The decorations, the hustle and bustle, the abundance of tempting treats – yes, there’s no doubt the holiday season is upon us. The winter holidays mean different things to different people, yet one common theme touches most all of us: this is the season of giving.
This month’s issue of Bay Woof is all about gifts, both tangible and intangible. If you’ve ever loved a dog, you have your own examples of the latter: the boundless joy that meets you whenever you come home, the relief you feel when your loved one is given a clean bill of health, the memories of great ear-to-ear grins.
If you’re of a mind to gift yourself, indulge in some special R&R with your canine pal this holiday season. Check out “Asta’s Guide to Classy Holiday Digs for the Canine About Town” for details about some beautiful dog-friendly getaways in the Bay Area. A bit of pampering for you and Fifi can help ease the stress of the season.
In this month’s Good Dog! column, Joustin Cordary of Running With Rover gives us training tips to help keep our canines happy and well-behaved during the holiday hubbub. Let us remember that good canine manners are a gift to our own guests and to the hosts whose homes we visit.
Local dog lover Raul Gonzalez tells us how commitment and patience gave one “lost cause” dog a second chance at the gift of life. And in her Monthly Woof column, Kelly Gorman Dunbar reminds us that, in a culture crammed with disposable toys, we need to remember that the gift of a pet is a permanent commitment.
In our Shelter Zone column, Stephanie Lam of Our Pack, Inc. Pit Bull Rescue discusses how providing a foster home for a dog or dogs in need can bring ample gifts to your life in return. And here’s another way to give to the local dog community. Stop by Macy’s Union Square between now and January 1st during The San Francisco SPCA’s Holiday Windows dog and cat adoption outreach. There you can donate, volunteer, or find a special pet to bring home for the holidays.
Dogs weren’t the only critters to receive important gifts from the California State Legislature this year. Thanks to Paw PAC’s Virginia Handley, we bring you a list of 2012 legislation —passed, failed, and vetoed — impacting the lives of animals in our state.
Your dogs may not appreciate the value of this gift, but we do: in our Ask Dr. Dog column, Dr. Jennifer Luna-Repose discusses the latest advances in anesthesia-free dental cleaning for dogs.
Of course, all of us dog lovers receive constant gifts by living in such a beautiful and canine-friendly locale. Give a shout out to your favorite dog people, places, and things in the Bay Area by participating in our 2013 Beast of the Bay Awards.
Finally, we’re very pleased to reintroduce fiction to Bay Woof. In “Joy to the World,” writer/musician Todd Walton gives us a moment of reflection in his story about how one lost dog and his desperate owner learn the real value of a close-knit pack.
From everyone at Bay Woof to all of you, very best wishes for a tail-wagging holiday season!
— Deb C.Z. Hirsch, Assistant Editor
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