ohmidog!

   Mayor Sheila Dixon announced today that the city will build a 7,000-square-foot, enclosed dog park in Locust Point, Baltimore’s first city-funded dog park ever.
    And, the mayor said, it could be one of as many as eight dog parks coming to the city.
    Currently, the only other dog park within city limits is Canton Dog Park — built, funded and maintained by the Canton Community Association.
    The city will pay $150,000 for the design and construction of the fenced in dog play area in Latrobe Park. Construction is expected to start in April and could be complete by next August. Maintenance of the dog park will be the responsibility of the Locust Point Dog Park Committee, which has been pushing for the dog park for more than 18 months.
    The head of that committee Barbara Wilson, also speaking at a press conference in the park this evening, credited committee members and community backers with help making the park a reality.
    “The City couldn’t help but take notice of our motivation and granted us to be their first project,” the  dog park committee’s website says.
     Today’s press conference drew a bit of media attention to an issue that gets little coverage. Other than this WBAL report, from back in July, there has been little reporting on the need for dog parks, and (though we first  told you nearly two months ago) little mention in the mainstream media about the city’s new plan. The Baltimore Sun ran a six paragraph story on Dixon’s pending announcement this morning.
    Also appearing at the press conference was council member Edward L. Reisinger, who has been pushing for a dog park since 2003. Some community groups, such as the one trying to bring a dog park to Patterson Park, have been pushing even longer than that.
     After the press conference, Mayor Dixon and Recreation and Parks Director Wanda Durden confirmed that the city is looking at adding as many as eight dog parks in Baltimore.
    Mayor Dixon, who managed to get through the press conference with her cream-colored suit unsullied — despite the presence of about 75 dogs in the crowd, agreed to pose with Ace afterwards for a photo commemorating the occasion.
    And she didn’t even get mad when Ace took a seat — as he’s prone to do — directly atop one of her cream-colored shoes.
    A crowd of more than 100 turned out for the press conference, with nearly that many dogs in attendance as well.
    Here’s an artist’s rendering of what the dog park might look like.

Fifteen more Iraqi pets befriended and taken in by U.S. soldiers made their way back to the U.S. Wednesday via Operation Baghdad Pups, but Ratchet (left) was not among them.

Scheduled to be flown home to Sgt. Gwen Beberg’s parents in Minneapolis, Ratchet was confiscated by U.S. military officials on his way to the Baghdad Airport for no apparent reason, according to SPCA International, which operates the program.

The SPCA International initiative was created to provide medical care, clearance and transport home to animals U.S. soldiers have come to love and care for during deployment in the Middle East.

On Wednesday Operation Baghdad Pups Program Manger, Terri Crisp, returned to the United States Wednesday with 15 more U.S. soldiers’ pets. But the happy occasion was marred by news that  Ratchet was left behind.

At least 5 other soldiers are facing situations similar to Sgt. Beberg’s as the military cracks down on animal friendships they consider to be harmful, SPCA International says.

“There comes a point when Americans must ask, whose side is the military on? The way the military is blatantly disregarding free therapy for our mentally wounded soldiers begs that question today,” said  Crisp. 

Sgt. Beberg’s mother, Patricia Beberg, was saddened by the news as well. The sergeant has been in Iraq 15 months past her original return date.

“It has been a year of disappointments, loneliness, and fear because of all the sacrifices the army has required of Gwen. Ratchet was the savior of her sanity. I don’t know how my daughter will cope. Ratchet has been her lifeline,” explains Sgt. Beberg’s mother.

“Hundreds of U.S. soldiers in the Middle East befriend animals in the war zone to help themselves cope with the hardship and terror they face every day. These dogs and cats become their lifeline - saving them from deep depression and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),” SPCA International said in a press release.

“The military refuses to help or formally recognize the lifeline these animals give to our mentally wounded. Veterans returned from Iraq are committing suicide at twice the rate of average Americans. It is time that Americans ask the Veterans Administration and the military to embrace all measures to ensure the mental health of every one of our soldiers returning from war.  Operation Baghdad Pups’ dogs and cats can help fight this silent killer.”

So far, more than 1,200 have signed an online petition for the military to release Ratchet.

Michelle Obama pledged on Entertainment Tonight this week that, once the presidential campaign is over, the family — first or not — intends to adopt a dog from a shelter.

The Obamas’ promise to their children that they’d get a dog, once it became public, led to three animal welfare organizations and thousands of petitioners urging them to adopt a dog, rather than buy a purebred from a breeder or pet store.

PETA, Best Friends Animal Society and the Humane Society of the United States had all publicly urged the Obamas to adopt a dog.

“Senator, no one needs to tell you that this country is proud to be a melting pot and that there is something deeply wrong and elitist about wanting only a purebred dog. Millions of Great American Mutts — the dog that should be our national dog — are set to die in our nation’s extremely overcrowded pounds and shelters for lack of good homes. When you are ready, please adopt a homeless pound puppy,” PETA said in a letter to Obama.

Best Friends says more than 50,000 signed its online petitions urging the Obamas to adopt a rescue dog.

“The Obama family’s decision to adopt will be a great example, and will result in many dogs and cats being saved from euthanasia across the country. This is exactly what we hoped for when we launched obamafamilydog.com and we hope you feel as proud as we do about this development,” Best Friends said.

The butt-sniffing has begun in Dewey Beach.

About 4,000 greyhounds are converging on the Delaware beach this weekend, where — butt-sniffing aside — they generally behave far more civilly than the humans who normally converge there in summer.

The Greyhound Project Inc., a nonprofit organization that promotes and helps the adoption of retired racing greyhounds, is the main sponsor of the event, which began when three women got together on the internet to talk about their greyhounds, then decided to meet in person.

They were only able to find one motel that would allow their dogs — the Atlantic Oceanside on Route 1 in Dewey. “Greyhounds Reach the Beach,” which has grown to atrract thousands and is now in its fourteenth year, has been held there ever since, according to Delmarva Now.

The five-day event include seminars for greyhound owners, greyhound inspired art shows and a Mardi Greys Costume Ball. To learn more, visit the Greyhounds Reach the Beach website.

Bidding is underway in Shop-a-Paw-Looza 2008 – your chance to get that vacation getaway/free meal/gym membership/hot air balloon ride/sports memorabilia/pet portrait you’ve always dreamed of.

Those items and more than 300 more are available, and open for bidding, in the Maryland SPCA’s auction that runs until Oct. 28 and benefits homeless and needy dogs and cats in the Baltimore area.

Among the items up for grabs is a custom 11″ by 14″ portrait of your pet (estimated value $450) by Baltimore artist Gil Jawetz, a Ravens jersey signed by Jamal Lewis, and a $100 gift certificate to be used toward accommodations at The Paw House, a pet-friendly hotel with locations in Killington or Mount Snow, Vermont. 

Those placing bids between today and Monday are eligible to win a $35 gift certificate to Rutland Beard Florist. 

To visit the online auction, see what’s available and place a bid, visit the Shop-a-Paw-Looza website.

(Photo: Painting by Gil Jawetz, courtesy buskerdog.com)