Summertime Slurps and Slobbers

Fancy food and water bowls? Check. Comfy bed? Check. Squeaky toys and tantalizing treats? Check. Four-legged friend….what, you don’t have one?! Then check out the Ventura County-Camarillo Animal Shelter’s 4^th Annual Dog-Gone Cat-a-Strophic HUGS, SLURPS, AND SLOBBERS Adoptathon this Sunday, July 27 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm at 600 Aviation Drive in Camarillo.

Festivities include a silent auction, raffles, oodles of vendor booths, a visit by Elliott Harvey, author of “The Health Wholistic Dog” and live music. And if you’re lucky enough to take home one of the many eager cats or dogs for adoption, you’ll receive a free gift bag and voucher for a vet visit for your newest family member, as well as reduced rates on rabies vaccine, microchip, and license. Admission is free; only service dogs are allowed at the event. For more information, call Joy Elyse Nadel at (818) 999-2400, or send her an email message.

Closer to home, DAWG (Dog Adoption and Welfare Group) just announced its exciting Summer Events Schedule, which kicks off with the non-profit organization’s Annual Online Auction. The auction takes place from July 1 to September 30, 2008, with live events taking place in August and September. There are gobs of goodies up for auction, including gift certificates to popular local restaurants, stores, and personal services. All proceeds from the auction will go towards running DAWG’s facility—particularly its state-of-the-art surgery center. For more information, email Shirley Jansen or visit DAWG's Web site.

MORE SUMMER EVENTS TO BENEFIT DAWG:

Saturday, August 9 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. Combine your love of noshing and nature by spending the afternoon at a private ranch nestled in the Carpinteria foothills.  Partake in a posh picnic lunch as you watch sheepdogs herding, drug dogs sniffing, and search and rescue canines show off their intelligence and skills. The Supersonics will be there too, running relays and chasing Frisbees. $100 per person. Limited to 100 guests. Email Shirley Jansen for more information.

Saturday, August 30 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Kick back in a beautiful shaded garden while listening to the sultry voice of Leslie Lembo and the sounds of Old New Orleans provided by Al Reese and his talented trio. But that’s not all; spice things up with a Cajun lunch and those tall drinks that help the New Orleans rhythms flow. Limited to 100 guests. Email Shirley Jansen for more information for more information.

Saturday, September 6 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Leonardo da Vinci once said, “The smallest feline is a masterpiece.” Hey, what about those picture-perfect pooches? Commission Allison Horst to paint your pup’s portrait or choose from among the other gifted artists and photographers you’ll meet at the “Dog as Art” show. Find the ideal gift for every dog lover among the canine-themed decorative items and collectibles from Santa Barbara ’s finest designers and shops while you enjoy live music and in a fabulous setting. Email Shirley Jansen for more information for more information.

Sunday, September 7 from 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Dust off your running shoes and join TEAM DAWG as training begins for the Santa Barbara News-Press Half Marathon and the 5K Fun Run (Half Marathon and Fun Run will take place on November 1, 2008). Half marathoners will train with professionals twice weekly in September and October, while the “Fun Runners” will get some no-pressure workouts with frequent stops for coffee and pep talks. And if your, um, dogs start barking, don’t worry: You can have your feet evaluated electronically for just the right running shoe. Hightail it over to Santa Barbara Running Company, 129 North Fairview Avenue in Goleta. Pledges totaling $100 minimum. Event limited to 100 runners. Email Shirley Jansen for more information for more information.

Sunday, September 14 from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm. You pamper your pooch all year long and now it’s your turn to indulge. Book a massage in a private cabana by a sparkling pool or relax with a rejuvenating facial. Not your cup of tea? Then how about trying a gentle food detox, getting an updated look by a talented make-up artist, de-stressing with a relaxing yoga class, or experiencing a psychic reading, all the while enjoying the sweet sounds of a flutist and guitarist. Choose any three treatments for $200.00. Limited to 50 ladies (sorry, gents!). Email Shirley Jansen for more information for more information.

I interrupt this column to send a shout-out to my new “goddog,” Cocoa. My cousin, Mary Lou and her husband Dale adopted the two-year-old black Lab mix from DAWG on Friday and they spent the weekend taking long walks and, I suspect, long naps too! Mary Lou says that Cocoa (formerly known as Angelo) has settled nicely into their Lompoc home and has already hit it off with his new two- and four-legged neighbors. Welcome to the family, Cocoa!

Now back to my regularly scheduled column…It’s time once again for The Cat’s Meow Annual Fundraiser Raffle to benefit Catalyst for Cats, a Santa Barbara-based, non-profit organization that works to combat the feline overpopulation problem countywide. This year’s raffle prizes include: a $300.00 gift certificate to Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn and Spa in Los Olivos; a one-weeknight stay and elegant dinner for two at Willows-Chumash Casino Resort and Spa; a two-night stay at a private cabin at Lake Tahoe; a lunch and wine picnic for six at a Santa Ynez Valley Winery, courtesy of El Rancho Marketplace; a scenic glider ride for one over the Santa Ynez Valley from Windhaven Glider Rides; and a beautiful handcrafted queen-sized quilt from the Spirit of Santa Barbara.

Individual raffle tickets are $5.00 or a book of seven for $30.00. The raffle drawing will be held at Encina Meadows Clubhouse, 5717 Encina Road in Goleta on Thursday, August 14 at 6:00 pm. You need not be present to win, however, everyone is invited to attend this special event. To order tickets, call Belinda Burns at (805) 688-6359.

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Karen’s always panting for a party, especially when it benefits animals. Let her know about any upcoming events by sending an email message to her at karenleestevens@cox.net.

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By Karen Lee Stevens,
Founder & President, ALL FOR ANIMALS, Inc.
Copyright © 2008. All Rights Reserved.

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