
Pets

A reader writes:
“Our cat, Maggie, usually an indoor-outdoor cat has been missing for the past couple of days and we are really worried that she’s lost. We adopted her with her sister- the foster mom wouldn’t let them be separated and her sister is definitely worried as well.
Maggie is a small (about 9 lbs) dark grey domestic short hair cat. When we last saw her (sometime Friday night) she was wearing a green belled collar – though she is prone to losing them so she might not be wearing it still. We’ve hunted around around the alleys nearby (at Upshur and 13th) with no luck.
Please let us know if you have seen any cats around that meet that description. We appreciate any info you may have- it is really important that we find her.
(Contact info: phone #: Jake at 617-429-7302 or email: Alison at this email: [email protected])”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Rob
“Dear PoPville,
I live on T and 15th and while walking my dog I saw a dog locked in a car near 14th and T with only one window slightly cracked. Although it was overcast, It was 77 degrees outside. The dog was still in the car 15 minutes later when I came back that way. Thankfully we walked by again and the car was gone.
Now that its getting hotter, I’m hoping you can put something on the blog about this! It takes only a very short time for a dog (or child for that matter) to pass out from heat exhaustion or die. Even with the window cracked, it’s gets very very hot inside the car.
People are encouraged to try and find the owner and if they cannot to call the police. Here’s more info about dogs in hot cars from the humane society.”

A reader reports:
“that the park police came into Meridian Hill Park yesterday evening for the explicit purpose of ticketing dog owners with their pets off leash. Seemed to be an unnecessary “operation” considering there was no one else down there except for dog owners.”

Photo via facebook
A reader sends in this serious allegation from a facebook post by Greg Fuller:
“BEWARE of Wagtime daycare in Washington, DC. Their pit bull rescue named Blu (owned by Wagtime’s owners) attacked my 12.5 year old yellow lab, without provocation, while he was recently in daycare at Wagtime. My dog also lost a tooth & his ACL was injured. The owners did not think it needed medical attention, knowingly chose NOT to report the bite to DC Animal Control, and illegally dispensed unprescribed and unlabeled antibiotics.”
You can read the full allegations and discussion here.
Thanks to a commenter for noting Wagtime’s response:
“While we respect everyone’s right to express their opinion freely, we feel it is important to give an accurate account of this situation. Wagtime prides itself on being a cage free facility and also taking care of many rescue and client dogs in our daycare. Our daycare has been open and trusted by countless clients for over 15 years due to our experience and high standards of care and expertese. We carefully assess EVERY dogs behaviour, separate the dogs by size and temperment and the safety and wellbeing each and every dog is our number one priority. However, the nature of a cage free facility, that allows the dogs to play and have eachothers company, is that play can occassionally escalate into altercations. This is a rare, but normal canine behaviour that can occure between dogs socialising in a pack environment. All of our daycare staff are highly trained to deal with these situations as quickly and safely as possible. As with young children at school, cuts, scapes and the occasional injury can occur. We treat any dog who sustains an injury quickly and approapriately to ensure the best care and health of the dog.This particular situation was just that, a group play that escalated into an altercation. It is of course regrettable that Tucker was injured, however, the here named adoption dog Blu was involved but certainly not to blame and to harm a dog-in-need’s chances of being re-homed through inacurate information, from a source that did not witness the incident, is not within the spirit of rescue that Wagtime is so dedicated to. We thank all of our wonderful clients who support the important work of Wagtime in animal care and urge you all to keep on rescuing.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Caroline Angelo
From an email:
“Calling All Chihuahuas!
Kick off Cinco de Mayo with On Tap Magazine, Corona, Cantina Marina & The Wharf at the Fourth Annual Running of the Chihuahuas for Charity! Sunday, May 3rd from 1:00-4:00pm at SW Waterfront, DC- between 6th and 7th Street. Enjoy Chihuahua races, food trucks, beer stands, dog contests at this family friendly event!
$500 in cash and prizes for racers! Only $20 per dog to race, ALL entry fees are donated to local animal charities!
Space is limited to 96 dogs and we anticipate selling out quickly, so be sure to reserve your spot now! Last day to register is Friday, May 1nd. Walkups on race day will be accepted, unless all spots are full.
Don’t have a Chihuahua? You can still take part in the excitement with our all breeds contests for best dressed and best trick! All doggie competitors must have up-to-date vaccinations and leashed when not racing. Unruly dogs will be excused, and we ask that owners please pick up after their pets!
This is an admission-free, family-friendly event, but attendees must be 21+ to drink beer or attend the after party.”

3211 O Street, NW
From Crumbs & Whiskers:
“Crumbs & Whiskers is looking for three cat loving visionaries to join forces with the founder and bring DC an awesome cat cafe this summer.
What will you do? See roles below.
What will you get in return? Free access to Crumbs & Whiskers. Forever. And a really fun and amazing experience. (Also tons of really cool cat swag, which you’re obviously into.)
ROLES
1) Creative Spirit: You are the person who has awesome ideas and knows how to breathe life into those ideas. Think events, social media campaigns, DIY cafe decor, and more. Everything you create is inspiring, fun, exciting, and has this crazy ability to make everyone around you smile. You’re also great at building and managing relationships with suppliers, partners, etc. (Duh, everyone loves you!) You are pure sunshine.
Ideal Background: Marketing, Supply Chain
2) Organization Guru: You keep the team on track and organized. There’s a lot of chaos around here, and you know how to break that chaos down into actionable, achievable steps. You hold the team accountable, set deadlines, keep everything organized, and are the only reason we can keep our sanity on most days. No one messes with you because you’re a total boss.
Ideal Background: Project Management
3) Math/Tech Genius: One of your super powers is creating badass analytical models, and technology is one of your best friends. You’re good at using tools that most of us stare blankly at, and love speaking in the language of numbers. You’re smart, logical, calculated, and really good at figuring things out quickly. Bonus points if you also have some experience in finance, but not required.
Ideal Background: Business Analytics, Information Systems
**Those of you who have prior retail and/or start up experience – make sure you tell us! We like the sound of that. A lot.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE APPLYING
1) This is going to be a serious time commitment – we’re asking for a minimum of 20 hours per week.
2) Role is expected to last 6 – 7 weeks. Part in-person, part online.
3) Deadline to apply is Thursday, April 29 by midnight.
4) We CAN’T WAIT TO MEET YOU and will probably have at least five dance parties in the cat cafe together.”

“Neighbors notified those on our block (9th and O St NW) that the dog below turned up on their doorstep early this morning. They were heading out of town and so dropped it off at the Humane Society on NY Ave.”

It’s been a rough morning, hell a rough month, thanks to a reader for sending:
“I’m sure others have reported, but it appears that Romo did NOT move to the suburbs, after all. This photo was taken Saturday evening!”

And since we’re talking pets today:
“Dear PoPville,
I’m trying to find a new home for my 9 year old red-ticked coon hound, Carol Schwartz (the Dog). Carol is a very sweet and loving dog, but she is a little on the nervous side, and she just doesn’t get along with small children; she doesn’t understand them and she gets spooked easily by their erratic movements. With a 15 month old son and another baby on the way, it is time to find a home that is a little quieter, a little more routine, and a little more Carol-centric.
We are doing everything we can to find a great forever home for her, but the rescues we’ve checked with won’t take a dog that is already in a safe home; that means we would have to take her to a shelter first, which I really don’t want to do, given her age and nervousness.
She is truly a wonderful companion animal, and she would do really well in a home where she can get a good routine. She’s in excellent health (up to date on all her shots and meds) and is very energetic for a dog her age. She loves to snuggle on the couch, go on long walks, run in the snow, and generally be wherever her people are. She’s even good on road trips.
Oh, and did I mention she comes with 3,579 fans on Facebook? She’s kind of a big deal.
We’ve called all the rescues in the area and we’ve been promoting the heck out of her Petfinder profile, but I’m hoping that a post on PoPville could give her a little boost! We’re in DC, but I would be willing to drive her just about anywhere to deliver her to a good home!”

Photo by PoPville flickr user MrTinDC
From a press release:
“As more states legalize marijuana to varying degrees, Pets Best Pet Insurance wants to make sure pet owners are aware of marijuana’s dangers to animals. Believe it or not, marijuana can cause serious illness in dogs and cats, which may be exposed to its effects either by ingesting the plant or by inhalation of smoke.
While marijuana is rarely deadly to animals, it can cause serious illness in pets. One of the most common ways animals will ingest marijuana is when it has been left out and unattended. Although this occurs more frequently in dogs, it can also happen with cats. This may happen when the plant itself has been left out, or when it has been incorporated into baked goods, which some pets find especially appealing.
Beware that marijuana brownies are particularly unsafe because they include chocolate, an additional poison to dogs and cats, acting as a potent stimulant that can affect nervous systems negatively, causing illness or even death. Plus, dogs are attracted to the smell of chocolate as well as other baked goods, which makes them even more dangerous.
Symptoms of marijuana poisoning can be seen in dogs and cats about 1 to 2 hours after ingestion. Dogs and cats may exhibit signs of depression, tremors, vomiting, hallucinations, hypothermia and disorientation. If a dog or cat has ingested marijuana, they need to be seen by a veterinarian right away. Typically, the veterinarian can induce vomiting, which will help rid the majority of the drug from the pet’s stomach. Do not assume that since an animal is vomiting on its own it is “fine” … the animal should still be seen immediately. (more…)