Cats Weigh in on Take Your Dog to Work Day: They're all for it!

from catalystcouncil.org:

Top 10 reasons cats are for it (Paul Schaffer cue drum roll please):

• Your midday nap will not be interrupted by incessant, frenzied yapping sparked by the mail carrier's arrival. Or a squirrel in the yard. Or the wind blowing the tree leaves. Or absolutely nothing at all.
• Getting the couch all to yourself. Enough said.
• A respite from the tedious licking. (I mean, really…if they're going to lick, at least they could make themselves useful and groom something.)
• No sliding in the drool puddles left behind on the tile floor.
• No mile-wide water spills around the dog bowl.
• You'll finally get to eat your own food. All of it. No sharing.
• No "I get to go outside and you don't…nyah, nyah, nyah."
• A rare opportunity to use the dog bed as a scratching post. Or litterbox – it's your choice.
• Being spared the humiliation of the most base of all canine greetings: the infamous and oh-so-annoying Butt Sniff. How uncivilized.
• Finally, peace and quiet when nature calls, and no fear of some crazy canine with questionable culinary habits raiding the litterbox when you're finished.

Even Fosters Included, Take Your Dog to Work in Austin today

photo credit: austinphotobook.com

from austincorporatehousing.com:

Today, we will have our newest foster dog, Tofu with us at work.

People are better in the presence of our four legged friends. Studies show dogs are positive influence on our mood. At N Housing, we lucked out with a pet friendly office space so we get to enjoy Take Your Dog to Work Day. We do not have any dogs of our own but we sponsor foster dogs and they are often sleepy guests on the office couch. When we have a pooch at work, I am happier and when I get stressed all it takes is hugging one to feel much more at ease. It’s also nice to take quick strolls through out the day and enjoy the sun outside. Dogs are great conversation starters and they help us meet new people.

We sponsor Austin Pets Alive! foster dogs. We take in the dogs in our homes and N Housing pays for food, toys, and other necessities needed to take care of them.

Austin Pets Alive!’s mission is to make Austin a no kill city. The dogs in their care were at one time on the kill list in Austin area shelters. When APA! does not have room at their building or in their adoption program, dog foster parents are called to take these dogs in until they are adopted. When a dog needs extra TLC and might recover and socialize better in a private residence, they are placed in foster care as well.

APA! places these dogs on their website so that interested potential adopters can meet with the foster parents and the dogs. After the adoption approval process, the new parents can take the foster dogs to their forever homes.

Office Dog Tips

Is your employer participating in Take Your Dog to Work Day this year? Here are some tips on coworking together.

• Keep your dog leashed at all times and only unleash them if you can keep them in a confined space such as a private office. Your dog may be best disciplined dog in the world but they may get too distracted with new environment, other dogs, and smells. It can get dangerous in the parking lot. Be safe.
• If you have a private office space and unleash your dog but the door is constantly being opened, keep a baby gate at the door so your dog does not escape.
• Bring puppy pads with you just in case. It’s a new environment for your dog and you may not be able to take them out when they need to go.
• Bring a doggy bed, a favorite toy, water bowl, and a raw hide bone to chew on to keep them comfortable and happy.
• Don’t forget your doggy waste bag. Pick up after your dog.

Today was Take Your Dog To Work Day: Did you take your dog to work???

Jenna, an English Springer Spaniel, does airshift at NPR Radio in Harrisburg, VAMore info on Take Your Dog to Work Today

More info click here.

Those who are happy that 'Puppy Mill' bill passed include ASPCA

from aspca.org:

Lack of state inspections meant that Texas was becoming a haven for bad breeders—but once the new law goes into effect this September, many commercial breeding facilities will have to open their doors to inspectors for the first time.

Texas Governor Rick Perry signed into law the Commercial Dog and Cat Breeders Act (CDCBA), which establishes minimum standards for the humane handling, care, housing and transportation of dogs and cats kept by large-scale Texas breeders. Texas’s commercial dog and cat breeders have always operated free of state oversight, meaning the animals at most of these facilities are unprotected.

more

This Shade's Got My Vote this Saturday: Outdoor Benefit Includes Shade and Pool for Real Hot Paws on the Patio

more info: animaltrustees.org

This is Austin so there'll be live music, Tex-Mex and a pet costume contest.

Ticket purchase includes taco and Queso bar, and cold beer plus pool and shade for Paws.

Contests for Most Unique Pet Trick, Longest Tail, Shortest Legs, and Best Kiss.

Implications of 'No-Kill Policy' on Condo Dwellers and City Parks

from kvue.com:

There may be hope yet for a very popular dog park lying in the shadow of downtown Austin.

KVUE News learned on Wednesday that the Parks and Recreation Department is now looking at other options which could include keeping the Norwood Dog Park open or relocating it to one of two alternate locations neither of which were disclosed on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday evening, the Austin Animal Advisory Commission voted to approve the formation of a working group or a subcommittee of commissioners and citizens who plan to begin a dialog with the Parks and Recreation department and neighbors. The sole purpose is to try to keep the Norwood Dog Park open or to find alternate locations for it.

“Dog parks, especially fenced dog parks, are very important. They could be the difference between someone keeping their animal or relinquishing it,” said David Lunstedt, an Animal Advisory Commission member.

The working group’s first meeting is Sunday, June 19.

16 seconds of cute: Dreaming Pom waking up