Former Bachelor Hosts a Dog Dating Show

Lorenzo Borghese, the guy featured on the ninth season of ABC’s The Bachelor, is starring in an Internet-based series called America’s Next Top Dog: The Princess. On the show, he attempts to find a mate for a 7-month-old maltipoo named Bond. Ok, to be fair, the show is a spoof of the reality show dating world, and it's pretty funny. Borghese recently launched the series of nine webisodes on royalpetclub.com, where he features his line of pet products created specifically for dogs with sensitive skin. For every order on the site, Borghese donates $1 to the North Shore Animal League, an amazing organization. Cool, right?

The series will run for several more weeks, and I have to admit, it features a hilarious cast of characters. There even promises to be a hot tub scene, obvi.

To watch episodes, click here.

Group Transports Unwanted Dogs to New Homes

This week, volunteer pilots throughout the country have made it their mission to rescue 5,000 dogs from euthanasia by flying them to new homes. Pilots N Paws, established in February 2008, takes animals from areas of the country where it’s harder to find adoptive homes (usually southern states) to prospective new parents or shelters who simply have more space. They estimate they’ve rescued about 2,000 animals so far.

Why fly instead of drive? According to ABC News, dogs who are older, pregnant, or have medical needs have a hard time with the longer ground journeys and they’re often switched into new vehicles from hour to hour, which can be taxing emotionally and physically.

Animal airlifts run about $2,500, so the organization relies on pilots to donate time and money, and Pilots N Paws is always looking for financial donations.

To watch an ABC News video, click here.

For more information, go to http://www.pilotsnpaws.org/.

My Dog Loves Central Park Country Fair

The 8th annual My Dog Loves Central Park Country Fair will be held at Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield on Saturday, October 17th, from 11am to 4 pm. I went to this last year, and it was equal parts fun, bizarre, and totally hilarious. The event is hosted by the Central Park Conservancy and Central Park Paws.

So, what actually happens at this country fair? You can compete in the “Best in Park” dog show, practice agility with your dog, have your dog microchipped, watch service dogs at work, listen to authors discuss their work, and more. I’m not going to lie, there is also a ton of free giveaway stuff from fair sponsors (think dog treats, food, etc.), which is pretty awesome.

I highly recommend going if you're around. For more information, go to http://www.centralparkpaws.net/event.php.

Hilary Swank Joins Pet Adoption Effort

I know, seems every day some celeb is lending their name to a cause, but this one is worth mentioning. Iams Home for the Holidays has announced that two-time Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank will serve as the drive’s ambassador for 2009.

According to the company’s release, “Swank will share her personal experience with adoption and rescue in an effort to help educate others about how they can make a positive impact on the lives of homeless pets. Along with founding partner Helen Woodward Animal Center and nearly 3,500 participating animal organizations from around the world, the program has set a goal to help 1.5 million pets find homes Oct. 1, 2009 through Jan. 4, 2010.”

Swank has two adopted dogs, Karoo and Rumi. She rescued Karoo from the side of a road while filming in South Africa a couple of years ago, and she adopted Rumi last year from a IH4TH shelter in Los Angeles.

If you want to learn more about how to find a finding participating shelters, volunteer or make a donation to support animal organizations and pets awaiting new homes, visit http://www.iams.com/iams/pet-adoption.jsp.

Dog Park Politics

I take Riley to Central Park during off-leash hours just about every morning, and we tend to hang out with the same group of dogs and their owners each day. But it wasn’t always that way. There was a time when we’d awkwardly stand at the outskirts of a group of dogs playing, their owners huddled in a semicircle. We’d hope that someone would notice us, give a nod, and offer an opening for conversation, and ultimately, acceptance.

Image via theweblicist.com

See, the thing is, Riley doesn’t really get the whole playing gently thing. She growls when she runs to act tough, and she body-checks. She stands protectively over water bowls, and she even steals other dogs’ sticks. Luckily, my “dog park friends” have grown to laugh at Riley’s idiosyncrasies because they know she’d never hurt a fly. She’s even affectionately been dubbed “The Fun Police” for her tendency to try to herd up other dogs who appear to be having a good time without her.

Still, I’ve realized that dog park politics are very real, and they simply come with being a dog owner during off-leash hours. Here are a few things (some rules, really) that I have learned and have saved me, and my at-times socially awkward dog, from being shunned:

• If your dog does something bad (eg, steals another dog’s ball, growls at someone he doesn’t like, etc.), play dumb and smile.
• Ask before feeding another dog a treat. Not doing so will incite rage in those dog owners who only feed their animals things like organic boneless chicken breasts ordered in from Swifty’s.
• If you have a pit bull or pit bull mix of any kind, you are sort of screwed. People will look you up and down and whisper behind your back, convinced your dog is only seconds away from eating their pet. It’s awful and unfair, really. You will have to work doubly hard for acceptance.
• If your (larger) dog is playing with a Maltese, Yorkie, or Havanese, you will be blamed for any drama that ensues, even if the little punk is the one who started something.
• Treat the dog park like a dinner party: Avoid topics like religion and politics. That conversation is not going to end up anywhere good.
• That hot guy throwing a ball to his German Shepherd? Yep, he’s got a girlfriend. Don’t waste your time.
• Even if you think a certain dog owner is beyond bizarre, tell him that his dog is beautiful and be diplomatic while your dogs play. Your dog shouldn’t have to give up friends just because the thought of talking to a certain dog’s owner makes you want to jump in front of a bus. Suck it up.
• If your dog is a humper, rein that sh*t in.
• Befriend park rangers and staff. Then they won’t out you to the 5-0 when you have your dog off the leash a few minutes after 9 am.
• Bring extra water to share. It will make people like you.

Think I’m missing anything?