A guest at last year's Sushi With Your Poochie enjoys the festivities. Photo by Sarah Beth Photography.

Hold onto your hats, dear Sidewalk Dog readers. Something big is coming. Something that’s new, improved, better than ever and—we’ll give you a hint—involves raw fish.

That’s right—we got such a good response from the inaugural Sushi With Your Poochie shindig that we threw last year at the incomparable Tiger Sushi 2 in Uptown that we’re throwing another next month—and you’re invited! (Nuff said? Click here to purchase tickets.)

And while last year’s event was a great success considering it was the first doggie/sushi party the Twin Cities has ever seen, this year, we’ve worked out the kinks to make sure everything runs like a well-oiled fun machine. Here are some highlights to look forward to:

• The sushi artists at Tiger Sushi 2 have offered to hand roll special dog-friendly maki sushi for our four-legged friends!
• A very insightful “paw reader” will be on hand to inform you what lies ahead in your pet’s future.
• You’ve got two chances to attend—the event will be held on both Tuesday, July 20th and Wednesday, July 21st. So if one night conflicts with your golf game, don’t sweat it. Plus, each night will be less crowded and more fully staffed than last year.
• In addition to being able to order off Tiger Sushi’s amazing happy hour menu, which the restaurant is offering for the entire event, you can purchase ready-to-eat boxed sushi from a table on TS2’s beautiful patio.
• A small portion of the ticket sales will go to our fabulous beneficiary, Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (MNSNAP), which provides low-cost spay and neuter services in a mobile surgical unit. MNSNAP will also receive part of the proceeds from all paw readings and $1 from each of Tiger Sushi’s fabulous martinis (Ninja Jinga or or Pomegranate Empress, anyone?) sold that night. All the proceeds from raffle ticket sales will go to MNSNAP, and on-site donations are also encouraged.
• We’d love to see you, with or without your pup!

The lovely patio at Tiger Sushi 2. Photo by Sarah Beth Photography.

You’re already salivating for a spicy tuna roll, right? Here’s what you need to know:

The Deets

What: Sushi With Your Poochie: Part Deux, an on-leash social event presented by Sidewalk Dog and Tiger Sushi 2

Date: Tuesday, July 20th and Wednesday, July 21st

Time: 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Location: Tiger Sushi 2’s gorgeous patio at 2841 Lyndale Ave. in Uptown Minneapolis. (Free parking is available after 4 p.m. in the Egg & I parking lot across the street.)

Cost: $15/person in advance; $18 at door if not sold out ahead of time

Tickets: Tickets are available for either night. Choose whichever date works best for you! Click here to purchase tickets and put yourself and Fido on the guest list for fun.

Sponsored by: Bark Busters Home Dog Training, Bone Adventure, Pampered Pooch Playground, Pet Crossing Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic, Sarah Beth Photography, ScoopyPoo and Stunt Puppy

Beneficiary: Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (MNSNAP). Click here to donate.

By Meredeth Barzen

Realtor/foster program founder Chris Hansen with one of his rescue dogs.

When Chris Hansen got into the real estate business, he knew he’d be helping people make transitions in their lives. What he didn’t know was that he’d be helping his clients’ dogs transition from one living situation to the next as well.

Together with former NFL player Corbin Lacina, Chris runs the Lacina Team, a RE/MAX realty group that specializes in “short sales“—situations where homeowners need to sell, but owe more on their homes than they’re worth. Suffice it to say that Chris works with a lot of people who are between a rock and a hard place, and may not be able to take their dogs with them when they move. That’s why he and Corbin started a foster program.

“I have four rescue dogs with my girlfriend, Kim Kallestad, Corbin has a rescue dog, and we started running into a lot of people who were going through this short sale process who had dogs and didn’t know what they were going to do with their dogs when they moved if they couldn’t find new housing that accepted dogs,” Chris says of the idea’s origins. “We helped one home owner with a foster situation for their dog and the idea took off from there. It just happened more or less because there is a need for it.”

Since Chris and Corbin work with people who are trying to sell their homes because they can’t afford them or because some unexpected circumstance has come up, Chris says the Lacina Team helps them determine what options are available, then gets them the right information so they can make the best decision for themselves and their family. “We want to keep the family and the dogs together. If that can’t happen, we want to let the home owner know that we have this program to help them if they need it,” Chris says.

In situations where the owner can’t take care of the dog for a temporary period, the team will help out until the owner gets set up somewhere new. “It helps relieve the stress for the home owner and the dog for that time period,” Chris says. In more permanent situations, they’ll place the dog in a foster home and try to find them a forever home. There is no cost to the home owner, they fund everything themselves and Chris says they are not looking for donations. “We are trying to be a buffer between the homeowner and humane societies and other rescue organizations. Everyone knows those places are too full; we are just trying to alleviate some of the burden,” he adds.

Stories like those of Chris and Corbin’s clients are becoming more common these days. Chris says that financial troubles due to the recession are the No. 3 reason people surrender their pets, and that there’s little hope on the horizon: There will be $4 trillion in foreclosures this year, he points out. “This is just the tip of the iceberg for the problem we are all in. Everyone knows someone in this situation, or has heard of someone that might need help.”

Luckily, Minnesota is home to other organizations that help pet owners in financial trouble. The Pet Project collects food for families having trouble keeping Fido’s kibble bowl full, and MN SNAP provides low-cost spay and neuter services.

“If we can help someone stay in their home and keep their family intact and their dog safe and happy like they deserve, we have done our job. Sometimes there isn’t a paycheck at the end of the day, but there is a home owner that got the right info and possibly will refer someone else to us,” Chris says.

And why would he and his partner go out of their way to help these families and their four-legged family members? “It’s our turn to step up and help,” Chris says. “We want people to see that we have their best interests and the dogs’ best interests before our own.”

The Pohlads' girls, left to right: Hannah, Tasha and Luca

By Meredeth Barzen

When Minnesotans hear the name Pohlad, they think of baseball. After all, that’s where local businessman and Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad has made a name for himself. But look a little closer at the prominent family’s favorite causes and you’ll start to associate the name with another great American pastime: dogs.

The Pohlad Family Foundation has supported local pet groups like Helping Paws, says Rebecca Pohlad, who has emerged as the most visibly dog-oriented member of the family. She and husband Robert (one of Carl’s three sons) are Dog Mom and Dog Dad to three of the luckiest German shepherds on the planet—9-year-old Luca, 8-year-old Tasha, and 1-year-old Hannah roam where they will on the couple’s 25-acre property in Washington’s San Juan Islands near Seattle. Hannah likes to chase deer, Pohlad says (“I think she will pass out if she ever catches one!”), and adds that the pup also loves to take a dip in the pool, then shake water all over innocent bystanders.

“Luca loves to be the center of attention,” Rebecca says, “Tasha is aloof, but when she is alone with you, she is a love. Hannah is just plain funny—can’t explain it, but she makes me laugh all the time. She loves to snuggle.”

Though Robert never had dogs growing up, he took his marriage to Rebecca as an excuse to add a canine member to the family. “We got our first cocker spaniel a week after being married and after she died, we have had shepherds ever since—six total in our 32 years of marriage,” Rebecca says. “Our [three] sons loved having what I call ‘the girls,’—they are my female companions.”

And while the Pohlad dogs are living the good life on the West coast, Rebecca and Robert keep local animals close to their hearts as well. Rebecca is a big fan of The Pet Project—so much so that she donated to the group in her dog-loving friends’ names as Christmas gifts last year. “I want people in these troubled times to be able to keep their pets. Families are losing their homes and sometimes do not have enough money for food. What an even worse blow to a family than also having to give up their pet,” she says. “That is why The Pet Project means so much to me.”

Rebecca also counts the Animal Humane Society as a group she believes in. “Animals cannot speak for themselves; they cannot express the hurt of being beaten or being hungry, so we must be there for them,” she says. “The Animal Humane Society of Golden Valley does so much good and they deserve support from all of us that can help. My goal is to not have to see the commercials on TV about animals that are in need; and that all animals will be cared for with kindness and have homes with love and food.” Rebecca adds that she’s just heard about MN SNAP, and will be following their progress as well.

When they’re in town, Rebecca somehow summons up the energy to take three full-grown German shepherds out for a social day. “Our favorite place is Lucia’s,” she says. “They have a lovely water bar for dogs and Lucia also loves dogs and has two of her own.”

And though she finds it hard to explain her love for her dogs, Rebecca offers a mantra that she and her family live by: “Be thankful for what you have. Be aware of what is around you. Use you time, talents or financial support to help those less fortunate.”

• Some very cool nonprofits were born, including: The Pet Project, keeping people and their pets together in hard times; MN SNAP, providing low-cost spaying and neutering; MnPAW, working to reduce euthanasia of adoptable animals; Start Seeing Black Dogs, shedding light on Black Dog Syndrome.
• We love it when dog-friendly businesses and nonprofits team up to benefit each other à la Frattallone’s Ace Hardware’s Dog Days of Summer event. For every person who brought their pup into the store during the month of August, Frattallone’s donated $1 to Homeward Bound Dog Rescue. Find out how much was raised.
• More and more restaurants allowed (dare we say welcomed?) dogs on their patios. Check our map of dog-friendly patios, read about a few of our favorites and think spring!
• We got to know some famous Minnesotans and the four-leggeds that make them say “Who’s my fruffy wittle fuzzy bear?” in Almost Famous Dogs and Almost Famous Dogs: Part Deux.
• Minnesota got its first indoor dog park with the arrival of Dog City Dog Park in New Hope. (For outdoor options, check out our dog park map and read about a few of our urban and suburban faves.)
• The Sidewalk Dog Directory grew big time in 2009. From trainers to daycares to pet supply stores to animal communicators to poop scoopers, we’ve got you covered.
• Even we were surprised, delighted and a bit overwhelmed by all the dog-friendly happenings of 2009. Did you take your dog to the Saints game on Mother’s Day? Walk your dog in the Doggone Early Dog Walk at Mall of America? Dine with your dog at Sushi with Your Poochie at Tiger Sushi 2? Party with your dog at the Animal Humane Society’s Whisker Whirl? Drink with your dog at K9-Connection’s Beer with Your Buddy? Practice yoga with your dog at Zen Pooch Doga? Pose with your dog at Tails Up: The Pet Project’s First Annual Holiday Pet Food Drive? Celebrate National Pit Bull Awareness Day with your dog at All-American Dog Fest? Stroll with your dog at Woofstock? Run with your dog in the Monster Dash 5K-9? (Okay, we’ll stop now.)
• We learned firsthand that just like in people, dental disease in dogs can lead to heart, lung and kidney problems. In other words, dogs with healthy mouths live longer.
• We love shop dogs. After all, they can turn ordinary stores into living, breathing members of the community. South Lyndale Liquors’ St. Bernard Abbey was the quintessential shop dog—respectful, sweet, a treat for customers and a friend for employees.
• We were introduced to some particularly amazing dogs, including: Jerry, the “House Dog” at the Ronald McDonald House; Hector, a former Michael Vick dog who recently appeared at a St. Paul elementary school as part of a lesson on empathy and compassion; Sunny, assistant and best friend to autistic siblings Ellie and Ben.

Whoa, right?! And that’s just for starters!

Have a comment to make or something to add to the list? Please do so here.

Happy New Year!

By Meredeth Barzen

These days, with the economy in the doggy potty, many pet owners are conflicted because they want to provide good care for their dogs, but can’t afford basic vet services like spaying and neutering. That’s where MN SNAP comes in.

The Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (MN SNAP) provides low-cost spaying and neutering to animals from rescues, shelters and low-income families. The organization’s framework was set in place by Dr. Kim Culbertson, a local veterinarian, and is relying mostly on word-of-mouth right now to raise awareness of its services and the growing problem of pet overpopulation.

“Shelters and rescues are trying to do their part [to reduce pet overpopulation] by ensuring that most or all of their animals are sterilized prior to adoption,” says MN SNAP’s Jennifer Allen. “Many pet owners, especially in urban and rural areas, cannot afford spay/neuter surgery, do not have access to a veterinary clinic, or do not understand the consequences of unchecked reproduction by their sexually intact pets. Most rescues operate on a very lean budget and are burdened by the costs associated with spay and neuter, thus limiting the number of animals they can save. Affordable and accessible spay/neuter services are essential to stopping the flow of puppies and kittens being born into a world that won’t or can’t take care of them.”

Dr. Kim Culbertson, MN SNAP's veterinarian

As the only mobile spay/neuter clinic in Minnesota that specifically targets low-income households, MN SNAP has “been showered with an outpouring of support from the community,” Allen says. The young organization has worked with and served groups like Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet, The Pet Project, Homeward Bound, Pet Haven, A Rotta Love Plus, Minnesota Boxer Rescue and Secondhand Hounds.

And the economic climate has made its services especially important. “More animals are being surrendered due to unexpected litters, people not being able to feed the animals  they have and general lack of income for animal care,” Allen says.

“We are always looking for angels to the animals,” Allen says. “We rely completely on community support; your donations of time, money or supplies, coupled with your love for companion animals, will save the lives of thousands of animals in Minnesota.” And, as the great and aptly named Bob Barker did for so many years on “The Price Is Right,” she closes with the classic line, “Please spay or neuter your pets!”