Pet Fest THIS Sunday in New Bedford

It's that time again! Pet Fest is scheduled for Sunday, May 19th at Buttonwood Park in New Bedford, and this year's event promises to be an even bigger and better one! Why you ask? Because your Daily Dog Blog friends are participating!

While the main attraction of Pet Fest is arguably the enjoyable dog walk that kicks off at 12:00 noon and circles the park, the Doggie Fashion Show is always a fun, unique event that draws a crowd as the walkers begin to complete the walk. And this year, the Daily Dog Blog has partnered with our friends at Go Fetch! to host a memorable fashion show we're calling, Dogue!

After a really fun "model search," we gathered a great group of personable dogs and enthusiastic owners who will walk our runway sporting the latest and greatest in dog gear and accessories.

Our Dogue show will kickoff around 1pm in the middle of the Pet Fest location. Just look for our red carpet!

Don't forget that Pet Fest is also a great place to shop locally-made pet products, unique gift items and maybe even find your next best friend! We'll be featuring several adoptable dogs on the hunt for their forever homes in our fashion show, and many area rescue groups and shelters will be on hand with their available animals.

We hope to see you this Sunday at Pet Fest! For more information, please check out the Coalition for Animals of Greater New Bedford's website.

Dogs Are Heroes Following Boston Marathon Bombing

Boston Police officers take a break from patroling the streets to pet K-9 Comfort Dogs.With both myself and co-founder, Melissa, living and working close to Boston, the tragedy of the Boston Marathon bombings really hit close to home. As countless news reports and first-hand accounts have shown however, out of the tragedy rose the goodness of human nature. It was as if the entire city of Boston were one big family, each person treating the person standing next to them with kindness and equality. Everyone had one mission - to see the successful capture of the second brother that was on the run.

Specially-trained K9 dogs were crucial partners in the outcome of the manhunt that ended with the apprehension of suspect #2 on Friday night. Between bomb-sniffing dogs that continue to investigate whether any more devices were deployed to harm the city of Boston, and K9 tactical teams that swooped in to ensure the suspect did not escape from his hiding place, dogs were heroes too that day.

This pup greeted folks at the bag pickup location following the Marathon. His presence eased tension and gave folks a warm, fluffy companion to help their stress.The unspeakable evil left many scars for hundreds of victims, but some very special therapy dogs are playing a major role in the healing process. K-9 Comfort Dogs, a segment of the Lutheran Church Charities, were deployed with their dedicated handlers to Boston on Tuesday, one day after the horrific bombings, to help survivors and first responders cope with sadness and stress. 

These amazing dogs are trained specifically to deal with high-stress situations, with each of the organization's retrievers going through at least 8 months of training prior to being deployed.

The pups have been located at the First Lutheran Church of Boston, several blocks away from the Boston Marathon finish line location, with visiting hours posted on their personal Facebook pages and here.

Two of the visiting pups, Addie and Maggie, served Newtown CT following the Sandy Hook tragedy. Isaiah, Luther and Ruthie are also present.

Kudos to all those who helped bring justice to the city of Boston and everyone affected by this senseless act, and to the dedicated and superbly-trained K-9 Comfort Dogs for helping bring peace to the to those affected.

Take Your Dog To Work Day

Friday, June 21st, 2013 is Take Your Dog To Work Day^®! If you're a true dog lover like I am, this concept is wonderful in every way. Pet Sitters International (PSI) thought so, too, so they created a whole day honoring canine companionship and pet adoption.

Take Your Dog To Work Day was first recognized in 1999 and has since become an annual celebration of our 4-legged friends. Companies– big and small – across the country enjoy the benefits of pets in the workplace year-round while some juts choose to celebrate once a year. The American Pet Products Association (APPA) found in 2006 that nearly 1-in-5 U.S. companies allow pets in the workplace and further the survey revealed that: 

55 million Americans believe having pets in the workplace leads to a more creative environment;

50 million believe having pets in the workplace helps co-workers get along better; 

38 million believe having pets in the workplace creates a more productive work environment; and 

37 million believe having pets in the workplace helps improve the relationship between managers and their employees. 

With many employers concerned with fears, allergies, and the potential liability of allowing dogs on the premises, there are many other ways to help raise awareness about pet adoption in your local community. In fact, on Thursday, June 20^th, I am organizing a Pet Fair to be held at my workplace. The overall theme of this educational and promotional event is pet adoption and animal welfare. We are welcoming local shelters, humane societies, rescues, trainers, veterinarians, pet boutiques & bakeries, daycare & boarding providers, and photographers among other non-profit groups in the pet care industry to help highlight the services and products available in our own community.

Although we are not permitting monetary fundraising on-site, we are encouraging each organization to share their mission including current donation requirements, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming events. We will the collection of goods (dog/cat food and treats, litter, toys, blankets, cleaning supplies, etc.) and are exploring the possibility of inviting adoptable dogs and cats for an outdoor meet & greet, weather permitting.

So, what are you waiting for? Get planning and share your story with us!

Stylish and Functional Organizing for the Dog Owner - Food Storage

Owning a dog is a serious responsibility and commitment. There's the basic love and care - feeding, bathing, socializing, training and exercising, but then there's all the stuff that comes with owning a dog!

From leashes and collars to brushes and bowls, owning a dog requires storing a lot of stuff around your home. And some stuff, like bowls and toys, are readily visible to anyone who visits your home. So I embarked on a mission to find stylish and functional products and methods of organization for the modern dog owner. This will be a weekly feature on the Daily Dog Blog, showcasing new and attractive products and methods of organization for the modern dog owner.

Here's what I came up with this week for food storage.

Food Storage

One of your dog's most basic needs is eating. And one of the things I hear dog owners constantly mentioning is the difficulty in storing their dog's food. This is a great way to both store your dog's food and feed them!

Are you more of a do-it-yourselfer? Take an old cabinet, pull out the bottom drawer, attach a board with two holes in it the size of your dog bowls, and voila! These are also both great options since the drawers can be pushed back in when necessary.

Have more space in your kitchen and looking to do something truly stylish and custom? Take a peek at these beautiful kitchens will built-in storage solutions and eating stations for their fabulous pets.

Now onto bowls. I've never cared for having ugly dog bowls and water dishes lying around. Here are some great options.

With chevron being a wildly popular print right now, this pink version for $39 would fit the bill for any fashion enthusiast. GummiPets also released a line of adorable bowls with a variety of patterns sure to please any dog owner looking for some flavor to their pet's dishware. 

On the bottom row are two, great handmade bowls. Personally, I love anything monogrammed or personalized. And how great are the colors of the customized name bowl? The orange pattern bowl also comes in a variety of other colors. Another perk? These dishes are dishwasher safe!

Owning a dog does not mean style and efficiency have to go out the window. Tune in next week for another edition of this special blog feature!