Greyhounds rejoice: Last dog racing track in Texas to close

Photo: ASPCA

from: mystatesman.com

By Tim Eaton - American-Statesman Staff

Gulf Greyhound Park in La Marque will end live dog racing, the last track in Texas to run greyhound races, officials confirmed Wednesday.

The dog track, which opened in 1992 near Houston and Galveston to great fanfare, has been struggling along with horse tracks across the state. Wagering is down 85 percent since its first full year in 1992, according to figures from the Texas Racing Commission.

The track will cease live racing effective Jan. 1, Gulf Greyhound Park General Manager Sally Briggs said in a statement provided first to the American-Statesman.

“We are unable to successfully compete with racetracks in surrounding states who offer expanded gambling opportunities,” she said, adding that the Texas Lottery, Internet gambling and the proliferation of illegal slot machine-like “8-liners” also have led to the track’s demise.

Further, she blamed “the continually rising cost of regulation in the face of a declining and much smaller industry.”

Nick James, executive director of the Texas Greyhound Association, said track officials tried without success to reduce the fees they pay to the commission.

“Their prudent monetary decision is to close,” James said.

Between 250 and 300 jobs at the track likely will be lost, plus 11 nearby kennels will suffer due to the closing, James said.

“It’s a big impact on the kennel owners, too,” he said. “It’s huge deal, and it’s going to be felt across the country.”

Briggs said that the dogs housed at the track will be sent to other states or go to adoption programs.

It’s unclear if Greyhound Racing Park still will offer simulcast betting, like the two other greyhound tracks in Texas that have already ended live racing.

The news came a day after the racing commission voted to defy state Senate leaders to keep in place a rule to allow historical racing. Racing industry representatives say the new form of gambling — which allows betting on already-run races with identifying markers stripped from horses — could revive the state’s seven racetracks. State Republican leaders call the move an illegal expansion of gambling.

The greyhound track’s tax payments likewise have plummeted. In 1993, the track paid the state $7.7 million in pari-mutuel tax, not counting real estate, admission, sales, liquor and other taxes. By 2004, the pari-mutuel tax fell to $436,000. Last year, the state collected $254,000 in pari-mutuel tax from Greyhound Racing Park, according to racing commission figures.

Before the track opened, several groups jockeyed for ownership, but Paul Bryant Jr. — the son of late University of Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant — ultimately led the winning bid to own the track.

At the time, dog racing was witnessing two decades of growth, and investors had estimated that the Galveston County track would generate handles — the amount bet on races — as high as $300 million annually.

Last year, the total handle amounted to $40.2 million, most of which came from live racing, off 57 percent from a decade earlier.

Christine Dorchak, president of the GREY2K USA animal advocacy group, called the news of the closing “a victory for everyone in the state who cares about dogs.” The group objects to the confinement and treatment of the race dogs, some of which have suffered serious injuries.

Total wagering at Gulf Greyhound

1993: $268.4 million

2000: $138.2 million

2004: $91.9 million

2010: $55.5 million

2014: $40.2 million

Source: Texas Racing Commission

Exclusive report: Yesterday was National Dog Day and Austin cats didn't notice

It's the day after and Austin cats still don't care

From across 'the pond'

Dogs sniff out medical breakthroughMeet the dogs hoping to sniff out a medical breakthrough - it's claimed they could be MORE reliable than current medical methods at detecting cancer Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Posted by Channel 5 News on Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Chron obit on a very good dog

from: austinchronicle.com

In Memoriam: Robin Goodfellow
Singular Austin improviser has taken his final bow (wow wow)

BY ROBERT FAIRES, 6:36PM, WED. AUG. 12, 2015

As the rest of the world mourns the loss of Uggie, that furry scene-stealer from The Artist, Austin is still grieving for the loss of its own canine superstar.Robin Goodfellow, one-half of the improv duoBuddy Daddy, passed away July 30, at the age of 10.

As noted by Buddy Daddy's human half, Arthur Simone, in an obituary on Facebook, Robin was "half beagle and half dachshund, and a preeminent member of the Austin Improv Collective since 2005."

"I got Robin from the SPCA about a month after Hurricane Katrina," Simone told the Chronicle's Wayne Alan Brenner in a 2007 interview. "I sought out a supermellow critter, and I sure got it. If he weren't so pliant, I doubt I could ever do a show with him." A dare from fellow improviser and New Orleans expat Chris Trew prompted Simone to take the stage with his canine pal at the Hideout Theatre in 2006. What might have been a one-off stunt became an improv staple, thanks to Simone's skill, as Brenner put it, "at conjuring characters from thin air and bringing their personalities to vivid, often humorous life" while responding to the actions – or lack thereof – of his canine collaborator.

"Goodfellow’s aloof and laconic characters over the years have included restless housewives, rocks and rock stars, the Phantom of the Opera, a submarine-with-periscope, spies, aliens, Hitler, a loaf of bread, tigers, and the new kid at school to name a few," noted Simone in his obit. "Unscripted performances with Simone as the comedy duo were usually accompanied by snacks, most notably cheese cubes."

Buddy Daddy performed most often in Austin, appearing regularly at the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival, but the duo also toured with the comedy group ColdTowne to Arizona and Washington, D.C.; headlined the Twin Cities Improv Festival in 2011; and headlined a fundraiser in Shreveport, La., for rescue animals, for whom Robin had a special fondness, being a rescue pup himself. Robin's onstage success and appeal also led to work beyond Buddy Daddy: Buddy Mommy, with esteemed improviser Jill Bernard; a guest stint with local sketch troupe Hoover's Blanket; screen appearances on America’s Got Talent and at the Alamo Drafthouse playing Babe the Pig; and Dystheatre’s production of Robin Goodfellow’s Hamlet, in which he played the Ghost, "eating plenty of ham along the way," according to Simone.

The response from the improv community was widespread and loving, with many improvisers recalling shows in which they watched or performed with Robin. "Magic" was a term used in more than one condolence. Dave Buckman called Robin "a Renaissance Dog," and John Ratliff said of him, "His emotional intelligence was acute, and he could read a room better than most people can." Those wishing to see some of Robin's work may do so on Simone's YouTube channel.

In addition to his partner and friend Simone, Robin Goodfellow is survived by his friends Meg Holle and the black lab Mudcat, who ask that those wishing to honor their pal make memorial donations to theSPCA.

I think I love this: Austin Animal Center's new Thinking Walk

from: dogsoutloud.com

Dogs Out Loud was awarded an enrichment grant from Animal Farm Foundation that we chose to use to support the dogs at our city shelter, Austin Animal Center. After working for several months to coordinate the project with the city, the components were installed at the shelter yesterday afternoon!

We managed to complete the project and have our set-up day fall just as August and its heat advisories have arrived in Austin, but we think the, um, “tans” we worked on yesterday will be worth it!

The Thinking Walk consists of 10 simple activity stations designed to make training and enrichment easy and accessible to all dogs, volunteers, and staff. It is set-up along the front courtyard loop of Austin Animal Center, a frequently traveled path for canine bathroom breaks and walks. Volunteers and staff can sneak in a little training during a potty break and not only help work the dogs’ minds, but give them skills to make them more adoptable!

You can view and print the full .pdf of the Thinking Walk here (183KB).

Purina backs Beneful dog food as lawsuit expands

from: nbc.com

Pet food giant Purina launched a national campaign in support of its Beneful brand last week — just as an ongoing lawsuit against the brand expanded its allegations that the popular feed is making dogs sick.

The amended complaint against Nestlé Purina PetCare Company's Beneful dry kibble dog food was filed on June 8 in California federal court, adding 26 additional pet owners from states spanning coast to coast.

The lawsuit now alleges that Beneful contains toxins and that Purina has been offering cash settlements in exchange for silence from those who voice complaints about the brand.

The amendments to the suit come on the heels of a national campaign launched by Purina last week defending its products. The "I Stand Behind Beneful" campaign features a full-page advertisement in the New York Times and a TV commercial showing workers who both make Beneful and feed it to their own pets, the company said.

"This really boils down to the fact that we're really proud of the Beneful product and there are no issues with the quality," Keith Schopp, vice president of corporate relations for Purina, told NBC News. "We thought one of the best ways to show that pride would be actually through the men and women who make Beneful and feed it to their own pets."

The company featured a second full-page in the New York Times on Sunday after the initial launch this week.

Plaintiff and pet owner Frank Lucido, who claims one of his dogs died and two others became ill after eating Beneful, initiated the original lawsuit against Purina in early February of this year.

Jeffrey B. Cereghino, the lawyer spearheading the case against Purina, said he and the law firms participating in the suit have been contacted by thousands of people who believe Beneful may have poisoned their dogs.

"The immediacy of folks willing to participate was really quite extraordinary," he said.

The amended suit includes 26 additional plaintiffs with similar storiesand claims that Purina failed to disclose that the brand contains substances toxic to animals — including Industrial Grade Glycols (IGG), lead, arsenic and mycotoxins. The suit is seeking class-action status and $5,000,000 in damages.

Purina has continued to deny the allegations in the suit, publishing an extensive statement on its website on June 9 in response to the amended complaint.

"We're really disturbed by the ongoing false and unsubstantiated allegations," Schopp told NBC News.

The company said in the statement that Beneful is not formulated with IGG, but rather "high-quality human food-grade levels" of propylene glycol.

While Industrial Grade Glycols are not approved for use in food by the FDA, food-grade propylene glycol is approved as safe for use in human and dog food. The original lawsuit listed propylene glycol in its complaint, instead of IGG.

The Purina statement also says the company tests "for well over 150 substances," including mycotoxins, lead and arsenic as part of its food safety and ingredient surveillance programs.

Dr. Kurt Venator, director of veterinary strategy and programs at Purina, said the strict testing standards extend to their ingredient suppliers as well.

Purina products "meet or exceed food quality and safety standards," he said.

The pets listed in the lawsuit vary in age and in length of time consuming Beneful before becoming ill, but the consistent symptoms, according to the suit, include: vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, liver or kidney malfunction and failure, seizures, and even death.

Plaintiff Rob Benham, of Versailles, Indiana, told NBC News he and his family believe Beneful is responsible for the death of Sadie, a 7-year-old Miniature Fox terrier, and the ailing health of their 5-year-old Shih Tzu Willie.

Benham, 47, began feeding his dogs Beneful in June 2013, partially for financial reasons, he said.

"Purina is a household word, we felt very safe in doing that," he said.

Within a month, Sadie began losing weight dramatically, Benham said. When they took her to their veterinarian, they were informed Sadie had developed problems with her liver and would need medication. But the vet was unable to find the cause of the problem.

"He was baffled," Benham said. "He could think of no reason for it."

The symptoms only got worse.

"She started having trouble with her vision and was staggering everywhere," he said. "She had always been very healthy."

"On October 19 of 2013, we lost her," Benham said through tears.

Cereghino said there was a disconnect between the company's new campaign and how Purina has treated concerned customers.

The amended suit claims that Purina has been contacting consumers who post negative experiences with Beneful to social media, denying liability while offering them cash settlements in exchange for restrictive confidentiality agreements. The lawsuit claims to include a copy of a non-disclosure agreement for a complaint involving Beneful.

Schopp, the Purina spokesman, said any customer service agreements and compensation were "good-will gestures" by the company and a common practice in many industries.

"Anytime consumers have questions they can contact us, whether validated or not we have at times responded to them and offered compensation as a good-will gesture," he said. "The notion that this is something we just started or there is some sort of a negative motive here is nonsense."

The dry kibble variations named in the suit include Purina Beneful Healthy Weight, Purina Beneful Original, Purina Beneful Incredibites, and Purina Beneful Healthy Growth For Puppies, Purina Beneful Healthy Smile, Purina Beneful Healthy Fiesta, Purina Beneful Healthy Radiance, and Purina Beneful Playful Life. 

Rare plug: The Wizard of Dogz! starring rescued dogs and a macaw at the Dougherty

for more info: chickendog.net

In case you were wondering: Pampered Pet care at the Driskill Hotel

Accommodations & Amenities

When traveling to Austin, don’t worry about boarding your pet or looking for a sitter. Recognized as one of the nation's most pet-friendly hotels, The Legendary Driskill welcomes you and your four-legged friends to experience true Texas hospitality.

The Driskill's Pampered Pet Program includes:

• Custom Driskill Pet Bed
• Designer Dishes and Mat
• Bottled Spring Water
• Gourmet Pet Treats from 1886 Café & Bakery
• Supply of Driskill Doggie Business Bags
• Map of Austin with designated pet-friendly areas

We encourage guests to be respectful of the environment by scooping your pet’s waste. We provide you with bags, made from recycled plastic and have poop scoops available for use.

Please note the following pet policy. 

• A $100 one-time non-refundable fee is charged for each "Pet Guest."
• The maximum pet weight allowed is 75 pounds. Domesticated dogs (non-aggressive) only.
• All pets must have received Bordotella and rabies vaccinations within the past 12 months. In addition, pet's name, weight, and breed must be provided for identification purposes during the reservation process.
• Pets may not be left alone in the guest room at any time. Please contact our Concierge (512-391-7013) in advance if you need assistance in scheduling pet sitting services.
• Please prevent your pet from barking or otherwise disturbing other guests. In the event that the Driskill Hotel incurs any loss of business or compensation is required for another guest due to noise complaints, those charges will be billed accordingly to your guest account. All dogs must be on a leash at all times while on the hotel premises.
• Please clean up after your pet. Complimentary waste pick-up bags will be provided for you in the guest room. Please contact Guest Reception should you need more bags.
• A Pet Map of downtown Austin will be provided for you. Please note the nearest park locations for your walking needs.
• Pets are not permitted in the hotel restaurants or other public areas, with the exception of arriving and departing through the main lobby.
• Although we welcome your pet, please respect our hospitality. Do not permit your pet to get on the bed coverings or the furniture. If additional cleaning is needed for bedding, carpeting or furniture, or if any damages are incurred due to your pet, all related charges will be billed to your credit card on file with the front desk.

When two visions of the 'Austin' life collide: City Council's compromise over music festival's use of leash-free dog park area on Vic Mathias/Auditorium Shores

from: austinmonitor.com
by Tyler Whitson

Amid concerns that Fun Fun Fun Fest would not take place this November at Vic Mathias Shores, City Council has intervened in negotiations between festival organizers and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department to ensure that it goes forward as planned.

Council unanimously passed a resolution Thursday directing Parks and Recreation Department staff to allow organizer Transmission Events to use up to 1 acre of a newly renovated off-leash dog park to accommodate the event, which will take place Nov. 6-8.

The resolution also ensures that the rest of the 3.5-acre dog park will remain open for public use during the festival. It is adjacent to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail and west of the event space and an additional multipurpose “flex” space that the festival will be using.

The Austin Monitor first reported in June concerns over the use of the off-leash dog park by the annual festival.

Council Member Greg Casar, who sponsored the resolution, made it abundantly clear that the directive applies only to this specific situation and is not a long-term solution.

“The present resolution is about helping to fix the short-term issues faced by all these events, the trail users and the neighborhood,” Casar said.

The events that Casar was referring to are the 40th annual Settlement Home for Children Charity Garage and Estate Sale, which will take place Nov. 5-8 at the Palmer Events Center, and the Austin Opera rendition of Verdi’s Aida, which will take place Nov. 7 at the Long Center for the Performing Arts.

Representatives from both events raised concerns over the past few weeks that the festival, if not properly set up and reigned in, would negatively impact their events by creating noise, odor, congestion and parking issues.

Marilyn Wilson, development director for the settlement home, and Jon Nash, president of the Austin Opera board of trustees, publicly expressed support for the resolution as a temporary fix, however, as it gives festival organizers more flexibility to move their equipment farther away from the other venues and sets other requirements for the event to follow.

These requirements include limiting street closures during the festival so that they don’t interfere with the other events.

“We need a short-term solution, which is why we are here in support of the efforts of Council Member Casar,” Wilson said. “I have to say, if we had it our way, the resolution would address the need for a long-term solution in which multiple events occurring in the same space, using the same facilities, would have been addressed.”

Though the resolution itself is not a long-term solution, it does direct city staff to begin reviewing the way that the Parks department, the Long Center and the Palmer Events Center coordinate their annual event schedules. “The Council desires that procedures involve early planning and communication among various stakeholders to best avoid conflicts between major events,” it reads.

These stakeholders include event organizers, neighborhood groups and others.

Proposing solutions for this specific issue next year and other issues related to large events on city parkland will be the responsibility of the city’s new Parkland Events Task Force, which will meet for the first time on Aug. 25.

In the meantime, Council Member Sheri Gallo said that Parks staff should not make any decisions about next year’s Fun Fun Fun Fest without consulting Council.

Transmission Events General Manager Bobby Garza told the Monitor that he has not yet begun to work out the venue details for next year’s festival.

Bouldin Creek Neighborhood Association spokesperson Catie Mohin explained in an email to the Monitor on Thursday that her group is looking forward to a long-term solution.

“We know this is viewed as a one time fix given that the new Parkland (Events) Task Force will meet soon,” Mohin wrote. “Regardless, our focus is on setting clear guidelines so that this sort of issue is dealt with by clear rules in the future.”

Rendering of Vic Mathias Shores courtesy of the Parks and Recreation Department.

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KEY PLAYERS & TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE

Austin City Council: The Austin City Council is the body with legislative purview over the City of Austin. It offers policy direction, while the office of the City Manager implements administrative actions based on those policies. Until 2012, the body contained seven members, including the city's Mayor, all elected at-large. In 2012, City of Austin residents voted to change that system and now 10 members of the Council are elected based on geographic districts. The Mayor continues to be elected at-large.

City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department: The city department responsible for the city's park system, rec centers, and associated infrastructure.

Transmission Events: The organization behind Fun Fun Fun Fest and bookings for Mohawk, among other things.

- See more at: http://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2015/08/council-reaches-fun-fun-fun-fest-compromise/#sthash.smmiJuFc.dpuf

Airline for pets announces Austin expansion

from: digitaljournal.com
HOUSTON, TX, July 27, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- People and Pets Dog Airlines, a Houston-based pet transportation company, has announced plans for expansion in the Austin market. People and Pets provides air transportation throughout the country, and ground transportation in Texas and surrounding states.

People and Pets is opening offices in Austin to offer local transport services in between homes, veterinarians, pet groomers, and People and Pets flights at airports. People and Pets is also increasing capacity in Houston, and has launched an online reservation system, allowing customers to book transportation quickly and seamlessly.

Houston-based People and Pets Dog Airlines is the only airline just for pets. Founded in 2014, the company is focused on providing fast, safe pet transportation throughout the country, with free transportation available to animal rescue groups.

People and Pets Animal Transportation is a division of People and Pets Dog Airlines LLC. People and Pets Animal Transportation provides services on the ground in conjunction with People and Pets Dog Airlines flights, both long-distance and local in the Houston market.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2623716#ixzz3hxIvWwY9

AFD needs new pet oxygen masks

from: keyetv.com

Updated: Thu, Jul 30 2015, 06:50 PM

By Bettie Cross

The Austin Fire Department needs your help to better protect every member of your family. AFD's pet oxygen masks are wearing out and need to be replaced. One Austin firefighter, who used a mask to save an old cat, knows the masks make a life-saving difference when fires break out. 

"You're worried about getting out or getting your family out. You may not be able to find your cat hiding under the bed or your dog hiding in the closet. So sometimes they get left in there, trapped in there, and they can't get out," said Austin firefighter Andrew Jackson. "These (pet oxygen masks) come in real handy if we get them out and they're still breathing." 

On Wednesday, Jackson was called to a south Austin house fire on Dillion Hill Drive. "We knew at the time that there were still pets in the home," said Battalion Chief Thayer Smith. Firefighters knocked down the fire and found an 18-year-old cat named "Kitty" unconscious. Jackson took it from there. "It was still breathing after being in there that long, so it still had a shot," said Jackson. For 45 minutes Jackson kept this pet oxygen mask sealed to Kitty's face. At first there was no response, but before long both Kitty and the firefighter were back on their feet. 

"And it was standing up meowing by the time we put it in the cage," said Jackson. 

Kitty survived thanks to the pet oxygen masks that can be found at every Austin fire station.

Station 36's mascot helped with a demonstration. "You slip the snout and the mouth inside and it forms a seal around the outside," said Jackson. But AFD says too many of the rubber seals are losing their elasticity. "They kind of just get brittle and fall apart," said Jackson. 

The masks were donated more than five years ago and AFD doesn't have the money to replace them. If pet oxygen masks wear out firefighters don't want to have to use masks that were made for human faces. Those masks don't fit a pet's snout. There are gaps at the top and at the bottom and that means the dogs, cats and other pets are not getting the right amount of oxygen that could save their lives.

 It will cost about $5,000 to put a set of 3 pet oxygen masks at every Austin fire station. Jackson knows if they can find the money it will be well spent. "It made a difference at the scene Wednesday. You may just be able to give them the kick start they need," said Jackson. Thursday, a fundraising account was set up on CrowdRise.com to raise $5,000. Click on this link, Pet Oxygen Masks, to get more information on the fundraising effort.

Read More at: http://www.keyetv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/Austin-Fire-Department-Needs-New-Pet-Oxygen-Masks-178280.shtml

Social media helps unite stolen dog with family

from: FOXAustin.com

Jax 

By Elizabeth Saab

"Who would take a dog?" That's what Jordan Quick is trying to figure out. "People comment about him all he time, he's a cute puppy and there aren't any other puppies around here," says Quick's girlfriend Jamie Higuera of the blue nose pit bull.

Quick says he left his North Austin apartment early Saturday morning. When he got home around 1, he says he noticed his XBox was missing. So was his beloved Jax. "I feel violated and insanely upset that someone came into my room, my place and took my dog."

Quick believes the suspect was driving a white F150 truck. Images were captured on his neighbor's surveillance camera. He says he isn't sure if the door was unlocked or picked but that there were no signs of forced entry, "I don't know what could have happened."

Also on Saturday morning, Ken Paulsen was driving down 183S on his way to workout. He was behind a white pick-up, when he saw a dog's head pop out of the back. "I don't know if it hit a bump or jumped but it tumbled on to the highway at 60 miles an hour," Paulsen says. 

A dog owner himself, Paulsen scooped Jax up. "I assumed the owner was the truck driver and was reckless by keeping him in the truck bed." With no tags or a collar, Paulsen took the injured dog to his vet. "He very obviously had road rash all over from hitting the asphalt, you could visibly see one of his ribs was dislocated."

And he needed pelvic surgery. After spending more than $400 of their own money, Ken and his wife Emily started aGoFundMe campaign to pay for it. "I know how devastating medical expenses can be to folks I feel like we're in a position to help," he says. Emily adds, "The fact that somebody could do that to a puppy, the cruelty that's there, it's hard for us to fathom."

At the same time, Jordan and Jamie had started a Facebook page to find Jax.

"Because we started that," say Emily, "some of our friends connected the dots from the owner's lost dog page." And Jax and Jordan were reunited on Monday. "It was definitely an eye opener to what social media can do," Jordan says. And he says he's blown away by the kindness of the two strangers who took care of his dog, "I feel eternally grateful, these people saved my dog."

Jax still needs the surgery. And before he and Jordan were reunited, Ken and Emily say their friends kicked in to help. Now Jordan's are too. He says, "Our friends and family know now that he's been found, they've contributed and sent in money and are tying to help him out, we're thankful and grateful."

The suspect though is still on the loose, and the Williamson County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information to come forward. "Of all things he could have taken my DVD's, pictures, posters, surround system, TV, I don't care," Jordan says angrily. "He took my dog and that's unforgivable."

He says though he can sleep soundly tonight knowing Jax is in his arms. "I guarantee you that we'll try to be more charitable."

Emily and Ken say they were just doing what they hope most people would do, "To find out this poor person to have their family member stolen, I can't imagine how we would feel if one of our guys disappeared, it would be devastating."  Emily adds, "Today's been so overwhelming in the joy and goodness in finding his owner, we never imagined it would end this way."

Barking Garage opens at shopping center

from: KVUE.com

AUSTIN -- Just outside the Nordstrom Rack at the Gateway Shopping Center in northwest Austin, a big yellow car hauler sits in the parking lot. On the outside, it reads "TheBarkingGarage.com. Park your dog here while you shop."

Mary Traverse started the new business. Last month, she decided to buy the yellow car hauler, decorate it, insulate it and install air conditioning in it. She filled the inside with colorful cages of different sizes, complete with water bowls.

Traverse said her idea for an on-site mall doggie storage took some time. "I've been racking my brains for a couple of years," she said.

"I have a human practice," she said about being a chiropractor. Traverse is also a certified animal chiropractor by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association.

The Barking Garage, Traverse said, came about out of desperation and need.

"I live a little bit outside of town and I love to have my dogs with me, but I just can't stand it. I can't even run into the grocery store," said Dr. Traverse.

She's from Oatmeal, a small town near Bertram, 43 miles northwest of Austin in Burnet County. Leaving her dogs in the car while she shops is not an option, and she doesn't want anyone else to resort to that either.

"A lot of times, I make a special trip back into town on a Saturday to run my errands just because my dogs would be safe," Traverse said.

This is The Barking Garage's second weekend in business, and so far there are no customers -- yet.

"The stores are really happy to have us here because they're in a hard spot," she said. "They don't want to call the cops on their clients."

Gary Biggers owns a 55-pound Huski,e but he didn't bring her shopping. He said he may next time after he heard about TheBarkingGarage.com.

"It makes life so much easier. I don't know what's in [the car hauler] but I know its cool," Biggers said. "Huskies are hot in the summer, especially here, so I think that's a great idea and I want to see more of those pop up...To save your pet's life, just to put him in there while you're shopping...because before you know it, 45 minutes go by and poor Fido is in the car."

Prices start at $10 an hour with a 30 minute minimum.

Right now, The Barking Garage is only open on weekends: Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Rare plug: Jon Stewart's wife's new book

(Photo: 'Do Unto Animals')

from: mnn.com
By: Michael d'Estries

April 24, 2015, 8:07 p.m.

Haven't heard of Tracey Stewart? That's all about to change. The former veterinary technician and animal advocate who also happens to be married to "Daily Show" comedian Jon Stewart, is quickly rising in the world of animal welfare thanks to a new book, online magazine, and a new rescue farm. 

Artisan Books announced this week that it will publish Stewart's first book, "Do Unto Animals," in October. In addition to more than 300 pages of beautiful illustrations by celebrated artist Lisel Ashlock, the book will give readers "insights into the secret lives of animals and the kindest ways to live with and alongside them."

The release states that everything from learning how to speak "cat-ese" and "dog-ese" to building backyard bee houses and humanely dealing with yard pests will be explored. Stewart will also share experiences from the farm that she, Jon, and their two kids currently own in New Jersey. The couple reportedly are working towards turning the property into a "a home for farm animals rescued from cruelty."

Read more: http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/do-unto-animals-the-new-book-from-tracey-stewart-that-aims-to-help-us#ixzz3hx771NKh