Portland Pets
Portland and Pets |
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Animal-Protection Laws put Oregon Among Top 5 StatesA number of new animal laws that took effect in 2010 in Oregon resulted in the Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking it among the nation’s top five states for going after animal abusers. This year’s legislative session debated 16 bills concerning animals, an unprecedented number. Six of the bills the governor signed are of direct concern to animal owners. The most controversial of the bills debated last spring was dubbed the puppy-mill bill. Hotly contested in public hearings, the final legislation didn’t contain all the measures its proponents wanted to keep irresponsible breeders from churning out sick, unsocialized dogs. But it put a number of restrictions on Oregon breeders, all designed to combat the conditions found in puppy mills. Most controversially, the law limits the number of sexually intact dogs anyone can own. Breeders cannot have more than 50 of such dogs older than two. Forget the Treadmill, Get a DogResearchers from Michigan State University reported that among dog owners who took their pets for regular walks, 60 percent met federal criteria for regular moderate or vigorous exercise. Nearly half of dog walkers exercised an average of 30 minutes a day at least five days a week. By comparison, only about a third of those without dogs got that much regular exercise. The researchers tracked the exercise habits of 5,900 people in Michigan, including 2,170 who owned dogs. They found that about two-thirds of dog owners took their pets for regular walks, defined as lasting at least 10 minutes. The dog walkers had higher overall levels of both moderate and vigorous physical activity than the other subjects, and they were more likely to take part in other leisure-time physical activities like sports and gardening. On average, they exercised about 30 minutes a week more than people who didn’t have dogs. Portland Park RulesPortland law requires dogs to be on a leash at all times while in the park, unless in a designated off-leash area during designated off-leash hours. Dogs must be leashed prior to entering, and upon leaving, the off-leash area, and must stay within the boundaries. Owners must carry a leash and always be in control of their dogs, on-leash or off-leash. Owners must control their dog’s aggressive behavior or excessive barking; owners are liable for damage or injury inflicted by their dog. Dog waste must be collected and disposed of every time. Dog waste left in the park is a leading complaint about dogs in Portland parks. Dog waste is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria (Campylobackter and Salmonella) and other forms of infection. The most damaging of these is caused by the roundworm Toxocara canis. The eggs of this parasite are present in much dog waste; although initially not infectious, once the eggs hatch they pose serious health risks to human beings, particularly children. Unleashed dogs are never allowed in playgrounds, natural areas, and gardens or on trails and pathways. No dogs, leashed or unleashed, are allowed in:
Dogs must never be allowed to chase or harm wildlife. This includes squirrels, ducks, rabbits, birds, and other animals. No digging is allowed. Holes create dangerous trip hazards. Multnomah County also has rules for dogs. Click here to view the rules. Portland’s 33 Off-Leash Dog ParksIn 2013, the Rose City had 5.5 dog off-leash areas for every 100,000 residents and 33 dog parks — the most in the nation after New York and the most per capita by a wide margin. Those facts contributed to Portland’s ranking by Forbes as the nation’s second-most pet friendly city in the country. Five are fenced, all-day areas. The remaining are unfenced, with seasonal hours compatible with traditional park use patterns and adjacent uses. Boundary markers are in place at the unfenced sites. There are signs in each off-leash area with maps, rules, and a place to post notices. Users are asked to bring their own scoop bags. Visit the off-leash dog parks and hours page at the Portland Parks Web site for more information. Best Swimming Park The Sellwood Riverfront Park is not only a good place to run your dog off-leash and your canine friend can go for a swim in the Willamette River after the run. Sandy River Delta The 1,400-acre “dispersed recreation site” at Sandy River Delta (Exit 18 off Interstate 84), where the Sandy and Columbia rivers meet, is Portland’s unofficial, unleashed playground for dogs. The delta is a wide-open, largely unspoiled mess of channels and backwaters. Plants include grasses, reeds, cottonwoods, and blackberries. There are paths and a small dam on the Sandy so obscure it has bushes and trees growing on it. Of course, these days anything remotely untended must have its own monument to remaining so: Here it’s a bird blind built by Maya Lin, the artist who designed the Vietnam War Memorial, inscribed with the names of 134 bird species. Off-Leash Area for Small Dogs Northeast Portland’s Normandale Park (NE 57th Street and Halsey Avenue) includes a play area only for small (under 25 pounds), shy or elderly dogs. Suburban Off-Leash Parks
Canine Companions Boost Readers’ ConfidenceTeachers and school officials say that a canine visitor can help the children’s learning. The Multnomah County Library’s reading-to-dogs program is a hit; kids often sign up weeks ahead of time. Several other schools have brought in dogs over the years, too. At Gilbert Heights Elementary School in Southeast Portland, Jasper, a yellow Labrador retriever, has visited the library every other Tuesday for the past six years. Librarian John Wolfgang lets teachers choose which kids can read to Jasper. Kids who struggle with reading have experienced a lot of failure by middle school. The lack of confidence can cause, or at least exacerbate, behavior issues and turn kids away from wanting to learn. Some schools use a national program called Read Naturally to get them back on track. The French-American School in Cedar Hills started bringing in a new teaching tool: Olive, a young retriever-mix, patiently sits while the kids read to her. To view a video of Olive with her readers, click here. If you think your dog might make a good reading partner for schoolchildren, contact one of these groups:
Taking Your Dog Out to DinnerMany of the restaurants that have outside seating allow dogs to accompany their owners at the table. Some of the eating establishments along 23rd Northwest Avenue (an area of shops and restaurants) cater to dogs. And they even will bring a bowl of water. On a summer evening, stroll along 23rd and stopped for dinner with your canine friend. While the Lucky Labrador Brewing Co.’s three Portland-area locations welcome dogs at outdoor tables and the Pied Cow Coffee House on nearby Southeast Belmont and 34th offers a meat and fruit “puppy platter” for $2.50 or $5, Hobnob is the first Portland establishment to offer a full dog menu.
Like to bark and wag tail? Then the Hobnob menu is for you. “Froze Noses,” a little cup full of chilled yogurt, bananas, peanut butter and honey is one of the bargains at Hobnob’s $1 dogs-only puppy menu at outdoor tables. The canine menu was introduced when Jason Heller bought the bar and restaurant on Southeast Morrison and 34th Avenue and notice all the dogs in the Sunnyside neighborhood.
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Portland Pet LinksPortland Pet Community
The Northwest Dog Academyspecialty is “board and train”. Their promise is “Give us your dog for 3 or 4 weeks and we will return your dog to you with good manners.”
Adopt a homeless pet (dog or cat) or pets from animal shelters.Petfinder has helped with more than 13 million pet adoptions since 1995.
American Veterinary Medical Association
Safety Reporting Portal
Dog Blog for Portland
Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital Dog Friendly Oregon Humane Society
Columbia Agility Team
X-Fidos Flyball Portland Rental Service
Children and dogs are as necessary to the welfare of the country as Wall Street and the railroads.
Traveling with Pets
Oregon Pet Sitters Association
Portland Dog Blog
Bobbie the Wonder Dog
Former Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and his Shepherd mix HerShe. The Governor and his wife Mary adopted HerShe from the Humane Society of the Willamette Valley in Salem.
View the cam camera at theOregon Humane Society Cats and Kittens
The Book, Best Hikes with
Oregon Horse County The wild Kigers horses in Southeastern Oregon (Steens Mountains) are true to Spanish mustang origins. According to the 2002 Census of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Clackamas County in the Portland metro area is number nine in horse population (9,223).
The Dog The truth I do not stretch or shove When I state that the dog is full of love. I’ve also found, by actual test, A wet dog is the lovingest. Ogden Nash
Spot Magazine is published in Portland. It is the one-step resource for information, ideas, and events of interest to animals and their people.
The Labrador retriever continues to be the most popular breed of dog nationally and in Portland, according to figures from the American Kennel Club. The next four dogs: German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Chihuahua, and Poodle.
Our city is packed with pet-centric businesses, from raw-cat-food entrepreneurs to dog social clubs and a holistic veterinary scene. And, in a telling example of art imitating life, there’s Wendy and Lucy, a movie about a woman who’s thrown in jail and nearly undone by her desire to care for and protect her dog. Local writer Jon Raymond penned the screenplay. The film, which stars Michelle Williams, was filmed in Portland.
Naming your dog used to be simple. Dalmatians were called Spot, black dogs were Sooty and we can’t forget Fido. Dogs knew their place. That’s all changing. This site has thousands of names for dogs. |