Bark in the Park is a fundraising event with more dogs than you could shake a tail at. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Humane Society Silicon Valley and San Jose Animal Care Center.

Ongoing throughout the day: Dancing Dogs, Dog Water Park, Free Dog Agility Course, Flyball Canine Relay, Performing Dogs, Grooming, Training Tips and Herding Demonstrations. Yes, Duck Herding Demonstrations!

Special Event Highlights: Dog Costume Contest, 11:00 am, Silly Dog Tricks, 12:00 pm and Pet/Owner Look Alike Contest 1:00 pm.

In addition, 99 cent Rabies Vaccinations, Low Cost Microchipping, Dog Related Vendors. Moreover, what would an event be without Kid’s Activities?

There will be Live Music along with Food and Beverages.

Bark in the Park is the biggest dog festival in the US.

Important: All pets must be on a leash. Pick up after your dog.

Bark in the Park 2008
William Street Park, San Jose
Corner of William and S. Sixteenth Streets

Saturday, September 20
10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Admission: Free - $5 donation per dog is encouraged

Parking: Attendees may park in the Naglee Park neighborhood, please do not block the driveways. There will be a drop-off location at the park and directions to nearby parking areas.

408-793-5125

Here’s an update!

The video has more info than just the text so make sure you watch it. What a lose-lose situation. I can’t believe the city of San Jose has to choose between owls and cats.

I know the economy is crap right now. I know you just lost your home and barely have enough money to survive. But when you close the door of your foreclosed home for the last time, do your pet a favor and take an hour out of your life to make sure he is well taken care of. Even if all you can do is to take him to the overflowing pound where odds are he’ll be euthanized, at least he’ll die a humane death.

Just google: “foreclosure abandoned pets” and you’ll see all the articles out there about animals being abandoned because people are losing their homes. Read this one. Or this one. Or this one. All about animals found starving, dehydrated, or dead because they’re locked up in an abandoned house. The kitchen sink is ripped from the walls because it can be sold but an animal? I guess all lives aren’t created equally.

A new California bill was recently passed making it mandatory for anyone who encounters an abandoned pet to immediately call animal control. Previously, anyone finding an animal in an abandoned house had to leave everything untouched until the foreclosure process is complete. This is a step in the right direction but doesn’t take into account the dumb ass morons (can I say that on this blog?) who abandon their animals in the first place. ( I propose stoning.)

Humane societies, shelters, and rescue groups are trying to rally together. The Humane Society of the US now has a grant program for shelters and tips for folks who are facing foreclosure. The East Bay SPCA has a page on their website about foreclosure and pets. If you’d like to help, go to your local shelter and support them!

I’m going to go and hug my cats now.

Photo credit: Me! This was one of my foster kittens.

Town Cats recently took in 30+ cats from a home in Morgan Hill. Thanks to many new fosters and volunteers, all the cats are doing well, and Town Cats have been kept busy trying to find new homes for all of them.

Unfortunately, a rescuer’s work is never done. A local ranch in San Jose that has been the home for 80+ cats will be demolished soon. The city won’t allow ferals to be neutered and returned (for more information on the TNR process, check this article out) AND beginning Oct 3rd, any cats seen on that property will be trapped and killed.

Visit the Town Cat’s website and help them out! They’ll update their website soon but at the moment, they need fosters, volunteers, and folks to write letters to the city council. Most of these cats have been there for years as local residents just dump them there. (Don’t even get me started on that…)

What’s great about Town Cats is that they are a no-kill shelter and rescue group. Please support them!

Everyone, if you have a spare bathroom, garage, bedroom, etc. and you can foster a cat or two or three, please send an email to towncats@garlic.com as soon as possible.

Animal Control was called to a home in Morgan Hill where there are around 100 cats/kittens. All are healthy and happy but need a place to stay immediately. The cats will be taken from the home this coming week, and have no where to go. If Town Cats can’t find room for them all, I don’t know what will happen.

If you can’t foster, Town Cats still needs help at their already very full shelter. Please visit www.towncats.org for more information.

Animals! Pythons, vultures, kinkajous, Frisbee dogs, your dog, bugs, butterflies, ants, and much more will be featured at Animal Planet Expo at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds this weekend.

There will be something for everyone, including the family pet (dog), to explore and celebrate the important role animals play on this planet. Visit the Bug House to see some of the aforementioned bugs; Animal House (no, not…) where animal experts introduce exotic species from around the world; Kids’ Zone: wildlife face painting, obstacle course, “King Croc”, an inflatable crocodile slide that is over 30 feet long; also, Spider Mountain - a 20-foot high climbing attraction.

Pet Den will provide pet adoption opportunities and helpful information on how to find the perfect pet for your family. Pet Den will host “Ask the Vet” sessions, where pet owners can meet one-on-one with a local veterinarian.

Dog Park will have activities for your dog; also, your pet can quench their thirst at the Pet Misters and Watering Holes.

Wildlife explorer Jeff Corwin will be available for autograph signing from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Frisbee dog show times are 11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm.

Live exotic animal presentations on the R.O.A.R. (Reach Out, Act, and Respond) Stage, including those pythons, vultures, and kinkajous at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm.

Slap on some sunscreen (where applicable), grab the kids, grab the dog, and head on over for a fun day at the Fairgrounds. It’s free!

More information, including photos from previous Expos here.

Animal Planet Expo
Santa Clara County Fairgrounds
344 Tully Road, San Jose

Saturday & Sunday, July 26 Ð 27
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Admission: Free

I lost my dog several years ago, and it was the first time I had to go through such a devastating loss. Since then, in honor of his memory, I’ve fostered kittens and rescued cats from the streets. I’ve volunteered with large shelters and with small rescue groups, and have seen way too many things I wish I hadn’t seen: kittens being abandoned at a dumpster, animals being shoved in a box and left at the parking lot of a shelter, the aftermath of abuse.

But I have also met a lot of wonderful people who will never stop fighting on behalf of these animals, and a lot of these folks will be in front of San Jose City Hall (200 East Santa Clara Street) on Tuesday March 18th for a rally and candlelight vigil. The rally is to honor animal rescuers, animal control officers, shelter staff and volunteers for their dedication and service to animals. It is also to bring attention to low cost spay/neuter programs and to honor animals that have died and will die in shelters because there is not enough space, or homes to place them in. (Please keep in mind this is not a pro-AB1634 mandatory spay/neuter, or pro-TNR rally.)

The rally will begin at 6:30pm and the candlelight vigil will begin at 7:15pm. Folks are asked to bring a candle, a photo of a deceased pet, a poem, a song, or a story they’d like to share.

Please come on out to meet some of these wonderful people and to share your stories and memories of that special animal that changed your life.

***

By the way, do any of you recognize the black and white kitty in the photo above? That’s Charlie, one of Carol Chapman’s beloved kitties.

This past week I dog sat my friend’s Australian Shepherd (pictured). I have known her since she was a puppy and we get along very well; however, she is not a very sociable dog.

I looked on the American Kennel Club Web site about Australian Shepherds to read that the Australian Shepherd is an intelligent, active dog with an even disposition. The Australian Shepherd is in the Herding Group; true, you should see her herd up the squirrels in the backyard.

While on the AKC site I noticed they have a list of the Top 10 Most Popular Breeds in the 50 Largest U.S. Cities — 2007 AKC Registration Figures.

The top 10 list for San Jose:

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Bulldog
6. Boxer
7. Chihuahua
8. Doberman Pinscher**
9. Maltese
10. Shih Tzu***

** Tied with #7
*** Tied #9

More about the list here.

Dogs, what do they want? They just wanna get out of the house and have some fun.  

To spend some quality time with your dog(s), while helping to benefit animal oriented charities, pack up the pups and join in the fun at the annual “Bark in the Park”.  

There will be dogs in costume, dogs doing silly tricks, and educational activities too. Best of all, who wouldn’t want to see the winner of the Pet - Owner Look Alike Contest?

Bark in the Park 2007
What a Dog Wants!

Saturday, September 15, 2007
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
William Street Park
Corner of William and S. Sixteenth Streets
Downtown San Jose, San Jose, California

Admission free - $5 donation per dog is encouraged.

Please call the YELPline (408) 793-5125 for information.

All pets must be on a leash.

Metroblogging San José would like to thank Judy Conner for alerting us to this event.

Last week we had an adorable two year-old Basset Hound for a house guest. She was wandering around collarless near a busy intersection by our house in Morgan Hill. We picked her up and began the quest to find the owners.

Of course, what exactly should you do if you find an animal which you’ve determined is safe and friendly? The flyer-on-the-pole is one approach, yet there are other ways to report a lost or found pet.

1. Call your local Animal Control (the police or sheriff can redirect you) to file a found (or lost) animal report. This never initially occurred to us as we have the thought that Animal Control = Impound and Put Down. You’ll learn about jurisdictions when you call. When we called Morgan Hill Police, they first had to determine if we were in city limits or unincorporated Santa Clara County, so they could properly route our call. (Anyone who lives in those old areas near Westfield Valley Fair are technically not in San Jose, but Santa Clara County, and the same applies to parts of the South Valley).

As an aside, pets found in Morgan Hill are not necessarily able to be taken to the San Martin animal shelter, but San Jose instead. San Martin is for animals found in unincorporated areas around town. San Martin still took the report since logic would dictate that they might be the first place people would call due to its proximity.

2. Have the animal scanned by law enforcement or a vet. Many pets have a microchip implanted in their back or neck which has a serial number, which can assist in the recovery and identification of a missing pet. Unfortunately, this Basset had no chip.

3. If you are lucky enough to live near a pet groomer (we have two), take the animal in (or take a picture of it)…never know who might have a thing for a certain type of animal (I notice Dachshunds as a rule, and who is walking them).

4. Flyers and Craigslist might work, although Flyers tend to be immediate and on-the-spot.

5. See if there is a local club if you find a dog that has a clear breed association. We could tell this was a pure-bred and started looking up local dog clubs for the breed.

We were informed that technically and legally, if you maintain shelter and possession of an animal for five days, and you have taken steps to find the owner, the animal becomes yours.

After four days of caring for her (and dealing with her new found status of being ‘in-season’, heh), we were able to track down the owners by way of an e-mail address from a Mercury News web listing, which we traced to the owners’ MySpace page, something we didn’t quite expect to be the final outcome.

It was sad to see her go, as we (and our neighbors and their kids), began to consider what would happen next. Would we keep her? Would our neighbors keep her? Would we contact a local Basset club to find her a home?

Her name? Daisy. We miss her a little, but we’re happy she’s home.