Please join us on Sunday, October 26 for our 10th Anniversary
"Howl-O-Ween" Pet Parade & Costume Contest" at the Alameda Small Dog Park!
Contest starts at 2 pm sharp; be there by 1 pm to register!

Brownie! A spring evening at the Alameda Small Dog Park

Photo by Heidi Bennett

Photo by Heidi Bennett

Photos from the 9th Annual Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest!!

Here are the wonderful photos taken by our photographer, Alain Truong, at our 9th Annual Howl-O-Ween costume contest! He has generously shared his photos with all of us and you can download any photos you want. They are large files and so are suitable for print!   Please enjoy!   Woofs from Alameda Small Dogs!

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5vdvevbz2dap70l/4uSqFguoY8?m

Alameda Walks (with your dog!) Saturday, Oct. 6!!

Alameda Recreation & Parks is sponsoring a dog walk this Saturday! Bring your dog(s) and enjoy a nice walk for about

an hour with fellow dog lovers!

Saturday, October 6: ARPD Owner and Pet Walk II!!

Inviting all Pet owners! Bring your dog!!

Details:

9 am: Meet at Washington Park Dog Park entrance, Lower Washington Park along 8th Street .

This walk will allow pet owners and their pets an opportunity to enjoy Alameda Walks together. Dog treats provided!

Sponsored by Alameda Recreation & Parks Department.

9th Annual Howl-O-Ween at the Alameda Small Dog Park!

Happy Howl-O-Ween
to All the Small Dogs!

 

Get your costumes ready!
Sunday, October 28 is the pet
parade and contest at the
Alameda Small dog Park!

1- 4 pm.
Contest starts at 2 pm;
Registration from 1 - 1:45 pm!

Lots of great prizes, lots of fun, lots of great people!!

AddThis Social Bookmarking Sharing Button Widget

AddThis Social Bookmarking Sharing Button Widget

A fun evening with Oakland Athletics and your DOG!
Click here to get your tickets!

(Ab)Normal Dog Behaviors and the Reasons Why | PETS Referral Center

(Ab)Normal Dog Behaviors and the Reasons Why | PETS Referral Center

Happy New Year from Poki!

Alameda Dog Park regular Poki Bennett wishes everyone a Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve with the Franz-Nichols Band!!

Alameda Small Dog Park'ers, Jim & Jan Franz will be playing at C'era Una Volta on New Year's Eve, here in Alameda. I believe you can just go in for drinks and the music, although they do a lovely celebration dinner too. A great way to WOOF in the new year!! Hope to see you there!

FDA Continues to Caution Dog Owners About Chicken Jerky Products

 http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm280586.htm

FDA Continues to Caution Dog Owners About Chicken Jerky Products

www.fda.gov

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is again cautioning consumers that chicken jerky products for dogs (also sold as chicken tenders, strips or treats) may be associated with illness in dogs.

Best in Show for Howl'Oween 2011! Oscar Mayer, as "The Golden Gate Bridge"

Minnie the Lightening Pug!!

Some Photos from the 8th Annual Howl'Oween Contest at the Alameda Small Dog Park!

See Fran Roccaforte's whole album of Small Dog Howl'Oween Contestants on our Facebook!

Annette's Oscar Mayer, as "The Golden Gate Bridge",
wins "Best in Show" AND "Most Original Costume"!!

8th Annual Howl'Oween at the Alameda Small Dog Park!

 

It's that time again! Howl-O-Ween at the Alameda Small Dog Park!

We hope to see you and your dogs all there in costume! : )

 

Woofs from the Pack at Alameda Small Dogs

www.alamedaSMALLdogs.org

http://alamedasmalldogs.blogspot.com/

Join us on Facebook now too!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alameda-Small-Dogs/179310932110785

 Are your costumes ready?

The Howl'Oween Pet Parade
& Costume Contest
at the small dog park is in two weeks! On Sunday, October 30 from 1 - about 4 pm. Please allow time to register for the parade & contest which will begin promptly at 2 pm. We've got plenty of great prizes lined up and some freebies for everyone! The contest categories range from Honorable Mention to Most Creative to Best Store Bought Costume to Best in Show! 

So come on by and join in the fun!

 

Howl-O-Ween 2011 at the Alameda Small Dog Park!

Howl-O-Ween 2011 at the Alameda Small Dog Park is fast approaching!! This year the festivities will take place on Sunday, October 30, 2011 from 1 pm to about 4 pm.

Get your costumes ready! Prizes! Fabulous costumes! Fun! Lots of Dogs!

Have you seen this dog? Missing in Alameda!

Amber Dog Alert! This little Yorkie went missing in Alameda; please take a moment to read through this post in case you might be able to help find her, or provide a clue as to her whereabouts. Thanks!

http://alameda.patch.com/announcements/amber-dog-alert

Jim with Louie Minnie & Gilly singing

Jim, a frequent Alameda Small Dog Park visitor, plays sax for his dogs Minnie, Louie & Gilly while they sing along!

Pet Portrait Day at Dog Bone Alley, Sunday, July 10!

	Sunday, July 10 · 10:30am - 1:30pm
	Dog Bone Alley 1342 Park Street Alameda, CA
	Local pet photographer Tonya Perme will be bringing her studio to our Alameda store on Sunday, July 10th for Pet Portrait Day! Tonya offers a single-image session for $30 for which you will receive a 4X6 print you can take home that day. She also offers a two-image session for $50 for which you will receive two 4X6 prints. Additional prints and other products are also available for purchase. Join us for this opportunity to get a professional portrait of your pet. Simply call us at 510-521-5800 to reserve an appointment between 10:30am and 2:30pm on July 10th. To see examples of Tonya's work, check out her website at tonyaperme.com.

 
Pet Portrait Day at Dog Bone Alley is coming up on Sunday, July 10!

Tomorrow is the Alameda 4th of July Parade!!

Begins at 10 am! Always a blast. This year the Alameda Small Dog Park is sitting it out
(for a change!), but look for our brand new float design in 2012!!

Check the parade website for the route and detour map and other details.
We hope to see you there! Here's a pic of some of our group
from last year; we partnered with Alameda "Bark for Life"!

Great turn out at the Rally to Save the Alameda Animal Shelter!

...and the City Council approved the Memorandum of Understanding too, so now the community can try to organize a new non-profit to run the shelter! at least, for the next four months, the shelter has been rescued from outsourcing.

Rally is Tonight!! Here is agenda...

Below is a loose agenda for the SOS Rally tonight. Please attend with friends, family and quadrupeds!
AGENDA (all times are approximations of how long speakers will talk plus added time for applause and cheers and the talk subjects are just suggestions)
5:30 Gathering together, casual welcome, handing out of informational flyers begins and dispersal to passersby and fanning out of some people in a one block radius handing out info
5:35 Welcome and thank you for coming out to Save our Shelter
5:36-5:55PM Speakers Nancy Biachi :What brings us here tonight, Tom Hyland: Where we are now where we hope to go
5:55-6PM The Pearce Family: How volunteering enriches family life and community
6PM Studio 10 Tap dancers "WHO LET THE DOGS OUT"
6:05-630 PM Janet Davis: The important role of shelters to a local community, Christina Nunes: volunteering what it means to the animals, Cindy Shelby: What can you do to get involved, Harry Hartman: Tying loose ends, wrapping things up
6:30 Thank you for coming and reminders to provide contact info etc
This allows for overtime but the dance troupe must perform at 6 so pre dance speakers need to keep that in mind and additional speakers may be added. If you have someone in mind let me know. We should plan to be fully wrapped up by no later than 6:45 so people have time to refresh and get to the board meeting if they plan to go.

Read the new "Memorandum of Understanding" regarding the Alameda Animal Shelter closure issue

Follow this link to see the agenda for the special meeting (prior to the regular city council meeting) and download a copy of the new "Memorandum of Understanding" that puts a temporary stay on the possible closure of the animal shelter.

You will find the link to the Memorandum .pdf. under agenda item #2.

Save Our Shelter Rally is Tomorrow, June 21st!!

You may use this graphic in your own emails and online sites to make friends & family aware of this issue. Right click on image and save to your own computer.

Save Our Shelter - See the new informational video!

Save Our Shelter - See the video here

Sign Making Party for Save the Shelter Rally!

Today at 12n we are having a sign making party. The theme is SUPPORT our SHELTER to show the Council that this effort has wide support. We have some supplies, poster board, etc, but can use some more if you can donate. Bring your extra paint, brushes, pictures of pets. Also we really need folding tables and chairs. Join us today -- 12noon at 1810 San Jose cross street is Union, right off Grand. Pizza and sodas provided!

Sign Making Party!

Breaking news on Alameda Animal Shelter Issue...

"The Alameda Animal Shelter may be saved, at least temporarily, depending on the success of an eleventh hour agreement with the city and two animal advocate groups..."

Read the rest of the article here:

Alameda, animal shelter supporters reach deal - Inside Bay Area

Rally to Save Our Shelter ! June 21st at 5:30 pm!

"Like" the Save Our Shelter Facebook page to

to get updates & find out what more you can do! 

Download pdfs of printable flyer, sample letter to city,
and addresses of city officials here.

Sign the petition here. 

Thursday, June 9 - Next Meeting re Alameda Animal Shelter Closure

Next meeting to stop potential closure of Alameda Animal Shelter!

FAAS will be holding a workshop at 1101 Verdemar Drive on Bay Farm Island this Thursday 6/9 at 7:00pm in the Casitas townhome recreation hall. 

Tell your Friends, Veterinarians, Groomers and favorite Pet store and employees to come on out and lets brainstorm about the looming closing of the Alameda Animal Shelter!

Also, all Alameda animal lovers... Save June 21st at 5:30 pm for a rally on the steps of City Hall in Alameda!

Alameda Town Hall Mtg Tonight: Object to closure of animal shelter!!

Please come to the town hall meeting tonight to express your objections to the city closing the existing animal shelter, and outsourcing it to another area. At the city council meeting this week, the mayor instructed the Acting City Manager to go ahead and begin the process to close the shelter, and to outsource it. The shelter will close unless people raise their concerns and objections in a public way. Attend the meeting tonight, write letters and send emails!!

Tonight, June 2, 6:00 pm, Alameda Boys&Girls Club. Get details here:

http://alameda.patch.com/events/vice-mayor-rob-bontas-budget-town-hall

From Nancy Bianchi, Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter:

Hi All:

Please pass this link below on to everyone you know who wants to keep the shelter open. I was at the city meeting last night and the mayor instructed acting the city manager to start with the plan to close down the shelter and outsource the shelter to either Hayward or Fremont. There were only about 11  FAAS/Shelter members there who were for the shelter.

No one else bothered to show up. If you want the shelter to stay open you need get involved. They really do not have agood plan nor do they understand how the shelter is run and the service it provides to the citizens of Alameda. Last year 1,316 animals passed through the shelter. They won’t go away just because it closes and it will not save as much money as they are telling people. They still have to pay for the outsourcing, the animal control officers, the shelter will still have to be open in some capacity to hold the animals until they can be transported.  Also who is going to take care of the animals before they are transported. Who is going to clean the cages. Volunteers are not allowed to touch the animals for 10 days because of the hold requirement and until they are tested to make sure it is safe to handle them so they can’t count on the volunteers. They will have to pay someone to do that.  On paper it may look good to them but in reality it doesn’t make sense.  Also, animals will be euthanized because of lack of space.  That currently does not happen in Alameda. The city does not euthanize for time or space.

Nancy

Here is the link to the Town Hall Meeting details:

http://alameda.patch.com/events/vice-mayor-rob-bontas-budget-town-hall

The Alameda Animal Shelter needs our help!

Please help save the Alameda Animal Shelter from city budget cuts. It is in danger of being outsourced to another agency. Please sign the petition to let the city know you want the city shelter to stay open! Follow the link to sign the online petition.

Sign the online petition here!
http://www.change.org/petitions/save-the-alameda-animal-shelter-from-city-budget-cuts

Tomorrow!! March 26 ! It's a Pawty at Urban Island Home Furnishings!

"Dogs on Camera" Photographers Reception 

Saturday, March 26, 2011, 7 pm - 9 pm

Frank Bette Satellite Gallery at Urban Island Home Furnishings

1901 Broadway, corner of Clement Ave., Alameda, Ca

 

We're having a Pawty and you're invited!! We invited photographers from the local community to take pictures at the Alameda Dog Parks and submit their work to the Satellite Gallery for exhibit, and a contest.

Please join us on Saturday, March 26 from 7 - 9 pm to enjoy the charming dog portraits, and find out which piece wins "Best in Show" (and a free year's membership to the
Frank Bette Center for the Arts.

Drop by and socialize with artists, dog people and dogs (social, leashed dogs are welcome!!) Music, beverages, snacks and ambiance provided by our wonderful host,
Urban Island Home Furnishings.
For more information about the reception, or exhibiting at the satellite gallery, please contact Carrie Isett at gallerycurator@comcast.net.

(All rights to event photo, "Please move, You're killing my groove", belong to K. Smokey Cormier, Photographer. Used here by permission.)

Master Plan 2011 Survey | East Bay Regional Park District

Master Plan 2011 Survey | East Bay Regional Park District

 

"The East Bay Regional Park District is currently updating the agency's Master Plan policy document. This is your opportunity to help determine the focus of the 2011 Master Plan update. Our Board of Directors would like to have benefit of your input into this process. Your responses will remain confidential and anonymous.

Thank you in advance for your input and support of your Regional Park District. This survey should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Sincerely,
Robert E. Doyle, General Manager "

Japan: Lost Akita Swims Tsunami to Reunite with Guardian | Global Animal

Japan: Lost Akita Swims Tsunami to Reunite with Guardian | Global Animal

SF Off-Leash Dog Walking! Call-In Day to U.S. Representatives and Senators

SF Off-Leash Dog Walking! Call-In Day to U.S. Representatives and Senators

Guide Dog Goes Blind, So Man Gets New Dog to Lead Them Both

Guide Dog Goes Blind, So Man Gets New Dog to Lead Them Both

The Alameda Small Dogs site is up!!

The hosting provider finally got the error resolved and we are back in action!!

Hosting Server experiencing technical problem...

Just wanted to let you know that, due to some weird glitch  in the hosting server, the AlamedaSmallDogs.org site is not available now. GoDaddy assures me that their team of experts is working on the problem, and has advised that the site will be back up by Monday. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Ultimate Loyalty: Japanese Dog Refuses to Leave Injured Friend Behind

It's a Pawty at Urban Island Home Furnishings!

"Dogs on Camera" Photographers Reception 

Saturday, March 26, 2011, 7 pm - 9 pm

Frank Bette Satellite Gallery at Urban Island Home Furnishings

1901 Broadway, corner of Clement Ave., Alameda, Ca

 

We're having a Pawty and you're invited!! We invited photographers from the local community to take pictures at the Alameda Dog Parks and submit their work to the Satellite Gallery for exhibit, and a contest.

Please join us on Saturday, March 26 from 7 - 9 pm to enjoy the charming dog portraits, and find out which piece wins "Best in Show" (and a free year's membership to the
Frank Bette Center for the Arts.

Drop by and socialize with artists, dog people and dogs (social, leashed dogs are welcome!!) Music, beverages, snacks and ambiance provided by our wonderful host,
Urban Island Home Furnishings.

For more information about the reception, or exhibiting at the satellite gallery, please contact Carrie Isett at gallerycurator@comcast.net.

(All rights to event photo, "Please move, You're killing my groove", belong to K. Smokey Cormier, Photographer. Used here by permission.)

Saint Patrick's Day Celebration! March with Dean Clark and A Leg Up Rescue - San Francisco Chihuahua Meetup

Saint Patrick's Day Celebration! March with Dean Clark and A Leg Up Rescue
- San Francisco Chihuahua Meetup (San Francisco, CA) - Meetup

Pro-Pooch Group Plans Rally, Protest Of Proposed Dog Ban: News: SFAppeal

Pro-Pooch Group Plans Rally, Protest Of Proposed Dog Ban: News: SFAppeal

Protest Proposed Dog Ban in Golden Gate Recreational Areas!

Tom Hieronymous writes:

The history of this started back in the seventies when there was an attempt to ban all dogs from the Golden Gate National Recreation Areas.  However, because at that time there had been no studies or no public discussion period given, the courts threw out the ban.  So the Feds went back to the drawing board and, decades later, at the tax payer's expense of more than a million dollars, they produced a 17 POUND document about the impact of dogs in the parks, a document, by the way, that is not supported by science.

(That document is available to read on-line on the GGNRA website: http://165.83.37.12/document.cfm?parkID=303&projectID=11759&documentID=38106)
 

Now the proposal is back to greatly restrict dogs (Crissy Field, Ft. Fungsten, and others) or ban dogs altogether (Muir Beach and other areas) in all of their parks.  

A discussion period is happening RIGHT NOW, giving people a chance to organize, rebutt their "findings," and protest a ban. So far, the proposed ban has caused quite a stir with outcries from dog owners against these injustices. 

A series of four open houses have been planned to meet with the GGNRA parks representatives.

(http://165.83.37.12/meetingNotices.cfm?projectID=11759)

More information can be found: 

--on Facebook groups (http://www.facebook.com/saveoffleash) (http://www.facebook.com/saveoffleash#!/pages/Dogs-of-the-Golden-Gate-National-Recreation-Area/189574667743306), 

--by Googling "Dogs of Golden Gate," 

and a good Chronicle article: (http://sfappeal.com/news/2011/03/the-people-at-the-golden.php)

Comments can be make on the proposal at the GGNRA site.

Below is an email sent by a supporter:

"The GGNRA proposal is absolutely draconian.   They propose, e.g., to ban all dogs - not just off-leash walking - in areas where off-leash walking has been permitted for at least  the past  34 years and where the majority of all users are people walking their dogs.  (The so-called "New Lands").    Other bans on off-leash walking will effectively reduce the available area in San Francisco and the northern half of San Mateo county to 1/2 of the current Fort Funston and Crissy Field areas.

Both the SF SPCA and San Mateo's Peninsula Humane Society have written letters opposing the GGNRA's restrictive stance.

There will be an "open house" with GGNRA representatives at Cabrillo School, on Crespi Drive in Pacifica on March 9 : 4-8 pm.   Please come if you can!

Also - funds are being collected through the Crissy Field organization for a lawyer and an environmental specialist, on the theory that public comment will not be sufficient.  (Crissy Field Dogwalkers have legal 501 (c) (4) status).   Please donate if you can!

Finally - one last source of information: www.montaradogs.com . The Montara Dog Blog is specifically focused on the New Lands. This is the area where dogs would simply be banned - on or off-leash.

The New Lands comprise virtually all of the open space on the coast north of Half Moon Bay.  They run from north of Montara south  behind all the communities along the coast down to Half Moon Bay - Moss Beach, El Grenada, Princeton. This is pretty much all the available space. The environmental pressure and degradation on the remaining one mile loop of County park in the area is absolutely predictable.  "

Natalie B.

Alameda Small Dog Park Wins Beast of the Bay 2011 Award!

	Alameda Small Dog Park Wins Beast of the Bay 2011 Award! The Alameda Small Dog Park was voted "Best Adult Dog Play Group/Event" by Bay Woof voters,... By Small Dog Read more >

Visit Patch.com for more local news, reviews, and info.
Copyright © 2011 Patch. All Rights Reserved.

Poki and Friday cuddling on the table

Greeting from Poki's mom, Heidi.

Here's Poki with one of her best Park Pals, Friday! Aren't they just the cutest?

Poki and Mochi like to play RUFF!

Heidi aka Poki's mom here.

I wanted to share a few photos of Poki (my Tibetan Spaniel) and her park pal Mochi playing on the table...fun stuff!

The Grey Muzzle Organization

Nellie was one of the inspirations for The Grey Muzzle Organization. This small Whippet mix of about 10 years was left by her family at a shelter, and was so terrified that she refused to eat. The concerned shelter staff contacted Old Dog Haven. She was rescued by Grey Muzzle founder Julie Nowicki and cared for by her as part of the Old Dog Haven lifelong hospice program. Nellie was a delightful little dog, who leaped with joy when she saw Julie put on her cap and knew it was time for a walk. She was a constant tail wagger and big stuffy lover (although they didn’t last long). This sweet dog was greatly loved in her foster home. Unfortunately, it turned out that she had a very serious form of kidney disease. She died well loved after several months in her new home.

We remember Nellie with many smiles and wish we had more time with her, but we’re grateful that she ended her life in a safe and happy place, not alone in a cement pen.
A goal of The Grey Muzzle Organization is to help shelters, such as the one that took Nellie in, give senior dogs a second chance to know they are loved.

Don't miss the Bay Area Pet Expo!

Get More Details at the Website!
Check out their Facebook Page!

Dogs on Camera! Calling all Photographers!

"... a place for meetings, readings, showings and other creative doings."  Frank Bette  CALLING ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS! Announcing a fun new photography opportunity called "Dogs on Camera", a way to participate in the "Raining Cats & Dogs" show, FBCA's upcoming exhibit running February through March 2011. As part of the "Raining Cats and Dogs" exhibit, we invite YOU to sign up for Dogs on Camera (DOC).  It's simple: Hang around either the Alameda Dog Park (mixed sizes) or the Alameda Small Dog Park (dogs under 30 lbs.) on the weekend of February 5-6 and then submit one ready to hang piece to FBCA by February 27. The pieces will be on display, (in either the FB main gallery or our premiere new satellite gallery at Urban Island) for the month of March. The photographer of the piece judged "Best in Show" will win a free FBCA membership.  (If you already are a member, your membership will be extended for an extra year.) Sign up by emailing patricia@frankbettecenter.org or give her a call at 510.521.2655. Frank Bette Center for the Arts 1601 Paru Street Alameda, Ca 94501 www.frankbettecenter.org