Photos with Santa at the Columbia Mall

During the holiday season, the Mall in Columbia invites dogs to come in on Monday evenings and have their pictures taken with Santa! Heather, one of our Columbia Dogs-on-the-Go members, discovered this little gem (one of Columbia's best kept secrets?) Here's the scoop - it's only on Monday evenings from 6-9 pm, November 24, December 1, 8, and 15.

Here's the pricing info:
$13.95 for 1 5X7
$13.95 for 2 3X5s
$13.95 for 4 wallets
$7.95 for additional prints
25% off 5 prints or more[/center]

Since the mall is open and normally does not allow pets, you MUST enter through the entrance near the Pumpkin Patch store on the lower level (where the old Bun Penney coffee shop was located). Here's a link for the Mall with a map. If you click on the left mall map it shows the lower level. Enter through the little red arrow on the right side of Lord and Taylor. Then make a right and then another right because Santa is located right in front of Lord and Taylor. Your best bet would be to park in the Lord and Taylor parking garage - it's the closest to the entrance.

Riley, the Artist's Model

© 2008 Catharine Love

Riley was one of the subjects of a series of pen-and-ink dog drawings done by my daughter Catharine this summer. Catharine's an art student at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore (and a graduate of Hammond High). I asked her if she would do some dog drawings that I could use on my blog, website, or . . . that book I'm thinking about writing.

I just love this one! I think I'll experiment with making some note cards.

Pooches Pool Party!

It's the dog swim event of the year! Each year, the Howard County Recreaction & Parks department welcomes dogs into the pool for the last weekend the pool remains open for the summer. It's always the weekend after Labor Day and has been at the Roger Carter Center pool.

This year, it's Saturday, September 6. The fee is $10.00 and covers one dog and two handlers. Session times are 10 AM and 1 PM. Registration started August 6 and will fill up quickly.

Go to the HCR&P site, click on Location: Roger Carter Rec Ctr, and then go to page 2 of the listings. Or search for sessions #3003.101 or #3003.102.

Here are some pics of Riley, enjoying a dog swim at the Kings Contrivance dog swim a few years ago:

See you there!

Canine Haute Couture - Japan Style

I haven't really been seeing as many dogs in Kyoto as I expected. Maybe it's because dogs seem to have so few places to shop here. I've been doing miles of shop-walking and so far only saw this one shop--which the dogs had to share with "baby kids."

The shop had a selection of bowls and leashes alongside baby toys and gear. Come to think of it, this was the only child store I saw also (so far).

I was beginning to wonder if it were possible that the Japanese were not as devoted to their pooches as we are, when I came upon a bookstore and a pretty wide selection of dog magazines. This one was all about "wear, accessory, and goods" and came with a large packet of patterns and instructions.

There is everything in here from beach wear to a "layered look tee" and a camisole(!), and things you can make out of your own clothing.

Corgis and dachsunds seem to be popular here, along with the shitzus and lhasas that I expected to see.

Hand-painted Pups!

OK. I wanted to wait at least until October to post this one. But, I couldn't. I just thought these were so darn pretty, I wanted to show them NOW!

On our Sunday stroll through Ellicott City's Main Street, we stopped in several shops with "pets welcome" signs. One was Wreath and Basket, where we found a treeful of these personalized hand-painted ornaments. Sherry Kendall, the shop owner, is also a professional illustrator and creates the ornaments from photos of your dog--supplied by you or taken by her.

We'll have to stop in again--but maybe without 5 tails wagging at once!

Indoor Swimming for Dogs!

I've heard of the Canine Fitness Center in Crownsville, but never got around to checking it out. Yesterday, the center was featured in The Washbiz Blog, a Washington Post blog by Dan Beyer (who also writes a local blog called Columbia Talk).

The story was written by business columnist Tom Heath. Tom has a 10-year-old golden, Babe, who is "a bit arthritic." To keep him active, Tom and his wife drive from their home in Chevy Chase every weekend to take Babe to the indoor heated dog pool at the Canine Fitness Center in Crownsville, an hour away. "We pay around $29 for a half-hour's swim," he says. "It's worth every penny. He builds muscle in his arthritic legs and exercises his heart and lungs."

I know Riley would absolutely love it. Cody? Not so much . . .

June 8 Dog Events

If June 8 rolls around and your dog complains that he has nothing to do, it's not for the lack of special events in this area.

So far, I know of 2 doggie events planned for Sunday, June 8:

Howard County Pet Expo. Runs from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at Schooley Mill Park in Highland. All proceeds support animal rescue and there will be lots of adoptees on site. Plus raffles, demos, food, music and more. (410) 992-8410

A Dog's Day in Ellicott City. Starts at 2:00 pm and is sponsored by the Yuppy Puppy Pet Boutique on Ellicott City's Main Street. This sounds full of fun stuff--a pet parade, pet-owner dress alike contest, best dressed pet contest, side walk sale, prizes and more. You must arrive early to register for the contests. 410-750-WOOF (9663).

If you're really organized, you might even be able to make both!

No dog to walk? Get one of these!

OK, it sounds like something from Dave Barry's Gift Guide, but here are dog balloons that actually walk! I found these on a U.K. site, which says that the balloons "have been balanced perfectly so that when filled with helium they float just above the ground with their little feet dangling to the floor. When you gently walk with them, pulling the lead, their little legs and feet appear to walk giving a super fun, realistic K9 look."

So, keep an eye open for balloon walkers in Howard County. (I wonder if they attract inflatable ticks . . . ?)

P.S. Found them on a U.S. site, My Care Free Pet, for $9.99 . . . with a sale on Corgis for some reason!

Million Dog Mosaic

My friend Jo in Australia sent me this link for Pedigree's Million Dog Mosaic. For every dog photo that's uploaded to the mosaic, Pedigree will make a $1 donation to The PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive.

Riley and Cody can be found by clicking on "Browse the Mosaic" and then entering the codes: riley170 and cody121.

It can take a few days for them to work a photo into the mosaic.

Dog Parks & Beaches

Here are some links to off-leash dog parks.

Howard County:

Worthington Dog Park

Anne Arundel County:

Quiet Waters Dog Park & Beach

Downs Park Dog Beach