Scanning Upcoming.org this afternoon for events to fill our social calendar, CityPets stumbled upon the upcoming, first annual New York City “Barking Beauty Pageant” on April 23rd. The event will benefit the ASPCA and the event organizer, Stone Soup Theatre Events.

CityPets will be en route from the Planning for a Dog Friendly Community conference in Ithaca. Anyone care to be a guest field correspondent?

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Gawker sister blog Lifehacker provides this helpful link to Find a Dog Walker, an online directory of dog walkers organized by neighborhood. Has anybody used this service and found it helpful? What are other ways folks have found dog walkers? Anyone have any recommendations for walkers in the upper UWS/Morningside Heights/Harlem area? CityPets is looking…

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CityPets’ friend Chris recently launched Harlem Fur to document his neighborhood and quest for a dog to adopt. He’s already made a splash by scoring link from Curbed. CityPets lent him our urban hunter for a walk around the nabe. Here’s his report.

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The Brooklyn Courier writes about the Brooklyn Bridge Parks Commission’s push to coral dogs’ effects in the park:

The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy (BBPC) has introduced a new initiative that attempts to balance the interests of dog lovers and those who would rather see only kids rolling around in the grass.

The Green Dog Initiative started because the four-acre Main Street City Park, which opened in the fall, has already become rather dog-eared from the burden of paw traffic. […]

Participating pooches would get to flaunt an “I’m a green dog” tag. […]

Terry said that dogs will eventually be allowed through most of the 1.3 mile park – except in naturalized areas and playgrounds.

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The Post writes about Molly, a cat who has been trapped in the wall of a landmarked Greenwich Village basement for 12 days. CityPets roomates’ cat once crawled into the wall of the early 20th century dancehall loft we once lived in. Luckily, he was trapped near an easy to disassemble air duct. He came out covered in a deep and filthy grime. Let’s hope Molly sees daylight soon. (Photo from the NY Post).

Update: Gothamist reports Molly has been freed. Meanwhile, the Wonkster ridicules the story as “this week’s furry heart throb.”

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Gothamist: NY based Pet Company accused of selling Giardia-ridden puppies

Tricks of the Trade tip: Put ice cubes in the water tray for slop-less water refills

NY Post: Memoir fabricator James Frey and author & dog biscuit baker Susan Orleans are among the celebrity donors to the Louisiana ASPCA fundraiser on Monday night at B Bar

NY Post: A Queens man faces four years for beating and poisoning (with Draino!) his girlfriend’s dog

A rash of violent, disturbing dog killings in CityPets home state made headlines as far as Ireland (via YpsiDixit)

CityPets’ friend Sat points out Darwin’s list of marriage pros and cons. Pro: “Better than a dog, anyhow”

CityNoise: Some nutjob dumped an evicerated bunny frozen in ice in Union Square Park.

Browstoner writes about the Cadman Park astro-turf controversy

Overheard:

Guy: What is with these New Yorkers and their dogs? If you want a creature that badly, have a child!
Girl: You are an idiot.

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Last time CityPets was in Toronto we met a furry commuter on the subway. We were shocked at the gaul of the puppy’s human until we learned Toronto, in fact, allows four-legged riders. Our friend Erica recently posted this proof of Canadian superiority. Reportedly, Boston also allows animals on the train.

Should the MTA consider allowing other species passenger status, or is New York’s system just too crowded, dirty and dangerous for our furry friends? There is clearly a demand.

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Lure Coursing. Put simply, this sport is the game of sighthounds where the dogs chase a lure–a plastic bag, in fact–that runs along a motor-powered line that a person operates like a remote-controlled car. Below is a video of a lure courser on her first run (BTW, that dog is not a sighthound, but she thinks she is one. Also, she was not supposed to run away after her race ended!) The course is staked out at a minimum of 600 yards. Some of the dogs wear basket muzzles during their races. While it is not restrictive for breathing, muzzles do keep the dogs from hurting one another and from mauling the lures.

Officially, lure coursing began in California in the 1960s. To read more history, visit the American Sighthound Field Association. The AKC regulates competitive lure coursing and your hound must be a sighthound to compete. There are 120 lure coursing clubs in the US. In NYC, you can find more information from the Big Apple Sight Hound Association. BASHA hosted a fun run on April 1st in Long Island and even non-sighthounds joined in the fun.
Go here to see the fun (Photo via Flickr by Wagongrrl)

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One lucky Bassett’s story from NYC.  Oh, and the side story about the apartment he calls home and his leading lady, Linda Rodin.

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Here is Clementine, my chair warmer at work. Clementine and I sit together all day and I can tell you that she is a snuggler. She is catty and bratty, her coat is spiked to convey her feisty nature. This cat just wants a warm, soft chair and a lap for snuggling belonging to a cat-savvy person. She does not want to play with toys or people. She just wants a dose of daily love and a safe, warm place. She’s not so trusting right now, but in the right home she’ll do just fine. I’ve been told that a female orange tabby cat is rare. So if our rarity, Clem, sounds like a match for you, send me an email.

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