Mutt Lynch Winery

After a quiet couple of weeks for dogs in LA, I finally saw something today that made me so happy (ok and more than a little jealous!).  Let me preface this by saying that I have three true loves in this world: dogs, wine, and television.  I dream of owning a winery someday and I (obviously) love pups! I have been thinking in the past few months that it would be incredible to have a winery that donates a portion of their profit to pups in need.  And low and behold- what do I stumble across today?  Mutt Lynch Winery in Healdsburg, CA- just north of Sonoma.

This place seems amazing!  They have dog-inspired labels and a dog-friendly tasting room.  Not only that but they support many great rescues with every sip people take of their tail-wagging wine!  This is literally Erika's (and Bo's) paradise.

Ok, so I was a little bummed that I wasn't the brilliant pioneer behind this idea but I am SO SO SO excited that a place like this exists at all!  In fact, I have been trying to plan my first trip to Sonoma and this place may be the little push I needed to finally book it.  Who's with me?

At the very least, pick up a bottle at a store near you and drink wine for a good cause!  Cheers to that.


Location: 602 Limerick Lane, Healdsburg, CA 95448
 

Fun Friday News- April 1, 2011

Welcome to our first ever Fun Friday News!  Also happy April Fool's Day but I promise none of these stories are pranks. :)

The Wags Club in Santa Monica opens its doors today.  According to their website:

 

"The Wags Club is a premiere, cage-free indoor/outdoor dog daycare, boarding and grooming service in Santa Monica. We believe in providing every dog a home away from home... The only dog daycare in Santa Monica/West L.A. to offer a 4500 sq. ft grassy play area for dogs, The Wags Club is the ultimate destination for your pet's fun, comfort and relaxation."

For all of you on the Westside, this place sounds great!  And they have fantastic prices. So check it out and let me know how it is!

In other news...

Found Animals Foundation will be opening Adopt & Shop in April.  This adoption center in Lakewood will also contain retail items and supplies you will need for your newly adopted friend!  Similar to the convenience buying pups from a pet store (but without the puppy-mill doggies), this place will be a one-stop-shop for adopting a new family member.  This adoption center will be paired with Southeast Area Animal Control Authority to make sure there will plenty of potential new family members for you!

Found Animals’ Adopt & Shop
Where: Lakewood Center Mall, Lakewood, CA
Opens: Tuesday April 12
Hours: Tuesdays-Sundays 12-6pm
Grand Opening Pet Fair: Saturday April 30th from 10am – 4pm featuring $5 pet microchips, pet information, and fun activities for the whole family

And lastly...

Bo is looking super shiny and luxurious after a week or so on the new "fatty" diet.  Just an FYI. :)

Happy Friday!

 

Mutt Mingle Recap

Bo and I were lucky enough to have spent time at the Mutt Mingle at Pussy & Pooch in downtown on last night and boy did we have fun!

The store was right on the corner of 6th & Main and was super cute!  This month's Mutt Mingle had (human) catering from Two Bits Market, some wine/beer, and lots of sample treats for the puppies from Pussy & Pooch's own fantastic Pawbar.

Obviously Bo enjoyed the Chicken feast!

All of the dogs were allowed off-leash in the store (on their best behavior of course!) during the mingle to allow for maximum playtime.  And it gave us parents two hands to enjoy the human food and drink!

Bennington, Diesel, and Bo enjoying some play time!

All-in-all, Pussy & Pooch's Mutt Mingle was a lot of fun for dogs and people alike. I was told that the store also hosts themed events so I will absolutely be keeping an eye on their website!  Besides fun events, the store also has a ton of great merchandise, food, a full-service (and self-service if you are feeling ambitious) bathhouse, and the delicious Pawbar.  Go check it out!

I will leave you with this... one of the cutest things in the store?  A PETaPOTTY, complete with a fire hydrant for all of the pups who had too much to drink at the mingle! :) 


Location: 564 South Main Street, Downtown

$20 Tuesdays at Bow Wow Bungalow!

Just got this email from Ol' Smokey at Bow Wow Bungalow:

"Bow Wow Bungalow will be celebrating 10 years in MAY. YES, you read right 10 years, boy how time flies when you are having a great time...

With that said I would like to celebrate my 10th year anniversary and what better way to start celebrating than by inviting all my friends to come play. In the month of April, Bow Wow Bungalow will be having '$20 Tuesdays'. The name says it all; daycare will be $20 every Tuesday in April."

WHAT A STEAL!  This place is so great... Bo will definitely be going for a $20 play-date in April!
  

Mutt Mingle @ Pussy & Pooch

Tomorrow night is the monthly Mutt Mingle social at Pussy & Pooch in downtown.  According to the website:

"Mark your calendars for the last Tuesday of the month... it's Mutt Mingle time! Join us for our monthly mixer and enjoy special treats, toasts, and plenty of in-store tail-wagging."

Work schedule allowing, Bo and I will be there!

Location: 564 South Main Street, Los Angeles, CA
  

Hypothyroism?

After about a year of constantly breaking toenails below the quick, Bo finally took a blood test so we could figure out if something internally was causing his abnormally brittle nails.  We got the test results last night and the vet said that his level of thyroid hormone is low, or hypothyroidism. :(

She said that we have to give him hormone supplements and a fatty diet (BACON!? ...no not really. But a pup can dream, huh?) for 3 weeks and then test the blood again to see if the levels are normal.  If normal levels of thyroid hormone make his nails get better, then he will just have to take hormonal supplements daily. 

After that, if the nails don't get better, they may have to run tests for Symmetrical Lupoid Onychodystrophy (SLO), an autoimmune disease which causes severe claw problems.  This sounds much more serious and quite scary so let's root for Bo's thyroid and nails to get better in the next few weeks!

Any experience with either of these health issues?  Advice/expertise is welcome!
  

National Puppy Day!

Happy National Puppy Day everyone!  While I'm sure most of you celebrate the fact that you have a pup every day, take an extra minute to show your little doggie just how much you love them!  Looking for some ideas?  Then check out this list posted by NationalPuppyDay.com.  Got better ideas?  Feel free to comment below!

In honor of #8, here is a picture of my main man passed out after today's long play session with his mom and little fox toy:

(look at those chicken legs! eee!) 

Events Calendar!

Just a quick post to let you know that I have added an events calendar page to Trail of Pawprints!

If you have any events to add, just send me an email and I will be happy to add them (and perhaps add a post to the blog to let everyone know!).

Bo's on Vacation!

Bo is on vacation at the Bow Wow Bungalow!

Trail of Pawprints

I was walking down a street near where I work and noticed these little prints in the sidewalk. Some little pup decided to start a walk of fame in Burbank!