Fun Run Agility is having a show n go

The sport of dog agility is very exciting.  Even if you only want to participate for fun and not aim for competition, both you and your dog need variety in training.   Dogs can react differently when surrounded by lots of activity.  That’s why a sho’n'go is essential in providing you and your partner the invaluable opportunity to run in a setting other than your regular class or backyard.  So many times we’ve heard people say at a show (after their dog has flown off the teeter or refused the tire)  ”Well, he does that perfectly in class”.

A sho’n'go ( or fun match) allows a handler and dog to experience a trial setting, without the stress associated with serious competition.   We have excellent equipment and our aim is to provide:

A friendly and relaxed learning environment

Outstanding training for beginners

An opportunity for experienced dog handlers to work their dogs

A great place for older, retired agility dogs to play on equipment and feel great about themselves

SO, COME TO OUR NEXT EVENT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME!

http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/news/local/la-city-cracks-down-on-dog-licenses-20100223

Los Angeles – Trying to shrink its budget deficit by boosting revenue, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously today to crack down on dog and horse owners who have failed to get a license for their animals.

City Council President Eric Garcetti suggested identifying dog owners by using a database that the Department of Water and Power created for the benefit of its meter readers. The database lists households that are believed to have dogs so meter readers can take the proper precautions when approaching a home.

“The DWP’s database can be a vital tool in furthering compliance with the city’s dog licensing regulations,” Garcetti said.

The city requires that all dogs — and horses — be licensed by the Department of Animal Services. It costs $15 to get a license for a spayed or neutered dog. Each license comes with a unique number that would help reunite a lost dog with its owner, city officials said.

Animal Services Assistant General Manager Linda Barth said only one-third of all pet dogs in Los Angeles — about 120,000 — are licensed.

She estimated that if the rest were licensed as well, it would add $4 million to the city’s coffers.

Garcetti said Animal Services’ inability to verify if dogs are up to date on their vaccinations and have been spayed or neutered is a public safety concern.

Councilman Richard Alarcon amended the proposal to include horses, although officials said there is no DWP database on households believed to have horses.

Councilman Tom LaBonge expressed reservations about the proposal, saying he instead favored going to the city’s dog parks and asking owners there whether their pets were licensed.

LaBonge said he did not like the idea of knocking on people’s doors to force them to get a license for their pets, deeming it “too aggressive.” He also raised privacy concerns.

Barth assured him the plan is for DWP to reveal only the addresses — not the names — of suspected dog owners. Animal Services will then check the information against its dog licensing database and send letters to residents who are not in compliance with the law.

She said canvassing crews will be sent to neighborhoods only if residents continue to violate the rules.

The City Council will consider several other proposals today to reduce the budget deficit, among them:

– changes in the pension system for current city employees and those who will be hired in the future;

– modernizing the city’s parking meters to generate more revenue; and

– reviewing the city’s labor contracts.

Officials have called for eliminating 4,000 jobs to save money if the city’s labor unions refuse to agree to pay cuts.

The city’s $212 million budget deficit is projected by city budget analysts to grow to $485 million next fiscal year, $785 million by 2011-2012 and almost $1 billion by 2012-2013.

The Urban Pet officially opens the doors at its second LA location in Silverlake at 4475 Santa Monica Boulevard.  The new 4,000-square foot store will be the largest pet store in the neighborhood, stocking the same variety of healthy foods, green pet supplies and accessories that made the company’s first venture on Beverly Boulevard an instant hit.

I’m pleased to announce that the Los Angeles Dog Blog has it’s first guest blogger!  Below is a very informative article about storm water and keeping your pet healthy and our city cleaner.

Some Paws-itively Great Tips to Keep Your Dog Healthy

As a dog owner, I know that your pooch is an important part of your family.  Dodger (yup, like the team) is the name of my furry friend and his “siblings” include two cats named Boo and Xeni. In addition to being an animal lover, I’m also the public education manager for the City of LA’s Stormwater Program. For that reason, I know the importance of picking up after Dodger every time in order to protect his health (and that of other dogs) and also to keep my community and ocean clean.

Not everyone is aware that while indoor waste water gets processed at sewage treatment plants before being discharged into the bay, outdoor water (i.e. rain, hoses, etc) carries waste on the ground directly out to the ocean, without receiving any treatment, via the 1500-mile storm drain system. This means that litter, motor oil and pet waste are unintentionally washed down into our storm drain system which leads to our local waterways and ends up at the beach and our ocean. This pollution negatively impacts aquatic life and those who swim at our beaches.

Not to mention, unattended pet waste can cause diseases such as Canine Parvovirus, Canine Distemper and Giardia amongst people and pets! The increased spreading of such diseases is in part due to pet owners not picking up after their dogs.  When someone doesn’t pick up after their dog, you and your pet’s chances of getting infected with one of these diseases are increased.

So have fun with your furry friends – but please remember to keep your community clean and preserve our environment by always picking up after your pooch!

Make sure to visit our website and sign up for our pet eUpdates.  Also, send us a Halloween themed photo of your pooch before November 9^th to win an Eco-Pet gift card in our photo contest!!

Joyce Amaro
City of Los Angeles Stormwater Public Education Manager