Posted by: twodogtales | May 16, 2012

Potomac Nationals Bark in the Park May 20

Dog are welcome at Sunday’s Potomac Nationals minor league baseball game with their first of two Bark in the Park promotions this season. Enjoy an afternoon of baseball, ballpark food and your best buddy as the Nationals take on the Carolina Mudcats at 1:05 p.m.

Read my review of Bark in the Park from last season, “Hot dogs times two at Bark in the Park.”

This is a great event because you can sit anywhere with your dog, there’s no limit on the number of dogs that can attend, and Potomac Nationals games are cheap—tickets range from $8 to $14, and parking is $4 a car.

The Bark in the Park games benefit the Basset Rescue Of Old Dominion (BROOD). If you buy your tickets on the BROOD website, $4 of each $8 ticket goes to BROOD.

There are lots of dog-friendly activities planned, including:

  • Pre-game Puppy Parade (for pups of all ages)
  • Best Dressed Dog Contest
  • Basset Hound Adoption
  • Post-Game Dogs and Owners Run the Bases
  • Post-Game Fetch on the Field

The game is at G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium at 7 County Complex Court, Woodbridge, VA 22192. The onsite ticket window opens at 10:00 a.m. and gates open at noon.

If you can’t make it this Sunday, the second Bark in the Park game is Friday, August 24, at 7:05 pm versus the Frederick Keys.

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Posted by: twodogtales | May 13, 2012

Arlington shelter walk draws 600+

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington’s annual Walk for the Animals drew more than 600 participants Saturday, May 12, to Arlington’s Bluemont Park. Mother Nature smiled on the event this year (compared to last year’s cold and rain), delivering sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s.

Even the polititians came out, with Congressman Jim Moran and Arlington County Board Member Jay Fisette cutting the ceremonial ribbon to start the event. According to an AWLA staffer, more than 600 walkers pre-registered and there were a large number of onsite registrants as well.

Last year, the walk raised more than $90,000 for the shelter with 500 participants.

Human walkers were given t-shirts, and the dogs received a bandanna. Water was provided at stations throughout the three mile route. There was a also one mile walk.

Some dogs wore festive attire, and some, like this poodle—who had a paw print on one side and a peace sign on the other—sported more permanent decoration.

After the walk, there were agility demonstrations and more than a dozen local pet product and service vendors participants could visit. Many walkers just relaxed in the shade, enjoying the cool temperatures and quality time spent with their pooch.

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Posted by: twodogtales | May 10, 2012

Washington Humane Society Doga and Bark Ball

The Washington Humane Society is celebrating the arrival of its new mobile adoption center this Saturday, May 12, at Rose Park in D.C. at 26th and P Streets, NW.

From 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. the WHS will host a fun-filled afternoon with opportunities to tour the new state-of-the-art adoption center, meet adoptable pets and WHS volunteers, and get into the downward dog pose…with your dog!

From 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Tranquil Space Yoga will host an hour of stretching, snacking, and doggie treats. There is a $10 suggested donation for the Doga session.

Reserve your spot online.

Coming June 2 … 25th Annual Bark Ball

It’s never too soon to plan ahead for the biggest formal event in D.C. that you can bring your dog to! WHS’s 25th Annual Bark Ball at the Washington Hilton is June 2, and tickets are on sale now.

I took Sundae to the ball last year, and we had a blast. Everyone got a huge kick out of getting dressed up in formal attire and heading to the Washington Hilton (which just a few weeks ago was celebrity-packed for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner) with their dog for a night of great food, wine and two- and four-legged company.

Read about and see pictures from the 2011 ball here.

Tickets are $250, but if you’re 35 years old or younger, you can buy a Young Professional ticket for $150. Order tickets online here.

Now, I’m not exactly sure where the connection is drawn between age and wealth, especially in D.C. where it seems every other 20-something sports Tory Burch flats and a Louis Vuitton bag. But, if it gets more money to support WHS’s programs and save more animals, I hope the place is PACKED with fresh-faced youth!

Guests get to bid at a great silent auction with more than 120 items, a seated dinner, a live auction with 8-10 high-end items, and dancing.

The Washington Hilton is at 1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC 2009.

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Posted by: twodogtales | May 8, 2012

Walk for the Animals Saturday, May 12

The 17th annual Arlington Animal Welfare League Walk for the Animals is this Saturday, May 12, at Bluemont Park in Arlington. Last year, more than 500 walkers and 300 dogs raised $90,000 for the shelter in Shirlington.

Register online before Friday at 5:00 p.m. for $25 per (human) walker. Pre-registered walkers are guaranteed a t-shirt and bandanna. The onsite registration fee is $40.

Sundae models her bandanna from the walk.

See pictures from last year’s walk at “Mother Nature spares Arlington animal walk.”

There are prizes for the individual and team who raise the most money. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 9:30 a.m., rain or shine. After the walk, there are demonstrations and vendor booths to visit.

Bluemont Park is at 329 N. Manchester Street, Arlington, VA 22203.

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Posted by: twodogtales | May 7, 2012

Review: Strathmore Unleashed! art exhibit

I attended the Yappy Hour on Thursday, May 3, that formally opened the new Strathmore Unleashed! exhibit at the Strathmore Mansion in North Bethesda.

As I drove up the curving drive towards the elegant brick mansion, what stood out was a huge art installment of a dog outline with a bone shape cut out of the torso, “American Dogs” by Dale Rogers.

There were tables set up in the main lobby and throughout the exhibit with goodie bags and treats for two- and four-legged guests, all carefully labeled “for people” or “for dogs.”

There are more than 60 pieces of art on display throughout the mansion, including paintings on canvas and other materials, digital film, sculptures and more, and an installation up the grand staircase.

I found the oil paintings to be the most striking. Below is “Dane on DeKooning” by Clair Hartmann.

I’m not sure I agree with the title of this acrylic on canvas, I found “Man’s Best Friend” by David Corcoran to be rather disturbing.

In person, you can tell “Road Trip” by Jackie Ehle is a dog crafted out of discarded objects, plastic, maps and wood. Really, you can.

The Strathmore staff was very welcoming of the Yappy Hour guests, this bartender befriended a cute bandanna-bedecked purse-sized pooch.

However, dogs were only allowed in the mansion for the Yappy Hour event. The rest of the exhibit, running until June 23, is off-limits to four-legged art aficionados. It’s too bad, the guests really seemed to enjoy the exhibit, and especially the chance to bring their dogs.

The highlight of the  exhibit is a three-section William Wegman. “Green Caramel” shows one of his signature Weimaraners in a vaguely uncomfortable-looking stretched-out pose.

The dog depicted in “Red Ball” by Jane O’Hara looks a LOT more relaxed.

If you have kids, they will enjoy the unique (and accessible) dog house designs and the activities such as a dog origami tutorial. There are also special programs for kids on April 28, May 5 and May 19.

It was a lot of fun meeting other dog and art lovers, such as Remy (seen below relaxing on the patio with his dad) whose mom writes the blog Mr. Hubbard’s Heart.

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Posted by: twodogtales | May 2, 2012

Strathmore Unleashed! art exhibit opening Thursday, May 3

Strathmore in Bethesda has a special art exhibition, Strathmore Unleashed!, that is a canine-tastic art exhibition that’s gone to the dogs! It focuses on dogs — and all the memories and emotions they evoke—depicted in sculpture, painting, mixed media, design, photography and video.

There is a special opening reception with a yappy hour this Thursday, May 3 for free, reservations are not required. Guests are invited to bring their well-behaved dogs to yappy hour in the Mansion from 6:00-7:00 p.m., and the opening reception runs from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Yappy hour rules are:

  • Dogs must always be on a leash
  • Only well socialized animals are welcome
  • No animals on the furniture
  • While on campus, please pick up after your dog
  • Dogs may not be tied up or left unattended at any time

 If you can’t make the yappy hour or opening reception, the Strathmore Unleashed! exhibit runs from April 28 to June 23, 2012. Admission is free, and exhibition hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Wednesday – 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Saturday – 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., closed Sunday.

There are also a number of education programs being offered throughout the exhibit’s run, most are on Saturdays and are kid-friendly, such as Rover’s Rad Retreat, Drawn to Dogs, and more. Programs are free, but some require registration. Go to Strathmore’s website to learn more.

Strathmore is at 10701 Rockville Pike North Bethesda, MD 20852-3224.

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Posted by: twodogtales | April 21, 2012

Two D.C. ‘burbs top 10 for pet lovers

Driving home last night on a typical Friday rush hour bumper-to-bumper commute, I heard a report on WTOP that two suburbs within an hour of Washington, D.C., made the U.S. News &World Report list of 10 Best Places to Live for Pet Lovers.

They complied the list looking at weather, population density, availability of green space, and by interviewing pet experts.

Ellicott City, Md., about 35 miles from D.C., topped the list at number one, due to a lot of shelters with adoptable pets, more than four miles of green space, and relatively few rainy days. In fact, my Sundae came from the Animal Welfare Society of Howard County, just a few miles from Ellicott City.

Wolf Trap, Va., came in at number 10, due to the number of community groups advocating for off-leash dog parks and animal-friendly ammenities. They say dogs are allowed on the grounds of Wolf Trap Park, but not in the performing arts center.

Now, a year or so ago I wrote an email to the public relations director at Wolf Trap asking them to organize a dog-friendly event. I suggested the last performance of the season (so patrons don’t get upset about sitting where dogs may have recently relieved themselves), and having a fundraiser for local animal shelters.

Alas, I got no response whatsoever. Don’t you think that would be a fun event? Look how successful Pups in the Park has become for the Nationals, and the crowds the local pools who hold end-of-season dog dips attract!

Now, what WTOP doesn’t say in their report is that the story is from 2009. Not exactly sure why WTOP is running it now, more than two years later, but it’s still cool to know that our area has two of the top 10.

Watch the slide show of the top ten here.

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Posted by: twodogtales | April 18, 2012

Pitches, Pasta, Pups and Publications This Weekend

The weekend forecast calls for rain, but luckily there are plenty of local events to keep dog lovers busy, both indoors and out!

Pups in the Park

This Saturday marks the first of four Pups in the Park Washington Nationals games this season. The event has gotten more and more popular each year.

Dog owner tickets are $22, and dog tickets are $8. Proceeds from all dog tickets go the the Washington Humane Society. The seats are in the reserved sections 140-143.

Owners must sign a waiver form for their dog’s up-to-date shots and vaccinations.

Buy tickets here.

This year’s Pups in the Park games are:

  • Saturday April 21st vs.  Miami Marlins 1:05pm – Pregame Pup Parade
  • Saturday,  June 2th vs. Atlanta Braves at 4:05pm
  • Saturday, July 7th vs. Colorado Rockies at 4:05pm
  • Saturday, September 22nd vs. Milwaukee Brewers at 1:05pm

Wildlife Book Signing

What better way to spend a rainy day than with a good book?

On Saturday, April 21, from 2-3:00 p.m. Arlington resident and author Jeff Flocken will be at the Clarendon Barnes & Noble for an author event to talk about and sign copies of Wildlife Heroes: 40 Leading Conservationists and the Animals They Are Committed to Saving, the book he co-authored with Julie Scardina.

This new book (published in March) profiles the work of conservationists to protect animals such as zebras, elephants, sea turtles, and causes such as habitat loss. For readers inspired by the tales, there is also information on how to get involved and make a difference.

Jeff is the DC Office Director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Barnes & Noble is in the Clarendon Market Commons at 2800 Clarendon Blvd. in Arlington.

Pasta for Pets

One of the Washington Animal Rescue League’s most popular family affairs, the annual Pasta for Pets spaghetti dinner and bingo night is Saturday, April 21, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Eastern Market’s North Hall.

There will be delicious pasta from local restaurants including Filomena Risorante, Lavagna , Ledo Pizza and Maggiano’s Little Italy, along with an assortment of homemade desserts, and wine for sale by the glass.

Individual tickets are $20, a family pack of four tickets is $70.

The proceeds from Pasta for Pets will benefit Project Rescue, which provides support for families and individuals who are finding it difficult to provide for their pets in this challenging economic climate.

Eastern Market is at 225 7th Street, SE, Washington, D.C.

Adoptable Pups

Meet—and maybe take home—some adorable adoptable dogs and puppies from Lucky Dog Animal Rescue from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Dogma Bakery in Shirlington.
Dogma is in The Village at Shirlington at 2772 South Arlington Mill Dr., Arlington, Va.

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Posted by: twodogtales | April 8, 2012

Happy Easter and Spruce Up Shirlington April 14

First, and most important for those of you celebrating the holiday today, Happy Easter!

But after you’ve finished all the candy in those Easter baskets and are looking for a way to work off the calories, come to help spruce up the Shirlington Dog Park next Saturday, April 14. From 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. volunteers are needed to clean up the park, which attracts hundreds of dogs and their owners every day.

Volunteers are asked to bring work gloves and shovels if you have them. Voluntary donations will be collected to help fund the dog waste bags that are available throughout the park.

Enjoy the great spring weather and spend a little bit of time, whether you can stay 1/2 hour or 3 hours, giving back and keeping the park the wonderful dog play area it currently is!

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Posted by: twodogtales | March 20, 2012

Bizarre dognapping story

My coworker told me today about this completely bizarre story about a dognapping that she read in her local paper, the Cecil Whig.

The short version is that a family’s beloved elderly black Lab went missing from their home in Ponte Verdra Beach, Fla. A few days later, the mother received an anonymous call that her dog was probably in Maryland.

That’s weird, right? But not as strange as the circumstances that got him there.

The caller said that a relative of hers visiting from New York with her young sons had taken the dog, but she had been arrested for D.U.I. in Maryland on her way back home, and the dog was brought by the police to a local shelter.

But wait, it gets weirder.

About 15 hours after being released from jail the next morning, the dognapper was run over by a train in Havre de Grace, Md., and killed.

The Florida family immediately got on the phone calling shelters, and after more than a dozen, found one that had a dog that matched their dog’s description.

But even just getting him home wasn’t easy.

Through some amazing volunteers from a group called Martha’s Mutt Movers (they unfortunately do not have a website I could find to provide a link), the dog was eventually reunited with his family.

Don’t stop here—the full story is too good to miss.

Read “Black lab’s long, strange journey has a happy ending” on the Cecildaily.com website.

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