Carolina Mountain Dog

Puppy Bowl VI on Sunday!

Tired of all the Super Bowl hype? Then tune into Puppy Bowl VI instead. This annual "contest" pits rescue puppies against each other in a goofy Super Bowl-style "canine battle." For the first time this year,  the action on the "field" will be captured in panoramic view with aerial coverage provided by the Twizzler’s® blimp and its rogue hamster crew. In another fun first, the sidelines will also be hopping with the addition of spirited bunny rabbit cheerleaders. And wait 'til you see the Kitty Half-time Show.

It's all in good fun and it airs on Animal Planet at 3 PM on Super Bowl Sunday. For more information, visit http://animal.discovery.com/tv/puppy-bowl/puppy-bowl.html 

Valentine's Pet Events are Heartfelt

There are a number of Valentine's-related pet events occurring in the Carolina mountains in the next few weeks, along with events to honor National Spay/Neuter Day, which is Feb. 23. Several of them are listed below. We encourage you to participate and support your local animal welfare and rescue organizations. If you know of other events, please comment so we can share the information.

Asheville Humane Society "My Furry Valentine" Adoption Weekend, Feb. 12-14
During this special three-day event, Asheville Humane Society will waive the fees on cats (normally $85) and kittens (normally $100). All adopters will be automatically registered in a contest to win a year's supply of pet food. Puppies and dogs are also available for adoption at regular fees. The shelter at Lee's Creek Road in Asheville will be open on Sunday, Feb. 14 to celebrate Valentine's Day. Visit www.ashevillehumane.org for further details.

PetSmart Charities "Second Chance for Love" National Adoption Weekend, Feb. 12-14
This three-day event takes place in PetSmart stores with the support of local adoption groups. Adopt a new pet and receive a free bag of Hill's Science Diet pet food, along with coupons and samples. The Adoption Weekend is scheduled at the PetSmart located at 150 Bleachery Boulevard in Asheville, NC, telephone 828-298-5670. Contact your nearest PetSmart store to see if the event is being held in your area.

Brother Wolf Animal Rescue Puppy Gram, Feb. 12
For a donation of $45, Brother Wolf, an Asheville animal rescue organization, will deliver a "Puppy Gram" to your sweetheart, as long as the address is within fifteen miles of the city. The Puppy Gram will include a visit from one of the organization's volunteers who will bring along a puppy (just to say hi), personalized card, rose, balloon, and a sweet treat. Deadline for orders: February 11. Visit www.bwar.org for further details.

Humane Alliance Cat Neuter-a-thon, Feb. 19
Tell every cat owner you know who lives in Buncombe County to get their un-neutered male cat over to Humane Alliance Spay/Neuter Clinic, located on Heritage Drive off Leicester Highway in Asheville, on Friday, February 19. That's the day Humane Alliance will neuter the first 200 male cats who arrive, and the cats will also get rabies vaccines if needed, all for just $20 each. Call the clinic at 828-252-2079 for further details.

Animal Compassion Network Dine to be Kind, Feb. 23
When you dine at any Asheville-area participating restaurant on Tuesday, February 23, a portion of the proceed's from the day's dining will go to help ACN's spay/neuter assistance and foster programs. This is a great way to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner out and help animals at the same time. Visit www.animalcompassionnetwork.org for further details.

Jackson County Humane Society Spay-ghetti Dinner, Feb. 23
In honor of National Spay/Neuter Day, the Balsam Mountain Inn is holding a "Spay-ghetti Dinner" on Tuesday, February 23 from 5:30 - 8 PM. All of the proceeds from the dinner, plus half the proceeds from rooms at the Balsam Mountain Inn that day, will go to benefit "A-R-F," the Jackson County Humane Society. Visit www.a-r-f.org for further details.

Pet First Aid in Hendersonville on Jan. 23

The Hendersonville County Chapter of the Red Cross is offering a Pet First Aid class on Saturday, January 23 from 10 am - 2 pm. This Red Cross certified class covers a host of emergency situations for you to be prepared to help your pet. The four hour class covers symptoms and care, common ailments and emergencies, instructions for creating a pet first aid kit, and tips for maintaining your pet's health and well being. The class will cover both dogs and cats, and participants will receive either a dog or cat first aid book and DVD. Everyone who has taken the class raves about the content and what they learn.

 

The cost for the class is $30 per person. (No animals in the classroom please.) It is held at the Red Cross, Henderson County Chapter, 203 Second Ave. East in Hendersonville. Advance registration is required. Please call 828-693-5605 for additional information or to register. The organization's website is www.hcredcross.org.

 

The next class will be in April so don't miss this one!

Pet First Aid Class in Hendersonville, NC

The Hendersonville County Chapter of the Red Cross is offering a Pet First Aid class on Tuesday, December 29 from noon - 4 pm, and on Saturday, January 23 from 10 am - 2 pm. It covers information you need to prepare yourself before a pet emergency, includiing symptoms and care for common ailments and emergencies, instructions for creating a pet first aid kit, and tips on maintaining your pet's health and well-being. The class will cover both dogs and cats, and participants will receive either a dog or cat first aid book and DVD. Everyone who has taken the class raves about the content and what they learn.

 

The cost for the class is $30 per person. (No animals in the classroom please.) It is held at the Red Cross, Henderson County Chapter, 203 Second Ave. East in Hendersonville. Advance registration is required. Please call 828-693-5605 for additional information or to register. The organization's website is www.hcredcross.org.

Nov. 12 in Asheville-Taste of Compassion Fund Raiser

Animal Compassion Network's annual fund raiser, "Taste of Compassion," will be held on Thursday, Nov. 12 from 5:30 - 8 PM at The Venue, 21 North Market Street, in downtown Asheville. The event features a wine tasting and wine for sale, along with vegetarian hors d'oeuvres, music, and a silent auction. One of the items up for bid is a 2010 Subaru Outback, courtesy of Prestige Subaru.

Tickets are available online ($30) or at the door ($35). The fund raiser supports the work and programs of Animal Compassion Network, the largest non-profit, safe-for-life animal welfare organization in Western North Carolina. For more information, visit the organization's website: www.animalcompassionnetwork.org.

Tomorrow in Asheville: Join the Mutt Strut!

Come on out with your doggie and strut your stuff at Mutt Strut 2009, Asheville Humane Society's biggest event of the year. You can join in a dog walk to raise money for the homeless animals of Buncombe County, and to help build the new Adoption and Education Center, opening in late 2010. There'll be fun contests, entertainment, vendor booths, and more. It's all happening on Saturday, October 10, from 8:30 AM to 12 PM at Carrier Park in Asheville. For additional details, visit www.ashevillehumane.org.

Celebrating NC's State Dog

The Plott Hound was bred in the mountains of North Carolina in the 1700s and is the only dog to have originated in the state. It was chosen as North Carolina's official state dog in 1989. The Plott Hound is a legendary hunting dog but also has a reputation for being a gentle, loyal companion to humans.

Tomorrow, the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, NC) will open a new exhibit explaining the history and origins of the Plott Hound. Bob Plott, a descendant of Johannes Plott, the man who imported the original breeding stock, contributed to the research for the exhibit.

The Moutain Heritage Center is located in WCU's H. F. Robinson Administration Building. For additional information about hours and other exhibits, call 828-227-7129, or visit www.wcu.edu/mhc.

The photo, from the WCU website, is of Blackrock Waylon, a Jackson County Plott Hound that has won "Big Game Hound of the Year" at the National Plott Days competition.

October is Adopt-a-Dog Month

The American Humane Association has designated October as Adopt-a-Dog Month. This is a great time to consider doing just that -- adopting a dog. As a reader of this blog, you likely already have at least one dog, but why not consider adopting another -- after all, they're pack animals!

Here in WNC and the Upstate, there seems to be a never-ending supply of dogs at shelters and rescue organizations. So even if you can't adopt right now, tell your friends and family to consider adopting. They'll gain a lifelong, loyal friend.

Please visit the "Adopting a Dog - Shelters" link at the top of this page for more information about adopting and a comprehensive list of shelters in WNC and the Upstate.

Shelters need and deserve our support, and there's a brand new national campaign underway to give animals in shelters a voice -- literally. The Humane Society of the U.S., in conjunction with Maddie's Fund and the Ad Council, have just launched a unique public service ad campaign with spokes-animals as the stars. It is clever and cutting edge, so check it out for yourself: www.theshelterpetproject.org .

Rove on Over to these Upcoming Dog Events

The following events are being sponsored by animal shelters in WNC and the Upstate. Attending these events raises much needed funds and saves animals' lives.

 

September

Sept. 25 - 27 - Adoptathon, Greenville, SC www.greenvillehumane.org for information

October

Oct. 3 - Dog Jog 2009, Boone, NC www.wataugahumanesociety.org for information

Oct. 9 - Auction for a Cause 2009, Spartanburg, SC www.spartanburghumane.org for information

Oct. 10 - Mutt Strut 2009, Asheville, NC www.ashevillehumane.org for information

Mutt Strut 2009 in Asheville on Oct. 10

Asheville Humane Society is sponsoring "Mutt Strut 2009," an event to raise funds to help the homeless animals of Buncombe County and for the new Adoption and Education Center currently under construction. Mutt Strut 2009 includes a dog walk, doggie contests, demonstrations, vendors, guest celebrities, and more. It's a day of fun and festivities to benefit the animals! Participants can walk with or without pets and in teams if desired.

Mutt Strut 2009 will be held on Saturday, October 10, from 8:30 AM to 12 PM at Carrier Park in Asheville, NC. For more information, visit the Asheville Humane Society's website: www.ashevillehumane.org.