By Meredeth Barzen

Mike Frattallone hates to see a dog stuck waiting in a car while its owner runs errands. That’s why he declared this August the inaugural “Dog Days of Summer” at Frattallone’s Ace Hardware. If you bring your dog into any of the 14 Frattallone’s locations around the Twin Cities during the month of August (instead of relegating them to the boring backseat of your car while you shop for duct tape), the store will donate $1 to Homeward Bound Dog Rescue.

“Often I’ll walk up to a store and see dogs sitting in car and even if it’s not hot out, I think ‘why don’t you put it on a leash and bring it in?’” Mike says. Though dogs have always been welcome in Frattallone’s stores, he saw Dog Days as an opportunity to spread the word, and to help some down-on-their-luck dogs in the process. About Homeward Bound, Mike says, “We love the fact that they’re a no-kill dog rescue and placement organization, and we wanted our donation to make a big difference.” And Mike’s no stranger to rescues himself: He has two rescue dogs—Lucy, a 4-year-old whippet/Border collie mix, and Mabel, a 2-year-old corgi/golden retriever mix.

He says the hardware stores, which are staffed by “almost all dog people” [that’s people who like dogs, not half-people/half dogs], have seen many more dogs visit this month than they normally do. Mike adds that Dog Days has been so successful, he’d be surprised if they don’t hold it again next year.

Mike tells the story of a woman who was shopping at the Frattallone’s on 18th and Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis. The staff told her about Dog Days, so she drove home, picked up her dog, brought it back to the store, got her Homeward Bound donation, and then drove to the Frattallone’s on 39th and Lake Street to get a donation from that store as well.

So next time you need to make a run on duct tape, bring the dog. A hardware store is a lot more interesting than the inside of a car.

Editor’s Note: Frattallone’s Ace Hardware for raising $5,790 for Homeward Bound Dog Rescue during their inaugural “Dog Days of Summer” August fundraiser.

By Meredeth Barzen

You know how it feels when you’re on a lovely little walk with your dog, having a grand old time and—EEEW!—you have to execute a very quick sidestep maneuver—or shove your walking companion out of the way—to avoid someone else’s dog’s poop.

“This is why people think dogs are a nuisance,” you say to yourself. But not only does failing to pick up after your dog make dog owners look like bad citizens; it’s bad for the water in our streams and lakes as well. That’s why the Minneapolis Park and Recreation board launched the “Canines for Clean Water” summer movie series—the most enjoyable way to crack down on improperly managed dog poop ever conceived.

Dog-themed movies (“Because of Winn Dixie” and “Scooby Doo” are past examples) are shown at a handful of Minneapolis’ lovely parks, and dogs and their people can show up a little early to participate in some fun dog-friendly activities and take a pledge to keep dog poop off the ground and out of the water. Plus, your signature (and your dog’s paw print) earns you a free water bottle from the Park board.

“Objectives (of the program) are to get dog owners to understand the negative impacts of dog poop on water quality (not to mention aesthetics and the ability to walk barefoot or not get dog poop on your shoes), as well as have dog owners make or renew their commitments to bag up dog poop and put it in the trash,” says MaryLynn Pulscher, who coordinates the environmental education programs for Minneapolis Park and Rec.

She points out that more than 100,000 dogs call Minneapolis home, and that create an estimated 41,000 pounds of solid waste every day. According to Pulscher, the park board has to close down a swimming beach if it tests for more than 1,260 E. coli—a pile of dog poop contains millions of the nasty little critters. That means that if you leave your dog’s doo doo to wash into a lake even once, you could ruin some serious summer fun for others.

There are only two more movies left for this summer, so catch them while you can: on August 25, “Beverly Hill Chihuahua” is showing at Painter Park on Lyndale Ave. and 34th St. (Canine Companions will be holding a dog-wash before the movie, which starts at dusk.) And on August 26, “Bolt” is playing at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park (on the east end of the Stone Arch Bridge), and Wild Honey and the Locusts will be playing live beginning at 7 p.m.

And please, for the reputation of dog owners everywhere: bring an extra baggie on your walk.

When we at Sidewalk Dog finally got around to launching the Sidewalk Dog Directory last summer, we threw ourselves a party to celebrate. And just where did we hold our fabulously dog-friendly celebration? At fabulously dog-friendly Corner Coffee in Downtown Minneapolis’ North Loop neighborhood.

This summer — this weekend, in fact — Corner Coffee is hosting their own dog-friendly event. They’re calling it “Dog’s Day Out,” and it’s this Saturday from 4-5PM.

Here’s what you’ll find:

• Live music by folk singer-songwriter Trish Painter. Painter’s new Dog Tracks album features “original songs about and inspired by dogs — their adventures, their dreams and their lives of snooping around and loving life.”
• Contests galore (Best Trick, Owner Look-Alike, Best Dressed, Biggest Dog, Smallest Dog, etc.)
• Killer coffee (duh)
• Free stuff and special offers from MadDog Delivers, Who Let the Dogs Out, Aloha Pet Care, Own Your Pets Life, Downtown Dogs and Ollu Self-Serve Dog Wash, an “eco-conscious self-service dog washing facility” opening soon near St. Anthony Main.
• Information on Guardian Angels For Soldier’s Pet (GASP), a nonprofit dedicated to reuniting military service members with their pets following deployment or emergency hardship
• Information on The Pet Project, a new nonprofit helping the financially struggling keep their fur kids by providing pet food and basic supplies via local food shelves

Our advice: Go early — the first 150 to show up will get a free gift bag — and stay late.

By Meredeth Barzen

If dogs are man’s best friends, then by the transitive property of celebrity canines, dogs of famous people are famous best friends … or famous best friends are dogs? Hmm, we’ll have to make a flow chart to figure that one out, but in the meantime, we at Sidewalk Dog love to hear your dog stories … favorite parks, best squirrel-chasing grounds, yummiest treats, etc … So thought we’d ask some of the Twin Cities’ best-known dog moms and dads about their best friends. Below are their deepest, darkest dog secrets.

Mary Lucia (Host, 89.3 The Current, Minnesota Public Radio)

Dog’s name: Smudge

Dog’s nicknames: Ladies and gentleman for one night only the incredible Smudgestone!

Breed: Pug/88 year old man

Age: 5

Favorite toy: Anything meant for my cats

Favorite treats: Anything that falls on the floor

Groomer: Keira at Petco in Richfield

Dog’s favorite place to hang out: Two inches from my left arm

Favorite dog park: Not a “throw the stick and run” kinda dog

Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: Gigi’s Café in South Minneapolis

Favorite pet store: Calhoun Pet Supply in South Minneapolis

Childhood dog: Enzo

Dog’s best trick: Somehow convinced my cat Muse to groom her

Dog’s best friend: Anyone who stops to pet her

Dog’s nemesis: Smudge loves everyone.

Sleeps on: Her own bed in my bedroom closet. I now sleep with earplugs as she snores louder than any human being I have ever heard.

Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? My voice is too husky to talk baby talk but sometimes I find myself using an English accent when I speak to her: “Good day, Smudgely.”

Pat Neshek (Minnesota Twins pitcher) and wife Stephanee

Dogs’ names: Juicy & Kirby

Breeds: Juicy is a dachshund mix and Kirby is a chocolate piebald dachshund

Ages: Juicy, 4; Kirby, 2

Favorite toy: Juicy likes any stuffed animal that she can rip open, shred apart, and pull the stuffing out of. Kirby LOVES mini tennis balls with squeakers.

Favorite treats: Juicy likes those chewy doggie pizza treats (but she doesn’t get them much because they are terrible for her!) Kirby loves bananas! He goes crazy and can smell them a mile away … he’s even gotten into the back of the car while we were driving and eaten a whole peel with the banana!

Favorite place to hang out: Bike trails by the Coon Rapids Dam—they love walks!

Favorite dog park: Elm Creek dog park

Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: Eastside Food Co-op

Favorite dog-friendly store: Eastside Food Co-op

Favorite pet store: Petco

Favorite dog-friendly vacation: Dog beach in Fort Myers, Florida

Childhood dog: Stephanee’s family had a golden retriever named Brandy. Growing up, Pat had a cocker spaniel named Tuffy. When Tuffy passed away, the Nesheks adopted Dodger, a Lab/shepherd mix. After 14 great years, Dodger died in his sleep of old age last August.

Best trick: Kirby will roll over for treats—and loves getting treats so much, she will keep rolling over in continuous circles!  Juicy can dance—she can even ”raise the roof” when she gets excited! Both dogs will sit up in a “prairie dog” position, but it isn’t really a trick. They do it whenever they want something.

Dog’s best friend: Kirby and Juicy are best friends. Other than Kirby, Juicy’s best friend is Stephanee’s sister’s Chihuahua Ozzie. They grew up together in Florida. Kirby says his best friend is his daddy.

Sleeps on: Both dogs sleep in the bed with us—under the covers—every night.

Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? All the time … they are our babies.

Cheryl Kaye (Morning show co-host, 102.9 Lite FM)

Dogs’ names: Ursula and Elwood

Nicknames: Ursie (Ursula) and Smelly (Elwood)

Breeds: Dobermans, both adopted from rescue organizations

Age: Ursula is 14 and Elwood is 8

Favorite toy: Anything fuzzy with stuffing inside—they like to rip them apart. I suspect they pretend they are squirrels!

Favorite treats: Anything remotely edible.

Groomer: Uh, I guess that would be me?

Dogs’ favorite place to hang out: My bed.

Favorite dog park: Ursula is a diva around other dogs, so we don’t do the dog park. But they love to go for leashed walks at Central Park in Roseville.

Favorite dog-friendly store: Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet

Favorite pet store: Chuck & Don’s

Favorite dog-friendly vacation: The Gunflint Lodge on the Gunflint trail.

Childhood dog: Ringo, a beagle

Dogs’ best trick: Sleeping

Dogs’ best friend: Elwood adores Ursula. Ursula puts up with Elwood. Typical woman!

Dog’s nemesis: The rabbits in the neighbor’s yard

Sleeps on: Mostly the bed. But they love a good sun nap in the backyard.

Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? Every second of every day: “Ursie bursee, boosie, tootie wootsie.”  “Elwood smellwood, pooper dooper.”  Wow, I can’t go out in public anymore after that admission.

Frank Vascellaro and Ameila Santaniello (Husband-and-wife TV news anchors, WCCO)

Dog’s name: Cleopatra

Dog’s nickname: Cleo

Breed: Hound/boxer mix

Age: 16 and still doing OK

Favorite toy: Too mature for toys, but loves being around our three kids

Favorite treats: Cleo has been exposed to a wide variety of foods and eats darn near everything. About the only thing we found she doesn’t like are beets.

Groomer: Hurray for short hair. All she needs is a little nail clip at home every now and then, but Amelia points out that she sheds.

Dog’s favorite place to hang out: These days, she just wants to be around us at home with a special emphasis on the kitchen.

Favorite dog park: The unofficial dog park bordering Minneapolis, Edina, and St. Louis Park near 40^th St. and France Ave.

Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: Java Jack’s Coffee Cafe

Favorite dog-friendly store: Settergren Ace Hardware on Penn Ave. and 54^th St. Great people, and the dogs always get a treat.

Favorite pet store: Cleo has never had a bad experience cruising the aisles of Petsmart.

Favorite dog-friendly vacation: We take Cleo with us Up North every weekend.

Childhood dog: Frank had Mickey and Gino and Amelia had Chibi and Poco.

Dog’s best trick: Cleo is super smart. She’s 16 and is too mature to be tricked into performing, but she’s still very aware.

Dog’s best friend: Frank

Dog’s nemesis: Thunder and lightning

Sleeps on: In younger days, she would sleep in our bed and could jump up there. These days, I need to carry her up and down the stairs because she’s old. We bought her a dog bed for the floor about two years ago.

M.A. Rosko (Morning news reporter, FOX 9)

Dogs’ names: Munter and Red

Nicknames: Munter, aka “Private Pinkerton” when she’s on squirrel watch duty, and “Princess Muntavia von Licktenstein” when she’s being a willful, yet beautiful Teutonic princess. Red also goes by “Ass Man,” as he charges at other dogs in a terrifying manner, only to gleefully grab a tantalizing sniff of nether regions.

Breeds: Munter is a silver dappled miniature dachshund; Red, to the best of our knowledge, is a Lab.

Ages: Munter is 9, Red’s about 5.

Favorite toys: Munter loves her threadbare, barely stuffed but still humpable Koala bear. Red goes ape for a peanut butter-stuffed Kong.

Favorite treats: Red eats anything; he’s a Lab. Lately he’s obsessed with picking up mulberries that have fallen off the tree in the backyard. Munter likes “people food,” which I should call “other people food” as other people feed it to her, I do not.

Dogs’ favorite place to hang out: Munter likes to go to live shot story locations with me and bask in attention. Red enjoys the backyard.

Favorite dog park: Airport or Minnehaha Falls

Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: Café Barbette and Galaxy Drive-In (the newly remodeled “Wagner’s” drive-in, in St. Louis Park—gives free kiddie cones to all dogs.)

Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: Butter, on 36^th and Grand Ave., bakes its own biscuits

Favorite dog-friendly store: Diamond Lake Hardware

Favorite pet store: Urbanimal

Favorite dog-friendly vacation: I can’t wait for this one! October 8-11, the Gunflint Lodge is hosting “Waggalot,” a dog-friendly celebration. There will be hikes, photography, seminars on training and nutrition, canine massage and more. Join Red, Munter and me up north this fall!

Your childhood dog: My first dog was a terrier named Governor, whom I called Govvy Gee-Gee. As an infant, I ate his dog biscuits out of his Christmas stocking, and whacked him on the head with a (soft) xylophone mallet. God bless that dog.

Best tricks: Red makes bananas disappear. As in, I swear I left some bananas on the counter, now all I can find is a bit of stem on the floor.

Dogs’ best friends: Munter’s best friend is my boyfriend’s yellow Lab Samantha. Red has recently become BFFs with my Fox9 Morning News co-worker Alix Kendall’s new adopted dog, Pax.

Dogs’ nemesis: Munter has a prejudice against big fluffy dogs like Huskies. Red wants a piece of my mailman, who happens to be the nicest man in the world.

Sleeps on: Munter likes to change position several times each night, and burrowing under covers is necessary. She has two dog beds (she’s taken over Red’s large bed as well as her own) but  a pile of clothing on the floor will do. Red sleeps wherever Munter has chosen not to.

Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? All the time. Even on the air.

Lisa Goodman, Minneapolis City Council Member and key player in getting last year’s doggie dining ordinance passed

Dog’s name: Sadie Rose

Dog’s nickname: Miss Sadie

Breed: Goldendoodle

Age: 4

Favorite toy: Anything soft and stuffed animal-like

Favorite treats: Homemade snicker doodles by Senator Linda Higgins

Groomer: Royal Pet

Dog’s favorite place to hang out: Loring Park dog park or any beach

Favorite dog park: Loring Park

Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: Nick and Eddie or Toast Wine Bar and Cafe

Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: Cafe Espresso Royale

Favorite dog-friendly store: Corazon

Favorite pet store: Urbanimal

Favorite dog-friendly vacation: Lake Michigan dog beach on Montrose in Chicago

Dog’s best trick: Shaking hands

Dog’s best friend: Our cat Coco

Dog’s nemesis: University of St. Thomas–Minneapolis Campus plaza and fountain where she has been told not to play in the water.

Sleeps on: Couch

Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? Of course!

Al Franken (Recently seated Senator whose first piece of legislation was the Service Dogs for Veterans Act, which will pair service dogs with veterans who have physical or mental wounds, including PTSD. His dog, Kirby, recently passed away.)

Name: Kirby

Breed: Black Lab

Age: 8

Favorite toy: His favorite game was tug of war, so anything that helped him play that was his favorite toy. Until, of course, it ripped.

Favorite treats: He was a Lab, and Labs eat anything. He didn’t get people food or table scraps (unless he stole them). He got the same kibble every single day—Eukanuba—and every day he ate as if it were the first time he’d ever had it. He absolutely destroyed it.

Favorite dog park: Lake of the Isles Dog Park—right by the soccer field

Favorite pet store: Urbanimal

Childhood dog: There were two—Brownie was a mutt, and Gunther was a dachshund named after Gunther Toody from “Car 54, Where Are You?”

Best trick: He wasn’t a service dog. His best trick was running around in circles chasing his tail whenever I came home. It wasn’t much of a trick, but I liked it.

Dog’s best friend: Me, the kids, Franni, my wife, anyone else

Dog’s nemesis: Franni, only while cooking food he wasn’t going to get to eat

Sleeps: On a chair. It was “his” chair.

By Meredeth Barzen

Most dogs love fish. But who knew they loved sushi restaurants so much?

Recently at Sidewalk Dog’s “Sushi with Your Poochie,” more than 200 local dog lovers and their dog lovees hung out on Tiger Sushi 2’s lovely Minneapolis patio, tried their hands at Stunt Puppy’s hands-free leashes, got training tips from Bark Busters, noshed on Tiger Sushi 2’s happy hour menu and got a break from plastic-bag duty courtesy of ScoopyPoo.

And that was just the human-oriented fun! Dogs were treated to Tiger Sushi 2’s homemade biscuits and massages and pawdicures from Pampered Pooch Playground, and took home doggie bags loaded with goodies from UrbAnimal.

The always-lovely Sarah of Sarah Beth Photography was there to capture the rampant adorableness: Click here, then select “Access Gallery” and enter code “sidewalk” to see if she snapped your dog’s mug (and chances are, she did!)

The best part? As those of you who were buying charitable sake bombs know, the event raised money for MnPAW, a coalition of Minnesota animal welfare organizations. The ticket sales alone raised almost $1,000 for the organization, so instead of “Sushi with Your Poochie,” perhaps we should have called it “Sushi for Poochie … in Need.” We’ll work on the name. In the mean time, thanks to all who came and made the event such a hit!

By Meredeth Barzen

We here at Sidewalk Dog had a problem. Sadie the Wonderdoodle had the most wonderful time swiming and rolling around in the dead leaves, pine sap, mud and general unpleasantness Up North over July 4th weekend. That wasn’t the problem.

The groomer was booked a month in advance. That means that Sadie, whose doodle hair forms mats like an aspiring Rastafarian, wasn’t likely to see a professional bath until August-ish. It was time to take matters into our own hands.

The Product:

Enter Topline Canine. The natural, organic ingredients in their doggie bathtime products are meant to calm nervous pups (an absolute must for Sadie, who considers baths the worst punishment possible for a crime she never committed.) The line has a lovely, light, clean scent, and they offer not only shampoo but a separate conditioner (remember the dreadlocks? Shampoo alone won’t do the trick.) There’s even a UV protectant built right in–perfect for white-haired pooches who are prone to doggie sunburn–and for the rest of the spectrum of dog hues; hey, it can’t hurt.

The Test:

What can we say? The dog really, really hates baths. Loves swimming, but hates being wet. Go figure. We tried to make it a happy experience with a nice doggie back massage post-shampoo, pre-conditioner, but still–probably not her idea of a fun way to spend an evening. We, however, loved Topline’s high suds-factor and nice scent.

The Result:

Fluffy, pettable, matt-free and non-stinky once again. You can tell she’s happy about it, too. Or maybe she’s just happy to be dry. Groomers? We don’t need groomers–at least not until August.

When Sidewalk Dog recently discovered the fabulously dog-friendly patio at Tiger Sushi 2, it was love at first site. And so we’re throwing a fabulously dog-friendly party… together!

The nitty-gritty
What: “Sushi with Your Poochie,” an on-leash event presented by Sidewalk Dog and Tiger Sushi 2

When: Thursday, July 16th from 6:00PM to 8:30PM (Rain date: July 22nd)

Where: Tiger Sushi 2’s huge, lovely, breezy and well-shaded patio. (FREE parking is available after 4:00PM in the Egg & I parking lot across the street.)

Beneficiary: Minnesota Partnership for Animal Welfare (MnPAW), a new coalition of animal welfare organizations who are committed to working together to reduce euthanasia of adoptable animals in our State. Members include A Rotta Love Plus, Animal Humane Society, Pet Haven and RAGOM – Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota.

Menu: Tiger Sushi 2’s awesome Happy Hour menu* will be available throughout the entire event!

Tickets: $15 online ($4/ticket will go to MnPAW). Every effort will be made to sell ALL available tickets online. If event does not sell out online, tickets will be available for $18 at the door.

On to the fun stuff!
Bark Busters will be on hand to make sure all the doggies are getting along. They’ll also take your dog to go potty if you’d like (provided your dog is game).

Pampered Pooch Playground will be offering a special doggie menu of tableside services, including personal water bowl, serving of treats with doggie fortunes (homemade by Tiger Sushi 2!), personal doggie bed, 3-minute massage, pawdicure, etc.

Sarah Beth Photography will be capturing all the fun.

ScoopyPoo will be scooping poo down on the Greenway and serving BlackDog Whinery’s (first vintage!) Doggy Cabaret, PeeNo Su Casa, ZinFanDog to pooches on the patio.

Stunt Puppy will lend you one of their hands-free leashes for use during the event (if you’d like, that is).

Tiger Sushi 2 will be serving oh-so-fun sake bombs to benefit MnPAW.

UrbAnimal will send you off with a seriously awesome doggy bag filled with treats, food samples, a toy, a poop bag dispenser, other product samples and special offers from local pet-related and dog-friendly businesses.

Prizes!
Your ticket comes with a chance to win fabulous prizes from our sponsors and other pet-related and dog-friendly businesses. Plus, you’ll get to find out if you won upon check-in! Stay tuned for a complete list of prizes. Here’s a preview:

• Bark Busters: One (1) gift basket with dog training items and toys (value $70)
  
• Ink: One (1) very cool dog pen (value TBA)
  
• Pampered Pooch Playground: Four (4) $25 gift cards
• Sarah Beth Photography: Two (2) 5-packs of notecards; One (1) FREE 8 x 10 of you and your dog at “Sushi with Your Poochie”
  
• ScoopyPoo: Two (2) FREE months of weekly scooping
• Shure Pets: One (1) 8 oz. bottle of Aromutt Therapy Spritzer in Vivid Vanilla (value $13)
• Stunt Puppy: One (1) leash and one (1) collar (value $35)
• The Dog Perk: One (1) gift certificate for a sweatshirt; One (1) gift certificate for a t-shirt
• Tiger Sushi 2: Two (2) $50 gift cards
• UrbAnimal: One (1) gift basket with dog toys and treats (value $75); One (1) 4 lb. box CANIDAE Nutritional Gourmet Snap-Biscuits; Two (2) 3-pack Sojos treats
• One (1) copy of K-9 Nation Biscuit Book: Baking for Your Best Friend by Klecko
• One (1) Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack of Disney’s Bolt
• Two (2) copies of Angel Dogs with a Mission: Divine Messengers in Service to All Life by Allen and Linda Anderson

* Tiger Sushi 2’s Happy Hour Menu

Drinks
Tap Beer $2.75 — Bud Lite & Miller Lite Bottles $2.50 — White & Red Wine by the glass $3.00 — Well drinks $2.75

Appetizers
Edamame, Potstickers $3.50 — Tiger Wings $4.95 — Grilled Kushiyaki Combo $ 3.95  (skewered Chicken, Beef & Salmon) — Ceviche $4.95 — Beef Tataki $5.95

Nigiri Sushi
$1.95 per piece: Tuna, Salmon, Yellowtail, Unagi, Tako, Bincyo, Suzuki, Hirame, Sockeye Salmon, Kampachi

Rolls
The “Favorites” are $2.95: Tekka Maki (tuna roll), Sake Maki (salmon roll), Veggie Roll, Kappa Maki (cucumber roll)

Specialty Rolls
Spicy Salmon Skin Roll $3.50 — California Roll $4.95 — Caterpillar Roll $6.95 — the “Kick in the Pants Roll” is $7.95 — Spicy Tuna Roll $4.95 — Dynamighty Roll $4.95 — Crunchy Roll $5.95 — Crispy Crunchy Tuna & Salmon Roll $5.95

The dog-lovin’ Greater Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce is throwing a HUGE party for hounds and their humans in Downtown Wayzata from 11AM-3PM tomorrow. Check this out:

• FREE off-leash play for puppies and small dogs hosted by Just Paws Puppy Training
• Doggy vendors giving away FREE samples and treats in Bone Adventure’s parking lot (Stunt Puppy, Lake Minnetonka Pet Sitters, ScoopyPoo, Sidewalk Dog and more)
  
• Warm water dog wash to benefit Homeward Bound Rescue
• Canine Touch demos by Colette Bolster
• Doggy fashion show sponsored by Lulu & Luigi
• Pet tricks contest sponsored by Camp Bow Wow Plymouth
• Pet portraits hosted by Untiedt’s Garden Market in the Wayzata Bay Shopping Center
• Drawings for gift certificates and gift baskets
• Dog-friendly shopping galore
• And much, much MORE!

For full details, visit Wayzata Weekends and download the Puppy Passport.

Hope to see you there!

What makes the new Sidewalk Dog postcard extra special?

1. It features our new interactive map of dog parks and dog-friendly patios, courtesy of our good friends at Stunt Puppy. Check it out and add (and review!) your own faves here.
2. It was designed by the enormously talented Sarah of Sarah Beth Photography.
3. It stars darling Dachshund Kassi, whose mom is Kari Finkler of Mod-Dog, “modern art for modern pets.” (I recently bought their oh-so-mod Cavalier King Charles Spaniel notecards for a fellow Cav mom.)

Check it out! Isn’t it pretty?

‘Tis the season of dog-friendly happenings, and Sidewalk Dog is here to provide the inside poop on your best bets. We think the following three events sound extra-awesome, so we’ll be at all three. Wanna join us?

Jump Into Spring hosted by Dogs and Drinks

When: May 30th, 7PM-10PM
Where: Now Boarding, the new state-of-the-art facility near MSP airport
What: Tours of the facility, complementary wine from Solo Vino and cheesecake from Muddy Paws Cheesecake, gourmet dog treats from Sojos, indoor off-leash play, ask-a-trainer/ask-a-groomer tables, photo booth and fab door prizes and gift bags.
For dogs under 15lbs (shy dogs, too!). All ages welcome; 21 to drink. Suggested donation: $10. More info.
This just in: Animal Planet is coming to film all the fun! Stay tuned to Sidewalk Dog for details.

Team Ortho’s 5K-9 sponsored by Stunt Puppy

When: May 31st, 8AM
Where: The Depot, Downtown Minneapolis
What: Run or walk with your furry friend! Then bring your pooch to the Stunt Puppy tent for some post-race TLC (treats, water, doggy massage and more). Participants receive Stunt Puppy 5K-9 tech shirt and leash. $47/person + one dog. More info.
Do some good: Run or walk the 5K-9 with Pet Haven’s team, The Fast and the Furballs! Have fun, exercise and raise awareness about homeless pets. More info.

Wine & Wag hosted by K9-Connection

When: June 4th, 6PM-9PM
Where: JJ’s Dry Dock Cafe, Downtown Minneapolis
What: A benefit for Homeward Bound Rescue. While you’re enjoying five courses of gourmet appetizers with wine pairings, your dog will also be served butler-style (grain-free Sojos courtesy of Bone Adventure)! Plus, live music, a raffle and goodie bags. $32/person. More info (including the mouthwatering menu).