April 25, 2005
dogswalk against cancer new york 2005
When was the last time you and your dog helped save a life? Dogswalk 2005 is a non-competitive dog walk-a-thon to raise money for the fight against human and animal cancers. Join us for a tail-wagging good time!
These past two years I've woken Jarvis up early on a Sunday morning in early May to do the Dogswalk and it's been lots of fun, not to mention spiritually rewarding -- we've managed to raise a few hundred dollars for cancer research between the two of us! We're not actively fundraising this time around but if you'd like to join us, we'd be happy for the company. You can register online or at the Dogswalk, and you don't even have to have a dog to participate!
Dogswalk Against Cancer
Sunday, May 1, 2005
Riverside Park 89th St & Riverside Drive
New York, NY
Registration: 9 a.m.
Start: 10 a.m.
Call 212.237.3890 for more information.
posted by lia at 02:18 PM
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February 17, 2005
chihuahua races!
Roy Hamric, Desert-Mountain Times
The Second Annual Desert Chihuahua Challenge is taking place in Terlingua, Texas next Saturday the 26th of February. Interestingly, they have a category for yorkies as well. If you're having trouble deciding whether to go, it seems like it was a big success last year.
But if you're busy that weekend (it better be something really important), there's another chihuahua race May 7th in Chandler, Arizona, as part of the Cinco de Mayo Festival.
Puptastic would be pleased to receive reports and photos from our southwestern readers who flock to these events.
posted by ranjit at 01:11 PM
February 16, 2005
german shorthaired pointer takes best in show
Congratulations to Carlee, a.k.a Ch. Kan-Point's VJK Autumn Roses, for being named Best in Show yesterday at the Westminster Kennel Club's 129th Annual Dog Show! Carlee is only the second German Shorthaired Pointer to ever win at Westminster and is a direct descendant of the dog that took Best in Show in 1974.
She was handled by Michelle Ostermiller, who was also the handler of last year's big winner, Josh the Newfoundland. Josh is now retired from show dog life, although he works both as a stud and a certified therapy dog helping children and seniors. From USA Today's interview with his owner Dave Helming:
How's Josh?
He's doing very well. He's happily retired, lounging in the living room and enjoying a good life.
What's a typical day for him now?
He lives in our house with two other Newfoundlands and a couple of Portuguese Water Dogs. He gets two square meals a day, a lot of exercise in our front field and a lot of attention from whoever comes in the house, so he's in seventh heaven.
A good life for a good dog! We should all be so lucky.
The New York Times has a fantastic multimedia slideshow of Westminster highlights, as well as this great roundup by Richard Sandomir. Sandomir points out that "if the two-day coverage on USA was not enough, NBC will carry a one-hour highlights show on Sunday at 5 p.m."
Photo above by Frank Franklin II/AP of Carlee during competition.
posted by lia at 02:26 PM
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February 15, 2005
willie's westminster op-ed
Seattle Post-Intelligencer guest columnist Willie is more than a little ticked off that golden retrievers like himself have never once taken Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show. From Will they ever throw a golden a bone?:
I could even stomach a terrier. But a rat-dog? A worthless yipster, reigning as champion of the dog world? It's possible, Frei saying the toy group is the toughest group.
Among the rat-dog contenders -- a world-class poodle and Pekingese, and a Pomeranian co-owned by Bill Cosby. The poodle is trained by Tim Brazier of Mill Creek.
[USA color commentator Dave] Frei also mentioned a long-coat Chihuahua, and the thought of these one-bite happy meals winning makes me so sick that I plan to eat grass during the telecasts.
Even dogs from the hound group have a better record than goldens. How can a drooling, stinky Basset Hound win, or a baying, annoying Beagle?
Then you've got those damn Dachshunds. At this year's show, there will be three varieties and 64 in all. That's what I want to see, 64 wiener dogs on my master's TV, some no doubt sponsored by Oscar Mayer.
Everyone here at Puptastic HQ is a great fan of Willie and we all hope he never gets trapped on a desert island or a frozen mountain top with those scheming wiener dogs.
posted by lia at 01:36 PM
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February 14, 2005
the 2005 westminster dog show, day one
Valentine's, shmalentine's -- today is the first day of The Westminster Kennel Club's 129th Annual Dog Show at New York's own Madison Square Garden. There are 2,500 dogs competing, 165 breeds and varieties competing in seven different groups, all of them aiming for the ultimate prize: being named Best In Show. Three breeds are in the show for the very first time, the Glen of Imaal Terrier, the Black Russian Terrier, and the Neapolitan Mastiff!
You can catch USA Network's Westminster coverage tonight and tomorrow night from 8 to 11 p.m. ET. Group and Best in Show competitions only, but if your internet access is fast and you're dedicated enough you might want to consider watching
Breed competition highlights online, via the miracle of streaming video.
If you're in New York and don't have cable, or you'd rather watch Best in Show in the company of other dog lovers, head on down to the LES tomorrow night for Dog Show Party 2005, "a fast-paced multi-media and performance event that runs concurrently with the last night of judging at the Westminster Dog Show. As the actual dog show takes place at Madison Square Garden, a live telecast is projected onto a huge screen at Tonic. DSP performers add to the electric energy of the night with expert commentary, live music, dance performances, games and contests. All party attendees need to bring is their love of K-9's and the absurd."
update: Gothamist has a nice post about the dog show, New York City Goes to the Dogs!.
The photo above is by Mary Altaffer/AP of I Believe I Can Fly the Long-haired Chihuahua during judging. IBICF looks resigned to being manhandled, doesn't he?
posted by lia at 06:23 PM
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happy valentine's day!
hobodogblog put up some lovely canine valentines in haiku form, they're all great but here are my three favorites:
Today I sniffed
Many dog behinds-I celebrate
By kissing your face.How do I love thee?
The ways are numberless as
My hairs on the rugI am your best friend,
Now, always, and especially
When you are eating.
If you've got a lot of love in your heart and no pup in your life to share it with, why not visit your local shelter or check out Petfinder? There are literally hundreds of thousands of animals out there waiting to find a good home, and one of them could be the one you've been waiting all your life to meet, even if you don't know it yet.
The great illustration above is by youyesyou.net. You can buy it on cards!
posted by lia at 02:54 PM
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February 09, 2005
dog show party 2005
The 2005 Westminster Dog Show is next week, February 14 and 15 here in New York. Tickets to the show are more than a little expensive so I've never even thought of going. I've gotten used to watching the finals on tv at home on my couch, but this year I think I might just head down to the Lower East Side for Dog Show Party:
From their website: "Dog Show Party is a fast-paced multi-media and performance event that runs concurrently with the last night of judging at the Westminster Dog Show. As the actual dog show takes place at Madison Square Garden, a live telecast is projected onto a huge screen at Tonic. DSP performers add to the electric energy of the night with expert commentary, live music, dance performances, games and contests. All party attendees need to bring is their love of K-9's and the absurd."
Dog Show Party
Tuesday, Feb 15
7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Tonic, 107 Norfolk (between Delancey & Rivington)
$10.00
posted by lia at 07:07 PM
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February 08, 2005
animal planet's puppy bowl
As always, I spent this past Super Bowl Sunday at a friend's apartment, clearly there for the free food and socializing and not for the football. Would that I'd known about Animal Planet's stroke of genius counterprogramming, The Puppy Bowl:
Three hours of cute puppies (are there any other kind?) playing with toys in a little stadium, set to soft music! And with the noble goal of getting viewers to adopt animals from shelters, even.
I hope Animal Planet does Puppy Bowl II next year, but if you can't wait that long you can preorder The Puppy Bowl on DVD from their online store for $9.95, it ships March 15th.
posted by lia at 07:01 PM
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