Calendar

To submit or get more information on the events below, go online to downeastdognews.com These events are currently scheduled for April as of our production date however please check with the event organizers to ensure they are still taking place on these dates.

NAIL CLIPPING CLINIC Saturday, April 2

Waterville, 10AM – 12PM Waterville Loyal Biscuit Co., 109 Main Street. For $10 per pet, you can have your pet's nails trimmed and all proceeds will be donated to Charley's Strays, Inc! No appointment necessary. In order to ensure a safe environment for all of our customers, please note: Nail trims will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Nail clipping customers will be asked to wait outside the back entrance of the store (off of Temple Street) for their turn. An employee will call you in! loyalbiscuit.com

NAIL TRIMMING CLINIC Saturday, April 2

Rockland, 12PM – 3PM Is your pet in need of a pedicure? Bring them down to Pet Quarters located at 235 Camden St, Rockland and Shannon from Catahoula Rescue of New England will be on hand to make your fur kids look their very best! We trim not only dogs, but cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, you name it! Nail Trimmings and Ear Cleanings are $10.00 each or a combo price of $12.00 for both. All funds raised go directly to the rescue.

TRACKING SEASON KICK OFF Saturday, April 16

Somerville, 9AM – 3PM North Star Dog Training School, 252 Jones Rd. with AKC Tracking Judge Carolyn Fuhrer. Dust off your harness and untangle your line! Get ready for a new tracking season with your dog. For both beginners and more experienced trackers, the day will be structured to meet the needs of the participants. $125 All proceeds benefit On Track Agility Club of Maine (OTAC). Call Kathy at (207)691-2332 FMI and to register.

NAIL CLIPPING CLINIC Saturday, April 16

Brewer, 10AM – 12PM Brewer Loyal Biscuit Co., 421 Wilson Street. For $10 per pet, you can have your pet's nails trimmed and all proceeds will be donated to Old Dogs New Digs! No appointment necessary. In order to ensure a safe environment for all of our customers, please note: Nail trims will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Nail clipping customers will be asked to wait outside the front entrance of the store for their turn. An employee will call you in! loyalbiscuit.com

TOENAIL TUESDAY Tuesday, April 19

Rockland, 11AM – 1PM Is your pet in need of a pedicure? Bring them down to Pet Quarters located at 235 Camden St, Rockland and Shannon from Catahoula Rescue of New England will be on hand to make your fur kids look their very best! And remember we trim not only dogs, but cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, you name it! Nail Trimmings and Ear Cleanings are available for $10.00 each or combo price of $12.00 for both. All funds raised go directly to rescue.

NAIL TRIMMING CLINIC Sunday, April 24

Rockland, 12PM – 2PM Is your pet in need of a pedicure? Bring them down to Pet Quarters located at 235 Camden St, Rockland and Shannon from Catahoula Rescue of New England will be on hand to make your fur kids look their very best! We trim not only dogs, but cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, you name it! Nail Trimmings and Ear Cleanings are $10.00 each or a combo price of $12.00 for both. All funds raised go directly to the rescue.

AKC VARIABLE SURFACE TRACKING TEST Sunday, April 24

Augusta, 9AM Interested in AKC Tracking? Come and watch the highest level of AKC tracking - a Variable Surface Tracking test at Viles Arboretum, 153 Hospital Street. AKC tracking judges will be judging dog and handler teams as they try for the difficult and challenging VST title. Want to know more? Call Kathy at (207)691-2332 or e-mail kduhnoski@myfairpoint.net.

IN THE KITCHEN WITH KEVIN Sunday, April 24

Online, 7PM The next Loyal Biscuit Facebook segment, “In the Kitchen with Kevin” will air on Sunday April 24th at 7pm. Heidi and Kevin (pug) will be creating their next yummy treat. Visit the website for upcoming dates/recipes as well as past recipes. https://www. loyalbiscuit.com/in-the-kitchen-withkevin

KID'S DAY Saturday, May 7

Thomaston, 12PM – 3PM Join staff and volunteers as we celebrate Be Kind to Animals Week at Pope Memorial Humane Society, 25 Buttermilk Lane, Thomaston. Rain or shine. You'll get to meet some furry or feathered friends, make an animal-themed craft, try out the "Be A Vet" station, make toys for the shelter animals. You can also learn how to "read" your dog or cat, play the Cats vs. Dogs beanbag toss game (who will win?), or make a special gift for Mom for Mother’s Day. We'll have snacks and, weather permitting, make giant bubbles and have fun with some sidewalk chalk. There's plenty of fun to be had. No entry fees - just a celebration of kids, pets, and kindness!

BASIC from page 6

dog/human, inviting your dog to be on the opposite side of you relative to them, or taking advantage of a parked car or other nearby object.

Assume the person or dog approaching does not want to

interact with your dog. Be respectful and stay out of their bubble unless you are invited. The distance between you should be sufficient for each dog and human to be able to pass by calmly. Maybe your dog is a cool cucumber, but the other dog is starting to stiffen - be considerate and give that dog more space, even if the owner doesn’t seem to notice that his dog is in need of it.

Proper Leash Handling is Key A Leash is a Safety Line

If nobody is nearby, of course, we want our dogs to have the freedom to explore their environment as appropriate. If somebody is potentially going to get close to your bubble, gather your leash so that your dog doesn’t have the option to invade the other’s space. Engage your dog. Build skills through training.

Flexis/Retractables/Dragging or No Leashes

The typical flexi/retractable leash is 15-20’ long. A dog who is on a flexi can claim a bubble of over 40’ in diameter, and it’s wholly unpredictable. It’s impossible to know if the leash is locked or will stay locked. Retractables can get wrapped around objects and body parts. Please don’t use a retractable in public; it is too unpredictable. If you see someone using a retractable, give him a very wide berth.

What if:

“My dog is so obedient, he doesn’t need a leash, even in the city.” I’ve heard this statement too many times to count, and I cringe every time. In some circles, this one behavior is heralded as the ultimate proof of a perfectly trained dog, and therefore the loftiest goal one can achieve as a dog owner. It effects a “WOW factor” when witnessed.

This awe is very misplaced. In my opinion, it’s not only disrespectful to the public to fail to leash your dog on a public street, as required: it is dangerous. Stay way the heck away from unleashed dogs in public. There is no predictability, no clear indication of how big their bubble is, no guessing what the dog may decide to do. The dog owner is claiming infinite space through the absence of a safety line. The same goes for owners who let their dogs drag their leashes. The only thing that is being demonstrated here is an over-inflated ego and lack of consideration for others, not a welltrained dog.

Please keep your dog leashed when

required. Privileges to access public spaces with our dogs are gradually eroding in part because we do not follow leash laws and rules. In the long-term, it backfires on us.

PART II next: "Off-Leash Spaces"