Once a year we ask you, dear readers, to declare your appreciation for the people, places, and things that make the Bay Area sensational for dog lovers by filling out our Beast of the Bay Awards ballot. There are loads of candidates for most terrific trainer, greatest pet products, best doggie sports event, etc. in this pooch paradise by the sea – and we wish we could honor them all. Space is limited, however, so in this issue we present just one winner and three runners-up in each of 57 canine-centric categories.
No matter how devoted you are to nosing out all the goodies on your own, new discoveries await you. Browsing this issue is sure to expand your list of favorite stuff and we encourage you to keep it handy all year long. Sudden urge to go camping with Scamp? Want to capture his incredible cuteness for posterity? See the results of the reader’s poll for great places to start. Enjoy the wealth of options and keep your personal faves in mind so you can cast your BOBA votes next time around.
This year almost 4,000 BOBA ballots were cast. It’s no small feat to tabulate the votes and compile the data for publication. Now that the work is finished, we’re ready to celebrate. Join us at the Beast of the Bay Awards Party on Saturday, April 12 from 3 to 7 at the fabulous furry El Rio bar, 3158 Mission Street in San Francisco. Delectable snacks, an ongoing raffle for great dog-themed prizes, rousing entertainment, and well-priced drinks at the no-host bar – that’s the recipe for a fine afternoon of rubbing elbows and noses with the Bay Woof pack. All winners and voters; BOBA participants and non-participants; dogs, people, and most other species will be warmly welcomed.
In addition to the info on the 2014 winners, this issue includes our usual line-up of useful columns from some local canine luminaries. Dr. Gary Richter gives us the lowdown on vaccinations, pro and con. It’s wise to know both sides before making a decision about this important medical option. Kelly Gorman-Dunbar explains why neutering is not the cure for “bad” habits in an adolescent dog. Better to accept his challenging behaviors as normal and age-appropriate, then use clear communication and consistent training to transform them.
In this month’s Shelter Zone, Gary Hendel describes how Oakland Animal Services has overcome the old-school “dog pound” image through dedicated service to the community’s neediest animals. You can get a tiny taste of local trainer Chad Culp’s new ebook about overcoming canine separation anxiety. And in case you’ve been on a media fast, see this month’s Nose for News column for a couple of wonderful stories in which compassionate people (like Olympic athletes) go to great lengths to save endangered dogs (like strays in Sochi). That’s the kind of news we really love to share.
Next month is our annual travel issue, which will help alleviate your spring wanderlust by revealing some great canine-friendly destinations. Until then, friendly wags!
– Mindy Toomay, Content Editor
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