SHADDY'S PASSING

Sara here. Sorry to report on such a sad note, but we lost our Shadrach today. While we wish we had more time with him, the last few months have been wonderful. We are so happy to have him spend the remainder of his life in the comfort of our home and not the cold floor of a shelter.

Shaddy had a large mass that was growing in his spleen. The mass led to anemia. He had some ups and downs since he came home with us, but he was always able to rally back. On Friday he took a turn and we spent the weekend enjoying our last moments with him.

This is another friendly reminder to all - Please do not purchase pets. ADOPT - SAVE A LIFE. They give back to you so much more than you can ever do for them!

Please enjoy these photos of Shad taken by the always fabulous Heather Bohm-Tallman Photography.

PUP SCOUTS

WHAT: Puppy Social Hour – An informal way for puppies to interact and socialize beyond regular day activities and training class - For pups with all shots up to 8 months old.
WHERE: DAWGDOM – 441A Broadway (3 doors north of Putnam)
WHEN: Tuesday, May 5th 7-8 PM. Continuing every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the coming months
WE PROVIDE: Playmates, toys, supervision, stimulation and FUN! Professional Trainer on site will help you learn how to safely encourage healthy social behavior. Puppy training tips offered.
COST: $15 per puppy per session
BRING: Your Puppy, treats and a few WHOOPS - poopy bags
PLEASE NOTE: No pre-registration for May, but it will be required for June. DAWGDOM will be offering Forums on Nutrition, Leash Walking Skills, Behavior Issues and more. Check our website or blog, call the store or just stop in for further information. DAWGDOM is dedicated to enriching your dog’s world. It’s not just about BASIC OBEDIENCE TRAINING anymore!

LOST DOG $1000 REWARD
MALE Shiba Inu

Ballston Spa

We lost our Shiba Inu near the Ripe Tomato on 2/09/2009: Gunner is a SMALL Shiba Inu. Microchipped (last 3 number are 364) neutered male and weighs only 22 lbs and is about 15 high. He is reddish tan (sesame) in color (including his curly tail). He is extremely friendly and loves car rides. If you have any information regarding his whereabouts or have seen him, please call 581-2876 cell 441-5007. For his safe return, I will give ONE THOUSAND dollars to the person who brings him back to us. I desperately need help in finding him. If you have any info or if someone in your neighborhood has a pet that resembles Gunner,

Please call Mike – 581-2876 cell 441-5007.

EVENTS, EVENTS EVENTS! Saden Laden in the house! I saw that a ton of stuff is coming up in the community and told mom we should post all these happenings in as many places as possible. We've got them posted in the store's window, on the bullentin board, the website and now the blog! Read everything and come to these great events! More posts will follow about these and others. Cio!

Now thru May 1st
COLORING CONTEST
Coloring sheets may be picked up at Impressions, Dawgdom, and the Saratoga County Animal Shelter. All entries need to be dropped off at the above locations. Contest to be judged on May 2nd - DOG DAY Extravaganza at Impressions!

April 18th
H.O.P.E. WALK
Where: Fountain at Congress Park
When: 12:30
A year has passed already and it is time to walk again! A great cause and a fun downtown walk. Come in for a registration form or print one out from their web-site and start raising money! http://www.hopeanimalrescue.org/

Saturday, May 2nd
DOG DAY EXTRAVAGANZA!
When: 10 and on
Impressions, Dawgdom and more are getting together to celebrate the barkers in the family! Coloring contest winners announced at 10am. The rest of the festivities kick off at 11am. Pet food and supply drive for the shelter...Count the biscuits contest...Battle of the Biscuits...Pet Photos...This year, Tracey Buyce, will be on-site at Impressions taking photos of your dog(s) for $10. All proceeds to go to the Sandy Frankel Foundation. Events at both locations. Updates to follow.

Sunday, May 3rd
Dog Park Clean Up
Where: State Park Dog Area
When: 11-2
A year has gone by already and the poop has piled up! Come and help everyone clean it up. More info to follow.

Saturday, MAY 9th
BUSY BONES Walk
Where: Saratoga County Fairgrounds
The 3rd annual dog walk to benefit the animal shelter! The first two dog walks to benefit the shelter have been a great success. This is all due to our canine friends, their human companions, the sponsors, vendors, and of course Carol and her group of volunteers. We are looking forward to another great walk this year. More info to follow.

Wednesday, MAY 13th
Shopping with Downtown Susie Brown
When: 6-9 PM
Where: Starts at Paper Dolls and ends at Cantina
What is more fun than a night of shopping and what better place to do it than local downtown businesses! Giveaways at the evening’s end. Multiple Stores to participate including Dawgdom. More info will follow.

Lucky Pip

Hello friends! Pip here.

I have some pretty exciting news on the doggie products front. There is a wonderful line of collars out there made by a lovely company called Lucky Fiona. They use cool retro and vintage fabrics to make really unique and oh-so-stylish collars (and you know, dear readers, that I'm all about style).
Plus, Fiona is an English Setter and really pretty cute:

(don't tell Sadie I said that!)

So on Fiona's blog, pets can send in pictures of themselves wearing their new collars and Fiona will pick one of them to be a "Friend of Fiona". Friends of Fiona get to choose any collar they want as a free prize. And guess what??

She picked me!!

I had mum send in these pictures of me in my new "Ted" collar. I tried to pose extra handsome so Fiona would pick me but really, was there any contest? Nah!

Be sure to check out Lucky Fiona's blog. Shadrach plans on bringing in these collars soon to the shop so stop by and check them out. You will be the coolest cat (er, dog) in Saratoga if you wear one of these so go on, starting chewing on your human's wallet until they take the hint. (My friend River knows exactly what I'm talking about.)

Cheerio!
Pip, supermodel

MavDog here. I was reading an article in the local paper the other day and thought that I should pass it on. It is about the "dog park area" in the State Park. I know there are some really strong feelings about this whole thing and I don't know what I think just yet. I know I like to go there, but that is mainly cause I am very obsessed with frisbee and my dad brings the frisbee when we go there and we play frisbee. I really like frisbee. Well, I have a good friend who knows a lot about this stuff, so I am gonna talk to her and get more information and write again, but for now here is the article:

http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2009/02/13/news/doc4994eafc8c585096565674.txt

Thoughts of an Aging Mutt

Sorry I haven't written more often. I am still getting settled in my new home, hopefully my forever home. It takes us older folks some time to get comfortable and feel secure. We've had a whole life of experiences both good and bad to remind us that we are not in control of where it all takes us. All of this thinking on my part left me exhausted. I slept 2/3rds of most days for the first month I've been here. All that said, I am getting the hang of it. I like my people. Sadie is real bossy sometimes. Maverick is a rambunctious youngster who ignores me most of the time except when he is pushing me out of the way. I snuggle on the couch on a regular basis, which is great except I can't get off without assistance - You see, I am old. The one thing that terrifies me is the car and recently they have been taking me on short rides. I hope there is a very good reason for this, other than scaring me half to death!

I was looking over Sara's shoulder the other night, while snuggling on the couch, and noticed that the current issue of Bark Magazine has me in it! Not me really, but the idea of me - old dogs. The whole issue is celebrating us old timers, so I read it cover to cover. I suggest you go buy it if you don't already have it! My favorite article was about Old Dog Haven, a non-profit group in Washington State that helps senior dogs live out their final moments in home environments. Judith Piper is the founder and has helped over 600 dogs in under 5 years leave this world feeling loved and respected instead of forgotten on a cold kennel floor.

A volunteer for ODH points out that we are not all about special needs, medicines and leaky bladders! She's quoted, "They are easy. They're usually housebroken. They don't chew your stuff. If you want to take them out for a walk, they're ready to go. But if you want to hang out at home, they're happy to do that too." I can vouch for that being the truth! I don't like long walks though. My point is that it is good article and a great issue of the magazine. The spring issue of Modern Dog seems to have an article that highlights this same haven. I googled elderly dog organizations and there are only a handful throughout the country. My point - They are important, we need more of them and we should give generously to the ones that are out there!
Bark doesn't have its article online, but Mod Dog does. Check it out before it's gone:
http://www.moderndogmagazine.com/articles/old-dog-haven/754