News from Dog Beach Dog Wash

Dog Beach Dog Wash News

Because your dogs deserve the best

August 2012

Upcoming Events

Sat., August 11, 2012, 9 to 11 a.m. -- Dog Beach Cleanup, with Friends of Dog Beach, at the pawprint entry to Dog Beach. Bags & gloves, plus toys & treats will be provided for you and your friendly dogs

Dog Days of Summer

Sat., August 11, 2012, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. -- 7th Annual Dog Days of Summer Canine Festival & Contest, presented by Cardiff 101 Main Street, in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, with adoptions, contests, vendors, live music, silent auction and more.

http://www.cardiffdogdaysofsummer.com/

2012FurBall

[This event has officially SOLD OUT but contact

the Humane Society to be put on the wait list]

Sat., August 25, 2012, 6-11 p.m. -- The San Diego Humane Society and SPCA's 26th Annual Fur Ball - "Polynesian Pawradise" (black tie optional) at 5500 Gaines St., San Diego 92110, with sumptuous dinner, silent & live auctions, and activities for dogs and people, to benefit the Humane Society's programs and services.

http://www.sdhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=evn_FurBall

Helen Woodward Surf Dogs Sun., Sept. 9, 2012, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. -- 7th Annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon, presented by the Helen Woodward Animal Center, at Del Mar Dog Beach.

http://surfdog.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1016899

www.cleanupday.org

Sat., Sept. 15, 2012, 9 a.m.-12 noon -- 28th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day, sponsored by I Love A Clean San Diego, at 80 sites countywide including Dog Beach. Sign up online at

http://cleanupday.org/

Del Mar Pet Expo 2012 Sat. & Sun., Oct. 13 & 14, 2012, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. -- San Diego Pet Expo, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in north San Diego County, to benefit local shelters and animal care groups.

The Expo features entertainment, contests, vendors and pet adoptions. Admission is $6, with children 5 & under Free.

http://www.sandiegopetexpo.net/

Spooky Carnival Float

Sun., Oct. 28, 2012, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. -- 7th Annual "Howl-O-Ween" OB Canine Carnival, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Ocean Beach, with costume contest and parade, vendors, food and games.

Registration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ($7 for single dog, $10 for groups of dogs, & $10 for floats). Parade from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m., with Prizes at 3 p.m.

http://www.oceanbeachkiwanis.org/index.php

Greetings!

Pet Overpopulation: Why Spaying or Neutering Is The Right Choice

In the United States, millions of dogs and cats enter shelters each year. About half are reclaimed by their owners or adopted into loving families, with the other half being euthanized. In San Diego, our track record is much better, with less than 10% of adoptable dogs being euthanized (about 4,500 according to the county Department of Animal Services in FY 2011).

Homeless dogs

Reducing the number of unwanted litters born is one of our goals, in addition to supporting those who work toward making our shelters truly "no-kill" shelters.

The Benefits of Spaying or Neutering

* It eliminates the possibility of pet pregnancy. A fertile female dog can have two litters a year, with an average size litter of 6 to 10 puppies. If none are spayed or neutered, theoretically they could produce 67,000 dogs in 6 years!

Cats that are not fixed can produce 420,000 kittens in 7 years.

*   Your pets will be healthier and live longer. Spaying a female dog before her first heat eliminates the risk of mammary cancer. It also reduces the risk of pyometra (a bacterial infection of the uterus), uterine and ovarian cancer. Neutering your male dog reduces the risk of testicular and prostate cancer, and certain types of hernias and perianal tumors.

*   It eliminates mating behavior. Female pets will not go into heat, eliminating the howling and excessive urination that is typical of females in heat. Males, who can smell a female in heat from miles away, will be less likely to roam. Since they will be closer to home, they are less likely to get into fights with other males, to be injured in traffic and to run away while looking for a mate. Fixed males are less likely to spray their territory.

*   Fixed dogs are more relaxed and less prone to undesirable behavior. Males, especially, are less likely to urine mark, hump people and objects, show aggression, or attack/bite other dogs or people.

*   Spay/neuter surgeries are safe, simple and routine. Most pets are able to go home the same day and will be as good as new within a week. Pets may get fixed as early as 8 weeks (local shelters have been doing early spay/neuters for nearly 25 years with no known problems), and is best performed by six months for optimum health benefits.

*   Spaying/neutering is very cost-effective. It is significantly less than the cost of caring for a litter of unwanted puppies or kittens. It also saves tax dollars to provide shelter care of unwanted pets. It reduces the medical costs of dog bites and attacks. And it saves the environmental costs of unwanted animal waste which fouls our sidewalks, parks, rivers and ocean.

*   Spaying and neutering does not change your pet's basic personality. Your fixed pets will still maintain their natural instinct to protect your home and family. And it is not true that fixed pets are more prone to becoming fat (lack of exercise and too much food makes dogs fat).

How You Can Help...

One of our favorite animal charities is the Spay Neuter Action Project (SNAP), founded in 1991, to achieve zero euthanasia of adoptable pets in San Diego through prevention, education and affordable spay/neuter procedures.

Become a volunteer or partner at http://www.snap-sandiego.org/ With two Neuter Scooters, SNAP has fixed more than 23,000 animals in clinics all over the county.

"Spay San Diego" is a newer and growing coalition consisting of a wide range of animal organizations dedicated to solving the challenge of pet overpopulation in San Diego County. The purpose of Spay San Diego is to help the community locate affordable and low-cost assistance to spay and neuter their pets and avoid unwanted litters. You can contact its "services" page at http://www.spaysandiego.com/services.html

to find affordable or low-cost spay/neuter assistance in your area.

Another way to support Spay/Neuter programs in California is to order your own California Pet Lover's License Plate.
California Pet Lover License Plate

At least 7,500 pre-orders must be received in 2012 before production will begin, and as of August 4, 2012, we need 1,851 more orders.

More than a half million dogs and cats are euthanized in California shelters every year because there are not enough "forever homes." The California Pet Lover's License Plate will provide a large scale, permanent funding source for spay & neuter programs statewide. Order yours today.
http://www.petloversplate.com/main.php

Enjoy The Dog Days Of Summer

Jane & Mindy (with Chipper, Juno & Zydeco)

"The time to save is now. When a dog gets a bone, he doesn't go out and make a down payment on a bigger bone. He buries the one he's got. "

--Will Rogers

Save $5 Just in time for the Dog Days of Summer...	NEW Freezy Pups Kit Our Kit includes one cool bone-shaped ice cube tray and a sample packet of four organic gourmet recipes your dog will love! (White Cheddar Cheese, Juicy Apple, Sweet Potato 'n Maple, and Chicken Soup). Each packet makes 14 tasty bone-shaped treats! Regularly $19.95 Present this Coupon for your $5 savings
Code GFT246 Offer Expires: August 31, 2012