July 3, 2008Kitty takes the runway
Star City Cat Fancier's will host its Summertime Picnic show this weekend at the Holiday Inn at 3315 Ordway Drive, near Valley View mall. The show is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you love kitties this is a great way to see some exotic breeds. I learned a lot about show cats when I attended the Cats in Coat show in February. And this time around, there is a competition for household felines as well as the purebred beauties. Admission is $5, but there is a dollar off coupon in today's Inside Out section of The Roanoke Times. June 24, 2008A day of wine, dogs and horsesSave the date for fourth annual Horse & Hound Wine festival in Bedford on July 12. The paw-friendly festival returns with plenty of events for pooches, wine and food for people, and a parade for horses. A prior commitment keeps me from going this year, but we had a great time when we attended last summer. It was brutally hot that day, but the event coordinators made sure to have plenty of water and wet towels on hand for the dogs, and a picnic shelter provided some relief from the sun.
Where: Johnson’s Orchard, 2122 Sheep Creek Road, Bedford June 17, 2008Community pet show this SundayThe brave folks at Blue Ridge Vineyards invite folks to bring their dogs, cats, puppies and kittens for a community pet show this Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m. And you can sip some Botetourt County wine while you are there. 
Competitions scheduled for the show include: cutest puppy or kitten, pet parent/pet look-a-like, most unusual dog or cat, most vocal pet, best costumes, most patient (not sure if that means the pet or the parent) and most Frisbee catches. There will also be rally/obedience and agility events. The first event costs $5 to enter; additional events are $2 each. And a five-spot will get you a souvenir glass for wine tasting. Leashes and vaccine records are required for pets; I am sure valid identification is required for the wine tasters as well. The vineyard is located at 1027 Shiloh Drive in Eagle Rock. For more information, call 798-7642 or visit the Web site. June 12, 2008Bargain baths
The event is a fundraiser for the Roanoke Valley SPCA and is sponsored by radio station The Planet 101.5 FM. Trained groomers will be on hand to wash and fluff your tiny Fido for $10. Big sweeties will cost an additional $5. All the proceeds go to the RVSPCA. The radio station will be broadcasting live from the dog wash and will give away t-shirts and other prizes. Expect a guest appearance by Mugsy, mascot of the Salem Avalanche, and McGruff the Crime-Fighting Dog. No word if those dogs will be bathed at the event. June 10, 2008Berners of the Valley unite
The event will feature an all-breed rally novice show. There will be show judging for all Bernese mountain dogs (Berners to those who love them) with classes for dogs over 12 months old, including a spay/neuter class and a costume class, and an exhibition-only class for champions. There will also be three conformation classes for puppies. For more information about the event and the club, click here. June 1, 2008Woofstock photosIf you took your pooch to Woofstock on Saturday, post a comment and let us know what you thought. You can also look at photos I snapped at the event at The Happy Wag Flickr page. May 28, 2008Woofstock this weekendGet your groove on at Woofstock this weekend. The event is scheduled for Saturday, rain date is Sunday. The fun starts at 10 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m. in downtown Roanoke's Elmwood Park. May 19, 2008Good clean funHow do you raise thousands of dollars to build a dog park in this town? One sudsy pooch at a time, that's how. 
Saturday's fundraiser for the Roanoke Dog Park had a line of pooches waiting to lather-rinse-repeat under sunny skies in the lawn in front of Fire Station 8 on the city's south side. Dogs played, dogs frolicked, dogs got a gentle scrubbing, and pet parents got to chat with each and enjoy a nice afternoon out with their pets, just the sort of activity envisioned for a public dog park. Volunteer Lauren Ellerman said there was a steady flow of customers that kept volunteers busy washing, walking and photographing dogs, with all proceeds intended to add a fence and other amenities for an off-leash area in a city park. My husband and I strolled over from the fire station to Fork in the Alley, our first visit to that charming bistro, to have lunch. Fifteen percent of our tab, as well as all sales over the weekend, will be donated to the dog park cause. May 14, 2008Wine and wagsFor vino fans, here is a paw-friendly wine tasting. Pack a picnic and your pooch for a tour of the Lexington Valley Vineyard on the first Friday of each month, beginning June 6 and running through October. Snack baskets are available for purchase if your don't want to bring your own lunch; the wine tasting, of course, is for two leggers only. The vineyard will provide water and biscuits for the pooches. Admission is free and the tasting begins at 4 p.m. Lexington Valley Vineyard is located at 80 Norton Way, Rockbridge Baths. Call 462-2974 or go to www.lexingtonvalleyvineyard.com for more information. May 12, 2008Dine and wash and build a fenceThe next fundraiser for the Roanoke Dog Park is a weekend-long event. 
Fork in the Alley restaurant will donate 15 percent of all food and beverage sales this weekend, from Friday night through Sunday night, to the cause. There will also be a dog wash at the South Roanoke Fire Station across the street from the restaurant from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. For a $10 donation to the dog park, your pooch will be made squeaky clean. And for those of us who are indecisive, you can have your food and wash your dog, too. For an additional $10 donation, a dog walker will parade your freshly-washed pooch around the neighborhood for an hour while you enjoy lunch at the Fork. According to the press release from NewVaConnects, the professional group in charge of raising the funds for the dog park, almost $7,000 has been donated since the campaign was launched on March 11 to build the fence and add other amenities to the off-leash area at Fishburn Park. The goal is to raise $30,000 by June 30. Fork in the Alley is located at 2123 Crystal Spring Avenue in Roanoke. The fire station is across the street at 2328 Crystal Springs Avenue. Donations for the dog park can also be made at its Web site. May 1, 2008Arthritis Walk, dogs includedGet the leash ready and take your pooch on a nice stroll for a good cause for the Roanoke Arthritis Walk on Saturday, May 10. The annual fundraiser for the National Arthritis Foundation features one- or three-mile courses and starts at Wiley Drive near the site of the former Victory Stadium. Dog parents can bring their leashed, well-behaved pooches along for the walk. For more information on arthritis, to volunteer or to build an Arthritis Walk team, call Sara Johnston at 1-800-456-4687 ext. 306 or visit the Web site at www.arthritis.org. April 18, 2008Birthday bash at PetSmart
Here's the scoop from a news release: WHAT: A complimentary birthday event for pets and their pet parents in all PetSmart stores. Pets are encouraged to wear their best decorated party hat and compete to win PetSmart gift cards. Pets also have a chance to learn how to "high five" with accredited trainers and show off their new trick in a "high five" contest. Party favors include a digital photo package and goodie bags. Supplies are limited, so pets should arrive early. WHEN: Tuesday, April 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. The trick contest is at 7 p.m., the party hat contest starts at 7:30 p.m.
I guess no clown or pony rides, but it still sounds like a good time. April 17, 2008Save the date for WoofstockGet out your tie-dyed T-shirt and your Birkenstocks, put a flower in your hair, find a hemp collar for your dog and spend a groovy day at Woofstock- a music festival fundraiser for Roanoke Valley animal rescue groups. Here's some information I lifted directly for the RVSPCA Web site: "Sponsor Hounds brings us Woofstock Dog Festival on May 31from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Roanoke's Elmwood Park. Rain date is June 1. Entertainment includes all-day music with Half Moon, The Honest Scoundrels, Lonesome Pine and Burning Bridges. Silent auction, food vendors, face painting. 
Games and contests including Dog Trivia, Ugly Dog Contest, Pet/Owner Look-alike, Costume Contest, and more! Educational seminars, displays, rescue groups. $8 admission for adults, $3 for kids 7 to 12, free for kids under 6 and dogs. Proceeds from admission fees & silent auction, plus other events, to benefit local animal rescue groups including RVSPCA, Dalmatian Rescue of SW Va, Franklin County Humane and Harmony Rescue." April 16, 2008Q&A on energy workshop
WHERE: The Farm At Taylor's Store Wirtz, Va Curious about this workshop, I fired off an e-mail full of questions to Diane Novak, the seminar facilitator. Here are her answers: Q: Can participants bring their dogs with them? A: Yes but they have to get clearance to bring them as I have to make sure animals all dogs are up to date with shots and 'play well with others'. At the last workshop that wasn't the case with two. Q: When you say healing, are we talking about physical ailments or emotional problems or both? A: They can be both physical and emotional. What I am teaching pet owners is the basic rudiments of energy healing, and how to identify when the body is out of balance or is 'blocked' so to speak. Q: Are there materials that participants will leave with? A: People will be leaving with materials I put together in a folder. Q: What percentage is being donated to the FCHS and what exactly is SNAP? A: Half of the workshop profits will be dedicated to SNAP (The Spay Neuter Assistance Project.) I'm very excited about SNAP since the goal is to help low income pet owners in Franklin County afford the cost of a spay or neuter for their pets by being subsidized. Pet owners will be required to show proof of need. Q: Can you give me the exact address for the Farm at Taylor's Store? A: Well for now the owners would rather I give the people who sign up for the class exact directions. I hope you understand :) Novak also added that there will be healthy snacks provided at the workshop and Energy 101 with Equines is next on her agenda. She also said a Roanoke Times reporter is doing a story for the Your Community page of the Virginia section of the newspaper on SNAP. Novak is banking on media coverage for the program raising awareness as well as funds. "I'm hoping we get major donations for it since we can't get going without the moola!" she wrote. April 9, 2008A play date for pooches
Yappy Hour is still on for the early risers from 8:30 to 10 a.m. If, however, you have a high-octane dog, an off-leash park is a great way to expend some of that energy. I am not a devout follower of the "Dog Whisperer," Cesar Millan, but I do believe he's right that regular exercise will make for a better behaved pooch. What has been your experience at off-leash dog parks? March 23, 2008Digital images of egg-hunting dogsI am not a very good photographer, but most of the images created with my Canon EOS are beautiful. I give full credit to my subjects. I take lots of pictures of dogs, and dogs just look great, live and in a .jpg file. 
Big dog, small dogs, amazingly tiny dogs in chic, tailored clothing: I photograph them all. 
Saturday, my family made tracks for Six Wags Dog Park in Salem to participate in the Great Egg Beg. Our happy hounds and hundreds of other pooches hunted for Easter eggs, posed with a dude in a bunny costume, put on a talent show and otherwise had a splendid time. I wandered around the park snapping photos while my daughter and husband tried to help our dogs find treasure-bearing plastic eggs. Alas, the eggs were not running away, so my sighthounds saw no value in expending any effort to find them. If there is nothing to chase, there is nothing to gain as far as greyhounds are concerned. They did not, however, mistake the above-mentioned dude in the rabbit outfit for the ever-elusive mechanical rabbit of their racing days. I was relieved, to say the least. The event, a fundraiser for the RVSPCA and sponsored and hosted by Six Wags and K92, was a very well-run affair and I hope it turns into a spring tradition. To see more photos from the Egg Beg, click here. March 21, 2008Doggie doings this weekendTomorrow is a busy day for dogs in Roanoke, with one event for fans of canine athletes and one for pooches and their families. Early risers can enjoy the excitement at the North American Dog Agility Council Trials. The event, sponsored by the Star City Canine Training Club, starts at 8 a.m. at Hollins University. The competition starts on Saturday and ends on Sunday. 
The Great Egg Beg is from noon to 2 p.m. at Six Wags Dog Park in Salem. Admission is only $5 for the whole family. The event is a fundraiser for the RVSPCA. There will be an Easter egg hunt for the pooches, with doggie treats hidden in every egg, photos with the Easter Bunny, and a canine talent show. The event will be hosted by K92's Danny Meyers. Ambitious dog-lovers like me will try to attend both events. I hope to have some good photos from both to post on the blog this weekend, and I will add all of them to the Happy Wag Flickr group page. And thanks to blog reader Scott, who posted more beautiful pictures of his dog Sandy on the Happy Wag page. It's a public site, and all blog readers and dog lovers (same thing, I know) are invited to join and post. March 20, 2008Agility trials this weekend
Star City Canine Training Club will host agility trials this weekend beginning at 8 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday at Hollins University. The event is scheduled until 3 p.m. or when all runs are finished on both days. Spectators are welcome, but club secretary Jayne Secor said fans need to stay at least 10 feet away from the rings at all times, and they should bring their own chairs as well as snacks and drinks since there are no food vendors. Secor also said you should not bring your dog with you, since it may cause a distraction for the athletes. March 16, 2008St. Paddy's, part twoOkay, had to post a few more photos, especially of the breed rescue groups that marched in the St. Patrick's Day parade on Saturday. Please keep these dogs in mind if you are thinking about adopting a new pup into your family. The dogs at Star City Greyhound Adoptions and Dalmatian Rescue of Southwestern Virginia are looking for loving homes. 
St. Paddy's Day pooches
Here's a few pics from the St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown Roanoke on Saturday. The parade was a big success with plenty of pooches in the crowd and watching on the sidelines. To see more photos from the parade, go to the Happy Wag Flickr page. Post a comment if you see your pup in or at the parade. 
March 14, 2008Bernese (Blue Ridge) Mountain dogs
The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Central Virginia is inviting Berners, Bernerfolk and anyone who appreciates these big, beautiful, hairy pooches to a Dog Walk in Peaks View Park near Lynchburg on Saturday, March 29. The event starts at 11 a.m. and will end about 2 p.m. Participants are asked to bring a dish for a potluck lunch and there will be a short club meeting after lunch. Non-members are invited. For more details, visit the club's Web site. (Park address for your GPS or Mapquest search: 199 Ivy Lane, Lynchburg, VA 24502-4677) Springtime holiday events
The St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Roanoke will feature several breed rescue groups, including my beloved greyhounds, so if you are looking for something fun to do on Saturday, come on down. The parade time has been moved up to 11:30 due to the weather. The Easter Bunny will pose for pictures with pets Valley View mall on Sunday from 6 to 7 p.m. I ponder the irony of a photograph of a bunny with my hounds, who were born and bred to chase a mechanical rabbit as fast as they can. Will they see the giant hare and have track flashbacks? I will let you know.
March 13, 2008The Great Egg Beg
Bring your favorite pup to Six Wags Dog Park in Salem on March 22 from noon to 2 p.m. for the Great Egg Beg, an Easter egg hunt for dogs. Hundreds of eggs will be scattered across the park and will contain doggie treats or prizes. You can have your dog's picture taken with the Easter Bunny and your pooch can participate in a doggie talent show hosted by K92 Mornin' Thang host Danny Myers. Admission is $5 per family with proceeds benefiting the RVSPCA. January 26, 2008Cats are at Valley View Holiday InnI made a major blunder on previous posts about today's Star City Cat Fanciers' WInter Show. They are indeed showing at the Holiday Inn, but it's the one near Valley View on Ordway Drive, NOT the one at Tanglewood on Starkey Drive. My mistake completely, and I apologize profusely for any confusion this blog may have caused. We correct errors here at The Happy Wag. If you ever see any information that looks a little goofy, post a comment and I will happily investigate. January 3, 2008Cats are coming!Mark your calendar for the feline social event of the season: the annual Star City Cat Fancier's show, Jan. 26 and 27 at the Holiday Inn on Ordway Drive near Valley View. [Editor's note: this has been corrected from an earlier posting,] 
I have been graced with the company of cats, all of them lovable little strays, for most of my life. Yet I confess I know nothing at all about showing cats and little about different types and breeds. Until I did a little Internet research, I could not tell a Havana Brown from a Javenese. I am pretty sure the kitty in this stock photo is neither. I do think he looks a little annoyed. If any of you readers are cat show veterans, post a comment and tell us what we should expect. December 26, 2007Have a Yappy New YearSix Wags Dog Park in Salem will be having regular Yappy Hours throughout the holiday season. This could be a good opportunity to let you and your pooch work off holiday stress, and calories, with some fresh air and exercise. The doggy social time is free to members and $5 for non-members. Yappy Hours are from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Saturdays. December 20, 2007Dickens of a Christmas tomorrow nightRemember tomorrow is the highlight of the doggie holiday season: the Dickens of a Christmas costume contest. Good luck to all of the costumed participants. Have fun and stay warm! December 7, 2007Open house and a visit with SantaThe Pulaski County Animal Shelter is having an open house on Thursday, Dec.20. Santa Claus will pose for pictures with pets, refreshments will be served and you can pay a holiday visit to the animals at the shelter. 
If you are thinking about a new pet for Christmas, this is a great way to get an idea who might be the right match for your family. The event is from 6 to 8 p.m. Call 540-674-0089 or visit the Web site for more details. December 1, 2007Remember, pics with Santa todayTake your pooch or kitty to PetsMart today or tomorrow between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. for a digitial photo with Santa. PetsMart will donate $5 of each paid photo this weekend to the Roanoke Valley SPCA. I believe next weekend's photos will benefit Star City Greyhound Adoptions, but I will confirm that and let you know for sure. And if you have a photo you want to enter in our holiday pet photo contest, e-mail it as an attachement to nona.nelson@roanoke.com. Have a great weekend! November 26, 2007A visit with SantaIf you missed taking your pet to the malls to get a picture with Santa earlier this month, have no fear. There will be a half dozen more photo opportunity with the jolly old elf at the Valley View PetsMart. 
A flyer tucked neatly into my bag on Sunday says that St. Nick will be posing for digital photos with pets on Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 1-2, 8-9, and 15-16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Price is $9.95, but you can save a dollar with your PetPerks card; $5 of each paid photo will be donated to local adoption partners, including shelters and rescue groups. A decorative holiday frame is included. The flyer also says this package is a photo of you and your pet. I don't know if this point is negotiable for all you camera-shy folks (like me.) When we had our pets' pictures taken there two years ago, we did have to be in the photo, too. November 20, 2007Saturday in the parkBy Saturday morning, you should be out of your turkey-induced coma, done with the malls and ready for a little fresh air. What better way to work off extra calories and shopping stress than taking your favorite pooch to the park? Six Wags Dog Park in Salem is offering a free Yappy Hour from 8 a.m. to noon this Saturday. 
According Katie Halsted, a park partner and Roanoke's own Pooch Professor, all dog washes will be $10 this Saturday, no matter what size your puppy happens to be. So get out there, let your pup get as dirty as he or she likes in the park, and then clean up before you leave. What a deal! November 12, 2007Pictures with Santa!What better way to start the holiday season than to take your pooch or kitty (or in my case, both) to have his or her picture taken with Santa! 
Pets can pose with Santa this Sunday, Nov. 18, starting at 6 p.m. at Valley View Mall. Tanglewood offers pet photos with the Jolly Old Elf on Sunday, Nov. 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. Can't make it to the malls in the next two weeks? Not to worry. 
PetsMart at Valley View will have St. Nick available for photos the first three weekends in Decemeber. The store representative said exact times and other details have not been finalized, but as soon as I have more information I will be sure to pass it along. November 1, 2007Yappy Happy Hour is canceledThe party's over before it even began. I got a note from Katie Halsted this morning that the Yappy Happy Hour planned for this Saturday at Six Wags Dog Park has been canceled. I will let you know if I hear the event has been rescheduled. October 31, 2007Yappy Happy Hour!Six Wags Dog Park in Salem will be hosting a Yappy Happy Hour this Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m.
Yappy Hour admission is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. If you have never taken your pooch to a Yappy Hour, you may want to go tonight or Saturday morning to make sure your pup will have a good park experience. Volunteers are needed for decorations. E-mail Katie Halsted at katie@roanokedogtrainer.com if you are interested. I understand designated drivers will be available, but I recommend bringing your own. Lucky me, I married mine. October 28, 2007It's all about the adoptionsEven though October is almost over, it is still national Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog month. Meet Ruby and Daisy, two former shelter hounds that found a loving, forever home. These two lovely ladies were having a wonderful time at Howl-O-Ween on Sunday at Elmwood Park.
 
 Little Amy is now in foster care, but soon she will be ready to adopt from the Roanoke Valley SPCA. Cuties in costumesA few of the Howl-O-Ween costume winners: Dakota the Siberian Husky in his bat wings was named scariest pooch, and a reluctant Pikachu, a cockapoo, and Lexi took home the cutest costume prize. 
 Pairs everywhere!Dogs must be like potato chips; it's very hard to stop with only one. Many of the pet families at Howl-O-Ween at Elmwood Park on Sunday had two or more cute pooches. 
Good times at Howl-O-WeenIt was a splendid afternoon in Elmwood Park on Sunday for Howl-O-Ween. The Roanoke Valley SPCA collected more than $18,000 in donations to help homeless dogs and cats find their future families, and hundreds of dogs and their families had a great day in the park. Fun! 
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