West Seattle, Washington
05 Friday
That’s a photo from last year’s West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club Hi-Yu Kids’ Fishing Derby; this year’s edition happens this morning at Seacrest, 8 am-11 am. Kids through age 12 are welcome – it’s free – and you get to keep your catch. Or — perhaps you and your family are in the market for a pet?
That’s Riley, a “senior dog” who needs a new home. Animals First Foundation is scheduled to bring Riley to the Furry Faces Foundation plant sale today (raising money for animal rescue), 10 am-4 pm (tomorrow too) along with info about other pets AFF has available (more into cats? they’ll be at the plant sale tomorrow). Lots of info about the sale and the pets can be found here (and the book-signing!). That’s one of THREE big plant sales today, by the way, along with the sale at Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor) to benefit the American Cancer Society and the sale at Tibbetts United Methodist Church. Not interested in plants, pets, or fishing? LOTS more happening – including state legislators’ Town Hall in White Center (which has a big community cleanup today too) at 10 am, The Kenney‘s big brunch fundraiser at 11 am, and many entertainment options … click here to go directly to the Saturday section of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
Since Furry Faces Foundation‘s big plant sale this weekend is all about raising money to help animals, a bonus event on Saturday fits right in: West Seattle author Val Mallinson will be signing and selling copies of her books “The Dog Lover’s Guide to the Pacific Northwest” and “The Dog Lover’s Guide to Seattle” for the first four hours of the first sale day, donating $1 from each book sale to F3. As F3’s announcement puts it, “Together with her faithful companions Cooper and Isis—also known as “The Wonder Wieners”—Val reveals the best dog-friendly romps, digs, and eats in the Pacific Northwest in these two new guidebooks.” She’ll be there 10 am-2 pm tomorrow (Saturday); the plant sale is 10 am-4 pm Saturday and Sunday; the location both days is 3809 46th Ave SW (map). And did we mention the plant sale also will offer pet-adoption opportunties? in addition to the “1,200+ healthy, nursery quality plants at reasonable prices, beautifully suited for Pacific NW gardens” – even more details here.
Today, we welcome our newest sponsor, West Seattle pet-care provider Lady Di, Pet Chaperone. 
It’s a WSB tradition to welcome new sponsors by sharing more information about their businesses; Lady Di‘s been in the pet-care business in West Seattle for 14 years. Currently, she offers doggy day care in a real home environment. The dogs have a complete living room, with comfy furniture, dog beds and a TV, which were all donated by Lady Di‘s clients. There are also inside and outside areas for small dogs, and the day care features a live-in manager to look after your pets. Lady Di offers in-home visitation for pets as well. If you’re going out of town, you can schedule an interview with Lady Di. During the interview, Lady Di takes time to get to know you and your pet, and to learn about what needs your pet might have while you’re away. In-home visits are available for dogs, cats, birds, fish, and exotics. Her visiting staff is bonded and insured. Lady Di, Pet Chaperone is a member of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the West Seattle Junction Association. Online, you’ll find Lady Di at seattlepetcare.com; by phone, 206-938-4222.
Thanks to Lady Di, Pet Chaperone for supporting 24/7 community news, information and discussion by sponsoring WSB; our full list of sponsors is here, as is info on how to join them!
Want to raise a puppy to become a guide dog? Tomorrow night is your next chance to meet the folks with West Seattle Guide Dogs for the Blind. They sent the photo at left – that’s Kenneth, 5 months old, now being raised by Cheryl Phelps in West Seattle. The group has a meeting at 7 pm tomorrow (Monday 5/11) at Hiawatha Community Center – or, if you can’t go, get in touch with Sue Bonney, seedogs@mail.com or 206-330-7999. (Want to know more about what it’s like to raise a guide dog? The people you’ll meet tomorrow night will have the best answers, of course, but this webpage offers more info, too.)
FIRST ADMIRAL NOTE: The second business to move into the long-empty space at 42nd/Admiral is finally ready to go public – joining CF West Seattle (here’s our previous story on CF-WS) will be Muttley Crew Cuts, currently located further south on California. Muttley Crew Cuts’ Kelly Rothenbuhler tells WSB they’re planning to move into the new space June 15, and it makes more growth possible for MCC: “It is a much bigger space at 3000 square feet. We will be able to do a lot more day care because we have more room for the dogs to run. There will be separate areas set up for different play types. There will be 2 larger areas and 1 puppy area and a senior dog area. The space also will allow for more retail area in the future. We will be open 7 days a week Monday through Friday 7 am to 7 pm and Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 6 pm.” A banner marking the new location might be up as soon as tomorrow. By the way, Muttley Crew Cuts and CF West Seattle are BOTH participating in West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day this Saturday, at the new space at 42nd and Admiral (their sales are #14 and #15 on the map – get it here) — CF is selling to benefit the Liver Foundation, Muttley Crew’s sale will benefit English Springer Rescue America.
SECOND ADMIRAL NOTE: Thanks to Forest for the tip on this – a short distance from the spot we were just discussing, Bloom Preschool and Transitional Kindergarten is opening in The Admiral (the building with Bartell Drugs). Here’s the school’s website with more info.
Saturday is already a great shopping day because of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (here’s how to get The Map!) – if you’re in the market for a new pet too, check out adoptable foster cats at Alki Community Center. (The one pictured at left got a home during the last West Seattle adoption event in November.) We posted this in the WSB Forums yesterday but wanted to mention it here too while we have a moment – read on for the official announcement:Read More
Just posted at partner site White Center Now, the latest on the church cat that survived a vicious attack.
FEEDBACK LOUNGE SITE LAUNCH: Feedback Lounge (the long-awaited Morgan Junction hotspot opening 6 pm Saturday night, as announced last Saturday) now has its full website up and running at feedbacklounge.net – including the drink menu, food menu and Tune-O-Matic Library.
SNOOTY WALK SITE RELAUNCH: The 3rd annual Snooty Walk and Pet Rodeo organized by West Seattle High School students (also happening Saturday, 2 pm) launched its new site overnight at snootywalk.com.
SKILLET STREET FOOD: We reconfirmed with Skillet proprietor Josh Henderson that the silver Airstream trailer famous for its on-the-street cuisine is on target to make its West Seattle debut (first reported here 3 weeks ago), and will be in the Key Bank lot next to the West Seattle Farmers’ Market 11 am-2 pm Sunday. Here’s the online component: Henderson confirms this is the menu they’ll offer this Sunday.
(photo from Pasado’s Safe Haven website)
One day after first word of the attack that left Scatt the Cross Church cat in the hospital, and put his alleged attacker in jail, there’s an online update from Pasado’s Safe Haven, the local animal-advocacy group that has offered to foot Scatt‘s medical bills. Scatt’s gone through surgery and is now being evaluated for possible peritonitis. Read the latest here. 6 PM UPDATE: First-degree animal-cruelty charges are now filed in this case.
We’ll keep watch on the story of Scat, the White Center church cat, to bring you followups if new information is available. Meantime, if you’re ready for cheerier news, we got e-mail today from Jane, who was “found by” Zack the cat, learned he needed costly surgery (which cost him a leg), and sought help here last winter. Here’s a new pic, followed by an update:
I wanted to give our friends in West Seattle an update on Zack’s life. Zack is doing great. It has been almost four months now since we saved Zack and it is like he has always been a part of the family. The first month of Zack’s amputation was a little rough and I had to make Zack take it easy. I got him off the pain medication so he would not hurt himself running around much by not feeling the pain. Zack could jump up on the bed and chairs but he limped slowly while walking across the rug.
I did not realize that Zack could run as fast as he could. Before I could react, Zack was out the door, setting outside with Maxine. Zack quickly sprayed the perimeter of the yard marking his territory and with a little help from me he chased the mean black cat in the neighborhood, away for good.
Since Zack was neutered he no longer leaves for hours roaming, who knows where. I make sure he is not outside to long and that he gets his rest. Zack loves to run across the yard and through the bushes chasing and playing with Maxine. I do not like my cats killing birds but Maxine and Zack are both hunters. They sit under the fence and wait for the birds to drop down from the fence to the lawn. Two weeks ago I saw Zack jumping two feet in the air, happy as ever. We all went out to see what was going on and Zack had finally caught a small bird. He was so proud. Zack also loves catching spiders, flies and mice.
Zack was underweight when I found him and was not fed properly. His hair was in a bad condition. Now that Zack has been eating a proper diet, has his hair brushed daily, the new growth is coming in healthy and shiny. Zack’s whiskers were short and split and now they are finally nice and long. Zack is gaining weight and getting stronger. He never passes up a bowl of food or a chance to set in my lap. I have attached photos. It is hard to get a photo of Zack running because when he is on the go he runs to fast for the photo.
Thanks again to all of you who helped Zack.
Sincerely, Jane
Here’s another photo, this one with him on the run:
Just published at our partner site White Center Now: The King County Sheriff’s Office just sent word that a man’s been arrested after allegedly attacking a White Center church’s cat – which may not survive the resulting injuries. Read the story here. 6:30 PM UPDATE: This case is getting TV coverage too – here’s the channel 4 link, for starters.
Today, we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors, Jen Flynn‘s Four Legs Photography. Jen brings her fine-arts-photography background to taking pictures of people’s pets. 
She says that experience helps her find your pet’s character and capture it on film. Jen does both dog and cat photography in the owners’ homes and occasionally in parks or at the beach [photo at left is C & P Coffee‘s “shop dog” Adie]. When working in a client’s home she says she is careful not to bring her equipment in immediately so that she can get to know the dog or cat she’ll be photographing. Prior to an appointment, Jen also has several tips on how to get your pet’s energy out and still look fresh for a picture. She says that taking this time to establish herself in the pet’s home has led many of her clients to say they were amazed their pet sat still to have a picture taken. Jen also works with several animal rescue and adoption groups and she’s involved with the Northwest Photographic Center. Her work has been seen in West Seattle at Next to Nature in the Junction and at The Kenney during February’s West Seattle Art Walk. She has an upcoming show at Plasteel Frames in June, and she is a frequent contributor to West Seattle-headquartered City Dog Magazine. You can find Four Legs Photography online at fourlegsphoto.com, or call Jen at 206-890-8295.
Thanks to Four Legs Photography for choosing to grow their business and support 24/7 West Seattle community news, information, and discussion by sponsoring WSB; this page has our full sponsor list and info on how to become part of it!
(Harold and Hester, in a photo shared with WSB from last year’s Snooty Walk)
We told you two days ago about the third annual Snooty Walk and Pet Rodeo, presented by West Seattle High School students, coming up at Hiawatha a week from tomorrow – and now we have word from Teri Ensley at Furry Faces Foundation that a Pet Adoption Event will be part of it. Teri tells WSB:
We just confirmed that West Seattle-based Animals First Foundation and King County Animal Care and Control will both be at the Pet Rodeo from 2 pm – 4pm. Additionally, Deena Cornish of Good Citizen Canine, Animals First Foundation’s dog behavorist/trainer, will be on site to answer questions about people’s dogs. And of course, Furry Faces Foundation will have a booth there because we love the students and this event.
For details on how your pets can be part of the Pet Rodeo/Snooty Walk fun, check out our Wednesday report.
That’s Bianca and her prize-winning chicken from last year’s Pet Rodeo and Snooty Walk presented by West Seattle High School students; tonight, Collrane Frivold sends word that another Snooty Walk is in the works – it apparently doesn’t have a website this time around, so Collrane is helping get the word out:
This year my class is putting on the third annual Snooty Walk on April 25 (starting at 2 pm at Hiawatha). This is a fun event created to connect the whole West Seattle community and the love of pets in this neighborhood. My class wants the whole community to be a part of this, so I was hoping you could post it on the blog so that it will be more known to the West Seattle community. … You just have to show up and buy tickets to enter your pet. It cost $10 to enter your pet, and we’re also going to be making pet videos and you can buy a package for a pet video and a ticket for $20.
The 12 events we are doing this year are best trick, best costume, best dancer, speediest pet, drooliest, smallest pet, cutest couple, fattest pet, obstacle course, most obedient pet, oddest pet noise, and most unique pet. Six of these events will be running at one, then we will switch and run the other six. Then the grand finale snooty walk will be at 3:30. This is when the pets and their owners strut their stuff and do whatever they think of as snooty. … Basically this event is just to do something fun for the community, and express the love for pets in this community.
Collrane says judges will include King County Council Chair (and Executive candidate, and WSHS alum) Dow Constantine and Husky Deli owner Jack Miller. Photos from last year’s Snooty Walk are online here.
It’s Tax Day; we’ve had a lot of crime reports (and more in the works); so let’s take a moment for a quick respite: After we started profiling West Seattle’s “shop cats” (meet Swifty here, Presta and Schrader here, and Seth here), we got a few notes about local “shop dogs.” First, there was Cooper; now, meet Adie, the mascot for C & P Coffee, where proprietor Cameron says, “We love all our pals who come to visit, although the official line is service dogs only. Adie comes to work with us every day, but she still won’t drink coffee.” More “mascots” to come!
So far in our series profiling “shop cats” who are fixtures at local businesses, you’ve met Seth at West Seattle Nursery (story here) and Presta and Schrader at Aaron’s Bicycle Repair (story here). Today we head to the southernmost edge of West Seattle for our next “Shop Cat”: Swifty, “the cat who purrs like an engine.”
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Introducing Swifty — whose name exemplifies irony.
Swifty spent 9/10ths of our interview in her big, soft bed on the counter at Roxbury Complete Auto Supply (map). When co-owner Bill Crawford finally picked her up and placed her at the other end of the store, she meandered the aisles for a bit, then went right back to her big, soft bed on the counter.
Who can blame her?
We’ve introduced you to three West Seattle “Shop Cats” so far — Seth at West Seattle Nursery (story here) and Presta and Schrader at Aaron’s Bicycle Repair (story here). Along the way, a few people have asked if we plan to highlight “Shop Dogs” too – we’d planned to wait till the “Shop Cats” ran their course, but then Rock Steele sent us the photo above, and this caption:
This is Baron with his person Scott Goerig – owner of Redline Music and Sports on 35th Ave SW just south of Avalon. Baron can be found most days at the Redline greeting guests as they arrive, checking to make sure that everything is OK and policing the floor between naps.
Thanks, Rock, Baron, and Scott! Meantime, we’ve already got more “Shop Cats” in queue – watch this space. (And one plug for a Shop Cat with a special event coming up – West Seattle Nursery’s spring open house is this Saturday, April 11th, more info on the WSN website.)
From the WSB Forums, and now on TV – a KING 5 story this morning features West Seattleite Pamela Brumell‘s quest to reduce cat overpopulation by trapping feral cats so they can be spayed/neutered. See the story here – and note that she’s looking for translator help.
Last Monday night, in our first West Seattle “Shop Cat” story, you met Seth from West Seattle Nursery. Tonight, we head about a mile south on California SW:
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Meet Presta and Schrader at Aaron’s Bicycle Repair – the award-winning cats:
Look in the picture windows filled with bicycles at Aaron’s shop in Morgan Junction and you may find a pair of bright green eyes looking back at you. Presta and Schrader, the feline brothers who live at the shop, regularly perch themselves on a bike saddle in the front window to take the measure of the world outside.
That’s Sophia the Italian greyhound, aka the current CityDog Magazine cover dog, companion to Wendy and Stephen Hughes-Jelen. Wendy’s High Point K9 Club has a new mission = a second off-leash area for West Seattle (the only one right now is at Westcrest Park). She explains: “The High Point K9 Club is refocusing its mission to concentrate exclusively on the creation of an off-leash exercise area for dogs in the community. The meetup group that was founded in August of 2007 will be purging inactive members so that all current active participants in the off-leash area project are plugged in and receiving communications as we go through the steps of this large project. You do not have to live within the borders of the redeveloped High Point to participate or use the off-leash area. People and their social dogs living in the surrounding communities are welcome to join and participate in the creation process and use of the park after it is done. If you have always wanted to design and build a dog park, we need you!” Just sign up for the group by going here.
Didn’t want to wait till daylight for a photo, once Matthew e-mailed us to point out the subtle alteration that’s been made on the sign at what’s been dubbed Hole-In-The-Ground Foods. (Added Thursday afternoon: The daylight view)
On the way back to WSB HQ from there, we did a double-take (and a pull-over) once we saw the sign at right: The first “Shop Cat” profile is being plugged on the West Seattle Nursery sign! If you missed the story of Seth, who holds court at WSN (by the way, you can meet him during the nursery’s annual Spring Open House on April 11, see it here. And watch for the next West Seattle “Shop Cat” profile either tomorrow or Friday.
WSB contributing reporter Keri DeTore asked us the seemingly harmless question: “What do you think about featuring some of West Seattle’s ‘shop cats’?” We almost fell all over ourselves yelling YES! Here’s Keri’s introduction, followed by the first profile:
Keeping the books warm and the mice away; drinking from fountains, greeting customers and saving other cat lives by being blood donors. West Seattle has a number of businesses featuring these furry co-workers who help with rodent control and even have their own fan clubs. We’ll be sharing the stories of these feline friends from time to time.
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
West Seattle Nursery’s shop cat is Seth: “Everything’s for sale but the cat.”
(photo courtesy West Seattle Nursery)
As he lounges in his nest at the West Seattle Nursery counter, you’d be forgiven for questioning the “feisty” description many of the folks who work with Seth have given him; but reach out a hand and look what happens — you might be delicately hooked by a slender claw and brought closer for inspection:
This already has been pointed out on the comment thread following the Sunday story, but here’s the official announcement early this morning from the family of Payton, the West Seattle schnoodle stolen during a visit to Capitol Hill (original report here) – he’s back home safe:
I don’t even know how to describe what happened in the last 28 hours or so but my wife and I are in total disbelief. We just got our beloved Payton back. Apparently sometime around 9am this morning the thieves dropped him on a busy 4 lane road in Federal Way. 2 ladies on their way to church saw him and picked him up. They posted some ads around Federal Way but saw the clip on KOMO and called it in.
We learned a lot over the last day plus. One, as many people have suggested – don’t leave your dog in your car unattended. It’s simply not safe or worth the risk. We also learned how powerful a group of united friends and can be when called upon. We’re forever grateful to everyone who worked very hard today to help us get the word out. Within moments of getting home last night, our friends and family went to work and gave us the support we needed. Also, if it wasn’t for the West Seattle Blog I’m not sure we would have him back right now. Many thanks to you and your readers for your comments which ultimately led to KOMO reaching out to us about the story.
Lastly, the owner’s of Piecora’s were so helpful and caring and deserve a lot business their way. The owner came in (Sunday) just to get me the footage that SPD decided to ignore (as it was just a theft of “personal property”) so we could get it on air and out to people.
Thanks a million to everyone who showed their support.
Dan
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