West Seattle, Washington

24 Wednesday

51℉

Pets 647 results

Dogs in stores: What do you think?
October 15, 2008 11:59 pm
|      108 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | West Seattle people

Just out of the WSB inbox, a request for discussion. We’re looking up the law – meantime, what do you think?

As I stood at the deli counter in the Jefferson Square Safeway today, waiting my turn to get lunch, a woman wheeled one of the store’s little shopping carts up to the counter with her pet dog standing in the top basket, nose sniffing at all the food smells. The dog wasn’t tucked under an arm or sitting in a purse, he was standing up with front paws on the rim of the cart with all his boy doggy parts hanging out. It was disgusting. I told the checker on the way out that I was disgusted Management allowed pets in the store and in the carts we all use. I asked her to please tell the store manager about my comment.

Earlier in the week it was QFC in Westwood Village where I stopped to get the last minute ingredients for dinner when I saw a woman with her little pug on a leash wandering through the store. Why do these neighbors of ours think it is ok to bring their pets into the place where we purchase food? There is no good reason to do this.

On both occasions I thought about confronting the shoppers with the dogs, but worried about their reactions. Instead I chose to tell store personnel how I felt about the dogs being allowed in the store. I would love to hear from other neighbors on this topic. If more people feel as I do, that only service animals need to be allowed in areas where food is purchased or consumed, then maybe we can get the Management of these stores to do something.

Dogs are not accessories that complete an outfit. Being a dog owner/lover myself I would never consider taking my dog into a grocery store. Are there City Ordinances about this, and what about liability issues for the stores?

Interested in my neighbors’ view,
Linda Thomson

(Other similar issues have been discussed here, and in the WSB Forums, before, but we still can’t find the exact rule/statute; summaries boil it down to, pets aren’t supposed to be in grocery stores, unless they’re service animals, and proprietors generally are advised not to push for proof.)

Share This

Crime Watch alert: Scam targeting owners of missing pets
October 14, 2008 7:19 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Pets | West Seattle news

Got a call tonight from Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Officer Kevin McDaniel suggesting an alert about a scam that is particularly cruel in its choice of targets: Owners of missing pets. Some of those who have posted e-mail addresses online have received notes from people claiming they have the missing pet and are demanding ransom. Some are particularly obvious, not just because of the text – they sound like a spam e-mail – but also because if you put an excerpt of the text into Google or another favorite search engine, you’ll turn up other warnings that it’s a scam. If you do think you have gotten a note or call that might be a legitimate claim of pet-napping and/or ransom, of course, McDaniel stresses, call police (the non-emergency number is 206/625-5011).

Share This

Mourning Monte: A plea to slow down
October 11, 2008 12:43 am
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | Safety | West Seattle news

monte.jpg

Days after people of all ages gathered along 35th to call attention to safety concerns including speeding drivers, a fast-moving car took a furry friend from his Junction-area family. Fiori C posted her story in the West Seattle Blog Forums, and we asked her to send a photo so we could feature it here on the home page, including her plea:

Tragedy struck my family (Thursday) when our family dog escaped from our fenced yard close to the Alaska Junction, ran into the street and was immediately struck by a car traveling way too fast for the area. The car didn’t even stop. I’m not sure they even saw or felt what had happened.

All I can say is that it was an absolutely devastating experience for me and for our family that was visiting here from Des Moines, IA. We had had a perfectly lovely visit and our parents were packing the car, getting ready to head back home when Monte darted out the gate and was struck by a car coming up Edmunds by the True Value at about 40 miles per hour.

Monte was a Wire Fox Terrier that was more like a child to my Mother & Father-in-law than a dog. He was very special to all of us and will be greatly missed by the entire family.

I know the traffic police are doing their best right now to make people aware of certain areas (like 35th) that we need to slow down on but there are other areas of great concern like this corner of 44th & Edmunds. This has always been a bad intersection but lately, things have gotten completely out of hand. On the weekends, there is a constant stream of cars that don’t seem to be able to read the “DEAD END” sign on Rutan and come flying down that street only to find it end, then they back up at unsafe speed to get out. My fence has been knocked over, my cars have been scratched by those that turn around in our driveway. All things just completely inconsiderate of the fact that families are living here.

When we find ourselves complaining about the growth here in West Seattle, we should be thinking about what our contribution to that is. If we are driving fast, on our phone or just generally not aware, WE make that growth unpleasant. West Seattle is a wonderful place to raise a family. Let’s keep it that way and be considerate of our neighbors and SLOW DOWN A BIT FOR THE LOVE OF OUR FAMILIES!

~ IN MEMORY OF MONTE GRUVER ~
Loving Fox Terrier & Loyal Companion
Your life was taken too soon but our love for you will last forever….

During our e-mail exchange, Fiori added, “If you know of any community group that could use some help in organizing an effort to become more aware of this problem, please let me know as I would be willing to help/organize.” If you have any suggestions along that line, please leave a comment here, or e-mail us and we will put you in touch with Fiori.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Westwood dognapping?
October 10, 2008 4:32 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Pets | West Seattle news | Westwood

missingdog.jpgA Westwood resident who wants to remain anonymous believes someone stole her missing chocolate Labrador/pointer mix (shown at left), just 16 months old, and wants to ask you to be on the lookout. She says the thief or thieves removed “panels from a wooden fence” to get onto the property and “poorly patched up the fence in an attempt to hide their robbery.” They say they’ve reported this to Seattle Police as well as the Seattle Animal Shelter and they have reason to suspect the culprits might be in the neighborhood, so they are asking fellow West Seattleites to watch for their dog. She has a chip and was wearing its tags when taken. If you have any information, they have an e-mailbox set up via CL; click here to launch a mail window.

Share This

From cats to coyotes: A story, and a seminar
October 9, 2008 1:34 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Coyotes | Delridge | Pets | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Just added another lost cat to the WSB Pets page. It’s a page you probably wouldn’t pay attention to until and unless you lost or found a pet; it still features some very-long-lost pets, like Sacha the cat (left), who’s been gone almost a year and also stars in a new Seattle Weekly story by West Seattle-residing Mike Seely, “The Lost Cats of Poverty Gulch.” It’s not just about cats and West Seattle – it’s also about greenspaces and coyotes, among other things. Which gives us another excuse to remind you that one of the excellent “Living With Wildlife” presentations is coming to West Seattle later this month – we hope it’s a full house, as the one we covered in Magnolia earlier this year was laden with helpful information. Be at the Camp Long Lodge, 7 pm, Tuesday 10/21.

Share This

One more chance to get your pet(s) blessed
October 7, 2008 1:39 pm
|    Comments Off on One more chance to get your pet(s) blessed
 |   Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

blessinganotherdog.jpgLast weekend, we covered two Blessing of the Animals events, presented Saturday by The Mount and presented Sunday by St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (photo left). Today, we just got word of another one – 10 am this Sunday at Alki Congregational United Church of Christ, whose announcement follows: In honor of St. Francis, Patron Saint of Animals, bring your pets and human friends to this very special service. We all worship together — children, adults, cats, dogs, goldfish, birds, and last year we even had a jar of bees (who put a jar of honey in the offering plate!). Dogs on leashes and cats in carriers, please. For information, e-mail alkiucc@attglobal.net.

Share This

Another “Blessing of the Animals,” with a community-festival twist
October 5, 2008 7:31 pm
|    Comments Off on Another “Blessing of the Animals,” with a community-festival twist
 |   Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle religion | West Seattle video

blessingdog.jpg

Brother Nicholas Kis from the Order of St. Francis in the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia blessed dozens of West Seattleites’ pets this afternoon in the West Seattle High School parking lot, at a “Blessing of the Animals“ presented by neighboring St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. Mostly dogs, just a few cats, one of whom received the first blessing; later, we discovered it had a special meaning:

(video no longer available due to blip.tv shutdown)

When we caught up with Pesky the cat a few minutes later, Pesky’s owner told us that blessing was really like “last rites” — later today, she was taking 14-year-old Pesky to the vet to be euthanized, after a long and painful battle with incurable renal disease. She read about today’s event on WSB and thought it would be an appropriate place to bring Pesky first. Just ahead, more video and photos:Read More

Share This

Happening today: Farmers’ Market, animal blessing #2, more …
October 5, 2008 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on Happening today: Farmers’ Market, animal blessing #2, more …
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help | Pets | West Seattle Farmers' Market

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Sunday morning means the weekly link to the Ripe ‘n’ Ready fresh sheet listing some of what you can expect to find at WSFM, 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska. Here’s the link.

ANIMAL BLESSING #2: First one happened Saturday at The Mount; today, a big outdoor event at the West Seattle High School parking lot, starting at noon, presented by neighboring St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, and featuring the Humane Society MaxMobile with adoptable pets.

MORE: Here’s the direct link to our West Seattle Weekend Lineup Sunday list – with info on today’s other highlights (including Holy Rosary’s annual Alumni Sunday, the Seattle CROP Walk, Ciderpress in Delridge, and a Music Northwest concert).

Share This

West Seattle weekend scenes: Animal blessings at The Mount
October 4, 2008 1:59 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle religion | West Seattle video

Video thumbnail. Click to play
Click pic to play video

cescothedog.jpgToday is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, and that’s why this weekend you had two invitations to get your pets (etc.) blessed. First one happened this morning at Providence Mount St. Vincent; that’s Father Lyle Konen in the video above, delivering the blessing (The Mount asks that residents not be photographed, so as far as the participants go, Cesco the dog at left is all we’ve got, but overall there was quite the crowd – listen for the collar-jingling in the video). Next blessing event is tomorrow, public also invited, at the West Seattle High School parking lot at noon tomorrow, presented by neighboring St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. Full event info here – not only will blessings be offered, but handmade items will also be for sale, along with refreshments, and if you’re in the mood to add to your household, the Humane Society’s MaxMobile will be there (second half of this post shows its recent appearance at Thriftway).

Share This

Today: Viaduct, food drive, burn fundraiser, voter signup, more
October 4, 2008 7:00 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | How to help | Pets | West Seattle news

VIADUCT CLOSURE: Reminder, the Alaskan Way Viaduct is closed till 11 am this morning because of the Puget Sound Heart Walk. (Its next weekend inspection closure is in two weeks, 6 am-6 pm Saturday 10/18 and the same hours Sunday 10/19.)

FOOD DRIVE: Heard late last night from local Prudential realtors Debbie Rutledge (via Facebook) and Alice Kuder that they and others are collecting food and money for the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks at two locations 10 am-2 pm today: Thriftway and PCC.

BURN FUNDRAISER: Around the region, it’s “Give Burns the Boot” day with local firefighters teaming up to help the Northwest Burn Foundation. Look for them at Metropolitan Market and Westwood Village QFC.

VOTER SIGNUP: Last reminder – today’s your last chance to register. Look for registration drives almost everywhere, or register online RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: First of two this weekend – today, it’s indoors, 10:45 am, front lobby of Providence Mount St. Vincent (map), everyone’s welcome to bring their animals; Father Lyle Konen will perform the blessing.

MUCH MORE: Check the West Seattle Weekend Lineup; here’s the direct link to today’s list.

Share This

Got time and room for dogs that need temporary homes?
October 2, 2008 2:34 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Pets

This isn’t West Seattle-specific, but if you go through the training, you CAN do it at your own home: The Seattle Animal Shelter has an orientation session coming up for people interested in providing foster homes to dogs. (SAS has a foster-cat program too; that’s where one of ours came from.) Read on for the announcement:Read More

Share This

And now, a brief break for cute pet pix
September 22, 2008 4:14 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | West Seattle online | West Seattle parks

Lots of serious news today. For those who’d appreciate a quick break from it: Cats, on leashes, in Lincoln Park.

Share This

West Seattle scenes: 3 more weekend pix
September 8, 2008 1:47 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | Seen around town | West Seattle beaches

westcrestteamnarrow.jpg

Congratulations to the Westcresters team (click that pic for a full-size version so you can see everyone better!) for their achievement in this weekend’s PAWSWalk – they raised more than $4500! (Some of it, from a doggie-treat bake sale at Westcrest last weekend, and we hear some WSB’ers stopped by.) Next, a different view of Sunday’s Car-Free Day on Alki (our full coverage is here):

biketire.jpg

Babs sent that after returning from what she termed a “glorious bike ride.” And speaking of glorious, we got this next shot while at the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza for the Saturday sunset concert (coverage here):

brothers.jpg

Don’t mean to jinx anything, but there are indications next weekend might be nice too. Lots going on – including the West Seattle Gateway Cleanup and the Evergreen State Barbecue Championship on Alki; we’ll be previewing the big events in the next day or two.

Share This

Semi-wildlife sighting: Goats on the loose!
September 4, 2008 11:55 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | Seen around town | West Seattle news

goatsonloose.jpg

We posted this first at partner site White Center Now, since it’s in the unincorporated area, but the photo’s too good not to share here too. We got it along with this report from Phoebe:

There were goats running around loose near SW 106th Street and 28th Ave SW this AM! (map) I saw them darting out into traffic and then ducking into this yard for a snack! I parked my car and tried to find where they had escaped from, without any luck. Eventually I called animal control, who told me the goats are technically in King Co (Seattle city limits end at SW 106th & 32nd Ave SW) and that she would “see what she could do.” I drove by again at 10:00 and I didn’t see them in the area … I hope they made it home safe & sound!

Share This

From the WSB Forums: Happy ending to a frantic search
August 31, 2008 12:58 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Pets

gibsn.jpgMost days, we get at least two or three lost/found pet reports to add to the WSB Pets page. Often, we get word of happy reunions within a few days. Sometimes, the search is so intense that, after the original post to the Pets page, there are in-progress updates, which we lately have been directing to the WSB Forums – and in one such case, that of Gibs’N the Irish Water Spaniel (photo above), the latest update is a happy ending – forum posts indicate he’s back home tonight. Some West Seattle pets are still missing – and have been for a long time – if you don’t routinely check the Pets page, please have a look from time to time – you never know when you might see one of those long-lost critters and be able to bring her/him home. (We have adoptable pets, and West Seattle pet owners’ favorite photos, on that page too!)

Share This

Happening this morning: Bake sale for pets’ sake
August 30, 2008 7:02 am
|    Comments Off on Happening this morning: Bake sale for pets’ sake
 |   Highland Park | How to help | Pets | West Seattle parks

sunnywestcrest.jpg

That’s Westcrest Park Off-Leash Area (map) — West Seattle’s only off-leash park (featured in this West Seattle 101 chapter) — and in the north parking lot adjacent to it, you’ll find some “Westcresters” having a dog-cookie bake sale this morning, 9:30-noon, raising money for the upcoming PAWSwalk. (If you can’t go buy treats, but would like to find out about supporting them in the walk, here’s their page; the walk is a week from today in Magnuson Park.)

Share This

Dog poisonings update: Coco “normal,” investigation continues
August 27, 2008 6:21 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Genesee Hill | Pets | West Seattle news

poisoneddog.jpgFive days after we first told you about the poisoning of Coco the dog in her 47th/Genesee yard (map), owner Kate now reports Coco’s “back to normal.” She also has received an update on the case from Seattle Animal Shelter investigator Katherine Rich, regarding the reports of other area poisonings, and wanted to share what Rich e-mailed her, excerpted as follows:

I personally have taken 4 calls reporting poisonings in West Seattle. I know the dispatcher has also taken several calls. So far most of the reports pertain to fairly old cases (3-5 years old) and will be hard to follow up on. We are however questioning everyone that calls in and doing our best to follow up with what information is given. I am also waiting on some vet records in these older cases to see what the notes hold.

Kate says SAS is still interested in hearing from anyone else in West Seattle whose dog was poisoned – Rich’s number is 206.386.7387.

Share This

Dog poisonings: Investigation expands, citywide media covers
August 24, 2008 2:02 am
|    Comments Off on Dog poisonings: Investigation expands, citywide media covers
 |   Crime | Pets | Safety | West Seattle news

poisoneddog.jpgSince Friday morning, when we first posted the story of Kate K and her dog Coco — who is recovering from being poisoned in her own yard — the comment thread brought two other nearby residents forward with stories about dog poisonings – and that has animal authorities investigating whether these cases might be linked (at Kate’s request, we e-mailed those two commenters to be sure they saw her note about contacting the investigator). It’s also brought two citywide-media reports – we want to thank the Times for crediting WSB and those commenters in its report today (here’s the link); the other report didn’t. Thanks also to those who shared advice on emergency vets.

Share This

Stolen West Seattle pugs update: Message from their owner
August 22, 2008 9:57 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Pets | West Seattle news

dogshome.jpg

When we got the news last night about the safe return of the stolen Arbor Heights pugs, we asked owner Marsha Lubetkin if she could send a photo when she got a chance to catch her breath. The photo you see above just came in tonight, along with this note explaining more about the circumstances of the pugs’ return:

I wanted to thank your blog and everyone who helped us search for our pugs, Bandit & Pippin. It is such a happy ending and they are both fine and very glad to be home.

I do want to let everyone know that today I spoke with the woman who took them to the King Co Animal Shelter and she really was a good samaritan. She lives in the Skyway area near Renton and returned home from shopping about 5:00 yesterday with her brother and cousin and found 2 pugs in her yard. She had not watched the news or read the newspapers, so had not heard about Bandit & Pippin. They checked with all their neighbors and no one knew who owned the pugs. Her father told her to take them to a shelter, so she and her brother googled where the nearest shelter was and took them to Kent. She just wanted the dogs to get back to their owners, but felt the staff at the shelter were very suspicious of her and wanted all kinds of ID and she felt she was treated with disrespect. I think it was all a misunderstanding on each side. … After talking with her, I do believe her and thanked her for getting our pugs back to us. She did exactly the right thing and without her they could still be missing. She refused the reward, but I told her I was sending her a check anyway. She is the reason our pugs are home tonight. Thanks for spreading the word.

As for how the dogs got into that yard — still a mystery.

Share This

Pet alert: West Seattle dog recovering from poison
August 22, 2008 11:44 am
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Genesee Hill | Pets | Safety | West Seattle news

poisoneddog.jpg

That’s Coco the dog, wearing bandages where she needed IV treatment for medications and fluids after an apparent poisoning right in her own yard in the 47th/Genesee vicinity (here’s a map). We first heard from Coco’s owner Kate K very early this morning, and then a followup after they visited the vet – she’s also put up flyers to get the word out (we just got e-mail about one of them) – here’s her story:Read More

Share This

Bulletin: Stolen West Seattle pugs found safe
August 21, 2008 6:40 pm
|      41 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | West Seattle news | Westwood | WS breaking news

pug30.jpgJust talked to Marsha, owner of the stolen pugs, and she confirmed what had been left as a comment on one of our earlier posts a short time ago: The dogs are safe. Here’s what happened: They got a call from the Kent Animal Shelter around 5:30 pm, thanks to the information on the pugs’ microchips. A woman apparently brought the dogs in this morning, said they had been in her yard and she was turning them in, and she left. They are in good health and appear to have pug31.jpgbeen kept indoors since they were stolen back on Monday. Marsha says THANKS SO MUCH to everyone who helped look for them and expressed hopes they would be found safe – she told WSB, “That’s one good thing that came out of this – seeing how caring and supportive everyone was.” She told us about bumping into a young woman who was out in the Fauntleroy Park ravine area this morning, looking for the dogs because she’d read about it here on WSB and wanted to help. (Apparently the pug spotted in the 35th/Barton area earlier today is someone else’s dog.) That’s the second happy ending today, hooray. We asked her to send us a photo of the dogs back safe at home (Pippin, above left, and Bandit at right), so we can share that with you, once she gets a chance.

Share This

Another update on stolen pugs: Be on the lookout
August 21, 2008 4:12 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | West Seattle news

This note came in from Marsha, owner of the stolen pugs:
pug30.jpg“Pippin [left] has been seen within the last few hours running. She is freaked out and will not come to anyone. She was seen at 35th & Barton (people at Tony’s Fruit Stand saw her), she’s been seen on Roxbury & 34th and also heading west on Barton. Dic is helping us search and he said she appears to be heading north. If she is west of 35th, she may be in more familiar territory since we walk that area a lot. I walked through the ravine (where we also walk) but didn’t see her. My husband, Barney, and I are out searching. Please call our cells if you spot her and can’t catch her. If you can get her, please do and call us. Barney’s cell is 206 730-0143. Marsha’s cell is 206 915-3308. Thanks for all your help on getting our pugs back.“

Share This

Stolen pugs update: Reward, possible sighting
August 21, 2008 9:15 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Pets | West Seattle news | Westwood

pug30.jpg pug31.jpg

We have two updates from Greg, son of the Arbor Heights couple whose two pugs were taken by burglars (here’s the original report; here’s our update from yesterday, after police received information confirming they were stolen): First, he says a $1,000 reward is offered, “no questions asked”; second, he says, “Somebody thought they saw a wandering pug on Barton 1 block west of Delridge. If you are in the area, please keep an eye out. If you see a pug that looks lost, please take it to the vet. The two stolen pugs are microchipped.”

Share This