Tri-Pawed Picnic Breaks Record, Book Publisher Wants Your Dog Hair, R.I.P. Olympic Therapy Dog, and More!

Three-legged dogs gathered for a world record, and John Vincent Law brought the Doggie Diner heads to help celebrate. photo: Joe Kukura, SFist

Three is the Magic Number:
SF Tri-Pawed Picnic Sets New Record 

San Francisco's annual Tri-Pawed Picnic set a new "fun-official" record earlier this summer for the largest gathering of three-legged dogs, with 94 fur-bearing tripods showing up to be counted. According to Guinness World Records, the official record for such gatherings is 75 dogs, but picnic organizers decided to go the unofficial route after difficulties communicating with Guinness.

The event featured the Parade of the Three-Legged Dogs on Little Marina Green near the Palace of Fine Arts, where all attendees marched (hopped?) with pride. A few dogs showed off their skills in a tricks exhibition, including a poodle named Wallace who dazzled the crowd by balancing balls on his nose.

Also in attendance was Slinky, a two-legged dog. While he didn't technically qualify for the tri-pawed count, owner Pebble Goldman didn't mind. "This is a really nice celebration of otherwise-abled animals."

And remember, the next time you're feeling sorry for a three-legged dog: they've still got one more leg than you.

Source: sfist.com

Publishers of Knitting with Dog Hair, a new book scheduled for release this fall, are asking for people to send in their dog hair. photo: boredpanda.com

Stop Vacuuming, Start Knitting:
Book Publisher Wants Your Dog Hair 

Okay, it's hard to tell if this is on the level, but Liveright Publishing recently sent out a call for folks to mail in their dog's hair.

The occasion? In November, Liveright is slated to publish a 30th anniversary edition of the arts-and-crafts classic, Knitting with Dog Hair, the book that claims you can knit a better sweater from your own pooch than "from a sheep you'll never meet." Apparently, author Kendall Crolius hopes the book's re-issue will teach a new generation to put down the vacuum and pick up the knitting needles.

As a marketing ploy, Crolius is making bookmarks with spun dog hair tassels to send to booksellers and reviewers this fall, which is why her publishing house is soliciting hairy donations. If you've read this far and still think this is a good idea, please send clearly labeled bags of your pooch’s fur to:

Marketing Department
Liveright/W.W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue (5th Floor)
New York, NY 10110

Source: Washington Post Book Club email@washingtonpost.com

Izzo was a therapy dog for the USA. photo: USA Swimming

Izzo, R.I.P.: Therapy Dog Was Honorary Member of U.S. Swim Team

With the Olympics in full swing, let's take a moment to remember Izzo, the late therapy dog who was made an official member of the USA Swim Team in the weeks before his death.

A therapy dog for eight years, the friendly Lab/Husky mix endeared himself to all during the Olympic swim trials earlier this summer in Indianapolis. Even a diagnosis of bone cancer didn't stop him from helping top-level athletes find calm as they competed for slots on the national team.

USA Swimming connected with Izzo through Paws & Think, Inc., an Indianapolis-based nonprofit that pairs people with therapy dogs. He was one of about 60 dogs who hung out in the athletes' lounge during the trials, easing tensions and bringing comfort to some 1,000 nervous swimmers. Seeing the dogs was one of the highlights of the day, according to Carson Foster, a competitive swimmer who ultimately snagged a spot on the Olympic team. But Izzo was something special.

"It just seemed like the right move to make him an honorary member of our team," said Nikki Warner, director of communications for USA Swimming. His handler Megan Montague agreed, saying, "I can't imagine a more perfect event to cap off his career."

During his life, Izzo worked at libraries, schools, health care facilities, and sporting events, bringing comfort to people of all ages and all walks of life. The Olympic swim trials were his last event, but you can bet his spirit will be in Paris this month as the U.S. swimmers take to the water.

Rest in peace, good boy.

Sources: washingtonpost.com, youtube.com

SFFD heroically saves Husky from Fort Funston cliffside. photo: San Francisco Fire Department

No Fun at Fort Funston:
Or The Reason for Leashes 

The San Francisco Fire Department recently pulled off a daring rescue to save a stranded Husky, trapped on a ledge 15 feet down a steep cliffside at Fort Funston. Fighting strong winds, the rescuers deployed ropes and a backup squad to pull the frightened dog to safety. The unidentified pooch was later reunited with its owner.

"There are a lot of interesting things in the bushes to chase, but it's not a good idea to go off-trail," said Captain Justin Schorr. The department later underscored this with a post on X: "#your SFFD reminds our canine friends to stay on the trails and leashed to their humans whenever possible."

Unfortunately, not every rescue tale ends this happily. If your dog walks take you to Fort Funston or other dicey areas, please use that big human brain - and leash! - to keep your furry friend out of trouble.

Source: hoodline.com 

Dog lovers like Anita Marquardt, seen here with her pal Phoebe, have signed a petition urging the city to rezone the park for shared access.  photo: Manuel Orbegozo, The Standard

Dog Walking vs. Ball Fields:
Neighborhood Battle Heats Up

Some San Francisco residents are up in arms over the city's refusal to allow dog walking in Jackson Park, located in the Potrero Hill neighborhood. Dogs are prohibited to protect the turf there, which is zoned for athletic fields and reserved for use by schools and sports leagues.

Neighbor Paul Sears says park rangers have used megaphones to chase him out of the park as he's walking his dog, Dude. Now he's organized an online petition demanding "equity for all park users," with nearly 700 signers to date.

On the city side, Parks Department spokesperson Daniel Montez says dogs damage the athletic fields, making them unsafe to play on and expensive to repair.  "Fortunately, there are 36 designated [dog] play areas throughout the city," he notes.

But for Sears, these aren't close enough. "For a business professional like myself, walking an extra 20 minutes is onerous," he says. "I'm fully supportive of the folks who want to play ball....But I don't think the entire park should be zoned for it."

Stay tuned as this neighborhood skirmish continues.

Source: sfstandard.com

Willowbrook is the new-hire at the Compton’s Sheriff’s station. photo: NBC-LA

Little Package, Big Love:
Petite Pup Comforts First Responders 

Finally, meet Los Angeles County's smallest K-9 officer: Willowbrook, a tiny Terrier mix who tips the scales at just five pounds (six with her uniform vest). Rescued from a backyard breeder, the diminutive pup overcame a life-threatening case of Parvovirus to earn her stripes as a certified therapy dog.

Willowbrook works out of the Compton's Sheriff's Station, but she is on call for first responders countywide, including those with CHIP, LAPD, local fire stations, and more. With her badge and training patches on display, she'll go wherever first responders go, her sweet temperament a balm for those brave souls on days when they've seen too much.

Does this good girl ever get cranky? Only if someone she likes passes her by without petting her. Then she'll give a little growl - just to let them know she's down there.

Sources: nbclosangeles.com, youtube.com