Hello Bay Woof readers.
We hope your holidays were festive and that you’re looking forward to the fresh, new 2012. 2011 brought the gamut of emotions to our humble office staff, including a great loss of one of our own. We didn’t send any holiday greeting cards this year but feel lucky to have received so many, along with condolences for the loss of our dear Tad Toomay, Bay Woof’s Herb Canine columnist. See excerpts from some favorite Herb columns collected by editor Mindy Toomay on page 18. Despite the heartache of 2011 we have high hopes for the New Year, as we’re sure you do too. How can you not have joy in your heart when you look into the eyes of your beloved hairy beast? Their undying love and affections keep us going, and every single day we’re grateful for the light they bring into our lives.
In case you haven’t heard, our fourth annual Beast of the Bay Awards (#BoBA12) has started again in full force. If you act quickly you can still make nominations in your favorite categories of SF Bay Area dog-friendly people, places and things. Until December 31 you can use the ballot on page 16 or nominate online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/BoBA12nominations.
Beginning January 5, you’ll only be able to vote on-line on the final, multiple choice ballot derived from the top four nominations in each category. Among the new items this year: Best Doggie Masseuse, Best (Self-Serve) Dog Wash, and Best Dog-Friendly Bar. When it’s all said and done we’ll be celebrating the nominees and winners at a party at El Rio in San Francisco, scheduled for Saturday, March 10. Mark your calendars and save the date, but most importantly, VOTE! After Jan 5th, the final ballot will be posted here: www.surveymonkey.com/s/BoBA12ballot
In this first issue of 2012 we have loads of goodness for you, dear reader. Starting with Dr. Ian Dunbar’s The Monthly Woof on page 6, where he speaks of SIRIUS Puppy School and their 30th year teaching people and dogs how to be good. On page 7 our Good Dog! column features trainer Stacy Braslau-Schneck on setting up “stations” to aid learning.
Dr. Dave Gordon of Mission Pet Hospital (last year’s winner of the Beast of the Bay Awards “Best Vet Clinic”) contributes our Ask Dr. Dog piece this month, and gives great tips for successful New Year’s Resolutions for you and your pal.
On page 10 we present an article from a recent DogTrekker.com newsletter all about traveling in Napa, and on pages 12-13 Bay Woof editorial assistant Holly Fogleboch interviews author Edward Vilga on his new book, Upward Dog. Holly is the newest addition to our Bay Woof family, and we’re grateful for her enthusiasm and support. Her expertise in the world of books came in handy this month with the new Bookhound column on page 14 where we review some new doggie-themed releases.
The ever-popular Rocket Dog Rescue celebrates their 10th anniversary this month, and we’re proud to tell a little about founder Pali Boucher in our Shelter Dog column on page 20. Daniels Law – one dog’s miraculous survival sparks a community to advocacy for shelter animals is on page 22.
Along with our regular line up of Angel Dogs, and Calendar of Events, we hope you’ll find this issue as chock-full-o-goodness as we do. Drop us a line — we’d love to hear your woofs as well as wags in our direction. Happy 2012!
— M Rocket, publisher
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