By Meredeth Barzen

“THIS JUST IN: Tens of thousands around the Twin Cities metro area were reduced to uncontrollable fits of hugging after the Internet release of the Twin Cities Puppy Bowl’s full-length footage.”

Don’t be surprised if you see that headline flit across the Star Tribune’s front page this week—the Twin Cities Puppy Bowl is coming, and trust us: It’s going to be huge. Hugely endearing, that is.

Clarence of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue takes a time out.

It all started when Lisa Weikle, general manager of Fetch Delivers, was struck with inspiration—to team up with Sidewalk Dog, Sarah Beth Photography and Pampered Pooch Playground, creating a Fantastic Four-style super-squad with only one purpose: put a bunch of puppies in a room and film the inevitable explosion of cuteness that ensues. “I wanted to bring these four groups together, since I know we share the same passion for animal rescue,” Lisa said.

Okay, so we copied Animal Planet’s idea.

But what makes the Twin Cities Puppy Bowl different is that the star players are from local rescue groups like Safe Hands Rescue, Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue, Secondhand Hounds, All Dog Rescue, Minnesota Boxer Rescue, Pet Project Rescue, Rice County Humane Society and Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue.

“It’s great exposure for a new rescue like Secondhand Hounds,” said the group’s founder, Rachel Mairose. “It shows that there’s a need for adoptive parents out there, and there are always puppies available for adoption.” She added, “Who doesn’t like cute puppies?” Answer: no one we want to associate with, that’s for sure.

Check out each pup's personal trading card, designed by Sarah Beth Photography.

“We all have a vested interest in making sure these guys get placed with good families,” said Suzanne Grindle of Safe Hands, a 3-year-old rescue that gets many of its puppies from the high-kill Harlan County Animal Shelter in Kentucky. Some TC Puppy Bowl players came from as far away as Mexico, like Pete from Pet Project Rescue, which works with a Mexican shelter to place puppies and encourage spay/neuter initiatives.

And so, last Saturday, Pampered Pooch Playground was filled to the gills with adorable rescue puppies, pouncing and frolicking and donning adorable, hastily-knitted (but unfortunately, not prescient) Vikings sweaters.

Molly Feeney of Just Paws Puppy Training (shown here with Aldo—not a TC Puppy Bowl player, but a football fan nonetheless) played ref.

Molly Feeney of Just Paws Puppy Training put on her referee shirt to make some tough calls, Clyde’s K9 Cuisine (formerly Well Pet Foods) whipped up some special football treats to re-energize the noble athletes, and The Dog Perk outfitted players in jersey bandanas. Stunt Puppy, Topline Canine, ScoopyPoo and DoodyCalls also helped the day go off without a hitch, and the pups (and people) went home tired and happy.

Pete runs the controversial somersault play.

The result debuts this week on TC Puppy Bowl’s Web site and Facebook page, complete with insightful commentary from Tom Scott and George Scot McKelvey. You can also catch it on Super Bowl Sunday before the big game at “the official veterinary clinic of the Twin Cities Puppy Bowl”—Pet Crossing Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic, which is throwing a big dog-friendly fundraising shindig complete with food, activities, a silent auction, and a screening of Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl VI. Proceeds from the bash benefit the clinic’s Pet Protection Program for Cornerstone Women’s Shelter, and Sidewalk Dog readers get $5 off if they RSVP by Feb. 4th.

When you watch it for the first time, you may want to don protective headgear—you’ll be hit square in the face with fuzziness, after all. Until then, here’s a teaser to tide you over until the big day!

By Meredeth Barzen

If you came to Sidewalk Dog and Tiger Sushi’s “Sushi with your Poochie” event last week, you may have heard a lot about MnPAW. You may have even bought a sake bomb to chip in your part of nearly $1,000 that the event raised for the organization. But given that MnPAW has only been around for a few months, you may not know much about this truly groundbreaking group.

Janelle Dixon, president and CEO of the Animal Humane Society, sums it up thusly: “MnPAW (Minnesota Partnership for Animal Welfare) is a coalition of animal welfare organizations of all shapes and sizes throughout Minnesota who are working together to ensure placement of all healthy and treatable animals in our communities.” Think of it as a super group—the Justice League of the animal welfare world.

Dixon co-chairs MnPAW’s coalition council with Pet Haven president Marilou Chanrasmi. Historically, the Humane Society and groups like Pet Haven have had some differences of opinion on animal rescue policies. But the two groups (and many more) have found common ground in MnPAW.  Says Chanrasmi: “MnPAW has enabled us to starting building trust between animal welfare groups and focusing on common goals.” And Dixon explains, “AHS had been working on developing relationships with a wide array of groups locally and throughout Minnesota for a couple of years. The coalition has fostered our ability and the ability of the other members to better understand how each group operates. In general, we have all found that we share a common interest that far outweighs any differences.”

MnPAW hopes to reduce both the euthanasia of adoptable animals and the number of animals that come into shelters, animal control and rescues in the first place.

Now that you know where your sake bomb money went, don’t you wish you would’ve gotten another?

By Meredeth Barzen

For many dog owners conducting an apartment search, finding a dog-friendly building is a deal-breaker. But truly dog-friendly spots can be hard to come by.

Village Green's Lake Calhoun apartments

Village Green, which owns six apartment buildings in the area, takes the task of being dog-friendly very seriously, with units that any pup (or hip owner) would love to live in. Kim Burggraaf, who works in Village Green’s Minnesota offices, breaks down exactly what makes their apartments a great place for a dog to come home to:

• Affordable pet rent at $20 per month
• Social events for dogs and their owners
• A “dog-sitting exchange program” in which the company keeps a list of dog owners who are interested in exchanging pet-sitting/pet-walking services with another resident. Kim and company are working on setting up play dates as well with this information.
• Dog treats in every office for furry residents
• Locations near dog parks, courtyards, and walking trails (like Lake Calhoun and Loring Park in Minneapolis)
• Wood flooring at two of their locations, which makes cleaning up accidents a breeze

“Overall, we just know how important dogs are in the lives of our residents and are therefore implement everything we can to make them feel just as welcomed in our community as the owners,” says Burggraaf. “We love our doggie residents too!”

By Meredeth Barzen

Pumphouse Creamery’s Doggie Ice Cream Gets Paw Print of Approval

After learning about Pumphouse Creamery’s Doggie Ice Cream from Sidewalk Dog’s comprehensive Doggie Dining list, we had to give it a taste test. Or, more accurately, we had to find a dog who was willing to give it a taste test–not a hard task. Here are the results:

The Product:

Bruno’s Tracks doggie ice cream from Pumphouse Creamery. With half the fat and sugar of human-oriented ice cream, it won’t bite back with a tummy ache. We opted for peanut butter, but the ice cream is also available in plain. A small cup goes for $1.20, and a six-pack can be had for $6.

The Test:

Sadie the Wonderdoodle quickly volunteered as a test subject. From the time we took the product out of the freezer, she knew something wonderful was about to happen. It took her about 10 minutes to polish off her treat–it kept sliding around the hardwood floors, so she had to get creative and nudge it against the furniture for ultimate licking stability. Maybe in the future, we’ll park it on a rubber mat to make it easier for her.

The Result:

All in all, an awesome extended-treat experience, sans stomach problems: Perfect for a hot summer day!

A lucky customer cools off at Lucia's Dog Bar

By Meredeth Barzen

Note: Throw us a bone and tell us about your favorite places to grab a bite with your dog in the comments section below. Or go one further: We’ve teamed up with our friends at Stunt Puppy to create this super-snazzy interactive map of our choice dog spots in the area. Check it out and add (and review!) your own faves here.

You asked for it, you got it! Our readers have been hounding (nudge, nudge!) us for a definitive list of places to dine with their dogs. Everyone (hopefully) knows about Lucia’s Dog Bar–the creme de la creme of doggie dining–and some of the bigger names we touted in last year’s doggie dining roundup. Now that the season’s officially upon us (catch these 72-degree days while you can,) Sidewalk Dog’s here to offer a few of our favorites.

1. Riverboat Grill - That’s “Captain Fido”, thankyouverymuch. This old-timey riverboat docks at Saint Paul’s Harriet Island and serves up choice chow and scenery in an extremely dog-friendly environment. Since the entire dining room is outdoors, dogs are permitted to roam just about anywhere they’d like–brave pups can even take in the view from the top deck, provided they’re not afraid of a flight of stairs. Water, treats and ample tie-up spots are a given.

2. Toast Wine Bar and Cafe – This North Loop cafe in Downtown Minneapolis has three separate sections to its patio to accommodate all levels of doggie dining interest. Plus, they’ll be hosting their second annual “Yappy Hour” on June 6, where lucky pups will get to taste-test their special treats. Stay tuned to Sidewalk Dog for more info on this event!

3. Blue Plate Restaurants - With hip, dog-friendly spots all over the metro (3 Squares, Edina Grill and Groveland Tap, anyone?), two of this local diner dynasty’s restaurants have really gone to the dogs: Longfellow Grill and Highland Grill.  While dogs are welcome to keep you company on the other side of a low fence surrounding all Blue Plate patios (though not on the patios proper), four-legged friends seem especially taken with the casual atmosphere and official, restaurant-branded water bowls at these two locations. Some owners even order lunch for their furry dining companions.

4. Gigi’s Cafe – Need nourishment after a romp around Lake Harriet or Lake Calhoun? This South Minneapolis bistro has a lovely sidewalk where you and your dog are welcome to relax with brunch and a bowl of water. Dispatch from the rumor mill: Homemade dog biscuits are coming soon!

Picosa's patio on St. Anthony Main's cobblestone streets

5. Picosa – With walking trails and a park bordering a long, narrow patio along Minneapolis’ historic St. Anthony Main, dogs are a natural fit at this Latin American/Caribbean restaurant. Water bowls and treats are available for canine customers.

6. Birchwood Cafe – If the homemade dog biscuits that this Seward eatery has in the works are anything like its often local, sustainable and organic people-food, then Twin Cities dogs have a reason to rejoice.

7. Pumphouse Creamery - For dessert, you can’t beat Pumphouse’s decadent ice cream–for you and your dog. That’s right, the South Minneapolis shop makes their own gourmet doggie ice cream. Inspired by 2 neighborhood dogs, the treat comes in two flavors: Bella’s
Tracks (plain) and Bruno’s Tracks (peanut butter). With half the fat and sugar as “people” ice cream, your pup can go gonzo for a treat that tastes like people food, but won’t mess with his system.

Other great places to nosh with your dog:

• Riverview Cafe and Wine Bar (Longfellow neighborhood, Southeast Minneapolis)

• Aster Cafe (St. Anthony Main, Downtown Minneapolis)

• Liberty Frozen Custard (South Minneapolis)

• Butter Bakery Cafe (South Minneapolis)

• Nomad World Pub (University neighborhood, Minneapolis)

• Coffee News Cafe (Grand Avenue, St. Paul)

• Maverick’s Wood Grill (Champlin)

• View Restaurant and Bar (Uptown Minneapolis)

• McCoy’s Public House (St. Louis Park)

• Laredo’s Tex-West Grill and Cantina (St. Louis Park)

• French Meadow Cafe (Lyn-Lake neighborhood, Minneapolis)

• Wilde Roast Cafe (Northeast Minneapolis)

• Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar (St. Paul)

• Costello’s Bar and Grill (Selby Avenue, St. Paul)

• D’Amico and Sons (Locations all over the Metro Area)

• Grand Ole Creamery (Grand Avenue, St. Paul)

• Joe’s Garage (Loring Park, Minneapolis)

• The Tin Fish (Lake Calhoun, Uptown Minneapolis)

• Sea Salt Eatery (Minnehaha Falls, Minneapolis)

• Town Hall Brewery (University neighborhood, Minneapolis)

• Barbette (Uptown Minneapolis)

• Cafe Maude (Southwest Minneapolis)

• Cafe Twenty Eight (Linden Hills neighborhood, Southwest Minneapolis)

• Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge (Northeast Minneapolis)

• The Happy Gnome (Cathedral Hill, St. Paul)

• W.A. Frost & Company (Cathedral Hill, St. Paul)

How about you? Throw us a bone and tell us about your favorite places to grab a bite with your dog in the comments section below. Or go one further: We’ve teamed up with our friends at Stunt Puppy to create this super-snazzy interactive map of our choice dog spots in the area. Check it out and add (and review!) your own faves here.

A pup and its people take in the scenery at a Minneapolis dog park

By Meredeth Barzen

Note: Be sure to let your fellow readers in on your favorite area dog parks in the comments section below. Better yet, go one further: We’ve teamed up with our friends at Stunt Puppy to create this super-snazzy interactive map of our choice dog spots in the area. Check it out and add (and review!) your own faves here.

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that dogs just want to have fun. Yes, after months of standing on his hind legs to get a good look out of the window at the squirrels and birds roaming where they please, the sweet taste of freedom is on your dog’s lips. Now that spring is here, he dreams of that promised land where he can romp off-leash, sniff his salutations with other dogs and chase whatever catches his eye. That land of milk and honey, that utopia incarnate: The Dog Park. Here are a few of our favorites around the Twin Cities metro area–both urban and suburban–where you and your puppy pals can run free as a bird.

1. Minnehaha (South Minneapolis)- Long touted as the Taj Majal of Metro dog parks, Minnehaha reigns as King for good reason: Scenic trails? Check. River access and a big beach? Check. 4.3+ acres of romping room? Check. By the way, your dog’s in the car right now, ready to go.

2. Alimagnet (Burnsville) – Burnsville’s fanciest (and hardest to pronounce) park has luxuries to spare: A dog-washing station for your muddy buddies, a pond, a weather shelter, night lights and a special-needs dog run. Dog Fancy Magazine recently voted it the third best dog park in the country, for what it’s worth.

3. Dog Grounds (Downtown Minneapolis) – Urban dogs will relish the chance to let loose in one of these three new downtown off-leash play areas, with locations in Loring Park, the North Loop and Elliot Park.

4. Woodbury Dog Park (Woodbury) – East Side dogs can get a good runaround at this park, complete with a watering station, picinc tables, walking trails and 70 acres of doggie dominion.

5. Lake Minnewashta (Chanhassen) – With a water fountain, wooded walking trails and a fenced pond, this brand-new park is the spot to be for doggies from the western suburbs.

6. Crow-Hassan Park Reserve (Hanover) – For dogs who are used to wide-open spaces, Crow Hassan offers space–to the tune of 40 acres, that is. Dogs can swim in the Crow River or frolic in the forest at this underused (until now!) park.

Sally and Ginger patrol the pond at Battle Creek

7. Battle Creek (St. Paul) – Another choice park, with ponds to explore and plenty of walking trails. Bonus: The park is squeaky clean after an Earth Day community clean-up project in April.

8. Elm Creek Reserve (Maple Grove, Champlin and Dayton) – This park–so big, it straddles three towns–is a great choice for dogs that would rather walk with their owners than play with other dogs. And, it’s got trails, a field, a pond, a hill and some picnic tables for good measure.

9. Cleary Lake (Prior Lake) – For the wandering types, Cleary Lake has tons of twisty-turny trails, with strategically placed benches throughout. You can play fetch with your dog’s favorite ball in the meadow, or let your dog take a swim in the fenced pond–or not: It’s your perogative!

Other parks to check out with your dog:

• Carver Park Reserve (Victoria)

• Egan Park (Plymouth)

• Otter Lake (White Bear Township)

• Bloomington (Bloomington)

• Kaposia Landing (South St. Paul)

• Arlington/Arkwright Park (St. Paul)

• Woodview (Roseville)

• Rice Creek (Shoreview)

• Dakota Woods (Coates)

• Lake of the Isles (Minneapolis)

• Airport Dog Park (Richfield)

• Staring Lake Park (Eden Prairie)

• Van Valkenburg (Edina)

• Trackside Park (Coon Rapids)

Be smart! Bone up on your dog park’s rules regarding permits, licenses, and regulations before you go so you don’t end up with an Irish Wolfhound-sized fine. And be sure to let your fellow readers in on your favorite area dog parks in the comments section below. Better yet, go one further: We’ve teamed up with our friends at Stunt Puppy to create this super-snazzy interactive map of our choice dog spots in the area. Check it out and add (and review!) your own faves here.

In late 2007, SidewalkDog.com was launched to provide the inside scoop on pet-related and dog-friendly businesses, destinations and events in the Twin Cities and beyond. This year, we plan to add some new features, including an interactive dog park map and tools to connect dog lovers with rescues, shelters and other non-profits.

We’re working hard to become the go-to resource for all who care for the over 700,000 dogs across the Twin Cities, but in order to achieve this goal, we need to increase Sidewalk Dog awareness. (Incidentally, increasing awareness will help to increase Sidewalk Dog Directory membership, making SidewalkDog.com an even better resource for dog lovers!)

UNITE to help Sidewalk Dog unleash its full potential!

Sign and circulate this Sidewalk Dog Awareness Petition on behalf of the only online publisher devoted solely to serving the needs of Twin Cities dog parents like you (our goal is 5,000 signatures). Then visit our website often so we can help you get a life… with your dog!

More than 150 dog lovers and nearly as many dogs attended Dog Lovers Night Out at Cue featuring Scoopy Poo. Guests arrived on the green carpet (provided by K9 Grass) and enjoyed a gourmet grill menu and dog treats from Cue executive chef, Michael Delcambre.

Among our honored guests were:

1. Top sponsor, Scoopy Poo, the Twin Cities’ most fashionable dog waste removal service demonstrates how they do the doo-doo in style (Robin Keller, left), and drop off their VIPs in style int ehir MIni “Scooper” company car (below). Scoopy Poo announced at the event they are accepting nominations for their new Adopt-A-Condo project to keep downtown dog owners’ condo properties clean. Nominations being taken through July 31 and scooping will happen for one new condo each week in August.

2. Carrie and Brian Ehlers (above and below) owners of 2 Dunn Bros in Linden Hills and 50th and Xerxes) and their dog Sugar, who were chosen as the Sidewalk Dog VIPs and VIPet of the night and chauffeured to the event in the Scoopy Poo Mini “Scooper.”

3. Also in attendance were M.A. Rosko from Fox9 News and her dog Munter, along with Alexis Walsco of Lola Red PR and FM107 Shopgirls with her dog, Lily (both pictured below).

4. Bethany Hermel of Minneapolis-based Who Let the Dogs Out dog walking and pet sitting service reveals her frequent walker program.

5. Michelle and Tim Burt of Well Pet Foods show off their dogs and their healthy tasting menu of food and treats for dogs that not only look tasty, but also pack in a lot of healthy ingredients into every bite.

6. Brian Fulmer and Graham Fulmer of Bone Adventure show off their summer farmers market fare of dog toys ranging from squeaky artichoke toys and plush ice cream cones to Poochie Sushi. and cupcake squeeze toys.

7. Pampered Pooch Playground power couple, Patrycia and Keith Miller wowed the crowds with news of the nine doggy web-cams available at their dog daycare. Non-stop doggy-tainment!

Jessie Marianello, founder and artist in residence of Stray Dog Arts, displays her lovingly crafted fine pet portrait works on canvass and cards.

Small dogs enjoyed Pint-Sized Play on K9 Grass with a glorious view of the Stone Arch Bridge and the Mississippi River.

George (with owner Susan Davis of Cue) looks up to the canine creations from Cue Executive Chef, Michael Delcambre.