As previously reported in The Scoop, on Sunday April 21, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) removed a small dog, Zipper, from a vehicle in a West Seattle grocery store parking lot. Included in the original police report was a witness statement that the car had been in the same spot for six days, prompting speculation that Zipper may have been locked inside without food or water during that entire time. If this turned out to be true, it would have been a clear case of animal neglect and/or cruelty, which the Animal Shelter, the SPD and the City of Seattle take very seriously.

We received numerous calls from people checking on Zipper’s welfare from as far away as Florida and New York. We sincerely appreciate the public concern and support for Zipper, as it is the mission of the Seattle Animal Shelter to foster safe, healthy and caring relationships between people and animals in our community. However, Zipper’s situation is an example of why it is important for us to be able to conduct a thorough investigation before jumping to conclusions with only limited information.

We also want to recognize the patience and understanding of Zipper’s owners, who have been distraught over the allegations of abuse made in online forums, as well as the separation from Zipper. They have been fully cooperative during our investigation and have complied with all requests made of them.

As with any case of potential animal mistreatment, the Seattle Animal Shelter opened an investigation. Over the last four weeks, Zipper was cared for by animal care staff at the Shelter while the investigation was conducted. The investigation is now complete, with the Animal Shelter staff concluding that no crime was committed. As such, Zipper has been reunited with his owners. Evidence collected during our investigation, which included numerous witness statements and a search of the vehicle, did not support the widespread speculation that Zipper had been left in the vehicle for up to six days. All evidence points to Zipper being left in the vehicle for a few hours during the evening he was taken in by police. While not ideal, and an absolute no-no in warmer months, leaving an animal in a vehicle for a short time is not illegal unless other circumstances pose a threat to the animal’s welfare (e.g., extreme cold weather, access to dangerous items that could be ingested or cause bodily harm, vulnerability to dog-napping if vehicle is unlocked, etc.).

During his time at the Animal Shelter, staff observed Zipper to be happy and energetic. The original police report stated that he appeared to be emaciated, but his eating habits over his four-week stay at the Shelter and a visit to the vet confirmed that while he could stand to gain a couple pounds, he is healthy, energetic and just one of those dogs that is extremely fit.

Finally, this also is a good opportunity to remind pet owners that the best way to ensure we can find you if your pet is found wandering or retrieved in a situation like Zipper’s is to make sure it is licensed and microchipped. It’s also a good idea to have a personalized tag with your contact information alongside the license on his or her collar.

At this time, I can’t offer too much information on the case around Zipper, as we are still conducting our investigation. I can tell you that we will continue to care for him at the Animal Shelter until the case is closed and we determine a course of action. As far as his condition, Zipper appears healthy, happy and energetic. While the police report indicated that the vehicle was parked in the lot for six days, one area of focus in our investigation, as you noted, is determining whether Zipper was actually in the vehicle during that time. We are still taking statements and would welcome any witnesses to contact us at 206-386-7387.

Police rescued Zipper on Sunday, April 21st, and reported the case via SPD Blotter three days later.

Lots of time left to get to Ola Salon in Luna Park for Furry Faces Foundation‘s first-ever “Heels for Hounds” – not just a silent auction of some cute shoes (casual as well as fancy, as shown in the photo above), but also wine tasting, appetizers, and live music, all to benefit animal advocacy:

Ola’s at 2942 SW Avalon Way.

Sometimes despite all the searching, your lost pet just can’t be found. The WSB Pets page archives include still-open reports that may never be closed. And then there’s the tale of Lisa and Elliott. Posting as “Elle,” Lisa reported her cat Diesel missing four months ago. That’s Lisa in the photo, but not Diesel – well, not ENTIRELY Diesel. Marianne from Friends of the Animals Foundation explains:

Elliott is the cat living under the porch of a Alaska Junction business on the Pets page earlier in the week. Lisa thought he might be her beloved cat Diesel and went on a search for Elliott.

She managed to trap the cat with the help of Kathleen, a WS cat rescuer. I run Friends of the Animals Foundation and had room for Elliott in our cages at Next to Nature. Lisa did some research with the help of Elliott’s microchip and found out his sad story. He was adopted from the Humane Society in January and quickly jumped off of the porch of his new home and disappeared. He was apparently on his own for the past four months. When Lisa contacted his owner, she decided that she didn’t want him.

Lisa fell in love with Elliott and with the help of Joy Turner, pet communicator, found out that Diesel’s soul is in Elliott. Elliot even climbed into Diesel’s old shirt. Elliott’s new full name is Elliott Yi Talarico (named after the businesses in the alley).

Marianne points out that Elliott did not have to spend months living in the alley – if someone had taken him to a vet sooner to check for a chip, he would have had a new home sooner. Be sure to get a found animal checked for a chip – she points out that all clinics will do that for free, and will help you connect with the Seattle Animal Shelter. Marianne also says big thanks go to Emma, who called attention to Elliott’s plight.

The Heels For Hounds weekend has arrived! We have somewhere between 150 – 200 pairs of shoes for the auction, with more being donated every day. In fact, folks can bring gently worn shoes to the event!

Donation locations before then:

• Ola Salon: 2942 Avalon Way SW; 206-933-6702; www.olasalon.com
• Clementine Shoes: 4447 California Ave SW; 206-935-9400; www.clementines.com
• Hotwire Online Coffeehouse: 4410 California Ave SW; 206-935-1510; hotwirecoffee.com
• The Wash Dog: 6400 California Avenue Southwest; 206-935-4546; www.thewashdog.com

Are you ready for shoe bidding wars? We hope so. Here is the event info:

Heels For Hounds Silent Auction & Animale Wine Tasting (Benefiting Furry Faces Foundation)

Date: April 21
Time: 3 pm – 6 pm
Location: Ola Salon, 2942 Avalon Way SW
Admission Donation: $15.00 (provides appetizers and wine sampler)
Wine by the glass: $8

For event updates before Sunday, keep an eye on F3′s Facebook page, here.

After a text this afternoon, we posted a “lost macaw spotted” report on the WSB Lost/Found Pets page. Not much later, a rescue ensued: Merry Myers tells the tale, and shares the photos:

Mya the Macaw flew out of her house up the hill from 47th and Alaska Sts and landed on the highest branches of a tree just off the 47th Ave SW alley – between Alaska and Oregon. The owners tried to call the bird down and soon a crowd from the neighborhood gathered, including a nearby resident who brought her parrot with her to see if the Macaw might be curious enough to come down and investigate:

Tall ladders were offered by the neighbors and the owner climbed way up in the tree with treats, to try and lure her down.

Finally she began to make her way down to him and he eventually managed to grab her and make his way precariously down the tree while the neighbors cheered.

We live in a great neighborhood.

(Photo courtesy West Seattle Montessori/West Seattle Academy)
In recent months, we’ve shared the news of multiple food drives by community-minded students at local schools – and we have another one today: This time, to help pets in area shelters. West Seattle Montessori/West Seattle Academy (WSB sponsor) assistant director Heather Aquino explains:

Our seventh-grade students have taken on a very cool cause. (Through) April 25 they are challenging all of our classes to collect as much pet food as they can, by the pound, to be donated to local Seattle shelters. Our winning class will have a small party hosted by these incredible seventh-graders.

Community members are welcome to donate pet food too – drop it off at the school, 11215 15th SW, today or April 22-25th (as with Seattle Public Schools, WSMS/WSA will be out on spring break next week).

Silent auctions are a bit like shopping at sales – though you’re never sure if you’re going to have the winning bid – with a bonus payoff: You know your money’s going to do good work. In the case of “Catsino,” under way at Beveridge Place Pub in Morgan Junction until 6 pm, it’s going to help those who can’t speak or fight for themselves – animals. There are so many circumstances in which the organizations behind the event – presented by Furry Faces Foundation – step in. If furry friends like Nora could say thanks, we’re sure they would:

In addition to the beneficiaries, Catsino also involves local businesses and groups who are sponsoring – and staffing! – the just-for-fun game tables, like Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor), whose Anne Higuera is at right in our next photo:

Ventana’s offering a “Carpenter for a Day” item in the silent auction, we noticed, so go bid! The fun’s not even half over. The pub’s at 6413 California SW.

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
A brand-new West Seattle St. Patrick’s Day event debuted this weekend – the first-ever pets/people costume contest at The Celtic Swell on Alki. WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams was there to catch some of the contenders on camera. Above, that’s Zoey; next, the Lynns and their boxer:

Pub owners Gareth and Joleen Hughes‘ Siberian Huskies Finnegan, left, and Foley were of course on hand and wearing some green:

Eleven more scenes of green, after the jump:

Murphy the Great Dane was greeted by Clara Hills (center):

On the other end of the size spectrum, here’s Lulu the Chihuahua, who won “Leprechaun Lookalike”:

Mini-Longhaired Dachshund Charlotte waited patiently in her ride:

Let’s not ignore the humans: Sean Shane-Kumler, below right, with wife Kathryn and their dog Knoah, won “Not Dog Not Dog”:

Midway through the contest, at 3 pm Saturday, there was a toast to the official start of St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland (nine hours ahead of Seattle):

Then back to the pets-and-people photobooth, with Annie Allison of Studio A. That’s Mo Simon below with Shasta, left, and Walter, right:

Ready for a closeup, anyone? Ollie the French Bulldog was:

Group shot! From left, Clara Hills, Esther Hills, and Emily Knighton, posing with Lucy the Corgi:

Meantime, Watson waited quite patiently:

As did Francis the St. Bernard:

Another human of note, though not a competitor – a familiar face from The Junction at the microphone – Lora Swift from Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor):

The Celtic Swell’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities continue on into tonight – listed here on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar.

Hey Furry Faces Foundation Supporters, what do Texas Snip ‘em, Pig Craps, BlackCat 21, and Studless Draw all have in common?

“These are just a few of the thirteen crazy Las Vegas-style games we’ll be playing during the Catsino Silent Auction,” says Lora Swift of Furry Faces Foundation. “Local businesses and animal rescue groups are adopting the gaming tables, dealing out the cards, and rolling the dice. Enjoy meeting local rescue groups and bid on unusual, unique silent auction items! All proceeds benefit Furry Faces Foundation, A.A.R.F., Community Cat Coalition, and Regional Animal Services of King County.”

Tickets are just $25 at the door, or save $5 by purchasing your ticket by April 5th at one of our five ticket outlets. Each Catsino Silent Auction guest will receive a door prize ticket, one free drink ticket, and hors d’oeuvres. “Use your ‘Vaccination Record Passport’ as a guide to visit and play at each table,” says Teri Ensley, F3 Leader. “Every time you play for at least five minutes at a table you have not visited before, you will receive a stamp. Play at six different tables, you’ll earn an extra Grand Raffle ticket; play at nine different tables — another Grand Raffle Ticket; play at all thirteen and earn a total of three grand raffle tickets!”

“This is a chance for our community to meet our local business owners in a fun, personal setting and learn more about animal rescue groups,” say Gary Sink and Terri Griffith, owners of Beveridge Place Pub, “and, if you like what you hear ‘n’ see, drop a few dollars into their donation bucket or sign up to volunteer with them! We know that A.A.R.F., Community Cat Coalition, Regional Animal Services of King County, and Furry Faces Foundation folks are looking forward to meeting all of you!’

For more information, please visit: facebook.com/furryfacesfoundation or e-mail furryfaces@hotmail.com

The fine print: Catsino Silent Auction entertainment is a Recreational Gaming Activity; Catsino Bucks have no monetary value and all prizes are non-monetary. Also note: Beveridge Place Pub is 21+.. It’s one of five places where you can buy tickets early and save $5 – along with Hotwire Online Coffeehouse, The Wash Dog, Ventana Construction (all WSB sponsors), and Pet Elements.

Labs dressed-up like leprechauns! Shar peis with shillelaghs! Bulldogs boasting bagpipes! There’s no telling what you’ll see when Alki’s Celtic Swell Irish Pub hosts its first annual St. Patrick’s Day “Pets & Their People” Costume Contest featuring a free photo booth and prizes to benefit the Seattle Humane Society. The family-and-pet-friendly event is a must-do for everyone seeking festive and memorable St. Paddy’s Day fun.

Guests are invited to dress up their pets (and themselves) in St. Pat’s day garb, mug it up Irish-style in the Celtic Swell’s free photo booth, and win incredible prizes donated by some of the area’s favorite local businesses. Participation is free with all donations benefiting the Seattle Humane Society.

With two Siberian Huskies of his own, Celtic Swell owner Gareth Hughes says the costume contest and the cause felt like a natural fit for the Swell. “This year marks our 9th annual Paddy’s celebration, so we wanted to try something a little different! I can’t think of a better way to get the entire family in on the fun of St. Paddy’s day and give back to invaluable community organizations like the Seattle Humane Society who work tirelessly to promote positive change. Judging from the tremendous positive response we’ve received already, I’m confident this will become a cherished family tradition for years to come.”

Today’s announcement also includes a schedule of other events at Celtic Swell that weekend – see the full list here (PDF). The pub’s on Alki Avenue SW, just east of 61st SW, across from Statue of Liberty Plaza and Alki Bathhouse.

While WSB has a special page to help reunite lost/found pets and people, we usually point the occasional the “pet in need of a home” notice toward the WSB Forums. This one, though, just screamed – meowed – front-page news … or perhaps mews:

Greetings …I am Magoo.

I am the current resident of 1311 Alki Ave SW as well as the neighbor to the Notorious Alki Tavern.

The land my home is on has been sold to developers and will be torn down along with the tavern.

So years living next to the Best Biker bar in West Seattle has brought me years of joy and excitement.

Watching everyone come and go on sunny summer days and hearing all of their tall-tales…

watching the Blue Angels scream across the water…they always make me hide under my box… seeing only the locals bundle up on cold winter days to go for a walk on the beach… enjoying curling up and watching the reflection of the sun off the buildings downtown… and hearing the sound of the seals out on the buoy barking all night long.

I loved watching the world pass me by from my tiny 1911 baby blue beach hut on Alki Ave SW.

With the selling of the land I now need to think about my next move in life. I have decided I am looking for a nice quiet place to retire and write my memoirs of my life next to the tavern.

I came to the beach in West Seattle as a kitten so I have…well…it’s is rude to talk about age so let’s just say I have lots of stories.

I am like a classic Mercedes…as long as you maintain the engine…the car will run forever.

My engine is strong, but I need a little extra tlc…just like a high-mileage car.

The man that lived here with me was a great mechanic and he took great care of me.

After learning the land was sold, he passed away … it truly broke his heart to know he had to leave his familiar home.

Now I am left without someone to type for me; my nails get caught in the keys… So… if you would be interested in helping me write my memoirs as well as take care of me…

the usual… feed me pet me love me… clean up after me… but most of all love me…

Please contact my assistant at: 206-388-8828
She will get you on my calendar for an appointment.

Magoo’s assistant, Kelly, says those who knew and loved Magoo’s dearly departed human also are “contacting artists to paint the side of the house in nothing but pink flamingos … if anyone knew JD and would like to show their appreciation and celebrate his life, they are welcome to place a pink flamingo anywhere around his little beach house.”

We first told you last night about a little black cat stuck on a power pole at 46th/Andover – not with the intent of putting out a “somebody help!” call, but with the intent of finding its owner, since neighbors had no idea whose cat it was. Nonetheless, an outpouring of concern resulted, in WSB comments and on the WSB Facebook page – and repeated calls to Seattle City Light brought out a crew to help. Our video shows the rescue, just a short time ago – though as you’ll see, the cat did not want to stay with rescuer Aaron!

SUNDAY, 7:27 PM: That’s a cat in a tough spot in the rain – and since nobody seems to know whose it is, and it’s been up there for many hours, we went to check it out so we could crosspost on the Lost/Found Pets page. (We used a flashlight for a spotlight to get a photo – that’s the clearest one we have.) It’s sitting atop the stub of an old utility pole that’s fastened to the top of a newer one on the southwest corner of 46th and Andover, and the neighbors who e-mailed us earlier say nobody knows whose it is. If you are missing a relatively small black cat in that general area, you might go have a look. Food and water is waiting below if the kitty manages to get itself down. Otherwise, we have already forwarded the concerned neighbors the advice we’ve received repeatedly: Call a tree service. (The neighbors certainly would welcome any other suggestions.)

MONDAY MORNING UPDATE: As of 8:30, when we went by, still there:

See the comments for more extensive discussion of who’s done what and who’s suggested what. As mentioned there, we (and others) are checking with Seattle City Light – whom at least one neighbor says was called on Sunday.

9:54 AM UPDATE: The cat’s down, thanks to City Light.