Canines & Cocktails for a Cause

During the warm-weather months, Paws Pet Boutique teams up with the Loew's Annapolis Hotel to sponsor Canines & Cocktails for a Cause. Each of these events supports an animal cause, and occurs on the last Friday of the month (April, June, July, August) and the 2nd to last Friday in May and September. On May 20, it's "Have a Ball Bobbing for Balls," to benefit Homeward Trails.

Here's a clip from an earlier Canines & Cocktails:

Well-behaved people and dogs are welcome!

5:30 - 7:30 pm, rain or shine
Loew's Annapolis Hotel
126 West Street
Annapolis, MD

Read more about location, parking, prizes, etc. on the Paws Pet Boutique website.

Wagging Weekend Ahead

If you and your pooch are looking for things to do this weekend, you might want to check out one (or more) of these:

Friday, May 20, 2011
Wine & Wag - Maryland SPCA
5:30-7:30 pm

The Maryland SPCA is holidng its Wine & Wag Happy Hours once again. Tickets are $10 per person if purchased online in advance and $15 at the event. The event includes paw painting, bobbing for hot dogs, off-leash play in the fun runs, Canine Good Citizen tests by Dogs Finding Dogs and more! Kids are welcome but must pay the full price. There is a suggested donation of $3 for beer and wine and $1 for other beverages. This event will repeat on June 24 and July 22. Please note that Baltimore City law requires all dogs to be leashed at this event.

Friday, May 20, 2011
Canines & Cocktails for a Cause
5:30-7:30 pm, rain or shine

During the warm-weather months, Paws Pet Boutique teams up with the Loew's Annapolis Hotel to sponsor Canines & Cocktails for a Cause. Each of these events supports an animal cause, and occurs on the last Friday of the month (April, June, July, August) and the 2nd to last Friday in May and September. Well-behaved people and dogs are welcome! This week's theme is "Have a Ball Bobbing for Balls" to benefit Homeward Trails.

Saturday, May 21, 2011
Strut Your Mutt
10am - 3pm

The 6th annual Strut Your Mutt Dog Parade and Festival will take place on Saturday, May 21, 2011 in downtown Bethesda, MD. Strut Your Mutt features a Pooch Parade, dog fashion show, canine contests, kids play area, and much more! The registration fee is $25 plus processing fee (per dog) and includes a doggie goodie bag, event t-shirt, and entry into the Strut Your Mutt parade and dog-owner contests. Please register and pay online.

Be sure to check the Community Calendar on the Columbia Dogs on the Go site regularly for pet-related events in Columbia and nearby areas.

Petspeak Class at HCC: May 25

Howard Community College is offering a non-credit class on animal communication called Petspeak: What Your Animals Really Want You To Know, on Wednesday evening, May 25 at 7 pm.

The official course description:

Have you ever wondered what your companion animals are trying to communicate? Have you ever been perplexed by their behavior? Why don't you ask them? In this entertaining and provocative evening, Animal communicator Terri Diener will introduce you to the rich and wonderful world of your pet's thoughts and feelings. Please bring a photograph of your pet to class. $29

Actually, a friend and I signed up for this course when it was offered back in March. We were disappointed when it was cancelled because of low enrollment. Darn! (I'm hoping that posting this will generate some more interest.)

I, for one, am very eager to know what's going on in Cody's head. Riley is relatively easy to read. With him, it's all about food and making sure all of stay together at all times. Cody is a little more complex. So I'm looking forward to learning a thing or two. Or just having some fun! Being a better communicator can never hurt.

Visit the Howard Community College website for more details and to register.


Or, call 443-518-1700

Ask the Vet: Are kennel cough shots every 6 months really needed and safe?

Guest post by Dr. Scott Sanderson

Q. I've been seeing on the websites of many doggie daycares and boarding/kennel locations that a Bordetella vaccine is recommended or required every six months in order for a dog to attend. This is an annual vaccination according to veterinary charts I've been seeing, and especially with the advent of "super bugs" in humans I was wondering if there are any risks associated with a more frequent vaccination schedule. Are there any potential side effects related to a six-month schedule? Is there a particular frequency veterinarians tend to argue in favor of?--Ingrid

A. At the Animal Wellness Center our philosohphy is Do No Harm! This means being very careful about overly stressing your dog's immune system with un-needed vaccines.

Of all the vaccines on the market, the intra-nasal Bordetella vaccine is the least problematic. But never get it in combination with other vaccines like rabies or distemper, and NEVER vaccinate a sick animal. Once yearly is enough. So if the kennel demands it, talk to them about your concerns. If your dog is healthy, you don't want to put his/her health at risk because of an infexible kennel owner. Ask them why their requirements are so strict and you may discover that they have outbreaks of kennel cough--yet another reason to avoid that establishment!

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Got a pet-related health question? Use this form to Ask the Vet. Scott Sanderson DVM runs the Animal Wellness Center in Columbia, MD and is a sponsor of Columbia Dogs on the Go. He is a certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and has completed training in the Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET). Dr. Sanderson is a member of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncturists, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Animal Hospital Association. He is a local resident of Howard County, and a past president of the Howard County Veterinary Medical Association.

Bark in the Park: Baysox, Sunday May 15

Once again, . . .
It's woof, woof, woof for the home team!
The Bowie Baysox is offering a Bark In The Park game on Sunday, May 15. Fans are invited to bring their 4-legged friends to watch the Baysox take on the Akron Aeros at 2:05 pm at Prince George's Stadium in Bowie.

Ticket prices range from $9 for general admission to $14 for lower reserved seating. The 4-legged ones are free when accompanied by a ticket-holding human.

Notes from the Baysox manager: "Bark In The Park is open to the public with a leashed dog. It has been a great event here for numerous years and one we hope to continue for many years to come. We do limit it to one dog per person (so if someone has 3 dogs, there needs to be 3 people caring for them). Other than that, it is a fun day for the WHOLE family, doggies included!"

New in 2011: "Additionally, every Monday this season (except July, 4) will be Mutt Monday!  The Bark in the Park event will be the 'big' event of the season, but we wanted to add a few other opportunities to bring your dog to the park." 

For more information on the Baysox games, check out the Baysox website or call the Baysox front offices at 301-805-6000.

Prince George’s Stadium 
Located at US 301 and US 50
Bowie, Maryland

Pets on Wheels at PETCO - Saturday, May 14

Pets on Wheels of Howard County will have a table outside the PETCO on Route 40 in Ellicott City this Saturday and will raffle off a cooler stuffed with all kinds of dog goodies (approximate value $400).  They had originally planned to raffle this item off at Dog Day Afternoon, but that event was cancelled due to inclement weather.

Pets on Wheels of Howard County is an association of volunteers who take their own pets to visit nursing and assisted living homes.

The fundraiser at PETCO will run from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

PETCO

10060 US Highway 40

Ellicott City, MD 21042

For those who think their dogs may be a good POW candidate, Pets on Wheels Howard County has program introductions and dog evaluations on the first Wednesday of each month. Call 410-313-7461.

Lakefront Lunchtime Concerts in Columbia

The Columbia Association (CA) is sponsoring a series of Lakefront Lunchtime Concerts on Wednesdays from noon to 2 pm, running from May 11 thru July 6.

Members of Columbia Dogs on the Go are invited to bring their dogs and join in the fun! The CA will even try to provide water dishes for our thirsty pooches.

We'll post each concert on the Events page of the CDOG website, so we can let each other know who's planning to attend. Those interested can add a lake walk before or after the concert.

The musical line-up represents a wide variety of musical styles, including rock, folk and jazz. If information is available about the artists, we'll add that to our announcements.

The Lakefront Wednesdays lunchtime concert series is part of CA’s welcome initiative to help new and current residents learn more about Columbia’s history and vision and encourage them to become involved in their community.

For more information, please call 410-715-3104, or send an e-mail to Kelly Cooper, the CA's coordinator of this event.

Sheep Dog Demos @ Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

May 7-8, 2011

This weekend is the big Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival at the Howard County Fairgrounds. Sheep herding demos are presented on Sat. and Sun. at 11 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM. Border collies with a flock of sheep. The shepherd explains all that he/she is doing. Get there early for a good view!

Our thanks to Eileen for this reminder!

Please note: Our dogs are not allowed at the festival, so Riley and Cody will be staying home.

The festival has more details on the Working Sheepdog Demonstrations on its website.

Ask the Vet: Non-anesthesia Teeth Cleaning

Guest post by Dr. Scott Sanderson

Q. I hear there is a new method of cleaning dogs' teeth that doesn't require anesthesia. Does anyone have any experience with this? What is it? Sedation? How do they clean the teeth? Is it less expensive than anesthesia? Any drawbacks? – Eileen

A. Non-anesthetic teeth cleaning is available for your pet, but only for routine cleaning. If your pet has a broken or loose tooth, gum infection or is difficult to handle, anesthesia or light sedation may be required.

Untreated gum or dental infections can lead to serious liver, heart or kidney disease. Drooling, halitosis, bleeding gums and pain when chewing are some of the tell tale signs of dental problems.

There is a national group called HoundsTooth that is promoting non-anesthetic dental services. I have not had any clients use them but their technique seems interesting.

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Got a pet-related health question? Use this form to Ask the Vet. Scott Sanderson DVM runs the Animal Wellness Center in Columbia, MD and is a sponsor of Columbia Dogs on the Go. He is a certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and has completed training in the Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET). Dr. Sanderson is a member of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncturists, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Animal Hospital Association. He is a local resident of Howard County, and a past president of the Howard County Veterinary Medical Association.

Yappy Hour at the Wine Bin

Bring your well-behaved dogs on the first Friday of each month for a fun evening of wine and dog biscuits at the Wine Bin. Featuring luscious Parfections chocolate and live music.

Next Yappy Hour:   

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM  May 6, 2011

8390 Main Street | Ellicott City, MD 21043 | PH: 410.465.7802 | FX: 410.465.7804 | wine@winebinec.com

Forest Habitat Trail: Patuxent Wildlife Refuge

It may have been a wee bit early in the year for this walk--not to mention a wee bit wet and muddy after heavy rains the day before--but I see great potential for this one for a group walk. It's a very pleasant and easy 2.5 miles through the woods, with interpretative signs throughout to educate us about the trees.

This walk is one of the trails in the North Tract of the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge. (There is also a South Tract, which is home to the Refuge's National Wildlife Visitor Center and several popular trails, including one around Cash Lake. The North and South tracts are accessed via different entrances.) Access to the the North is on Bald Eagle drive near the intersection of Rt 32 and Rt 198.

We scouted this trail on Sunday, April 17. We had actually been to this refuge several times in the past--though not very recently. I was surprised at the condition of Bald Eagle drive. Quite a number of pot holes to dodge! But, always the optimist, I figured this might help keep the area from becoming too popular and crowded.

You must also check in at the Ranger Contact Station, and fill out a form with your vehicle information. You then carry the pink copy with you and place the yellow one in your car--and return both to the station before you leave the refuge.

The Forest Habitat Trail starts right across from the ranger station with a boardwalk that passes through a butterfly garden and bird feeding area. It had rained pretty heavily the day before so once we crossed the boardwalk we found ourselves slogging through some muddy patches. But things did clear up as we continued.

Map of North Tract Trails - Patuxent Wildlife Refuge

Surprisingly, the forest still seemed like it was hanging onto winter. Trees were barely beginning to leaf out and ferns and wildflowers had not yet emerged. But it was beautiful and peaceful nonetheless, and the dogs seemed to enjoy it as much as we did.

In a few more weeks--or less, I'm sure the dogwoods and moutain laurel will be blooming. We'll aim for another weekend walk here.