Harassment and Destruction continues at Animal Trustees of Austin

Harassment and Destruction continues at Animal Trustees of Austin
Austin, TX – October 28, 2009 – On Tuesday evening Animal Trustees of Austin’s clinics were broken into for the seventh time since September 28, 2009. At the same time this story aired on local news, a perpetrator scaled the fence of Animal Trustees of Austin and destroyed the electric meters to our two clinics. Electricity was disconnected to the facilities shutting down the recently added outdoor security lights.  An alarm was sounded to the security company and the police came for another investigation, however, the offender was not apprehended. City employees had to work through the night to restore power to Animal Trustees of Austin.
This series of devastating events has now cost Animal Trustees of Austin upwards of $8,000 in repairs and added security measures.  Due to these escalated and malicious attacks, management is seriously concerned about staff safety after hours, and are no longer comfortable housing animals in the facilities overnight.  The monies being spent to make these excessive repairs and increase security represent thousands of dollars in veterinary care that would be spent for animals in need in our community.
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact press contact below or Executive Director, Missy McCullough at 512-371-1968 or Cell 512-922-4422.

Press Contact:
Kevin Farr
Communications Manager
Animal Trustees of Austin
Kevin@animaltrustees.org
512-371-1965
http://www.animaltrustees.org/ATA/site/about.asp

Austin Parks and Recreation Survey

Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD), in conjunction with the newly formed Off Leash Area Advisory Committee (OLAAC), is conducting a survey on the city's 12 Off Leash Areas (OLA) - Dog Parks.
The goal of the survey is to seek input from dog owners who frequent these parks, and aid PARD and the OLAAC in better understanding the community's use of these parks.

The survey will remain active - online - until Friday, November 20, 2009; 5PM. Feel free to share this link (survey) with others.

http://austinpardoffleash.questionpro.com/

Please log on, give your input, send this link to your friends, and keep being a responsible dog owner.

101 Dalmatians comes to Austin

Please note: This event is not dog friendly. :o) However, there will be dogs in the cast, and people in the cast as dogs.

If you haven't heard yet, the 101 Dalmatians Musical is coming to Austin Nov. 24-29th. This show is particularly neat for many reasons. 1. There will be real dogs on the set. Check out this youtube video about the training. 2. People are on stilts. 3.There are kids in the show.  These three unique attributes make me want to see it period.  Training dogs is no easy feat.  Training dogs to be consistent in many different environments is extremely difficult.  Throw kids and stilts into the mix, and you've got a show. Hope to see ya there!

Check out their youtube channel here.
Check out their flickr here.


Per their website: THE 101 DALMATIANS MUSICAL is a Broadway theatre experience for the entire family… about what it means to be a family... canine and courageous. More than a simple story about good versus bad (Dalmatians Mr. & Mrs. Pongo against Cruella De Vil and the Baddun brothers), this Broadway musical shows how a family bands together to overcome every hurdle and hardship in the most difficult times.

Dalmatian HydrantDodie Smith’s book, The 101 Dalmatians, is beloved around the world and has been translated in 47 languages. THE 101 DALMATIANS MUSICAL is a Broadway theatre adventure story with a lively contemporary score by Dennis DeYoung. The inspiration for the Broadway production’s unique and delightful concept came directly from re-discovering the original 101 Dalmatians 1957 novel.

It's that Doggie Costume Contest time of the year!

We've got 3 fun events coming up with your pooches: Doggone It to Summer, Howl'oween, and National Pit Bull Awareness Day!  They are right around the corner, so hurry with those costume ideas.  Also, yours truly will be judging at the Doggone it to Summer Festival.  I like creative costumes, just thought you might like to know.  :o)   Don't forget to pick up your produce and other tasty treats while you're at the Farmer's Market.

SATURDAY, October 24, STORY/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Doggone it to Summer Festival featuring Dog Parade and Costume Contest

Bring your dog with you to Austin Farmers' Market on October 24th!

Doggone it to Summer Festival
October 24, 2009
10:00am - Dog Parade and Costume Contest
Austin Farmers' Market downtown at Republic Square Park, 4th and Guadalupe
Free parking is available in the state garage at 3rd and San Antonio

Dogs do not need to be in costume to participate in the parade at 10am, but if they are, they'll have a shot at winning one of the three categories: Most "Look-Alike" (Dog & Owner), Weirdest and Best Overall.

Doggie "Happy Hour" will follow the parade, featuring hand-made dog biscuits and cupcakes from Austin Farmers' Market's own Paw Bakery. Lucky Draw - Limit One Entry Per Dog - for a free 6-inch birthday cake on winning dog's next birthday, baked to order and fresh to the bones!

Austin Farmers' Market is a project of Sustainable Food Center. It runs year-round on Saturdays at Republic Square Park, 4th and Guadalupe from 8am - 12pm through daylight savings time in Oct., and from 9am – 1pm through daylight savings time change in March 2010. Also, Wednesdays at Triangle Park, 4600 Guadalupe at 46th and Lamar from 4pm - 8pm through daylight savings time in Oct., and from 3pm - 7pm through daylight savings time change in March. Free parking is available in covered garages and along the streets at both locations immediately adjacent to the market.

National Pit Bull Awareness Weekend Oct 24-25th

Please join Love-A-Bull in welcoming Best Friends Animal Sanctuary’s famous dog handler John Garcia to Austin on the weekend of October 24-25, 2009, to participate in a weekend of family-friendly events in Austin.
John is nationally known for working extensively to rehabilitate 22 of the 49 dogs (now affectionately referred to as the “Vicktory Dogs”) seized from the bust of the Michael Vick/Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting ring. He is best known for his work and public appearances with Georgia, a sweet, 7-year old toothless female pit bull who, despite being a victim of cruelty and abuse, responds with love to all she meets.
The weekend will feature these FREE events:

A Family Fun Day with John Garcia
October 24, 5 PM – 9 PM at Zilker Hillside Theater
Free to the public! Dogs on leash are welcome. Chairs are not permitted, but blankets or towels are encouraged.
This fun-filled evening of activities will include:

• A public screening of National Geographic Channel’s “Dog Town,” including footage of John working with the Vicktory Dogs at Best Friends (begins at 7:30 PM).
• Autographs with John Garcia
• Games and crafts, including: henna tattoos, face painting, balloon animals, bandanna painting
• Under Pressure t-shirt silk screening
• Pumpkin patch photo booth
• Dunk tank
• Raffle
• Refreshments: Amy’s Ice Cream, Aloha Sno-Cones and Waffles, Zuzu’s tacos, Sweet Leaf tea
• Pick the Pit Bull game, trivia, and prize giveaways
• Information and adoptable pets from Emancipet, Happy Endings, Town Lake Animal Center, Best Friends, and Reunion Rescue
• Booths featuring Training by Tara and Haute Dog Magazine

A Downtown Pet Parade and Costume Contest, led by John Garcia
October 25, 2 PM at Austin City Hall
Free to the public! Bring your leashed loved ones and the whole family for this walk through downtown. Austin Java and Lofty Dog will provide rest stops, and there will be prizes for best human and dog costumes!  Free Parking in the City Hall Garage (entrance on Lavaca).

I don't have more info on the Howl'oween event that isn't on the flyer, but it does look like fun!Click on photo for larger version. 

Dog Friendly Fierce Fest Happy Hour to Benefit Safe Place

via the invite:
Come one, come all to the first-ever Fierce Fest Happy hour event will benefit SafePlace Women’s Shelter.

During the Fierce Fest happy hour at Lustre Pearl Bar, a portion of each drink purchase will benefit the SafePlace Women’s Shelter. Attendees can test their relative manliness (or womanliness) through feats of strength, including thumb wars, staring contests, wall sits, arm wrestling and more.

Fierce Fest will take place on Wednesday, October 14, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Lustre Pearl Bar is located at 97 Rainey Street in downtown Austin.

Dog-friendly event, free parking.

Featuring photobooth by Trevor Ray Thompson!

Sponsors include: Just Mind (counseling)

Tentative Dates for 2009-2010 Weight Pulls & Cedar Door Doggie Costume Yappy Hour

Here are the tentative dates for the Region 8 2009-2010 weight pull season.  Keep your eyes and hears open for more info!   Happy Training!


Nov. 21-22
Dec. 12-13
Jan 30-31
March 20-21

And........

Cedar Door

Yappy Hour

And

Dog Costume Party

Sunday

October 25^th

5 pm to 7 pm

On the Deck in front of the Big Screen TV

We will be giving away to two $25 Gift Certificates to the

Best Dressed Pooch’s

Human!

Your human can enjoy all our wonderful Sunday Football Specials!

Sunday Specials include:

$3 Newcastle Draft

$7 Deer and a Beer (Newcastle & Cazadores Tequila shot)

$10 Longhorn Mexican Martini

$5 Bevo shots

$25 Bacardi Gold Mojito Pitchers (serves 6)

201 Brazos Street
Austin, TX  78701
(512) 473-3712
www.cedardooraustin.com

Gearing up for the Drafting Season!

Photo by Michael Taylor

A big congrats goes out to Janice Swenson and Brooke for earning their Water Rescue Dog (WRD) title last weekend at Lake Kiowa, TX.  Water rescue is an extremely difficult sport, and it requires a fit, obedient, and willing dog.  Don't forget to congratulate Janice and Brooke next time you see them.  Now that the water rescue season is over, it's time to start thinking about drafting.

We haven't finalized the location yet (East Austin), but we're thinking about starting training on Oct. 17th, 9 am.  Get your dogs working on obedience and get those carts out....it's drafting time!