West Seattle Blog…

Give a foster cat a forever home! Alki adopt-a-thon on Saturday

The official WSB mascots, both adopted from shelters as adults, are making a cameo tonight to point out that the Seattle Animal Shelter is bringing foster cats to Alki Community Center this Saturday (October 13), noon-3 pm. “If you have room in your home and your heart for an orphaned animal, this is a great opportunity to come and see some of the wonderful pets available from our foster-care parents,” says Don Jordan, Seattle Animal Shelter director, in the official news release. (We found our tortoiseshell at one of these adopt-a-thons, 10 years ago!) There of course are lots of great adoption opportunities in West Seattle year-round, but the city only comes by every so often. More fine print about the process, after the jump:

Click to read the rest of Give a foster cat a forever home! Alki adopt-a-thon on Saturday…

Blessing of the Animals 2012: When faith meets fur

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
It’s an autumn tradition – Blessing of the Animals events/services around the feast day of the patron saint of animals, Saint Francis of Assisi. For the past several years, the lone outdoor public event in West Seattle has been offered by St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, in the adjacent West Seattle High School parking lot, WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams was there as St. John’s Rev. Greg Peters carried on the tradition:

Click to read the rest of Blessing of the Animals 2012: When faith meets fur…

Lincoln Park ‘resident goose’ attacked by dog, readers report

(Added: August photo of the geese, courtesy of Myrtle)
10:22 AM: We’ve received two reports of this so far. First one was from Sig:

A man on a bike with his dog running loose at the south end of Lincoln Park at about 8:15 this morning allowed his dog to attack one of the beautiful white geese. The dog injured the goose on the land and took it out in the water all the way to the moored boats. No sign of the goose so hopefully he will show up. His partner is honking on the beach and very frightened. The man got on his bike as soon as he could get the dog to come back (still no leash in sight) and took off in a dark Subaru Outback with a bike rack on the back and top. Hopefully someone can watch for the injured goose and help him.

Second one came from a reader who didn’t want to be identified:

I just got back from a walk at Lincoln Park where some bozo’s dog – off leash – attacked the resident geese on the beach.

I arrived just after the event so my story comes second-hand from a Parks employee who witnessed this and told me what had happened.

Apparently the dog attacked the geese, leaving feathers all over the path, and then chased one of the birds through the water all the way to the ferry dock.

As I arrived the dog’s owner, who had walked south down the private part of the beach, about halfway to the ferry, coaxed the dog back to shore then high-tailed it out of the park on his mountain bike. (He was wearing a yellow and black biking shirt)

There were about 20 of us watching and looking for the goose. I continued my walk then returned to that area about 20 minutes later- but no goose..

I am sharing this because dogs are not allowed on public beaches (period) and there is no off-leash area in Lincoln Park yet I see dogs running free there almost every day. Each time I do I grumble to myself about it rather than confronting the owners. I know people love their dogs.

WIf you’re not familiar with the Lincoln Park/Fauntleroy area white geese – here’s a photo of one – they (or, perhaps, their relatives) have been on the beach there for years (we remember seeing them more than a decade ago). Their room to roam is curtailed right now, possibly forcing them further south, because of the Barton Pump Station Upgrade Project work that has taken over the pocket beach at Cove Park immediately north of the Fauntleroy ferry dock. We’ll be following up to see if we can find out what has happened since the search mentioned above; please let us know if you hear/see anything.

3:01 PM UPDATE: If you haven’t seen this in the comment thread yet: We checked with Parks, and they told us Animal Control was planning to visit the park to investigate – they had indeed received a call about this to dispatch earlier today. A commenter subsequently reported that both geese were found and seem to be OK, which was confirmed by a beach resident who has seen them.

ADDED: From Dewey Potter @ Parks: “One employee observed most of the incident, confronted the individual about his dog being off leash, and notified Seattle Animal Shelter. The Sr. Gardener who called me back said the description in the WS Blog of the dog owner is accurate. If anyone can provide a name, a license number, or other identifying information, SAS staff will talk with the dog owner and tell him what the penalties are for having a dog on the beach and for harassing wildlife.”

Blessing of the Animals at Alki UCC, St. John the Baptist

(WSB photo: Alki UCC’s Rev. Diane Darling at “Blessing of the Animals” service in 2009)
Early October means time for the Blessing of the Animals in honor of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, and the local congregations that have been offering this service in recent years are doing it again this Sunday.

INTERDENOMINATIONAL SERVICE AT ALKI UCC: This Sunday at 10 am, you’re invited to a “Blessing of the Animals” service. The church‘s announcement says, “This year Pastor Diane Darling, Rabbi Zari Weiss, and Rev. Ann Holmes Redding (Christian, Jew, and Episcopal/Muslim) will bless the animals you bring to worship. Dogs on leashes and critters in carriers, please! You also may want to bring a blanket or cushion to sit on.” 6115 SW Hinds.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH: St. John’s says its interim priest Reverend Greg Peters “will be blessing animals at both worship services, 8:00 am and 10:15 am, and also at noon in the West Seattle High School Parking Lot,” which is at 3000 California SW, immediately north of the church.

Update: Elsie the dog back home, for ‘ransom’

2:58 PM: Elsie‘s owner says she is missing and believes she was stolen out of his yard this afternoon in the 2800 block of SW 102th (just east of Arbor Heights, in the county), though he did not see it happen, so he doesn’t have any suspect description to share. He describes Elsie as “an extremely loving pit bull of about 60 pounds, ‘fawn’ coat, and pink lips.” If you see her, you can call him at 206-661-7427 – he says that number is also on her collar, light green with pink flowers on it. We are also crossposting to the WSB Pets page.

9:16 PM: Elsie’s owner says she’s home: “She was in fact taken from my property by car, and after much searching and fretting, she was returned for a small ransom.”

Arbor Heights pool goes to the dogs – this week only!

(WSB photo from September 2011)
Got a dog that loves to swim? Here’s her/his big chance! From Cori:

It is that time again, Arbor Heights Swim & Tennis club is closed for the season but before we go, we are opening the pool to dogs this week.

M-F 5-7 pm and Sat 10 am-1 pm

$10 donation to cover the cost of removing dog hair from the filter system, money left over goes to support teams. Also available for $20/dog – a pass that is good for the week.

Dogs must be healthy, up to date on vaccinations and very well socialized. Owners are responsible for their pet. Do not bring more dogs than you can control. Thank you!

Might still be cloudy today by swim time, but the rest of the week looks summery. AHSTC is at 11003 31st SW.

From West Seattle See Dogs puppy … to graduated guide dog!

That’s the Gilbert family with Evelyn, when she joined them March 6, 2011, as their first puppy with West Seattle See Dogs, which trains future guide dogs. Ruth Oldham of WSSD shares their story as the group welcomes new puppy-raisers – including news that Evelyn has graduated!

“There is nothing as fulfilling as meeting your now guide dog’s partner at graduation and learning what your gift of love for a puppy and time commitment means to them,” Ruth explains. Evelyn went to the Guide Dogs For The Blind’s campus in Boring, Oregon, back in May, “sped through her phases,” as Ruth describes it, and graduated on August 25th. In the photo, she says, Evelyn “guides her new partner, Allen Scarbrough, over a curb, demonstrating her prowess to her former raisers. She actually stopped with one paw on the curb, and waited for Allen to respond. Allen can feel the raised paw through the harness.” Want to join the group making moments like that – and lifetimes beyond it – happen?

Ruth says, “You too can be part of this experience. West Seattle See Dogs is actively looking for new raisers to become part of our team. Our volunteers are all working toward improving the quality of life for people who are blind. Come to our meeting on Tuesday, September 11th, at 6:30 pm at The Kenney and learn what’s involved…….we need you!”

West Seattle scenes: SUP and pup; cavorting canine

For some reason, today feels like Friday. (Are you taking a four-day weekend? Maybe we’re feeling it by online osmosis.) So before the next news story, two photos. Top, Barb Joseph shares the scene from “a perfect summer afternoon on Alki.” (We dubbed it “SUP and pup.”) Next, from David and Christine: “11-year-old Marissa took this amazing fun photo of 7 month old Laddie, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever!”

More on the NSDTR here.

West Seattle Bridge scene: Traffic stopped, dog saved

Thanks to Mark for the photo and a heartening tale (tail?) from the West Seattle Bridge this morning: Somehow a dog turned up on the westbound bridge around 9 am. Both directions stopped, Mark says; he and others on the EB side watched as people on the WB side “chased the little thing all around the bridge deck and finally corralled it, to some applause.”

ADDED: Even if you don’t usually read comments, make an exception here – as Laura, who was involved in the rescue, tells the story of saving little runaway Bell.

CityDog at West Seattle Thriftway: Not just a cover-dog search

When we stopped by West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) just after 1 pm to check in on the CityDog Magazine Cover Dog Search photo shoot, we found out that 36 dogs were already signed up, just after hour 1. Dogs of every size, as you can see in the photo above … and we even spotted a dog in a tie:

That’s Willie, dressed to the nines. Or at least the eights. At the CityDog table, Carol from Doney Memorial Pet Clinic – beneficiary of today’s $10 photo fees – and West Seattle-based CityDog founder Brandie Ahlgren:

Carol told us this is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for Doney, run by volunteers and supported by donations; the clinic takes care of pets for people in need who otherwise might not be able to afford that care. (She says she also gets big help in our area from White Center’s Puppy Perfectors.) Meantime, the photos are on till 3 pm – just head to Thriftway (California/Fauntleroy) if you see this before then. We’ll find out later this year if another West Seattle dog will grace the CDM cover next winter!

Two for Sunday: Bicycle donations; CityDog’s cover-dog search

Two quick previews for Sunday – both special events at local grocery stores – from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

BICYCLE DONATIONS: Have a bicycle and/or bicycle parts you don’t need? PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) is collecting them on Sunday, 10 am-3 pm, for people in Togo. More info here.

CITYDOG MAGAZINE COVER-DOG SEARCH: West Seattle-founded CityDog Magazine is once again looking for a cover dog via a series of photo shoots around Seattle, and Sunday is the annual visit to West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), noon-3 pm. $10 fee goes to the Doney Memorial Pet Clinic.

4 days left to donate to Alki Mail and Dispatch pet-food drive

With four days left, you can still bring dog or cat food to Alki Mail and Dispatch for their July pet-food drive. The staff tells WSB they’ve collected more than 150 pounds of pet food so far (some of it is shown above in the photo they shared), but are hoping for more. As we mentioned at the beginning of the drive, they are accepting dry or canned food and treats. All cat food will go to Kitty Harbor and all dog food to Dogs Deserve Better, an organization raising awareness for dogs who live chained or tethered outdoors.

The drive goes through Tuesday (July 31st). Check Alki Mail’s hours and location here. And by the way, they’re already thinking about doing it again next year!

West Seattle Crime Watch update: Dog missing after break-in, now back home

FIRST REPORT, 6:24 PM: Just got this from the victims’ neighbor:

My friend just asked me to e-mail about a possible (burglary) and stolen dog. It happened this afternoon (in the 4100 block of) 22nd Ave, a window was smashed and the dog, a 2 year old male English Setter named Holt, is missing and was likely stolen by the thieves. If you have any information or have seen this dog in the neighborhood please call, its owners are heartbroken.

206-390-5298. The friend is trying to find a photo – we’ll add if she sends one.

ADDED 7:25 PM: The story is now topped with a photo of Holt.

12:12 AM UPDATE: In the comment section, Holt’s owners say he has found his way home.

Furry Faces launching pet-tagging program @ Summer Fest

Starting today, at West Seattle Summer Fest, West Seattle-based animal-advocacy group Furry Faces Foundation will launch a new campaign called “Tag Your Pet…It Ain’t Graffiti!” to raise awareness about the importance of pet tags, providing tags for $5 to $8 each.

In their announcement, Furry Faces says pet tags are the #1 way lost pets are reunited with their owners. For pets without tags, however, Furry Faces says the statistics are bleak. And even though 80 percent of pet owners believe it is important for their pets to wear ID, only thirty-three percent of them have their animals tagged. So thanks to the donation of a new pet-tag engraver, Furry Faces hopes to improve these numbers. Through their new program, they will engrave and sell pet tags and collars to owners on the spot, with funds from the sales going to provide tags for financially-restricted pet owners. Interested? Then stop by one of their upcoming events – list ahead: Click to read the rest of Furry Faces launching pet-tagging program @ Summer Fest…

West Seattle weekend scene: Lizard on a leash

Yesterday pirates, today … a lizard on a leash, photographed on Alki by Chas Redmond, who reports that it’s a black-throated monitor named Hades.

Pet-food drive starts tomorrow at Alki Mail and Dispatch

You’ve often heard about the importance of donating to local food banks – West Seattle FB and White Center FB. We don’t hear as often about the need for pet-food donations, but that need is great too – so Alki Mail and Dispatch plans to collect it throughout July, according to Bree, starting tomorrow:

We will be collecting dry and canned food (and treats too!) with cat food going to Kitty Harbor and dog food going to an organization called Dogs Deserve Better. They are a wonderful organization working to raise the awareness of the plight of chained and tethered dogs that are forced to live outdoors. We will be collecting here in the shop (we are at 4701 SW Admiral Way) for the whole month of July and we want to see everyone bring something in!

Question? You can reach Bree at staff@alkimail.com. Alki Mail’s hours are listed here.

Happening now: Dog adopt-a-thon at Umpqua Bank in Admiral

You have another hour to get over to Admiral’s Umpqua Bank (WSB sponsor) branch to see if Arnold (above) and Brinkley (below) have found forever homes yet.

They are two of the dogs Saving Great Animals brought to today’s adopt-a-thon, continuing at Umpqua till about 1:30 pm. The branch is on California SW immediately north of Admiral Safeway.

West Seattle ‘police dogs’ gain fame via Facebook

If you follow the WSB Facebook page and/or the Seattle Police Department Facebook page, you’ve probably seen the photo of those 2 Bichon Frises already today, but in case you don’t, we’re sharing it here too. SPD put it on FB in honor of Take Your Dog To Work Day; we shared it on the WSB FB page, without having any clue at the time that the dogs – as we were informed a while later – are West Seattleites! We’ve also heard the photo was shown on NBC’s Today show this morning and is expected to reappear in an NBC News Take Your Dog To Work Day photo feature.

Dog day of summer: ‘Bark of Morgan’ at next Saturday’s Morgan Junction Community Festival

Hoping to see you not only at today’s Westwood Village festival, but also next Saturday at the annual Morgan Junction Community Festival, presented by the Morgan Community Association, offering a brand-new event this year: The ‘Bark of Morgan’ – sponsored by 4 area pet-services businesses, including WSB sponsor The Wash Dog:

All well-behaved leashed dogs (over the age of 4 months) are invited to bring their owners and participate in the following events:

2:00 – Pooch Parade: The parade of pooches will line up starting at 2:00 pm north of Morgan Junction Park along SW Eddy Street. Look for the signs. We will parade through Festival venues to the Bank Stage. Costumes optional.

2:15 – Contests: “Bark of Morgan” contests:
1) Cutest Puppy (4 months up to 9 months),
2) Best Trick,
3) Best Dog/Owner Look-Alike
First and second place contestants will be selected via the ‘audience applause meter’ as monitored by the MC and will be awarded commemorative medallions. All “Bark of Morgan” participants will receive a special prize.

Sponsors of the first “Bark of Morgan” are Pet Elements at 6701 California SW; Service Dog Academy at 6040 California SW; The Wash Dog at 6400 California Ave SW; and Wiggle Room LLC at 7001 California Ave SW.

Next Saturday’s festival runs 10:30 am-7 pm at three venues (plus the “Bite of Morgan” sampling restaurants) around California/Fauntleroy; the event lineup is on the official website.

Hope Lutheran student readers benefit from furry friend

(Olympia takes a study break)

Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Reading books out loud is a familiar task for elementary-school students, but 2nd-graders at Hope Lutheran School often find a particularly friendly 4-legged visitor in the classroom to make the experience a bit more special.

On most Thursdays during the school year, a gentle 5-year-old yellow lab named Olympia pays a 1-hour visit to the classroom along with her handler, Caryn Burnett Ridings, as students like Olivia Turner (all pictured below) take turns reading their favorite books aloud:

Click to read the rest of Hope Lutheran student readers benefit from furry friend…

Followup: In starved-dog case, investigators ‘not ruling anything out’

In case you missed the story late Friday about an emaciated dog found in West Seattle and the reward “up to $2,500″ offered for any information leading to who’s responsible – we just talked with Seattle Animal Shelter director Don Jordan to ask some followup questions. Read on for what we found out: Click to read the rest of Followup: In starved-dog case, investigators ‘not ruling anything out’…

Reward offered to find animal abuser responsible for dog’s death

Animal advocates are trying to find out who’s responsible for abusing a starved dog that did not survive. The Seattle Animal Shelter sent this release:

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this atrocious act of negligence.

On Saturday, May 12, an emaciated dog was found in the 9400 block of 26th Avenue Southwest. The badly emaciated dog was immediately rushed to a veterinary clinic but did not survive.

Details of where the dog had been for the last 30 days are unknown. If you recognize the dog and have seen him or know where he has been over the past several weeks please call Seattle Animal Shelter Enforcement Supervisor Ann Graves at (206)386-4288. The case number is 5319. Any information about the dog’s whereabouts is vital to helping determine the circumstances around the dog’s condition.

“To intentionally starve an animal that relies solely on you for its care is a truly heinous act,” said Dan Paul, Washington state director for The Humane Society of the United States. “Americans have no tolerance for this type of abuse against the creatures who share our world.”

Animal cruelty is a Class C felony punishable by 5 years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is available for field operations seven days per week, 9:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The phone number is (206) 386-PETS (7387).

A photo of the dog, while it was receiving veterinary care, can be seen here.

Authorities investigate cat death north of The Junction

Police and the Seattle Animal Shelter are investigating a cat death reported north of The Junction this morning. The details are disturbing, so we’re putting this behind a jump from the home page: Click to read the rest of Authorities investigate cat death north of The Junction…

See West Seattle’s newest ‘dog park’ during Community Garage Sale Day

(Photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
It’s the newest one, and the smallest one. A little patch of grass by a utility pole outside the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction is there for the convenience of passers-by and their pooches. It’s also one of two new features you can admire during the SEVENTY-DEGREE SUNSHINE! expected for Saturday’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, with The Feedback among the participants, putting on a Rock ‘n’ Roll Garage Sale (read more on their website) – they’ve also spruced up the spot where a tree came down last year:

Feedback general manager Bradi Jones dubbed it the “Sound Garden” in her note to us this afternoon, explaining, “Gia Griffitts [pictured], Tim Jones, and I just got done with revamping the front patch where the tree (s) had been, in front of the bar! We made it all nice and fresh! AND Rockin’! Of course!” Go have a look on Saturday while visiting what is Sale #210 on the official WSCGSD maps, now both available via this page here on WSB (including the printable 12-page PDF with the full listing of sales; also check out the WSCGSD Facebook page, where we are publishing updates and where sellers are invited to post more info and photos before Saturday, while buyers are invited to post if there’s anything special they’re looking for).

War on waste: Junction park sets up ‘designated pet areas’

No doubt, the majority of dog owners are responsible and respectful of others. And then, there are the few who make things unpleasant for everybody else by not picking up after their pets. More than a few, in the case of Junction Plaza Park, the tiny oasis of public greenspace at Alaska/42nd, just steps from the heart of The Junction, which now has “designated pet areas” in graveled spots along the sidewalk, after its grassy central circle was so badly befouled, it was in danger of dying. It’s now marked with signs asking pet owners to NOT let their animals relieve themselves there:

We spotted the signs this past week, but had heard about the plan from Susan Melrose of the West Seattle Junction Association and Erica Karlovits of the Junction Neighborhood Association, both of whom worked hard to help make the park happen in the first place; Melrose brought the problem up at the Southwest District Council meeting back in February.

Followup: Wandering dog rescued – but in danger again

Eight days ago, there was a frantic effort by many people over many hours to rescue a dog that was wandering in and out of traffic by Lincoln Park, around Fauntleroy and Rose. Animal-control officers and police reportedly even tried to capture it, but couldn’t. Gretchen e-mailed us the next day:

Any updates on the pit bull on Fauntleroy? I was out there for hours last night trying to catch him. So sad. But so many people stopped to help. I am sure everyone would like to know the status of the dog. It seemed as if someone had dumped him there and left, as he kept coming back to the same spot looking for something. Heart-breaking.

Now we know what happened to the dog – that’s her in the top photo, provided by Animal Aid and Rescue Foundation (AARF). Heather from AARF writes that a friend found the dog in the park a week ago, but the dog is in danger again because her “72-hour stray hold” at a shelter is expiring and she is “not considered adoptable … because she doesn’t like other dogs. … Unless we pull her, she will be euthanized.” And AARF can’t do that without finding a foster home. “The foster home would need to be a home without other animals. After she calms down from the stress of a week in the kennel, we can bring a trainer out to reassess her to judge how well she’ll do then.” Of course, Heather says they would also love to find the dog’s real owner, if somehow they are out there looking for her. If you can offer a foster home – or if you are/know the owner – e-mail info@myaarf.org.

Update: Jared and friends at Kitty Harbor adopt-a-thon

1:52 PM: Jared the cat still looks a little stressed – and who can blame him? When last we saw him, he was wearing a special oxygen mask after being rescued from a fire at the house where local animal advocate Teri Ensley was fostering him. Now he’s ready for adoption, and he’s one of the 70-plus cats/kittens with which Kitty Harbor opened its two-day adopt-a-thon this afternoon. We dropped by early on – and of all the cats we photographed, we just had to share this one too – tailor-made for a caption along the lines of, “I’m ready for my closeup”:

The adopt-a-thon continues till 6 tonight and runs again noon-6 pm tomorrow, with other prospective adoptees including more than a dozen of the Auburn “camper cats.” Kitty Harbor is on Harbor Avenue just north of the West Seattle Bridge.

7:54 PM UPDATE: Delyn from Kitty Harbor told us just before 6 pm that 47 cats had found homes, and via Facebook, Stacey said the final count was 52. (We’re checking on Jared’s status.) That means still more to find homes tomorrow (Sunday), noon-6 pm.

8:33 PM UPDATE: Stacey ups the total to 54. And we’re also told Jared is still looking for a home. But the Siamese “Camper Cats” did. About 20 cats will be there tomorrow, awaiting you.