Woofstock Tail-Waggers Walk

Bonelli Park in San Dimas will be the site of this year's 7th Annual Woofstock IVHS Dog Walk. On Saturday, May 31st, 2008, humans and their favorite pups will gather to walk a scenic 1, 2 or 3-mile route in support of the Inland Valley Humane Society & S.P.C.A. Festivities will be from 7:30am to noonish, and besides the walk, there will be all sorts of doggy-oriented games & activities, a Vendor Village filled with lots of Pet Boutiques, live music, and even a pancake breakfast.


Register online at www.firstgiving.com/ivhs, or visit the Woofstock website for details on how you and your friends can help raise money for this superfun family event.

Basset Hound Olympics

The 11Th Annual Basset Hound Spring Games are this Sunday, May 18, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. in Arcadia. The Basset Hound Rescue of Southern CA. is hosting a fun-filled day of BBQ deliciousness, auctions, raffles, & contests. Competitions will include treat catching, marathon napping, synchronized swimming, and (of course!) a Basset Beauty Contest. All Bassets (& Basset Mixes) are invited, and (the best part!) all proceeds raised go to help rescue BHs. For more info, visit the rescue website.

Surf's Up Pups

"Let's go surfin' now, everybody's learnin' how..." No, really. Everybody's learning how... including dogs! For years, surfer Moondoggies have been mimicking their totally awesome humans. This phenomenon has been mostly an untrained "doggie see doggie do" experience... until now!

The Helen Woodward Animal Center is hosting three Surf-Dog Clinics: on August 9, August 23, and August 16 2008. The workshops will be led by pro surfer Guy Takayama, Swami's Surfing Assn., San Diego Surf Academy, and San Diego Pet Training, and will take place in Oceanside and Del Mar. According to the experts, shorter-legged dogs seem to catch on quickest (balancing is easiest for them), and many pups develop their own unique techniques, like veteran pit bull Lucy, who likes to surf facing backwards :)

The classes will be prep for the third annual Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon Fundraiser scheduled for September 7. Lucy is expected to be there, accompanied by fellow fan favorite Bandit the Boston Terrier. If surfing isn't your dog's calling, spectating alone should prove to be a superfun family event, well worth a day trip down south. For more info, follow the links at the Helen Woodward Animal Center site, or call (858) 756-4117.

Hooray for Dog Heroes!

This weekend, hard-working Canine Cops will be demonstrating their super skills for the public. Police dogs will be coming in from all over California with their human partners to compete in obedience, agility, and search & rescue scenarios. They will even be demonstrating how to safely take down a combative suspect. Stop by at Redondo Union High School this Saturday, May 10 from 9:00am- 3:30pm to root for your favorite four-legged hero. FYI: all police pups aren't giant German Shepherds (the photo shown is of Midge, a tiny Chihuahua-Terrier mix. She's actually one of the Top Dogs in Geauga County, Ohio's Narcotics K-9 Unit!)

Artsy Stuff for Animal Lovers

I am head-over-heels in love with artist Allison Strine's superfun & quirky creations! She makes the most incredible, free-spirity, animal-themed collages, pairs them up with whimsical wording, and then transforms the finished product into the worlds' most fantastical frameable prints, magnets, and note cards.

She also makes one-of-a-kind pendants, and can even integrate a photo of your very own puppy into the design!

Allison's artwork makes an extra-special, magical gift (think Mother's Day, Birthdays, etc.) Take a peek at her online shop @ etsy (I love etsy!) for even more delightful whatnots.

Calling All Beagle Buddies!

Saturday, May 10, 2008, Beagles of all shapes and sizes will be getting together for two fun OC Beagley events. From 9am -1pm the annual SoCal Beaglefest Potluck will be held at Huntington Beach Central Dog Park. At 11am, The Fashion Island Muttropolis will be having a Beagle Mingle & Contest. Get ready for lots of sniffing and howling :)