Bark in the Park is a fundraising event with big dogs, little dogs, skilled dogs, not so skilled dogs; well, you get the idea. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Humane Society Silicon Valley and San Jose Animal Care Center.

Throughout the day at various times: dancing dogs, dog water park, free dog agility course, flyball canine relay, performing dogs, grooming, training tips and 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 cents rabies vaccinations, low cost microchipping, dog-related vendors and what would an event be without kid’s activities?

There will be live music along with food and beverages.

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

Bark in the Park 2009
William Street Park, San Jose
Corner of William and S. Sixteenth Streets

Saturday, September 19
10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Admission: humans 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.

The Humane Society Silicon Valley will open the doors to its new Animal Community Center in Milpitas this Saturday with a special open house event.

The 48,000 square foot facility offers cage-less animal care, the animal habitats for dogs, cats, and rabbits simulate home environments with home-like enclosures for dogs; condos, complete with climbing trees for cats; and a “rabbitat” designed to reflect the warrens rabbits naturally inhabit.

The new Animal Community Center includes an Adoption Galleria; a Medical Center offering affordable spaying/neutering, vaccinations, microchipping and testing services; Veterinary Hospital; Doggie Daycare, Grooming and Boarding; Community Dog Park and Training Center; along with an Education Center featuring programs for children, teens and families; also, a pet store and a pet-friendly café.

The center is an environmentally friendly “Green” facility that allows the Humane Society Silicon Valley to spend less on operational costs and more on the animals.

The $25 million Animal Community Center, funded through public donations, has raised approximately $20.6 million and contributions at all levels are still needed.

The Open House Event this Saturday, March 28, is from 10:00 am through 6:00 pm and features a number of activities and a chance to check out the new facility.

For the kids there will be animal balloon making, coloring, scavenger hunt, face painting and other arts and crafts.

There will be booths with information about the environmentally friendly “green” animal center along with various other information including volunteering, services available, and a campaign booth with how you can make a gift to help the center.

You can make a video statement with your pledge to help animals in your community that will be viewable on their website and You Tube.

Humane Society Silicon Valley Animal Community Center
901 Ames Avenue, Milpitas, 95035

Open House Event
Saturday, March 28
10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Free

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.