dogs

Upgrades to Clarendon Dog Park Rely on Bond Issue

By ARLnow.com

The Clarendon dog park soon won’t be just for the dogs any more. The park at Herndon Street and 13th Street is set to receive a $1.7 million face lift over the next year and a half. The project will transform what is essentially an open field adorned with plastic lawn chairs into a sleekly-designed green space that will be part dog park and part “person” park.

That is, unless the park bond fails in November.

All but $350,000 of the park’s funding relies on voters passing a $5.975 million park bond next month. If the bond fails, a new, piecemeal construction plan will likely need to be conceived.

“We would have to regroup and figure out how to proceed,” said Scott McPartlin, an urban planner with the county. “I don’t think anyone has the answer to that at this point.”

The current plan for the new park includes benches and picnic tables, a water feature, a demonstration garden, planed trees, solar panels to power a portion of the park’s features and a water reclamation system.

If the bond is passed, McPartlin expects construction to begin in late spring or early summer of 2011, to be completed by spring of 2012.

The county is currently conducting an online survey to determine a name for the park. With the exception of “Companionship Park,” the name choices — “James Hunter Park,” “Merchant’s Park,” “Nesmith Park,” and “Wheeler Park” — each have historical significance for the area.

Update at 12:45 p.m. — McPartlin clarifies that the $350,000 in funding already secured will go toward the dog park (in county parlance, a “community canine area”). The $1.3 million from the park bond will be used for the other improvements. Regardless of whether the bond passes, McPartlin says, the community canine area portion of the plan will move forward.

Shirlington Oktoberfest Among Slew of Events This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

What are you doing tonight? Nothing? Good. That will give you plenty of time to rest up for a Saturday and Sunday chock full of events around Arlington.

From noon to 6:00 on Saturday, thousands of beer drinkers will jam Campbell Avenue in Shirlington Village for the 10th annual Mid-Atlantic Oktoberfest. Wear your best lederhosen and bring extra cash for bratwurst. Oh, and bring a non-drinking friend who can help you get home safely AND provide a few extra sample tickets to your group (for $25, each attendee gets 10 tickets good for one 4 oz. beer sample each).

Dog lovers skipping the Oktoberfest may want to check out Dogtober Day and Barker’s Bash, a dog show and festival full of fun and games. It’s taking place at Lacey Woods Park (1200 N. George Mason Dr.)  from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.

On Sunday, Arlington will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Thomas Jefferson Theater (125 S. Old Glebe Rd.). Community members of all ages and backgrounds are invited to enjoy Latin music, food and dancing from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

In addition to those events, there’s also a pair of fundraisers going on, which we wrote about earlier. See our events calendar for even more options.

Controversy Erupts Over Dog Murals, But Help May Be On The Way

By ARLnow.com

Painted on the side of a cinder block warehouse and facing the popular Shirlington dog park, a large mural of happy dogs, bones and paw prints seems like a nice addition. And it would be fine with county regulators — if it wasn’t for the fact that a dog-related business commissioned it. But since the mural belongs to a small doggy daycare it’s considered advertising under county zoning code — and may eventually have to be painted over. For now, a blue tarp covers the $4,000 mural.

Across the street, a self-service dog wash is covered in graffiti, the result of the owner allowing talented local taggers to use his store as a canvas. As long as the graffiti artists don’t depict any dogs or the word “dog,” the owner has been told, the graffiti is considered art and is not subject to regulations.

Thus is the paradox of county regulations intended to protect Arlington from commercial eyesores but permit public artwork — even if the “advertisement” is actually beautifying a monolithic wall in a run-down neighborhood, it is considered a violation. Yet if the doggie daycare were to paint airplanes or fire trucks or elephants on the side of the wall — which is in plain sight of a steady procession of defecating dogs — it would be perfectly fine.

“For me, the issue is the lack of common sense,” said Kim Houghton, who has sunk her life savings into Wag More Dogs, the daycare in question, which she has been trying to open since July 2009. “I understand the law… but [the mural] adds to the park. Can’t an exception be made?”

No, says county zoning administrator Melinda Artman, who’s in charge of enforcing zoning laws in Arlington.

“Unfortunately, as attractive as that mural is… it meets our definition of a sign,” Artman said. She noted that Houghton did not apply for a comprehensive sign plan, which would have to be approved by the county board but which could have allowed the mural to exist legally.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Pizza Autentica Adds Ballston Location — Crystal City isn’t the only Arlington neighborhood on the radar for fast-growing local chain Pizza Autentica. WBJ’s Missy Frederick reports that Pizza Autentica has signed a lease at 850 North Randolph Street in Ballston.

Arlington Food Blogger Profiled — The Fairfax Times takes a look at Arlington mom Colleen Levine and her natural food and cooking blog, Foodie Tots. A government affairs consultant by trade, Levine has amassed 2,500 Twitter followers by focusing her blog on kid-friendly, healthy cooking. The recipe for spaghetti caprese — part of Levine’s effort to promote “meatless Mondays” — looks especially appetizing.

Oil Spill Dogs Need an Adoptive Family — Arlington’s Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation is trying to find a home for the last three of 12 dogs brought up from Louisiana after the Gulf oil spill. The shihtzu family — Gizmo, Trixie and Rocky — were given away by their former owner after he lost his job as a fisherman as a result of the spill. The story and photos from Fox 5.

Pet Event Returns to Shirlington Village

By ARLnow.com

Shirlington Village is hosting an outdoor shopping event that will have satisfied customers saying “woof” and “meow.”

On August 28, Shirlington’s “Wags ‘N’ Whiskers” event returns for a second year. The family-friendly festival will feature live music, pet portraits, contests, demonstrations, children’s entertainment and other free activities.

Fifteen vendors — including pet charities, groomers, publications and bakeries — will be in attendance, under tents along Campbell Avenue, near the library.

Shirlington merchants will also have specials and giveaways during the event.

“Wags ‘N’ Whiskers” will run from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 28, rain or shine. Of course, your four-legged friends are welcome to attend.

Pet Adoption Van Goes AWOL With Dogs, Cats Inside

By ARLnow.com

It was a tense eight hours for the Arlington-based Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation on Saturday. A van filled with two dozen dogs and four cats was supposed to be en route from the organization’s ranch in Fauquier County, Va. to an adoption event in Seven Corners, but contact with the driver was lost and the van never showed up.

The foundation reported the van stolen and posted a plea for information about its whereabouts on their Facebook page. After eight hours, the van and its driver, a foundation employee who had been on the job for eight months, were finally located at the Vienna, Va. branch of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

“All the dogs and cats were fine,” foundation vice president Paul Blumberg said. “I think the humans were more distraught than the dogs.”

The van’s air conditioning had been on the entire time, preventing a potentially dangerous situation in the summer heat.

It’s still not clear what exactly happened. The employee said she got lost and her cell phone died, NBC4 reported.

Blumberg said he did not have a chance to talk with the employee, but she seemed upset. Since the animals were fine, and since officers did not suspect that the woman was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, police let her go home.

In the organization’s nine years in existence, nothing like this has ever happened, Blumberg said. He said the foundation’s board will discuss the incident and “see if there are any changes that need to be made.”

One such change may be putting a GPS tracking system in each of the organization’s vehicles, Blumberg said.

Despite the incident, the foundation was able to find homes for 49 dogs and cats this weekend.

To Do Tonight: Reception for Dogs

By ARLnow.com

Remember our Arlington’s Cutest Dog Contest? How can you forget the spirited, adorable competition, right?

To honor all the great contestants, we’ve invited them to join us at Wylie Wagg Clarendon (2509 N. Franklin Rd.) at 6:00 tonight for a fun, informal reception. Dog food and people refreshments will be served courtesy of Wagg.

All dog lovers are welcome to come. Feel free to bring your four-legged aspiring contestants (we’re planning on running the contest again next summer).

See you there.

Meet Cooper, Arlington’s Cutest Dog

By ARLnow.com

Cooper the cocker spaniel/poodle mix is officially Arlington’s Cutest Dog. Cooper captured a whopping 1,238 votes in the final round of our inaugural contest.

Cooper and his owner, Joe, will receive a brand new Apple iPad courtesy of Siena Park, the new pet-friendly luxury apartment community on Columbia Pike.

If you’re still not convinced that Cooper is, in fact, Arlington cutest dog, we present the following photographic evidence:

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Meanwhile, Lucy the Dachshund made a spirited run at first place but came up just short. For placing second, Lucy and her owner, David, will receive a $100 gift certificate to Wylie Wagg in Clarendon (2509 N. Franklin Road). We think Lucy may appreciate the store’s great selection of healthy food and supplies for dogs (and cats) more than some fancy techno gizmo.

Bentley the English lab placed third and will receive a $50 Wylie Wagg gift certificate.

The three top finishers will also receive a soccer ball fetch toy in honor of the World Cup, which we tried to tie-in with the contest but then sort of gave up on (whoops).

Prizes will be presented at a reception at Wylie Wagg. We’ll announce the details later this week.

Congratulations to the prize winners and a big thank you to all contest participants. Your enthusiasm helped make this contest such a smashing success. We hope to see you all at the reception.

VOTE: Arlington’s Cutest Dog Contest (Final Round)

By ARLnow.com

This one’s for all the Milk-Bones. The final round of our Arlington’s Cutest Dog contest is here, and five of the area’s most charming canines are competing for your affection.

Like the group stage, voting for the final round will last a week. Unlike the group stage, you’ll only be able to vote for one contestant, so choose carefully.

Here is what’s at stake in the final round:

  • Grand Prize: Apple iPad (courtesy of Siena Park, the new pet-friendly luxury apartment community on Columbia Pike)
  • Second Prize: $100 Wylie Wagg gift certificate (courtesy of Wylie Wagg in Clarendon, featuring healthy food and supplies for dogs and cats)
  • Third Prize: $50 Wylie Wagg gift certificate
  • All top three finishers will receive a soccer ball fetch toy from Wylie Wagg, in honor of the World Cup.

Voting closes at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, July 12.

See the contestant “biographies” and vote for your favorite, after the jump.

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Cooper and Lucy Capture Last Two Spots in Cutest Dog Finals

By ARLnow.com

We know you’ve probably already started the weekend, but before you fire up the grill or get on that plane, you might want to know the results of Group D in our Arlington’s Cutest Dog contest.

With 3,724 votes cast and 148 comments registered, this was definitely the most competitive and active group of the contest. But in the end, Cooper (a.k.a. Coopini) the Cocker Spaniel / poodle mix came out on top. Cooper captured 800 votes, the largest single vote total so far.

Cooper “escaped from the evil clutches of New Jersey to reside here in luxury,” his owner says. “He is the guard dog and is always on alert to keep off pesky robbers and the most stubborn of mail carriers.”

Cooper is “is a sucker for bacon and eggs, as breakfast is his favorite meal of the day.” Plus he “loves to play with bouncy balls.”

But Cooper isn’t the only contestant from Group D advancing to the final round, which will start on Monday.

Lucy the miniature Dachshund captured the “at-large” spot in the final round with 671 votes, the most of any second-place finisher.

A graduate of the Olde Towne School for Dogs, Lucy is an educated but otherwise lackadaisical lady. Her interests include “sleeping, napping, lounging, sunbathing, resting, kicking back, relaxing and siestaing.”

“In between her daily 20 hours of sleep, Lucy enjoys begging for bacon at the table (this bacon thing seems to be a trend -Ed.) as well as chasing squirrels in Butler Holmes Park.”

Lucy “has been the greatest impulse purchase our family has ever known,” her owners say.

A tip of the hat to Tito the Chihuahua, whose enthusiastic supporters propelled him to 601 votes, the next-highest vote total in Group D.

Thank you again to all our great contestants and congratulations to the very worthy finalists. To those who did not make it to the final round: we look forward to seeing you at Wylie Wagg for a reception after the contest (you will receive details via email).

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