Online Registration Open for Paws in the Park Dog Walk

When: Sunday, June 6, 2010 from noon to 4 pm

Where: Wheaton Regional Park, 11751 Orebaugh Ave, Wheaton, Maryland 20902

Helping animals is a walk in the park. Tell your family, friends, and co-workers, it’s time to register for Paws in the Park dog walk! You can walk as an individual or start or join a team.

Paws in the Park is the Montgomery County Humane Society’s (Rockville, Maryland 20850) annual 1K, 3K, 5K dog walk benefitting homeless animals. More than 600 people and their four-legged furry companions are expected this year, making it one of the Washington, DC area’s largest dog walks!

Paws in the Park is fun for the entire family, featuring pet games, demos, petting place, off-leash dog park, a “flealess” market for pet-friendly vendors, food, music, prizes, raffles, rescue groups, and more. Kicking off the walk is news anchor Jackie Bensen from NBC4 with her German Shorthair Pointer, Opera.

Your support will:

• Raise much-needed funds for homeless, abandoned and abused animals
• Make a difference in the lives of the dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles, birds and all the other animals at MCHS
• Support life-saving programs and services such as animal medical care, humane education, reduced cost spay/neuter, animal behavior assistance, and more

Paws in the Park is a great way to help make a difference in the lives of companion animals. Plus, it’s the perfect way for the entire family (canine pals included) to spend a Sunday afternoon. Thank you in advance for taking a few minutes to register today.

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Nina Ottosson Interactive Games for Dogs and Cats

How smart is your dog or cat? Entertain your new furry friend, while making them smarter! The UK’s leading specialist in dog behavior and training products, The Company of Animals, has recently launched the Nina Ottosson Interactive Games pet puzzle collection in the U.S.

These innovative puzzles, including Dog Tornado, Dog Brick, Dog Magic, and Dog Spinny, are described by the company as “party games” for dogs and cats. All of the games have been developed and approved by animal behavior specialists. The purpose of the line is to combine mental activity for your pet while reinforcing a special pet-human bond, the puzzles also help enhance both mental and physical dexterity as well. Each puzzle has different variables to increase levels of difficulty, depending on the dog’s experience and enthusiasm for the game. Try the Dog Brick as an introduction, or for the most determined pet, the Dog Tornado is termed the “Harvard” of all the puzzles.

Despite the name, these games are quite a hit with felines too. The Dog Spinny makes a perfect game for cats as well. Price of games ranges from $14.99 to $45.00.

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PAWS Actionline: Only You Can Keep Animal-Friendly Legislation Alive in 2010

The Washington State 2010 regular legislative session adjourned on March 11. Although two key animal bills did not pass the legislature this year, we can celebrate our 2010 successes and work to gain momentum for 2011!

• HB 1406/SB 5329, would have funded 70,000 spay/neuter surgeries annually for cats and dogs of low-income families. The bills did not pass the legislature, however the Senate did pass a resolution recognizing that spay/neuter saves cats and dogs lives and taxpayer dollars used to care for unwanted animals. This resolution, combined with increased public awareness and collaboration from numerous animal welfare groups, will help the bill in 2011.
• HB 1885 would have made it illegal to feed certain wild animals, protecting them from habituation and reducing dangerous conflicts between people and wildlife. HB 1885 made it all the way through the House and was close to a vote on the Senate floor, but time ran out.
• Thanks for contacting your legislators in support of HB 1406/SB 5329 and HB 1885. You helped PAWS send more than 190 correspondences to more than 40 different legislative districts.
• Thanks to those of you who participated in Humane Lobby Day—PAWS’ first lobby day collaboration with the Humane Society of the United States. On February 24, animal champions traveled to Olympia to learn about how to be a voice for animals and to meet with their legislators.

Collectively, we still need to let our legislators know animal welfare remains a priority. It is not uncommon for bills to take multiple sessions to gain support and pass the legislature. That’s why it’s so important to contact your representatives about animal protections throughout the year:

1. Find your legislators and send each a note OR use the legislator e-mail directory to directly e-mail your representatives.
2. Use the note below to assist—any personalization will only make your message stronger.Dear (Representative or Senator),
   I understand Olympia faced a short session and a big budget challenge in 2010. However as your constituent, I’m disappointed that key bills such as, HB 1885 regarding the feeding of wildlife, and HB 1406/SB 5329 funding spay/neuter for cats and dogs, did not pass the 2010 session. Legislation which protects animals matters a great deal to me. Please support animal-friendly legislation in 2011!

   Sincerely,
   (Your name, phone number and home address)

Help PAWS track any responses from your legislators! Email PAWS at publicaffairs@paws.org with any past correspondences, or cc it on your e-mail to your legislators.

On behalf of Washington’s animals, thank you!

A champion for animals, the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (Lynwood, Washington 98087) is a nationally recognized leader in rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife, sheltering and adopting homeless pets, and educating people to make a better world for animals and humans.

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