Wednesday, December 14, 2011

• Samoyed Winter Walk ~ December 18

The Potomac Valley Samoyed Club will hold its Winter Wonderland Walk on the National Mall this Sunday, December 18, at noon. The Sammies and Santa will meet at the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree (West Lawn) at noon.

Come on over! Meet Santa. Plunge your fingers into a Samoyed ruff—the softest, whitest fur you'll ever feel. Get a kiss from Darcy the Dalmatian, the honorary Samoyed. And bring your camera to take pictures of your kids with Santa (for free!)

After hanging out at the Capitol the dogs will walk to the Botanic Gardens, then to the Ellipse across from the White House. Awards will be given for Most Festival Sammy and Most Vocal Sammy.

There should be parking in the lot that lies between Pennsylvania, Constitution, and 1st, NW, next to the reflecting pool.

We're going to have a howling good time! See you there.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

• Pet-Themed Hostess Gifts

If your dinner or party host owns a pet, consider giving him or her a gift with a pet theme.

• A gift card to a pet store is always appropriate.
• A dog or cat photograph frame is fun, and even better if it contains a photo of their pet (you could download a photo from Facebook or Twitter). In the Washington, D.C., area Marshall’s, T.J. Maxx, and Ross always have frames on sale.
• One hundred percent of the net profits from Rescue Chocolate are donated to rescue organizations. Order online or purchase in stores.
• From Good Dog Express, how about a whimsical tray that makes bone-shaped ice cubes?
• Everything and Anything Dog has a festive Christmas tree ornament with paw prints.
• At the Animal Rescue Site, each purchase funds at least 14 bowls of food for animals in shelters. Inexpensive gifts include a silicone oven mitt shaped like a dog and neoprene oven mitts shaped like cats.
• Dog Mountain "Life is a Ball” note cards showcase artist Stephen Hunek’s love of Labrador Retrievers.
• At $18.95, tea towels from Fjorn Scandinavian are a bit pricey, but they’re so darned cute. Designs include Tall Cats and (my favorite) Long Dogs.

If your host has lost a pet, making a donation to a local animal shelter or rescue in a pet's name, as a friend did when my hamster Zim died, is deeply meaningful. Dog Mountain makes small dog angel ornaments. The selection of breeds is limited, but I think the ornaments are tasteful. PetPro offers a wide variety of breeds of dog and cat angel ornaments.