By Meredeth Barzen

Grete (pronounced “Greta”) the black lab was hanging out in her usual spot on a pillow in the back hall on a perfectly normal Tuesday in February. Mom was at work, Dad was in Europe on a business trip, and the two girls were at school and Grandma’s house. Like so many retrievers, Grete can be rambunctious and sweet, lively and calm, depending on the moment. “We’ve consistently said she’s 9 years old going on 9 months,” says Grete’s owner, Matt Augustson. When she’s calm, Grete likes to strategically place herself precisely in the center of the family’s activities for a nap. During her livelier moments, Grete likes to show off her tennis-ball-chasing skills in the big yard behind Matt and Jen Augustson’s Edina home. And when someone comes to the door, “Look out,” Matt says. “Barking, jumping … all of the bad habits that dog owners struggle with, and we are no exception. But it’s just who she is. It’s never violent, aggressive or scary—just her way of saying ’hello.’”

But Grete’s mostly a mellow dog, so 2:40 in the afternoon was probably right in the middle of nap time for her that Tuesday, as her family went about their daily business out in the world.

Then, BOOM.

“As far as we can tell from the Edina Fire Chief, a gas leak caused by a utility contractor laying cable in the neighborhood caused natural gas to leak into our house via the sewer line,” Matt says. “From there, it found an ignition source—most likely the water heater or furnace—and caused an explosion.” Grete was the only one at home. She must have been launched out of the house by the force of the explosion, most likely straight up.” The house was a total loss. Grete was the only thing that remained intact.

A person Matt describes as a “Good Samaritan” followed the shaken dog across 50^th Street and through the neighborhoods for a half-mile, then loaded her into her car at 44^th Street and Wooddale Avenue and brought Grete to Westgate Pet Clinic, where Dr. Ben Porter treated her injuries—which were miraculously minor, considering she had just survived a massive gas explosion. “Grete was very nervous immediately after the explosion,” Dr. Porter says. “I suspect that she was not able to hear anything. Since the Augustsons were already clients, we were able to quickly contact them so they knew her location and that she had survived. [Grete] walked into the clinic, and was not afraid or nervous at that time. She allowed our staff to examine her thoroughly, finding surprisingly no broken bones, no lacerations. Many dogs would be fearful after such a terrifying event—her gentle personality and ability to roll with the punches is probably very typical for a Labrador Retriever.”

But even though she escaped major injuries, Grete was a little worse for wear. Dr. Porter says her hair was singed “and she smelled like a campfire times 10. Burns were immediately evident on the pads of her feet, and over the next four days, burns because evident around her nose, muzzle and chin … Her eyelids were damaged from the explosion and have been red and uncomfortable and slow to improve.” Luckily, Grete’s burns were superficial, and most responded to topical treatment and improved over the next five days.

Dr. Porter says the only likely long-term damage to the resilient lab is to her tear glands—she’ll need eye medication for a while—and a couple of burn scars will mean she’ll need to wear sunscreen on the bridge of her nose when she’s out in the sun.

When the Augustsons first saw Grete after the accident, though, Matt describes her appearance as “shocking.” “She looked like a chocolate lab instead of a black lab,” he says. “Her fur was singed around her head and shoulders. She had open sores on three of four paws and her ear. She limped and wobbled along. Her eyes were red and cloudy. The Augustsons’ two daughters, ages five and two, were happy to see their dog, “but it was hard for them because she didn’t look the same,” Jen says.

But things are looking up for Grete and her family. As of last Monday, she no longer needs daily treatments at Westgate. The family is moving into a town house this week; “We can’t wait to get settled again,” Jen says. And members of the Twin Cities pet community are helping out on that front, with an outpouring of support and donations. Sarah Beth Photography, Bone Adventure and Pampered Pooch Playground all gave the Augustsons gift certificates to their businesses. Pampered Pooch also set the family up with a dog bed and some toys and treats to replace what the Augustsons lost in the explosion. Fetch Delivers donated a travel crate, treats and bones; Solid Gold gave a bag of food and Tracie Jacobson of Animal Humane Society sent over a gift certificate to Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet. And to help Matt and Jen let go of some stress, Omni Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork is donating massages.

“I cannot believe the amount of support and generosity [shown by] our family, friends and the community,” Matt said. “This is stunning. We cannot express enough how much Grete means to us or how the community has rallied around her and us.” And to his “thank you” list doesn’t stop there. “We can’t thank that Good Samaritan enough. We can’t thank the great vets, techs and staff at Westgate enough—they have adopted Grete as their special canine, and have reached out with concern for our family as well. Dr Porter has been especially thoughtful. It has been amazing watching the care Grete has received and the compassion we have been shown.”

At the end of the day, the fact that the Augustson family—Mom, Dad, kids and dog—are all safe and sound is all anyone could ask for. Grete’s miraculous survival will remain a mystery. “We’ll never really know for sure how she got out of the house, debris, and fire alive,” Matt says. But that doesn’t matter. “She’s our wonder dog!” Jen says. “We’re thinking about getting her a red cape.”

***Editor’s note: If you’d like to help Grete and the Augustsons out yourself, donations can be made to the Auguston Fund in care of North American Banking Company, 4999 France Ave., Suite 120, Minneapolis, MN 55410. Please write “Auguston Fund” in the memo line of the check.

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By Meredeth Barzen

Not to make you paranoid, but now that you’ve stocked up on gifts for the dog lovers in your life, the only thing left to do to ensure the holidays go off without a hitch is to make sure your house is free of common pet poisons. Here to share her list of the Top 10 Holiday Hazards for Pets is Dr. Justine Lee, board-certified emergency critical care veterinary specialist and associate director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline (PPH). Justine is dog mom to JP, a rescued pit bull; if you see her, ask her about the one time JP got into something he shouldn’t have—but be warned: It’s not a pretty story. And if your pet encounters any of the following items, don’t waste time reading about it. Call PPH immediately at 800.213.6680. Have a happy and safe holiday season!

Top 10 Holiday Hazards to Pets

1. Chocolate

Chocolate contains two main poisonous chemicals: theobromine and caffeine. In general, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous the chocolate! White chocolate has little “real” chocolate in it, so generally isn’t a problem. General symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea (what we fondly term “chocolate diarrhea”), an elevated heart rate, agitation, nervousness, hyperactivity, to even tremors or seizures with large ingestions. When in doubt, keep that wrapped gift of chocolate-covered espresso beans away from your dog and don’t keep them under the Christmas tree.

2. Poinsettias

While we get called about Poinsettias a lot, don’t believe the hype—they aren’t that poisonous. They may cause a mild upset stomach, but most dogs avoid it thanks to its milky white, bitter sap.

3. Raisin-containing foods

Not sure who still makes fruitcake nowadays, but the currants and raisins within holiday desserts can cause kidney failure in your dog. Keep any grapes, raisins, currants, etc. away from your dogs, and don’t let your houseguests feed your pets any table food, as they may not know something as “benign” as fruitcake can be deadly to your pet.

4. Holly and mistletoe plants

While holly may look nice to decorate your house, those waxy, thick leaves with sharp points can result in a very upset stomach to your dog. In fact, holly leaves are difficult to digest, and massive ingestions can actually result in a foreign body obstruction (as they get “stuck” in the stomach). Other type of yule-time plants like mistletoe can cause profound vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and even heart arrhythmias when ingested in large amounts, so keep these out of reach.

5. Fire-starter logs

Most fire-starter logs aren’t poisonous, as they mostly contain compressed sawdust and wax, but this can get stuck in your dog’s stomach when he thinks these logs are chew sticks. This can result in a foreign body obstruction also, so when in doubt, keep these out of reach of your pets. Also, some types of fire-starter logs have heavy metals in them (to add a “sparkling” type of color to the fire), so when in doubt, call Pet Poison Helpline if your dog ingests them.

6. Tinsel

While tinsel itself isn’t poisonous, it’s dangerous—especially if you own a cat or a dog who likes to chew and swallow stuff. What looks like a shiny toy can prove deadly if ingested. Tinsel does not pose a poisoning risk but can cause severe damage to a pet’s intestinal tract if swallowed. Ultimately, pets run the risk of severe injury or rupture of their intestines and treatment involves expensive abdominal surgery. This is typically more a problem with cats, but for those of you with multiple species in your house and heart, avoid the tinsel.

7. Holiday foods

With the holiday season comes a delightful variety of baked goods, chocolate confections and other rich, fattening foods. However, it is not wise (and in some cases is quite dangerous) to share these treats with your dogs. Keep your dog on his or her regular diet over the holidays and do not let family and friends sneak treats. Foods that can present problems:

• Many sugarless gums and candies contain xylitol, a sweetener which is toxic to dogs. It causes a life-threatening drop in blood sugar and liver failure.
• Leftover, fatty meat scraps can produce severe inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) leading to abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

8. Alcohol

Because alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, it affects pets quickly. Ingestion of alcohol can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure and body temperature. Intoxicated animals can experience seizures and respiratory failure. Additionally, foods such as desserts containing alcohol and unbaked dough that contains yeast should be kept away from pets as they may result in alcohol toxicity, vomiting, disorientation and stomach bloat.

9. Holiday ornaments

When decorating for the season, consider your pets. Holiday decorations such as bubble lights may contain poisonous chemicals. If your pet chews on them the liquid inside could be could be dangerous to their health. Methylene chloride, the chemical in bubble lights, can result in depression, aspiration pneumonia and irritation to the eyes, skin and gastrointestinal tract.

10. Imported snow globes

Recently, imported snow globes were found to contain antifreeze (ethylene glycol.) As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze when ingested by a cat or a tablespoon or two for a dog (depending on their size) can be fatal. Signs of early poisoning include acting drunk or uncoordinated, excessive thirst, and lethargy. While signs may seem to improve after eight to 12 hours, internal damage is actually worsening, and crystals develop in the kidneys resulting in acute kidney failure. Immediate treatment with an antidote is vital.

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By Meredeth Barzen

You asked for it; you got it. Our inaugural roundup of Twin Cities celebs and their furry friends was so much fun, Sidewalk Dog couldn’t resist sniffing out another pack of famous Minnesotans and the four-leggeds that make them say “Who’s my fruffy wittle fuzzy bear?” This time, we’ve found writers, radio personalities, TV gurus, musicians and fashion designers who go nuts for their mutts. So without further ado …

Dan Murphy (musician, Soul Asylum and Golden Smog) and wife Sarah Murphy (owner, Grapefruit Moon Gallery**)
Name: Lily Belle Murphy
Nicknames: Fusspot, Lily Ocho Stinko, Puppy Bear, the Cananitor, The L’il Lebowski, Minnie Ripperton, Dog Stevens, The Aggressitor, Jack Rabbit Slim, Meerkat, The Hot Water Bottle, Buck Snort, and countless others …
Breed: We just found out that she is a Chiweenie (Chihuahua/Dachshund). When we adopted her, we just knew she was a beauty.
Age: Approximately 1 1/2?
Favorite toy: The happy hippo, a little squeak toy we bought the day we took her home from her shelter that has been torn apart and sewn back together more times than we can count. No matter how many other toys she plays with and destroys, she always comes back to the happy hippo.
Favorite treats: Carrots, rice, cheese, and freeze-dried sweet potatoes
Favorite places to hang out: A warm lap, under the covers, her favorite dog pillow, and the passenger side in our car
Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: Nick and Eddie, especially on a sunny day after she’s just played hard at Loring Park. Doug Anderson and the staff there were initially friendlier to her than she was to them, so it like many things, is still a work in progress!
Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: Anodyne Coffeehouse

Favorite dog-friendly store: Guse Hardware at 46th & Bryant; she and Chloe, the new mascot, are becoming fast friends.
Favorite pet store: Urbanimal
Favorite dog-friendly vacation: She’s such a homebody, so I’d say sitting on our porch on a warm day. We adopted her in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in January of 2009, so in many ways I would bet she still considers Florida her actual home and Minneapolis her summer getaway. She was a runaway and we got her at a tiny little animal shelter that removed her from a high-kill shelter in Miami. She spent three months on the streets before the first shelter took her and another two months at the shelter where we met her. About 10 minutes into the initial visit, she picked us as her doggie parents. So vacations are not in her immediate plans as she seems so delighted to finally have landed a home. She is a nester at this point and loves to go on walks, particularly when the whole family is present and accounted for.
Best trick: No longer being scared of every stranger/noise/car that comes by. All thanks to Cele Danner (the miracle worker) at The Canine Coach. Also, she rip-snorts when she’s happy and runs “hot laps” around our dining room table when she feels like letting off a little steam. She can do a really cute prairie dog/meerkat hind leg dance that is adorable.
Best friend: Nigel, the Chihuahua; he still plays hard-to-get, but he’s coming around. Also my son Kelly’s mixed-breed female 2-year-old, Lucky
Nemesis: Bike riders, tall men, sunglasses and baby prams ….
Favorite naughty behavior/bad habit: Barking at the mail carrier, jumping on the dining room table looking for crumbs, attacking my face with kisses
Favorite way to get attention/treats: Jumping into my lap as I try to work, or even into my laptop, doing hind-leg stands at your knee and going onto her favorite leopard-print lucky treat pillow, looking at you with a cocked head and staring you down until the treats come out
Sleeps on: Bed
Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? Often, but she’s too smart to fall for that most of the time. My doggy dialect revolves around her being a Southern Belle, so I use a butchered French Canadian meets Cajan New Orleans Style drek that usually starts with “L’il belle … ”
Anything else we should know about your dog? She’s a wonder. The most nervous, shy, and troubled puppy in the world when we adopted her, she has become the most friendly, loving friend anyone could ever hope to have. She’s sweet with a good heart and really wants to be happy and finally is learning how.
What are you up to these days? Dan: Busy with shows including our annual First Avenue holiday engagement Friday, December 4. Sarah and Lily and I are spending our second winter in the sunny, warm, small-dog-friendly confines of Southern Florida. Sarah: Working with the Animal Rights Coalition to raise awareness of the inhumane dog breeding that is continuing at puppy mills and all the wonderful animals (like Lily) who have been abandoned or lost and are waiting at local shelters for a loving home!

**Both Sarah and Dan run Grapefruit Moon Gallery, an online art gallery that specializes in American Illustration and Pin-up original paintings and artwork.

Louise Erdrich (novelist, owner—Birchbark Books)
Name: Makate Ma’ingan (Ojibwe for “Black Wolf”)
Nickname: Maki
Breed: Belgium Shepherd
Age: 4
Favorite toy: Punctured soccer balls
Favorite treats: Peanut butter toast and cat food
Favorite place to hang out: On the couch, watching his bird feeder and the birds he protects
Favorite dog park: Poorly socialized; Maki doesn’t do dog parks very well. Owner also poorly socialized.
Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: Kenwood Cafe [next door to Birchbark Books]. Poorly socialized owner sits outdoors with Maki.
Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: Again, Kenwood Cafe. Maki enjoys a latte now and then to calm down.
Favorite dog-friendly store: Birchbark Books
Favorite book: Anything by Temple Grandin or Mary Ludington
Favorite pet store: Chuck and Don’s Pet Food Outlet

Favorite dog-friendly vacation: Lake of the Woods, where Maki roams free and fierce.
Best trick: Looking fearsome
Best friend: Rowdy, the protector—the real ferocious canine in the house
Nemesis: The neighbor’s taunting cat who sits under Maki’s birdfeeder
Most naughty behavior/worst bad habit: Lunging in sick lust at female dogs
Favorite way to get attention/treats: Sitting and staring fixedly at the treats and projecting an air of injured nobility
Sleeps on: Again, the couch as long as nobody is looking
Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? Are you tiddin’?
Anything else we should know about your dog? He reads in secret and recommends books for his owner’s bookstore
What are you up to these days? Birchbark Books, a nice stop for people and dogs who walk the lake.

Lizz Winstead (comedian, co-creator—The Daily Show)
Names: Edie and Buddy
Nicknames: I call Edie ‘Sweedy’  ‘Piaf’ or sometimes ‘Diarrhedie.’ Bud can be ‘Budward, handsome man.’
Breed: Both mutts. Edie is a Collie/Shepherd mix and Buddy is Corgi/Spaniel.
Ages: Edie, 9; Buddy, 6
Favorite toy: Anything that’s not a toy! Like a throw pillow. Edie carries around a stuffed daisy in her mouth and it’s so cute. Buddy’s favorite toy is actually my underwear.
Favorite treats: See: Underwear
Favorite place to hang out: Next to me on the couch—next to me wherever I am
Favorite dog-friendly vacation: The Hamptons
Best trick: Edie can high-five
Best friends: Each other
Nemesis: The vacuum cleaner
Favorite naughty behavior/bad habit: Edie is a poop-eater. Buddy, the boy, doesn’t lift his leg when he pees and Edie, the girl, does. I think that’s funny.
Favorite way to get attention/treats: Buddy will just jump in your lap; Edie will hump your leg.
Sleeps: In bed with me
Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dogs? Yes
Anything else we should know about your dog? They are both rescued. I adopted Buddy in Minnesota!
What are you up to these days? I’m going to be at the Parkway theater for an exciting New Year’s Eve spectacular called “What the F#ck Just Happened?” Tickets and info here.

Joy Teiken (designer and owner, Joynoelle)
Name: Pellet
Nickname: Pelly
Breed: Little mutt
Age: 16 to 18; we don’t know since I found her
Favorite toy: Her cat, Sadi
Favorite treats: Pup-Peroni
Favorite place to hang out: In her dog bed or at Grandma Harriet’s house
Favorite dog park: Too old to go to the dog park
Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: Too old to go anywhere
Favorite dog-friendly store: My boutique

Favorite pet store: Southside Farm Store
Favorite dog-friendly vacation: Cabin time at Eagle Lake
Best trick: Sleeping
Best friend: My husband, Craig
Nemesis: Khea the cat
Favorite naughty behavior/bad habit: Ignoring us on her walks; she walks without a leash and sometimes she takes herself for a walk.
Favorite way to get attention/treats: Barks
Sleeps on: Bed, couch, floor, dog bed—really anywhere she wants to
Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? We used to, but now she’s deaf and we just give her lots of kisses.
Anything else we should know about your dog? She has a sad turned happy story. I found her by the side of the road in southern Minnesota and she had pellets from a bb gun in her head and back. (That’s why her name is Pellet.) That was 11 years ago … she’s had a great life ever since.  She’s almost deaf and blind, but she’s still happy.
What are you up to these days? I’m working on a bridal line that will be available online this winter.

Andra Suchy (singer, guest—A Prairie Home Companion) and husband, Andrew Pierzina
Name: Lucy
Nicknames: Mit Mit, Rucine, Rucy
Breed: Boxer mix
Age: 7
Favorite toy: Bumblebee, a catnip cat toy, and tennis balls
Favorite treats: Real bones with peanut butter inside and carrots
Favorite place to hang out: On the couch or in our bed; outside if it’s nice weather
Favorite dog park: The Suchy farm, owned by Andra’s parents, near Mandan, North Dakota
Favorite pet store: Urbanimal
Favorite dog-friendly vacation: Going to the Suchy Farm

Best trick: Running on the treadmill. She runs several times a week for 30 minutes at a time.  She will also sit, lay down, and stay for a treat with hand signals until I say ‘OK.’
Best friend: Our late Weimeraner, Sophia. Our cat, Lester. They play together and he will grab her face and lick her eyes. They love each other. Also, her cousins Willie the cow dog and Bjork the pug at the farm.
Nemesis: The lake. She can’t stay out of it. She is VERY obsessed with biting the water. She also hates the rain.
Favorite naughty behavior/bad habit: She sometimes doesn’t play well with others …
Favorite way to get attention/treats: She will sit very, very close to you and make a very loud sighing, breathing sound. We say she swallowed a bullsnake. Or, she will jump her front feet down onto the ground and bark until you play with her.
Sleeps on: Bed
Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? Almost always
Anything else we should know about your dog? She loves kids, and gets really excited when we have company. She loves people in general.
What are you up to these days? Andrew and I are both going to be performing guests on the A Prairie Home Companion 2010 Western Caribbean Cruise in March.

Brian Lambert (writer, blogger, talk radio host—myTalk 107.1)
Name: Ernie. She’s a girl. But every animal we ever bring home—lizards, birds—we call Ernie, (for Cubs great Ernie Banks) so we don’t get confused.
Nicknames: The Living Rug, Rugball
Breed: Cocker Spaniel/Bichon Frisee … we think. White, anyway.
Age: 14
Favorite toy: Has always been annoyed by or afraid of toys, especially after that mechanical rubber mouse episode
Favorite treats: Anything that says “bacon” on the package
Favorite place to hang out: An ottoman, on a gold quilted blanket, looking out the front window like a damned queen
Favorite dog park: The neighbor’s back yard
Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: I’d say Manny’s Steakhouse, but I’d be lying. The closest she gets to a restaurant is the bag of bones I tote home from Famous Dave’s.
Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: The Starbucks at 50th & France in Edina … tied to a sign post
Favorite dog-friendly store: PetSmart, St. Louis Park
Favorite pet store: Ditto, especially the packaged bacon treats aisle
Favorite dog-friendly vacation: The cabin, in northern Wisconsin. 11 acres of woods, deer and ticks
Best trick: Trick? She whines for bacon. Is that a trick?
Best friend: Whoever is slipping her people food under the table
Nemesis: Other than the mechanical mouse, any dog that gets to the bacon before her. Oh, and any squirrel.
Favorite naughty behavior/bad habit: Licking plates in the dishwasher
Favorite way to get attention/treats: Whining, scratching at doors, “herding” humans toward the bacon treats in the pantry
Sleeps on: My side of the bed … and on my legs
Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? No. I save that for my 28-year-old.
Anything else we should know about your dog? If you put a chipmunk in a rain pipe, Ernie will bark at it for four hours.

Sims (hip-hop artist, Doomtree)
Names: Lola, Superbowl Champion
Nicknames: Lola, Champ
Breeds: Pit Bull
Ages: 11, 3
Favorite toys: Tennis ball, rubber football tied to a rope for tug-of-war
Favorite treat: Meat. Anything but vegetables, although the look of betrayal on their faces when given a vegetable is pretty amazing, so that’s my favorite treat to give them.
Favorite place to hang out: Outside, anywhere we can play ball. And in the car.
Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: Muddy Waters
Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: Muddy Waters
Favorite dog-friendly store: The Alt bike and board shop
Favorite pet store: Petco
Best trick: Sit
Best friend: Me
Nemesis: Brooms and thunder
Sleeps on bed, couch, dog bed, floor, or outside: Yes
Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? No. But they get treated as if they were my kids … maybe that’s worse.

Kathie Jenkins (restaurant critic/food editor, St. Paul Pioneer Press)
Name: Helen
Nickname: Helly Belly
Breed: Bouvier
Age: 5
Favorite toy: A wool lamb
Favorite treats: Bananas and dried sweet potatoes
Favorite place to hang out: On the living room sofa
Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: Dairy Queen; she loves the cones but she doesn’t go overboard because she knows she has to watch her figure.
Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: She doesn’t like coffee shops; she’d rather be at home lounging on the sofa and watching “The Dog Whisperer.”
Favorite dog-friendly store: She doesn’t like stores, either. She has fear of floors and most places are just too slippery for her.
Favorite pet store: Pet Junction
Favorite dog-friendly vacation: She’s a homebody
Best trick: Laying down on command
Best friend: Josie, a three-legged golden retriever that gives her a good run.
Nemesis: Fivel, an autistic German shepherd. She just won’t have anything to do with him.
Favorite naughty behavior/worst bad habit: Dripping water all over the entire kitchen floor every time she takes a drink
Favorite way to get attention/treats: Just looking like she’s about to chase a squirrel
Sleeps on: Couch
Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? I call it ‘dog talk.’
Anything else we should know about your dog? She loves to have her teeth brushed. Every morning she comes out in the kitchen and doesn’t leave until I brush her teeth.

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By Meredeth Barzen

If you asked a dog what its ultimate gift idea was, it would probably say “bacon.” But when it comes to dog owners, those flummoxed by the idea of picking the perfect present for the dog lover in their life need look no further than home. Minnesota is a breeding ground for great gift ideas, both practical and far from it, that any canine caregiver would be thrilled to find in their stocking come December. So get a jump on your holiday shopping and support local businesses by checking out a few of the less meat-inspired ideas below:

Cool Collars and Leashes Dogs can trot around town in style with collars and leashes from local companies like Bark + Biscuit, Cosmo’s Collars and Stunt Puppy.

You might have trouble choosing just one fun design from Bark + Biscuit and Cosmo’s Collars, and Stunt Puppy’s stretchy, hands-free Stunt Runner™ leash is perfect for runners who like to take their dogs along.

Where to find it: Online at Bark + Biscuit, Cosmo’s Collars and Stunt Puppy and at local boutiques like Bone Adventure, Urbanimal, CorAzoN, Shoppe Local and Don’t Make Me Beg.

Breed-specific Note Cards by Mod-Dog Stylized silhouette prints of dozens of dog breeds make for some very cute note cards (the better to thank you with after you give the best gift.) Mod-Dog also makes wall prints from their designs, as well as chic ID tags and customized jewelry.

Where to find it: In St. Paul at Don’t Make Me Beg, online.

Maggie’s Light Candles by Nelli Designs These hand-poured EcoSoya™ candles are a great way to honor a dearly departed doggie as a memorial, or to celebrate the pets who are still a part of our lives. Available  in 12.5 oz and 21 oz. A dollar of each local sale goes to Homeward Bound Dog Rescue.

Where to find it: Petunia’s, Bone Adventure, Ataz, Fresh Seasons Market, online.

Portraits and Holiday Cards by Sarah Beth Photography The local legend in fresh, modern pet photography is offering holiday photo sessions and greeting cards this year—or, give a gift certificate in any amount and your giftee will have a lovely likeness of Fido’s face forever.

Where to find it: Online.

T-shirts and Bandanas by The Dog Perk For the dog lover who wants to wear his heart on his sleeve, The Dog Perk makes more than 40 different designs of canine-centric T-shirts and sweatshirts for two-leggeds and cheeky bandanas, blankets and biscuits for four-leggeds. Plus, they’re passionate about supporting local rescues, so your gift helps more than your reputation.

Where to find it: Online.

Custom Gifts by Personalized Pooch Some people (Sidewalk Dog included) never get sick of looking at their mutt’s mug. Personalized Pooch will plaster it all over purses, pillows, plush blankets, pill cases, playing cards—you name it, they’ll Poochify it.**Special deal for Sidewalk Dog readers: Personalized Pooch is offering 10 percent off one item until December 5th. Just enter the code “SIDEWALKDOG” on the Web site when you order!

Where to find it: Online.

Cute Capes by BugDuds When Dorothy Grinolds’ miniature dachshund, Ladybug, got cold, she didn’t get mad—she got crafty. The result? Elegant little doggie capes that are warm and whimsical. Check out the Christmas capelette, more decorative than functional, but sure grab some “awww”s at the holiday party.

Where to find it: At the No Coast Craft-O-Rama, 12/4-12/5; online.

Canine Couture by Wahssie The depth and breadth of these designer doggie duds is truly amazing, from sweatshirts to raincoats to Asian-inspired kimonos (we kid you not). Part of the sales benefit Underdog Rescue. And the best part? It’s all very reasonably priced.

Where to find it: Online.

Winter Jackets by Arrowhead Trading Co. Designed and tested by “people who spend their days and nights [outdoors] in the north country,” these practical jackets are easy-fitting, comfy and warm. They can also withstand multiple washings without losing their shape.

Where to find it: Urbanimal, online.

Portraits and Art by Local Artists Present your pal with a Stray Dog Arts gift certificate and their pooch can pose for a painting by local artist Jessie Marianiello. Or, for a less expensive and more immediate art gift (i.e. last-minute stocking stuffer), grab one of the artist’s fun, dog-themed miniature “cube” pieces or greeting cards.

Also check out Lintu Art’s Sarah Thornton of the famed “Dogs by the Lakes” poster series. For the holidays, Thornton’s offering a 10 x 10 portrait for just $125. She works with oil pastel, soft pastel or graphite, and each portrait includes a free 20-minute outdoor photo shoot. (Says Thornton, “The photo shoot can be used to capture the perfect pose for an additional gift or for creating Christmas cards or family memories.”) Gift certificates available.

Where to find it: Stray Dog Arts: Online, at Etsy, at CorAzoN and at her booth in Gaviidae Market every Friday 11/20-12/18, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Lintu Art: Online.

Pet Memorial Jewelry by Lisa Havelin For a friend who’s lost a dog around the holidays, a pet reliquary is a beautiful way to keep Spot close to the heart and alive in memory.

Where to find it: Online.

Dog Treats by Local Bakeries Delight humans and hounds with gourmet goodies made from all natural, human-grade ingredients and lots of love. Luc, the original Sidewalk Dog, goes nuts for the beef jerky from Clyde’s K9 Cuisine (formerly Well Pet Foods). He’d also dig Jack & Dakota’s treats, which are made from organic ingredients and include such flavors as Apple & Peanut Butter, Chicken & Rosemary and Beef & Sage. And he’d be beyond impressed if the gift giver was also the gift maker (or baker). Check out local master baker/dog dad Klecko’s K-9 Nation Biscuit Book: Baking for Your Best Friend for ideas and inspiration.

Where to find it: Clyde’s K9 Cuisine: Online. Jack & Dakota: Online. K-9 Nation Biscuit Book: Baking for Your Best Friend: Barnes & Noble, online at Amazon and at Minnesota Historical Society Press.

Paper Dolls by Hungry Dog Designs Charm both children and adults with these whimsical, handcrafted paper dolls. Inspired by artist Paula Fynboh’s love of color, Mexican folk art, and her Boston Terrier, each doll is handmade using decorative paper and recycled trinkets and includes a small envelope, note and magnet for display. Custom orders available.

Where to find it: Online and at local boutiques like CorAzoN, I Like You, Gallery 360 and Karma.

And when you’re truly stumped on what to get someone? You can’t go wrong with a gift certificate for a pet service—check out the Sidewalk Dog Directory for the top trainers, walkers, sitters, daycare providers, pet food deliverers and more—or a donation in your giftee’s name to a rescue or animal-related nonprofit like The Pet Project, Pets on Wheels, R.E.A.D. Dogs Minnesota or the new Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (MN SNAP). Because nothing makes the holidays warm and fuzzy like knowing you’ve helped pets in need.

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Looking for something to do this weekend? Here’s an idea: Sample, shop and explore everything about home entertaining at “The Affair.” You’ll find multiple stages, luxury food, wine, chocolate, fashions for home and host, plus—and here’s where we fit in—fabulous ideas for holiday gift giving.

Sidewalk Dog is sharing booth 547 with a few especially charming pooches* and some of our beloved Directory members: The Canine Coach, bark+biscuit, Well Pet Foods, Bone Adventure, Stray Dog Arts, Pampered Pooch Playground and Sarah Beth Photography. Come see us for great holiday gift ideas for all the dog lovers in your life!

The event takes place this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Purchase tickets in advance online or at Kowalski’s Markets, Panera Bread and Gaviidae Common. (Tickets are $25 in advance/$30 at the door.)

*Eloise the Mini Aussie, Cosi the French Bulldog and Toast the Rat Terrier will all be making appearances this weekend. Special thanks to their parents.

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By Meredeth Barzen

Looking for a fun way to celebrate Halloween with your dog? Team Ortho is holding its annual “Monster Dash” 5K-9 on the spookiest day of the year—this Saturday, October 31.

The 5K-9 is the dog- and costume-friendly (for people and their pets!) portion of the Monster Dash race, which also includes a half-marathon, a 10-mile race and a regular 5K race—more than 7,000 runners are expected to participate this year. The 5K-9 will take place around Lake Harriet, and for your noble exercising efforts, you’ll receive a long-sleeved tech shirt and a collar or leash from the event’s sponsor, Stunt Puppy. Sidewalk Dog will be enjoying the festivities from Stunt Puppy’s tent. Plus, Fetch Delivers will be there to refuel your dog with treats and free one-pound sample bags of Go! Natural Grain Free Endurance dog food (great for active dogs) and to hand out coupons for any food in the the Now!/Go! lines, which can be redeemed at any retailer. ScoopyPoo will take care of anything your dog—ahem—leaves behind, Bits of Love Pet Massage will be providing mini-massages for your four-legged athletes and Pampered Pooch Playground will be on hand to simply love up all the pups.

Registration is $47 for one adult and one dog. If you haven’t pre-registered, registration for the 5K-9 opens at 8:45 a.m. Saturday morning, and the race starts at 10:35 at the Lake Harriet Bandshell.

There will be three water/trick-or-treat stops along the way, and remember: There’s no shame in walking if you get tired—you can always blame it on your dog.

Here’s some important info from the pooch lovin’ people behind the race:

1. Race Guide: The entire guide can now be downloaded at www.teamortho.us. In the guide, you will find detailed schedules and start locations for runners, information on parking, great suggestions for spectators and where you can pick up awards for running and costumes. We encourage you to read this document.

2. Packet Pickup is Friday, October 30 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Please note that packet pickup has moved from Marathon Sports to the Minneapolis Convention Center. Time for packet pickup: 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. in Ballroom B. Please bring a valid ID and your confirmation card. If you didn’t receive a confirmation card yet, never fear; come to packet pickup with your photo ID and we’ll get your bib number for you. Note: There will be no packet pickup on race day for the Half Marathon and the 10 Mile.

3. Registration is still open for the 5K-9: Online registration (highly encouraged!) shuts down Wednesday night. You can register at packet pickup on Friday or on race day; registration fee will be $47.

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By Meredeth Barzen

It was the dog version of the United Nations at the West St. Paul Armory last Sunday, as representatives of breeds both big and bitsy communed for the first-ever All-American Dog Fest, organized by MN Bully Lovers.

“Equal representation of all breeds is the goal for this event,” said Jen Jamar of MN Bully Lovers. And from chihuahuas to pit bulls to African mastiffs to Great Danes, breeds of all shapes and sizes (and hundreds of their people) came out to celebrate National Pit Bull Awareness Day (which was Saturday, Oct. 24) and to visit more than 30 booths, including K9-Connection, Dancing Porcupine, The Dog Perk, Sarah Beth Photography, Stray Dog Arts, Lintu Art, The Canine Coach, Bark Busters, Fetch! Pet Care of Golden Valley to Edina and ScoopyPoo. They also took in an animal communication demo with Janet Roper of Talk2theAnimals, a NADSR sanctioned weight pull and appearances by celebrity pitties Ruby (nationally recognized therapy and service dog), Wallace (2007 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge National Champion and World Finalist) and Hector (certified therapy dog rescued from the Michael Vick fighting ring).

Some bully breed owners hesitate to bring their dogs to dog-friendly events because of the stigma that MN Bully Lovers and other organizations are trying so hard to correct, Jamar said. Along with MN Bully Lovers’ effort to engage in positive socialization of their dogs (the club organizes group walks and other ways for bully breeds to meet and mingle), All-American Dog Fest proved that a room full of well-behaved dogs—bully breeds included—can get along swimmingly.

When the media reports on dogs who are victims of aggression and abuse, Jamar says, “people see that these dogs are suffering, but they don’t see the rehabilitated dogs.” That’s why it’s so important that people meet dogs who’ve survived abuse and become loving family members, like Hector and Ruby. “Hector’s having a great time, meeting so many people,” said owner Andrew Yori. And Ruby beamed with pittie pride as a DVD about her life was shown to attendees.

“Pit bull owners are very passionate people,” Jamar said. “The event’s been very successful so far, we learned a lot this first time around, and we’ll use that when we hold it again next October.”

If you’re interested in adopting one of the many unwanted and neglected pit bulls in Minnesota, we encourage you to contact A Rotta Love Plus, Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue and Gemini Rottweiler and Pitbull Rescue.

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By Meredeth Barzen

September has arrived, and we all know what that means: Woofstock is coming! On Saturday, September 19, all of Linden Hills (a neighborhood that needs no officially sanctioned holiday to go dog-crazy, but appreciates it anyway) will be swarmed with pooches and their people taking in tons of doggie-centric events, vendors and contests.

Sadie the Wonderdoodle can speak from firsthand experience to say that Linden Hills is pretty dog-friendly all year round: Many of the main drag’s businesses—like Clancey’s Meats, Bayers Do it Best Hardware, Coffee & Tea Ltd. and Wonderment—not only let dogs in their stores, but reward pups for their owners’ great sign-reading skills with biscuits and belly rubs. For Woofstock, these businesses are stocking up on treats and celebrating the day with things like doggie corsages, hats for the annual Pooches Promenade, and special sales and events.

These businesses are also playing sponsor for a grand four-legged scavenger hunt, where dog owners go to certain stores to sniff out a huge, golden bone. Everyone who completes the task is entered to win prizes.

We’re most excited about the Wash-a-thon and Coffee Tasting in the Sebastian Joe’s parking lot from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., sponsored by Pampered Pooch Playground, K9-Connection and yours truly, Sidewalk Dog. For a $5 suggested donation to People for Parks, the event’s beneficiary, you can have your filthy friend primped and pampered in a warm-water dog wash while you sample Sebastian Joe’s coffee.

New to the festival this year is an exciting agility demonstration put on by the folks at C&E Dog Training Center. They’re bringing their super-agile animals with them and will be showing off their skills in the Sebastian Joe’s parking lot between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Also new this year is Fresh Air Training’s Pint-Sized Play, where small dogs can romp with their similar-sized peers. Wild Rumpus bookstore (where cats and chickens reign supreme) will have a contest to see who has the most well-read dog—just snap a photo of your pooch inspired by your favorite dog in literature and bring it to the store for a chance to win a prize. And to set a soundtrack to the festivities, Trish Painter (who has a CD of dog-inspired songs) and the Linden Hills House of Music’s Rock Camp for Dads will be serenading us dog-lovers.

One of Woofstock’s perennial favorites, the dog tricks contest, will be hosted by FOX 9’s Juli Jay—and this is the first year the judges will be looking for “average” dog tricks like a fast-sit, a high-jump, a cute booty-wiggle, resemblance to owner or even being just plain old.

Some of the festivities (like the Wash-a-thon) benefit People for Parks, a nonprofit that funds projects to improve Minneapolis’ stellar park system. Or, you can help them out directly by buying an engraved paver (in tribute to anyone you love, animal or human) that will live in front of the Lake Harriet Bandshell—they’ll be exhibiting at Woofstock, so be sure to pay them a visit.

We’ll see you there!

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By Meredeth Barzen

Ask any dog what his version of heaven is—it’ll probably read like this:

“It’s nice people who pet me and tell me I’m a good dog and a big bowl of treats right on the ground so I can snarf them and—IS THAT A RABBIT!!??—Anyway, there are like a million smells all over and—SQUIRRREL!!!—there’s this lady who hand-feeds me little balls of ground beef just because I’m a good dog and she knows I am the best at catching the Frisbee!”

Welcome to Clancey’s.

Kristen Tombers opened the Linden Hills store when one of the only surviving meat markets left in town went up for sale. She thought she’d try to revive the shop by selling only meats from locally raised animals—this was fortunately right as the local food movement really started to catch fire—and named the market after her grandpa’s yellow lab. Clancey the Dog is now going on thirteen years old.

Not only is Clancey’s the absolute, hands-down best place to get bacon in the Twin Cities,* it’s a veritable doggie paradise.

The nice people and the petting? Tombers allows dogs in the store and always gives them lots of attention. The bowl of treats? A cast iron cauldron on the floor filled with Solid Gold Cinnabones—all natural, of course (according to Tombers, “lots of the dogs—even the short ones—go in for a treat on their own.” The smells? It’s a meat store—imagine the sensory overload on your dog’s olfactory system—but don’t worry, germaphobes: all the food is far from the dogs and safely behind glass.

And the lady with the meat balls? Let’s just say that almost every time we’ve gone in (which is often—we really like bacon), Tombers has come from behind the counter with a very special treat for Sadie the Wonderdoodle—washing her hands very carefully afterward, of course. According to Tombers, this part is pretty popular: “The dogs that know the shop (especially the ones more motivated by food) go pretty crazy knowing that they’re potentially in for a raw meat treat. Most of them pull to the end of the counter to make things happen faster.”

The store also makes a cooked dog food that sounds like you could happily share it with your mutt—all beef shank meat cooked with carrots and celery. You can add just a little to your dog’s dry food to amp up the flavor.

“We are dog-friendly,” Tombers says. “We are also earth-, farm-, food- and people-friendly and are always striving to create a sense of community with our customers. It’s much easier to be in business when the customers can be considered as friends.”

In case you’re wondering, the luckiest animals in the world are Lilah, a seven-year-old yellow lab, and Schmitty (“a ten-month-old brown tabby kitten who thinks he’s a yellow lab.”) They live with the meat lady. “They are all rescue animals,” says Tombers, “which is kind of funny. I rescued them once. They save me every single day.”

* Official Sidewalk Dog Bacon Preparation: Cooling rack over sheet pan. Oven. 400 degrees. 15-20 minutes. Trust us on this.

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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.

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