Chesterfield Palm Beach
A stylish destination that operates on island time
The Chesterfield Palm Beach is a small luxury boutique-styled hotel within walking of the shopping utopia of Worth Avenue, often referred to as the Rodeo Drive of Florida and an ideal destination for a postprandial stroll with your dog on a balmy night.
Because this hotel is considered “home” to many “swallows ”, namely returning guests escaping colder climate during the winter, many of the regular pooches that visit are greeted by name by the hotel’s very dogcentric staff.
Related Articles
Top Dog Cars for 2013
Automakers’ 2013 Fido friendly choices are real tail-waggers.
Our pups love to ride in the car with us wherever we go. But just like any family, we want to make sure that our four-legged loved ones are as safe and secure as everyone else. So it’s important to have a vehicle that provides enough room for dog crates and safety harnesses to keep Fido safe and secured.
This year, automakers are rolling out a long list of vehicles that should make us canine companions sit up and wag.
Here are a few of the finest models for Fido in 2013.
Related Articles
Feature Giveaway
Two puppies ready for adoption and over $1,100 in prizes for one lucky pack.
The Abandoned Ones Animal Rescue (TAO) is an animal rescue group based in Fort Worth, Texas and founded by Judy Obregon. Obregon’s mission is to help those with no voice. Strays no one knows about, that are dumped and have to fend for themselves. She visits neighborhoods that are known dogfighting areas, and speaks to families and children about animal cruelty. Model dogs Paris and Blaze are healthy and beautiful seven month old dogs who were abandoned and left to die, without a source of food, water, or shelter. They required three weeks of hospitalization and major fund raising for their medical care.
Related Articles
Katherine Heigl
Life as we know it with Katherine Heigl and her love of dogs.
Emmy Award-winning actress Katherine Heigl knows how to deftly deal with camera-touting paparazzi at movie premieres and award shows. Her bigger challenge is eluding her pup posse at home in order to arrive at these soirees not sporting dog hair on her designer gowns.
“Once I get on my dress, I try to avoid my dogs, but if I can’t and they jump on me to say goodbye, I rely on sticky rolling brushes—they are a godsend,” she laughs. “Of course, I’ve been out on errands in black leggings and it looks like I’m sprouting fur on my legs. You know what? When I’m not in public or being photographed, I love being covered in dog hair. I love my dogs.”
Check out the current issue of FIDO Friendly to read the rest of this article.
Related Articles
19th Floor is close to heaven
Trump International Hotel & Tower® Chicago has a soft spot for canines.
With a touch of a button your drapes part to reveal ten-foot floor-to-ceiling windows and the river and lake view. Cozy and comfortable, the Trump Chicago oozes trendy and Fido under 25 pounds receives the royal treatment.
The fully equipped kitchen allows for staying in-room for days and weeks at a time when room service is not your cup of tea. Prepare oatmeal on the electric stovetop, slice apples and cheese and enjoy a peasant lunch with wine, all with Fido by your side and a view to die for. A Sub Zero, equipped with an icemaker and an electric teakettle made me feel right at home.
Related Articles
FireSky Resort & Spa
Lucky canines unite at this luxury Scottsdale, Arizona retreat.
Pet-lovers know that Kimpton is the ultimate in welcoming pets: no pet fee, no weight limit and all sorts of critters are welcome at Kimpton (even those pesky cats!). The FireSky Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona, exudes a gracious ambience from start to finish. Our dog’s names were written on the chalkboard welcoming them along with a few other Fido friends.
Related Articles
ANNIE
Shed your stress and relax at this new resort that caters to canines and their people. By Arden Moore
Animal trainer, William Berloni, is the 2011 Recipient of the Tony Award® Honor for Excellence in Theater. Mr. Berloni’s Broadway animal training credits include the original Sandy in Annie and countless others for stage and screen. As an author, he has written Sandy: The Autobiography of a Star published by Simon and Schuster, Doga: Yoga for Dogs by Chronicle Books and his latest book, Broadway Tails is published by Globe Pequot Press and available now in stores and online. Proceeds of that book will be donated to the Sandy Fund at the Humane Society of New York.
Mr. Berloni has received the ASPCA Humanitarian Award and the American Humane Association Craven Award for his work on Broadway. Mr. Berloni, his wife Dorothy and their daughter Jenna, live on a farm in Connecticut with twenty-two dogs, four cats, four horses, a pony, two llamas and a miniature donkey. Mr. Berloni is currently the Director of Animal Behavior for the Humane Society of New York and is involved in helping animals that need homes. theatricalanimals.com.
FIDO Friendly sits down with animal trainer, William Berloni.
Related Articles
Top Ski Resorts
A winter wonderland waits at these Fido-friendly ski resorts.
No reason to leave Fido out of all the winter fun at these pet welcoming resorts.
Montage Deer Valley
Canine concierge’s Monty and Jonah make appearances in the hotel lobby several times a day to meet and greet guest’s staying at the Montage Deer Valley. These Bernese Mountain Dogs are just as comfortable taking photos, shaking paws and smoozing with guests as they are frolicking in the snow.
Stowe Mountain Lodge, Stowe, Vermont
For over a century Stowe has attracted the world's most discerning travelers, who have cherished the beauty of the area's covered bridges, sparkling lakes, rambling woodlands and majestic peaks. Those who frequent Stowe treasure its ability to welcome the world, while still remaining the quintessential small New England town, and the creation of Stowe Mountain Lodge reaffirms the mountain's reputation as a world-class resort and ski destination in Vermont.
Related Articles
The Dog Days of Destin and the Emerald Coast
Beaches aren’t the only attraction for you and your fur-kids
Powdery white sand and clear emerald waters add up to paradise for the multitude of vacationers who converge upon the Gulf Coast every year. But for those of us wanting to take our furry family members with us, finding Fido-friendly places to stay can be paw-stopping.
Enter Shore Dreams Vacation Rentals. They pride themselves on offering “Pet-friendly Travel for Pet-WELCOMING Memories.” Representing affordable accommodations ranging from small studios and one or two-bedroom condos, to golf villas and sprawling homes, owner Renata Circeo-Loudon caters to fur-kids and their vacationing families.
Related Articles
Victoria Stilwell—A Shelter Dog’s Best Friend
Star of the TV hit show, “It’s Me or the Dog” rallies for shelter pets as spokesperson for Fido Friendly’s “Get Your Licks on Route 66” tour.
Victoria Stilwell is big into providing second chances—especially if you happen to be a dog.
The no-nonsense star of Animal Planet’s “It’s Me or the Dog” show spends many hours dealing with mutt mayhem and feuding families, but relishes the time she spends in her Atlanta area home with her husband, Van; daughter, Alexandra and a pair of rescued dogs answering to the names of Sadie and Jasmine.
When approached to be the spokesperson for the Fido Friendly’s fourth annual “Get Your Licks on Route 66” pet adoption tour, Stilwell quickly said yes.
“The appeal to me is that this special Route 66 tour highlights the plight of homeless animals,” says Stilwell. “I am happy and honored to be the spokesperson and to raise awareness and encourage people to attend the adoption days in their communities.”
Related Articles
Say Ah to Dog Spa Resort
Shed your stress and relax at this new resort that caters to canines and their people.
After a non-stop work schedule that included hosting National Dog Party Day™ in three cities, I needed to step away from my computer keyboard and my cell phone and take a break. With my well-traveled dogs, Chipper and Cleo, we headed for the new Dog Spa Resort in Desert Hot Springs, CA.
Thanks to owner Paula Terifaj, a veterinarian, and her canine host, a sweet Pit Bull named Brad Pit (spelled with one T), we were able to rest, relax and rejuvenate in a stress-free setting during our 48-hour stay.
Related Articles
Surf’s Up, Doggies (and Goats)!
Dog packs and a pair of goats are taming the mighty Pacific Ocean.
Hanging 10 is, well, so blasé. These days, it’s all about hanging 20. That’s because when it comes to surfing, dogs—and a couple of goats—are definitely s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g the limits and landing in the record books.
Less than six years ago, canine surfing was a novelty displayed by a handful of agile and athletic dogs gliding through the Pacific Ocean. Today, canine surfing has exploded into a sport of international interest, drawing coverage by ESPN and national news shows like ABC’s Good Morning, America and setting YouTube on viral fire with amazing action clips that pet lovers all over the globe can’t stop watching.
Related Articles
Get Your Licks on Route 66 - 2012
PAW-SOME UPDATE!! Check back often for pictures and updates from our tour (see below - updates are posted with our Shelter Stop Schedule)
Thank you to ALL who have come out on the tour so far and we can't wait to meet MORE of you as we continue our Pet Adoption Tour! As of October 11, 2012 there have been 60 ADOPTIONS (so far) ...... !
What: Fourth Annual Pet Adoption & Humane Outreach National Tour
Why: In search of loving homes for rescued pets
Where: From California to Chicago
When: Friday, October 5, 2012 - Friday November 2, 2012
Route 66 TOUR SHELTER STOPS - SEE FULL SCHEDULE and TOUR UPDATES BELOW
For the fourth year in a row, FIDO Friendly magazine is setting out on America’s Favorite Highway for this exciting month long pet adoption tour! The Get Your Licks on Route 66 Tour will raise awareness to the plight of homeless pets, vital services that participating animal shelter and rescue partners provide to their communities, and engage younger generations through humane education programs that are available.
Victoria Stilwell from Animal Planet's series 'Its me or the dog' is our official spokesperson and Animal Radio offers media support along the route where you can listen in to find a tour stop near you!
Check back often for updates and sponsor information.
Route 66 TOUR SHELTER STOPS - FULL SCHEDULEand TOUR UPDATES:
Oct. 5
11-3
Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter
6851 Van Buren Blvd.
Riverside, CA 92509
First stop on the tour was successful with over 27 pets adopted! Arden Moore http://fourleggedlife.com/ the ‘pet edutainer’ stopped by to talk about pet CPR and throwing dog parties. Jake and Junior were having fun at the Ruff House Pet Resort. http://ruffhousepetresort.com/ Here is one of our happy adoptees, and his new forever family:
Oct. 6
10-2:00 p.m.
Victoria Stilwell appearance 12-1:00 p.m.
LA Animal Services East Valley
14409 Vanowen Street
Van Nuys, CA 91405
Official kick-off with special appearance by tour spokesperson, Victoria Stilwell. Victoria visited a classroom in session, answered many questions and signed autographs. Host hotel: W Residences in Hollywood. Host doggy daycare: Petrock Hotel in Encinio, California. http://petrockhotel.com/
Oct. 10
11-3:00
2nd Chance Center For Animals
Appearance by Mayor Gerald W. Nabours 11:00
Sam’s Club
1851 E. Butler
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Traveled via Paradise Valley, Arizona - Host hotel: The beautiful Hermosa Inn www.hermosainn.com
in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Jake and Junior were treated to a doggy massage along side my husband and me. Dining al fresco in the historic courtyard under muted lighting was enchanting. The staff was very attentive and loved the boys, as you can see in this picture:
Oct. 12
11-4:00
Watermelon Ranch
Petsmart
10248 Coors Bypass
Albuquerque, NM 87114
Oct. 13
8-2:00
Lucky Paws *** With Special Celebrity Guest TRAVELIN' JACK !! **
FURRY FRIENDS FIESTA DAY 2012!
Balloon Museum
9201 Balloon Museum Drive Northeast
Albuquerque, NM 87113
We met Travelin Jack and he pawtographed one of his books! Here is Jack wearing his own festival t-shirt in front of our Ford Escape:
Oct. 14
10-4
Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society
La Montanita Co-op
913 W. Alameda
Santa Fe, NM
Oct. 17
3-7:00
Amarillo SPCA
Petsmart
2800 Soncy Rd.
Amarillo, TX 79119
Host doggy daycare: LeChateau Pet Resort - http://lechateaupetresort.com/
Along the historic route 66 heading toward Amarillo, found a couple of great photo ops. Travelin Jack from Albuquerque told us to be sure and stop by the historic Fido-friendly Blue Swallow Motel. http://blueswallowmotel.com Operating since 1939, it is a registered landmark and Travelin Jack posed in front of one of the many murals lining the back of the motel.
Thanks to all the volunteers from the Amarillo SPCA who take their time to help place pets in to new forever homes.
On to Oklahoma City!
Oct. 19
Best Friends of Pets
PetSmart
2140 W. Memorial Rd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73134
Oct. 20
12-4:00 p.m.
ARF
Woodland Hills Mall
7021 S. Memorial Drive, Ste. 225B
Tulsa, OK 74133
Oct. 21
1-4:00 p.m.
Joplin Humane
Firefighter Dayna Hilton and her fires safety pups in attendance.
140 E. Emperor Lane
Joplin, MO 64801
Oct. 24
2-8:00 p.m.
Wayside Waifs Humane Society
3901 Martha Truman Rd.
Kansas City, MO 64137
Oct. 25
12-6:00 p.m.
Castaway Animal Rescue
1328-A West Sunshine
Springfield, MO 65807
314-420-6435
Oct. 26
Time TBD
Humane Society of Missouri
1201 Macklind Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
Oct. 27
10-4:00
Sangamon County Animal Control
Landmark Ford
2401 Prairie Crossing Drive
Springfield, IL 62711
Nov. 2
2-7:00 p.m.
PAWS Chicago
1997 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
Tour Sponsors:
Tour Wheel Sponsors
:
Related Articles
Trump Hotel – Las Vegas
The Trump International Hotel™ Las Vegas is a sophisticated, non-gaming, luxury hotel situated high above the Strip located directly adjacent to the Fashion Show Mall and across the street from the Wynn Resort. From the white-glove adorned doormen to the fine Italian marble, this ultra-luxury resort welcomes guests to a private oasis with a world-class spa and fitness center and exceptional gourmet dining—exactly the perfect spot for Fido and family.
Related Articles
Bringing Home Puppy: the First 90 days
Expect the drive home to be a blur. Whether you have just adopted a puppy from a shelter, rescue group or reputable breeder, your head will be full of questions:
Am I crazy? Is this the right puppy for me at this time in my life? What’s this dog going to do when we get home? Is he going to pee on my carpet? Will he listen to me? What have I done?
People speak of buyer’s remorse when making a major financial investment, such as purchasing a new car or a home. But one of the biggest emotional investments you will ever make is adopting a dog.
Related Articles
Doc is In - Ouch! Do dogs sunburn?
By definition, a sunburn is redness of the skin with or without skin blistering that is caused by exposure to excessive amounts of sunlight. Sunburns are a common problem for people, but not very common in most animal species.
Dogs that have thick fur or pigmented skin are somewhat protected by the damaging ultraviolet light. However, dogs with light color fur or a thin hair coat are more likely to be affected.
According to Dr. Chris Reeder, a veterinary dermatologist with the Animal Dermatology Clinic in Louisville, Kentucky, “All dogs are susceptible to sunburns, but sunburns are more common in dog breeds such as Dalmatians, that have short, light colored hair coat and light pigmented skin.”
Related Articles
-129x88.jpg)
Fido Hits a Home Run
The batter lines up, the pitcher gets ready to sail the ball across the plate, and tails are wagging at stadiums across the country, as more and more ball clubs are welcoming Fido to their rosters.
Several Major League Baseball (and minor league) teams invite well-behaved dogs that are current on their vaccinations to take part in “bark in the park” or “dog days of summer” events at their stadiums. Events generally include a parade at the stadium, prizes for Fido team fanatics, and sometimes a giveaway prize and/or special promotions. Here are a few of our favorite heavy hitters:
A Boomer Revolution
The official canine mascot of The York Revolution baseball team, Boomer performs important duties like greeting fans, patrolling the perimeter, kissing babies, and cleaning up any food remnants along the concourse.
Related Articles
Tenaya Lodge
One would think that the Tenaya Lodge valet parking and bell staff would have hung up the “closed” sign and ran the other way when they saw two SUVs arrive with four people and four excited dogs, all set for a weekend getaway in adjoining rooms. But this resort’s staff is seasoned regarding the traveling canine circuit, and they were all smiles, warm greetings and helping hands amidst the chaos of dogs prancing around the portachere.
Related Articles
Buying a Car With Fido in Mind
Dog lovers are a passionate breed. Whatever we do and wherever we go, we want to keep Fido close by our side. And just like every parent, our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our loved ones. So no matter when or how we travel, we want to make sure that our pups are properly safe, secure and comfortable for the journey ahead.
Top features In Fido-friendly cars
- Fold-flat seats—room for canines and cargo
- Space for crates—and hooks to secure them to
- Easy in/out—for all ages and abilities
- Good air flow—to keep pups comfortable
- Easy to clean—to control mud and fur collection
Other Fido Friendly models
- Honda Element honda.com
- Dodge Grand Caravan dodge.com
- Toyota Venza toyota.com
- Subaru Forester subaru.com
- Volvo XC90 volvo.com
- Nissan Rogue nissanusa.com
- BMW X5 bmwusa.com
- Acura MDX acura.com
- Ford Transit Connect ford.com
- Mini Cooper Clubman miniusa.com
- Chevrolet Suburban chevrolet.com
- Suzuki XL-7 suzukiauto.com
Subscribe to the current issue of FIDO Friendly and gander at the top picks for 2012.
Related Articles
Sleeping With the Pack
Let sleeping dogs lie, so the saying goes, except our readers tell us the best night’s sleep they get is when said sleeping dog is lying by their side. Slumber is peaceful pillow to pillow, tail to tush, snout to sheet. More and more people not only admit but embrace the notion of being dog tired and letting dogs retire to bed with them.
Foster Roster (goes with image of a lot of dogs on the bed) Terry Casillas of Gulfport, Mississippi, knows all too well the comforts of Cocker butts, nubbies pressed side by side, and the pleasures of sleeping with dogs. “We have seven dogs of our own plus anywhere from one to seven foster dogs, and we let them all sleep on the bed,” Casillas admitted. Featuring a pack of Cockers, a Schnauzer and a Yorkie, Casillas admits that usually one of the dogs will snore. She’s always slept with dogs, starting at age 26, and for folks who think it is wrong? Well, she says then they “shouldn’t have a dog.”
Grab the current issue of FIDO Friendly to see pack slumber parties, and also some tips to keep Fido off the bed if your pack party is too crowded.
Related Articles
How to Break a Dog Into Show Business
It’s a dog-eat-dog world. Ask anyone in the often tumultuous yet oh-so-rewarding showbiz industry how reliable and steady the work can be, and a plethora of eye rolls and replies are guaranteed to ensue. Imagine then how competitive yet rewarding a showbiz career for dogs can be. Here at FIDO Friendly magazine, we wondered if they can make it there, can they make it anywhere? And just how hard is it to land a television or commercial gig? Is there really such a notion as a dog agent?
Check out the current issue of FIDO Friendly to see some canine stars that reveal what it takes to get aboard the stardom express.
Related Articles
Marvelous Montage Deer Valley
FIDO Friendly magazine chooses the Montage Deer Valley as the Best Ski Resort in America
What makes a great ski resort great? For starters, Deer Valley, which has been named the number one ski resort in North America four years running by readers of Ski Magazine. And as much as we here at FIDO Friendly magazine love powder hounds, our vote has clearly been cast because the Montage Deer Valley is, in our opinion, the best ski destination simply because they welcome both canine and human alike. The white fluffy stuff is an additional perk…
Related Articles
25 Days of Gift Giving
Enter & Win!
Each day in December enter for a chance to win the prize of the day for 25 days! Enter as often as you'd like and check back often to see if you are the lucky winner. To see Today's contest as well as others visit our Contest page
Related Articles
Top Ten Naughtiest Dogs of the Year
We all know Christmas and Hanukkah mean celebration, and that festive spirit includes our beloved dogs! Many of them are on Santa's "good boys and girls" list, but what about the ones who maybe did something naughty this year?
We won’t tell Santa if you won’t, Schooner. Sharon Gilbert’s Viszla decided to take her undergarments to a fa la la new level. Gilbert shared, “Schooner likes taking my bras, chewing the straps off and tearing the whole bra apart.”
Thanksgiving just might be Cocker Spaniel Heidi’s favorite holiday. Jonathan and Stella Rowlett told us, “One year, as we were preparing our Thanksgiving dinner, Heidi was eyeing the turkey dumplings on the counter. Heidi always gives you the "you-haven't-fed-me-for-a-million-years" look.”
Related Articles
Fido’s Florida: Destinations Where Dogs Rule
The Sunshine State is rolling over for its four-legged visitors!
Pack the squeaky toys and the sunscreen for a Florida vacation both you and your dog will love! Did you know that Miami has a restaurant that’s exclusively for dogs? That you and your pal can dine alfresco in Palm Beach at a restaurant owned by celebrity chef Daniel Boulud? That Tampa has a world-class art museum that hosts a weekly Yappy Hour? That Orlando hosts a pet festival almost every month of the year? There’s no reason to leave your BFF in a hotel room while you’re out having fun. From Fido-friendly beaches and bark parks to top restaurants, hotels, and local attractions, here are a few five-woof vacation spots:
If You Go:
Orlando Convention & Visitors Bureau visitorlando.com
Note: In Orlando, most hotels have partnered with theme parks on packages, which are a better value than paying by the night. Check the hotel websites for seasonal offers.
Best Beds:
- Grand Bohemian Hotel, 325 South Orange Ave. (407) 313-9000; grandbohemianhotel.com). The hotel welcomes small dogs under 25 pounds with a non-refundable deposit of $100.
- Universal Studios Resorts: The pet fee is a modest $25 per stay with no weight limit.
- The Loew’s Hard Rock Hotel, 5800 Universal Blvd. (407) 503-2000; hardrockhotelorlando.com)
- Loew’s Portofino Bay Hotel, 5601 Universal Blvd. (888) 430-4999; loewshotels.com/en/Portofino-Bay-Hotel).
- Loew’s Royal Pacific Resort, 6300 Hollywood Way (888) 430-4999; loewshotels.com/en/Royal-Pacific-Resort).
Best Bowls:
- Greenside’s Restaurant, 7251 Five Oaks Dr., Harmony (407) 891-2630; harmonygolfpreserve.com).
- Yellow Dog Eats, 1236 Hempel Ave., Gotha (407) 296-0609; yellowdogeats.com).
- Bark Avenue Dog Bakery, 7728 West Sand Lake Rd. (407) 345-9999; barkavenuebakery.com).
Tampa Convention & Visitors Bureau visittampabay.com
Best Beds:
- Loews Don Cesar Beach Resort & Spa, 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (727) 360-1881; doncesar.com); from $219 per night.
- Tradewinds Island Grand, 5500 Gulf Boulevard, St. Pete Beach (727) 360-5551; tradewindsresort.com); from $159 per night.
- Sheraton Riverwalk 200 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa (813) 223-2222; sheraton.com/Tampa); from $135 per night.
Best Bowls:
- Columbia Café at the Tampa History Center, 801 Old Water Street, Tampa (813) 229-5511; www.columbiarestaurant.com).
- Sono Café, Tampa Museum of Art, 120 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa (813) 421-8379; tampamuseum.org/home/sono-café).
- Cassis, 170 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg (727) 827-2927; cassisab.com).
- Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grille, 1320 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg (727) 822-4562; fergssportsbar.com).
Tail Waggin’ Good Times
Sweet Treats and Canine Chic:
- DoggieDoor, 329 Park Avenue North, Winter Park (407) 644-2969; thedoggiedoor.com). Owned by the same folks who run Orlando’s popular lifestyle store, Bullfish (where you’re welcome to shop for cool human stuff with your dog!), The Doggie Door features all things canine.
- Metropolitan Dog Spa, 151 East Washington St., Orlando (407) 333-4766; metropolitandogspa.com). While Fido has a day of beauty, dog owners gather for a quiet cup of tea or to browse the store.
- Pawsitively Posh Pooch, 1425 4th St. North, St. Petersburg (727) 892-9303; pawsitivelyposhpooch.com). Drop by Posh Pooch to browse Chanel’s Closet for designer duds, grab a bon-bon for your buddy from Coco’s Pawrisian Bistro, or give Fido an ooh-la-la spa treatment at the Gucci Poochi Spa.
- Downtown Dog, Hyde Park Village, 1631 W. Snow Circle, Tampa (813) 250-3647; shopdowntowndogs.com). This boutique welcomes canine browsers along with their humans. See the owner’s dogs, Lucky and Valdano, on the website or submit your own pooch photo for the pin-up section.
Related Articles
Hero Dogs
Inaugural American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™
Presented by Cesar® Canine Cuisine to recognize extraordinary acts of heroism performed by ordinary dogs.
Based on the shared belief that having a relationship with a dog can truly improve every life, CESAR® Canine Cuisine has partnered with American Humane Association for The Hero Dog Awards, to shine a spotlight on the thousands of dogs who are making a difference by providing comfort to people in need everyday.
The Hero Dog Awards celebrates, honors and recognizes the thousands of heroic therapy dogs who truly transform lives. Hero dogs are therapy dogs, military dogs, guide dogs, search and rescue dogs, hearing dogs, law enforcement dogs and ordinary dogs doing extraordinary things. No matter how big or small, a Hero Dog provides unconditional love and support for those that need it most.
Related Articles
Fido, Al Fresco!
More frescos and more Fidos means more frequent doggy visitors dining out.
FIDO NEED NOT BE POCKET-SIZE to dine al fresco style. Snitch knows that Europe is too far to go for lunch, so Café Borrone in Menlo Park, California, is a favorite local eatery. Jann Hayes of Half Moon Bay, California, shared, “They have a generous outdoor seating area with umbrellas, no smoking on the patio and the wait staff loves having dogs visit.”…
…Be sure to check out all the extra pictures not shown in print!
Shall I start with the appetizer or perhaps go right for the main course, Hairy Putter seems to ponder.
Photography Louis W. Bohannan
“Waiter, I’ll have one of these, one of those and a few of the yummies over there,” so says Hairy Putter.
Photography Louis W. Bohannan
Deciding his meal, Hairy Putter ponders the menu before selecting his al fresco fare.
Photography Louis W. Bohannan
Kevin and Buddy are Fido al-besto pals and visit the PICK-QUICK Drive In for Puppy Patties.
Photography courtesy PICK-QUICK Drive In
Surf’s up for Porkchop when he and Maggie Alexander head for some healthy grilled fish.
Photography Maggie Alexander
Taking a beach break, Porkchop loves the ambience at Pacific Beach Fish Shop in San Diego.
Photography Maggie Alexander
Snitch waits for his water and treats while visiting Café Borrone in Menlo Park.
Photography Jann Hayes
Move over Beethoven, Snitch knows a cup of ice cream from Culvers in Wisconsin hits the spot.
Photography Jann Hayes
The chicken atop this salad catches the eye of Toshi, who waits his turn for a bite at Taggia in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Photography Candice Ball
Related Articles
Paw & Order: Fido as Sherlock Bones
Sherlock Bones meets Paw & Order
Taking a bite out of crime, one canine at a time.
CSI MOVE OVER, Sherlock Bones is in town, and he’s here to deliver paw and order. The scales of justice swing in Fido’s favor with canines working in tandem with humans, unearthing what only a dog’s nose knows. From arson investigators and evidence finders to cadaver dogs and bomb detectors, dogs have earned their rightful place as law enforcement ambassadors.
When it comes to keeping kids safe, Siren is on the scene, ready for action.
Photography Dayna Hilton
Safety first. That’s the message of fire safety dog, Siren.
Photography Dayna Hilton
Fire safety dog, Siren, checks in for any Facebook messages.
Photography Dayna Hilton
Related Articles
Howl-o-ween on a Boo-string Budget
Goblins and ghouls, candy corn and cornstalks, doggy costume contests and parades: it’s that time of year when Fido gets a scary groove on and dons the Halloween garb.
Continued from Bowser on a Budget story this issue, here is another ghouling costume.
Pupto Bismol
No tummy aches with Surf Dog Ricochet to the rescue. This adorable Pupto Bismol creation is the handiwork of Judi Fridono of San Diego, California. For less than $20, this costume requires pink fleece, an iron-on t-shirt transfer (with artwork made on Adobe® Photoshop®), a headband for neck accessory, pink hair ties for ankle accessories, a disposable plastic bucket for the bottle cap, mailing labels for "pupto bismol" words and a shoestring to tie the bottle cap on the head. No in-dog-gestion here at FIDO Friendly.
Related Articles
Tailgate Mascots
Fido’s got football fever and the sidekicks to prove it.
Pigskin puppies, huddle close and get ready for the game plan! Gridiron season has an ongoing love affair with canine mascots, and so inspired was FIDO Friendly by Cathy Flamholtz’s Dogcrazy Newsletters that we’re showcasing a few canine sports mascots.
Check out more images here not found in print!
Butler Blue knows who the real big dog on campus is.
Photography courtesy Brad J. Ward, BlueFuego
Go team go, the biggest little dog is ready to cheer you on, Butler Blue beckons.
Photography courtesy Jennifer Driscoll Photography
In a league of his own, Butler Blue starts the season off on the right foot—er—bone.
Photography courtesy Brent Smith, Butler University
Scotty beckons “Go, Tartans, go!” as mascot for Carnegie Mellon.
Photography courtesy Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon’s Scotty seems to eye up a winning touchdown for his team.
Photography courtesy Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon Highland Ambassadors give Scotty a pup talk with Professor Larry Cartwright.
Photography courtesy Carnegie Mellon University
The ever watchful eyes of the SIU Saluki stands ready to cheer the teams to victory.
Photography courtesy Southern Illinois University Athletics Department
Faux fur and real fur, both costumed mascot and canine sidekick attend a SIU sporting event.
Photography courtesy Southern Illinois University Athletics Department
Photography courtesy Chandelle Arner, Boise State University
Photography courtesy Karl LeClair, Boise State University
Photography courtesy Chandelle Arner, Boise State University
Related Articles
Feature Giveaway
Win everything pictured here!
You can enter the giveaway once per day by submitting your full name and email address. To enter and view complete details, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FIDOFriendlyMagazine.
Related Articles
Put Your Garden to Bed
Preparing your garden for a quiet winter gives way to healthy plants next year.
IT’S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE to another summer and hello to winter. Whether it is cleaning up the vegetable garden or preparing sod for the cold, here are some easy tips to prepare your yard for winter and ensuring a beautiful, healthy spring garden…
BEANBAGTOSS
These easy step-by-step instructions will unleash your inner crafter. It’s that time of year for autumn picnics, soaking in friends, family and games! Don’t run to the store; create your very own Fido-themed beanbag toss, straight from the heart…
Related Articles
Eva La Rue and Omar Miller
Eva LaRue and Omar Miller, stars of CSI: Miami are teaming with Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Pet Foods®, PETCO® and independent pet stores to celebrate National Guide Dog Month in September and raise money and awareness for guidedog organizations across the country. “We want people to realize that this is more than just a fundraiser for a good cause,” said Miller. “This is really about empowering the visually impaired with the life-changing gift of a guide dog. Guide dogs and training are provided atno cost to qualifi ed applicants who are blind or visually impaired. With 10 million visually impaired people in the US, the demand for guide dogs continues to grow.”
“Every seven minutes someone in America becomes blind or visually impaired,” said LaRue. “Guide dogs are heroes, providing safe mobility, loving companionship and restoring confidence to their handlers.”
Photography: Anthony Mongiello
Related Articles
White Gold
She's Hot in Cleveland and around the world. Everything she does strikes gold. Betty White, pet ally, fittingly graces our 50th issue cover.
By Arden Moore, Editor at Large
Photography iStock/Jbrizendine (Small Dog)
GOODNESS, SOMEWHERE in the dictionary next to the term “golden” should be a Betty White reference. Beloved as the lone survivor of television classic sitcom, The Golden Girls, she shares her home with a Golden Retriever named Pontiac in the Golden State of California.
For nearly 65 years, she has delighted television audiences with golden moments as characters named Sue Ann Nivens, Rose Nylund and today as Hot in Cleveland’s Elka Ostrovsky. Far from the Hollywood red carpets, she has championed the cause of companion animals and wildlife as president emeritus of the Morris Animal Foundation and trustee with the Los Angeles Zoo—she is still a trustee and will celebrate 40 continuous years on the board this June. She has happily spent a lifetime plucking pet hair off her clothes and sharing her sofa with a lap cat or a snoozing canine.
Bu
t trying to conduct a sit-down interview with America’s Ageless It Girl these days is as challenging as trying to teach a nectarhungry hummingbird how to sit and stay. At 89 years young, Betty White is picking up speed, not slowing down.
“I’m the luckiest broad on two feet,” explains White in a quick comment obtained for this story…
Related Articles
FIDO Friendly’s Best Of
We love sharing the best of the best in the FIDO Friendly world. As you peruse through our 50th celebratory golden issue, we wanted to share even more juice for you. Please enjoy these additional treasures…
BEST FIDO FRIENDLY CITIES
San Francisco, California (SF)
Sally Stephens of SF dishes with us as we named our best of the best.
What makes SF a city that people like to visit with their dogs?
SF, the city of St. Francis, recognizes the value of the human-animal bond and the positive benefits, and strives to facilitate positive interactions, for both you and your dog.
What sort of activities and events are available for dogs in SF?
A wide variety of activities and events for people and dogs means choosing from monthly Chihuahua meet-ups in Stern Grove to weekly Frenchie Fridays in Dolores Park (French bulldogs) to weekly walks on Ocean Beach. Pet Pride Day, a yearly celebration of dogs, organized by SF Animal Care and Control, has dog costume and trick contests, Frisbee® dog demonstrations and booths from dozens of animal groups and companies. The SF Giants has a yearly Dog Days game in August to bring Fido to.
How many dog parks/beaches/business/restaurants are there for dogs to take part in?
SF has 29 areas designated for off-leash play in various city parks, including some pet-friendly beaches and trails in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). Some favorite city parks include Stern Grove, Bernal Hill, McLaren Park and Duboce Park. In the GGNRA, favorite spots include Fort Funston, Ocean Beach, Crissy Field, Baker Beach and Lands End. Many of the downtown hotels welcome dogs with their people.
Where can folks learn more who wish to travel to SF with their dogs?
The SF Dog Owners Group (SFDOG) is in the process of revamping sfdog.org and will have a calendar of dog events when completed.
What are some doggie extras that make the town so very dog welcoming?
With more dogs in SF than children, off-leash space in city parks and the GGNRA’s hard-work are major contributors to helping make SF so dog welcoming.
(Left to Right) Whitney (15) and Shasta (16) are the darling miniature American Eskimo dogs of David Landis – whose daily play area is Alta Plaza Park in the Pacific Heights district of SF.
Resident San Franciscan, Sharon Castellanos, showcases why this is a Fido-friendly city.
Here belated dogs, Nikki and Fox, walk up the back of Bernal Hill. We salute these two explorers, who are eternally missed by Andrea Patterson.
At the Golden Gate Bridge, this pooch of Beverly Ulbrich, is ready for some SF fun.
Katie Hall shares this subtle canine moment, which shares a thousand words.
Jan Stephens shares a “picture of two old buddies” — me at 64 years and my dog, Scarlett, at 14. It was taken at Ocean Beach by friend, Shehla Khan.
Here's Rocky the French Bulldog running at full speed and Rookie, the black lab in the background at Fort Funston, belonging to Mark Rogers.
This is Chocco at Crissy Field, West Beach, shot by Dave Caldwell.
This is Ruby in a doggy wheelchair (she developed a neuro disease), but still very much enjoying the Fort, sporting a huge stick. This is the cover of the book, Almost Perfect, by Vicki Tiernan. almostperfectbook.com
Portland, Maine (PM)
FIDO Friendly sat down with Alison Goddard (AG), PR & Special Events Coordinator with the Greater Portland Convention & Visitors Bureau and Wendi Smith (WS), Publisher and Owner of Maine newspaper, Downeast Dog News to find out why PM is a wagtastic area.
What makes PM a city that people like to visit with their dogs?
AG: Many accommodations include hotels, restaurants and bars allow dogs; for example, Port Hole has a patio that allows dogs while you sip on a refreshing beverage and Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth allows dogs and offers pet pampering services.
WS: By some estimates, almost 17,000 dogs live in Portland, helping to make Maine’s largest city a great place to visit with your dog. There are at least 46 dog parks or dog-friendly beaches—many of which provide free plastic dog “clean up” bags—in the Greater Portland area; 30 hotels or motels that permit dogs in guest rooms; 25 restaurants with dog-friendly sections; 12 doggie day care centers; dozens of pet stores, groomers, dog walkers and trainers, dog clubs and play groups; two independently owned self-serve dog washes; one top-notch dog shelter; and one monthly newspaper for “people who love dogs.” PM is also home to Planet Dog, a socially responsible company that designs eco-friendly dog toys and donates 2 percent of every sale to the Planet Dog Foundation to fund the training, placement and support of service dogs. If your dog needs health care while visiting, Greater Portland has more than 60 practicing veterinarians, including at least one who specializes in alternative treatments such as acupuncture.
What sort of activities and events are available for dogs in PM?
AG: Many companies observe Friday as take your dog to work day. PET ROCK in the park is an annual event, benefiting HELP!FixME (spray/neuter program), including product vendors and services, animal rescue organizations, working dog demonstrations, food vendors, live music and an adoptable pet parade.
WS: The Woofminster Amateur Dog Show & Cover Challenge, Paws in the Park and Pet Rock in the Park are events you won’t want to miss. Dog lovers routinely turn out for vaccination, microchip, nail clipping and other special clinics offered by Portland pet stores. American Kennel Club shows held in neighboring Scarborough feature Portland canines, and the Maine Dog Tracking Club meets at the Barron Center. Fundraisers to support pet adoptions are a frequent event throughout the city.
How many dog parks/beaches/businesses/restaurants are there for dogs to take part in and would you provide names of them please?
AG: Restaurants/bars that allow dogs on sidewalk seating areas are as follows:
- Beal's Ice Cream: 12 Moulton St, 828-1335
- Bill's Pizza: 177 Commercial St, 774-6166
- Black Tie Cafe: One Union Wharf, 756-6230
- Flatbread Pizza Company, 72 Commercial St, 772-8777
- Gilbert's Chowder House: 92 Commercial St, 871-5636
- Gritty McDuff's: 396 Fore St, 772-2739
- Nosh Kitchen Bar: 551 Congress St., 553-2227
- Portland Lobster Company: 180 Commercial St, 775-2112
- The Farmer's Table: 205 Commercial St, 347-7478
- The Grill Room, 84 Exchange St, 774-2333
WS: The latest edition of petMAINE, as well as downeastdognews.com list dog parks, beaches and restaurants.
Where can folks learn more who wish to travel to PM with their dogs?
visitportland.com, fetch.com, downeastdogguides.com, trails.com.
What are some doggie extras that make the town so very dog welcoming?
AG: Our Ocean Gateway VIC offers water bowls as do many other businesses in town.
WS: Blogger Greg Closter once wrote, “Dogs in Maine, by and large, enjoy many of the same benefits the people in Maine enjoy. Open spaces and rural living mean that a romp in the woods is never too far away. The ocean and the state’s many lakes mean that a warm summer day can easily be tempered with a plunge in the water …” Closter also points out that although many cities and towns have leash laws, they aren’t strict about enforcing them as long as your dog is under control. The city is so dog-friendly in fact that it named its resident baseball farm team the Sea Dogs, and became home to one of 18 Black Dog gift shops. Along with the locally owned Fetch dog and cat boutique, that shop is located in the Old Port section of the city, where dog bowls on the sidewalk are a common site.
Austin, Texas (AT)
Brett Chisholm of Houston Dog Blog and LIFE+DOG magazine shares his insiders scoop on AT and why it is oh-so-very FIDO Friendly.
What makes Austin a city that people like to visit with their dogs?
AT perhaps is best known for its über-hip festivals South by Southwest (SXSW) and Austin City Limits. While exploring, you'll constantly see signs, bumper stickers, T-shirts and more with the unofficial city motto: "Keep Austin Weird" on them. The city has a thriving arts scene that is a breeding ground for up-and-coming musicians. It's one of the biggest small towns you'll ever encounter, and it's one of the friendliest towns in the state for Fido.
What sort of activities and events are available for dogs in Austin?
The culinary scene in AT in something you don't want to miss, and you don't have to on your trip with Fido. Most every restaurant in the city has a patio with outside tables, and your canine companion is welcome to enjoy the ambiance with you. There are numerous festivals downtown on the infamous 6th Street, and AT is one of the most outdoorsy cities in the entire nation. Barton Creek Greenbelt is an 8-mile tract of green space with over 800-acres of space to experience with Fido by your side.
How many dog parks/beaches/business/restaurants are there for dogs to take part in?
In AT, there are literally too many to mention. Within an hour of AT, you are in the heart of the Hill Country with the historic town of Fredericksburg to the west, wineries and cliffs to the north, San Antonio and San Marcos to the south, and heaven in-between. You can take your dog with you in many retail establishments and they're welcome almost anywhere with a patio.
Where can folks learn more who wish to travel to Austin with their dogs?
They should always make sure to pick up a copy of LIFE+DOG when in the area. 
What are some doggie extras that make the town so very dog welcoming?
AT is an outdoor-lover’s dream. As such, it's inherently prepared for the dog lover as well with wide sidewalks, an unbelievable amount of parks and green spaces, a progressive culture, a variance allowing dogs on restaurant patios, and a general Texas attitude welcoming strangers as part of the family.
Lori Gustin, the dog mom and voice of fab blog, accordingtogus.com shares some fun and frolicking images of Gus exploring Austin, Texas.
Lori tells us she enjoys taking Gus to Barton Springs, the Zilker Botanical Garden and walking along Lady Bird Lake.
Provincetown, Massachusetts (PM)
If Cape Cod, the ocean air and a general overall sense of Fido welcoming sounds too good to be true, think again. PM rolls out the red carpet beach style for canines and company. Robert Sanborn of the Provincetown Visitors Bureau shared this fab info about this must-visit locale.
A haven for tourists from all walks of life, PM extends its friendly hospitality to not only those who use two legs to get around, but to those on all fours as well. Since the Pilgrims first dropped anchor on November 16, 1620, dogs have played an important part in the town’s history. Its first canine residents—an English Mastiff and an English Springer Spaniel that traveled to PM in 1620 aboard the Mayflower—arrived in the New World to provide protection and hunting. Since then, this seaside community has become the ultimate canine resort on the East Coast.
Pilgrim Bark Park
Opened in 2008, the Pilgrim Bark Park is a non-profit, off-leash dog park and animal welfare resource. It allows dogs to run free and socialize with other pets on an acre of land, with a small-dog section. Local artists designed and painted benches, poop bag stations, kiosks, signage and a super-sized doghouse at the park’s entrance. There are also three fire hydrants just outside the park, painted to look like canine versions of PM’s police officers, firefighters and public workers.
Lodging
There are more than 30 pet-friendly hotels, inns, b&bs, private cottages and campsites. Many even designate a special Pet Ambassador. From fenced-in yards and shaded front porches at seaside cottages to outdoor hoses and towels for beach-bound dogs, PM makes visitors and their pet guests feel welcome. provincetowntourismoffice.org.
Dining
Several of PM’s most recognizable restaurants offer outdoor patio and beachside seating for diners and their dogs. provincetowndogpark.org.
Shopping
Downtown Commercial Street caters to the canine crowd with complimentary water bowls, fountains and dog biscuits set out on the street by local business owners. Several pet supply stores offer pet enthusiasts everything from day-to-day supplies to pet souvenirs, the latest in canine fashions and pet objets d’art. Canines can also have their likeness memorialized in art by a pet portraitist.
Activities
Dogs love the freedom they have on PM’s three miles of year-round, off-leash beaches and trails. Pets are also welcome to roam the Province Lands Bike Trail Loop, a 5 ¼ -mile trek that begins on Race Point Road and winds through the town’s dunes and forest. Adventurous pets are welcome to join their owners for whale watch tours, sunset cruises, kayaking, parasailing, a sightseeing trolley, sailing charters and walking tours.
Special Events
Every fall, the Carrie A. Seamen Animal Shelter (CASAS) hosts Pet Appreciation Week, where visitors can participate in canines games and contests, a pet parade down Commercial Street, a dog T-dance at the Boatslip and a blessing of the animals at St. Mary’s of the Harbor Episcopal Church. casasanimalshelter.org.
Transportation
Bay State Cruises provincetownfastferry.com allows leashed dogs on their Fast Ferry service to PM at no additional charge. Cape Air capeair.com is also pet-friendly, allowing accompanied animals on flights for a $10 fee.
Photo by Robert Sanborn
BEST FIDO FRIENDLY DAYCARES
We wanted to share these wacky pics with you!
Fenway Bark
Nemacolin Wooflands
Adventure Dog Ranch
Canyon View Ranch
BEST FIDO FRIENDLY DOG EXPLORERS
Wow, you blew us away with the exploring nature of the dogs in your life. We received so many stellar examples that we’re building a future article around it. In addition to our top five dogs in print, here are some more doggone amazing Fido explorers.
James Steven Cisneros of Los Angeles, California
Our exploring always includes running and nature, and camping whenever possible. Almost every day, Sundance and I explore trails and paths in Griffith Park where we run the local trails and take in the beautiful landscape. Sundance's longest adventure was a road trip from southern California to Washington, traveling the Hwy 1, visiting the coast of California (SB, SLO, Big Sur, Carmel, Santa Cruz, Sonoma), the Oregon Coast, and Long Beach, WA. We also spend fire-cracker-holidays at quiet campgrounds huddled on the futon in the back of the truck. No matter where we are, every morning we find a trailhead, leash up, and run through beach, woods, mountain, desert, and town.
Cheryl Lawson of Tulsa, Oklahoma
Precious is the perfect travel companion. A frequent flyer, Precious has flown via United, Delta, American and recently, Southwest airlines. When I pull out the bag that doubles as a wheelie bag and backpack, Precious knows what it means. People are always surprised at the end of a flight when they realize Precious has been flying with them without making a sound. Before we fly, I do my best to take her on a nice walk. Precious understands it's nap time when she gets on the airplane. Car and RV rides are great with Precious. She'll sleep quietly or look out the window as if she knows the story of each place we visit.
Michael Uy, San Diego, California
Here are few of Abbie’s adventures:
- Abbie's sizzle reel, ffdo.gs/iQXVtu
- Abbie's dog surfing, vimeo.com/15025859
- Abbie paragliding, ffdo.gs/jeRC1y; ffdo.gs/lOZej2
- Abbie paddleboarding, ffdo.gs/mEblSP; vimeo.com/14584478
- Abbie climbing trees, ffdo.gs/jxgBSb
- Get out. Do more with your dog, ffdo.gs/lk59rj
TOP DOGS GIVING BACK
We were so touched by all of the giving and philanthropic Fidos out there, that we could have filled an entire magazine with your stories and photos. We heard from both Jenifer Whiston (JW) of Brown Dog Designs and Maggie Marton (MM) who shared their hearts with us.
Who is your dog who made a difference and how did this all get started?
JM: I have three dogs that have made a difference, Teal, gone since 09, Mallie, 9 years old, and Drake, 4 years old. Mallie and Drake serve as current Search Dogs for Vail Mountain Rescue Group. Teal was my first search dog, and his job was not only to find people but to teach me the ways of search.
MM: Emmett is a seven(ish)-year-old Staffie/Plott mix who works as a “pet therapist”. Whenever Emmett meets someone new, he leans against them and looks up into his or her eyes. After a few seconds, he rests his head on his new friend's knees. I decided to harness his heart-melting power with therapy work. Because he's tolerant, stubborn, solid, energetic, and exuberant, we work with children in reading programs and at the mental health facility.
What sort of things has this dog done to make a difference?
JM: Drake and Mallie use their amazing sense of smell to search for missing people in the woods and in avalanches. Usually we search for people who want to be found. Occasionally, we search for people who don’t know they are lost but who are delayed in their return. Although there is some research about how the dogs do this, it is by no means a simple feat. It is truly amazing when they find a missing person in extreme weather conditions and extreme terrain.
MM: We visit approximately 15 kids under age 12. Many have abused animals or have witnessed animal abuse, or even abused themselves. But when Emmett walks through the door, they scream, "Emmett!" They rush him, throw their arms around his neck and smother him with kisses. For the hour that we're there, the kids engage and work together to teach Emmett new tricks. They take turns handling him, and shower him with love and kindness (and treats). No matter what those kids have been through, for that hour, they're all just plain kids. The first day, there was a hysterical girl whom Emmett trotted right up next to and sat down. The girl reached out to pat him, and he slurped the tears off of her face. Instantly, the little girl started giggling, "He likes me!" She rubbed his belly, asked questions about him and told him that he was the sweetest dog she ever met. Since then, I've collected dozens of similar stories of Emmett helping these kids to be happy.
How can folks pitch in and learn more to help out?
JM: To simulate a real mission, I hide people in the woods so the dogs can practice finding. Dogs learn through repetition and reinforcement. I have to hide lots of different people to keep the dog reliable at finding. If I hide the same person over and over, the dog may learn to only find that person. Practice also teaches the dog to independently work out wind and terrain features to efficiently get to the missing person.
MM: Train and test to become a pet therapy team. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. You literally change lives, whether you’re visiting a senior, reading with kids or working with people with special needs, you’ll see your dog transform their spirits. If your dog isn’t up for it (and not all dogs are), encourage your local schools and public libraries to welcome therapy dogs.
What is on this dog’s horizon for future projects to help out?
JM: Both Mallie and Drake train continuously to be prepared for the next search. I work to make sure Mallie and Drake are focused and motivated to find the next lost person for many more years to come. Saving a life is the greatest thrill to them.
MM: Emmett has to retest to renew his registration this year (gulp). I’m hoping he passes with a higher level rating so that he can visit with more patient populations. As a bully breed, Emmett faces a lot of discrimination. But I’m proud – and honored – to have him serve as a breed ambassador. Inspired by our classroom and library experiences, I decided to pen a children's book about Emmett and his job as a "library dog" in the hopes that it will help encourage other kids to give reading a try!
TOP FIDO FRIENDLY CHEFS
To whet Fido’s palate, here are some more inspirational images to get your fresco mojo on and ready for doggie dining at its finest.
Chef Mark Bodinet at Copperleaf in Cedar Brook takes time to share fine cuisine with his Fido:
Nemacolin’s doggie room service menu:
Inn by the Sea’s Doggy Menu
Housemade Dog Biscuits: Rolled oats, peanut butter, wheat flour, honey
Meat Roaff: Steamed rice, raw vegetables, natural ground beef, dog cookie
Doggy Gumbo: Angus beef tips, steamed rice, raw vegetables, dog cookie
The Bird Dog: Grilled chicken, steamed rice, raw vegetables, dog cookie
K-9 Ice Cream: Topped with crumbled dog bones
TOP FIDO FRIENDLY PET PACKAGES AND B & B’S
We’d be remiss if we didn’t share some of our favorite additional images of the Best FIDO Friendly hotel Fido packages. Check out the following hotels with pawsome FIDO Friendly packages.
Hotel Vintage Plaza
Delamar Greenwich Harbor
Fess Parker
Heathman Portland
Ritz Carlton
Related Articles
Feature Giveaway
Win everything pictured here!
You can enter the giveaway once per day by submitting your full name and email address. To enter and view complete details, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FIDOFriendlyMagazine.
Related Articles
Paths Less Traveled
Breaking barriers and making progress, Fido’s travel reaches new heights.
Carol Bryant
FIDO Friendly’s Facebook page is hopping, which is where we found out our readers have explored many modes of transport with their globe-trotting canines. One of our most widely-traveled explorers is Cosmo Havanese, whose mom, Diane Silver, shared some photo memories with us. Pictured here is Cosmo on a gondola with Diane in Italy.
Next up, Diane is snowshoeing while Cosmo is about to go “zooming.” This photo was taken in the Italian Dolomites, where they stayed in Trentino.
Getting ready to board the train from Italy to Milan, Cosmo is eager and ready to go with Diane.
A view from Lake Como, Cosmo and Diane take in the landscape.
Fidelco Guide Dog in balloon basket - Photo by Bev Theodore of Sky Endeavors (Bill Costen, Pilot).
Related Articles
Table For Two
TABLE FOR TWO
International chef Jordi Farrés, with his assistant BJ, BELOW, serve up an aperitivo for both (that is, depending on how hungry Fido is).
Recipe Jordi Farrés
Photography Corina Landa
Related Articles
Oogy
Former bait dog is now a model canine citizen helping children understand the negative effects of prejudice and stereotyping.
I first saw Oogy on a 2008 Valentine’s Day episode of Oprah. I was instantly in love with the big dog with one ear whose face looked slightly deformed. As the large dog climbed onto the lap of owner Larry Levin, it was clear to me that Oogy was a special dog in more ways than one. Although at first blush, Oogy seemed an unlikely candidate for such enamor, I was smitten just the same.
Perhaps it was the background of the former bait dog puppy who had been so badly mauled, and who would require several surgeries to help heal his wounds, that pulled at my heartstrings. The mauling had left him with one ear and a broken jawbone, which was partially removed. Or perhaps it was his adoptive family who appeared with him that day, people whose lives had clearly been touched and changed forever with their unconditional love for Oogy. Whatever it was, thoughts of Oogy stayed with me for days, so it was with great excitement when I learned, two years later, Larry had written a book about Oogy, Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love, which made The New York Times best sellers' list…
Related Articles
10 Ways to Keep Fido Safe While Flying
FIDO Friendly takes the canine headache out of planning your next doggy airline excursion.
…Closer to Earth’s soil, when preparing to travel with Fido, always plan ahead. Ask if your dog is allowed in-flight and if so, what the restrictions are. What is the temperature in the cargo area? What happens if the flight is rerouted or layovers are late? Where do I check on Fido? How much does the flight cost for my dog? What official documents are needed? Ask, call, research and visit FIDO Friendly’s magazine, website and blog for the most up-to-date information. Fido deserves to have the same service and in-flight experience to get from point A to point B and beyond, and there’re no bones about it!
No matter how prepared I felt, I was still nervous when flying with my black Labrador Tasha to Colorado. Is it too cold? Will she be thrown about? Does she have to go to the bathroom? These and other similar thoughts of concern floated about my mind until I finally saw her come out of the oversize luggage area. Her tail was wagging—we had made it!
Flying with your dog can be a stressful situation. Being unprepared to take a flight with Fido, where he will be placed down below as cargo, can add unnecessary stress when taking a trip. Here are ten checklist items to keep the stress level down and both you and Fido happy!
There may be more to add with each specific case, i.e. going to a different country, having more than one dog, etc. But here is a good starting point.
1. Kennel = Den
First and foremost: have an airline-approved crate, and be sure that Fido thinks of this crate as his den. You may need to spend time getting your dog comfortable with being in his crate for long periods of time. There will also be a lot of loud noises on the plane and strange people walking around in the cargo loading area. Here is a suggested exercise to get Fido crate-trained for air travel:
Depending on the size of your dog, you may need two strong people to help with this exercise. Have Fido inside his crate and pick the crate up and walk it a little ways. Place the crate inside your car. While he is still inside the crate, drive to a park or busy location. Plan to do this on the weekend. Again, have two people carry the crate out of the car with your dog still inside. This way, Fido can get used to loud noises and a busy environment while being handled inside his crate.
2. Outfit the Crate
There are certain items that you will want to place on the outside and inside of the crate to make it ready for travel. Place a few bright orange LIVE ANIMAL stickers on the outside of the crate. Most airlines will do this as protocol, but it doesn’t hurt to have them on the crate before you arrive at the airport to let people know there is a dog in the crate. The next thing is type up a one-page profile of your dog that includes your contact information with cell phone number. You would want to include a letter that states something to this effect: Hi, I’m Tasha. I am a nice Labrador retriever, and I don’t bite. Please contact my parents if I am lost, and I’ll probably need to be fed and walked if our flight is delayed so I can relieve myself. I’ll be forever grateful! Tape this to the outside of the crate, and title it something like: IF I’M LOST OR DELAYED. Make sure water and food dishes are attached to the inside of the crate. You may want to include a couple of soft toys that your dog loves and maybe a T-shirt that has your smell. Be sure to tape a small bag of food and a leash to the top of the crate.
3. Flight Time
Check the length of the flight and try to book a direct fight when at all possible to avoid plane changes or delays, not to mention lost luggage. It is important to match the length of the flight with that of your dog’s temperament and what he can handle. Whether Fido is being shipped as cargo or is riding in the cabin will help determine what Fido will experience during the flight. Consider whether Fido can be in his crate for six hours or for whatever length of time will be necessary to arrive at your destination.
4. Different Birds
Each airline has different requirements and policies where flying Fido is concerned. Check with the airline’s policies when flying with Fido regarding the following: appropriate feed times; when to arrive at the airport; kennel requirements; required veterinarian records; costs involved; and weight limits. There may be more requirements for different airlines.
Check with the airline to make sure that where Fido is placed is climate controlled and pressurized. Most airlines will do this, and if they do not then you will want to choose another airline that does pressurize and control the climate where your dog will be located. Also, when flying in certain weather, you will want to know if your dog will be exposed to the elements or sheltered before the flight.
5. Clearance Clarence
This is one of the most important steps: get a clean bill of health certificate from your veterinarian for Fido to fly. Your dog cannot fly without veterinarian records stating that he is in good health. Most airlines require veterinarian health certificate records no more than 30 days out (with some airlines requiring the certificate date no more than 10 days from your departure date). This is important to take into account not only for your departure date, but your return date as well. Fido will need the same 30-day advance clean bill of health on the return flight. If Fido has his clean bill of health check-up on day 1, and you fly on day 20, your return flight must depart before day 30; otherwise your dog will have to get another check-up before returning.
FLIGHT DAY
6. Feeding Time!
Your dog may or may not get nervous about the flight. It is a good rule of thumb to feed your dog anywhere from four to six hours before your flight time. (Not the time you’ll arrive at the airport, but the actual take-off time for your plane.) Give him minimal water to avoid full bladders.
7. Exercise a Go-Go
Every dog has a different level of energy. A young Labrador runs on high octane and will need to expend this energy before being cooped up in his kennel for a long flight. You will want to check with the airport you are flying out of as many locations are now installing dog-run areas. An airport that has an onsite dog area is a perfect place to play with your dog and keep his spirits light right before placing him in his crate. This will also give him a good chance to relieve himself before the flight. DO NOT SEDATE YOUR PET. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) do NOT recommend tranquilizing your pet prior to flight. Sedation could lead to injury if your dog’s crate moves during the flight and your dog is not able to brace himself. The increased altitude may further cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems for sedated animals.
8. Go With the Flow of a Time Line
Departure day has arrived, and it is important to stay focused. It is best to make a time line itinerary that you can follow. This will ensure that your dog receives the proper care and attention needed to make this a safe flight for him. The night before: place Fido’s collar on him with your cell phone number on his tag.
9. Nervous Nelly
You have decided to make the flight with your dog, but sometimes no matter how safe something feels, we can still get a little nervous about sending Fido down to the belly of the plane. Even though we know the probability of nothing happening to him is in our favor, the separation and inability to see what his environment is like can be unnerving. It is important to give plenty of reassuring hugs and kisses to your dog. When you’re calm and confident, then your pet will follow your lead and realize there is nothing to worry about. If you are emotional about the separation and the trip, then your pet may pick up on this and become concerned about the adventure. This is where exercising your dog with play before the trip helps settle the nerves. By keeping the mood light, you can relieve any tension that occur due to the situation. Once on board the aircraft, ask the flight attendant to confirm that your dog is loaded and secure. They may be able to give your dog a little extra water in the dish that you provided in his crate before take-off. This will reassure you that your dog is with you on the flight. (This is especially important if you have a connecting flight.)
10. Reunited
Before taking the flight, ask the ticket person where you will be picking up your dog. Almost all airlines will have your dog come out of the oversize luggage area, while some may have you go to their cargo building separate from the baggage claim building. A short drive may be required.
I can’t imagine going anywhere without Tasha if I can help it. She adds so much to my adventures that I feel like something is missing if she is not by my side. In Colorado, half the fun was seeing her play in the snow and bounce everywhere with excitement as if to say, “What’s next?! What’s next?!”
Taking the extra time to become mentally and practically prepared for a trip involving out of the ordinary logistics will make all the difference to you and your dog.
-----------
These are general guidelines, and policies differ between airlines. Be sure to inquire with the airline you are flying regarding their specific guidelines. It is now a law that all airlines must report animal shipment mishaps. The Safe Air Travel for Animals Act, passed by Congress in April 2000, finally came into effect on June 15, 2005. Here is a website to check leading airline statistics regarding death, injury or lost pets, and which airlines have the best safety records: http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/, and click on Air Travel Consumer Report. For pets flying in the cabin of the airplane, please view the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website: www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_pets/cabin_pets.
Related Articles
Fido Forges Into Destruction & Out of Devastation
Issue 49
• Feature • Health Wellness • Trends
Japanese disaster affects man’s best friend in epic proportions.
As one pack of dogs and their handlers boarded a plane bound for a country convulsed by destruction, another sought assistance fleeing the devastation of a once, pristine Japanese landscape.
Hundreds of thousands of Japanese residents experienced the country’s largest recorded earthquake on March 11, 2011. Mother Nature’s collision course continued as the earthquake spawned tsunamis up to 33 feet that went crashing six miles inland. The probability of survivors grew dim, as totals of those expected lost in the tragic fury rose to insurmountable numbers.
This is when a team of six dogs and their handlers boarded a plane for Ofunatio City on the northeast coast of Japan. On March 14, task forces began their daybreak mission. Four of the six dogs deployed were rescues turned rescuers. Recruiting rescue dogs for the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) is one of the tenets of which founder Wilma Melville is most proud. “Our teams were in Japan for five days. Thousands of people who had loved ones missing were assured no one was left behind. That in and of itself is our success,” Melville reported.
The dogs typically pinpoint where search and rescue efforts should begin. In an earthquakeravaged zone, many people could survive with the void spaces created as structures collapse. Sadly, in the areas affected by the tsunami, the Japanese death toll escalated. Depending on the direction of the wind, search dogs were moved by the handlers to give them the best positioning for covering an area.
SDF dogs are highly trained in direction control. Melville explained, “For the handler, a 150 to 200 pound person, he or she does not have to climb all over every inch of rubble. The dog can be sent out 50 to 75 yards in one direction, move left or right according to a handler whistle signal, and then be brought back.” SDF dogs are helpful in indicating areas where no one is alive, so the need for resources in that area, especially where time is critical, can be assessed…
Despite Internet rumors, animals left in Japan will not be euthanized. Shelters exist that are taking in pets until plans can be made for reunion or return. As of press time, Geoffray was waiting to hear if and when her husband would evacuate and/or when she would be returning to Japan.
What is next for Geoffray and her military family? FIDO Friendly will continue to report their unfolding story on our blog. We asked Geoffray when she would reunite with her family. “Either me coming back to Japan or my husband having to evacuate with them to a safe haven, wherever that may be,” she reported…
KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER AID is an animal advocacy and disaster response organization that deploys emergency aid for animal victims of natural and human-caused disasters. Our responders reflect a wide range of training and certification: Search and rescue, veterinary care, crisis sheltering, fire and water rescue, large animal and technical rescue, wildlife rehab... In recent years, Kinship Circle has helped animals in: Japan Earthquake-Tsunami, Brazil Floods-Mudslides, Chile Earthquake-Tsunami, Gulf Oil Disaster, Haiti Quake, Iowa Floods, Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Brenda Shoss, Executive Director, Kinship Circle, told FIDO Friendly, "For animals, Japan’s tragedy is trifold: Earthquake, Tsunami, Radiation. In fact, the disaster still unfolds for animals with expansion of the radiation exclusion zone. As more people vacate their homes, more animals are left behind without food or care. Working with Japan animal NGOs, Kinship Circle tracks leads for animals trapped at deserted homes. We also do search and rescue in ravaged parts of northern Japan, including Fukushima and Iwate Prefectures.”
Follow News & Photos About Animal Disaster Rescue In Japan: http://www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/japan_quake/notes.html
To Support Animal Disaster Rescue & Relief In Japan: http://www.kinshipcircle.org/donation
Mariaelena Geoffray, whose story we shared with you in our June article wanted to share, “I have to thank Susie Atheron, of Canine Creek in Tehachapi, for getting the word out so quickly and helping with my situation and also JEARS (Japan Earthquake & Animal Rescue and Support, Animals With Fur, Japan for contacting me constantly making sure everything was OK with the pets, and also, Little Cavaliers for posting my situation online. You all have no idea how much you social networking has affected my situation and also helped others! From the bottom of my heart, thank you!”
Related Articles
Sea of Puppy Love
Inn by the Sea rolls out a foamy coastline ready for Fido and family.
Overlooking the untouched beauty that is Crescent Beach, Maine, Inn by the Sea is an eco-sensitive celebration in hospitality featuring water-view dining; full-service spa with 57 guest rooms, suites and cottages; acres of protected seaside plantings—and it is completely Fido-friendly. Inn by the Sea holds the esteemed honor of being one of the first luxury hotels in the US to accept pets. We embrace and rejoice in that standard.
Pets stay free and are provided water bowls, beach towels, cozy L.L. Bean dog blankets, handmade treats at turn down and information upon check-in of area Fido-friendly “must-sees” and “go-tos.” With all these “extras,” could Inn by the Sea possibly up the bark any higher?…
Related Articles
Fido’s Bucket List
Channeling his inner puppy and living his best life, free spirit Fido-style.
A few years ago, a movie was released called The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson. In it, the character listed the things he wanted to do before he passed from this Earth. What about Fido?...
More Fido’s Bucket List Ideas
1) Take a Fido-friendly trip across country, to a five-star resort, to a local attraction, to visit friends and family.
2) What are some things you have done with your dog in his or her lifetime that are forever etched in your mind?
3) We'd love to hear from our readers about your Fido's "must-do" list by leaving a comment here. Check out the May/June, 2011 issue of FIDO Friendly magazine for ideas in many categories and help your dog(s) live his best life "paw-ssible!"
Related Articles
Beach Blanket
Exploring the PCH from San Diego to Huntington Beach
By Eileen Barish
The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) showcases the beauty and majesty of California as it meanders along one of the prettiest stretches of coastline anywhere in the world. Popular with tourists and locals just about any time of the year, traveling this ocean-hugging road reveals the storied beauty, excitement and diversity of California. You and your canine cohort can explore leash-free beaches, visit quaint seaside towns, stay in stylish hotels and share some excellent al fresco dining along the way.
Starting in San Diego, the experience begins with a near perfect climate and endless outdoor fun. There’s no doubt it will inspire even the laziest pooches to get off their haunches and sniff out a bit of excitdanaement. California’s second largest city is a happening place with revitalized downtown neighborhoods to tour, such as Little Italy, East Village, the Victorian National Historic Gaslamp District, Old Town and the city’s 1,200-acre gem—Balboa Park.
If water-filled fun is what you and the pooch crave, you’re in for a treat. The town’s beaches are plentiful, from the coves and cliffs of La Jolla to the Silver Strand of Coronado. Ocean Beach Park is San Diego’s most pupular beach…it’s the “in place” for leash-free canines any time of day. Also, include Fiesta Island in your water plan; it’s every canine’s dream of Fantasy Island.
Expanding your horizons, you can’t go wrong with an excursion to Coronado, a unique combination of quaint small town ambience and sophisticated luxury. For some outdoor pleasure, the northernmost section of North Beach is where you’ll want to be. On a typical day, dozens of dogs will be doing their thing…rolling in the sand, splashing in the waves and fetching Frisbees.
For some strolling fun, window shopping and people watching, there is not a better place than the historically preserved downtown, especially along Orange Avenue, Coronado’s charming main street. It’s lined with bookstores, antique shops, home, garden and gourmet food shops. Don’t be surprised to find a water bowl outside any number of stores and an offer of a dog biscuit or two.
Dana Point Harbor: Surfers at Huntington Beach, Surf City USA | Photo credit: Surf City USA - Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau
Next stop is La Jolla, a Mediterranean-style village graced with a rocky coastline punctuated by scenic beaches. Within this strikingly beautiful setting, you’ll find a shopping Mecca worthy of its weight in people watching. In summer, dog times are restricted to before 9 am or after 6 pm (no restrictions in the winter). For some divine R&R, take the Cliffside Stairway to the beach or find a sweet spot with Spot on the grassy knoll atop the bluffs and practice your best laid-back routine.
Heading north to Dana Point, you’ll be treated to a spectacular harbor with dramatic coastal bluffs. A jaunt to seven-acre Heritage Park rewards with fabulous views of the marina. The Dog Fun Zone is where your pup can run free. When day is done, Pines Park is the place for sunset watching. Guaranteed, your pup will have plenty of canine company. Cozy up on a bench and wait for your “ahhhh” moment to begin.
If you and the dawgs are into quaint and artsy, the picture perfect artists’ colony of Laguna Beach is the next stop on this PCH excursion. “First Thursdays Art Walk” is a festive citywide evening with more than 40 galleries participating. When you and your buddy want some quiet lounging or a bit of Rexercise, Alta Laguna Park is a hilltop oasis that dishes up views and walking trails for you and old brown eyes. Or make your dog’s day at Dog Park, a leash-free zone from dawn to dusk every day except Wednesday.
Laguna Surfers: Surfers at Huntington Beach, Surf City USA | Photo credit: Surf City USA - Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau
Keep your dog’s tail wagging as your adventure continues to Huntington Beach, the finale on this Southern California section of the fabled PCH. First on your agenda should be the Doggie Bus to Huntington Dog Beach where leash-free abandon is de rigueur. If you happen to be visiting in July, don’t miss the Surfin’ Paws Dog Jam on Dog Beach, the dog surfing competition and free dog surfing lessons. What a way to spend the day! Hungry for more? A Fido foodie highlight is The Park Bench Café where a truly unique dining experience awaits. Your pooch can saddle up to the café and choose from a menu designed for canine connoisseurs.
Well, it’s time to say goodbye to this part of the California coast. Part two of this PCH travel itinerary will continue north in a future issue.
Ocean Beach, a short drive from downtown San Diego, is a trip back to the seventies with its retro feel and shops. At the end of the main drag near the beach is an ice cream store with funky and unusual flavors. A scoop for you and another for the-you-know-who is a perfect way to end the day.
Where to Stay
Well-located and beautiful, pet-friendly hotels:
Manchester Grand Hyatt, One Market Place, San Diego, CA 92101; (619) 232-1234
Westin San Diego, 400 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101; (619) 239-4500
St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, One Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, CA 92629; (949) 234-3200
Shorebreak Hotel, 500 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA 92648; (714) 861-4470
Award-winning author and nationally known pet-travel expert, Eileen Barish’s books have been reviewed by more than 500 publications. A contributing writer to national magazines such as Newsweek and a frequent guest on CNN and other networks, Eileen’s sage advice on pet-travel has enriched the lives of thousands of pet parents. Her current books include Vacationing with Your Pet, the best-selling directory of 25,000 pet-friendly accommodations in the US and Canada, as well as the state guides to dog-friendly activities for Arizona, California, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington. Her books are available at all major bookstores, travelpet.com or by calling (800) 638-3637.
Image 1: Photography courtesy San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau
Image 2: Photography courtesy Surf City USA - Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau
Related Articles
Alison Sweeney
24/7 animal advocate.
By day, actress Alison Sweeney plays Sami Brady, a pro at “cat fights” on the daytime drama, Days of Our Lives. On Tuesday nights, she hosts the inspiring show, The Biggest Loser. And 24/7, she happily Champions causes that keep pets happy, healthy and in loving homes.
Currently, she is playing a role perfect for her: spokesperson for the new $1 million fitness challenge for pets. The Hill’s® Science Diet® Weight Loss System’s 2011 PetFit™ Challenge is open to people looking or smart ways to get their overweight dogs and cats back to healthy weights…
Listen to our chat with Alison Sweeney on FIDO Friendly Travel Talk on Animal Radio® for February 2011!
Photography courtesy The Hill’s® Science Diet®.
Related Articles
What Makes a Doghouse a Home?
Issue 48
• Feature • Home • Trends
Raise the roof, summon the neighbors, Fido's abode unleashes all boundaries.
By Carol Bryant & Tiffany Keeth
It all started with a vision. And blueprints. And a contractor. For some dog owners, crafting canine dreams into reality is a passion, and these folks say, “You can do it, too!” Creating a unique abode or addition with the family pooch in mind need not be a laborious task. Move over home makeover shows, the dogs are taking over the neighborhood.
Lifestyle expert and best-selling author Moll Anderson lives the creed, “change your home, change your life,” and that includes Fido’s living space. An eclectic mix of Dr. Phil and Martha
Stewart, Anderson turned a doggy dilemma into a canine can-do! “My dog, Sophie, is a rescue and had suffered abuse the first nine months of her life,” Anderson shared…
Lifestyle expert and designer Moll Anderson offers FIDO Friendly readers this exclusive how to do your own ultimate dog bath/shower: A dog bath is something every doggie/homeowner needs to make their life just a bit easier. It doesn’t have to break the bank. If you’re a handy guy or gal just make sure you truly know your way around plumbing a bathroom, if not work with an amazing contractor to make sure this easy project is done correctly. What do you need for your own doggy bath?
Basic things you need to get started:
An amazing contractor, waterline, hand shower, faucets, drain, and beautiful tile.
The key thing to remember when you’re designing your doggie bath tub: you are trying to make bath time easier on you and your pet, so don’t throw practicality out the window. One of the biggest complaints I had was the back pain from bathing Sophie (my dog). The back pain comes from leaning over during the process. Building a dog bath is the same as how you would build a tile shower—the only difference is that the dog bath is elevated and the dimensions are specific to the size of your dog and your needs.
The first step is to measure the height of your lower back area. Work with your contractor and build a mock-up of the tub based on the size of your animal. Have your contractor set the mock tub up on a couple of sawhorses. Check the height by literally reaching down inside and pick the perfect height for you. If your husband or partner shares the duties you may want to compromise on a height in between. Once you have the perfect height and size figured out, let your contractor take over to make sure that the dog bath is built, lined, and sealed properly.
Photo 1 & 2: Photography Ron Sturgeon
Photo 3: Photography courtesy La Petite Maison
Related Articles
When Disaster Strikes
Issue 48
• Feature • Health Wellness
-212x409.jpg)
Call to ACTION
When disaster strikes, FIDO Friendly has your three-course canine call to action. Hurricane Katrina. Her images resonate, and the global effects of the devastation remain raw. A poll conducted by the Fritz Institute in April of 2006 revealed 44 percent of people chose not to flee when warned of Hurricane Katrina because they would not leave their pets behind. News reels showed the devastated residents begging for assistance from rooftops and seeking refuge in a football stadium, but where were the dogs amongst them? In many cases, they were abandoned, lost or awaiting the impending devastation with their family members…
Rather than tell you, let us show you step-by-step what FIDO Friendly magazine recommends packing in Fido’s first aid kit.
Related Articles
Bed, Bark & Beyond
Rocky Mountains, luxury beds and Fido fun abound at this Denver nugget
In the heart of a bustling metropolitan downtown beats the heart of a Fido-friendly four-diamond hotel. Go mile high and take a trek to Denver, Colorado, for some Rocky Mountain hospitality at The Westin Denver Downtown (formerly known as Westin Tabor).
Despite its hub-of-the-city location, parking is plentiful at the on-site parkade. The attentive valet service took care of our needs and displayed extreme graciousness to our pooch. The rooms are some of the largest we have stayed in, and Fido is welcome to do some “chillaxing” on Westin’s Heavenly Bed®. So divine are the pillows, bed and linens that Westin makes them available for purchase…
With a grassy area for Fido nearby, access to a host of Fido-friendly stores and amenities at the 16th Street Mall, the Westin Denver is a picture-perfect hotel when staying in the Denver area...
Go Mile High and take a trek to Denver, Colorado for some doggone Fido friendly fun!!
We visited the Denver, Colorado region and stayed at the Westin Downtown Denver where we discovered just how Fido welcoming and enjoyable the nearby 16th Street Mall area is.
In the heart of Denver’s downtown area is a mile-long pedestrian mall. This tree-lined region is a mile long and brimming with shops, chain stores, quaint boutiques, and plenty of cafes and eateries.
FIDO is welcome to explore this region with you, as it is conveniently located in the heart of the downtown Denver district.
Many of the restaurants and cafes allow Fido to eat with you outside as you watch the passersby and enjoy the feel of a small town within the surroundings of big city. We chose the Corner Bakery Café, where toasty panninis, grilled sandwiches, and divine desserts made for a delectable outdoor dining experience (highly recommended: the lemon bars).
Be sure to stop by the Barkin’ Boutique and Bakery for some Fido gourmet treats and goodies (note: we love the glow-in-the-dark “My Mummy Loves Me” Halloween shirt).
Stop for some gelato, window shop, have a sample of Rocky Mountain chocolate (the apples are oh-so-worth the trip), and grab some Broncos souvenirs along this downtown district’s pathways.
Check out this video FIDO Friendly shot and make this one of your “places to spend a day” the next time you are in the Denver area.
Related Articles
Chewing Through the Apron Strings
Issue 47
• Feature • Health Wellness
Learn how to cope and plan when leaving Fido at the kennel for the first time.
I can only imagine that the feeling is somewhat similar to a parent dropping their child off at daycare for the very first time—the fear of some smelly, strange child with a wet drippy nose coughing on your dear little one; the thought of an over-size bully picking on your sweet diminutive angel; or worse yet, the idea of your well-behaved mini-me bringing home bad habits.
Moreover, what about the atrocious facilities? Could any dungeon possibly be as clean and nurturing as the warm, loving paradise my baby has never gone a day without? Perhaps calling it a “dungeon” is still too kind—what if it is more like an uninviting, repugnant, concrete shell feebly held up by four, bleak, weary walls with the Wicked Witch of the West as the warden?
Oh, the horror!
These are the exact thoughts that sped through my mind when I realized I would have to board my Fido for the very first time. As a first-time pet parent, and what friends and family would describe as nothing less than an overzealous mother, I had always vowed to never kennel my pup. Imagine living in a world of lollipops and rainbows to all of a sudden being thrown into a world of cold cages, squealing dogs and no midnight cuddling? Drama Queen—I think not! Used to nothing less than premium kibble, all-natural baked goods, 24-hour fold-down service and an endless amount of tummy rubs, my Fido’s life defines luxury. If you catch yourself nodding your head in understanding and have never boarded your dog, there may come a day when you are faced with the harsh reality of having to travel without Fido. Never fret! Funny as it sounds for me to say, as I am affectionately known to be a worrywart, you must suck it up, face your fears and learn how to let go. Besides, you might actually come to fi nd that Fido will have a wagtastic time on his very own pawcation.
Here is the Full, Exclusive Interview with Fetch Doggie Daycare…
FIDO Friendly interviewed Portland, Oregon’s Fetch Doggie Daycare co-owner, Britt Mueller-Anderson to hear how she and husband, Adam Mueller, set their daycare apart from the rest of the pack.
FIDO FRIENDLY: How long have you owned Fetch?
BRITT MUELLER-ANDERSON: We purchased Fetch in June of 2009, and celebrated our one year anniversary by having each dog that came in that week create paw-print keepsakes for their parents.
FIDO FRIENDLY: What was the defining moment that made you decide to own a doggy daycare/boarding?
BRITT MUELLER-ANDERSON: After dog-walking my way through a liberal arts degree and then dabbling in a career working with exchange students, I realized the best part of my day was when I was with the dogs—nothing else gave me that deep-seated sense of fulfillment. To some, the work I do might seem frivolous, but to me and the dogs, it is very meaningful. When I saw a chance to actually make a living at it, I took a leap of faith and have not looked back since. Adam came to volunteer at Fetch when the recession eliminated his long-time job operating a printing press. He was looking for something to occupy him during the day, but soon discovered that he was a natural working with dogs. The dogs took one look at Adam and fell in love, and he has returned their devotion by devoting himself to their happiness ever since.
FIDO FRIENDLY: What makes Fetch so much more special than other daycares/boarding?
BRITT MUELLER-ANDERSON: Several things make Fetch stand out. For one, we are a real mom-and-pop kind of business. Every time we get a new dog at Fetch, we welcome that dog (and their human) into our family. Second, we are a relatively small facility (in terms of dogs, not square feet). This means that each dog can receive one-on-one attention, and it also allows us to take in dogs that other daycares might shy away from. For example, we have been able to work with dogs in wheelchairs, dogs that are completely blind or deaf and dogs that have been rescued from abusive homes. We pride ourselves in being able to fully integrate these dogs into our pack.
FIDO FRIENDLY: Tell me a little bit about your facility and program(s).
BRITT MUELLER-ANDERSON: We are equipped with approximately 3,200 square feet of indoor play space, plenty of toys, play-structures and comfy furniture. A full day of daycare is $25, and a pick-up by 12:30 PM is $17. We also offer 5-packs and 10-packs that can save you 5% or 10%, respectively. For multi-dog families, the second dog receives a 50% overall discount. We offer two types of boarding: boarding with daycare and boarding without daycare. Boarding with daycare is $35/night. These dogs spend most of their time frolicking with the daycare group and are only in their private kennels for eating meals and sleeping at night. Boarding without daycare is $25/ night and is an ideal option for older and/or less social dogs. These dogs are given one-on-one time with a staff member morning, noon and evening, but are kept separate from the daycare group. We have 13 kennels, so we are neither too crowded nor too small. Each private kennel is 5’ x 5’. Our boarding kennels are arranged so that the dogs can see each other which the dogs seem to really appreciate.
Fetch Doggie Daycare, 2021 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Portland, OR 97212; daycare rate ranges $17-25 per day, boarding ranges $25-35 per night, discounts are available based on length of stay or daycare packs; (503) 281-0508; fetchdaycare.com; facebook.com/fetchdogs; twitter.com/fetchdaycare.
Related Articles
Fixing Fido
Issue 46
• Feature • Health Wellness
Veterinarians travel the world to help abandoned street dogs.
By Jeremiah Alley, Film Producer of Fixing Fido
There was an incredible beauty to the Amazon clouds as they filtered the morning sun over the murky water. Locals, arriving to the market by boat or motorcar, began to unpack their wares. As the market opened up, I observed and pondered numerous things: amongst them—could we have packed heavier cameras? Did I really just eat grilled palm tree larva at 7am? And most importantly, why are there copious amounts of mangy looking dogs? Where did they all come from? Where do they all go? Who is responsible for them? And doesn’t anyone else but me notice they are here?
The toughest part for me was witnessing what seems like downright neglect and indifference toward hundreds and thousands of dogs. It appeared that the entire notion of a “pet” is not a part of their cultural vernacular. All these animals—more than 100,000 street dogs in Iquitos, Peru—have the potential to be amazing companions and become someone’s best friend. The locals just haven’t gotten “it.” Yet.
Fixing Fido is currently a work-in-progress, most recently filming with Dr. Jeff Werber, Lassie’s vet, and a group of young French veterinarians as they changed the lives and mindset of people toward Fido.
Go to fixingfidofilm.com to check out recent clips, see behind the scenes photos and learn how you can support the project. You can also follow the project on twitter @fixingfido.
Related Articles
Blind Ambition
Nicollette Sheridan sat down with FIDO Friendly to talk about National Guide Dog Month and joining Natural Balance Pet Foods, PETCO and independent pet stores to support the cause.
FIDO Friendly: Tell us about your role as spokesperson for National Guide Dog Month and how did you become involved?
Nicollette Sheridan: Natural Balance is a company that I believe in. I love their organic kibble and so does my very finicky dog, Oliver. They are people who truly care about animals and have huge hearts. When it was brought to my attention that Natural Balance, PETCO and independent pet stores were raising money to help the blind with gifting these incredibly smart and loving dogs to comfort and guide them through their lives—I couldn’t wait to help in any way I could. Guide Dogs of the Desert is a wonderful organization that provides all services to the blind at no charge. I had the privilege of spending time with them and working with their puppies and grown guide dogs. The money being raised in the month of September will enable Guide Dogs of the Desert and all guide dog schools across the country to help raise many more dogs in their programs that will help give the “miracle of independence” to so many more people in need. Every PETCO across the country is participating. When you make a purchase at PETCO or a participating independent pet store near you—you can round up your payment and every penny will go to aiding a blind person in need. Or you can simply make a donation. Quality of life is something we all deserve so let’s make a difference and help the blind find their way.
FF: What do you want our readers to know about these special dogs?
NS: Dogs like to have a job. Purpose is as important to them as it is to us.
Photography Christopher Ameruoso
Related Articles
Slowly, But Insurely
Issue 45
• Feature • Health Wellness
With so many options and plans available, FIDO Friendly covers the questions readers need to ask.
When six-year-old Labrador Retriever, Katie, went in for a routine spay, she didn’t recover as expected. Transferred to Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, it was discovered Katie had a very rare complication of her spleen, requiring its removal. During the 10-day period to save Katie’s life, she received 26 units of plasma and nine units of blood from 30 donor dogs. “Her bill totaled more than $18,410 of which PurinaCare Insurance paid $14,468,” Anne Hatfield said on behalf of Purina. Like its human counterpart, we never know when the need for health insurance will arise. Dogs suffer accidents, injuries, mishaps and unexpected diagnoses as we all do. Fido lovers know all too well the sacrifices made in the name of dog. They rely on us, but will the funds be there when the time comes? For many, pet health insurance is becoming a viable option. Knowing the insurance is there for routine usage as well as emergency situations or disease diagnosis and treatment means peace of mind to most of all. With so many different insurances available, just where does one start? Is it worth it? How much will it cost? FIDO Friendly magazine dishes out the questions every dog owner should ask prospective pet insurance companies. What to Ask, and more…
Checkout These Websites for More Information
VPI
Embrace
PetFirst (Petfinder)
Purina
Go Pet Plan
AKC
Pet Assure
Trupanion
Pets Best
Petcare Insurance
Photography courtesy iStock
Related Articles
Love It or Leaf It! Our Top 10 Leafy Destinations
That’s not a typo but rather what Fido will be doing as you crunch through autumn’s quilt that blankets our nation’s trees this fall. Not sure if you’re a leaf peeper? Do you love the gorgeous fall foliage and rich hues turning green leaves to goldens, oranges and reds? Then grab the camera, pack some apple cider and a few Fido biscuits and head for less-than-greener pastures, as FIDO Friendly presents the Top 10 Leaf-Peeping destinations.
Washington County Maine
Looking to the trees and wishing to escape the tourists? Head over to Washington County for a tranquil natural fortitude. Regionally, the birch, oak, aspen, maple, and ash trees produce a vibrant array of burnt oranges and fi ery reds. Also famous for being the world’s largest blueberry producer, take home a few quarts and sample the pies and pancakes while visiting. This area is generally the first place the sunrises each morning on US soil. Washington County is comprised of 85 percent woodlands, eight percent lakes and four percent bogs, so one can imagine the bountiful beauty gracing the landscape in the autumn months.
Acadia National Park in Mount Desert Maine
In 1947, a fire destroyed many spruce-fi r trees in this historic park and left behind pockets of space for the rich colors of fall to showcase themselves. Considered to be one of the best views in the state of Maine, the top of Cadillac Mountain at 1,532 feet is the highest point along the north Atlantic seaboard. Fido is welcome to color gaze with you. The “peak” season is generally considered to be mid-October but this varies. Certain lakes and trails prohibit Fido but the majority of Acadia welcomes the canine variety.
Lake Champlain Vermont
Complete with its own seven-day fall foliage calendar, Lake Champlain is one of North America’s best places to fish. Instead of walking or riding through fall foliage, the waters of the lake invite a boat ride amidst historic lighthouses and forests of fall foliage. The Fido-friendly resort of Basin Harbor Club and Resort is located right on the lake. While in Vermont, check out Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury. Situated on this glorious land is 400 acres of nature, leaves and the famous Dog Chapel.
Catskill Mountains New York
Located in New York’s Hudson Valley and within 100 miles north of the city, nestled away is this beautiful mountainous region harboring vibrancy and golds galore. During the last two weeks of September and up until mid-October Fido is sure to “start spreading the news” in this historic region. Harvest festivals, farmers markets, orchard picking and craft fairs line the charming towns that surround the Catskills. Often called “America’s First Wilderness,” there’s enough here to do to make a complete week’s vacation out of it. There is a unique leaf identification and peak peeping map online.
Pocono Mountains Pennsylvania
Known to many as the “honeymoon capital of the world,” Pennsylvania is home to 127 tree varieties, so early fall reveals a glorious blanket of ambers, purples, oranges and more. Pack a picnic and take Fido to the Delaware River area where eagles soar, a rural countryside graces the landscape and sightseeing is at its most spectacular finest. State parks and wineries galore are scattered throughout this section of the state.
Shenandoah Valley Washington DC
Spend some time exploring Washington DC with Fido (including hiking Arlington National Cemetery together) and then head over to the nearby Virginian Shenandoah Valley. Located 90 miles west of the Capital Beltway, Shenandoah National Park features over 500 miles of trails and close to 200,000 acres of land. Take the scenic route and let Fido sniff the aromatic pleasures gracing the grounds along Skyline Drive. This 100+ mile road meanders throughout the length of Shenandoah National Park.
Blue Ridge Parkway North Carolina
Spanning 469 miles and connecting the Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks, this scenic drive is riddled with nature areas, trails and plenty of overlooks to pit-stop and take in nature’s beauty. Explore your inner hiker and take Fido to Grandfather Mountain along the parkway in Linville, North Carolina. Of special interest is Blowing Rock in the town of the same name. A 4,000 foot cliff overhanging a river gorge.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park Texas
Yee haw meets dog paw and Fido’s ready to hit the fall trail. Nature’s spectacle displays her glory at McKittrick Canyon, one of the most prized locations in the entire state. Enchanting in this region are the leaves plus the cacti. Rock enthusiasts rejoice at Permian Reef. Trees of the region include Alligator Juniper, Ponderosa Pine and Velvet Ash. Guadalupe Peak is the highest point in all of Texas at 8,749 feet. For those less inclined to high the 80 miles of trails, a 4×4 road runs through the park for scenic driving.
Aspen Colorado
Though images of ski slopes and powder hounds, Aspen is not only king of snow. Rich yellow-gold leaves glisten on the aspen trees at their peak every fall. The John Denver Sanctuary is small yet rich in beauty and the nature Denver sang about in so many of his songs. Behold the quaking aspen tree of North America while visiting Denver. Listen closely when autumn’s breeze shakes the leaves and they “quake” and shimmer in the wind. Backpack through San Isabel National Forest where over a million acres of mountains are sure to take both yours and Fido’s breath away.
Great River Road Wisconsin
Located in the western region of the state, this area winds 250 miles along the shores of the Mississippi river. Quaint towns pepper themselves along the route for plenty of sightseeing, leaf peeping and Fido pit stops. Steamboats including the Delta Queen may pass by, as visitors are welcome to 50 local parks and beaches. The road generally parallels the river but where it does sway from it, vistas and spectacular farmlands are abundant. Learn more.
Illustration Corey Olin
Photography courtesy istock/Elena Thewise
Related Articles
Chile Dogs Heat Up
Issue 45
• Feature • Health Wellness • Travel
Earthquake shakes writer back to the States.
Story and photography by Lorraine Chittock
Will you stop scratching?” I mumble from a deep sleep. Fleas. When I reach over to comfort Dog, my hand grazes the wall. Vibrating. Like crazy. Raised in California, I don’t usually get alarmed by earthquakes, but our cabin is constructed of wood, on stilts and perched on an extremely steep hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Chile is having an 8.8 magnitude earthquake. During the next 90 seconds the capital of Santiago will be displaced almost 10 inches west in what will be Chile’s second worst earthquake. We’re in La Ballena, 200 miles north of the epicenter.
When the shaking worsens, I fling open the window and jump out stark naked onto the deck. Boxes fall from atop the wardrobe as I lift Dog and Bruiser outside. Once my canine companions are safe, I reach back inside to grab a comforter to drape around my body. My laptop containing all the files for my new book Los Mutts, my passport, clothing and shoes stay inside. In a fraction of a second I have decided what’s truly important in my life.
We keep watch on the ocean—calm though at this moment a tsunami is devastating several coastal towns including Talhuanaco where our pack once camped for months. No electricity. The blackout will affect 93 percent of Chile’s population. Amazingly, there is no damage to the three-bedroom cabin we rent for $200 a month.
Six hours before the earthquake, I’d clicked “purchase” for an airline ticket to Dallas—a speaking and book tour awaits me. Santiago’s International airport suffers structural damage. All flights are canceled. Communication is sporadic, but I’m able to reschedule. I check for news on how animals are coping.
Two years before, Mount Chaitén had erupted in Patagonia. Just as in New Orleans at the time of Hurricane Katrina, residents of Chaitén were forced to evacuate the volcanic eruption without their pets. More than 600 dogs were left behind. Animal lovers in Chile mobilized to create their country’s first animal rescue operation. One of the first organizations on the ground was CEFU (Control Etico de la Fauna Urbana or Ethical Treatment for Urban Animals,www.cefu.cl).
The 2010 earthquake affects a greater area. Entire cities are devastated and families are forced to leave in search of food and supplies. CEFU immediately begins gathering volunteers and medical supplies to help the animals. Many of the photos in Los Mutts are taken in Chile, including a few featuring CEFU in action.
While animal lovers rise to the occasion, I scurry around getting ready for our flight. Leashes. I can count on one hand the times I’ve needed them in the past four years. During my first months in Mexico I was stunned by how few Latinos used them, even on busy streets. Owners trust that their dogs will watch for cars. With street dogs, of which there are many, rules of the road are often passed generation to generation by traffic savvy canine mothers. Pups not paying attention get injured, or worse. Though limping canines are not a rare sight, startlingly few bodies lie on highways, considering the huge preponderance of loose dogs.
On quiet streets I cautiously began doing the same with Dog and Bruiser. Wandering off lead gave them the freedom to sniff dogs they liked and avoid those they didn’t. Snarls were exchanged but rarely escalated. More than four years later and with stray mutt encounters in the hundreds, Bruiser and Dog each had only one scratch on both their faces. America will be different. I put their old leads in crates that I’ve purchased from Chile’s Home Depot. At the airport I drop off the luggage at the ticket counter before driving our trusty van to the customs office—a gift for the Chilean government, since I’m unable to legally sell it. Dog, Bruiser and I take a taxi back to the terminal. Because of earthquake damage, huge tents are erected for flights within Chile. The three of us enter and exit through three. Each time Dog and Bruiser are shooed by officials assuming they’re strays. “Son mis perros. They are my dogs,” I reply laughing. A simple misunderstanding; I still haven’t put on their collars. While living miles from the nearest town, there’s never been a need.
Also unfamiliar is tarmac, cement and glass. I feel like a country-bumpkin. Bruiser’s grin of excitement spreads to anxiety when we arrive at the American Airlines counter. Dog recognizes the sheets I put inside her crate and immediately dashes “home” and curls up inside. Bruiser, a dog who loves his freedom more than any other, is horrified about being incarcerated. He didn’t fare well flying from his native country of Kenya to San Francisco. But there is no way to return to America other than by air. Driving back is out of the question. I watch horrified as two men carry my beloved, captive canines to a conveyor belt. Dog and Bruiser watch horrified from inside their plastic cages. What have I done?
Once I arrive at Gate 27, I grill everyone in an American Airlines uniform regarding if my dogs are on board. On the tarmac at the bottom of the airline stairs two personnel reassure me that my dogs are already in cargo. I’m relieved. And scared. Dog and Bruiser are both 13 years old. For four years I’ve entertained fantasies of meeting someone with a private jet so we could fly as a pack. That person never materialized. There is no choice.
It’s a very long 12 hours. I had booked a seat as close to the front as possible to ensure I’m one of the first to disembark. Once out of the plane I jostle through other passengers who stroll leisurely along the hallways. The woman at passport control takes forever to stamp my documents. At baggage claim I drag two big boxes off the conveyor belt onto a trolley. I’m so focused on my luggage, I don’t notice two animal crates already on the ground. Dog and Bruiser!
Ten feet and paws prance, leap and bounce in ecstasy after 14 hours of separation. Airline officials watch with misty eyes. No one says, “Dogs aren’t allowed outside their crates!”
An American Airlines worker asks if I need help. “Yes, please!” Two loose dogs are added to my two huge boxes, two big dog crates, a duffl e bag plus laptop. I’m only 105 pounds. “The dogs need to be back in the crates,” the worker says apologetically. Dog whimpers with heartfelt sounds I’ve never before heard.
If you want to smuggle illegal goods into America, dogs could be the ticket. Instead of lining up like everyone else on the plane, we’re led to a special agriculture section. I’m the only one in line. “Rabies?” the man asks. I hand him all my paperwork: the rabies and distemper certificates from the vet and the form from SAG, Chile’s governmental agricultural office.
Meanwhile, the airline bellhop is asking numerous questions about my exotic dogs. After such a long absence, I’ve forgotten my Kenyan mutts resemble dingoes to many Americans.
“What’s in your boxes?” asks the official baggage controller. “Four years worth of junk!” I reply. Americans know about stuff. It’s flowing from everyone’s garage, cupboards and storage units. The boxes are sealed shut with duct tape. I’ll never be able to get all my “junk” back in the box should the man want to do a search. While crossing numerous land borders, the novelty factor of two traveling dogs meant we were often waved through customs without further ado. This man too nods his head for us to pass. Maybe America isn’t so different? The airline bellhop wheels everything out to the taxi stand. Because of the earthquake craziness, booking a rental car to drive a further two hours to a friend’s farm seemed too much. Instead, I’d secured a complimentary stay at Dallas’s W Hotel. “Doggies, we’ll adjust to the US in style!The first five taxis don’t take pets. Finally a large dog-friendly taxi arrives. The driver is an elderly man who looks like he’s stepped out of a documentary on sharecropping in the Deep South. “They ain’t gonna bite, are they?” the faux sharecropper drawls. “No, of course not,” I reply. Smart man. He knows if Dog and Bruiser climb aboard, his taxi becomes their territory. We skim through 6 am. traffic. Greeting us at the W Hotel is the most refreshing sight we could possibly imagine: an elegant outdoor fountain with endless streams of cascading water. The dogs are parched. While the bellhop removes boxes and bags from the taxi, Bruiser and Dog drink deeply from Dallas’s most appreciated dog bowl. The leads get hopelessly tangled while maneuvering through the double set of entrance doors. “I’ve forgotten how to do this,” I mutter. At reception I unleash Dog. She stands dutifully by my side. Gold tiles in the elevator lobby reflect three sets of eyes: all like deer caught in headlights. We share an elevator with a cluster of Dallas women. Big hair bobbing, one remarks with a Texas twang, “Ya’ll have such well-mannered dawgs. Mine are jus’ misbehaving, they’ve never acted so sweet since the day they was born.” Little does she know if the “wrong” dog wandered through the lobby, Dog and Bruiser would quickly turn into demons. “Why thank you,” I reply. Our room is huge and overlooks high-rises adorned with huge squares reflecting the cityscape. Mirrored tile everywhere. I’m dizzy from so many manmade materials. Four years in Latin America brought me closer to natural panoramas like the Andes Mountains, Tierra del Fuego and the Atacama desert—not cityscapes. A scalding rain-forest shower pummels feelings of uncertainty from my body and soul. As I dry, Dog barks maniacally. I rush from the bathroom stark naked. She’s crouched low to the ground, her tail swishing back and forth furiously. My jet-lagged brain decides there must be a rodent hiding beneath the plush ottoman. “At the W? This is America in style?” I crouch beside her and peer cautiously. My two eyes look back. At the base of the ottoman is mirrored tile. “Doggie! You’re barking at your reflection!” America is going to take some getting used to…
Related Articles
Rainy Day Schedule
Issue 45
• Feature • Health Wellness
FIDO Friendly’s got an umbrella of rainy day games to keep pooches busy until the sun shines again.
Rain, rain go away, come again another day, especially when Fido wants to play. Unto each life a little rain must fall, but that doesn’t mean a day of boredom and/or mischief for Fido. Using a little ingenuity, a bit of resourcefulness and some new technologies, Fido won’t mind the wet weather. Indoors means fun time, too.
Where’s Fido?
Hide and go seek is a perfect year-round game for dogs of all ages. Not only does this game work perfectly on rainy days, but it heightens a dog’s sense of smell in a fun and rewarding manner. Start out with a few of your pooch’s favorite treats. This game will require two people initially. One person stays with Fido in a room while the other hides. When ready to be sought, the hidee lets out a “come, Fido” or “whoo hoo” sound to initiate the game. As Fido scours room to room, occasionally let out a verbal signal. Once found, praise him like he just won an Olympic medal and reward with a treat. Repeat. One caveat: Be sure the favorite Limoges vase or grandma’s heirloom plates are removed fi rst.
When the rain is falling and Fido needs some fun, pull out a Fido board game and let it rain cats and dogs outside…you’ve got paws of fun inside til the storm passes! Here are two videos of this Fido having fun with Nina Ottosson games courtesy of Kelly Ladouceur of KLAD Cockers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO-g87eGg3c&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8OcO-zrsg0&feature=player_embedded#at=28
Need more? Not to worry, courtesy of pawsitivefeedback.com, these four videos will have fido begging for rain!
Nina O. Tornado
Nina O. Dog Brick
Premier Tug-a-Jug
Premier Kibble Nibble
Photography courtesy artist istock/picworks
Related Articles
TV Tattooed Rescuers Leave Their Mark
An army for the animals, Rescue Ink proclaims: “Abusers are Losers!”
Have you ever read a really good book and envisioned what the characters might look like if they were to lift themselves off the pages and into real life? What if those characters were super heroes who brandished formidable symbols of sorted pasts all over their skin? And instead of names like Superman, Spiderman and Captain America they called themselves Big Ant, Johnny O and Joe Panz? Their mission is not to save America but to give animals in a need a responsible home, swooping in on their motorcycles and busting abusers’ mindsets one a time. These are the super heroes called Rescue Ink and this is one day in the life of these non-caped, tattoo-laden crusaders. Feeling like Lois Lane waiting with bated breath for Supermen to emerge, this reporter was left flying high as one cape-less inked crusader after another explained their role in animal rescue. Trading capes for muscle shirts, stylized emblems for tattoos, these heroes rode into town on choppers instead of being dropped from them. Their technique and appearance intimidating, FIDO Friendly invites readers to walk a day in super hero boots, as Rescue Ink lives their creed, “Abusers are Losers.”
FIDO Friendly magazine reporter, Carol Bryant, spent a day with Rescue Ink recently. To accompany our story in the October 2010 issue of FIDO Friendly magazine, check out this video showing these real-life crusaders who rescue animals and say “Abusers are Losers!”
Related Articles
Going Green With Fido
Issue 45
• Feature • Health Wellness
Eco-friendly products can help reduce your dog’s carbon paw print.
By Doreen Disbro and Tracie Hall
…Feeding a raw diet or making your own dog food at home is one way to become greener with Fido. With both diets you can choose exactly what he or she eats, including organic and sustainably grown meats and vegetables. It’s important to do your research first, however, because not knowing your dog’s nutritional needs could cause health problems
Green Tips
For food, toys and even beds, FIDO Friendly has your needs covered from head to tail. Go green with these recommendations:
Pooper Scooper: Switch from plastic grocery bags to biodegradable bags like those from Poop Bags.
Accessories: The Good Dog Company carries a wide-range of hemp and certified organic cotton corduroy harnesses, collars and leashes.
Toys: Purrfect Play’s wool balls are hand formed from sustainably produced dye-free wool. Each toy is processed using only gentle non-toxic soaps.
Sleepy Time: Big Shrimpy recycles clean polyester fiber waste to make their durable and fluffy pet beds.
Checkout Doreen Disbro and Tracie Hall’s website, doggiesandstuff.com.
Related Articles
Dogs For Humanity
Issue 45
• Feature • Health Wellness
Karen Biehl sat down with FIDO Friendly magazine to talk about her passion for animals and her celebrity pooch Eli.
FIDO Friendly: You have raised close to $10,000 for the Bark for Life event. How many times have you done this walk?
Karen Biehl: We have done it every year since 2006, for a total of 5 times. I believe Eli’s donations are as follows:
2006 – $1101.76
2007 – $1501.76
2008 – $2076.76 (may 2176 or 2276, but not sure)
2009 – $1776.76
2010 – $3186.76
The Spirit of 76 is a family joke, so my brother – who is also an MD – always makes sure Eli’s total ends in a 76.
FIDO Friendly: What is it about this event that has you and Eli so dedicated?
Karen Biehl: It’s for a great cause, and it is a wonderful opportunity for dogs to help humans by doing what they do naturally – being cute and walking. People respond better to a dog asking for donations than they do to humans. The event itself is really fun too – Eli loves being outside where there is space, and there are always many wonderful vendors there. This is Eli’s opportunity to give back to people, since he has been blessed with good fortune, despite a rocky start.
FIDO Friendly: Do you attend other events with Eli?
Karen Biehl: All the time! We go to 2-3 events a week on average. Eli and I recently marched in the Puerto Rican Day Parade along with Inky Blue Sea Animal Rescue, to help raise awareness for the organization and what they do for homeless animals in Puerto Rico. Eli was dressed as Puerto Rican boxing champ Tito Trinidad. We also go to a variety of fundraisers for animal shelters like North Shore Animal League, Animal Haven, Inky Blue Sea Rescue, Sean Casey Rescue, Bideawee, United Action for Animals, BARC, the ASPCA, Stray from the Heart, the Humane Society etc. These are in the form of art gallery exhibits, wine tastings, red carpet events, parties at clubs, bars, boat trips, fashion shows, book signings, day trips out of the city for outdoor dog festivals, doggie ice cream socials, swim parties, and just about anything you can think of. Last year, we participated in the Pup Crawl across the Brooklyn Bridge, to support animals affected by the foreclosure crisis (through BARC). Eli has been nominated for a Dogcatemy Award at North Shore Animal League’s DogCatemy Awards several times, and has been a celebrity guest and has presented an award at the event. Eli also has attended many red carpet events for human causes, such as RedLight Children, Designers for Darfur, City Harvest, the Ronald McDonald House, Susan G. Komen and Harlem School of the Arts. We also go to a lot of small dog meetup group parties – in particular the New York City Chihuahua Meetup Group – where the dogs can run around and play while their owners socialize. Eli also enters Halloween contests every year – he won the Times Square Dog Masquerade in 2007, and has placed in Tompkins Square’s Halloween Parade several times, won “Best Mommy and Me” at the Chihuahua Halloween contest in 2008, and won the grand prize at Animal Fair Magazine’s Halloween Party in 2008. Eli also won the Macy’s Petacular Costume Contest in 2007.
FIDO Friendly: Eli’s pretty famous in his own right. Where else has he appeared?
Karen Biehl: It all started in 2006 when I entered Eli in the Barking Beauty Pageant, and he won. His prize was a full spread in New York Dog Magazine. I was so inspired that I entered him in others contests. Well, he then won New York Tails Magazine’s “Best New York Tails Contest” and as his prize was on the cover of their magazine, with an article. He then won MilkBone’s “Make You and Your Dog Famous Contest” in 2007, and his prize was being on the cover of the MilkBone small biscuit box, which he was from late 2007 to early 2008. Eli also won “Most Smoochable Pooch” in New York State in the Kibbles n’ Bits Smoochable Pooch Cover Dog Contest, and was a finalist to be on Kibbles n’ Bits. He has been in ads for Bloomingdales and Bank of America, in Harper’s Bazaar, in numerous books and calendars, modeled in “Rip the Runway” on BET while Snoop Dogg was performing, has modeled at Pet Fashion Week and at the Pre-Westminster Fashion Show, has been on Halloween costume packages and their ads on websites. Eli and I were also featured on the dating reality show “Wingman” which aired on Fine Living Network in 2009, and also were featured on “Man Bijt Hond” on Dutch TV later that year, and in 2006, we had a cameo on “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”. Eli has played Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua Tinkerbell in “15 Films About Madonna” which aired on A&E in late 2006, and was in the short film “Dog Run” by Francisco Valera which showed at the New York Latino Film Festival in 2009. Eli also played the role of Heather Hills in the Lorenzo Borghese (the 2006 Bachelor) web series spoof of the Bachelor for dogs – “America’s Next Top Dog: The Princess”. Eli is also currently in Little Pim language dvd’s for toddlers. He was nominated 2008 NYC Celebrity Dog at the Pre-Westminster Fashion Show in 2009. He also will be featured on an Animal Planet special this fall, but I can’t say more about that just yet. He was also “married” to Vanilla (owned by Ada Nieves) on WE’s web series “Puppy Weddings”. Other shows include Good Morning America, Martha Stewart, Animal Precinct, and numerous news shows. Eli is also listed in the imdb, which is not very common for a dog: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3023433/. Eli and I also write a column for the Examiner – the New York Celebrity Dog Examiner, where we do review of celebrity events, interviews with celebrities, give tips for aspiring dog models and do product reviews. http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-48121-New-York-Celebrity-Dog-Examiner
FIDO Friendly: Where did you and Eli first meet?
Karen Biehl: We met on a busy street in Flushing, Queens, where I met his last owner to see if t was the right fit. I found him through craigslist. Eli had already had 2 owners prior to us meeting, at only the age of 1 year and five months. The day after I got Eli, I took him to the vet for a checkup, and she commented that he seemed very attached to me already. It’s like we were meant to be. I feel that Eli had these other owners until I was ready to adopt him.
FIDO Friendly: What have you learned from Eli?
Karen Biehl: Oh, the list is endless. When I adopted Eli, he had already had several homes, had a tapeworm and needed knee surgery. He was shy at first, and his first knee surgery took him months to recover from, but once we got through it, things changed for us. During the Barking Beauty Pageant, I wasn’t sure if Eli would be able to perform his talent. Before we went on, I told him that it was up to him to decide what he wanted- whether to do it or not – and I would love him either way. When Eli aced his talents, I got chills, and had the feeling that he would win the pageant, and that this was the beginning of our mission together. That mission is to go for your dreams, regardless of your past – and that you can do whatever you want, and don’t let anybody stop you. This is what Eli has taught me. Before Eli, I had kind of given up on a lot of things and wasn’t quite sure what to do with my life – at one point I had wanted to be an opera singer, but that never panned out, and then I lost interest. Because of Eli, I get to express the creative side of myself that likes to dress up in costumes, and it is much more fun than performing opera for me. I also learned that I enjoy being on film and have since focused on that more for myself, with or without Eli. I also never did any fundraising before Eli, and through him, that became a big focus in my life. On my own, I could probably never even raise $100 for the ACS, but by using Eli’s picture – and his message – people want to donate. It’s really pretty amazing, if you think about it. Eli has opened up so many worlds for me – opportunities that I never dreamed would be available to me.
Photography Arthur Eisenberg
Related Articles
Yurts
Issue 44
• Feature • Travel • Trends
Yurt Locker
When Fido has that particular scratch that needs itching, the one that can only be relieved by a ruffing-it adventure, there are many options— all of which Fido will be up for. Camping or backpacking may be Fido’s favorites, but when you don’t want to have to haul all the gear while your dog just runs around with his tongue sticking out of his mouth, the perfect option is to rent a Yurt…
More Yurt Listings
parks.state.co.us
loonlakerv.com
voga.org
sbwellnessdirectory.com
normandyfarms.com
visitmaine.com
Related Articles
Fort-Lauderdog
Fort Lauderdog
Image courtesy Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau
By Sandy Robins
…Your dog will be welcome at a variety of venues on Las Olas Boulevard. The lobster salad at Johnny V will be a meal to remember without sabotaging your calorie count so that you can then go and splurge on ice cream made from imported Belgian chocolate at Galleo, a little farther down the tree-lined street. Be sure to check out the unique Herringbone and Hound boutique that carries original clothes and accessories for both people and their pooches.
You can buy a weekend permit to Canine Beach from the ranger on duty for $7.00. It’s situated where Sunrise Boulevard meets the A1A and open Friday, Saturday and Sunday year-round.
You can walk your dog for free along the beach sidewalks between Sunrise Boulevard to Seabreeze Boulevard between 6 am and 9 am daily, and your pooch is welcome at any time at Riverwalk Linear Park, the picturesque area situated along the New River in the downtown area.
To meet and mingle with the local pet set, head for Bark Park at Snyder Park, which offers two acres of fenced-in fun with an agility course. It’s situated at 3299 SW 4th Avenue. Be sure to bring proof that your dog’s vaccinations are up to date. Swimming is also available at Snyder Park’s East Lake every day of the week.
Fort Lauderdale plays host to a variety of events and festivals. January 2nd and 3rd kicks off with the Las Olas Art Fair. Sixteen other events are scheduled for the first two months of 2010. So there will definitely be something on whenever you visit. Be sure to check if your dog is welcome, too. However, he’s definitely invited to the Jazz brunch in Esplanade Park on the New River that takes place on the first Sunday of every month.
Your pooch’s wagging tail will be an endorsement of what fun you can have in Fort Lauderdog. So make a note to come back again next year.
Related Articles
Large Dogs
Issue 44
• Feature • Health Wellness • Home
Living Small
By Julia Szabo
Image by iStock/Christopher Bernard
If you live in a small place, you can’t have a dog, right? Wrong! That’s one of the most common myths about dog ownership, and it’s high time it got debunked. Right now there are millions of wonderful dogs awaiting adoption at animal shelters across our country; thousands are put to sleep each day because there aren’t enough people to adopt them. These dogs would never judge your place too small. If they could talk, they’d call it cozy, and they’d be more than happy to also call it home sweet home!…
(See full article on page 40, Issue 044.)
Small Space Resources worth “Ruffing” Over
- Oh! stacking chair by Karim Rashid; $49 at The Container Store
- Prince Aha stool by Philippe Starck doubles as a side table or seat; remove the end caps to reveal storage space for Fido’s toys; $110 at Design Within Reach
- MasterGrip Overdoor hook; $7.99 at The Container Store
- Gallon-size glass Cracker Jar with metal lid; $ 6.99 at The Container Store
- The Throver by Crypton looks like a blanket but works like a tarp; perfect protection for beds and sofas, and dogs love snoozing on them; $149
- Use a good-looking, wall-mounted feeder so you won’t trip over Fido’s bowls; find at These Creatures
- Corral your home library with the Conceal Bookshelf, cool enough to be sold at the Museum of Modern Art; $15 from MoMA Store.
- PawSafe cleaners are paw-fect for cleaning up after dogs; the product range—including toy cleaner, toilet cleaner, and window cleaner—is made of plant surfactants, so it’s safe to use around kids and pets
- An excellent online resource for movie posters that feature dogs is Posteritati.
- The aptly-named PosterDog.com will enlarge your photograph into a poster for a reasonable fee.
Related Articles
On the Move
Issue 44
• Feature • Health Wellness • Home • Travel
On the Move
The Andrews family is moving from Wyoming to Wisconsin, complete with four kids, three moving vans and a carload of questions, such as “did we remember this” and “what if we forgot that?” Where does Fido fit in this mix of mayhem, moving and minivans? Enter pet relocation services. Fido is a valued family member, so finding the right pet travel expert is essential. Whether traveling 10 miles or across 10 states, Fido is fragile, precious and must be handled with care. One such service is PetRelocation.com, which handles every detail of a pet’s travel arrangements, from pick-up at the guardian’s residence to booking airline flights and delivery on the receiving end…
(See full article on page 38, Issue 044.)
5 things FIDO should NOT do when you are packing:
- Attempt to stow away in your cosmetics bag.
- Re-enact a scene from Home Alone and fall asleep in the attic.
- Leave a “when nature calls” present for you in the zippered compartment.
- Decide to hide your underwear.
- Shred your boarding pass to pieces.
5 Do’s and Don’ts for flying Fido:
- Do have access to cool water in a non-spillable clip-on bottle
- Do include proper identification on collar and leash. (include cell number)
- Don’t medicate Fido with sedatives before flying unless instructed by your veterinarian.
- Don’t feed Fido close to boarding time. Allow at least 4 hours between feeding and flying.
- Do acclimate Fido to the carrier prior to using it on relocation day.
Learn more about pet relocation by watching this video and visiting these links:
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
Moving Resources
Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association
Pet Travel Center.com
Dog Owner’s Guide to Moving Day
HSUS tips on moving with Fido
Photography courtesy iStock/Shorrocks
Related Articles
The Cave
The Cave & The White House
Story and Photos by Finley Fagan
(See full Feature on pages 46- 47, Issue 044.)
“…It didn’t take long to realize that Gorafe is not your average town. Nestled into canyons on the edge of Europe’s only desert, most of its 540-odd residents live in cuevas (cave dwellings) chipped into the earth. Nobody seems in too much of a hurry; middle-aged women wearing bathrobes stroll casually through the streets while chickens, cats, dogs and donkeys roam freely in their own chaotic harmony.
Modern caves have become a little more sophisticated since the Moors of Northern Africa crafted them in the 800s as a natural way of regulating extreme temperatures. The cave we rented (yes, you can rent a cave) had a fireplace, white-washed walls, a shower, a simple kitchen and a cozy bedroom.
With danger from traffic virtually non-existent, we followed the custom of the town and let Paco off-leash. After an initial embarrassment of Paco cornering the neighbor’s cat up on top of her garden shed, Paco relished the opportunity to make curious friendships with the local dogs (a mixture of strays and Podengos of all shapes and sizes), and spent hours following scents into the endless folds of the desert canyons….”
Related Articles
Connie-Townsend
A closer look at DOGS WELCOME, official painting for the Get “Your Licks on Route 66” Adoption Tour
Illustration by Connie Townsend
(Continued from page 49, Issue 044.)
…FF: You were commissioned to paint the theme painting for FIDO Friendly magazine’s first annual Route 66 Adoption Tour, which you titled “Dog’s Welcome.” What did you choose to focus on in the painting and what was your inspiration?
CT: A vintage vehicle and Route 66 just go together. And of course the hotels/motels that let you bring your dogs are a major focus of FIDO Friendly magazine. Buildings are my least favorite things to paint, but it seemed important for this particular event. And I had just met your dogs, Claudine, so they were a natural fit. [The driving dog in the painting is fashioned after my dog Chance, and the passenger is a melding of Bo, also my dog, and Junior, Publisher Susan Sims’ dog.
FF: What is the most common comment you get about the “driving dogs” in your paintings?
CT: “Your paintings make me happy.”
FF: What is on the horizon for you and/or your artwork?
CT: Fewer galleries, so I can focus on becoming a better artist and less on production.
FF: What galleries are your paintings currently featured in?
CT: HOWARD/MANDVILLE GALLERY, 120 Park Lane Suite D, Kirkland, WA 98033; (425) 889-8212 or (800) 544-4712
CHRISTOPHER MORGAN GALLERIES, 73-375 El Paseo, Suite 1, Palm Desert, CA 92260; (760) 568-0336
WILDE MEYER GALLERY, 4142 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85251; (480) 945-2323
RAFTER’S GALLERY, 97 W Center, Kanab, UT 84741; (435) 644-8001
KAMRUZ GALLERY, 333 W Colorado, Telluride, CO 81435; (303) 442-7790
FF: Do you travel with your dog, and if so, what is your favorite excursion together?
CT: Yes, Maggie is a good traveler. She’s been on our little sailboat and once in Bellingham on a bus. But her most favorite thing is just camping and hiking. I fantasize about having a motorcycle with a sidecar for her.
Related Articles
Dogtown
Art for Animals
Illustrations by Cyrus Mejia
(Continued from page 37, Issue 044.)
… Deciding to give them medical treatment and some training, care and love, the believed that maybe they could find the animals homes. When the place in Arizona became too small, one of the friends found the land in Kanab, UT, and they pooled together all they could to purchase the land. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary was born. “And that was that. Pretty soon we had gotten past the point of no return,” said Mejia.
Ever since Mejia could remember, all he wanted was to be an artist. It wasn’t until about 15 years ago that his passion for the animals converged with the making of his art. “I started making art specifically about the message of kindness and compassion for the animals,” Mejia said. The first real project for Best Friends that pushed him over the edge with his art for the animals was the 575 Project in 2000/2001, which symbolized the number of animals being euthanized unnecessarily every hour. But before he began his “art with a message,” he had some important questions to ponder. “Should I include a message in the art? What’s to stop it from just becoming a poster or being trite or over sentimental? There are a lot of reasons why artists may not want to approach that. I had to ask myself a lot of questions about that. Where does the message appear? Is it on the surface, in your face, or does it appear buried a little bit deeper to let people get into it a little bit before they realize what they are seeing.”
About 25 years ago, around the time Best Friends was founded, about 17 million animals were being killed in shelters each year. The number has now reduced to about 5 million, but it has also stayed static. “There are several reasons why that number hasn’t reduced. One of the reasons is that there are specific animals that are going into shelters and being euthanized, and one of those is Pit Bulls,” said Mejia. “There are also about 5 million animals being produced in puppy mills each year. Personally, I started thinking about something I could do in my art to express this particular message. The first one I was thinking about was Pit Bulls and what I could do to particularly talk about Pit Bulls.” He decided to make some large paintings of Pit Bulls, which turned into an exhibition called Pits and Perception, and then the Michael Vick case hit, and Best Friends started to get some of those dogs. The project wasn’t meant to be just about the Vicktory dogs; it was about Pit Bulls in general. The marketing director at Best Friends found a wine company that wanted to do wine labels featuring Mejia’s Pit Bull paintings, and so that is how he ended up doing all 22 of the Vicktory dog paintings.
“I decided to make the paintings very large because I wanted people to stop and look at the dogs, much like how Georgia O’Keefe made her large paintings of flowers because she ‘wanted people to stop and look at the flowers,’ so I thought that I would do the same with the dogs.”
The Vicktory dog paintings are small focuses on their faces. The other Pit Bull paintings are 49 x 56 inches. He made 12 that have already been shown across the country, and will be going to Syracuse University in September.
Mejia lives on the sanctuary property, and his art studio where he works each day is in the town of Kanab. He spends as much time as he can in his studio, and the project he is working on now is puppy mill dogs. Once a year he leads an artist retreat at the sanctuary, which will ultimately lead to one more legacy for him, as more and more artists will follow in his path of creating art for the animals.
Related Articles
The Return of Bianca & Beth Ostrosky Stern
For the first time FIDO Friendly has a return cover girl; Bianca! And her owner Beth Ostrosky Stern. FIDO Friendly is smitten with this duo, and because of this we have asked Beth to return once again and grace this issue’s cover of FIDO Friendly magazine with her English Bulldog, Bianca.
FF: The last time we spoke you were saying that she’s just as famous as you are, and she’s always being requested to go places. Has she been traveling just as much with you?
BOS: You know what, now that she’s getting older—she’s eight years old now, and for a Bulldog’s lifespan it’s up there—I try not to stress her out at all. She was just on the Today Show with me so I dragged her to that because she’s the face on the cover of my book. She is my dog and she’s my inspiration and I’m taking her on Regis & Kelly on Wednesday. So the local things yes, and then she goes with us to our beach house in the Hamptons every weekend and so she’s in the car traveling. I have to go to Los Angeles on Thursday to do an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel and Good Day LA and a book signing there, and I’m not taking her. I’m not flying her. First of all it’s tricky anyhow to fly your animal in an airplane, so I’m just not going to put her through that.
FF: You always have so much going on. In our last interview you had just completed the huge accomplishment of the New York City Marathon. You raised close to…I think it was $300,000 for the no-kill North Shore Animal League shelter.
BOS: Yes, it actually ended up being that the final amount of money raised was around $307,000. I was really excited about that.
FF: Very cool. And now you’ve got your book coming out, so let’s talk about Oh my Dog.
BOS: Basically it’s a guide for all dog owners who want great tips on how to train, groom, feed, bond with and generally care for their best friend. It’s pretty much a mix of my personal experiences and information from seasoned experts that are in my life that I’m so lucky to know through my association with North Shore Animal League. These people are at the top of their field, and I’m hoping with this book it’s just going to enrich the relationship between people and their dogs. I think it’s really an informative, friendly guide that’s intended to make the process of raising your dog the best experience it can be.
FF: One of the things that I really liked about our last interview, and that we connected on, was about preparing people for actually getting a dog rather than just going out there and saying, okay, I want this kind of dog. So, to those people who have really busy lives, what advice do you give when they want to adopt?
BOS: The first chapter in my book is about deciding what type of dog is right for you. You have to look at your lifestyle. Look at children in your family. Do you live in a city? Do you live out in the country? Do you live in a house? Do you live in an apartment? You’re not going to want a big Lab mix if you’re in a studio apartment and you can maybe go the smaller route. It’s just assessing your life, assessing the time you have that you can give to an animal. You have to make sure that you have a dog walker at your beck and call if you live in the city. You have to have coverage if you’re one of those couples that goes away every other weekend. It’s not the type of thing where you just one day say, “Oh I’m gonna get a dog.”
Photography Christopher Appoldt
Related Articles
Bedbugs
Issue 44
• Feature • Health Wellness • Home
Sleeping with the Enemy
…Sniff sniff sniff. Those are the three sounds a particular predator fears most. Pasha packs a double-barrel nasal weapon in pursuit of pests that reek silent but nasty havoc on unsuspecting vacationers. The predator is the bedbug, and Pasha is one of many bedbug-finding dogs leading the pack in identification and elimination of these wingless insects of the night.…
(See full article on pages 45, Issue 044.)
Think your Fido have what it takes to find bedbugs? Bedbug finding is a highly specialized training program that must be practiced repeatedly throughout the dog’s life. Check out our Fido photos from bedbugfindersllc.com and see what a typical “find” looks like through the eyes of Fido. Be sure to check out the August 2010 issue of FIDO Friendly magazine, page 45, for our feature piece on bedbugs, “Sleeping With the Enemy.”
Photography courtesy bedbugfindersllc.com
Related Articles
Top 10 FIDO Friendly Beaches
The dog days of summer are upon us! Visions of sand castles, ocean waves, SPF, and your canine BFF delight. We’ve scoured the country for the Fido-friendliest seashores on which to play Bowser beach blanket bingo (or take long walks with toes and paws in the sand). So pack a basket, leash, suntan lotion and a canteen of water: Summertime’s upon us and Fido says Surf’s Up!
Photography Susan Sims
Photography courtesy Huntington Beach Dog Beach
Huntington Beach, California
There are beaches and then there are those with Dog in their name, imploring us to wag our tails in the direction of Huntington Beach Dog Beach. Aptly located about 10 miles from Disneyland, this beach is an amusement park of sorts for Fido. Leash-less and living large is how Fido will feel sinking his paws into the sand. Doggie alfresco diners abound in the area, so Fido and his guardian can cool down after a hot day of surf and sand.
Carmel-by-the Sea, California
Wish we all could be California dogs might just ring true when visiting this very Fido friendly beach. Leave preconceived notions and leashes in the car because Fido is free to frolic off lead under voice control. So Fido-friendly is this beach area that they have their own newspaper, Doggie Gazette. Nearby Carmel Fountain is for dogs only and many stores along Ocean Avenue allow Fido to shop inside with his guardian. Keep the outdoor spirit flowing after a day at the beach and dine alfresco at one of the many Fido-friendly restaurants in the area.
Susan Kimmelman Off-Leash Dog Beach (Montrose Dog Beach), Chicago, Illinois
Dogs are welcome to channel their inner puppy and head for sandy beaches from the waves of Montrose Dog Beach. Ensconced in shallow waters for the smaller Fido ‘guppies’ and rougher waters for the braver pooches, this beach has something for everyone in Fido’s family. Leave the leash at home (or at least in the car) and be sure to pay your $5 fee for a dog beach tag. If visiting Chicago, you’ll want to make a trip to this fun-in-the-sun getaway for the canine member of your entourage.
Dog Beach, Ocean Beach, California
Year round off lead: four words to delight any Fido-friendly beachgoer’s ears. This rings true at the popular Dog Beach in beautiful Ocean Beach. This section of beach is located at the north end for canines to let loose and lap it up. Ocean Beach is a small community located a few miles northwest of San Diego. Off-leash is a dog’s Disneyland, and with 38 acres to explore, this beach has been open to Fido since 1972. Keep the good karma swimming and please pick up after your pet.
Del Mar Dog Beach (Also known as North Beach), Del Mar, California
From 29th Street to the Solana Beach border, leashed dogs are permitted from June 15th through Labor Day. From Labor Day through June 14th, Fido is welcomed to explore the beach leash-free under guardian voice command. Looking to mingle with like-minded Fido folk and their furry friends? Del Mar Dog Beach is a very social and easygoing, clean beach where dogs can play amidst the ocean’s surf. Pay attention to high tide periods so you can sink paws into sand and not rocks.
Coronado Dog Beach, Coronado, California
Draw paw circles in the sand at this beachy find near the Naval Air Station. Fido is welcome to channel his inner surfer, as Coronado Dog Beach is leash-less. Restrooms for humans on premises and a water spigot at the entrance to wash sandy paws. The beach is far enough from the road to feel safe and close enough to the ocean to catch a wave. The Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog competition is held nearby as Fido takes to the water to surf.
Town of Duck Beaches, North Carolina
Beaches aren’t public access, so for those traveling with Fido, you’re in for unleashed luck in Duck! Dogs are permitted to play on the town’s beach under voice control of their watchful guardian. Fido is allowed off lead on Duck’s beach year-round. Due to their lack of public access, the beaches tend to be less crowded and more intimate. In fact, the Travel Channel’s annual America’s Best Beaches List ranks Duck’s beach amongst the highest. With its miles of clean beaches and surrounding shops and activities, not only is this a Fido-friendly beach town but a great vacation getaway.
Fort DeSoto Dog Beach, Fort DeSoto, Florida
An entire section of this Fido-friendly beach is totally leash-free! In addition to having fun in the beach sun, Fido is welcome to visit Paw Playground and play to his heart’s content. Wash sandy paws and cool Fido off with a frolic in the water or borrow the hose available on site. “Fido’s dream beach come true,” “family and Fido-friendly to the max” and “clean and serene” are all comments beachgoers have shared about this tail-waggin’ find!
Cape San Blas beaches, Florida Panhandle/Gulf County
Some areas like Fido on their beaches, but the sandy coastline of Cape San Blas says they LOVE dogs on their beaches! Nearby pet-friendly rentals add to the convenience and hospitality extended to canine travelers. Fido is allowed to take in the ocean air ANY time, as there are no set “dog” hours. Several restaurants in the Apalachicola area welcome Fido, so hit the surf and refuel on the turf.
Dog Beach (Bonita Beach Road), Lee County, Florida
Bring soda for your thirst and expect SOODA when you arrive. SOODA is Save Our Off Leash Dog Area, and is a group of local volunteers who maintain this beach. Beach size varies according to tide and time. Located in the coastal tideland area of south Lee County, this leash-less beach is the perfect place to leave pawprints in the sand. The county’s honor system trusts that Fido will be under guardian command, and as always bring waste bags.
Related Articles
Rory Freedman, Co-Author of Skinny Bitch
FIDO Friendly Publisher, Susan Sims, sat down with Rory Freedman, co-author of Skinny Bitch, the number one New York Times best-selling book, to talk about vegan-ism and her dogs.
FF: Give me a day in the life with your dogs.
RF: First thing we do is go on a hike every morning. I feel that if you live somewhere where you can do that and your schedule allows for it, it’s their God-given right to be off leash and running around in nature every day. So, that’s the first thing we do. Then, we come home, and they zonk out. Right now, I have two dead dogs lying around because this morning we went on a nice sunny hike, and they are still depleted from it, so my work is done. In the afternoon, we either go for a walk around the neighborhood or to a neighborhood park and hang out there for a little while; before bedtime is another neighborhood stroll.
FF: Do they travel much with you?
RF: Depends on what I am doing. If I can drive, then I bring them. This past April, I was speaking at Veg Fest in Michigan, so I had to fl y. So their beloved dog sitter came over to stay with them, hike them, walk them and love them while I was gone.
FF: I like her gig.
RF: Not a bad thing to get paid for hanging out with two delicious pooches.
FF: FIDO Friendly readers will be curious as to what you feed your dogs.
RF: My dogs are vegan. I know that dogs are omnivores and are not like humans, and I used to feed them raw meat. But, when I was researching Skinny Bitch and learning so much about the meat industry, I was just so horrified that even human-grade meat was so contaminated and filthy and also involved so much cruelty for animals, that I decided to start researching dog nutrition to find if dogs could thrive on vegan diets. I found out that indeed they can, and now I have found that indeed they do! I give them a blend of two different vegetarian dog kibble, one being V-Dog. Then, I mix in some fresh whole grains, beans and vegetables. Dogs need and deserve whole foods just as much as humans do. For snacks, they get biscuits, of course, but also apples and bananas.
FF: That sounds yummy.
RF: I love my dogs, and I want them to be healthy and happy.
Related Articles
Updated Crossword Puzzle
Dear Loyal FIDO Friendly Readers,
It has been brought to our attention that there were some discrepancies regarding the Crossword puzzle printed in the May/June 2010 issue. Please see the correct crossword below, and have fun!
Across
1 Kimptons Dallas hotel that has appointed its own doggie director for dog relations!
6 Dog known for silky white hair
10 Actress Thurman
11 Reward for Fido
13 Have a good trip! (2 words)
15 Believer suffix
16 Easily used two-letter Scrabble word
17 Overnight stay place
18 Tail motion
19 Bond between dog and owner
21 Listen to your mistress!
23 Beautified
24 “Let it __”: Beatles advice
25 Prepared
27 Eating container
29 Yelp
30 These canines have to be looked after!
33 Westminster Dog Show nation
36 “The Black Cat” writer
37 Pet food container, sometimes
38 Look at
40 People who volunteer to take pets on trips with them
45 Fido scarf
48 One of the most well known dogs of all time on TV
49 When Fido disobeys he is a ____ (goes with 50 across)
50 See 49 across
51 Reddish-brown horse
Down
1 Stroking and loving Fido
2 Something most dogs love to do (4 words)
3 Places Fido has to visit? (2 words)
4 Morning time
5 Long eared pet
6 Doggie cookies
7 What a dog may do if he does not want to follow your order (4 words)
8 Time of plane arrival, for short
9 Dog Show, for example
12 Top grades
14 Fuel
20 Maintenance
22 Winter month, for short
24 Two-way
26 It’s vital for young puppies
27 Vet, for short
28 High school abbreviation
31 Sightsee
32 Gentleman, hopefully!
34 Overseas
35 Looked after
39 Hi!
41 Take it ___!
42 Visits
43 Reduce
44 Termination
46 Airline, for short
47 Stop! word for Fido
48 West coast city
Related Articles
Amsterdam
...Amsterdam is one of the most Fido-loving cities in the world. Luckily, it’s also one of the easiest to navigate with a four-legged friend. A walk in this charming capital wends past picturesque canals, through lively neighborhood markets and into Fido-friendly shops, cafes, restaurants and beyond.
But it’s the many public parks that make this pocket-size city especially Fido-friendly. There are more than 30 to choose from, and most allow dogs of all sizes. Below are top recommendations on where to spend the day outdoors with your trusty companion:
Vondelpark
The largest park in the city and easily the most popular (it attracts more than 10 million visitors each year). It is conveniently located near the major museums and the popular Leidseplein area. The park offers 120 acres of open green space, small lakes and an outdoor theater with free concerts during the summertime. There are several cafes and restaurants within the park, including a lovely open-air Fido-friendly terrace at the Filmmuseum. It can get a bit over-crowded during the summer, which makes it a great choice for people-watching but not for a quiet day with Fido. The main entrance is located between Leidseplein and Museumplein. Trams 1, 2, 3, 5 and 12 stop near the park.
Oosterpark
A smaller neighborhood park that satisfies pets with a large duck pond and plenty of green grass. It displays many interesting sculptures, memorials and monuments along the pathways. This park is an excellent option if you are looking to soak up some local culture while also spending time outdoors with Fido, and it’s located in the eastern side of Amsterdam. Trams 3, 7, 9, 10 and 14 stop near the park.
Flevopark
To really escape from the city while remaining within its borders, a visit to Flevopark is a must. The park is only a 15-minute tram ride from the city center, but it offers peace and tranquility not found anywhere else in Amsterdam. This under-rated park is comprised of open green fields, trails through forests, a fitness trail and even a dog beach during the summer. It’s the best park in Amsterdam for those seeking to take a break from the urban landscape, and it’s located in the eastern side of Amsterdam. Trams 7 and 14 go to Flevopark.
Westerpark
As its name suggests, this park is located on the western side of the city. This part of Amsterdam is a busy residential area. The land used to belong to a now-defunct gas factory and most buildings still remain, adding an intriguing architectural quality the other parks lack. The park is now the site of many cultural activities including art exhibitions, large music festivals and performances in its theater and cinema. It has an excellent combination of cultural activities and outdoor fun. It’s located on the western side of Amsterdam, and Bus 21 goes to Westergasterrein.
Keukenhof Gardens
Leashed dogs are welcome. The park is within easy reach of Amsterdam and offers a great retreat from the city.
All of Amsterdam’s parks are best enjoyed during the spring and summer months when the weather warms up and the days are longer. Most parks are open from sunrise to sunset (which can be as late as 11PM in June). While there are leash laws in the city, these are usually ignored in practice, and it is common to see dogs running around without their humans.
Everyone knows the numerous and interesting reasons that Amsterdam is a unique European city. Let it now be known that another reason on the list is that Fido can romp freely due to all of these friendly parks.
Travel Requirements:
✔ Health certificate (with USDA/APHIS endorsement).
✔Rabies vaccination at least 21 days prior to arrival. A blood test may also be required.
✔Electronic microchip. Note: Airlines and states may have additional requirements
European Pet Import
Pet Export
Amsterdam Visitor's Information
If planning on traveling around Europe, it is advised to get an EU pet passport from any approved vet upon arrival. Leashed dogs are permitted on all forms of public transport for free. This includes the trams, buses and metro. Leashed dogs are allowed on board all trains. If the dog is not in a carrier or crate, a 3 day ticket needs to be purchased.
10 Things Fido Might Say in Amsterdam
- Two Great Danes in the Red Light District: “Honestly honey, that Poodle is just an old high school friend.”
- Papillion: “Van Gogh museum? Have you seen what he does to ears?”
- Two Rottweilers in a bar: “I’ve been on so many blind dates, I oughta get a free dog!”
- One Airedale to another in a vet’s office: “Frankly, I support bacteria. It’s the only culture some folks have.”
- At customs: “No, no, it’s Spinone like the breed, not spumoni like the dessert!”
- One Japanese Chin to another: “Did you pack the camera?”
- Cairn Terrier while looking at the famous Amsterdam canals: “We’re not in Kansas anymore!”
- Sussex Spaniel to his significant other in a designer boutique: “The way you spend money, the Royal Palace won’t be the only thing that’s baroque!”
- Group of Border Collies in Vondelpark: “Last one to herd 10 tourists is a rotten egg!”
- Pharaoh Hound puppy to German Shepherd Dog walking through a street market: “Have you seen my mummy?”
Related Articles
Weekend Warrior
…N. Palm Canyon Drive is Pam Spring’s version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame and invites a casual stroll to read the names of the famous whose lives not only impacted Hollywood, but Palm Springs too. You may even spy some famous faces in real life, as this city is a retreat for the rich and famous.
This street also has two fabulous pet boutiques to browse and shop. Warm Heart and Cold Nose has some very trendy merchandise. While Pawz situated behind a coffee shop called Koffi (known for its delicious muffins for humans) has some delicious dog treats. The store opens out on to a pocket-size dog park for hanging out and munching on goodies just purchased. Pawz owners Suzanne Delahanty and Paula Walters generously donate 20 percent of all sales toward funding a new no-kill shelter for the city.
And while you’re browsing stop in at The Alley, a furniture and home décor store offering a treasure chest of fabulous merchandise. Don’t worry, Fido is very welcome to browse too.
Now that’s Fido-friendly for you!
The Riviera Resort and Spa
1600 North Indian Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262
(760) 327-8311
Related Articles
Wanderlust
Issue 43
• Feature • Health Wellness
(Continued from page 61, Issue 043.)
…The first mistake well-meaning rescuers make is assuming that the “stray” dog they’ve found has no home and/or is abused. Sadly, not all dog guardians treat their dogs as most of us feel they should be treated. So when I found the Coonhound, even though I just wanted to keep him and give him the care he clearly needed, I followed all the rules that I had learned through Missing Pet Partnership.
In the morning I called the local Humane Society to give a detailed report on what the dog looked like and where I had found him so that if his owner called or went down to the shelter, he or she could recover the dog.
I took the dog to the county animal control office so they could scan him for a microchip (any veterinary office can also do this).
I checked the local newspaper’s “lost pet” ads and placed a “found dog” ad (which all newspapers do at no charge).
I also checked www.Craigslist.com to see if anyone had placed a lost dog ad on the site.
Two hours later my phone rang, and it was the owner…an elderly man who happened to live very near where I had found the dog—whose name I learned was Dodge. He had called the Humane Society to see if anyone had Dodge, and within a half an hour, Dodge was home. Is it the home that I would like Dodge to have? No. But he is 13 years old, and I know that hounds have a tendency toward extreme thinness in old age, and not everyone has the means to treat their dog’s ailments as I would. If I had felt that Dodge was being neglected or abused, I would have alerted animal control. When Dodge’s owner showed up, Dodge wagged his tail and jumped into the truck, happy to go home.
Every city and county has animal cruelty laws, and it is important to be advocates for all domestic animals who may be neglected or abused, as they cannot seek this help for themselves. The important thing to remember is that some dogs just love to escape and wander and often end up right back home, just in time for their owners to arrive home, oblivious to their dog’s secret shenanigans. Hopefully your dog won’t follow his wanderlust, but just in case, always have a secure collar and an updated identification tag on him, and get him microchipped.
Related Articles
Fido Furever
Issue 43
• Feature • Health Wellness • Trends
In our May/June issue, FIDO Friendly features a 2-page spread on tattooing. Is this for you? What questions might you have? What do the experts say? Be sure to check the article out. In the meantime, check out some of the fabulous tats below. Perhaps you’ll be inspired. Remember to share your favorite tat with us. Details on how to do this and what you can win appear in the current issue of FIDO Friendly magazine.
Image 1: Photography Carol Bryant
Image 2, 3: Tattoo by Chris Blinston, No Hard Feelings
Image 4, 12, 13: Tattoo by Shane O'Neill, Infamous Tattoos
Image 5: Tattoo by Stacey Sharp, InkPulsive
Image 6, 9-11: Tattoo by Justin Page, Ink Revolution
Image 7: Tattoo by Glenn Friesen, East Dayton Tattoo
Image 8: Photography Kelly
Image 14: Photography Tracy B
Related Articles
Wine & Bitch Weekend Event at Paws Up Resort
37,000 acres of playground for you and your pup.
Montana is different. I knew there had to be a reason why the slogan “The Last Best Place” accompanied any discussion of Montana, but only when you visit this special state does the meaning truly take hold. Paws Up Resort in Greenough, MT, held its fi rst annual Wine & Bitch event that attracted an eclectic group of mutts and mutt lovers. There are few vacations where Fido feels as welcome as you do.
Paws Up Resort is such a place. Even the name of the resort resembles owners Dave and Nadine Lipson’s love for animals and genuine family-like hospitality. The name Paws Up originated several years back when the Lipsons would visit a ranch that had two dogs that would always great them with two paws up. The welcoming gesture stayed with the Lipsons and the name expresses the nature of this resort.
Greenough is about 45 minutes away from the Missoula International Airport. If you’re fl ying into Montana, a bellman from the resort will meet you upon arrival and provide your pack with transportation to the resort. There are more than 30 homes to choose from, and all vary in size and location. With 37,000 acres, you have options! All homes are uniquely styled with Nadine Lipson’s own touch and offer plush elegance in a country setting. Guests are provided with their own electric golf cart to travel around the property on special cart paths that light up at dusk.
You sure are not limited in accommodation options. If you’d like a more rugged elegance, plan to visit the resort during the warmer months where tents and romantic furniture create a never-before-had experience. Tent city gets you closer to nature, while still in a king-size bed! The owners and staff at Paws Up Resort are innovative, and will try to accommodate most guests’ requests. (Sorry, currently no pups allowed in pup tents.)
The first night of the Wine & Bitch weekend started with all guests and their dogs invited to a cocktail reception where canine and human alike mingled in the Lewis & Clark Reception Barn. One of the famous guests at the resort during the weekend event was Kevin Salem, “the dog prodigy.” He offered priceless training advice in an upbeat manner to dog guardians throughout the weekend.
After everyone got acquainted the staff took each dog out for doggie daycare while the pet parents adjourned to the Pomp Restaurant for a delicious evening of food and wine. Mutt Lynch Winery co-sponsored this fi rst annual Wine & Bitch weekend with select wine pairings for each dish of a gourmet meal. Doggie bags were given at the end of the meal to take home to a played-out Fido.
There are many activities offered at the resort you can enjoy with Fido. Hiking is top on the list, and Paws Up Resort has an outdoor activities center that those in the know call “WO,” which stands for Wilderness Outpost. At the WO you can reserve your spot on a doggie geocache hike, where a guide leads a scenic hike, hands you a couple of GPS units and lets you and Fido fi nd some of the hidden treasures on the trail. Dogs on voice command can wander ahead as Tasha did. She was the leader of our pack and would come back, search through the crowd until she found me and then she’d bound ahead to clear the path for all. After a long hike, you may want to head to Spa Town where both you and your pup can get the royal massage treatment.
The second night of the Wine & Bitch weekend offered a unique experience for pets and pet parents. All guests were shuttled to the immaculate Saddle Club, an equestrian center, where wine and hors d’oeuvres were served while agility and training demonstrations were performed in the rodeo ring. Owners displayed a quality of confi dence in what some may consider a recipe for chaos: dogs off leash, food, wine and ringside entertainment. Instead, all dog guardians slipped into a casual role of knowing where to keep food out of Fido’s reach, and with all guests eyeing the same vision of party elegance, all canines followed suit and took their guardians’ lead of creating a calm atmosphere. This was the pinnacle of the weekend; I stood back as a proud parent and watched Tasha “work” the room, going from one person to the next canine and back to me to check in. I don’t use the word cute too often, but that was the cutest thing I have seen her do.
After we all had our individual pictures taken with our pups on hay bales we sat down in the Tack Room to an elegant doggie-themed buffet style dinner prepared by the resort’s chef. The food was delicious and with Tasha and other dogs at my feet I felt this was the life. I cannot say enough about the food prepared by the resort chef throughout the weekend. The wine pairings were perfect and each dish offered a surprise to the senses.
My only disappointment about the weekend was leaving. We could have used a few extra days at a resort that truly welcomes Fido. Some of the wonderful people I met on the vacation are throwing a post-Wine & Bitch get together, so the party continues. Sounds like Paws Up Resort made an impact!
Related Articles
Holly Madison & Napoleon
Holly Madison & Napoleon starring in…The Great Vegas Jewelry Heist!
Interview & photograhy:
By Christopher Ameruoso / Set Design By VITO AMERUOSO
CA: Do they enjoy your show, ‘Peep Show’?
HM: Napoleon would really like to be featured in the show’s opening video. He would like to be Bo Peep’s dog.
CA: Do you take them with you everywhere?
HM: The dogs can’t go too many places with me because they are pretty rowdy. They do go everywhere with me on the resort/hotel grounds, though.
CA: How do they travel with you?
HM: Josephine loves to snuggle with me or sit quietly in the backseat when she has to ride in the car. Napoleon used to be okay during car rides, but lately he’s really started whining and jumping on me a lot. It’s not very safe for driving.
CA: How do you think they feel about wearing this 3.2 million dollar necklace today for the shoot?
HM: The dogs are total tomboys. I think they would rather be naked.
CA: How do they enjoy your show, ‘Peep Show’?
HM: Napoleon would really like to be featured in the show’s opening video. He would like to be Bo Peep’s dog.
(Crown Jewel courtesy of i Love Dogs)
Related Articles
Surf’s Up-Bow-Wow
A disabled surfer and dog are riding the waves of success.
Need an example of why you should take the word “can’t” out of your vocabulary? Meet an unusual surfing duo in quadriplegic teen Patrick Ivison and a service dog flunky named Ricochet.
Together, they have turned their personal setbacks into “can do” triumphs as they amaze people with their surfing prowess and determination.
Surf’s Up-Bow-Wow!
“I ride on my stomach and Ricochet stands behind me and despite having to straddle me, she does a great job balancing and counterbalancing the board,” said Patrick. “I’ve learned to trust her and we surf well as a team.
“My main goal is to being able to walk across the stage at my high school graduation to receive my diploma,” he remarked. “I’ve got 2½ years of training to accomplish this. I just remind myself that I can’t swim, but I can surf. If you put your mind to it, anything is possible.”
See Patrick and Ricochet ride the waves together.
Check out Ricochet’s surf AND music video!
If You Go:
STAY
Shorebreak Hotel, 500 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA 92648; (714) 861-4470.
PLAY
Huntington Dog Beach
Surf City Surf Dog Event; 1st annual event held Oct. 11, 2009
TIP BIT
Adaptive Surf Foundation, How you can help: make a donation to the Surfin’ for Paws-abilities nonprofit group.
SIDEBAR
Cleo Hangs 20
Adventure-seeking terrier mix enjoys first surfing lesson. Our dogs never cease to amaze us. When I rescued Cleo from the streets four years ago, she was a skinny, scared canine. Today, she is full of life and confidence and eager to ride another wave of success. Hang 20, Cleo!
Catch Cleo’s first surfing lesson on YouTube.
Related Articles
Best in Show
Issue 41
• Feature • Health Wellness • Home
Home (and Fido) is Where the Heart Is
Anushka Wirasinha is a bestselling Information Technology author who has written more than 30 fiction and nonfiction books. Her books are used in libraries and universities around the world and are textbooks for B. Tech professional exams. She has created numerous original songs, and her first album Brave was released in 2008. Anushka also works for the United Nations and runs the Anushka Wirasinha Foundation to encourage and help children and adults in Asia become computer literate. anushkawirasinhafoundation.org
Her new endeavor is helping to keep animals at home who, due to the economic climate, have been winding up in shelters across the country as owners endure financial hardships and become unable to care for their pets. The Keep Your Pet At Home Project is helping to fund meals and medicines for those families needing assistance.
Related Articles
Road to Freedom
Issue 41
• Feature • Health Wellness • Travel
The kindness of strangers: voluntary animal transport
By Laurie Jacobson
Animals are transported by car, train, plane, canoe, snowmobile, one at a time or in groups. And not just dogs are transported, but also cats, rabbits, birds, pigs and horses. There are breed-specific transports, creature-specific, size- and region-specific transports. Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes, too: men, women, children—even other animals who help comfort the traveler. Two transporters from New Jersey met while transporting and fell in love. On their wedding day, they transported. Even elderly and sick animals are transported so they may spend their last days in loving arms. It’s a profoundly hopeful and empowering volunteer activity. Whether it’s from one end of Florida to the other, a multi-state transport or a cross-country run, the end result is always a better life for a previously unwanted animal.
The transports showcase the human-animal bond in action and the very best of what humanity has to offer. Bonnie Silva’s life has been changed by what she’s seen. “The work these people choose to do will never cease to touch me.”
On her website, Bonnie Silva offers more information, inspiring stories and links to websites for other organizations and transport groups. To see videos and pictures of transports log on to fifteenlegs.com.
If you can’t drive, there are still several ways you can be involved with a transport team:
- Volunteer to keep an animal overnight or give it a foster home until it’s adopted.
- Help with some temporary boarding costs.
- Make contributions for transporters who are willing but cannot afford the gas.
- Continue pressing for more progress in spay-neuter efforts.
A few more websites of interest:
petsllc.org/index.php
thedogliberator.com/index_files/OTRA.htm
pilotsnpaws.org
groups.yahoo.com/group/OntheRoadAgain
pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/dogtransportvolunteers
Related Articles
The 12 Stays of Christmas
Lords-a-leaping, golden rings and ladies dancing are fine to sing about, but Fido would prefer his geese-a-laying on a platter. Start talking about canine room service, a relaxing doggy massage and a sleigh ride with Santa, and tails will be wagging! The holidays are all about indulgence, and in that spirit, we couldn’t help ourselves. So instead of 12 fabulous and festive Fido-friendly hotels and resorts where you and your pal can celebrate the season, we’ve given you a baker’s dozen.
Elegant East Coast Escapes
Experience your own Miracle on 34th Street in the Big Apple, browsing the animated windows at Herald Square, ice skating at Rockefeller Center and shopping at some of the worlds’ most exclusive stores. Someone forgot to tell The Benjamin Hotel that New York is “the city that never sleeps.” With custom-designed beds for both humans and pups of all sizes, The Benjamin features a pillow menu for people, as well as a dog bed menu with three designs: a sofa bed with a removable cushion that can be used separately, an orthopedic bed and a round, rhino suede luxe version, all guaranteed to bring sweet canine dreams. In fact, the hotel’s pet program is called “Dream Dog” and includes complimentary treats and toys, loaner beds, bowls and a lush doggy bathrobe, a Doggy DVD and room service that features homemade canine cuisine. The concierge can even arrange a consultation with a pet psychic or deliver a special Christmas surprise for Fido: a gift basket from nearby Cane & Able Dog Spa ($40). Another FF favorite in New York is Kimpton’s Eventi Hotel in lively Chelsea. Cosmopolitan, but with a warm, club-like feel, the Eventi is one of the few luxury hotels in the city that welcome large dogs and never charges a pet fee (a Kimpton chain policy). Located close to the theater district and Midtown shopping hotspots, the hotel welcomes four-legged guests with an in-room amenity, a loaner bed and bowls, and even provides a leash and clean-up bags for strolls around the city. While the humans are relaxing at the daily evening wine hour, Fido may want to call the concierge and arrange for a therapeutic pet acupuncture treatment. Head south to Northern Virginia for a stress-free holiday…
Related Articles
