dogs

Dogs Dress Up for a Trick or Treat Event

By Katie Pyzyk

Halloween fun is in store tonight at the Lee-Harrison Shopping Center. This time, it’s all for pups.

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington encourages you to dress up your dog in a costume and attend a trick or treat event at Dogma Bakery (2445 N. Harrison St.) in the Lee-Harrison shopping center. With a $10 donation, you can fill your dog’s treat bag at various stores in the center. There will be treats for humans as well.

There will be games and prizes for best costumes–both pet and handler. The whole family is welcome at the event, which starts at 6:00 p.m.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Examiner: It’s All Zimmerman’s Fault— In an editorial, the Washington Examiner encourages drivers stuck on I-66 to “call or tweet Arlington Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman” to complain, since “he’s one of the most vocal opponents of widening I-66 inside the Beltway.” Regarding local opposition to adding a third lane to I-66, the paper concludes: “This whole scenario is beyond short-sighted and incompetent. This is insane.” [Washington Examiner]

Flat Fare Could Cost Arlington Metro Riders — Arlington transit riders take, on average, the shortest trips of any local residents on the Metrorail system. As a result, county officials warn that Arlington riders will pay more if Metro ever switches to a flat fare system — as has been proposed as a way to simplify the agency’s fare system. [Sun Gazette]

Arlington’s First Female K-9 — The Arlington County Police Department recently received its first female police dog. Roxy, a Belgian Malinois, graduated from an intense, 15-week K-9 patrol school in June. Roxy and handler Cpl. Thorpe Lichtenberg are one of Arlington’s nine K-9 teams. [Examiner]

Exchange Students Arrive — Arlington fifth graders will be waiting at the airport today to greet 44 sixth graders from Aachen, Germany, as they arrive with their parents for “a whirlwind week in the D.C. area.” The German students will stay with the families of fifth graders who attend Nottingham, Tuckahoe and Arlington Traditional elementary schools. In addition to attending classes, they will visit memorials and museums, go on hikes and attend sporting events. Aachen is Arlington’s sister city, and the exchange is being organized by the Arlington Sister Cities Association.

Flickr pool photo by BrianMKA

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

More US Airways Flights at DCA? — US Airways is seeking regulatory approval for a plan that will give it more flights in and out of Reagan National Airport. The airline, which serves almost 4 million passengers annually at DCA, has negotiated a deal to acquire some of Delta’s take-off and landing slots in exchange for cash and slots at LaGuardia Airport in New York. [Sun Gazette]

Local Dog a Frontrunner in Postal Contest — Jordy, a mixed-breed terrier who resides in Arlington, is a frontrunner in an online contest organized by the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum. Jordy is currently neck-and-neck with a terrier mix named Bentley in a contest to find an Owney lookalike — Owney, for the uninitiated, is a postal service mascot of yesteryear. Owner and Arlington resident Patrice Robinson is trying to rally locals to vote for Jordy. Voting is being conducted on Facebook. [Washington Post, Facebook]

Patch Adams Rallies D.C. Protesters — East Falls Church resident Dr. Patch Adams, of eponymous film fame, rallied “Occupy D.C.” protesters in the District last night. While there, the 66-year-old Dr. Adams told the Huffington Post that President Obama’s health care reform efforts have been worthless. “He sold out,” Adams said. [Huffington Post]

In Shirlington, A Three Course Meal for Dogs

By ARLnow.com

The inaugural Shirlington Restaurant Week is well underway, but humans aren’t the only ones who can enjoy a delicious fixed-price meal during week-long event.

Dogma Bakery (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) is offering a three-course meal for dogs as part of Restaurant Week. The meal consists of a house-made “gar-lick cheese bite” appetizer; a main course of fish, chicken, beef or venison kibble, with a side of vegetables; and a dog ice cream, cookie or muffin dessert.

The meal is available for dine-in or take-out. Owners choosing the sit-down option are invited to order human food from The Bungalow and dine with their dogs.

The meal costs $7.50, and 100 percent of the purchase price is going to benefit a rescue dog named Chief (pictured), who was abused and now needs a prosthetic leg and paw on either side of his body. Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, which is fostering Chief, needs about $800 for the prosthetics.

Photos: ‘Top Dog’ Contest in Crystal City

By ARLnow.com

Fox 5 Morning News anchor Steve Chenevey, 94.7 Fresh FM morning show host Tommy McFly and an Arlington County K-9 police officer were among the guest judges at the ‘Top Dog’ talent contest in Crystal City last week.

The contest was held by the pet-friendly Residence Inn Arlington Capital View, in order to select a new canine mascot for the hotel. Pooches were put through a series of “American Idol”-style challenges, complete with commentary from the judges after each pair of performances.

In the end, Sweet Dee, a pug, captured the top prize.

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Doggone Good Time Planned for Pooches in Park

By Katie Pyzyk

Looks like Saturday is going to the dogs. Animal lovers will gather at Lacey Woods Park at 1200 N. George Mason Drive for the Dogtober Day dog show.

Some categories for the show include Best Kisser, Best Tail Wagger and Best Costume. First, second and third place winners will receive ribbons.

This year the event also includes the “Barkers Bash” skills tests for dogs and owners. One of the games is called “Chicken Chase,” which is a toss and retrieve test with rubber chickens. First and second place finishers in the games receive ribbons and prizes.

Festivities start at 1:00 p.m. and last until 3:00 p.m. On-site registration starts at 12:15 p.m. The cost is $6 per category or $25 for unlimited categories. It’s $2 for each attempt in the Barkers Bash. Click here for a registration form.

Wanted on Craigslist: Attractive Arlington Dog Owners

By ARLnow.com

Looking to attract attention from members of the opposite sex in Arlington? If the past week’s Missed Connections on Craigslist are any indication, all you need is a dog.

On at least four separate occasions in the past week, lovelorn admirers have posted messages in hopes of connecting with attractive dog owners.

It started last Tuesday, with a woman seeking a man she had met at the Shirlington dog park.

Hi. I met you at the dog park on Saturday or Sunday (the days seem to drift together). You have a young dog named Kai (I think I have spelled that correctly). I have three dogs, our dogs played in the water and we spoke briefly.

I know it was your first visit to the dog park, and I hope to see you again!

Then, on Saturday, another Shirlington dog connection at Caribou Coffee — this time, a man seeking a woman.

You tied your dog up outside of Caribou to get a coffee and some water for the pup. I was with my friend at the table next to you – I was the guy sitting closest to you in a red shirt. You walked away before I had the chance to really talk to you, but I would like to meet you back there and buy you a cup of coffee some time.

Also posted on Saturday, a man seeking the “cute blonde with the adorable dog” in Ballston.

You were the cute blonde with the adorable dog named Doobie. I guess he didn’t like us because he kept barking. Sorry about that. If it was up to me I would have just played with him all night. Let’s get drinks at the same place sometime so I can make it up to you two.

Finally, a female dog owner posted yesterday seeking a “blond and handosome” dog owner she spotted at the Shirlington dog park.

I know this is a long shot but I thought I’d try…
Tonight I saw you at the dog park with a retriever and an older gentleman. You were hard to keep my eyes off of actually but I didn’t want to weird you out. I was the brunette with a pink shirt and little beagle.

I think we live in the same sub division maybe because I was walking the same route home.

How about a playdate with the pups…or a regular one?

Volunteer Opp: Dogtober Day 2011

By ARLnow.com

Arlington’s Parks Department is seeking volunteers for its annual Dogtober Day celebration at Lacey Woods Park (1200 N. George Mason Drive).

On Saturday, Oct. 8, dogs will compete for prizes in categories like best kisser, best tail wagger, cutest costume and fastest pooch. The day will also feature dog training, grooming, treats and rescues.

Arlington is seeking up to 25 volunteers to help with set up, registration, ribbons and prizes, dog games, judges’ paper work and end-of-program break down. Anyone interested should contact volunteer coordinator Rhonda Nibert online or at 703-228-4724.

Although information for this year’s event hasn’t been placed online yet, the info page from last year’s Dogtober Day is still available.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Post-Earthquake Safety Tips — Arlington County is advising residents to call a structural engineer if they find cracks in their brick facades or chimneys following yesterday’s earthquake. [Arlington County]

Favola/Areizaga-Soto Primary By the Numbers — Just over 10,000 people voted in yesterday’s 31st District state Senate primary between Barbara Favola and Jaime Areizaga-Soto, out of 133,577 active registered voters in the district. More than $538,500 had been spent on the race as of Aug. 10. In other words, candidates ended up spending more than $53 for every resident who bothered to cast a vote in the race.

Arlington Confusion — In case you were wondering, there are 21 different localities in the United States called ‘Arlington,’ in states like Texas, Massachusetts, South Dakota, Vermont and New York. [Falls Church News-Press]

Hotel Hosts ‘Top Dog’ Contest — The new Residence Inn Arlington Capital View in Crystal City is holding a contest to find a “doggie mascot” for the hotel. The winner of the contest will be selected at an event on Oct. 6 by a panel of judges including “Arlington County K-9 division, veterinarians, doggie trainers and… Fox 5 Anchor Steve Chenevey.” Entrants need to include a photo of their pooch, his or her name, age, breed and best trick, and a $25 donation to the Washington Humane Society. [Marketwire, Residence Inn]

Flickr pool photo by Divaknevil

Dog Reading Program Expands to Shirlington

By ARLnow.com

A program that allows kids to read aloud to dogs is expanding to the Shirlington Branch Library.

The “Paws-to-Read” program, run in partnership with the animal therapy group PAL (People Animals Love), started at Central Library and expanded to the Columbia Pike Library this month. Next month, it will expand to Shirlington.

Paws-to-Read gives children a non-judgmental companion that sits around attentively as they practice their reading skills. A study has shown that the extra reading practice and boost in confidence that dog reading companions provide actually boosts kids’ reading fluency.

Starting on Wednesday, Sept. 14, Paws-to-Read will come to the Shirlington library on the second Wednesday of every month. According to the Library Blog, slots are available for 15 minute reading sessions on evenings of Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9 and Dec. 14. Interested parents should call 703-228-6545.

File photo

Morning Poll: Dogs at Farmers Markets

By ARLnow.com

The Sun Gazette reports this morning that the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization is asking residents to consider leaving Fido at home when they go to the Pike farmers market on Sundays.

Responding to a complaint to the county health department, market officials are asking residents to voluntarily leave their dogs at home or, at the very least, “keep them out of vendor booths and away from tables that have food on them.”

The Saturday farmers market in Courthouse, meanwhile, is more explicit about its policy about dogs.

“We love your pets, but please leave them at home,” the market says on its web site. “With the exception of service animals, Public Health regulations preclude the presence of live animals in the Courthouse Farmer’s Market.”

Should dogs be allowed at farmers markets in Arlington?

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