The Humane Society of Harford County, Maryland, will hold a Valentine's Day pet adopt-a-thon 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 14 and 15 at PetSmart, 602 Boulton St., Bel Air, Md.
For details, call 410-836-1090, ext. 106; e-mail volunteer@harfordshelter.org; or visit www.harfordshelter.org.
Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance will offer a low-cost vaccine and microchipping clinic for cats and dogs from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at Superpetz, 2420 Eastern Blvd., Springettsbury Township.
Vaccines offered are rabies, distemper and bordetella (kennel cough) for $10 each. AVID microchipping will be available for $25, which includes registration. Deworming and flea treatment will also be available.
Appointments are not necessary. Dogs should be on short leashes (no chains), and cats must be in secure pet carriers. Breeders cannot participate in this clinic.
Veterinarian will be Sardar Tariq, DVM, of Tri-County Animal Hospital in Dillsburg.
For details, call 938-1191 or e-mail pdravk@yahoo.com.
For more information on CPAA and future low-cost clinics, visit www.cpaa.info.
Area friends of animals will take to the alleys on Sunday, February 22, to save strays from the streets. The gathering at Trindle Bowl, 4695 E. Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg, PA, is Furry Friends Network's annual Strikes for Strays bowl-a-thon fundraiser to benefit the nonprofit's medical fund for animals under its care.
The event begins at noon with registration and lunch. Bowling starts at 1 p.m. and concludes at 4 p.m.
Registration is $50, and the deadline to register is Feb. 16. The registration fee includes lunch, bowling, shoe rental, Strikes for Strays 2009 giveaway, three raffle tickets for door-prize drawings, a registration packet full of additional goodies, and loads of satisfaction that you're helping FFN accomplish its mission in 2009 - to save lives, one animal at a time.
The idea is to collect pledges and win great prizes.! There will be prizes awarded for top bowlers and fundraisers.
For details, visit www.FurryFriendsNetwork.com, e-mail furryfriendsnet@aol.com or call (717) 258-8756.
Based in Boiling Springs, FFN is an all-volunteer animal adoption organization that takes in many strays, as well as animals that have been surrendered to shelters or abandoned by their owners. The rescue provides veterinary care and places the animals in foster homes until permanent, adoptive homes can be found.
By moving animals from overcrowded animal shelters into foster homes, FFN helps shelters reduce their use of euthanasia to control a large population of unwanted animals. FFN also assists with funding for spay and neuter surgeries to help break the cycle of breeding by free-roaming cats. Donations to support its mission are tax-deductible.
The Central PA Reptile Show is open to the public 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today (Saturday, Jan. 24) at Carlisle Expo Center, 100 K Street, Carlisle, PA .
Admission is $7; free for children younger than 6.
Hands-on seminars on basic reptile care will be presented by the Metropolitan Herpetological Society and Lancaster Herp Society in the seminar room at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Future shows will take place March 21, May 16, July 25 and Nov. 7.
For details, visit http://www.centralpareptileexpo.com.
Change a Pet's Life Day is Saturday, Jan. 24, and Hill's Science Diet is offering free pet adoptions at shelters across the country.
The goal is to get people who are even mildly interested in adopting a dog or a cat to come into the shelters to take a look.
Click here for details and to find a participating shelter near you.
"Braving the Cold is for the Dogs," a fundraiser to benefit United Against Puppy Mills and A Tail to Tell puppy mill rescue, will be Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Pancake Farm Restaurant, 1032 S. State St., Ephrata, PA.
The Pancake Farm will donate 10 percent of its profits for the day, and for a donation of $5 or more, patrons will receive a Pancake Farm mug filled with a hot beverage.
For information on UAPM, visit www.unitedagainstpuppymills.org.
Do you have an active dog who has a bit of cabin fever this winter? Join Appalachian Air Canines from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, at Bella Vista Training Center, 730 Mount Airy Road, Warrington Township, near Ski Roundtop.
It's the first of three classes designed to help anyone with a playful dog. No prior experience is necessary. During this first session, owners will learn the basics of disc play, beginning with how to throw a disc and get your dog to fetch it.
Later sessions will introduce intermediate and advanced skills for handlers and dogs.
Cost of the session is $15 for your first dog, $7 for each additional dog.
All sessions are held indoors in the center's agility arena, which features dog-friendly flooring.
For details, visit www.aircanines.com or e-mail info@aircanines.com.
Dawn Wolfe, studio animal trainer and talent coordinator for Animal Planet's hit TV show, "DOGS 101." is holding auditions for the show's second season.
Filming Monday, Jan. 26, in New York City:
Brittany Spaniel
Siberian Husky
English Mastiff
Miniature Schnauzer
Old English Sheepdog
Afghan Hound
Pomeranian
Havanese
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Australian Shepherd -- Merle Only
Toy Fox Terrier
Pekingese
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Xoloitzcuintli
Filming Monday, March 2, in New York City
Bernese Mountain Dog
Chow Chow
Portuguese Water Dog
Cairn Terrier
Alaskan Malamute
Bull Terrier
Chinese Crested
Italian Greyhound
Lhasa Apso
Dogs must be in "show" coat to be considered. They must be OK with other dogs and off-leash obedience trained. Obedience titles, tricks and special skills are a bonus.
Please include in the e-mail:
-- Photos of the dog(s)
-- Your contact information (first and last name, home address, home phone, cell phone, etc.
-- Information about the dog(s) and why you think he or she would be a good candidate for the show. Please list any titles, previous set experience, special training, etc.
If you have any of the breeds listed above and would like to be notified when the audition time, date and location are finalized, send an e-mail to Dawn@AnimalActors.biz or visit http://www.animalactors.biz/contact_us.htm.
For up-to-the-minute details, visit www.animalactors.biz/casting_calls.htm.
To be notified of future casting calls in your area, join the announcement list at www.animalactors.biz/announcements.htm.
This year's Pennsylvania Farm Show, Jan. 10 to 17, will include two dog events.
One is a continuous Learning Station from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. all eight days of the show, "Discover What Dogs Can Do," with service dogs, therapy dogs, law enforcement dogs and wardens' dogs. The dogs can be petted, and children of all ages can learn about them and what they can do.
Dog license applications will be available, as well as information on dog laws, rabies, bite prevention, responsible care of dogs and more. This is the third year for this event.
The second event is "Farm to Fun -- Dogs Do It All," 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, in the large arena. Demonstrations will include herding, agility, flyball and Frisbee. This event is presented by Penn Ridge Kennel Club (Montgomery/Lehigh/Bucks counties.
Preview "Hotel for Dogs" Saturday, Jan. 10, at Regal Cinemas Hunt Valley, 118 Shawan Road, Cockeysville. Doors open at 10 a.m.; the movie starts at 10:30 a.m.
The film is a heartwarming flick about two kids who secretly take in nine stray dogs at a vacant house. It stars Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Kyla Pratt, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon and Don Cheadle.
Several adoptable dogs from The Maryland SPCA will be at the theater.
Admission is free, but there is a recommended $5 per person donation (cash or check, please) at the door. Donations will help provide food, vaccinations, spay/neuter, shelter, care and enrichment for homeless and lost animals at The Maryland SPCA.
Attendees will be automatically entered into a drawing for one of 10 free special-edition stuffed dogs. Additional stuffed dogs will be available for a $15 donation (cash or check).
R.S.V.P. by Thursday, Jan. 8, to Tami Gosheff at tgosheff@mdspca.org with the names and e-mail addresses of everyone in your group. Names must be on the list for admission. Don't delay, as space is limited!
