May | June 2010 Volume 5 | Issue 3
Dog Days Downtown Pet Health Insurance Are Those Dogs Playing or Fighting? Great Doggy Getaways
It’s a good doggy day
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Table of Contents p. 16
p. 11
Features
p. 20
p. 25
In Every Issue
8 Reader Mail We love you too!
7 Ollie’s Corner Time for a scavenger hunt
11 Dogs and Chocolate: There’s an App for That A Wilmington 7th grader creates an iPhone Application for dog owners
8 Happenings See what pet-friendly event is coming to a location near you
13 Dogs According to Jim The difference between doggy social etiquette and human social etiquette
9 DOGhealth Pet Health Insurance
14 Who Can Identify a Pit Bull? Yet another reason why Breed Specific Legislation is wrong 17 Great Doggy Getaways Set that GPS and pack the car, it’s time for a road trip 21 Athena Dogs touch our lives in so many ways, some ways we don’t realize until they’re gone 26 Doggone Inspired Clair Hartmann paints 100 dogs in 100 days
10 DOGoutings Downtown Durham 12 Ask August The difference between playing and fighting 16 Unleashed Macy Goes Green 20 Hot! Dog We’ve sniffed out the coolest products 25 Tail Waggers Dog Art 27 Dogs On Film Our puparazzi are always on the lookout for dogs about town 28 Dog Living Directory Your resource for all things dog 30 Doghouse Poll Who comes first? Your dog or your guest? 30 DOGnews Get the scoop
On The Cover Dog Days Downtown…..p. 21 Pet Health Insurance…..p. 9 Are Those Dogs Playing or Fighting?…..p. 12 Great Doggy Getaways…..p. 17 Cover Photo: Original Painting by Clair Hartmann, www.clairhartmann.com Cover Model: Unknown The mixed-breed dog featured in the oil painting on the cover is part of Clair Hartmann’s Random Facebook Pet Paintings. To the right is another one of Hartmann’s works from the same project. Read all about Clair Hartmann on page 26.
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May/June 2010
Volume 5, Issue 3
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editors
Suzanne Jalot
Art Director
Dustin Keipper
Contributing Writers
Jim Clark Elysa Cooper K. Gwendolyn Nancy Kay, DVM Fred Marmorstein McKenzie Wise
Editorial Intern
McKenzie Wise
Phodography
K. Gwendolyn
Sales Marketing & Promotion
Pam Gosdin
Circulation Manager
John Leonard
Distribution
Ryan Young
Ollie and August
John Leonard Wendy Jalot
A publication of OllieDog Media, Inc. www.doglivingmagazine.com info@doglivingmagazine.com P.O. Box 1914 Wilmington, NC 28402 910-452-3775
Subscriptions: A one-year subscription is only $25. Call 910-452-3775 or go to www.doglivingmagazine.com to subscribe. Change of address? Call 910-452-3775 or email circulation@doglivingmagazine.com. Advertising: For more information, call 910-452-3775 or email sales@doglivingmagazine.com. Submissions: Please email editor@doglivingmagazine.com for submission guidelines. ©2010 by OllieDog Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved Reproduction or use in whole or in part of the contents of this magazine is prohibited without written permission of the publisher. This includes, but is not limited to Internet postings and photocopies of the magazine. Dog Living and its logotype are trademarks of OllieDog Media, Inc. The information provided by Dog Living Magazine is intended for informational, educational and/or entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be nor is it a substitute for professional advice. It may be necessary to consult your pet’s veterinarian regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations in this publication. All materials and services in this publication are provided “as is” without any representations or warranties. Neither Dog Living Magazine nor its affiliates, nor any of their respective agents, employees, advertisers or writers shall be liable to anyone for any inaccuracy, error, omission, timeliness, completeness, deletion, defect or failure of performance. OllieDog Media, Inc. reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason.
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May | June 2010
Ollie’s Corner I was lucky enough to accompany my mom to Carolina Canines Walk for Those Who Can’t. What a great event with hundreds of walkers! We love supporting events like these because the folks at Carolina Canines are so wonderful and we love meeting all the people at these events. Of course, events which bring together hundreds of people and their dogs should also remind us to practice good doggy event etiquette. The most important thing to remember at large events is to be aware of your dog at all times! Humans tend to get distracted easily and forget that even though they’ve got a hold of one end of the leash, that doesn’t mean they can turn away from the end with the dog. You may be talking to your new friend, while on the other end of the leash, your dog is about to cause a scene. Another danger is parking lots. It’s up to humans to watch out for cars and not the other way around. We observed at least one group of doggy parents who were walking in a safe area of the parking lot, but their dogs were at the end of a six-foot leash in the middle of the traffic lane. Keep your dog close by!
And finally, don’t assume everyone wants to meet your dog. It’s safe to assume people and dogs who come to events like these are social creatures, however, that doesn’t mean you should let your dog approach a strange dog uninvited. Some dogs, while very friendly, can still be more defensive when leashed, and may react badly to a surprise sniff. Now that you know some basic event etiquette, it’s time to get you and your dog to Dog Days Downtown! It’s a scavenger hunt throughout downtown Wilmington brought to you by Dog Living Magazine and Wilmington Animal Healthcare as a benefit for 2 Feet for Paws. We are gonna have so much fun! You can meet with rescues at Riverfront Park and enjoy live music too. To register, just visit www.dogdaysdowntown.com. We can’t wait to see you there! Woofs and Wags,
Ollie Assistant Editor www.doglivingmagazine.com
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DOGhappenings MAY May 1 Paw Jam Battleship Park, Wilmington Paw Jam is now in it’s 9th year! Enjoy a day of live music, unique vendors and lots of fun with your dog! Visit www.pawjam.org for more information. *Dog Living Magazine will be at this event!* May 4 7th Annual Burrito Bash 6-9pm General Store Café, Pittsboro Come enjoy the fun. Bid on awesome auction items, eat delicious food, and join in the laughter, while helping the cats and dogs of Chatham Animal Rescue and Education, Inc. (CARE). The 7th Annual Burrito Bash fundraiser will include both live and silent auctions at the General Store Cafe, just off the traffic circle in downtown Pittsboro. For more information, visit www.chathamanimalrescue.org. May 8 Puppy Mill Awareness Day 11am-5pm Moore’s Square, Raleigh The Humane Society of the US is hosting this event. Special guests include Rescue Ink and Victoria Stilwell (of the TV Show “Its Me or the Dog”). May 8 Ride for Their Lives Deep river Park, Sanford Enjoy yourself at this cycling event and festival. There will be food, music, prizes, and cycling events. Proceeds will benefit Carolina Animal Rescue and Adoption. For more information, visit www.cara-nc.org/ride. May 8 Fashion Unchained 7pm Marbles Kids’ Museum, Raleigh The Coalition to Unchain Dogs will be kicking off its inaugural Fashion Unchained event in high style. This charity event has something for everyone -a silent auction, delicious food and drink, and a fabulous fall runway show featuring local celebrities wearing designer fashions from area boutiques. For more information, visit www.unchaindogs.net.
For an up-to-date listing of events, visit www.doglivingmagazine.com May 15 SADD Yard Sale Lowe’s Foods at Monkey Junction, Wilmington Saving Animals During Disasters (SADD) will be having their annual yard sale to raise money to help rescue and shelter animals during disasters. Donations can be dropped off until May 13th. (They request no exercise equipment, computers, or adult clothing.) Donations can be dropped off at the following locations: Coastal K-9 Bakery, 5905 Carolina Beach Rd, Wilmington, (910) 794-4014, and Jeannie Mintz, 205 Georgia Ave, Carolina Beach, (910) 520-6810. May 15 Pet Palooza 8:30am-12:30pm Independence Park, Charlotte Be a part of the Humane Society of Charlotte’s annual fundraising walk and pet festival fundraiser. The event includes a one mile dog walk, entertainment, vendor fair, a silent auction, refreshments and fun for the entire family, all while supporting homeless pets. For more information, visit www.humanesocietyofcharlotte.org. May 16 The K-9 Cotillion, Garden PAWty 4-6pm New Hanover County Arboretum, Wilmington You and your dog can enjoy this upscale event hosted by The Ability Garden. There will be snacks for you and your dog, a cash bar, live music, dog artists, therapy dogs, a raffle, and more. For more information on this event, visit www.gardeningnhc.org and click on The Ability Garden’s link. May 22 APS of Durham Walk for the Animals 9am Duke University East Campus, Durham Come out to support the Animal Protection Society of Durham for this two-mile walk around Duke’s beautiful East Campus. For info visit www.apsofdurham.org. *Dog Living Magazine will be at this event!* May 29 Dog Days Downtown Riverfront Park, Wilmington Celebrate Dog Days Downtown with Dog Living Magazine and Wilmington Animal Healthcare. You and
your dog will have fun on a downtown scavenger hunt for clues to win fabulous prizes! Enjoy live music and visit with local rescues by the river. This is an exclusive Dog Living Magazine event with proceeds benefiting the non-profit group, Two Feet For Paws. Visit www.dogdaysdowntown for more info. JUNE June 5 Cary Dog Days of June 9am–2pm Bond Park, Field #4, Cary A fun event for the whole family with activities, fund raisers, demos, food and more. There will be a rabies/ microchip clinic (hosted by Cary Police Department/ Animal Control) and a Skyhoundz Disc Competition. For more information, visit www.carydogdays.com. JULY July 10 Coon Dog Day Festival 9am-10pm Downtown Saluda Join in the fun at the 47th Annual Coon Dog Day Festival. This event will include food, live music, a parade, crafts, street square dance, and more. For more information, visit www.saluda.com. July 31 Second Chance 10th Annual Auction for the Animals 7pm-10pm Delightful Inspirations, Raleigh Help support this wonderful cause and enjoy live and silent auctions at this event. Barbara Gibbs from WTVD-11 will be emceeing this special event. For more information visit www.AuctionForTheAnimals.com or call (919) 851-8404. AUGUST August 28 Golden on the Green Charity Golf Tournament 1:30pm River Ridge Golf Club, Raleigh This is the 8th annual Golden on the Green Golf Tournament. Proceeds will benefit the Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue. For more information, visit www.goldenonthegreen.com.
Got an upcoming pet-friendly event? Send your info to events@doglivingmagazine.com. Please include: Organization Name, Contact (name and phone), Brief Description of Event, Date/Time/Place.
Hi, This past weekend I picked up a copy of Dog Living at the Southport visitor’s center. It is a beautiful magazine and I was glad to have found it. We actually visited the pet boutique Cool Dogs & Crazy Cats and Coastal K9 Bakery because of the ads in the magazine.
Reader Mail
We would have never known about these awesome stores if it were not for the magazine. I have attached a few photos I took on vacation of my dog Trevor. He had a blast!! Kristie Nicholson Asheboro, NC Trevor enjoying the beach
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Aw, shucks, thanks Kristie!
DOGhealth The World of Pet Health Insurance by Nancy Kay, DVM, Specialist, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
These days people need to be creative thinkers in order to make their dollars stretch further. Not only does this apply to gasoline and groceries, but to pet health needs as well, and financing veterinary care is at the top of the list. Perhaps you’ve thought about pet insurance, but haven’t committed one way or the other because the policies are confusing or you truly don’t know whether or not it makes good financial sense. The following is an excerpt about pet insurance from Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life. Veterinary health insurance has been around for a good long time, but only recently is it achieving greater popularity with consumers. My sense is that its growth initially was stymied by inadequate, “slowpay, no-pay” reimbursement policies. This seems to be changing now that some insurance providers are willing to provide greater reimbursement amounts to policyholders, thus attracting people who want to take advantage of high-end diagnostic and therapeutic options that might otherwise be unaffordable. Deciding whether or not to purchase a medical insurance policy for your dog requires serious consideration. And, if you decide to go ahead, figuring out which insurance company is the best fit can be daunting. Although it is considered to be far less necessary than human medical insurance, should your dog suffer some sort of catastrophe—such as being hit by a car—pet insurance might be your best, if not your only, way of financing his recovery. Without question, quality veterinary care is expensive, and as the cost of living increases, so, too, will the cost of doing business with your vet. Currently, the surgical repair of a torn cruciate ligament—a common knee injury in large breeds of dog—costs $2,000 to $4,000. The average fee for an MRI scan (including general anesthesia) is $2,000 to $3,000. Treating diabetes can cost several thousand dollars over the span of a dog’s lifetime. Remember, when it comes to pet insurance, third party payments are the exception rather than the rule. This means that the veterinarian receives payment directly from you, the client, and not from the insurance company. You are still responsible for paying your veterinary bills. The insurance company then reimburses you as per the terms of your policy.
As you ponder whether or not health insurance makes sense for you and your pet, consider the following questions: What are your financial resources? A new puppy means multiple examinations, vaccinations, deworming, heartworm preventative, and spay or neuter surgery—expenses that will need to become part of the household budget. If an emergency— illness or accident—occurred, could you pay what was needed for their recovery? Think about the types of expenses you might encounter, such as surgery, an ultrasound evaluation, hospitalization with or without intensive care, and specialist consultations. Could you absorb such costs should the need arise tomorrow? How do these numbers compare to the amount needed to purchase a year’s worth of medical insurance for your cat or dog? Your six-month-old Golden Retriever may be the picture of health, but how about several years down the road when he’s become a “golden oldie”? Perhaps purchasing and maintaining pet insurance when your dog is young makes sense. This way, you can rest assured there will be no exclusions for pre-existing conditions, and you may have the option of “locking in” a lower premium rate. Are you inclined to take the “do-everything-possible” approach when it comes to treatment? The price tag for aggressive veterinary care is considerably higher than for conservative approaches. If you answered this question affirmatively, insurance might be well worth the investment. What best suits your peace of mind? Will you sleep better at night knowing that, no matter what happens, insurance will allow you to pay for excellent, top-of-the-line care? Or, will you lie awake fearing that you are just throwing money away with yet another insurance policy that might never be needed?” Hopefully this information has helped you determine whether or not health insurance for your pets makes sense. If you determine it does, please spend some time with Speaking for Spot to help you determine how to go about selecting an insurance provider. Dr. Nancy Kay is a board certified specialist in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Since the release of her book, Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life, (www.speakingforspot.com) Dr. Kay has lectured extensively and written numerous articles on the topic of medical advocacy.
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DOGoutings Scenery: Difficulty: Easy Length: 2 miles
Downtown Durham Walking Trail Durham 800-446-8604 www.durham-nc.com
Pick up your map at the Durham Convention and Visitors bureau located at 101 East Morgan Street. Once you’ve picked up your map for this self-guided tour, you can explore all that downtown Durham has to offer. There are plazas and parks where you can rest and enjoy the scenery. Along the tour you’ll see beautiful architecture including a 1904 fire station, the Neoclassical post office, and The Carolina Theatre. Highlights include the Durham Farmers Market, Durham Central Park, the Historic Durham Athletic Park (remember the movie Bull Durham?), Duke University, and Five Points/Muirhead Plaza. The American Tobacco Campus is also located on the tour which includes restaurants, an amphitheatre, offices and a quarter-mile-long river walk. If you live in or near Durham, this is a great opportunity to get out and explore your own area. If you live farther away, this makes for a fun day-trip from almost anywhere in the state.
Scenery Ratings: 1 paw – Nothing much to look at 2 paws – Pleasant enough 3 paws – Some great views 4 paws – Gorgeous scenery everywhere
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(Clockwise from top left) American Tobacco Bridge courtesy Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau, Durham Skyline courtesy Chuck Young and Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau, Brightleaf Square courtesy Heather Jacks and Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau
Difficulty Ratings: Easy – Anybody can do this! Moderate – You might be sweating when you finish Hard – This could make some of you wish you were in better shape Very Hard! – Only dogs and people that exercise often should attempt
Dogs and Chocolate: There’s an App for That Uh-oh. Did you just discover an empty wrapper from a chocolate bar on the floor and a guilty-looking pooch in the corner? Well, thanks to a Wilmington seventhgrader, there’s an app for that! Parker Simmons is the mastermind behind the iPhone application ChocoTox. The application can calculate whether your dog has eaten a dangerous amount of chocolate. First you enter your dog’s weight, then you enter the type of chocolate ingested and finally, you enter the amount of chocolate consumed. The application will then calculate if your dog has eaten a dangerous amount of chocolate. It’s based on how much theobromine (the chemical in chocolate toxic to dogs) is ingested. Simmons told Dog Living Magazine he came up with the idea for ChocoTox because he was trying to think of an application that his dad, who is a veterinarian, could use at work. He says is took about two weeks to develop the application and although he got some advice on the application, he did all the actual work. His next project? “I’m working on [an app] right now to convert animal years into human years.” Wow. You go Parker!
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AskAugust August loves mail from doggies and humans! If you have a question you’d like to ask, just email her at August@doglivingmagazine.com. way of figuring out their own “pecking” order without getting into a fistfight, er, pawfight. Sometimes pet parents freak out and misinterpret simple play with a fight. No need to freak out! If dogs are playing there are several things you may observe:
Some dogs are very vocal during play, so barking or growling could be, but is not necessarily, a sign of a fight. Any type of play has the potential to turn into a fight, so it’s important to know when to step in before a fight escalates.
They take turns being the aggressor. In other words, one dog may voluntarily lie on his/her back to give the other dog an advantage. This would never happen in a fight.
Dear August, Why don’t people pick up after their dogs?
Social Dog Fayetteville, NC
They take breaks from the action. Dogs who are playing will stop the play, sometimes for just a second or two, but there is a clear “break” in the action.
Dear Social Dog, Spotting the difference between playing and fighting is easy, you just have to know what signs to look for. Dogs have this wonderful
They take the “play stance.” You might see one or both dogs with their front legs almost on the ground and their hind quarters in the air with their tail wagging.
Dear Confused, Now that’s a good question. Laziness? Lack of education? A combination of the two? Or maybe they are just inconsiderate people. You know, the same type of people who throw cigarette butts out of car windows? My advice is to just feel sorry for those people. Doggy karma is a, um, female dog and I’m sure there’s a big pile of poo just waiting for them to step in one day!
Dear August, I love to invite other pet parents to our home, as well as their dogs. However, recently, we had a yard full of guests and a couple of the dogs started to get rough. How can you tell the difference between rough play and a potential fight?
Confused Burgaw, NC
Disclaimer: Ask August is provided for entertainment purposes only. For health or behavioral problems with your pet, you should consult with your vet or a behavioral specialist.
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May | June 2010
by Jim Clark
Jim doesn’t own a dog, but he has plenty to say about them! I was tending bar the other night when the bar banter evolved from the usual weather and sports talk to “how cool life would be if you were a dog.” Unlike most of the conversations at the bar, this one had merit. I mean, think about it, the social norms we have developed may have actually hampered our happiness and enjoyment of life. Sometimes, when you go to a bar, you go to be left alone. How is someone hoping for some social interaction to know you simply want to be left alone? If we were dogs, a simple growl toward the other person would suffice. The approaching person would know that any interaction beyond that point was not only unwelcome, but could result in a nasty exchange. However, let’s say both parties are of the social interaction mindset. When one dog approaches the other, there are tail wags and a playful air. There is a general playfulness that exudes fun. One of the other topics that came up was the, how can I say this, “use of the facilities.” Some bars have not received the proper attention from the customers and staff to maintain a level of comfort. For some reason too many humans think a public restroom is a place to release the inner Neanderthal. It is, at the same time, shameful and fascinating. Fascinating in the way that these people are usually trying to sell themselves to others in the hopes of a relationship of some kind, yet have the social graces of a monkey with a hammer. If we were dogs, it is simply understood that when you have to go, you have to go and just about any tree or patch of grass will do. And most dogs have the innate sense that when you have to go, you find a spot away from where others are. While many Western Europeans have this mindset all ready, it is still taboo in the United States to let nature takes its course within eyesight of a member of the opposite sex. Of course, with the discussion taking place in a bar, the conversation dipped into the general area of the “boot scoot boogie” dogs can do. How many times have you been to a restroom in a public place and found that, after you have conducted your business, there is no paperwork to finish the deal? As a human, this is a very uncomfortable situation. It’s almost as bad as leaving a trail of paperwork when you are done. As a dog, the solution is simple and natural. In a maneuver that I believe inspired the entire low-rider car sensation, the back end gets lowered to the ground and you use front-wheel drive to take care of business. How many times have you seen a dog ignored by other dogs after he had to execute the “boot scoot”? It doesn’t happen. The other dogs either understand that it was a necessary technique or simply do not care. Life is so less complicated in the doggy world. The conversation at the bar probably would have continued but at that time a gorgeous blonde walked up to the bar. Maybe I was caught up in the conversation, I don’t know, but I walked around the bar and gave her the ol’ canine sniff. Needless to say, she didn’t quite see the appropriateness of my actions and called the cops. After an hour in “the pound” I knew that if we, as a society, are ever going to adopt canine ways, it is going to be a gradual process. But I look forward to the day when we are a bit more like dogs. Jim Clark is writer and former North Carolinian who currently resides in Florida with his two boys and two cats.
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The fight over breed specific legislation (BSL) is going on in many cities across the United States. In the city of Denver, Colorado, it’s illegal to own a pit bull and hundreds of dogs have been put to death simply because they were born the wrong breed. Let’s set aside the fact that many animal lovers think BSL is wrong and unfair, but how can it even be enforced if even experts can’t identify the breed of dog in question? An experiment conducted by Victoria L. Voith, a professor of animal behavior in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Western University in California showed shelter directors, dog trainers and others can’t correctly identify a pit bull. About two dozen people (including those in charge of enforcing BSL) were shown 20 dogs on videotape and asked to identify each one. While non-experts may have only gotten one right out of 20, the shelter directors didn’t score much better. Voith says shelter workers are generally wrong 75 percent of the time when guessing dog breeds. The only 100 percent accurate way of knowing a dog’s breed is through DNA testing, which most shelters don’t do. Dogs are being forced out of their homes, banned from cities and put to death based on “guesses.” Pit bulls aren’t the only dogs being discriminated against, there’s a long list of breeds some communities are deeming “dangerous.” The statistics you won’t see publicized are that approximately 25 percent of dogs involved in fatal attacks were kept chained or confined with little or no social interaction. Some dogs are the victims of cruel owners and most are males that have not been neutered. When you look at all the statistics, you see it’s much more than simply a problem with a certain breed. Unfortunately, the knee-jerk reaction when a dog attack occurs in most communities is to focus on the breed, not any of the circumstances surrounding the dog. All dogs bite. But there are responsible dog owners out there who have pit bulls that have never attacked anyone. Maybe communities should focus on enforcing existing animal control laws, or enacting spay/neuter laws. Focus on enforcing animal cruelty laws. Those would go a long way toward decreasing the number of dog attacks and would do more than any law simply banning breeds. Can you identify a pit bull?
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Macy
Unleashed by Suzanne Jalot
Ollie and August aren’t the only canines in the magazine business. We were happy to discover Macy, who is happily employed at Cape Fear’s Going Green. I hear you came from the tough streets of Burgaw. How did you end up in Wilmington? Well, living on the streets is tougher than I thought. I got really sick, and Adopt an Angel tried to find me a safe home. Mom saw my picture in the Beach Weekly News--and invited me to come live with her. How did you get your job at Cape Fear’s Going Green? Mom tries to write about the environment from all angles, so I thought--why not a dog’s-eye view? What’s a typical day at the office like? After breakfast I keep Mom company while she works on the computer. I like it best when she works in the living room, where we share the loveseat. I make sure Mom remembers to get up every now and then to stretch and play, because she forgets how important this is. We walk down to Burnt Mill Creek and enjoy the wind in our hair. She looks for birds and turtles and I smell things and make sure the squirrels remember they belong in the trees.
How can dogs (and dog owners) reduce their carbon paw (foot) print? It’s embarrassing to even have to mention this, but it’s important to know that dog poop shouldn’t be left on the ground where it can run into the creeks. It has lots of bacteria that make the water dangerous for all of us: dogs, humans, every kind of animal. Mom doesn’t care if I get muddy, but if I go in dirty bacteria-filled water, she washes me off right away so I don’t get sick. I hate to think about the fish having to live in dirty water—they must be sick all the time! So try to remind your human to carry a bag and pick up poop and put it in the trash can. We signed up for the City of Wilmington’s new Canines for Clean Water program; Mom pledged to pick up my waste, and they gave me a pretty blue bandana. You can learn how to get your own bandana on the City’s Stormwater Services web page. It’s also good to encourage your human to walk, trot or run instead of driving whenever possible. They tend to forget this, and we want to keep them as healthy as possible. What does it mean to you to be eco-friendly? In addition to the poop issue, we like to buy locally. At our local pet care stores the staff rub my fur and even remember what food I like--now that’s service! Organic food is better for me and the environment so we try to stick with that. When I’m sick Mom cooks me chicken and rice; otherwise Grandma buys me organic food from Aunt Kerry’s Pet Stop OR our favorite local pet store. I love going to the farmers markets, where we find locally-made treats or flea soap. We don’t buy things with too much packaging, and Mom puts my empty dog food cans in a red bin for the recycling truck to take away. Instead of plastic or rubber toys, I’m really just as happy chewing on a good stick. Best tasting of all are the cypress leaves we find on the ground in the autumn—I love to chew on these. Mom calls me her solar heatable dog: my fur is black on top so I just lie in the sun when I want to stay warm. In the summer, instead of air conditioning I like to use geothermal cooling--I just dig a little depression under a shady tree and put my belly flat on the cool earth. Is there anything else our readers should know about you? I love to go places with Mom. Greeting new people is fun, and there are so many great smells! At the Cape Fear River Watch seminars they even feed me little bits of pancake--not too much, though, as I try to watch my figure. Riding in the electric canoe in Greenfield Lake is great fun, and I hope to do more human-powered boating this summer. I’m particularly intrigued by parrots. And I want to thank the banks for keeping treats at the drive-up windows.
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Great
Doggy Getaways by McKenzie Wise
As the weather warms up, the travel bug begins to bite. Don’t leave your dog behind. Pack up the car and explore the east coast with your furry travel companion.
Charleston
Where to stay
Best Western Charleston - Downtown For $25/night, you can bring up to two dogs of any size. Your pooch will receive a treat at check-in, and there are doggy clean-up bags and a pet area on the hotel grounds. It is also located across the street from Brittle Bank Park, so you and your dog have the perfect place to walk in the mornings. www.bestwesternsouthcarolina.com
Where to play
Magnolia Plantation and Its Gardens As the oldest public gardens in the country, this plantation dates back to 1676. Dogs are allowed to accompany you throughout the gardens on a leash. Dogs are not allowed in the buildings, but you can have an excellent time here without heading indoors. www.magnoliaplantation.com
Charleston Water Taxi Great for sightseeing and for travel, this is a nice way to get around the Charleston area. Not only will you get some of the best views of the city, but you’ll also have a chance to see dolphins. How many dogs can say they’ve done that? www.charlestonwatertaxi.com Carolina Polo and Carriage Company This tour is full of stories about the rich history of Charleston. Your dog can join you as you learn about Charleston’s past in comfort. Small dogs ride for free, while dogs that will take up a seat ride for the cost of a child’s ticket. www.cpcc.com Old Charleston Ghost Tour This tour will take you and your dog through the most haunted locations in Charleston. You will hear original tales, see spooky spots, and have a good time. You may even hear the tale of a ghost dog. www.tourcharleston.com Kayak Rentals There’s nothing like a peaceful afternoon of kayaking with your best friend. Luckily, many places in Charleston will let you do just that.
Where to eat
Poogan’s Porch Not only is this restaurant dog friendly, but it’s named after a dog. Poogan was a neighborhood dog who used to wander from porch to porch begging for scraps. He became guardian of the restaurant and greeted the first customers. Dogs are welcome to join you here on the patio. www.poogansporch.com
Key West
Where to stay
Banana Bay Resort and Marina With no pet fee, and a flexible pet policy, this is a great place to stay with your dog. While the policy says two small to medium sized dogs are allowed to stay with you, you are welcome to call the hotel and Courtesy the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. www.explorecharleston.com, 800-868-8118
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request that a large, well mannered dog be able to stay. The staff love dogs and from time to time, a Pomeranian can be found as part of the desk staff. There are doggy clean-up bags on the grounds, no children under 16, and dog friendly dining close by.
Kayak and Boat Charters The water is obviously one of the main draws to the Key West area. Luckily you and your dog can enjoy it together. There are many boat charters that will let you bring your dog along, and many kayak rentals that will do the same.
www.bananabay.com
Where to PLay
Key West Aquarium If you’d like to enjoy a unique experience with your dog, this is the place to go. Dogs are curious, and therefore are bound to enjoy themselves here. Don’t be too surprised if you see nose prints on the tanks, dogs seem to be very interested in fish bigger than their heads. They probably just have high hopes for dinner. www.keywestaquarium.com Key West Tropical Forest and Garden This is the easiest way to explore a tropical forest, and with your dog in tow, it will be the most fun as well. There are 4 self guided walking tours and plenty of beautiful plants to keep you and your dog interested. www.keywestbotanicalgarden.org
Stephen Huneck Gallery Here you will find art about and featuring dogs. So it’s no surprise that well behaved dogs are allowed to accompany you in the gallery. 305-295-7616
Where to EAT
Schooner Wharf Bar Not only can you bring your pup inside, but they are even welcome on the barstools. The staff love dogs and seeing them here is not a rare occurrence. www.schoonerwharf.com
Philadelphia
Where to stay
Loews Philadelphia Hotel For $25/stay, you and up to two dogs can enjoy yourselves here. They will gladly provide you with a list of area pet services and a list of dog walking routes. They will also provide you with pet placemats, bowls, and a pet room service menu. They also have pet beds, leashes, collars, bones, and pooper scoopers available. www.loweshotels.com/philadelphia
Where to PLay
Rittenhouse Square This is the place to play in Philly. The restaurants bordering the area are very dog friendly and the park is the most popular place for dogs to hang out in the city. French Creek State Park With 2 lakes and nearly 40 miles of hiking trails, you won’t even realize that you’re near the big city. You and your dog can explore the lovely park together and even camp here. While enjoying yourselves, you are sure to meet plenty of critters along the way. Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site Located adjacent to French Creek State Park, this former iron plantation features a restored blast furnace and several old houses. It is preferred that dogs stay outdoors, but there’s enough to see here that I’m sure they won’t mind. www.nps.gov/hofu Courtesy Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau
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Haverford College campus You and your dog are more than welcome to enjoy an afternoon strolling around this lovely campus. It’s a great place for a walk and students usually love to see dogs around campus. Smedley Park This park features a 2.2 mile walking trail that will distract you from the hustle and bustle of the city. The park is also a great place to hang out with people, so you and your dog can be social and enjoy a picnic or play with friends. Valley Forge National Historic Park Catch up on your history and enjoy a day outdoors at the same time. With 26 miles of trails, there is plenty to see, and learn. Dogs are asked not to enter buildings, but since there are self guided tours, you won’t have to leave your pup outside alone. www.nps.gov/vafo Fort Washington State Park Here you and your dog can hike, camp, fish, and bird watch, which I’m sure is exactly what every dog wants to do on vacation. www.stateparks.com/fortwashington
Where to EAT
Tavern 17 Not only can you bring your dog with you, but he can eat with you too! Tavern 17 has food for both you and your dog. The dog dishes are people friendly in case you decide that you want to share, but the people menu looks tasty enough that you’ll probably want to order from it for yourself. www.tavern17restaurant.com
ONLINE EXTRA:
For more dog-friendly lodging, activities and dining in these cities visit www.doglivingmagazine.com
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Poop Bags It may not be your favorite task, but you can at least make it an environmentally friendly one! Poop Bags are biodegradable and made with renewable resources like corn. They’re also thicker than most dog poop bags. $19.99 (100 bags), www.poopbags.com
Skeledog You won’t find designs like these anywhere else. These hip tees will look great on any dog lover! $25, www.skeledog.com
Dog In Yard Did you know dog bites represent one-third of all liability claims on homeowners insurance?! These are a stylish alternative to the typical, generic, plastic signs.
Bling Bone The sterling silver tag comes in several colors and makes our hearts go “woof”! $495, www.blingbone.com
$16.95, www.doginyard.com
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May | June 2010
by Fred Marmorstein
Panting heavily, Athena’s belly extended to the ground in a sad lump:
a half beagle/half Pekinese statue of canine misery. Crumbs from a half eaten loaf of Italian bread littered the tablecloth.
She jumped on a chair. She jumped on the table. She ate half a loaf of bread and waited. There was nowhere to go. Or, should I say, no way to go. When I opened the front door and saw her distended black stomach, I did the same thing I had done several times in the past few years since I brought her home from the pound. I put her in the car and drove directly to the vet. Everyone knew Athena. “That’s Athena, right?” An elderly lady holding a caged Siamese asked me one day. “Yep, that’s her,” I acknowledged. By this time I felt perversely proud of my dog. She owned a plaque on the wall that read: ATHENA, RECORD HOLDER FOR MOST TIMES SEEN BY DR. REYNOLDS. I even provided the photograph: a 12 pound, female, dark brown and black mutt standing happily in the middle of a canoe, white water rafting down the Black River in North Carolina. In the car Athena always exhausted me. Once, stopped at a busy intersection, she soared out the window, bounded around other cars, and tried leaping inside. Hysterically, I ran into the intersection while the light turned green, chasing a small black dog while cars whizzed past us. Safely back in the car, I yelled at Athena. “Bad dog!” “Stupid dog.” I expected her to slink into the back seat and hide with shame. But not Athena. She placed her paws on the dash and barked. Happy, she did exactly what she wanted. On that loaf of bread eating day, Dr. Reynolds assured me everything would be fine. “Your dog always brings a smile to my face,” Dr. Reynolds said. “Well, I’m glad you’re happy,” I responded somewhat sarcastically. “I know you love your dog. I know,” he said soothingly.
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Love meant training in the neighborhood park with basic commands of “Sit” and “Stay.” I abandoned “Sit” pretty quickly and focused on “Stay.”
Maybe I lacked enough common sense to believe that Athena could actually resist an opportunity to explore an entire forest. I laughed aloud. “Bad Fred.”
Athena and I worked on that one command for a few weeks. She “stayed” about 30% of the time. The other 70% she ran after squirrels, other dogs, bicyclists, kids swinging at the playground, and anything else that she deemed worthy of sniffing, licking, or yapping at – which turned out to be everything.
I spent almost an hour calling her name, walking into the woods while keeping an eye on the trail. And then, suddenly, she appeared no more than 50 yards in front of me. “Athena!”
Although a couple of people at the park didn’t enjoy a small dog wiggling her behind in their faces, most people laughed or smiled. Athena rejected no one. She wanted to be the center of attention, the center of the universe. When kids approached, she fell onto her back like a dead possum and undulated like a drunken belly dancer. I called this the Boo Boo Dance. The first time Athena did the Boo Boo Dance I thought she was possessed by some doggie demon. Three months old at the time, I bent down and noticed a perfect hole the size of a pencil eraser in the middle of her chest. Later, Dr. Reynolds explained some kind of fly bit her, burrowed a hole into her flesh, and deposited its egg. Athena needed this “boo boo” removed.
She rushed toward me, barking with contentment. She was just as happy to see me as I was to see her. I wanted to hug her and pet her and… then I smelled her. “Oh my gosh! You crazy dog! What did you do?” Some dark mustard colored muck covered her entire back. Coated in some kind of forest animal sludge, she stood in the middle of the trail wagging her tail. A cottage cheese gone bad stench hovered around me. The Boo Boo Dance. She loved every minute of it. “What is wrong with you? Didn’t you hear me? You’re…” but I stopped myself. “Well,” I admitted, “I guess I’m crazy, too.”
A day after Athena’s training at the park ended, we ventured out for our first hike. I didn’t let her off the leash right away. We walked about half a mile through the woods. I wanted to keep her on the trail and enjoy the solitude.
She followed me back to the car. Fortunately, I had an extra bottle of water in the trunk. Grabbing her collar I rinsed her body, but it made absolutely no difference. She jumped in, curled herself upon the passenger seat, and fell asleep. I drove back home with every window open.
I knelt in front of her.
I pulled back the clasp on the leash.
The rest of the day consisted of wrestling with soap and sponge. Dog shampooed five times. Dog still stunk. Dog goes to vet. Another happy ending.
“Good dog. Stay,” I pronounced slowly.
Even Dr. Reynolds couldn’t smile.
Athena streaked down the trail like a cinder in a hurricane.
“And you already washed her 42 times?” he asked incredulously.
“Stay! Stay! Athena!”
“That’s somewhat of an exaggeration. More like five,” I confessed.
“All right. I want you to stay. Stay.”
She turned into the woods and vanished. I continued shouting. I imagined becoming lost in the middle of the woods, a rescue team finding me dead, and Athena sitting happily by my side.
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May | June 2010
“Athena, your master must really love you. I would’ve left you out there with the bears and coyotes.” “Any idea what she rubbed in?”
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“I really don’t think it matters at this point.” “While you’re here I might as well make sure she’s all in one piece.”
you noticed her drinking more, increased appetite, incontinence?” “She’s always eating something,” I replied.
“You know,” he began, “I’ve got a special spray that neutralizes odors that I think…” and he stopped. He touched a spot under Athena’s rib cage.
“Her weight’s increased since the last time I saw her.”
“What’s wrong?”
“An operation. Chemotherapy. But it’s not a cure. Just a chance to improve quality of life.” His voice choked the room with hopelessness.
“There’s a lump right here. Feel it?” Dr. Reynold’s guided my hand. “Yeah,” I said nervously. “We need to make sure of this. I want Athena to stay overnight. I’ll get a biopsy and do some tests. You can come by tomorrow afternoon to pick her up. Don’t worry. We’ll take good care of her.” The next day, Athena smelled more like a dog and less like the stuff that comes out of a dog when they brought her into the exam room. She barked and jumped into my lap. As I sat there, hugging her and gazing at the stitches in her upper chest, Dr. Reynolds opened the door. I stood up. He placed his hand on my shoulder and said, “You can sit.” My eyes filled with tears. “Athena has Cushing’s Disease. There’s a malignant tumor on her adrenal gland causing the body to produce too much of a hormone called cortisol. It happens to some dogs as they get older. Have
“What are we going to do?”
I couldn’t think. Athena raced from one corner of the room to another, ready to play and run and wag her rear end in someone’s face. She knew nothing of tumors and operations. She couldn’t wait to do everything and then do the same thing tomorrow. Before driving home, I rolled down all the windows in the car. I remembered the time Athena dug a hole under the fence in the backyard and disappeared. I called her name and searched my neighbor’s yard. I kept calling and found another hole. I climbed another fence and another and another. Six backyards later I found her resting under the shade of a tree hooked to a leash. A girl about 11 or 12 held on to the other end. “Sorry about my dog.”
“Fleas?” “Yeah. She keeps lying on her back and wiggling around. She’s weird. But very friendly,” she giggled. Everyone laughed as I repaired the holes and recounted the story of a dog travelling across yards and under fences. Everybody wanted to know why a dog would do something like that. I could only think of one answer: That’s Athena. After the diagnosis, Athena lived less than a year. I gave her pills but nothing else. I combed her and carried her, brought her to the park, walked her when she was able, and, one morning when she woke and couldn’t stand, positioned myself on the floor next to her, stroked her head, and talked of bread and fences. I’ve decided there really is no mystery to life, about why we’re here. Just eat half a loaf of bread. Or jump into the middle of an intersection and bark. Or become the center of the universe. But, if you really want to know what life is all about, fall on your back and wiggle. Wiggle like you’ve never wiggled before. Fred Marmorstein taught secondary school Language Arts for seventeen years before devoting himself full-time to writing. He holds degrees from SUNY-Binghamton and New York University and has published fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. He currently lives in northern Virginia.
“It’s O.K. But I think your dog has bad fleas.”
Porters Neck Veterinary Hospital Drs. Ron & Sharon Harris Dr. Rebecca Simmons Dr. Julie Fairbank Dr. Stan Griffith
We’ll Treat Your Pet Like One Of Our Own
686-6297 8129 Market St. th 1/10 Mile South of Porters Neck Shopping Center Hidden behind Crystal Blue Car Wash & True 2 Form
Mon.-Fri. 8am-6pm Sat. 8am-12noon
Family Owned & Operated www.portersneckvets.com
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May | June 2010
Tail Waggers Wild Wild Things Artist and animal lover Dottie Dracos loves taking photos of all the wonderful dogs she sees when she is out with her own pups or at art shows. Original acrylic paintings from these photos, as well as her commissioned paintings, are then turned into contemporary pendants that are wearable pieces of art. Retail price: $15 To order or for more info: www.wildwildthings.com or www.etsy.com/wildwildthings
PARTS of a LARGER WORLD Using your photo and the story of what makes your dog unique, artist Michael DePierro creates these whimsical wood relief sculptures and hand paints them. These wall hung sculptures are typically 10 inches high by 3 inches thick. Michael finds inspiration in the special relationship you have with your dog, and states, “it is your closeness to your pet that makes the sculpture fun and a memorable work of art.” Retail price: $120 To order or for more info: www.partsofalargerworld.com or 617-731-1719
by Elysa Cooper
Dog Art For some it is shoes and handbags…for me it is dog art. I can never have too much. Whether it is to hang on my walls, wear or use as home décor, I love dog themed art. It simply makes me happy. After all, dogs teach us to live in the moment, find joy in the little things and most importantly, love unconditionally. Although artists have different styles and use different mediums to create their art, the following artists all have one thing in common- their art is inspired by their love of dogs. Enjoy…
Local Spotlight: Snyderneff Dog Art After the death of her beloved dog, Wilmington artist Cheryl Snyderneff, a photographer by trade, started “fixing” and “coloring” old photos. Her charming creations are not photographs made with filters or digitally enhanced to look like art. Her art is all original and hand drawn. These images can be printed in any manner, including on gallery wrapped canvas. Retail price range: Custom full color illustrations on canvas, $78-$128 Prints of original art, $8 and up To order or for more info: www.snyderneff.smugmug.com or 919-274-3311
Rosalie Sherman Designs If you like to express yourself through your home décor or would like to be “cheered up by your cabinets,” then artist Rosalie Sherman’s “sculptural hardware for creative spaces” is a must have for any dog lover’s home. Her fun & functional designs now include cabinet knobs and even a doorbell cover. All in non-leaded pewter or bronze, this cast of characters will be a definite conversation starter at your next dinner party.
Retail price range: $30-$55 To order or for more info: www.rosaliesherman.com or 610-687-1876
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Insured & Bonded American Red Cross Pet CPR & First Aid Certified • Pet
Feeding & Watering • • Dog Walking • • Pet Play/Cuddle Time • • Pet Transportation • • Field Trips • • Overnight Stays •
Doggone Inspired by K. Gwendolyn
Clair Hartmann didn’t set out to paint 100 dogs in 100 days,
in fact, she didn’t plan on painting dogs at all. At the end of 2008, inspired by painter Duane Keiser who had started a daily painting movement, Hartmann decided to her own daily painting project. After a few months of doing a painting a day, she had built up quite a collection so she decided to try and sell the paintings at the downtown farmers market. Call it divine, er, doggy intervention, but each weekend at the farmers market Hartmann couldn’t help but notice everyone was bringing their dogs. Hartmann recounts, “So I thought, why don’t I just paint the dogs!” And “The Downtown Dog Project – 100 dogs in 100 days” was born. “It became so much more than just painting a painting a day,” says Hartmann. “The connection between these people and their dogs was so great and all the stories!” Hartmann says so many of the dogs were rescues and their stories would bring tears to her eyes. “These dogs deserved to be immortalized,” she says. “They brought so much love to these peoples’ lives.” Hartmann says as the project wore on, she noticed a change not only in her painting skills, but in her passion. “I really enjoyed painting these dogs,” she says. “I noticed I was smiling as I painted and really loving what I was doing.” After 100 days Hartmann now had 100 paintings of these dogs and so much momentum going she decided to go even farther by publishing a book with the artwork she had completed. The book will be available this summer. Hartmann’s latest pet project, Random Facebook Pet Paintings, can be seen on our cover. She finds random pictures of pets from her friends’ Facebook pages and turns them into works of art.
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May | June 2010
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May | June 2010
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Coming in July: • Destination: Charlotte • Why Won’t my Dog Come to Me? • Bad to the Bone: An excerpt from a doggy memoir
When you have guests over who either don’t like or are uncomfortable around dogs, should you confine them to another area? Or, since it’s your dog’s house too, should your guests just have to live with it when they visit? 12% 7% 80%
Yes, proper etiquette says it is your job as a host to make your guests comfortable. Absolutely not, it’s my dog’s home too and guests will just have to deal with it or leave. It depends, if the dogs are not behaving, they should be forbidden from the guest area, but if they are well mannered, they should be free to roam the house.
This month’s question: Which is easier: Raising a dog? Or raising a human child? Editor’s Note: This may sound like a silly question but it comes after a very interesting conversation our editor had with a friend who claimed that raising children is much easier than having a dog. What do you think? Answer online at www.doglivingmagazine.com or send your answer to editor@doglivingmagazine.com and put “Doghouse Poll” in the subject line.
DOGnews Do it Downtown…With Your Dog! Dog Living Magazine and Wilmington Animal Healthcare are proud to be bringing you Dog Days Downtown, a benefit for 2 Feet for Paws. You and your dog are cordially invited to join in a scavenger hunt around the downtown area, meet with representatives of local rescues and service organizations and enjoy live music at Riverfront Park. It all happens Saturday, May 29 from 1pm-5pm. Registration is $5 in advance, $10 day of the event. Register online at www.dogdaysdowntown.com. Stamps to the Rescue Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet is the Postal Service’s 2010 social awareness stamp. Postmaster General John E. Potter says he hopes the campaign will increase public awareness about sheltered pets and encourage pet adoption. The stamps feature photographs of five cats and five dogs who were adopted from a shelter in New Milford, Connecticut. The stamps were introduced earlier this year on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and she is the public face of the promotional campaign. The post office has also set up a website for the campaign, www.stampstotherescue.com.
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May | June 2010
Dog Living Magazine and Hawley’s Camping Center Donate Pet Oxygen Masks Firefighters in the Hope Mills area now have the equipment needed to help save pets affected by fire. Dog Living Magazine partnered with Hawley’s Camping Center at the Eastern NC RV Sales Event held in Fayetteville and collected donations for pet oxygen masks. Hawley’s Camping Center donated the first set of masks and Dog Living Magazine collected enough money to buy a second set. The sets were given to the Cotton Fire Department and the Hope Mills Fire Department. Treat Your Pup to a Luna Pop Humans will enjoy flavors such as cookies-n-cream, mango-chili and orange-lemonade this summer while their dogs dine on chicken and beef Luna Pops. The gourmet frozen ice pops are available at Luna Pops stores in Surf City and Wilmington and we’re told your dog is welcome to join you in the store to pick out his favorite flavor, as long as you enjoy those frozen treats in an outdoor eating area. To review the entire menu, visit www.lunapops.com. Do you have the scoop on something we should know about? Call us at 910-452-3775 or email editor@doglivingmagazine.com.