Looking for a way to get into the holiday spirit?  On Friday, November 21, 2008 at 10:00 a.m., holiday shoppers can glimpse some of San Francisco’s cutest adoptable animals in Macy’s festive windows at Union Square. Cultural icon Dame Edna will draw the curtain at 10 am to reveal nostalgic displays inspired by Macy’s nationwide “Believe” campaign. 

Macy’s Union Square is partnering with the San Francisco SPCA for the fifth year to give homeless cats and dogs a second chance to find loving homes.  Noted as one of USA Today’s “10 Great Places to Press Your Nose Against the Glass,” Macy’s pet-friendly holiday windows inspired the adoption of 277 animals and over $37,000 in donations for the SPCA last year. Last year also marked the 40,000th adoption since the SPCA began this holiday event 21 years ago.

Animals up for adoption will be featured in front of a variety of doorsteps indicative of classic architecture from brownstones to Victorians. An animated Santa, his animated elves and whimsical dogs and cats sort the letters once they reach Santa’s post office. The window’s centerpiece is an ornate 7-foot wall clock that winds down the days until Christmas.

SF/SPCA reps will be on-site to answer questions from potential adopters. Every adoptable animal is medically and behaviorally screened, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered and comes with a 30-day gift of health insurance, a free advice DVD, leash and collar (for dogs) and discounts on most SF/SPCA training classes. Adopters also receive a gift bag filled with treats and certificates from sponsor partners.

WHERE:    Macy’s Union Square, corner of Stockton and O’Farrell street

WHEN:      Friday, November 21, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. until one hour before store closing, January 1, 2009.

See you there!

The SF SPCA is getting geared up to bring in the spirit of the season with their annual Santa Paws pet photo opportunity this Saturday!  Just in time to create the holiday cards! 

Santa will be on hand for photo ops with you and your fur family. The first hour 11-12 is reserved for the feline divas, and pooches will allowed to pad in at noon (though brave kitties are welcome throughout the day).  All proceeds benefit the homeless cats and dogs at the SF SPCA.

No appointment necessary but leashes for pups and carriers for cats are required.  $25 includes a professional sitting, a 4X6 print, and an emailed copy of your image. If you donate a new toy for the shelter animals, you receive 10% off the photo fee!  No catnip toys please.

During the event (from 12:30-2:30), the Merry ‘Ole Christmas Carolers Dickens Quartet will be sharing their holiday cheer.  And that’s not it - Hot cider and home baked cookies will also be served.  

Woof readers…feel free to email us a copy of your pics (or you can upload through the site)…we would love to post them for all to enjoy!

While Woof Report daily tips are going National beginning today — our blog is going local!  You’ll still get the same great tips for caring for and pampering your pup in our emails, and here’s where you’ll find local dog-friendly events and the best spots to enjoy with your dog all across the Bay Area.

Please comment using the link below and tell us what you want to see and hear more about!

We had a great day at Pet Pride Day 2008 in Golden Gate Park — lots of fun costumed pups, dogs available for adoption — and even a pair of llamas!  Here are a few pics and we have LOTS more at the link below.  If we captured your dog’s photo and you want us to email you a copy — just contact us through our site or send a note to email@woofreport.com.

See lots more photos at Flickr 

The Bay Area is bursting with spooktacular events for beasts of all kinds. Don’t miss out. Pick your top event or party hop with your costumed companion. Here are just a few…..see more at woofreport.com

Also - the latest additions are further below….  

Add your event or any that we have missed by clicking on the “Comment” link at the bottom of this post. 

Friday, October 24th

SF/SPCA’s Yappy Hour
Dragon Bar in San Francisco, 6 - 9 p.m., $10 admission benefits the SF/SPCA.

Celebrate Howl-o-ween the Yappy Hour way! Join other costumed pets and their people at San Francisco’s Dragon Bar for contests, raffles door prizes and specialty cocktails, all to benefit the SF/SPCA.
www.sfspca.org 

Sunday, October 26

14th Annual Pet Pride Day 
Sharon Meadows, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, 12 – 3 p.m., 11 a.m. registration, free.

Leash up for a pet pride event that’s almost as cool as your dog. Get him decked out for the San Francisco Animal Care and Control Pet Costume Contest and stay for a day of animal demonstrations, rescue group visitors, even a meeting with San Francisco’s very own animal cops. And with pet product vendors on site, it’s a great shopping scene too.
www.petprideday.com 

1st Annual Sunnyvale Howl’oween Pet Parade and Faire
Plaza del Sol, Downtown Sunnyvale, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., free.

It’s your dog’s big chance. The American Pet Idol talent contest is coming to Sunnyvale just in time for Halloween. Give your dog his break or enter your whole costumed family in the “Eye Candy” family event. With pet-themed arts and craft vendors and much more, it’s no wonder pet people are pointing their paws to Sunnyvale this season.
www.downtownsunnyvale.com 

ADDITIONAL EVENTS: The latest additions are below!

Saturday, October 25

Farley’s 18th Annual Pet Fest

Farley’s Café, 1315 18th Street (at Texas St) in Potrero Hill in San Francisco, 1 pm parade, free.           

Farley’s 18th Annual Pet Fest, with Christopher Irion’s photo booth (11am), the famous parade (1pm), and live music by the Nancy Wright Trio (2pm), and it’s all a special benefit to raise funds for the Potrero Branch of the Public Library.

 http://www.sfstation.com/farley-s-18th-annual-pet-fest-e433051

Thanks, Jeannine and Archie!

Sunday, October 26 

Trick or Treat at ARF, 2890 Mitchell Drive in Walnut Creek, 2 – 4 p.m., free community event, however donations are always welcomed.

Halloween just got even better for kids. Not only is free candy on order, but Halloween games and crafts too. Best of all, when you bring your little ones to the Trick or Treat at ARF they get to celebrate with therapy animals of Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation. Come costumed and ready for fun.

http://www.arf.net/Programs/trickortreat.html

Mayor’s Mongrel Mash Pooch Parade, Todos Santos Plaza, Concord, 12 noon- 2 p.m. free.

It’s almost here and the kids of Concord are counting the days. With Mayor’s Mongrel Mash Pooch Parade just around the corner, pups and their people are gearing up. Complete with costume contest, great on-stage entertainment, and of course, the legendary parade around the Plaza, Concord’s 21^st Annual Halloween Celebration never disappoints.

http://www.concordfirst.org/featured_event.html

It’s that time again — we’re out looking for dog costumes and our dogs are beginning to wonder if we’ll pick a good one this year.

We can tell you that your dog does not want to be dorothy this year…

Click below on “Comment” and tell us what you’re planning for your pup.

Marin and San Francisco get all the dog buzz for the great hiking and beaches, but insiders know the Peninsula’s a dog person’s best kept secret. Let your dog run naked on the Peninsula (sans leash that is). Just head out to these top spots.

City of Belmont Dog Park - 2525 Buena Vista Avenue, Belmont 
Turn him loose in this ¾ acre fenced park complete with poop bags, water, picnic tables, the works. This doggie dream park is just right for pups of all ages with special areas for socialization and others for play. And it’s just as fun for dog people too. With potlucks, canine first aid seminars and a couple of fairs each year, off-leash living is the way to go. 
 
Bayside Park Dog Park - 1125 South Airport Blvd., Burlingame 
Run, run and run some more. With over 570 feet to dash around, even Great Danes can wear themselves out at this great dog park.

Foster City Dog Run - Foster City Blvd. at Bounty, Foster City 
Sweet and tidy, this little fenced dog park invites big and little dogs to frolic on the artificial grass. Just a half-acre of space, this park packs in a lot of benefits for dogs and their people. With separate sections for big and little dogs, shade structures, water, scoop bags, benches and picnic tables, it’s just right for that quick exercise break your dog craves.

Mountain View Dog Park - Shoreline Blvd. at North Road, Mountain View 
A great rainy day choice, this double-gated dog park offers a 12 by 12 feet covered area complete with picnic table and decomposed granite surface. Let your big or small dog loose in a park area just right for him – it’s all here.

Greer Dog Park - 1098 Amarillo Avenue, Palo Alto 
Smaller dogs in need of a quick dash are all set at Greer. This tiny run is all little dogs need for a safe and refreshing run and social time with other pups.

See the complete list here

Have we missed your favorite spot? Leave a comment and let us know!

This Saturday, a couple of the Woof Reporters and I attended the 2nd Annual Dogtoberfest, held at the Upper Douglas Dog Park in Noe Valley. The local non-profit group, Friends of Upper Douglas Dog Park (FUDDP), held their annual fundraiser to raise money for park improvements.  Denise and the group did an incredible job with this event!

Activities included an obedience competition, and agility contest, a hilarious dog costume contest, and more. There was a raffle, a silent auction with killer deals on wine, trips, and concerts, some really cool vendor tables, and pet photography at a highly discounted price. Lots of folks and pups walked away with some great deals!

Here are some pics I took at the event.  These guys just cracked me up!  You can view more pictures on Woof Report’s Flickr account:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/woofreport/sets/72157607807744826/

Rookie the Pirate…

Mocha as Little Red Riding Hood….

….and Otis the Devil.

Woof Report was lucky enough to squeeze into Bark in the Park in San Jose.  There were no booth spaces to be had, but there was a cancellation — so we were in!  Why were we trying to get there?  10,000 dogs were expected for the 1-day event.

Bark in the Park is the largest dog festival in the country and it really was a great time.  The highlight was having Petey at our booth for the day!  Petey is an absolutely adorable and good-natured Basset Hound and he is looking for a home!  He’s with a wonderful foster family from Golden Gate Basset Rescue organization (they have 2 or maybe 3 Bassets now, so he is certainly in good hands) — but needs a permanent home…so get in touch if you’d like more info!  As you can see from the photo below….Petey has a good nose — he snifffed out our doggie fortune cookies.

We also enjoyed the photo opps with the Bassets that came by our booth - yep, we got a little silly - but it was fun.  There were also lots of interesting booths to visit - dog rescue organizations, cool doggie products — all kinds of things.  We will definitely be back there again next year.

More pics from the day….even dogs want to sign up for Woof Report!

No need to say it — but this guy was BIG.  

The Mutt Strutt was the first event Woof Report participated in — and it was a great time!  Yes - it was in  August and it’s now October and we’re just posting it…we are getting up to date with our blog and we’ll be updating it regularly from here on!!

The Mutt Strutt was a great day - sunshine, happy dogs and lots of folks getting together for a good cause.  Dogs and their people completed 1K or 3K walks around the park to help raise much-needed funds for animals at the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA.  There were also contests, demonstration and booths…including ours — and as you can see - dogs in costumes!

Here are a few pics from the event…

A Border Terrier - I think he participated in the agility demo…a very sweet guy!

This is Hanni - he got lots of attention…

She was there with her master, the astronaut…..who was not a dog in costume.

The Woof Reporters….a sunny day in August — in San Mateo, not in San Francisco…