West Seattle, Washington
03 Sunday
(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).
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.
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.
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.
(Jared the cat with firefighter Jeff Blevins; 1/9/2012 photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Remember Jared, the foster cat rescued from animal advocate Teri Ensley‘s house during a fire last month? He is one of the cats and kittens who will be looking for “forever homes” during a special adopt-a-thon this weekend at West Seattle’s Kitty Harbor (3422 Harbor SW). As posted in the WSB Forums, Kitty Harbor will be open noon-6 pm Saturday and Sunday with more than 70 other cats/kittens, including some Siamese cats rescued from a recent hoarding situation – among those nicknamed the “camper cats.” More info (and photos!) on Kitty Harbor’s Facebook page.
4:05 PM: Two cars were broken into this afternoon after 1 pm outside the Walgreens at 35th and Morgan, according to Matt, and the only thing taken from his was the family’s Boston Terrier, seen in the photo above. He adds: “$500 reward. No question. He is like my wife’s child and she is inconsolable.”
8:13 PM: Matt reports in comments that their dog has been found! He adds to everyone who helped look and offered well-wishes, “THANK YOU ALL!”
At Beveridge Place Pub and Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) right now, the rescheduled two-site silent auction/raffle/benefit “mini pub-crawl” 
for Teri Ensley and her animal-advocacy/rescue organization Furry Faces Foundation is under way right now. It’s been almost two weeks since a fire damaged Teri’s West Seattle home and killed her beloved cat Pouncer, along with seriously injuring Jared, one of the rescue cats for whom she was caring (he’s the one getting oxygen treatment from a firefighter in a photo we published the day of the fire). A short time ago, we talked with Teri (right) briefly at BPP, where the event continues till 6 (and at FL till 7); she says Jared will eventually be ready to find a forever home. Her home, meantime, has a few months of work ahead before she can move in; she is staying with friends, but recovering from something like this still requires a lot of help, and that’s what tonight’s events are about. Dozens and dozens of auction items are available – we suspect the one on the left below is a hot ticket:
Both locations are on the west side of California SW in the block just north of Fauntleroy.
ADDED: At the Feedback, during hour 2:
From organizers via Facebook, after it was all over: “Thank you so much for everyone that came out tonight!!! The support was amazing!! I will have an official total tomorrow, and let me just tell you it is unbelievably amazing!! Thank you so much!”
Before we get back to weather news – two benefits are scheduled this Thursday night for fire victim Teri Ensley and the animal-advocacy group she leads, Furry Faces Foundation, at Feedback Lounge and Beveridge Place Pub. Organizers are putting out one last call for silent auction donations. From Sara Riehl at AARF:
Hey Everyone, I am still trying to collect donations for our Silent Auction this Thursday. Due to the weather, I would love to have a finalized list with items in hand by Wednesday. Anything that you would bid on an auction would make a great item. Please e-mail me if you intend on donating, sarariehl@gmail.com. You can also comment to the post on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/terisfirefund. Here is a list of current local supporters: Clementine’s, Menashe & Sons Jewelry, Pet Elements, Beveridge Place Pub, Feedback Lounge, Muttley Crew Cuts, Elliott Bay Brewery, and The Wash Dog.
At Kitty Harbor late this afternoon, the first day of a special cat adopt-a-thon wrapped up, with distinguished visitors – with KH founder Delyn Kosbab (left) and Furry Faces Foundation’s Teri Ensley (right), that’s one of them, King County Executive Dow Constantine, holding Patches the cat. Patches, an 11-year-old tortoiseshell, is one of two-dozen-plus cats who will be awaiting you at Kitty Harbor tomorrow. (By 4 pm today, more than 30 already had found new homes!) The adopt-a-thon is also a benefit on behalf of Teri, whose home caught fire this past Monday (WSB coverage here). All but one of her personal and rescue cats is OK, but she is mourning Pouncer, who didn’t make it; otherwise, Teri told us, she’s doing better, and very thankful to everyone who has reached out to help. (Even the clothes she’s wearing are thanks to folks who are helping.) Constantine is a longtime animal advocate – not to mention companion of two rescue cats – and was there not just to show support for Teri, but also for King County Regional Animal Services, which helped with the event:
As terrific as Kitty Harbor is (helping 575 cats find homes this past season!), he noted, it would be great if there was less need for volunteers and private nonprofits to shelter and help so many homeless cats – and there’s an easy way to help that become reality:
(Side note – Constantine and partner Shirley Carlson stopped at Kitty Harbor while heading back from an event at the University of Washington at which local Japanese-American World War II heroes were honored, including two from West Seattle; more on that later.)
The Kitty Harbor adopt-a-thon – which is happening outside the timeframe of the facility’s normal adoption season – continues noon-6 pm tomorrow at 3422 Harbor Avenue SW. Meantime, the latest on assistance for Teri, her cats, and Furry Faces is here (including a “mini-pub crawl” in Morgan Junction Thursday night).
(Monday photo by Christopher Boffoli)
So many people have offered to help in the wake of yesterday’s fire (WSB coverage here) at the West Seattle home of Furry Faces Foundation‘s Teri Ensley, there’s now a coordinated list of what she, the group, and the cats (one died because of the fire) need. Thanks to Sara Riehl from AARF, another local animal-advocacy group that works closely with F3, for compiling it. We’ll link this in our BIG STORIES list on the sidebar so you can find it again later, and will add any changes in the days ahead:
(ADDED TUESDAY NIGHT) PayPal donations for emergency-relief fund: furryfaces.org/donations
(BACK TO ORIGINAL TUESDAY MORNING LIST) This weekend Kitty Harbor is hosting an adoption event for 60 cats. This event will be benefiting Teri and Furry Faces Foundation. They have 20 kittens, 20 teenagers and 20 adult cats up for adoption. It runs from 12-6 pm Saturday, and Sunday the 14th and 15th.
We will also keep you posted but are trying to put together a fundraiser for Teri and Furry Faces Foundation sometime this week at the Feedback Lounge.
Local businesses accepting donations:
Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW)
Muttley Crew Cuts (4200 SW Admiral Way)
Kitty Harbor (3422 Harbor Avenue SW)TERI’S PERSONAL LIST
Costco Gift Cards – She purchases most of her clothes there.
Gloria Vanderbilt Jeans Size 8
Calvin Klein Jeans/Pants Size 8
Her work is Business Casual, and she wears size 8 pants, medium top. She wears a size 7 ½ to 8 shoe, she loves flip flops and has most likely lost her favorite pair of red cowboy boots in the fire. She shops at PCC and Thriftway grocery store, she currently has Mac and Cheese and Stew from the Feedback Lounge but does not have any other food (she does have pots, pans and plates where she is staying)TERI’S PERSONAL CAT/FOSTER CAT WISHLIST
Dog houses, dog igloos, cat/dog beds
Canned cat food- I know people asked for specific kinds so see the list below:
· Anything that Pet Elements sells
· She has a diabetic cat who can only eat wet food that is high in protein
· Her cats like: Turkey, Chicken, and Beef flavors
· Wellness
· Natures Variety
· By Nature
· Nutra source
· Taste of the Wild
She does not currently need any more cat litter; she had amazing donations come in alreadyTERI’S WISH LIST FOR FURRY FACES FOUNDATION
· Cat trees
· Cat collars
· Cat leashes
· Dog collars
· Cat food
· Dog food
· Cat beds
· Cat toys
· Dog toys
As she has written in comments, Sara reiterates that Teri is thankful for the outpouring of support and has been heartened to read the words of encouragement both here and in direct e-mail: “She is blown away by the amount of support she has had, and is so grateful to live in such a wonderful place.”
Three weeks ago, we published the tale of Amy the West Seattleite and Arlene the one-eyed cat. Amy had contacted us to add Arlene – the name she had given her – to the WSB Lost/Found Pets page, explaining she had found the cat a month earlier, in bad shape. After Arlene healed, Amy thought she had better do due diligence to see if the original owner was out there somewhere. We checked back to see how that went:
So far, Amy has not heard from Arlene’s previous owner, nor anyone with even a lead. She said, “I got TONS of e-mails back from people, all supportive and loving, and I did get some donations via pay-pal (which were very much appreciated!) But no one has said anything about recognizing Arlene or knowing who she belonged to. I must say, I’m relieved.” (Amy hadn’t asked for donations, but in the comment section following the first story, folks asked how they could help, since it was clear Arlene’s medical bills had cost a chunk of change.) Arlene has her own Facebook page, by the way; see it here.
In 2012, we’re continuing the WSB tradition of welcoming new sponsors by offering them the chance to introduce themselves. Today, meet one of our newest sponsors – The Wash Dog. Here’s what they’d like you to know:
The Wash Dog has been a business fixture in West Seattle for more than 10 years, providing canine bathing and grooming services. New owners, longtime West Seattle residents Thyra DeHaven and Merry Myers, have been hard at work this past year, upgrading the staff and facility to meet the bathing and grooming needs of West Seattle’s dogs. Two examples: An on-demand hot water system was installed to lessen power usage and insure an endless supply of warm water; and the self-service shampoo was upgraded to a top-notch, environmentally friendly oatmeal shampoo produced by a local Seattle company.
At The Wash Dog there’s a grooming service for every need:
*Self-Service Dog Wash Rooms – just walk in
*Professional Bathing Service – by appointment
*Professional Grooming – by appointment
Customers can also walk in for a quick nail trim or drop by with their dog just to say “hi” and pick up a treat. We love interacting with dogs of all sorts and sizes and take great pride in providing an exceptionally friendly, clean and healthy facility. We have three professional, skilled dog groomers/stylists on staff at The Wash Dog: Laura, Kayla, and Tammy, who you might know from other West Seattle establishments. We also have two part-time experienced bathers. The combined experience of our staff exceeds 35 years, so customers can rest assured their pets are being cared for by professionals who really know and love dogs.
The Wash Dog is located at 6400 California SW, on the north side of Morgan Street Junction. Hours are Monday–Friday, 10 am to 7:30 pm, and Saturday – Sunday, 9 am to 5:30 pm. Holiday hours are always posted online at thewashdog.com or on The Wash Dog’s Facebook page.
We thank The Wash Dog for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
(UPDATED with Stella back home – see below)
ORIGINAL 1:50 AM REPORT: The dog on the left is Stella – and her people are without her this Christmas morning, after burglar/s stole her (and more) on Christmas Eve. Chris sent this report late Saturday night:
My in-laws in West Seattle, on 31st Avenue and SW Holden St, [map] in the High Point neighborhood were robbed tonight. Their names are Mark and Jodi … and they are some of the kindest people I know. They were gone for most of the afternoon and evening delivering presents to their family around the Puget Sound area.
The thieves took all their Christmas gifts, family heirloom Christmas decorations, their electronics (TV, computer, etc).
But the BIGGEST loss, is their dog. Stella, a 3 year old female spayed Boxer (usually with a pink rope-style collar) was stolen by these heartless thieves. If you can help us to find her, it would mean the world to us all. I attached a photo of Stella, she’s on the left in the picture.
Gifts and electronics can be replaced, and heirlooms are only to remind us of the memories we already have. Their wonderful, kind, dog however is not replaceable. We’re all completely heartbroken that she was taken; my in-laws loved her like a child, and my own puppy (on the right in the photo) loved her so much.
Chris says they hope getting the word out might bring Stella home. We’ve added her to the WSB Pets page, too.
10:22 AM UPDATE: Good news! Just in from Chris:
Just to update: apparently Stella came home this morning. Not sure if she was just accidentally released by the burglars or if they let her go. Still traumatic to have the robbery have occurred, but with the only items missing being Christmas presents, I know we’ll have a much better Christmas. I’m seeing her return as the best present we could have gotten, under the circumstances. Family and friends (including the 4-footed variety) is what the holidays are really about.
Apparently she just showed up at the door – not hurt, Chris says, but “very scared.”
Our usual home for lost/found pet reports is the WSB Pets page, which marks its fourth anniversary next month as the only one-stop online bulletin board if you have lost or found a pet in this area. Today, we’re spotlighting a special “found pet” report – because it’s quite out of the ordinary.
Amy e-mailed us the photo of Arlene the one-eyed cat. Arlene is what Amy calls her, anyway. And she had two eyes when Amy found her in bad shape near 34th/Holden a month ago: “I think she’d had a run-in with a raccoon or coyote.” Amy’s first note was pretty sparse, so we inquired: You’ve gotten some care for her, then? Yes, Amy replied:
She had her eye removed, along with some teeth, and flea and ear mite medicine. I didn’t post anything earlier because I wasn’t sure she would survive (she had a bad abscess in her jaw that had gone behind her eye, and she was having seizures for a while). There was also a week or two where she had fluid surrounding her heart and in her abdomen, but that’s all gone now. She’s still taking kidney medication and a diuretic. … It did cost a lot but there was no way I could have just left her in the street, so I didn’t mind paying!
(And of course they checked for a chip; there was none.) Amy has grown to love Arlene and can keep her – but says she felt she just had to post a “found cat” notice because, “I know if I lost my cat, I would want to know she was alive.” If you are, or know, this kitty’s (original) owner, you can e-mail Amy at amywms23@yahoo.com.
Haven’t had a chance yet to get a Santa photo with your pet? Till 5 pm today, you can do exactly that and help the Doney Memorial Pet Clinic, which treats pets whose owners are in need, by going to The Puppy Perfectors, 9629 17th SW. West Seattle Girl Scout Rainbow Troop 52698 is presenting the event; photos are by donation ($25 or more – here’s the official flyer), but you can also help by stopping by for coffee, cocoa, or a holiday Stuffed Cakes treat ($3/$2/$1 donation respectively), and/or drop off a donation of canned pet food or other pet items (Puppy Perfectors has a collection ongoing through the holiday season). Thanks to April for sending the photo!
Just got word that a Morgan Junction business has new owners: Stella Ruffington’s Doggy Playcare. The buyers own a training/boarding facility on Camano Island, and say they “have wanted to enter the Seattle market for quite some time.” Read on for the announcement they sent:Read More
So far, one of the biggest West Seattle trends this holiday season is … Santa-mania! It’s Santa everywhere. And just added to the WSB West Seattle Holidays page tonight, the return of Santa Paws, 11 am-1 pm December 10th at Windermere West Seattle HQ in The Junction … the guy in the fur-trimmed hat is there for photos with your furry friend(s). That’s our newest listing in the “Santa Photos” section. We also have a link now to the schedule at CAPERS for the bearded St. Nick we’ll call “Ex-Westwood Santa” … plus you can get a Santa photo at the Community Pancake Breakfast with the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle at the Masonic Hall (40th/Edmunds) this Saturday, 7 am-11 am (remember to bring your unwrapped Toys for Tots donation) … and the Santa listings we’ve had since the start of the season, daily at Westwood Village and the next three Sundays during Hometown Holidays in The Junction, are there too. And did you see Santa and Mrs. Claus wandering The Junction last Sunday?
(Photo courtesy David E. Perry)
They may be in the vicinity again this Sunday, we hear, perhaps even in the crowd during Saturday’s Junction Tree Lighting (5 pm, Junction Plaza Park). Then again, Santa is everywhere, anyway … has to be, to get all those presents delivered … More holiday events, info, everything, updated frequently, here (and if we’re missing YOUR holiday event, please share the news!).
At the Service Dog Academy north of Morgan Junction, today was Graduation Day for the newest class of diabetic-alert dogs – specially trained to alert their owners to a potentially dangerous drop in blood-sugar levels. Six dogs graduated this time around, two from West Seattle, and that’s who you see above – Ron with canine companion Spencer, Heather with Stella. Both Spencer and Stella are pit-bull mixes. Academy owner Mary McNeight says this is the fifth class of diabetic-alert dogs they’ve graduated since she launched the program.
If you’re a customer of Petco in The Junction, you’ve probably heard they’re opening their new Capco Plaza location – 41st/Alaska, next to the new state liquor store (as first reported here in February) – tomorrow. And like its new neighbors, Petco’s making its move without missing any days of business. WSB contributor Keri DeTore just talked with store manager Ann, who says moving trucks are expected around 3 pm (that’s why the NO PARKING signs are up in front of the store). The old store will be open till 6 tonight, and Keri says they have a shelf full of free stuff they’d rather not move. Grooming is closed for today, though nail trims will resume after 3. Then tomorrow at 9, Ann told Keri, the new store will open with everything up and running: “It’s brand-spankin’ new in there. So clean, it’s lovely.” They’ll have grand-opening events this weekend including a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday morning just before 9. P.S. The current Petco space is still listed as available for lease.
Amy Greger‘s dog just spent two nights in the hospital, very sick from an illness she had never even heard of till now. She wanted to make sure other dog owners are aware of it – so she contacted news organizations, once Daisy was home and on the road to recovery. You may have seen her story on KING the other night; she shared it with WSB too:
Daisy is a 4-year-old Ridgeback-Lab mix from the Humane Society. She runs with “Papa” (~10-15 miles per week) and loves to play chuck-it. She is very mild-mannered and listens very well. Her normal weight is ~80 lbs.
Daisy went from a healthy active dog, became lethargic and stopped eating completely overnight. She lost 8 pounds in 6 days, and the vet was not able to identify the cause of the problem. We went to ACCES Renton to see an internal specialist. After ultrasounds and x-rays showed no clear answers, the specialist asked if there was a chance Daisy may have eaten any salmon. Turned out Daisy was given a small piece of raw salmon at home that fell on the floor almost 4 weeks ago. The doctor began treating her with IV antibiotics. The next day her lab result also confirmed she had salmon poisoning.
Salmon Poisoning is a (potentially) fatal condition for dogs (not human or other animals) caused by a microorganism found in salmon and other fish in the Pacific Ocean from Northern California to Seattle. Heat would kill the microorganism, but it can be in cold-smoked fish also.
Daisy spent 2 nights at the hospital. She started eating and is on the road to full recovery.
Here’s more information about this illness, including its symptoms, and a reiteration that only dogs are susceptible (not even cats). Thanks to Amy for sharing that link as well as her story, and this one too.
“Blessing of the Animals” events are a tradition for the weekend closest to the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals – and again this year, West Seattle had three of them. We dropped by the third and final, and only outdoor, blessing event, presented by St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in the West Seattle High School parking lot next door. Order of St. Francis Brother Kris Wilder (above left) and St. John’s Rev. Peter DeVeau (above center, and below) offered the blessings;
Here’s video as everybody – people and pets – circled around:
(This weekend’s other two West Seattle “Blessings of the Animals” were at Providence Mount St. Vincent on Saturday morning and Alki UCC earlier today.) Side note: If Brother Wilder looks familiar … it may not be just because he has been featured in our previous years’ coverage of this event. He was also on WSB recently in a different kind of robe: The one he wears as a karate instructor, and author of self-defense books.
Story and photo by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
While many of us have emergency plans in place for our families, most of us probably don’t have specific plans for our pets beyond grabbing them and running if disaster should strike. 
Members of the Washington State Animal Response Team (WASART), which focuses on animal safety and rescue, gave a presentation at the West Seattle Senior Center last night, sponsored by West Seattle Be Prepared, to provide information and resource sites for getting your pets as prepared for an emergency as the rest of the family.
WASART co-founder/president Gretchen McCallum, along with volunteer Ginger Dixon (R-L in photo), noted that the human/animal bond is never more important than in times of extreme stress, and WASART was created after stories of animals abandoned during Katrina were publicized. McCallum points out, “If it’s not safe for you to stay in your house, it’s not safe for your pets.”
Besides having enough food, water and medical supplies for your pet, McCallum focused on being able to identify your pet.
(WSB photo from St. John’s 2010 “Blessing of the Animals”)
This weekend is the closest one to the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi – patron saint of animals – so it’s time for West Seattle’s traditional “Blessing of the Animals” events. On Saturday, you’re invited to the lobby of Providence Mount St. Vincent at 10:30 am. Then on Sunday, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church will offer blessings in the West Seattle High School parking lot next door (3000 California SW) at noon. As The Mount’s announcement put it, it’s simply an occasion “to give thanks for all creatures great and small.” (And that means even the smallest of pets, if someone brings ’em – check out the guinea pigs in our report on St. John’s event last year.)
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