Pooches Playtime

Got a minute?

2009-07-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

Please take a minute, literally to click on this link and send a letter to legislature to enforce spay neuter laws and end the slaughter.

http://www.yesonsb250.com/sb250-home.php

Best Vet

2009-06-16T09:29:00.000-07:00

Here's some info worth reading. I know everyone out there is hurting for cash. So here's a tip for the best vet I have met who also happens to be the cheapest. Pacifica Pet Hospital where Dr. Hurlbut and Dr. Randall are simply the best around. This is vet care like you always wanted it to be. Practical solutions without a bunch of unnecessary and expensive tests. Best of all they don't push products. I find that aspect in vet offices to be cheesy. I was at an unnamed vet recently and saw a man pay $85! for a bag of "prescription" food which I found not only to be outrageously overpriced but a huge waste of money. I do think special food has it's place. I cook rice and boiled chicken when my dogs have GI upset, but most of that Rx stuff is crap in my humble opinion. Don't even get me started on Iams. Back to PPH...see I cannot stop ranting even when I try!

These folks are a small office that is always busy. The folks at the front desk are very nice and polite. More importantly, Dr. Hurlbut who owns the practice and Dr. Randall do loads and loads of incredibly discounted work for the many rescues. I do mean many. I have a litter of newborns just now through Pound Puppy Rescue. They came in sick from a shelter and 3 died within a week. Dr. Hurlbut saw us without and appt on a Sunday (yes they are open 7 days/week) and saw all 6 pups and the mama plus one other rescue. This was no cursory appt. They all needed to be wormed and hydrated with subQ fluids, in addition to an exam. I was sent home with a bag full of fluids and needles. Can you even imagine what this would have cost at the ER vet? $127. That's what the rescue was charged. We were there 2 hours and then I found out Dr. Hurlbut had been up for 48 hours working. I also learned some time ago that he goes down to Mexico for 2 weeks every year to do a mass spay/neuter blitz gratis. I'm telling you these guys are great.

Wee WIllie Winkie

2009-06-12T23:36:00.000-07:00

If this isn't the cutest dog you have ever seen then you need glasses man! Rescued by Sherri Franklin at Muttville, Willie is a senior dog we are fostering at Pooches' Playtime. He is about as sweet as a dog can be. Willie is a Pomeranian and he will melt your heart.

Shakespeare's Lot

2009-06-12T23:28:00.000-07:00

Here are our latest litter of 6 and proud mama all sponsored by Pound Puppy Rescue all about 4 weeks old as of this date and just starting to run around and get into trouble. The adoption event for this litter and mama will be posted on PPR's website

Dog Walking

2009-06-12T22:54:00.000-07:00

We and by "we" I mean Pooches' Playtime has openings in our dog walking groups. We call them playgroups because they are way more fun than a walk. We go to McLaren Park and it's the best part of my day. I think the dogs agree. Jen walks the older dogs..the wheezers and geezers, and goes a bit slower. I take the more active dogs for a more strenuous walk and we often go to the reservoir and they swim. We go Monday through Friday mid day. We are at the park for an hour. $20...such a deal! Discounts for multiple dog households. I have great referrals/resources for you if you are out of our pick up area. I watch other walkers daily and I know the best!

BTW, if you want an excellent place for puppy training I recommend SF Puppy Prep

For another great trainer, I recommend Dog Evolve

Movie Review

2009-06-12T22:11:00.000-07:00

Go see "Food Inc."

If you didn't read "Omnivore's Dilemma" or "In Defense of Food" then go read them. For the weak of stomach, the producers of this film put almost no visuals of animal abuse that is inherent in the food industry. They do spend lots of time on the death of one child (from an e-coli laced burger). My feeling is that the life of millions of factory farmed animals deserved more time but I know they have to make the film somewhat palatable or people won't see it. There are lots of people who get all misty about a human death, as they should, but don't even think about the hundreds of thousands of animals we torture and kill every day. If you want to really know what goes on in the "farms" of the meat industry you can always see footage on Peta's website. I Double Dare you to watch even one video of the kill floor of a slaughterhouse ( now called processing plants) that makes your McDonald's burger. If you can make it through that and still eat meat then have at it. I could not.

Anyway, the part of the film that is very interesting is the audience reaction when a real farmer actually slaughters his own chickens and then prepares them for sale. This is the owner of Poly Face Farms featured prominently in the second book of Michael Pollan's last book "In Defense of Food". It always amazes me that the same people who eat animals won't watch them being killed much less do it themselves. Anyway, this guy is doing farming and slaughtering the right way and by that I mean he grows all of the food and raises the animals who consume it without confined animal feeding operations (CAFO's). Hey, if your going to eat animals, and most people do, this is how it should be done. Meet your meat as they say.

Wanna save a buck? Go to Four Star Video on Cortland and rent "We Feed the World " Same message only global.

Which brings me to my next rant...er post.

Check out the 350 project. It's all about how and why we should be spending what dollars we have at small independent shops instead of big chains. If you know me at all, you know how I loathe big businesses such as Walmart, Home Depot and Blockbuster Video. Classic examples of how big stores ruin small business and kill the joy of city living. Yeah, it is cheaper at those stores but the price is just too high in terms of the effects they have on other businesses. Besides, just try to get an actual person to help you at Lowe's or Home Depot. My fave in the city for hardware is Cole Hardware at Mission and 29th st.

My other favorite alternative to the souless Safeway and the overpriced wanna be eco-friendly Whole Foods is the Alemany Produce market. Way cheaper than the Ferry Bldg and almost totally organic. Be sure to look for Bruce from Hooverville Orchards. If you call him by Wednesday and order a pie, he will have it by the Saturday. His family makes simply the best pie I have ever eaten. All his own fruit naturally and not too sweet.

why I hate "stuff"

2008-09-13T13:08:00.000-07:00

So for ages I have been trying to write about why I hate "stuff" specifically consumer related stuff. I get all tangential and trash my post as unreadable. I finally realized that I cannot help but get tangential as the subject has many intertwined issues. Luckily I was reading Rachel Kesel's blog (http://sfcompact.blogspot.com/) and she pointed me in the direction of a fabulous, consise and smart little video that explains it all. Enjoy!
http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Bambi & her babies

2008-08-30T20:03:00.000-07:00

Update! 9/12/08

Bambi and Simba, the white pup are still available. The others ahve found homes!!!

Got Puppies! Bambi is a sweet an pie girl who was living under someone's house all but wild. She was rescued by One At A Time Rescue. She has 5 puppies born mid July. They are adorable of course and Bambi is a good mama. She was the most shy of any dog I have met but is welcoming love and attention. She needs to learn how to trust people but miraculously, she has no fear based aggression. She is about 35 lbs and needs to gain weight and get healthy. The pups are going fast so call us to make an appt. to meet and greet.

Minnie Pearl

2008-08-30T19:57:00.000-07:00

Minnie Pearl is a young MinPin who wants a home just with the ladies. She doesn't like men much. I'm sure she has her reasons. She was found as a stray and no one claimed her. She loves to cuddle, gets along with other dogs and walks nicely off leash as well. She is housebroken, crate trained and looking for love!

a word about rescue dogs

2008-08-30T19:39:00.000-07:00

I snatched this from Craig's list. I am happy to give credit to the author if they id themselves.

Note to adopters: Lassie, Cleo, Rin Tin Tin and Toto don't show up in rescue. We don't get the elegantly coiffed, classically beautiful, completely trained, perfectly behaved dog. We get the leftovers. Dogs that other people have incompetently bred, inadequately socialized, ineffectively "trained," and badly treated. Most Rescue dogs have had it. They've been pushed from one lousy situation to another. They've never had proper veterinary care, kind and consistent training, or sufficient company. They've lived outside, in a crate, or in the basement. They're scared, depressed and anxious. Some are angry. Some are sick. Some have given up. But we are Rescue and we don't give up. We never give up on a dog. We know that a dog is a living being, with a spirit and a heart and feelings. Our dogs are not commodities, things, or garbage. They are part of sacred creation and they deserve as much love and care and respect as the next Westminster champion. So please, please don't come to rescue in the hopes of getting a "bargain," or indeed of "getting" anything. Come to Rescue to give, to love, to save a life -- and to mend your own spirit. For Rescue will reward you in ways you never thought possible. I can promise you this -- a rescue dog will make you a better person.

Why I shop at small stores

2008-05-17T18:29:00.000-07:00

Every time I hear someone say they bought something at Petsmart I cringe. No doubt they do not know of the nightmare life of many animals for sale there and other pet stores. Petsmart and other places that sell animals have a bottom line and profit is that line. What do you suppose happens when a gerbil or parrot gets sick? Hint: They never see a vet. They are left to die or are killed deliberately. It would not be "cost effective" to treat them. If you buy even a fish at one of these places, you are contributing to the suffering of animals. And if you believe them when they tell you that they do not purchase dogs from puppy mills you are deluding yourself. The prices are cheaper than the small shops but that is a fact of life. Employees come and go and many don't know anything about animal care. Consider the small pet shop. They are independently owned, right in your neighborhood and usually you can get a wealth of info from the people who work there. The products are generally better I find and they will special order you what you need if they don't carry it. If they sell animals, tell them you might like to give them your business if they would stop.

One such store that opened recently is Hazel & Gerties on 22nd near Guerrero. It's tiny, cute and run by a woman who knows about dogs. Jeannine Giordan makes it a point to stock environmentally friendly products like toys from recycled materials. She only sells high quality pet food. Sorry Iams, but you don't make the grade. No toxic stuff for sale here either, just good stuff.

See I would rather save money than not but this is why I don't shop at chain stores. They put small stores out of business. So what you say? Well, imagine a San Francisco littered with Walmart, Home Depot and TGI Fridays. When stores get big they lose quality, period. Employees are paid less which usually= poor service. Individuality is compromised and we all start having to drive to places to shop for big items

This is why I rescue the old ones...

2007-12-24T08:03:00.001-08:00

ONE BY ONE
Written by Leslie Whalen in honor of her dog, Tray, and all senior dogs who await a new home and deserve a second chance at life and happiness.

"One by one, they pass my cage . . . too old, too worn, too broken, no way. Way past his time, he can't run and play. Then they shake their heads slowly and go on their way. A little old man, arthritic and sore. It seems I am not wanted anymore. I once had a home, I once had a bed, a place that was warm, and where I was fed. Now my muzzle is grey, and my eyes slowly fail. Who wants a dog so old and frail? My family decided I didn't belong, I got in their way, my attitude was wrong. Whatever excuse they made in their head, can't justify how they left me for dead. Now I sit in this cage, where day after day, the younger dogs get adopted away. When I had almost come to the end of my rope, you saw my face and I finally had hope. You saw thru the grey and the legs bent with age, and felt I still had life beyond this cage. You took me home, gave me food and a bed, and shared your own pillow with my poor tired head. We snuggle and play and you talk to me low, you talk to me dearly, you want me to know. I may have lived most of my life with another, but you outshine them with a love so much stronger. I may be with you for a week or for years, we will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears. And when the time comes that God deems I must leave, I know you will cry and your heart, it will grieve. And when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand new, my thoughts and my heart will still be with you. And I will brag to all who will hear, of the person who made my last days so dear."

Green dog biz

2007-12-23T21:53:00.001-08:00

It's pretty hard to run a boarding and day care without damaging the environment. To begin with there is the impact upon the water supply from the cleaning that has to happen round the clock. There is the waste generated from the dogs themselves and the high energy use to launder all those beds and blankets.

Here's what we decided to do about it:

(Note: This is a process that can only improve, it's not perfect. We would love to have solar power and gray water but this is not our building. So there are limits.)

We drive hybrid cars to run our playgroups.

No chemicals are used to clean our facility, just biodegradable soap and

water.

We use biodegradable plastic bags to pick up litter.

All paper products are from recycled paper.

No new products are purchased unless absolutely necessary. See http://sfcompact.blogspot.com/

We get donated used stuff all the time (like beds and blankets...hint, hint) and we can get great things at SCRAP.:http://www.scrap-sf.org/

Obviously, we recycle...duh.

And we make it a point to leave the park with more dog waste than we came in with.

Yay! we just got 2 new trees courtesy of Friends of the Urban Forest:

http://www.fuf.net/about_us/index.html

Yes, we can do more and we will. We just want you all to know we are aware of our impact on the earth. :http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2007/02/what_you_need_t.html

About our Foster dogs

2007-12-23T21:40:00.000-08:00

Our foster dogs come from many sources with many stories. We work closely with rescue groups. All of our foster dogs were at one time considered unadoptable and put on a euthanasia list. Many are old and their health is compromised. We take these dogs because we can manage their care more easily than other foster homes. Our staff gives their time and energy to restore the broken lives these dogs have lived and give them as much love and comfort that they can in their last years. Here are some points to consider:

75% of animals found within a shelter were original placed in homes by their owners;
40% of animals within shelters are purebred;
2 million dogs are stolen from their own yards, in broad daylight each year ;
6-8 million dogs/cats will visit an animal shelter each year;
4.6 million dogs/cats are euthanized each year;
Only 15% of dogs within shelters are ever reclaimed by their owners;
Each day 10,000 humans and 70,000 puppies and kittens are born.
For every puppy that you "buy", you are supporting a market where animals are treated as a product - a commodity to be bred and sold for profit. Only 1 out of 10 puppies born, will live to see a full life. Maybe you are that one responsible person who will make a life long commitment to your pet store puppy, but you may not realize that 9 other dogs will have to suffer because of your purchase. You will never see them or know them or hear of their fate - but it is the reality of animal breeding. If you live in California, PLEASE support AB1634 - a groundbreaking law that if passed, could change the fate of future animals.
Each time you patronize a store that sells live animals, you support the trade of animals as commodities. Tell Petco and other stores that profit from the suffering of animals that you won't shop there until they stop selling living beings.

2007-12-23T20:00:00.000-08:00

2007-12-23T19:49:00.001-08:00

2007-12-23T19:40:00.001-08:00

Molly & Daisy

2007-12-23T19:21:00.000-08:00

Molly & Daisy are two lovely ladies that are inseparable so they will need a home together. The only thing better than a pug is two pugs! They are sweet as the day is long. Molly is 6-8 yrs. old. She is in good health, though she does require insulin injections daily which she tolerates with grace. Daisy is 12-13 yrs. old. She is in very good health. Both girls are happiest with minimal exercise and would be excellent housepets with backyard access. Sniffing flowers and soaking up the sun are their favorite things to do when not getting a good scratch. They like other dogs and cats and would be good with children. can they come snuggle up at your house?

Update: Daisy passed away recently. We all miss her, but none more than her sister Molly.

Super-Fly Hand-made Coats for your Dog

2007-12-20T10:20:00.000-08:00

Tina ( one of our employees ) is branching out and producing hand-made, custom sized coats for dogs. Below is the flyer with all the information, simply click on it to get the large version. It's been really cold lately, and soon it'll be cold and wet. So have a chat with Tina if you're interested. You can email her (rudolf15@earthlink.net), or try reaching her at Pooches' where she takes care of the dogs most mornings (phone and address to the right on this blog).