RECOMMENDED: Strut Your Stuff For Homeless Mutts this Saturday morning

From: bestfriends.org

Mueller Lake Park, 8:30am

It's time to Strut for homeless pets!

Get ready, get set, get your pooch warmed up ..it's time for Best Friends Animal Society's First Annual Strut Your Mutt in Austin. Join us for a fun walk and the ultimate doggie festival that supports local animal rescue groups and helps to save the lives of animals in shelters!

Don't miss cool attractions for you and your pooch:

• Ruff & Relax pets and people spa by Paul Mitchell Schools
• Ask the Trainer and Agility Demonstrations by the Canine Center for Training & Behavior
• Paws & Pals kids activity area - make a commemorative paw print painting with your best friend
• Doggie massage by Northwest School of Animal Massage
• Animal Reiki by Laurel West of Earth & Fire Healing
• Downward Dog doggie yoga by Total Wellness Austin
• Free dog food and treats from our national sponsor Natural Balance
• Great people food from Austin's favorite food trucks
• The hottest pet products and services from local exhibitors
• Plus don't miss DJ Brent Metschan

Your Pet Got Talent? Don’t miss our fun stage contests at the event, hosted by YNN meteorologist Mary Wasson!

 

Strut Your Mutt Austin Details:

 Who: Animal lovers in the Austin area who want to raise money for homeless pets, and have a great time with their dogs.

What: Leisurely group dog walk followed by a doggie themed celebration festival that includes pet contests, photo opp's, treats for your dogs, fun activities, refreshments and more.

Where: Mueller Lake Park, 1829 Simond Ave, Austin, TX 78723

When: Saturday, September 29, 2012. Registration begins at 7:00am; walk begins at 8:30am. Festival ends at 12pm.

Why: To raise money for one of our participating local animal rescue groups (our No More Homeless Pets Network Partners) and Best Friends Animal Society, and help bring about a time when there are No More Homeless Pets.

Registration Fees:

• Individuals: $30 ($35 day-of)
• Kids 12 and under with t-shirt: $20 ($25 day-of)
• Kids 12 and under without t-shirt: FREE
• Virtual Fundraiser (not attending our official Strut in Austin): $10 (does not include a t-shirt but our 2012 Strut shirts will be available for purchase). Virtual Fundraisers, like Individual Walkers, can raise money for Best Friends or for a participating Network Partner--but will need to join a Network Partner's Dog Pack in order to raise money for that group.
  
  Note: every person who is attending the event must be registered in order to participate.
  
  The top individual fundraiser and his/her dog will be recognized in Best Friends Magazine and on the 2013 Strut Your Mutt t-shirts!!

For Questions, contact Best Friends Events
E-mail: events@bestfriends.org

Interested in volunteering?

E-mail: bfvolcoord@bestfriends.org
 

This event will be held rain or shine!

To learn more about Best Friends Sanctuary click here. 

Texas Supreme Court agrees to hear sentimental value case on pets | State | News from Fo...

Texas Supreme Court agrees to hear sentimental value case on pets | State | News from Fo...

austinculturemap.com reports: Dog hair and PIB in LBDs mix well at movie premiere

from: austinculturemap.com

BY AUSTIN SANDERS

09.21.12 | 01:38 pm

Thursday night, Alamo Drafthouse kicked off its eighth annual Fantastic Fest — a celebration of films horrific, mind-bending and proudly bizarre — with the premiere of Tim Burton’s newest animated feature, Frankenweenie.

The global premiere attracted a large audience hoping to catch a glimpse of the stunning Winona Ryder or the legendary Martin Landau or the eclectic director, who were each on hand for the evening’s proceedings.

Some, however, were there to show off their costumed dogs, which were dressed just as formally as their owners. As it turned out, the pets were not only welcome at the black carpet event but also invited to stay and enjoy the movie.

Alamo, with their usual oddball progressiveness, reserved one of the South Lamar theater’s screens as a canine-friendly space. “The first ever doggy theater,” Alamo co-founder Tim League called it.

Unaware that invitations had been extended to pooches, and as a late arrival to the festival, I ended up stuck in theater four, with the pups.

Dogs in a movie theater. Sounds like a novel idea on paper, but it can’t possibly work, right?

The pups were on their best behavior, almost completely adhering to Alamo’s tight restriction on talking, or as the no-talking warning indicated in this case, barking.

Well, yeah, it can, actually. The pups were on their best behavior, almost completely adhering to Alamo’s tight restriction on talking — or as the no-talking warning indicated in this case, barking.

And when the few did bark, it almost seemed welcome, like an extra punch added to a joke. 

Maybe the Drafthouse was on to something. Three attendees, Leslie Davis, her daughter Cameron and their terrier, Lincoln, seemed to think so.

“It was great,” Davis began, “I think Lincoln really enjoyed it. I was surprised, but I have four children, so he’s used to the rambunctiousness.” She must be right; he hardly let out a single whimper through the whole movie. Rather, he sat calmly in his owner’s lap, appreciating the movie along with the rest of the crowd.

Davis explains enthusiastically that her daughter is up for a role in her elementary school’s rendition of Sweeny Todd, the 2007 Oscar-nominated musical. "Really, this is Cameron’s night. She’s a huge Tim Burton fan.”

Cameron, a cute 10-year-old in thick-rimmed glasses, was set to audition the night of the premiere, creating an unfortunate scheduling conflict. Luckily for her, the play’s director is a Burton admirer as well, and considering the opportunity, allowed her to reschedule.

Cameron, her mother and many other dog owners were thrilled to watch a movie in a theater with their pet. Considering how disastrous it could have been, it was exciting to see how completely successful the idea was.

With the premiere of Frankenweenie, and thanks to the Drafthouse’s clever inclusion of pets, Fantastic Fest 2012 is off to a delightful start. As Tim League put it, “It’s going to be a special week…and I can’t wait.” 

Dogtoberfest at The Domain set for October 20th

more info click here

 Photos from Dogtoberfest 2011

Austin woman says jerky treats made in China made her dog sick

from kvue.com

Posted on September 18, 2012 at 6:29 PM

Updated today at 10:13 PM

AUSTIN -- An Austin pet owner says jerky treats from China almost killed her dog.

Pat Richardson had no idea her dog Allie was sick until she took her to the veterinarian for an annual check-up. A routine blood test revealed her five-year-old Cairn Terrier had kidney problems. Her vet helped her pinpoint the cause to a treat Richardson fed her dog every day.

"It's a family member, and I thought if I had done something to harm her, it was devastating," said Richardson.

CSI: Special Pooper-Scooper Unit

From: KXAN.com

Neighborhood may use DNA to link poop to its pooch

Updated: Wednesday, 12 Sep 2012, 6:51 PM CDT
Published : Wednesday, 12 Sep 2012, 6:01 PM CDT

• Casey James

'CSI: Special Pooper-Scooper Unit'

AUSTIN (KXAN) - This might be one of those cases where DNA evidence can bring the evil doo-ers to justice.

A homeowners association in South Austin is considering using DNA to do to find out which pup is pooping on which lawn -- and which pet owners are not scooping the poop.

The Pointe is a small condominium complex made up of 31 units, mainly retired folks. Neighbors live in nice homes in peaceful streets with well-kept yards.

But behind the gates, homeowners said there's something smelly going on.

Martha Ross and her neighbors have lived in the community for years and were surprised when they received an email from the HOA president stating they will be required to give a sample of their dogs' DNA through their poop.

"I'm not in it and my little dog isn't in it and I think it's unfair to push to this point, " Ross said.

The email said dog droppings keep showing up in the common areas, that's why the board is pushing for DNA testing.

FDA says pet death toll from jerky treats continues to rise

From: kvue.com

Posted on September 17, 2012 at 10:49 AM

Updated yesterday at 10:14 PM

The FDA now says 360 dogs and one cat have died in the last 18 months, reportedly after eating chicken jerky treats made in China.

An FDA report released this week says they've received 2,200 reports of illnesses linked to the treats - the deaths are included in that number. There is no geographic pattern to the illnesses and deaths - cases have been reported from all 50 states and 6 Canadian provinces.

The FDA says the majority of complaints involve chicken jerky (treats, tenders, and strips), but others include duck, sweet potato, and treats where chicken or duck jerky is wrapped around dried fruits, sweet potatoes, or yams.

The report goes on to say that in the past 10 years, there has been a dramatic increase in importation of pet food from China. It is estimated that nearly 86 million pounds of pet food came from China in 2011. Pet treats, including jerky pet treats, are currently considered the fastest growing segment in the pet food market.

The FDA has been investigating the reports of illnesses, but no definitive cause has been determined.

"The ongoing global investigation is complex, multifaceted and includes a wide variety of experts at the FDA including toxicologists, epidemiologists, veterinary researchers, forensic chemists, microbiologists, field investigators and senior agency officials," the report says.

The FDA says product samples have been tested for contaminants known to cause the symptoms and illnesses reported in pets, and they are now expanding testing to include irradiation byproducts and they are consulting with NASA experts about it.

In their report, the FDA says jerky treats are not necessary for pets to have a balanced diet - basically advising people not to feed them to their pets. But if you choose to give your pet the treats,  watch them closely for any or all of the following signs that may occur within hours to days of feeding the products: decreased appetite; decreased activity; vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; increased water consumption and/or increased urination.

An online petition has been launched by a concerned pet owner, urging the FDA and manufacturers of chicken jerky treats imported from China to "immediately halt all sales until the treats can be safely sourced and proven to no longer be dangerous to our companions."

More than 22,000 signatures have been gathered so far, some from people who say their pets became ill and/or died after eating the jerky treats.

Resources

Contact the FDA
240-276-9300
AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov