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September 11-14

The Groom Expo and Animal Behavior Conference will be Sept. 11 to 14 at Hershey Lodge & Convention Center, Hershey, PA.

The event includes seminars on grooming, boarding, pet daycare, animal behavior, training pet products, retailing, holistics, breeding health and mobile grooming.

For details, visit www.groomexpo.com.

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September 13 & 14

The Mid-Atlantic Reptile Show will be 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, and Sunday, Sept. 14 at at the Maryland State Fairgrounds 4-H Hall in Timonium, MD.

For details and tickets, visit www.reptileinfo.com/Events_Schedule.aspx.

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Tuesday, September 16

From ASPCA:

Puppy mill rally

On Tuesday, September 16, Harrisburg is going to the dogs! Bring your prized pooches to a very important event at the State Capitol to tell lawmakers you care about dogs -- and you vote -- and that it's high time to end some of the worst puppy mill abuses.

The General Assembly reconvenes on September 15, the day before the rally. Your legislators will be back to work -- so if at all possible, please try to meet with your senator and/or representative while in Harrisburg to urge them to support PA House Bills 2525 and 2532, legislation that would protect dogs housed in Pennsylvania's commercial kennels.

It is vital that supporters of puppy mill reform in Pennsylvania let their voices be heard at this event!

When: Tuesday, September 16, from noon to 2:00 P.M.

Where: Soldier's Grove, Capitol Complex, Harrisburg (click here for map).

What: Rally and Dog Walk around the Capitol

Speakers: Supervisory Special Investigator Annemarie Lucas (ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement), Stephanie Shain (HSUS), author Jana Kohl (A Rare Breed of Love).

If you plan to attend the rally, click here to RSVP. Don't worry--your RSVP is not a commitment; it just helps the ASPCA form an idea of how many people to expect.

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Saturday, Sept. 20

Puppy Mill Awareness Day will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 in Lancaster County.

Speakers will include Ann Marie Lucas of Animal Planet's "Animal Precinct," Rikki Rockett of Poison, Chris DeRose of Last Chance for Animals (also an actor whose resume includes movies and General Hospital) and Rescue Ink/ There will also be live music.

For details and directions, visit www.awarenessday.org.

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Furry Friends Network's annual Race for Their Lives will be Saturday, Sept. 20, at Gifford Pinchot State Park.

The 5K trail run and 2-mile fun walk is open to individual and team participants. Well-behaved, physically fit, spayed/neutered, licensed, and currently vaccinated furry companions are welcome, too!

On the day of the event, registration will take place from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m., and the race will begin at 9 a.m. A light lunch will be provided for all participants following the race. Prizes will be awarded for top fundraisers, run and walk team winners, top dog run and walk finishers, and individual run and walk winners in seven age categories: Youth (12 and under), Teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60 plus. This year, the top fundraiser will be awarded with a one-week vacation stay in Myrtle Beach.

Registration and sponsorship forms are available on the FFN Web site at www.furryfriendsnetwork.com.

Your participation will help FFN continue to save homeless and unwanted animals in our community; pay for their medical expenses and daily needs; and fund spay/neuter surgeries to break the cycle of homeless cat colonies in our area.

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Learn how to effectively manage stray cat numbers by using a method that is proven, cost-effective and humane.

Register now for the Cat Management Forum: The Future of Feral Cat Management, featuring Alley Cat Allies and presented by PAWS.

The forum will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at Harrisburg River Rescue, 1119 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg, PA.

Speakers include Becky Robinson of Alley Cat Allies, Dr. Christine Wilford of The Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project, the Philadelphia Community Cats Council and PAWS' TNR Coordinator Christine Arnold.

Registration is $35 per person, which includes a vegetarian lunch. To register, visit www.pawsofpa.org and click on the "Cat Management Seminar" link on the right side of the page. You can also register via mail by sending your name and address, along with a check made payable to PAWS, to: PAWS, Attention: Cat Management Forum, PO Box 855, Camp Hill, PA 17001>

If you have a question you'd like answered by the speakers, include it with your registration.

Topics of the seminar will include:

-- Introduction to TNR (trap-neuter-return)

-- Conflict resolution and mediation to protect cats

-- Changing the government's perception of caregivers

-- Best practices colony management

-- Veterinarians and feral cats -- why vets won't help

-- Why taming and adopting isn't the answer.

-- Feral cats in shelter environments

-- The future of trap-neuter-return and feral cat management in the greater Harrisburg area

-- Collaboration

There will also be a question & answer session.

PAWS also welcomes sponsorships, which are available online at www.pawsofpa.org.

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The York County SPCA will kick off Pennsylvania's Week for Pets in a big way with a battle of the bands fundraiser 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 20 (rain date Sept. 27) at the Morningstar Market in Thomasville, PA.

Live music will be provided by Bent the Truth, Close Call and Lakeherst. Music starts at 9 a.m.

The event will also feature a live reptile show at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., pony rides, a moon bounce and more.

The event organizers are still looking for vendors, volunteers and donations.

If you are interested in volunteering, making a donation, or setting up, call Gail Schwartz at (717) 718-5279 or e-mail gail@travelingwithgail. com.

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September 20 & 21

A cat show and feline agility competition will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 20 and 21 Maryland State Fairground, 2200 York Road, Timonium, MD.

A sign-language interpreter will be available for signing events and for individual communication. The event is handicapped-accessible, with free parking.

Guest veterinarians will speak on various health issues. The show will include 450 cats representing 41 breeds, including household pets.

Rescue cats and kittens will be available for adoption, and purebred kittens will be for sale.

Enter your pet in agility and/or household pet competition.

A clip-and-save coupon is available online at freestatecatfanciers.tripod.com. Admission fees are $6 for adults; $5 for seniors and children younger than 12; or $16 for a family of four.

For details, e-mail wan-leatonks@verizon.net.

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Sunday, September 21

"Pancakes for Puppies," a breakfast fundraiser to benefit United Against Puppy Mills, will be 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, September 21, at The Pancake Farm, 1032 S. State St., Ephrata, PA.

Cost is $7.50 for adults and $3.95 for children 8 and younger.

A specially selected menu of breakfast items will be available. Bring your friends and family, pay at the door and enjoy some wonderful food.

Outside, there will be several dog rescues and a special young lady will be holding a bake sale. Proceeds from the bake sale and breakfast benefit UAPM.

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September 25-Oct. 3

The Ocean County Police Academy is offering the Animal Cruelty Investigators Course approved by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and the New Jersey Police Training Commission.

This course meets the requirements of N.J.A.C. 8:23A-2.6. Successful completion of this course is required in order to be appointed as an Animal Cruelty Investigator by a New Jersey Municipality. Enrollment is open to any person 18 years of age or older and we anticipate being able to accommodate all applicants.

The seven-day course will be held at the Ocean County Police Academy at 659 Ocean Ave, Lakewood, New Jersey. This course will be conducted from 9 to 5 p.m. September 25 to October 3. Tuition is $679, which includes all materials. Tuition payments, purchase orders or vouchers are to be made payable to Career Development Institute and mailed to PO Box 5024, Kendall Park, NJ 08824.

For further information or registration form, call the Career Development Institute at (800) 244 6921 or visit www.cditraining.org/pages/courses/animalcruelty.htm

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Sunday, September 28

Woofstock will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, at Riverfront Park in Harrisburg, PA.

Take part in doggie demos hosted by OTCH; and ice-cream socials for the dogs, hosted by The Dogs Den and Brookline Lab. Visit the CPAA raffle tables and take a chance on winning a basket of goodies.

Music will be provided by Loose Canon Band, Julie Schreiber Band,Tropical Soul ,Sky Dog, The Cruise Control Duo- Erin Cruise & Ken, Jo Braithwaite, Julie Moffitt, Pat Cusick, Brooks West, Maria Wilson, Jimbo Sage, Karen Dalton, CH Lehr and more.

Enter your dog in the Funkytown Pet Costume Contest, and homeless rescued animals will be strutting their stuff at the Rescue Me Rockin' Mutt Strut with Valerie Prichett, ABC 27 anchor, announcing each dog.

Meet the guys from Rescue Ink, a NY group of tattooed tough talkers with a soft spot for feral kitties and abandoned puppies. Other features of the event include low-cost pet vaccines and microchipping, Extreme Doggie Makeover/K-9 Edition for some lucky homeless rescued dogs, free nail clippings, animal-friendly merchants and yummy food.

Admission is free. For details, visit www.cpaawoofstock.com.

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