Billy To Headline WOOFSTOCK FUN FEST at the Grateful Dog Bakery in North Ridgeville, Ohio on August 1, 2010

Billy will be signing copies of Happy Dog: Caring For Your Dog's Body, Mind and Spirit, answering questions and hosting this fun- filled event. Here's the scoop and click here for more information.

WOOFSTOCK FUN FEST sponsored by The Grateful Dog Bakery

31966 Center Ridge Road, North Ridgeville OHIO

Sunday, August 1st from 10 am -5 pm

We are celebrating our 5 year Anniversay with one of the biggest bashes ever! This year we are proud to have as our very special guests:

"Groomer to the Stars" and Author Billy Rafferty
Billy, a nationally recognized, multi-certified and award-winning pet stylist and dog care expert, has a new book out called "Happy Dog—Caring for Your Dog’s Body, Mind, and Spirit," and he’ll be signing copies of it at Woofstock. In addition to being a Master Pet Stylist, Certified Master Groomer, DermaTech Specialist and Companion Animal Hygienist, he is a sanctioned grooming show judge and†a highly regarded speaker and lecturer.Billy is also the owner and principal stylist at Doggy Dooz Pet Styling Salon in Chicago, IL. His clients include Oprah Winfrey, NBC News’ Tamron Hall and Chef Art Smith.

Barnes and Noble will be selling Billy's book and he will be signing them. And...Billy will be offering a question and answer session at Noon under the Lecture Tent!

AND:

Renowned Pet Portrait Artist Michael Vistia
Mr. Vistia's work has been commissioned by Fortune 500 companies, entertainment and sports celebrities and politicians. Mr. Vistia’s lifelike renderings of family portraits, canines and thoroughbreds are on display in some of the most prestigious homes in America. His photos are also featured in Mr. Raffery’s new book (see above entry). He has also done some "Paint Your Own Pet Portrait" classes at the Bakery, and will be at Woofstock to share his talents with attendees.

New this year:
- A free lecture series featuring 30-minute workshops on various pet-related topics such as nutrition and grooming.

- Pictures with Merlinda "The Fairy Godmother" to pets!
from 11- 4 $10
- Pet Blessing for a donation at 3:00
- Kissing Booth...Kiss a Boston Terrier!

PLUS:
- Wiener Races $2.00 entry fee at 1:00
- Dog Races $2.00 per dog entry fee by size. 1:15
- Pet massage by Pet Kneads $10 for 10 min.
- Nail trims by Designer Doggies $5.00
- Variety of Information booths,
- Paw print imprints & Paint your own Pet Picture! -$5.00
- Free Fly Ball demonstration by Fur in a Blur at 2:00pm
- Outdoor cafe for people and pets with Awesome Gyros and Alyssa’s Cupcake Confections.
- Canine Skinny Dipping Pool!

Entertainment will be provided by the band iTex, featuring Plain Dealer reporter Chuck Yarborough & the fab duo of BrookeLynn!!

Proceeds from Woofstock benefit these 4 Animal Rescues:
- Love-a-Stray
- Fidos Companion
- St. Francis Animal Sanctuary
- Middleburg Hts. Animal Foundation

Other animal rescues & non-profit in attendance:
- Golden Retriever's in Need - Ohio Pug Rescue
- Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue
- Skunkhaven Rescue
- Canine Companions for Independence
- Guiding Eyes for the Blind
- Friends of the Park
-Therapy Dog International

Plus:
- Camp Bow Wow
- JMT Glassworks
- Primal Pet Foods
- Natura Pet Foods
- Fromm Pet Foods
- Honest Kitchen Pet Foods
- Happy Pet Vet
- North Coast Dogs Training
- Pet Kneads
- Designer Doggies
- Healing Touch Reiki for Pets and People
- Doris Straka Animal Communicator
- Fur in a Blur
- Art Attack by Kat
- Wholesome Pet Distributing

Lecture/Demo Tent Schedule -
10:45 Therapy Dog International Demo
Dolynn Doyle
11:45 The Ins and Outs of Feeding Raw food to your pets...
Michelle Hall
12:45 Billy Rafferty Answers your questions about grooming your pet!
1:45 Ask the Vet - Dr. Dean from Happy Pet
2:45 Cooking Demo...Nurtitious recipes for your dog!
Tiffany Costanzo from Wholesome Pet
3:45 Holistic Practices for your Pet and what they do
Cheri Keller & Linda Mckenna

Contests: Entry fee is $1.00 per dog per contest
(Held in front of the entertainment tent.)
Largest/Smallest Dog- 10:30
Grooviest Dog - 11:30
Best look alike - (Wo)man/child and dog - 12:30
"Americas dogs have talent!" The most talented dog! - 1:30
Pie Eating Contest for man and dog - 3:30

- Free goodie bag with every in-store purchase (one per family). Admission is free.
PLEASE NO RETRACTABLE LEASHES/FLEXI LEADS

Lolly the Trolley
(Sponsored by Natura Pet Food, Fromm Family Foods, Primal Pet Food & Wholesome Pet Distributing)

Please park at Wagner’s Country Inn, 30855 Center Ridge Road, Westlake (corner of Center Ridge and Bradley roads), and take Lolly the Trolley to The Grateful Dog Bakery and Woofstock. Parking at Wagner’s Country Inn is free. Lolly the Trolley transportation will be $5 per family/dog(s) or $2 per person/dog(s). All parking will be at Wagner’s Country Inn this year, but you are welcome to make drop-offs at The Grateful Dog Bakery if necessary and then go park. Parking available for those with a handicap sticker also at the Bakery.

Chinese Raffles this year:
Gift Basket from Wholesome Pet Distributing
Kong Gift Basket worth over $150
Nylabone Gift Basket worth over $150
2 Indians Tickets Indians vs Orioles Thursday Aug 12th. 7:05 Diamond Box(third base line) $117.99 value plus $10.00 or concession stand.
4 Admissions to Hilarities Comedy Club in
Pickwick and Frolic.
4 admissions to the Cleveland Botanical Garden
Gift Basket from Our Gang Salon
Grateful Dog Bakery Gift Card worth $100.
Gift basket for Felines - worth $50

Other Sponsors :
K&W Distributing
Merrick Pet Food

PLEASE NO RETRACTABLE LEASHES/FLEXI LEADS

Why Are (most) Dog Owners Great? Let Us Count the Ways

Washington Post colunist Ezra Klein offered some thoughtful words this week on Why Dog Owner's Make the Best Citizens.

Charley: Rags to Riches to Robes

Like millions of Americans, at Happy Dog Land we are inspired by President Obama's inauguration speech. We hope that you are too! President Omaba asked us all to do our share by helping our communities in order to make America great again. Assisting animals in need is a wonderful place to start. You can volunteer at a shelter or even use your social network to help place a stray, neglected or unwanted animal on your own. Here's an example to get you started.



RAGS: A few years ago, Jill and a few friends joined together to find a new home for a pooch in need. A Chicago family adopted a cute little Maltese from a shelter. Although the family probably meant well, they could not properly care for the dog or devote adequate time to him. In fact, when the pooch's leg was injured, the family never even took him to the vet. One friend, Jillisa, heard about the dog and convinced the family to give him up. She called Jill, who called another friend, Stacey. Working together, the friends found the scruffy little guy a forever home with another friend who lived out of state.

RICHES: Charley's new life is full of love, pampering, good grooming and proper veterinary care. Charley's new mom Jill recently wrote us with an update: "I consider Charley a true gift of love from Stacey [one of the rescuers], because she had lost her boy Sunny at about the same time we lost our cat. Stacey could have easily kept Charley as the newest member of her family, but she gave him to us. Charley has truly enhanced my life, as I have always been afraid of dogs! Now, I can't get enough of them. I'm truly a reformed cat person."


ROBES: Charley also inspired his mom to start a new business Doggie Robes. After she whipped up a terry cloth robe for Charley, her friends encouraged her to sell them. Charley is the company model and we hear that he "is quite a ham!"

We think President Obama would be pleased to hear about Charley! Rather than doing nothing, this group of friends took action. Their willingness to help others enabled a neglected pooch find a perfect home and they enriched the lives of Charley's parents too.

National Call To Service

President-elect Obama has challenged every American to participate in a national call to service today. If you can, stop by your local animal shelter or animal welfare organization and volunteer to help out. With the economy in a downward spiral, more animals than ever are in shelters and in need of help. If you can't donate your time, donate your dollars every little bit helps.

In the news: Getting your injured dog to the vet

We were perusing the news wires today and came across an interesting article about a dog that was horribly injured while playing in a park. On New Year's Day, Max, a 90 pound English Lab, was with his mom Betsy when a rusty metal rod hidden in the snow punctured his body. Max is a big dog and difficult to move, especially after such a severe injury. Betsy's friend called 911, but was told that the local police don’t rescue animals. The women then called Max's dad who came to the rescue and rushed Max to the emergency vet. After 3 hours of harrowing surgery, Max was repaired and has 20 staple to prove it. Thankfully, he's recovering at home and should be fine in about a month.

What would you do if you were out and about and needed help getting your injured pooch to the animal hospital? You'd be hard pressed to find an ambulance willing to transport your best pal or even to come out to a trail or remote area.

Rather than complain or sue, Betsy has decided to find an answer to the problem. Check out Betsy's website, created to raise awareness and help establish emergency services and transport for injured animals.

Betsy is a fine example of someone taking action to help animals and her community. If you have any ideas, would like to talk about the issue or just want to wish Max a speedy recovery, contact Betsy.

In addition, call your local animal control agency or local animal welfare organizations to find out if your area has any emergency animal transport. A severe or life threatening injury can happen anywhere -- in the snow, in the sand, on the grass or on the sidewalk. Whether you're near home or on vacation, locate the closest veterinary or emergency veterinary facility before you go out. Likewise, carry a charged cell phone and have the local veterinary hospitals on speed dial.

Is Your City Dog Friendly?

In between the articles teaching you how to "make any woman yours" or to "have more sex," Men's Heath magazine recently ranked the 10 best cities for dogs. Although we beg to differ with Chicago's low rating, it got us thinking. No matter where you live, you can make your city, town or hamlet dog friendly -- regardless of the criteria used by Men's Health. Indeed, a city becomes dog friendly when dog people get together and make it happen. For example, petition lawmakers for dog parks, beaches or trails, support local animal welfare groups, buy your dog food and supplies from local stores and encourage more people (as long as they're responsible) to bring a dog into their home. Get creative, start a club for singles who love dogs or sponsor a tea party for elderly neighbors and their pets.

Start talking to fellow dog lovers in your 'hood and turn your town into Fidopolis. Let's hear some of your ideas in the comment section.

Check out this interactive map to see where your hometown ranks in the Men's Health list and then you'll know how much work you have to do.

Photo of Maro and Spike by: Michael Vistia, Vistia Designs