fun things to bark about

Microbubble Baths

Nancy Massett

Paddle Plunge

Magpie Talk

Doggie Paddle Plunge Don’t miss the NHSPCA’s 10th Annual Doggie Paddle Plunge on Saturday, March 7th, at Great Island Common in New Castle from 11:00 to 2:00. Brave animal lovers will dive into the icy Atlantic to raise money for the NHSPCA. Participants can register individually or as a group, raising donations from family and friends. Prefer warmth to the chill of wintry waters? Register as a Virtual Plunger and help animals from the cozy comfort of home. Whether you’re working on your bitter breaststroke or frozen freestyle, the Plunge is a day of fun with prizes, warm beverages, hot lunch and friends cheering you on! You may register online at NHSPC.org. The NHSPCA asks that you please leave your pets at home due to the cold temperatures. (NHSPCA.org)

Microbubble Dog Baths Does your dog have skin allergies? Been too close to a skunk? Perhaps always a bit stinky? TheraClean® Microbubble Technology, a new bathing system for pets, offers a great solution as it takes clean to a deeper level than ever before. In-DogNeat-O Grooming Studio in Hampton is the only grooming facility in New England that offers this amazing technology. The Thera-Clean® System – using simple tap water — uniformly generates Microbubbles that range from 3 to 20 micrometers. This allows the Microbubbles to penetrate hair follicles and pores – but not pass through the epidermis –for a deep clean. TheraClean’s water flow is gentle. No soap, shampoo, chemicals or abrasives are needed. Pets simply sit in a tub with a soft stream of Microbubbleinfused water and the Microbubbles do all the work. To book an appointment, contact Nancy Massett, professional groomer and owner of InDog-Neat-O via phone or online. (603- 601-2728 / InDogNeatoNH.com) (Thera-Clean.com)

Talking Like a Magpie We’ve all heard the saying, “Talking like a Magpie.” But what does it really mean? Magpies are distinctive looking birds, with glossy black and

brilliant white markings. They usually repeat and mimic the noises they hear. Recently a photographer in Australia captured a Magpie chatting on a fence. The bird was making sounds like a fire engine. Truly. The Magpie mimicked fire engines as Australia burned. There are reports that over a billion animals have been killed from these horrific fires. Pray for Australia and perhaps Google “how to help the animals.” They need help. (youtube.com/watch?v=yzWZvlax2DM)

Free Balls Good news! If you happen to have a tennis-ballobsessed dog…that often brings the ball back, though just as often loses it…you can always get free tennis balls from the Newburyport Tennis Club. Why spend hard cold cash for a can of 3, when you can get a bag full of balls for free? Simply stop by the tennis club located at 178 Low Street, and their staff will give you as many as you want. If one ball is good, two are better… and a bag full will keep your pup’s tail wagging for quite a while! (NewburyportTennisClub.com)

Free Tennis Balls

Music for Pets Wally Baltich of Leary’s Fine Wines in NPBT

Lazy Bird Cafe

Lauren Johnson & Birdie

Museum of Science Exhibit

Paw-fect Pet Music Playlists Did you know that 69% of pet owners sing to their pets? 57% dance with their pets, and almost 20% of people name their pet after a music group or artist. With that in mind, Spotify, a music streaming service, recently launched a playlist for pets. Yep, now we have DogTV for dogs & music playlists for animals! Technology certainly isn’t ignoring our love-bugs. The “Pet Playlist” website presents users with five options — cats, dogs, iguanas, birds or hamsters — and asks for a rough overview of the animal companion’s personality traits. Check it out on their website. (pets.byspotify.com)

Lazy Bird Café I recently stopped by the Lazy Bird Café on Washington Road in Rye to drop off some magazines. I was met with, “We all LOVE this magazine!” It turned out I was chatting with the adorable owner, Lauren Johnson; proud Mom of Birdie, her Cock-A-Poo for whom the café is named after. As we talked about our shared love of dogs, Lauren showed me their new packaged coffee lines…Breakfast Blend, Home Blend & Decaf Blend. I’m sure the coffee blends are really good, but the cute dog photo on the packaging was enough to make me want to buy them! This café is certainly worth a visit. It offers fresh homemade pastries, breads, breakfast-all-day & lunch…all in a fresh, cozy atmosphere…perfect to SIT, SIP & STAY for a while. (LazyBirdCafe.com)

Valentine’s Day Expenditures One in five people buy Valentine's Day gifts for their pets, and almost half admit they cuddle with their dog more than their partner, according to a study by Rover.com. People were expected to spend $886 million on their furry Valentines last year, according to the National

Retail Federation. Who knows what the actual numbers were last year or this? All we can say is…we LOVE our animals and they really are our best friends.

Dogs! A Science Tail Exhibition The Museum of Science in Boston has a new temporary exhibition highlighting the extraordinary way that dogs see, hear and smell the world. In Dogs! A Science Tail, one can explore the world from a dog’s perspective through a variety of exhibits. Experiences range from listening to hidden sounds that dogs can hear but humans can’t, walking a dog through an interactive neighborhood to understand how pets strengthen the community and testing your pop-culture knowledge during a game of “Jeopawdy! Visitors are also invited to share personal photos and stories of their dogs on a photo wall. The exhibit runs through May 25th. Tickets may be purchased online. (mos.org)