Travels With Stella

With the overwhelming selection of food, toys, and furniture on the market today for your pets, it’s nice to keep it simple with the basics... — a dog bowl, after all, is just a dog bowl. Or is it? Actually, the choices of food bowls that are available are staggering, ranging from ceramic to silicone to even disposable bowls made of paper or sugar cane.

So how can you know which bowl is right for your pooch? The Raise a Green Dog! blog put a multitude of options to the test, and discovered that some choices are a lot safer than others. One of the poorest choices turned out to be the plastic bowl–for many reasons:
One reason is that plastics scratch and those little crevices can harbor unhealthy bacteria, that even a good safe cleaning can’t deter. In addition, there are many reports in the news that plastics can emit chemicals like Bisphenal A, or BPA. Every few years, articles regarding the safety of plastics hit the news headlines – most recently in the form of reports of a chemical found in baby and sports bottles: Bisphenal A, or BPA.

What is BPA? The EWG says, “bisphenol a (BPA), a synthetic estrogen used to harden polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resin, is the focus of a growing number of research studies and legislative actions, reflecting mounting scientific evidence that it causes serious and sometimes irreversible damage to health, even at the low doses to which people are routinely exposed.” Prolonged trace BPA exposure is thought to cause a variety of problems ranging from chromosomal disorders to chemotherapy-resistant cancers. Not something you want yourself ingesting, let alone your best buddy!

So, in contrast, which dog bowl came out ahead of the pack? Another classic: the stainless steel bowl. Highly recommended! It is believed to be the absolute safest dog food and water dispensing bowl. It’s what Stella uses for all her meals and water, whether at home or on the road. Durable, sanitary, and rust-free — when it comes to pet bowls, the simplest option is also the safest and best you can give for your pets.

Last year Stella, myself, and The Sacramento Valley Boxer Club joined together to walk in the 2009 K9K Walk to Cure Canine Cancer.

Cancer is the number one cause of death in dogs. According to the National Cancer Institute more than six million dogs will be diagnosed with cancer each year in the U.S. 45% of dogs 10 years old or older die of cancer. Lymphoma is one of the most common cancers in dogs. It occurs most commonly between 5 and 12 years of age. Boxers, Basset Hounds, Cocker Spaniels, Fox Terriers, German Shepherds, Scottish Terriers, Rottweilers and Golden Retrievers are at an increased risk when compared with other breeds.

Reasons for Hope:
Early detection of canine cancer is critical. There is an early detection blood test now available for lymphoma. Canine cancer researchers are working hard to develop more early detection blood tests for common cancers that can be added to your dog's annual health exam.

Hosted by the Sacramento Morris Animal Foundation's Canine Cancer Campaign Volunteers, this event will continue to grow in strength and numbers.

The Sacramento Valley Boxer Club is proud to be a part of the K9K and helping to make a difference!

Please join us in our fight against canine cancer by supporting the 2nd annual Elk Grove K9 Cancer Walk on April 24, 2010. Stella & I have registered for this event in support of Morris Animal Foundation's Canine Cancer Campaign to prevent, treat and, ultimately, cure cancer in dogs.

Please visit the links below to see our story and register or donate today. We greatly appreciate your support for this wonderful cause!

Click here to visit Stella's and my personal page
Click here to view the team page for Sacramento Valley Boxer Club


Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) is also a hero to dogs with the launch of their global campaign to cure canine cancer in a dog's lifetime, the next 10–20 years. While they seek a cure and a way to prevent cancer from ever occurring, they're also developing treatments that can help dogs now and even help humans with cancer – especially kids.

See a list of common clinical signs of canine cancer. If you have any questions or concerns about your dog and cancer, please contact your licensed veterinarian immediately or request a Free Canine Cancer Consultation.

Scroll down to see some of my friends and which breeds are especially susceptible to developing certain types of cancer:

Any large or giant breed : Osteosarcoma (bone)
Bernese Mountain Dog: Histiocytic Sarcoma (soft tissues)
Boxer : Lymphoma (lymph nodes), Brain Cancer
Chow Chow : Stomach Cancer
Cocker Spaniel : Lymphoma (lymph nodes)
Collie : Nasal Cancer
English Springer Spaniel: Mammary Gland (breast)
Flat-coated Retriever : Transitional Cell Carcinoma, Melanoma (skin/mouth)
Golden Retriever : Lymphoma (lymph nodes), Hemangiosarcoma (blood vessels/spleen) Greyhound : Osteosarcoma (bone)
Labrador Retriever : Lymphoma (lymph nodes), Hemangiosarcoma (blood vessels/spleen)
Pug : Mast Cell (skin)
Rottweiler : Osteosarcoma (bone)
Scottish Terrier : Transitional Cell Carcinoma, Melanoma (skin/mouth)
Shar-Pei : Mast Cell (skin)


Together we can make a difference!

Join Morris Animal Foundation at the 2nd Annual K9 Cancer Walk in Elk Grove,California. All proceeds will benefit Morris Animal Foundation’s Canine Cancer Campaign. Dogs are a part of our families, but our “best friends” can get sick, just like us.

Join Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) on Saturday, April 24, 2010, at Elk Grove Regional Park to celebrate your best friend or to honor the memory of your best friend at the 2nd Annual K9 Cancer Walk benefiting MAF’s Canine Cancer Campaign. This is one of a series of walks in 2010 that MAF will host around the nation to help dogs enjoy longer, healthier, cancer-free lives.

Register online at www.K9CancerWalk.org. Register by April 10th to benefit from the early registration fee of $30 for adults and $15 for kids 10 and under. This year’s walk includes options for a 3K and 7K walk, an animal health educational program and an opportunity drawing. Teams will also have a chance to compete for spirit and participation awards.

Dog lovers from around the country can also participate by choosing the Sit & Stay for a Cure option to virtually participate in the 2nd annual K9 Cancer Walk. You can help dogs enjoy longer, healthier lives from the comfort of your couch!

Through the Canine Cancer Campaign, Morris Animal Foundation is creating a healthier tomorrow for dogs. Research funded through the campaign will help develop prevention strategies, test new treatments, establish tools for cancer researchers and train new scientists specializing in cancer research. By supporting this campaign, you can help to one day cure this disease that affects so many of our best friends.

About Morris Animal Foundation’s Canine Cancer Campaign
Media contact:
Tina M. Martinez
800.243.2345, tmartinez@MorrisAnimalFoundation.org
Event contact:
Tish Czachor
800.243.2345, lczachor@MorrisAnimalFoundation.org

Please join the Sacramento Valley Boxer in our fight against canine cancer by supporting the 2nd annual Elk Grove K9 Cancer Walk on April 24, 2010. We have registered for this event in support of Morris Animal Foundation's Canine Cancer Campaign to prevent, treat and, ultimately, cure cancer in dogs.

Please visit the SVBC Link to see our story and register or donate today. We greatly appreciate your support for this wonderful cause!

Are you a good neighbor dog owner? Do you help to prevent environmental contamination by picking up and properly disposing of your dog's poop? Here are some good reasons to "Pick-Up After Your Dog:

Removing dog feces prevents reinfestation of your dog from exposure to infective worm eggs and larvae, and dog feces can transmit diseases from your dog to people. Roundworm, hookworm and other parasitic worms may be transmitted to young children and adults who play or work in their yard/dirt when dog feces is present. Ocular larva migrans - an eye disease caused by parasitic worms found in dog droppings can cause serious eye damage to young children. Clean it up, please!

Animal waste can be a contributor to storm water pollution. It contains disease-carrying bacteria and toxins that can increase the risk of viral infections, flu, and skin rashes for ocean swimmers near storm drain outlets. More than 10 million gallons of water containing fecal contaminants from human and animal sources, flows into neighborhood storm drains every day - even more when it rains. My neighborhood allows garden refuge in the street for weekly pick up. Many neighbors toss their poop bags in these piles. Don't! I'm sure the neighbors that live there don't want to look at your garbage in their garden pile! Take it with you!

Dog feces and urine can result in lawn burn or dead patches. When it's your dog on your neighbor's lawn, it causes a great deal of hostility--toward you, and your dog. Eliminate it!

After a day of baking in the sun, the odor from dog feces can become offensive. Scoop it!

It can ruin a good pair of shoes. Grab it!

Parks belong to everyone, not just your dogs. Kids play on the grass, and families enjoy picnicking, dog feces takes the joy out of outdoors activities. Bag it! Dog feces are not part of nature on a hiking trail, its part of your responsibility as a dog owner to pack it out. Don't leave it behind!

Don't give municipal governments an excuse to ban dogs from public areas or even think about controlling our great American passion of dog ownership. CLEAN IT UP! You make your kids clean up their rooms--clean up your dog's poop!


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Off-leash dog parks are a wonderful recreational outlet for dogs all over the world. The opportunity to run and play with other dogs in a securely fenced environment is a valuable tool in their social development. Unfortunately, not every dog park is filled with responsible owners, and as in most things, a few unmannerly people can ruin the whole experience for most. Make sure you're not one of those humans by following these basic etiquette tips for bark parks.

Don't bring your unvaccinated dog or puppy in a park full of other dogs. It's just asking for the rapid spread of disease, some that could be fatal, especially to young puppies. Most parks will prohibit the entry of puppies younger than four months as well, the common age when the full range of puppy vaccines have been given.

Bring a Healthy Dog:
Don't bring your sick dog to a dog park! It's just common sense but it's amazing how many people will bring a dog who's currently suffering from kennel cough, or has fleas, or mange, or other health problems.
Clean Up After Your Dog:
To further prevent the unintentional spreading of disease and intestinal parasites, pick up after your dog. Leaving piles for other dog owners to clean up is unforgivably rude and could result in you being fined, and you and your dog being banned from the park.
Human Children at Off-Leash Dog Parks:
There are many good reasons to keep children out of off-leash dog parks, and no good reasons to bring them in. The possibilities for accidents are staggering. Be a responsible parent, and keep your small children in the parks designed for them.
Female Dogs in Heat:
Taking a female dog in heat out in public is unbelievably irresponsible, especially out somewhere where there are dozens of dogs running loose, with many possibly unneutered males.
Don't Bring Too Many Dogs:
Many parks will have a posted limit on the amount of dogs one person can bring into a dog park. It's really best not to bring more than dog than you can handle, even if that number is less than allowable limit.
Don't Bring Other Animals That Are Not Dogs:
For the safety of all concerned, dogs, the other animal, and the people in the park, do not bring animals other than dogs to a dog park.
Be Responsible For Your Dog's Behaviour:
If your dog digs a hole, be responsible, and fill it back in. If he can not play nicely with other dogs on that day, then take him home.
Follow The Posted Rules:
Following each park's individually posted rules and regulations will help keep dog parks open and available to all dogs. Failure to obey the rules can result in your local park being shut down, or worse, cause a serious accident that could have been prevented.

Sacramento Off-Leash Dog Parks

Bannon Creek Dog Park
2780 Azevedo Drive
Located in Bannon Creek Park (between Bannon Creek Drive and West El Camino).
Park Hours: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Park is .6 acres. Amenities include benches and dog drinking fountain/faucet.

Glenbrook Dog Park
8500 La Riviera Drive
Located in Glenbrook Park
behind the little league fields.
This 1-acre dog park includes a drinking fountain for dogs, a long run turf area with mature shade trees, a shade canopy over a seating area, benches and picnic tables for dog owners.

Granite Park8200 Ramona Avenue
Located in Granite Regional Park
Park Hours: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Park is 2 acres. Amenities include lights, a drinking fountain for dogs, and turf.

Sutters Landing Park - Dog Park
20 28th Street, Sacramento
This 2.5 acre Park includes areas for large & small dogs, benches, shade umbrellas and drinking fountains

Tanzanite Community Park
2220 Tanzanite Way
Located in Tanzanite Community Park
This 2-acre dog park includes a drinking fountain for dogs, turf and native grass areas, trees, and benches for dog owners.

Jacinto Creek Park - Dog Park
8600 West Stockton Blvd., South Sacramento
A 2-acre dog park with a drinking fountain for dogs, turf and decomposed granite areas, trees, an obstacle course for dogs, and benches for dog owners.

North Natomas Regional Park - Dog Park
2501 New Market Drive(for the dog park portion of the regional park)Sacramento
North Natomas Regional Park now has a 2.5 acre off-leash dog park. Two acres are available for large logs over 25 lbs, and a half acre for small and timid dogs.

Partner Park
5699 South Land Park Drive
Located behind Belle Cooledge Community Center off of South Land Park Drive. Park behind center. Park Hours: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Park is 2.5 acres. Amenities include lights and benches.

Regency Community Park - Dog Park
5500 Honor Pkwy, North Natomas
A 2-acre dog park with a drinking fountain for dogs, turf and decomposed granite areas, trees, and benches for dog owners.

Sierra 2 Green Dog Park
2791 24th St Sacramento. Operating Hours: 452-3005 Managed By: Sierra Curtis Neighborhood. This dog park is currently fenced with no gates. It is open only during specific hours for off leash use.