Canine to Five,Exclusive Local Retailer Oma’s Pride, the renowned natural raw food that fuels the winners of The Westminster Dog Show is coming to San Diego. Beginning Sept. 2, Canine to Five puppy training & socializing experts will feature Oma’s Pride selections. Your pet does not have to be a show dog to appreciate the overall health benefits of Oma’s and best of all you won’t pay show dog prices for this raw food diet. Canine to Five Retail shop open Sat & Sun 12 to 5 p.m., 2423 Morena Blvd., 92110, 619-684-5959. You can help Pets of the Homeless Announcing Perfect World Pets from Pet Flys, three adorable new doggie toys with a percentage of proceeds going to help Pets of the Homeless. The three different 100 percent cotton canvas pet toys named HOPE, FAITH & PEACE, come with hang tags that include their name and an inspirational message on the front, with the back explaining Pet Fly’s commitment to donate a portion of each sale along with information on how anyone can get involved in helping pets of the homeless. “Pets of the Homeless is an amazing charity organization that focuses on keeping pets and their people together through tough times,” explains Pet Flys owner Tammy Ann Arnett. “I like the preventative approach to keeping pets out of the shelters and with their owner(s), the last thing anyone should have to lose or give up is their best friend.” Pets of the Homeless is a nonprofit volunteer organization that provides pet food and veterinary care to the homeless and less fortunate in local communities across the United States and Canada. Pets of the Homeless is a nonprofit volunteer organization that provides pet food and veterinary care to the homeless and less fortunate in local communities across the United States and Canada. Tammy Arnett, the owner of Pet Flys, came to me with a unique fundraising idea.  Her collection of Perfect World Pets are new 100% cotton canvas pet toys, named HOPE, FAITH & PEACE. They struck a chord with my entire board of directors and we are honored to receive a percentage of proceeds for our programs and are especially touched that Tammy saw fit to include information on how people can get involved helping Pets of the Homeless. Because of the generosity of individuals like Tammy, we can continue doing our work toward our mission to help reduce hunger in pets belonging to the homeless and the less fortunate and provide veterinary care for those pets in communities across the country. For more information go to www.petsofthehomeless.org. Campaign celebrates bond between people and pets Purina, Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. and animal lover Trista Sutter from ABC’s “The Bachelorette” have teamed up to launch the third-annual “Tales for the Pet Lover’s Heart” campaign, celebrating the unique bond between people and their pets, while donating funds to animal welfare organizations nationwide. Together Purina and the Kroger family of stores will donate $150,000 to animal welfare organizations in 2010 as part of the “Tales for the Pet Lover’s Heart” campaign and will recognize the outstanding efforts of animal welfare organizations nationwide. New to the campaign this year is the participation of 18 animal welfare organizations from across the country who submitted a pet tale, which will be brought to life through video. The selected “Top Tale” of 2010 will be awarded with $50,000. Runners up will each receive $11,500 and all participating animal welfare organizations will receive a $3,000 donation from Purina and Kroger. The campaign will conclude with a television special in November. Find more information at www.TalesForThePetLoversHeart.com. Dog-fighting DNA database established to help crack down on problem of animal cruelty The nation’s first criminal dog-fighting DNA database has been established by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Humane Society of Missouri and the Louisiana SPCA, and will be maintained at the University of California, Davis, Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. Known as the Canine CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), the database is designed to help the criminal justice system investigate and prosecute dog-fighting cases. The Canine CODIS contains individual DNA profiles from dogs that have been seized during dog-fighting investigations and from unidentified samples collected at suspected dog-fighting venues. The database is similar to the FBI’s human CODIS, a computerized archive that stores DNA profiles from criminal offenders and crime scenes and is used in criminal and missing-person investigations. DNA analysis and matching through the canine database, available for a fee only to law enforcement agencies, will help to identify relationships between dogs. This will enable investigators to establish connections between breeders, trainers and dog-fight operators. Blood collected from dog fighting sites also will be searched against the Canine CODIS database to identify the source. Stop over-POOP-ulation Warm weather and the hustle and bustle of summer fun means more trips outside in public with your furry friend. It also means more messes in public from our four-legged companions. Pet ownership is at an all-time high with 75 million dogs in 45 million households. An average-sized dog weighing 40 pounds produces three-quarters of a pound of waste per day. This means that the U.S. dog population is depositing an estimated 13.6 million tons of poo a year! If we generously assume 35 percent of pet owners are picking up after their dogs, that still leaves 8.8 million tons of pet waste pollution. Not only does it look bad — it is bad. Did you know that the bacteria found in pet waste poses health risks to you and your community? Pet waste may contain bacteria, which in turn can cause diseases that are harmful to both humans and pets. Rainwater can even wash pet waste on the ground into streams and rivers and contribute bacteria and excessive nutrients that cause algae blooms and rob the water of oxygen needed to support fish and other aquatic life. Visit www.bagsonboard.com for information. Otay Ranch Town Center boasts doggie retreat During the dog days of summer, pets no longer have to “ruff it” while their owners are away. Travelers can give their dogs a “special treat” at Otay Ranch Town Center’s 10,0000-square-foot fenced doggie park (located next to Macy’s at the open-air shopping venue). Making special arrangements for the family pet can sometimes complicate travel plans. Otay Ranch Town Center understands how much people love their pets and how heartbreaking it is to leave them behind while traveling. Located in Chula Vista, Otay Ranch Town Center provides travelers with a pet playground making it convenient for pet-owners to travel with their four-legged friends. Opened in October 2006, Otay Ranch Town Center’s pet park has a pet-friendly setting and an adjacent doggie park with a centrally located chalk garden and popper fountain for children to make this destination especially one-of-a-kind. Otay Ranch Town Center’s dog park is located at 2015 Birch Road, Chula Vista, California. Vote for most extraordinary pet rescue survival story Many pet rescue stories tug at our heart strings and show the unique bond between pets and their owners. Ten such stories represent some “paw”-inspiring tales of lovable canines that make up the finalists in the 2010 Purina® Pro Plan® Rally to Rescue® Doing More™ for Pets Rescue Stories Contest. Now, America has the chance to vote for the most remarkable story and help choose the winner. Nearly 100 stories were submitted, and a judging panel selected the 10 most inspiring success stories as finalists. Through October 1, pet lovers across the country can visit to view the 10 finalist pet rescue stories and help make one canine the top dog with their vote. To vote, go to: www.rallytorescue.org. Camp Bow Wow offers new training program Camp Bow Wow, the nation’s largest pet services company, announced the launch of its newest program, Bow Wow Behavior Buddies, providing training to dogs enrolled at Camp Bow Wow locations. Continuing to expand its programming, Camp Bow Wow will now offer various training options in addition to boarding, day care, home care and a nonprofit component. The Bow Wow Behavior Buddies training is a progressive and comprehensive initiative for Camp Bow Wow and Home Buddies franchisees wishing to offer dog training. Created to help customers modify their canine’s behavior issues, the training commences in the pet’s home, in Camps, or in group classes and is specifically tailored to each pooch using proven training methodologies. Camp Bow Wow’s trainers combine extensive knowledge of dog behaviors to modify your pet’s manners. For more information or to find a Camp or Home Buddies near you offering the Bow Wow Behavior Buddies program, visit www.campbowwow.com. Good manners can earn good rewards Does your dog have good manners or bad habits? The AKC (American Kennel Club) has a certification called the CGC or Canine Good Citizen program might tell you which one you have on your hands, — and how to improve. The certification is a two-part program designed to reward dogs with good behavior and also stresses responsible pet ownership for owners. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club. Owners who recognize the importance of socializing their dogs know that training is an essential part of life.  Dogs with a solid obedience education are a joy to live with, respond well to household routines and have good manners in the presence of people or other dogs. All of these skills serve to enhance the bond shared with their owner. Lara Schindler, Trainer with Happy Dog Happy Owner, has received her CGC Evaluator certification, and is conducting training and tests for anyone with a dog that is ready to get started. Open to all dogs and their owners, regardless of the dog’s age or pedigree, it is not necessary to be a member of the AKC to get dogs tested.  More like an obedience program, dogs and owners will go through a series of simple tests to demonstrate that the dog knows and is able to obey basic obedience commands. In addition, dogs are required to show no aggression towards people or other animals. Finally, the dog must show composure in a crowded and noisy situation, and in everyday social situations. For the younger group, a special puppy program called S.T.A.R. Puppy is available. As a certified AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Schindler can conduct the S.T.A.R. test and decide whether your dog has passed or needs more work. For more information on the CGC Certification visit the AKC website at www.akc.org/events/cgc/program.cfm. For local classes and test dates, please go to www.happydoghappyowner.com. People with disabilities receive assistance dogs Canine Companions for Independence will hold a graduation ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 14. Canine Companions for Independence is a nonprofit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. The event will be held at the Mission San Luis Rey Parish’s Serra Center (4070 Mission Ave. in Oceanside) at NOON. Open to the public with free admission, this inspiring ceremony will honor the newest recipients of Canine Companions’ highly-trained assistance dogs. Canine Companions’ clients receive their dogs, training and ongoing follow-up services for free. Canine Companions is expected to reach 3,500 assistance dogs placed nationwide since its founding. Regionally, Canine Companions has graduated over 800 human-canine teams from the Oceanside campus. For more information, visit www.cci.org or call 1-800-572-2275. HWAC encourages kitten adoption now! “We have more kittens than you can shake a stick at and they need new families right now!” That’s how Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC) in Rancho Santa Fe is describing their crowded Kittery and Cattery. They are encouraging anyone thinking about adding a cat to their family to do it NOW! “Kitten season comes about this same time every year,” says HWAC spokesman John Van Zante. “This year it got here a little bit late but it arrived with a vengeance. We have more than 40 little fur bags that need families right away and more than 80 others in foster homes waiting for space in our adoption kennels.” Adoption manager Brian Simpson says, “The term, ‘More than you can shake a stick at’ comes from an old custom where farmers used sticks as pointers while counting their cattle. If they had large herds the cows would move and the farmer would lose count…proving that they did, indeed, have more cows than they could shake a stick at.” Visit Helen Woodward Animal Center at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe. Adoption hours are 11 a.m. to 6 PM Saturday through Thursday. Open until 7:30 Fridays. For more information call 858-756-4117. Doggy Daycare camp caters to new trend of pet care Having kids and pets sounds great, but isn’t for everyone. Many would argue that their pets are their children. People are beginning to treat their pets like surrogate children, but as we all know, we can’t be with our kids all day, every day. Camp Diggity Dogs caters to clients who want the best care for their pets when they can’t be with them. Ted Greenberg founded Camp Diggity Dogs in 2007, aiming to open the most luxurious doggy daycare in San Diego that treats animals like a child at day camp. With an 11,000 square feet indoor/outdoor facility, Camp Diggity Dog offers doggy transportation, expert bathing and grooming, and luxury hotel rooms, with human beds and linens, televisions, and toys that will make any pet beg for more. Located centrally in downtown San Diego, Diggity Dog provides cage-free dog boarding, five-paw overnight lodging, designated bathroom areas and even a swimming pool! The staff is comprised of interactive camp counselors who socialize with the dogs. The Wag Cam even makes it possible for parents to watch their pups play on five Camp Diggity Dog live webcams. “We do extra things clients need like putting sunscreen on a dog, bringing them inside and giving them nap breaks” owner Greenberg explains. Just like children Greenberg describes giving the dogs top-notch care: “We prepare their meals exactly as the owner requests, such as giving them vitamins, treats, salmon oil and even vegetables” “We give them baths as requested, blow dry, brush out, clip their nails, clean their ears, and even brush their teeth before going home” Greenberg says. Knowing that your dog is experiencing the best treatment in San Diego is a relief to loving pet owners. However, the best part is that Camp Diggity Dog welcomes every pet from every financial background, with rates as low as $22 a day! Camp Diggity Dog is proud to be named San Diego’s Best Dog Boarding Facility by Channel 10’s A-List.