new life and home. It’s a bit scary for me at times but it really helps to be around people, and to have a routine and know where everything is located. And when I get used to my environment my personality really shines! Come see for yourself at NOAH today!

This yoga class is going to the dogs | KOMO News - Breaking News, Sports, Traffic and Weather - Seattle, Washington | Local & Regional

This week's adopt-a-shelter dogs: Ruffles & Bugsy

Hi there, my name is Ruffles and I’m a three-year-old Sharpei mix. I’m a happy-go-lucky guy with lots of love to give. I had a skin problem that caused me to lose my hair, but I’m better now! I was in foster care while my fur grew back, and while I was there my foster family said I showed LOTS of personality. I love to play and am getting really good at dropping my toys. I have a great start on my basic commands and would like to continue my learning with my new people. I would love to do an obedience class with you. My foster family also had cats and dogs and I did really well with both. I am a very respectful boy. I love to run and play but also enjoy quality time with my people. I will make someone a great companion....could that be you?!? If so, come visit me at N.O.A.H. today!

I’m Bugsy and I’m about a year old. I’m a Chihuahua mix who came from an over-crowded shelter in California. Luckily for me N.O.A.H. was able to help bring me to Washington where little dogs like me are in high demand. Not a lot is known about my past as I was picked up as a stray in California. I’ll likely need training, but I’m a very sweet boy who loves to be around people. Come and visit me at N.O.A.H. today!

Noah's Wish Disaster Response Training

In the current issue of CityDog Magazine, we include a piece on what to do when disaster strikes. Now you can take it one step further by becoming part of a skilled and professional animal disaster response team by attending a two-day training program that simulates what disaster response is all about, hosted by Noah's Wish. You will learn about search and rescue techniques, safety in a disaster environment, animal intake processes, disaster information on earthquakes and hurricanes, and much more!

When: May 15-16, 2010
Where: 50810 SE Grouse Ridge Rd., North Bend Wash.
Cost for new volunteers: $125; returning volunteers, students and seniors: $85

For more information, visit www.noahswish.info.

Portland Chihuahua honored as Red Cross Dog Hero

The barking of a small dog is more likely to result in annoyance than appreciation. But in the case of Jack the Chihuahua (Oregon City), there's no doubt his neighbors are thankful for his 3 a.m. wake-up call.

When Jack spotted flames in an apartment building last August, his continued barking worked up owner Chris Santiago, who in turn roused the building's residents and tried to fight the fire with a garden hose. Fortunately, all residents were able to safely evacuate before firefighters arrived. Thanks to Chris' quick thinking – and Jack's persistent volume – no one was injured or required medical treatment.

On Tuesday, March 9, Jack will be honored by the American Red Cross at the Fred Meyer Breakfast of Champions. The ceremony will take place at the Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Blvd., and all funds raised go to support disaster relief, CPR/first aid training and other services throughout the Oregon Trail Chapter's 16-county service area. For more information, visit www.oregonredcross.org/champions.

"Paws for Poetry" contest inspires kids to celebrate national poetry month by writing odes to their favorite four-legged friends

April is National Poetry Month. The 3rd Annual "Paws for Poetry" Contest Challenges Kids to Write Sonnets to Spaniels, Prose for Persian Cats 

April marks the 14th anniversary of National Poetry Month. To help celebrate, budding Emily Dickinsons and Edgar Allan Poes are encouraged to participate in the 3rd annual "Paws for Poetry" Contest (PawsforPoetry.org). To enter, children ages 5-12 are to write a poem to, and provide a photo of, their favorite animal friend. The contest is co-sponsored by kids' virtual field trip Web site Meet Me at the Corner (MeetMeAtTheCorner.org) and Flashlight Press (FlashlightPress.com).
 
Original poems of any length may be submitted in one of two categories: Group One (ages 5-9) and Group Two (ages 10-12). One grand prize winner in each category will receive a $50.00 Amazon.com gift card. Two runners-up in each category will receive a $25.00 Amazon.com gift card. Children's author, poet, and Iraqi war veteran Thad Krasnesky, writer of the upcoming "That Cat Can't Stay" (Flashlight Press, 2010) is the contest judge. Krasnesky will also be providing winners with signed copies of his new book.
 
In addition to the prize packages, winning poems and pet photos will be highlighted in an upcoming Meet Me at the Corner video pod cast. The pod cast will be videotaped at New York's Angellicle Cat Rescue Center. Local students will present the winning poems.
 
All submissions should be mailed to "Paws for Poetry" Contest, c/o Meet Me at the Corner, 20 West Del Norte, Colorado Springs, CO, 80907. The contest deadline is April 15, 2010.
 
For more information, rules and submission guidelines, visit PawsforPoetry.org.

CityDog's Winter 2010 issue in its entirety! Enjoy!

This week's adopt-a-shelter dogs: Bones and Ariel

My name is Bones and I’m a one-year-old boxer. They call me Bones because when I first ended up in the shelter I was nothing but skin and bones. N.O.A.H. has recently determined that I have a heart murmur, and unfortunately with their limited veterinary diagnostic equipment and limited funding they are unable to learn more. They are hoping that someone who has a kind heart and a generous pocketbook can help me through further veterinary care and diagnostic work. I was in a home with another dog and cat and did just fine. I also lived with young children, and though I do get quite excited, I do pretty well. Please come meet me at N.O.A.H., my kind heart and fun ways are certain to win you over!

Ariel is a very sweet and loving nine-year-old miniature pincher. She loves to be a lap dog, and just wants to be around the family. She was a owner surrender due to the owner's health. She has lived with other dogs, and has a great loving personality. Ariel does have a cataract in her left eye, but that doesn't slow her down any! Come meet this sweet girl and let her cuddle up to you right away. Stop by N.O.A.H. today, Ariel would really love to meet you!

Reward Your Shelter's Good Work with a Vote in The Animal Rescue Site's $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge

Animal shelters change lives every day. That's why we're so excited to share this chance to help recognize the good work of our -- and your -- favorite rescue organizations.

The Animal Rescue site has teamed up with Petfinder.com to award a total of $100,000 to eligible animal rescues in the $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge. The grand prize is a grant for $10,000, and there are honorable mention grants of $3,000, a $1,000 grant for all 50 states and Washington, DC, plus Canadian, International, and weekly winners.

All you have to do is visit The Animal Rescue Site and vote for your favorite rescue. You can cast one vote per day now through midnight (PST) on April 18th, 2010. We love a good challenge, and a good rescue! 

This week's adopt-a-shelter dogs: Buddha & Max

My name is Buddha and I'm a very Zen boy. Kids tend to disturb my Chi (really they just scare me to death) so I need a home with adults only. I’m a four-year-old chow/shepherd mix. I really enjoy my exercise...a nice walk in the morning and a little yoga at night. I make a great running buddy or even a companion while you ride your bike. I enjoy a nice swim too. If you have a nice big home for this boy then you need to come to NOAH and talk to a matchmaker today!

Hello my name is Max. I'm a handsome six-year-old shepherd mix and I love to go for walks. I also like kitties and children. Since I feel that I'm the best dog around, I'm not too fond of other dogs trying to get your attention. I love to play fetch and I like my stuffed toys. I want to be the only dog in your life and in return I'll love you forever. I'd be the perfect family pet. Come visit me at NOAH today!

Washington State Senate Passes Spay & Neuter Resolution Honoring Spay Day 2010

The Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal protection organization, commends the Washington state Senate for passing S.R. 8702, honoring the organizations and pet owners participating in Spay Day 2010.

Spay Day is The HSUS’s annual campaign designed to highlight the importance of saving animal lives by spaying or neutering. On Spay Day, and throughout the month of February, The HSUS brings together hundreds of spay/neuter events to create a wave of spay/neuter activity and awareness across the country.

Similar spay/neuter resolutions have been passed in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and have been introduced in California, Maine, Michigan and Maryland.

“Washington state animal shelters and humane societies euthanize approximately sixty thousand cats and dogs each year, many of whom are healthy and adoptable, due to a lack of critical resources and public awareness of the importance of spaying and neutering,” said Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, the sponsor of the resolution. “This tragic overpopulation of pets costs our taxpayers millions of dollars annually through animal service and control programs aimed at coping with the plight of homeless and unwanted animals. Spaying and neutering is an important part of combating this problem.”

More than 500 events are scheduled to take place this year in Washington, 48 other states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories. Local animal shelters, spay/neuter clinics, veterinary practices, and others will be hosting events in their communities, providing much-needed services to families with pets and educating their communities about the importance of spaying and neutering. There are 14 Spay Day-related events scheduled in Washington. To find an event near you, visit humanesociety.org/spaydayfind.

“Spaying and neutering are the only permanent, 100-percent effective methods to control pet overpopulation,” said Daniel Paul, Washington state director for The HSUS. “The death of millions of pets each year is a tragedy, but, by spaying or neutering their pets, Washingtonians can help provide the solution.”

For more information on Spay Day, visit humanesociety.org/spayday.

Just for Fun: Giving Medications to Pets

Anyone who has ever administered medications to a cat and/or dog will totally relate. Enjoy! (Note: I received this in an email and don't know where it originated; hence, the lack of a byline/credit.)

Cats

Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat’s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

 

Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process. 

 

Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away. 

Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

 

Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden. 

Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth Drop pill down ruler and rub cat’s throat vigorously.

 

Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

 

Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

 

Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse’s forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap. Retrieve cat from neighbor’s shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. 

Place cat in cupboard, and close door on to neck, to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

 

Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw Tee shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom. Call fire department to retrieve the damn cat from across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.

 

Tie the little bastard’s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.

 

Consume remainder of scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table. 

 

Arrange for SPCA to come collect this mutant cat from hell and call the local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.

 

Accidentally drop pill on floor. Watch cat pounce on the pill and devour it.

Dogs

Wrap it in bacon. 

Toss it in the air.

Hurricane Katrina to Haiti: Dogs Survive Two Disasters

A team from The Humane Society of the United States/Humane Society International has been on the ground in Haiti for five days. Please see HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle's blog below for a heart-warming update on their efforts to aid animals affected by the earthquake and the story of two dogs who lived through Katrina and have now been rescued from Haiti by the HSUS team.

"Since arriving in Haiti last Thursday evening, our veterinary response team continues to help animals affected by the earthquake, assessing animal needs and offering hands-on assistance. We’ve provided food for animals living in the streets, visited a local zoo to check on the welfare of the animals there, and conducted assessments of the situation with farm animals in areas outside of Port-au-Prince. We’ve also responded to doctors’ requests to help assess the humanitarian situation, and provided medical supplies to doctors working in Port-au-Prince. (You can follow along with our team’s latest efforts here.)

 

Perhaps because of its chronic poverty, Haiti does not have the level of pet-keeping seen in many other nations. We fortunately have not yet discovered or learned of large numbers of animals trapped in buildings and killed when these structures collapsed. The farm animals also seem to be in acceptable shape, and they, of course, are concentrated in the more rural areas, which were not at the epicenter of the earthquake. The stray population was substantial before the quake hit, and the health of these animals remains an ongoing concern. In the days ahead, we’ll be concentrating on providing feeding stations and water for the strays, and we’ll also work with government responders and humanitarian groups to handle situations properly when they come across animals in need or in distress. We were the first animal welfare organization to send a response team to Haiti, and we’re now assembling a second wave of veterinarians and disaster responders to make their way to the affected area. We plan on being deployed for weeks and to not divert our focus from this crisis.

 

Perhaps the most exciting news is also one of the most improbable and remarkable of stories.

 

A day after the earthquake struck we received an urgent plea for help from an American couple living in Port-au-Prince. They’d been forced to evacuate very quickly and were not able to bring along their two dogs. We explained that we were working to get responders into Haiti as soon as possible, and pledged that we would do everything we could to help once our team hit the ground.

 

In talking further with the family, we discovered that they were the victims of two natural disasters, as were the dogs. The couple had lived in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and, when they returned home in the aftermath of the storm, found two dachshund mixes roaming the streets. They were moved to take the dogs in, and named them Bella and Dieter. These are the same two dogs that had to be left behind in Port-au-Prince.

Here’s the remarkable news: Our team has located the dogs. They are in good health and now in our safe keeping, having survived a Category 4 hurricane in 2005 and now a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in 2010. When we told the family that we had located the dogs, they were understandably overjoyed. With the help of our partnering organization, Veterinary Care and Human Services of the Dominican Republic, we’re transporting them to the Dominican Republic today. We intend to reunite them with their family as soon as possible.

 

It is remarkable that these dogs are on-the-ground survivors of the two biggest disasters in recent years in the western hemisphere. They are living embodiments of the principle that kindness and concerted action do make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable creatures. That’s one reason while we’ll continue to maintain boots on the ground in Haiti and to do all we can to help the animals and people of this stricken nation."

Thank you HSUS for sharing this uplifting story! We love a happy ending. To see Wayne's blog with photos, click here.