It should be a spooky-good time Sunday at Howl-O-Ween in downtown Roanoke. If you plan to dress your pooch for the costume contest this weekend or for Halloween and want to share your creative process, post a comment. Where are the best costumes for dogs in the Roanoke and New River Valleys and are there still any good ones left?
My husband’s business meeting is over, so now we are really on vacation in Colorado, visiting family and taking in the local attractions.
I have heard stories that some pets can seem to know when family members are coming home, even when the return trip is not part of the daily routine. Dogs will wait by a door or a window in anticipation of their favorite human’s reappearance.
If your pet seems to know you are in the neighborhood long before your turn into your driveway, you might be able to contribute to a study being conducted by OpenSourceScience.net.
According to the Web site, OpenSourceScience is a free, Web-based collaborative project for facilitating the discussion and replication of controversial scientific experiments. I think that means they try to explain the unexplainable. I don't see much controversy in trying to figure out if dogs have a sense for the return of a beloved human. It just seems like a fun way to share stories about your smart and sensitive pooch in a the name of science.
When we board the plane back to Virginia later this week, I really doubt if Dexter will have any sense that we are homeward bound. But as soon as we open the door, he will do his happy-dog dance. I can document that phenomenon conclusively.
Pumpkins are popping up on porches, spooky decorations are adorning homes, and the candy and costume displays are front-and-center in retail stores. Halloween is almost here.
But the hectic Halloween holiday can be very scary for your pets.
According to Animal Wellness magazine, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Halloween-Safety.com, consider these tips to keep your pets safe and healthy:
Never give animals chocolate. It’s especially toxic for dogs. Giving a dog a little bit of chocolate is like giving a human just a little bit of arsenic; it may not do immediate damage, but it’s certainly not a good idea.
Keep other candies and gum away from pets. Treats like this aren’t very healthy for humans, but they are actually hazardous for animals. Be sure to keep the wrappers out of reach, too.
Don’t let your pets munch on the decorations. Dogs can’t digest veggies that aren’t pulverized into mush. Raw pumpkin can cause intestinal blockage, especially if swallowed in large chunks.
If you expect a parade of trick-or-treaters, try to keep your pets away from the constantly-opening door to prevent an unwanted escape. A steady stream of small kids in weird costumes can make even a the most calm dog or cat very anxious.
Keep burning candles far away from wagging tails and curious noses. Your pet could knock over the open flame, or could get his or her fur singed or skin burned. It won’t make for a fun holiday if your house smells like burned hair, your dog or cat is crying in pain and you have to run for the fire extinguisher.
If you dress your pet in a costume, make sure the get-up does not limit movement, hearing, sight or breathing. Inspect the costume for hazards and always keep an eye on your pet while he or she is wearing it. [Editor’s note: While dogs will tolerate all manner of indignity to make you happy, I have never met a cat that likes to wear a costume.]
Ah, what a wonderful distraction the Sky Mall magazine is when you are crammed into the middle seat on a long, turbulent flight, as I was last Sunday.
Sure, I was losing feeling in my feet and legs, but I am always happy perusing Sky Mall, chock full of hundreds of cool things that I never knew I needed but I am pretty sure I can’t live without, including fashion-forward litter boxes.
I hate the unsightly litter box we have now, so I am thinking about investing in one of these attractive alternatives. I like the cabinet, but I think the planter would be more versatile.
My daughter’s cat, India, will be fine with either choice. My concern is my cat Thai, who is very picky about his toilet facilities. He insists on Tidy Cat litter, and if the pan is not in pristine condition, well, let’s just say he does more than think outside the box. I would hate to drop serious cash on one of these decorator kitty restrooms just to find Thai expresses his displeasure all over my floor.
This laser thingy, however, is a must. I may not be able to wait until Christmas to give my kitties this toy.
I am glad I only fly a few times a year. I really can’t afford airfare and the Sky Mall.
If you happen to need a hotel in downtown Denver while traveling with your favorite canine, may I recommend the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa?
I am here tagging along on my husband's business trip, and we are not traveling with our dog, but if we ever do get out here with Dexter, we would consider this historic, 116-year-old hotel. It reminds me of the Hotel Roanoke in its decor and atmosphere. And it is not only beautiful, but it is dog-friendly.
According to the pleather-bound guest services directory in our room, dogs of any size are welcome to stay in the guest’s room at no additional charge.
Proof of current vaccines is required upon check-in. Just for the dog, that is, not for you.
I know I have mentioned this before, but you will find proof of vaccination is a common requirement in pet-friendly places, so if you like to take your dog everywhere you go, you may want to keep a copy of shot records handy.
Once you check in with your pooch, a Brown Palace dog bowl and dog bed will be delivered to your room, along with a "Bone-Appetite" welcome treat from the Brown Palace kitchen.
As for us human guests, all we got was a little piece of chocolate. It was pretty tasty chocolate, so I am not complaining.
There are spa services here, but I think they are only for two-legged guests.
If you travel with your dog, post a comment on pet-friendly places you have found.
I am on vacation this week, but since writing this blog seems more like fun than work to me, I plan to do at least one entry a day. Right now, I am blogging from the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa in downtown Denver. More about that later.
Now it's only Monday, and I am on vacation, but I am already planning for the weekend back in Roanoke.
This Sunday afternoon, you can walk your dog for a good cause as a participant in the RVSPCA Howl-O-Ween. The event is a fundraiser for the Roanoke animal shelter and promises to be all kinds of fun and healthy activity for pet families.
The event is a mile-long walk, and participants are asked to gather pledges from sponsors. The walk starts at 2 p.m. in Elmwood Park at the amphitheater. The route is from the park to Jefferson Street to Campbell Avenue to Market Street, then returning to Elmwood Park.
Walkers who raise at least $50 will receive an official event T-shirt.
Besides the walk with hundreds of families and their Fidos parading downtown, the big event will be the pet-and-people costume contest. I know from attending last month's Dogtoberfest that Roanoke dog-lovers are very creative, so I can't wait to see what you come up with.
There will also be pet photos and caricatures, face painting for your two-legged kids and a blessing for your four-legged babies. Tail-wagging good fun for the whole family.
You can download a pledge sheet and get more details here.
I plan to be there with Dexter, so I hope I can meet some Happy Wag blog readers in person.
Get your creative juices flowing, blog readers. The Roanoke Valley SPCA is looking for a name for their e-newsletter. So fire up your imagination and send your suggestions to mail@rvspca.org.
If your title is selected, you not only earn bragging rights but you get your choice of either Chessie or Waggles, the official bean bag mascot of the RVSPCA.
I racked my brain, mined all my resources, and checked countless copyrights before settling on a name for this blog, so I wish them well in their search. I do love the name of Six Wags Dog Park's mass e-mail, the Wet Noseletter.
And while we are on the subject of the RVSPCA newsletter, they recently featured a picture of Natasha, a kitty princess who has ascended to the throne of queen of the playroom at the SPCA. Natasha has the dubious honor of being the longest resident of the SPCA, nearly 18 months and still no home.
I have met Natasha and she's a beautiful girl. I don' t know if you can clearly see it in this picture, but she has one eye that is gold with brilliant flecks of amber and brown.
The newsletter admits she is a bit of a diva, as anyone of such exquisite beauty should rightfully be. She will get along fine in a home with other cats as long as they respect her authority and recognize that she is queen. Perhaps a tiara would help.
If you or someone you know needs a new monarch in their heart and home, think about Natasha.
Even though I love animals and have lived in this area for more than two years, I have never been to the Natural Bridge Zoo. The zoo is located in Rockbridge County.
And from the sounds of things, I am glad I haven't made the trip.
From what I read in the newspaper and what I have seen on television, it seems pretty dreadful.
If any of you have visited the zoo, post a comment and share your impressions.
I will be out of town this Sunday and will not be able to attend a free seminar at Six Wags Dog Park about raw diets for dogs. The seminar starts at 4 p.m. at the park building.
I have read a little about this and I know some pet parents are passionate about feeding their four-leggers nothing but uncooked, natural foods. According to the flyer I picked up last night, a raw diet can improve not only your pooch's digestion, but their overall health and appearance as well. The seminar will include a demonstration on how to prepare the food and promises to help design a diet for your dog.
Celie Holmes is one of the seminar instructors and she told me that she and Kristen Viar will likely hold another one again this year.
"We're hoping for at least 10 or 12 people [this Sunday]," she said.
My advice would be to take the information you learn and run it by your vet before making any drastic changes to your dog's diet, especially if you have an older pooch or one with health problems.
If any of you blog readers get to attend, post a comment and let us know what you thought.
Last night we took Dexter out for his first visit to Six Wags Dog Park in Salem. Five acres of open area to run and dozens of new friends to meet; he was in heaven.
The park is located on Apperson Drive in Salem in what appears to be an old driving range behind the Pancake House. The park is fenced, so you can take your pooch off the leash and let him or her explore, run, bark, roll in the grass and just be a dog.
First-time park visitors are asked to attend a Yappy Hour, a social test for newcomers to make sure your dog will play well with others. Yappy Hours are Wednesday nights from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 8:30 to 10 a.m. You will need to fill out some paperwork when you arrive.
The dogs seem to have a blast running and playing, while the pet parents can meet and socialize. Dexter is a Greyhound, and even though he was clearly having fun, he tires out pretty quickly. If you have a high-energy, high-stamina dog, Six Wags is a great venue for working off that excess energy. I think this park is ideal for people and dogs that live a home without a fenced yard.
I will keep you posted on upcoming events, including an off-the-leash wine tasting and doggie nutrition seminars.
If you have taken your pup to the park, let me know what you thought.
