fun things to bark about

Dawg-Busters

Ginger… Soggy-Doggy Working! Photo by Amanda Jones

fun th ings to bark ABOUT

Ginger… Soggy-Doggy Playing! Custom Cookie Cutters

Dawg-Busters If you’re looking for a new toy perfect for summer fun, check out the Dawg-Buster and DawgBuster XL available locally at Just Dogs in historic downtown Newburyport. These tough, indestructible toys float, crazy-bounce and take serious abuse during heavy play, but are gentle on teeth and gums, so the retrieving can go on and on. They are made in the USA by RuffDawg and come with a lifetime guarantee. So, if you have a die-hard retriever, the Dawg-Buster toys will be sure to make their tails wag. (Just Dogs, 37 Pleasant Street, Newburyport (978) 465-8400)

Ginger the Model A big shout-out to Ginger, beloved gal of Stonewall Kitchen founders Jim Stott and Jonathan King, for her modeling debut in the Spring 2020 Annie Selke catalog. Annie Selke is a talented designer of luxurious home goods products. She lives in The Berkshires and is well known for her company Dash & Albert (rugs, furniture and home decor) and Pine Cone Hill (beautiful bedding, pillows and more) which are now under the umbrella of AnnieSelke.com. The company is currently expanding its footprint in the pet category, and Ginger was called upon to model for their new line of “Ruff & Fluff” shampoos, salon and spaw products. You look beautiful Ginger…even as a soggy-doggy! (www.AnnieSelke.com)

Custom Cookie Cutters This is a fun gift for an animal-loving friend or simply for yourself! Customize your cookies and your dog’s cookies with their name on a fun shape. Available on Etsy, you can select from a variety of shapes…dog bones, paw prints, hearts and more. This is a unique promotional idea, as well. Our Sales & Marketing Director, BlakeLee Greene, recently joined William Raveis Real Estate in Newburyport as a licensed agent. She is making custom dog biscuits to give to potential clients as part of her “Let’s Get You Home” promotional package (which of course will include

12 seacoastbarkmagazine.com

a copy of Seacoast Bark)…one design with her name on it and another with her phone number. What a great idea! (www.Etsy.com/shop/milletmeal) (www.raveis.com/agent/BlakeLeeGreene/14739)

Good News Northeast Credit Union is busy spreading good news these days via their “Love Your Community” project…a kindness movement dedicated to encouraging people to practice kindness in their everyday lives. In addition to ideas to spread kindness, their website also features stories highlighting good things that local people are doing with a variety of uplifting stories. Teenager Elyana Smith has fostered over 70 dogs in the past three years for the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland. Another teenager, Quetzal Frey, helps care for dogs as a volunteer at Mary’s Dogs, a non-profit rescue organization based in Northwood, NH. Visit the “Love Your Community” website to read some upbeat stories…or to submit your own. (TheLYC.com).

Paw Print by Alfred

Paw Print by Nick

Nick & Alfred Bournival Wilbur the Lucky Pig Photo by Sarah Lang

Popular Pooches

POP…Pet Owner’s Purses

Custom Paw Print Art Fine art has gone to the dogs! Local pet sitter/ artist Katie Keefe turns your pups’ paw prints into original works of art! Inspired by her love of nature and dogs, Katie customizes unique floral designs using your furry friend’s feet! The paint is pet safe and the memory will last forever. Lisa Bournival’s pups, Alfred and Nick, recently created wonderful paintings (with help from Katie) as gifts for their mom. The flowers are actually their paw prints. To commission a painting, contact Katie at (603) 498-7939 / katielyn1981@gmail.com.

POP…Pet Owner’s Purses Liza Fisher-Munroe, owner of The POP Company (Pet Owner’s Purses) based in Maine, has created a stunning line of quality purses and petcarriers for animal lovers. Her Pup-to-Go purses will not only carry your little pooch but also are designed to hold your personal and pup-stuff in an easy-to-find way. Think of it as the Baggallini® purse for dog people…a special place for poo bags and more…with 16 pockets to keep you organized. Liza recently introduced the Air-Pup for travelers…with breathable mesh inserts, a zipper mesh top, a side mesh and a sleeve that slides over your luggage handle. It's also perfect for the pampered pooch that wants to tag along on errands. You can find the bags at The Canine Cupboard located at 220 State Street in downtown Portsmouth. (the-pop-company.com)

Popular Pooches Every year the American Kennel Club releases a list of the most popular dog breeds based on registration data. The results for 2019 were recently revealed, and once again…Labs rule! In fact, Labrador Retrievers have topped the list for the past 29 years. The other top-10 breeds were German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, French Bulldogs, Bulldogs, Poodles, Beagles, Rottweilers, German Shorthaired Pointers and, for the first time, Pembroke Welsh Corgis (the Corgi’s with docked tails; the Cardigan Welsh Corgi’s do have tails!).

Wilbur the Lucky Pig Wilbur, a 550-pound pig that lives on a farm in Bedford, NH was always a bit spoiled as he was fed daily with scraps donated from the local elementary school. Pizza, grilled cheese, French toast and tacos were part of his daily diet. However, that stopped when the school closed because of the pandemic. His owner, Sarah Lang, then resorted to feeding him dry corn and other grains. This didn’t go over too well with Wilbur. After a few weeks he refused to eat pig food. So, Sarah put out a call for “soon to be expired” food donations on Wilbur’s Facebook page. She placed a bucket at the end of their driveway, and the results were overwhelming. She had to empty the bucket about four times daily…and Wilbur was happy again with endless veggies, leftovers and pizza, of course!