I just heard about artist Pawlick (a pun on Pollock, no doubt) who creates wonderful geometric mosaics with dog food. You wouldn't think that these pieces would do as much for the human senses as the canine, but they truly are lovely little works of art. His artist statement is below. Read more about Pawlick here.


With my dry dog food works, I create the unexpected from the everyday, turning the average into the extraordinary.

A creative challenge to both inspire fresh thought amongst viewers and to assist animal outreach groups brought about this unique and light-hearted medium. Faced with a limited chromatic palate, I use basic foreground geometries and substratal patterns of flow to balance and overcome the inherent limitations therein. Finding the balance in each piece in turn inspires me to accept that challenge anew with every new creation.

Tactile in nature, my mosaics present an inviting and uniform blend of organic warmth and whimsical surprise, each piece being common in construct yet divergent in design. With no other such works to inform my creations, I enjoy the challenges of finding and overcoming the boundaries of materials and scale by means of my own creative vision.

Registration for The Trot for the Cure Now Available

On January 7, 2007, the third Trot for the Cure, a fundraiser for canine cancer research, will take place at Magnolia Gardens. It's an afternoon of fun with your dog and dog friends, to help raise money for scientists to find better treatments and cures for cancer in our dogs. This year will be even better than last, with more specialists coming from UGA to answer questions on health issues, as well as cancer, and more dancing from the Dixie Dancing Dogs out of Atlanta! The barbecue, Southern Que-N-Stew is delicious as ever, and there'll be lots of raffle prizes.

Registration for the Trot is now availble. Contact Jane Hirsch at jehirsch@earthlink.net for more info and for a registration form.

Looking for LOVE!
Lowcountry Lab Rescue needs foster homes for these dogs immediately! These dogs are in danger of being put to sleep if not rescued. Click here for more info.


Max is a one year old yellow male whose owners do not have time for him. He is headed to the shelter to be put to sleep if a foster is not found for him.

This cutie has been in a shelter for over a month with no takers. Wouldn’t he look good on your couch?


This sweet girl is looking for someone to love! Could that be you?

Humorous Toys

Check out these new witty dog toys from Pamela Barsky.

A Bit Worried

I'm sure that most of us have heard by now that the PETS Act has been passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Though I was initially extremely happy about this and felt like it was a true victory I'm beginning to wonder if there's any real bite to the bill. It's easy to think that with the passing of the bill states are now required by law to assist people with pets in natural disasters. But in a closer examination of the language, it seems that states are merely required to CREATE a disaster PLAN for people with pets. It does not look like states will be required to enforce this plan. I'm no lawyer so perhaps I'm missing something. Regardless, when the SC disaster plan for pets is revealed we should start asking how the state expects to enforce the plan.

Barkology

I'm a big fan of Barkology. I've always had an interest in textile design, and Barkology brings the best of that world to the pet industry. Zoe, the firm's founder and lead designer, just released these new designs. Here's a sneak peek, but look for more in our Holiday Gift Guide in the upcoming Dec/Jan issue.

Barkology products can be purchased at Alpaha Dog Omega Cat in Downtown Charlest, Lulu Burgess in Beaufort and Truffles Market and Cafe in Hilton Head.

Pooch Porch

Apartment Therapy had their annual pet decor design contest and I'm loving this Pooch Porch built by the The Kittrell Family in Richmond, VA. What southern dog wouldn't love her own porch to hang out on? I think this is an excellent alternative to ugly crates. Click here to learn more how the Kittrells did it.

Any of you out there have crafty alternatives to crates?

Event Reminders:

There's a lot going on this weekend folks and I just wanted to re-post the events here so you could plan your weekends accordingly. Have fun!

Partridge Creek Skeet & Eat FRWSPCA Benefit
October 21 - Partridge Creek Skeet and Eat to benefit the Frances R. Willis SPCA of Dorchester County. $50 to shoot skeet and eat barbecue or $25 to just eat barbecue. Registration 10 a.m. Lunch will be served at 1 p.m. For more information, call the SPCA at 871-3820 or email director@frwspca.org or visit the SPCA online at www.frwspca.org

Pet Helpers Meet and Greet at Kreature Comforts
Pet Helpers Meet and Greet Saturday October 21st 11:30-2:30 at Kreature Comforts in Seaside Village.
843-388-2515
www.kreaturecomforts.com


FRWSPCA Adopt-a-thon at Doolittles in Summerville
Saturday Oct 21 - Adopt-a-thon at Doolittles Noon to 3 or 4 PM SPCA animals are looking for their loving and forever homes! Drop by and meet the cats and dogs and you may just find your new best friend or forever companion! For more information about these events or the animals for adoption, call the SPCA staff at 871-3820 or visit www.frwspca.org

DOGTALK Workshop
OCT 21: 1-3pm: DOGTALK
Join us for an afternoon workshop to learn the secrets of chomping champs, howling hounds, digging demons and mischievious mutts. A fun gathering for doggie moms and dads (please leave pups at home to watch TV!). FREE. Door prizes. Common Grounds Cafe(next to James Island Baptist Church), Maybank Hwy., James Island. For more info contact Snifferdogs 843-345-6828 or snifferdogs@hotmail.com

Royal Treatment

England's Former Home Secretary David Blunkett revealed in his new book that Queen Elizabeth cuts up food for her corgis and feeds them with utensils. Apparently Blunkett, who is blind, was seated next to the Queen for an offical dinner. When she noticed that he was having difficulty cutting his meat she offered her asssitance, telling him that she often does it for her two dogs.

Horse and Hound

Despite being VERY disappointed that Laura Bennet, one of the Project Runway contenders, is NOT a dog lover (she was practically squeamish when designing an outfit for a dog during one of the challenges) I still love her personal style. She's classic, a bit opulent and is always sporting riding pants when she wants to be her version of "casual and comfy." I wish she realized how close horse and hound are in fashion and showed a little more love for canines. Well, at least J.Crew threw us dog lovers a bone. Learn more about their horse and hound cardigan here.

Volunteers needed for the John Ancrum SPCA

The John Ancrum SPCA needs volunteers at both the Daniel Island Park Day on the 14th and their Paws at the Park event on the 22nd. Give Kay Hyman a call if you can help.

w 843-747-4849 X 206
c 843-224-0899
f 843-747-1012
spcak@jaspca.com
http://www.jaspca.com

Rover sheds some light on the subject
Another find via Design*Sponge - new lighting for fun loving, dog owning "blown-ups." Learn more about the lighting designer here.

I purchase an insane amount of Febreze. Poet just loves my couch a bit TOO much and in order to keep my house smelling like something other than dog, I give my couch, carpet, pillows and curtians a good spritz of Febreze about every other day. I've joked about taking out stock in order to off set my monthly expense. Well, if you are a Febreze junkie like me, we can now feel good about all that money we give to Febreze and other popular household goods this October.

USE YOUR PURCHASING POWER TO HELP HOMELESS PETS NOW THROUGH 10/14

When you think of ways to get involved in helping animals, a trip to the grocery store usually isn’t first on the list—but that’s exactly how you can become part of a special nationwide campaign to help shelter animals.
This fall, Kroger Stores and P&G are partnering with the ASPCA to make life better for homeless animals. Pet lovers can support the program by purchasing P&G brands at Kroger and its participating affiliates, King Soopers, Fry’s, Smiths, QFC, City Market and Gerbes. For every $10 purchase of Iams dog and cat food, Febreze, Swiffer or Bounce made now through Saturday, October 14, 10 percent of net retail sales will be donated to the ASPCA—up to a total donation of $50,000. For more information, visit http://www.aspca.org/helppets.

Lowcountry Dog and our advertisers are in the press again. Read all about it here or copy and paste the following address into your browser:
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/current/12_21/news/7680-1.html

Charleston welcomes Fido
First published in the Charleston Business Journal Daily Newsletter

AAA has named Charleston the most pet-friendly city in South Carolina in its new travel guide for pet owners.

“Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook” lists 13,000 hotels and accommodations nationwide that allow pets.

“Nearly 70 million U.S. homes have at least one pet, a sizeable and lucrative market segment for the travel and tourism industry,” said Bill Wood, executive director of AAA Publishing.

According to Wood, 28% more hotels are pet-friendly now than were in 2003. The Travel Industry Association claims 29 million travelers take their pet with them; 78% of those pets are dogs. TIA found hotel pet policies affected 35% of those surveyed on their decision for lodging.

Charleston has 25 lodgings that accept pets. Although the city is No. 1 in South Carolina, it was not among those ranked nationally. The No. 1 pet-friendly city in the United States is Houston, which boasts 108 pet-accessible lodgings, three off-the-leash dog parks and 20 emergency veterinary hospitals.

I'm so happy about this one... us large dog owners have a VERY difficult time finding accommodaitons when traveling. Glad hotels are learning that most of the time the bigger the dog does not mean the bigger the damage.

Hotels Accepting Large Dogs Reach Niche Market

Knoxville, TN – October 3, 2006 – Hotels that accept large dogs are reaching their niche market and are edging out their competitors that have strict weight limits. According to a recent surveys, nearly 48% of travelers with pets travel with pets over 31 pounds. 34% of those surveyed travel with dogs over 50 pounds. Hotels are quickly realizing this untapped market and are adjusting weight limits to coincide with the growing market for large dog accommodations…
Read Full Release Here: http://www.petnewswire.com/digest/wd-t2700.html

ASPCA LAUNCHES ‘ASPCA PET HEALTH INSURANCE’
Country’s First Pet Insurance Product Developed for a National Humane Organization

NEW YORK, October 3, 2006—The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced a brand-new offering that will improve the quality of life for pets and pet parents throughout the United States, and that comes with the backing of the country’s oldest animal welfare organization: ASPCA Pet Health Insurance. While pet insurance has been growing in popularity in recent years, this is the first product of its kind to be developed for and branded by a national animal welfare organization. For more information, please visit www.aspcapetinsurance.com .

Surgical treatments to which the ASPCA is opposed, such as tail docking, ear cropping and declawing are not covered, aligning with their mission of preventing cruelty to animals in the name of aesthetic ‘enhancement.