On Sunday, August 17, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Rocklin, Calif., you and your furry friend(s) can enjoy Woofstock 2008.

This fun event for both two- and four-legged animals features “Petco Park”, a canine area filled with cool down stations, massage and cool treats; the Grateful Dog 3K walk and 5k run; a Woofstock Idol contest; the “Are You Smarter than a Veterinarian?” contest; Weiner dog races; a 60s costume contest; a dog art/photo show; and “Extreme Doggie Makeover” by Wags to Riches in Rocklin. Other vendors/demos include Starfleet Flyball Club, Performance Dogs in Action, and K9 Demo.

This event has something for everyone, so you and your furry friend are sure to have a barking good time.

Admission to Woofstock is free. For more information, click here. 

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This week (May 18 through 24) is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, and although the majority of attention-getting dog bites pertain to dog v. human, I can attest to the fact that dog v. dog bites are just as traumatic and harrowing.

I know of what I speak, because when I was a child, I was bit in the buttock by our neighbors dog, a Rottweiler. Ironically, about 30 years later, my own dog was bit by a Rottweiler. 

Although there are dog breeds that have reputations as biters, I don’t blame the dog, I blame the owner. In fact, an estimated 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States, but most of these incidents are preventable.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are some steps you can take to lessen the risk that your dog will bite.

1. Spay or neuter your dog, which will reduce your dog’s desire to roam and fight with other dogs.
2. Socialize your dog by introducing your dog to many different types of people and situations, so that he or she is not nervous or frightened under normal social circumstances.
3. Train your dog at a training class and involve the whole family–every member of your household should learn the training techniques and participate in your dog’s education.
4. Teach your dog appropriate behavior. Don’t teach your dog to chase after or attack others, even in fun, and set appropriate limits for your dog’s behavior.
5. License your dog as required by law, provide regular veterinary care, including rabies vaccinations, don’t allow your dog to roam alone, and make your dog a member of your family (experts say that dogs who spend a great deal of time alone in the backyard or tied on a chain often become dangerous).
6. Err on the safe side–if you don’t know how your dog will react to a new situation, be cautious; if your dog may panic in crowds, leave him at home; if your dog overreacts to visitors or delivery or service personnel, keep him in another room.

If your dog does bite:

• Confine your dog immediately and check on the victim’s condition. If necessary, seek medical help.
• Provide the victim with important information, such as the date of your dog’s last rabies vaccination.
• Cooperate with the animal control official responsible for acquiring information about your dog. If your dog must be quarantined for any length of time, ask whether he may be confined within your home or at your veterinarian’s hospital. Strictly follow quarantine requirements for your dog.
• Seek professional help to prevent your dog from biting again. Consult with your veterinarian, who may refer you to an animal behaviorist or a dog trainer. Your community animal care and control agency or humane society may also offer helpful services.
• If your dog’s dangerous behavior cannot be controlled, do not give him to someone else without carefully evaluating that person’s ability to protect him and prevent him from biting. Because you know your dog is dangerous, you may be held liable for any damage he does even when he is given to someone else.
• Don’t give your dog to someone who wants a dangerous dog. “Mean” dogs are often forced to live miserable, isolated lives, and become even more likely to attack someone in the future. If you must give up your dog due to dangerous behavior, consult with your veterinarian and with your local animal care and control agency or humane society about your options.

For more information, click here and here.

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Before we ever got Greta, I debated the virtues of the dog park.

But once she came into our home, we went a few times and had so much fun it became a daily ritual. 

In August 2007, we were at that dog park on a Sunday morning romp with other greyhounds, and Greta was bit by another dog. After an exchange of contact information and a trip to the vet, the owner of that dog refused to pay our vet bill.

From August through November 2007, I conducted extensive research and got to know the local Animal Control for the City of Sacramento very well. My goal was to make them enforce the rules posted at the dog park, in an effort to get the other dog’s owner to own up to her dog’s actions.

When that didn’t work, I had to file the papers to take said owner to small claims court. Even then, she owner refused to pay the bill.

In January 2008, I had my day in court, where I presented an overwhelming case. The defendant was even cut off early on because she had no defense–while I had three witnesses who saw her dog bite Greta, and she admits she wasn’t watching her dog!

I subsequently won, and then, finally, was repaid weeks later (including all various fees associated with taking the owner to court). I also became a reluctant expert regarding dog park lawsuits in the process.

While I am very happy with the outcome (justice served!), the fact that I had to wait a full seven months after the incident still rubs me the wrong way.

I know most people are responsible, and most would do the right thing in this situation.

And, as luck would have it, I probably ran into the one individual that’s ever been to that dog park who refuses to do what’s right and take responsibility for their dog’s actions.

But all the time and money I had to invest to earn my victory left me exhausted and swore me off dog parks.

I think dog parks are great in theory, but when something goes wrong, it takes a herculean effort to enforce rules and regulations.

During the ordeal, I used to say that the dog park is, in essence, the wild, wild west–a place where anything goes.

That’s why I’m not going.

(Greta’s wound, which required a drain between the upper and lower bites.)

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You know what I’m talking about…the collar that’s more of a cone, and makes your dog look like a crazy drunk party-goer who took a lampshade and decided it would make a nice upside down hat.

Fortunately, Greta has only had to wear her “Elizabethan collar”, as the vets so kindly describe it, once. Oh, it’s not a pretty story, and I will share it in a day or two, but the gist is she was bit by another dog at the dog park, and she wound up with a drain and several stitches, and the lovely collar.

And, of course, it happened the day before we were heading to Lake Tahoe for vacation, so here is a pic of Greta’s first experience with Lake Tahoe.

(That’s Greta on the left, fyi.)

All in all, she was a good sport about the whole thing, up until the day before she was supposed to get her sticthes out, when she got all excited and decided to do it herself. That got her a few more days with the E-collar.

Since then, I’ve done some research, and think I may get one of these or these to have on hand just in case.

Hopefully I’ll never need it!

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