Does your dog drink beer?

Even if your dog doesn't imbibe ( I know, he Barks - you drink the Beer) - you know what he does like. He likes to run. He does not like to sit on the couch with a brewski and the remote. He likes to kick up his heels and play like the wild thing that he/she is. He wants park time - badly.

See that face there? That is the face of a dog desperately in need of some offleash time running in the grass. And starting next weekend (June 20-21) with the breaking of ground and the setting of poles in Renton's first Offleash Dog Park along the banks of the Cedar River - that is exactly what all of our soon to be ecstatic puppies are going to be getting. (Want to volunteer ? they still need help, my little peeps!)

We, the owners of small furry friends have had our prayers heard. As seen in the schematic above, along side the front gate to the park there will be an area reserved for the small dogs. Thank you, RUFF organizers for hearing out our needs and seeing that they were met.

The 130 tickets for the fundraising event, Barks and Beers, held at The Dog and Pony Grill and Alehouse, were sold out by the day of the event (Sat. 6/13) and the turnout was good. There were adorable table centerpieces, paw print balloons, a table full of "ruffle" prizes and a drawing for a trip to Victoria, replete with food, whale watching,etc. with tickets which were sold for a $5 donation. Dennis Law, our mayor, that's right! won that one. How did he pull that off? I hear that he bought scads of tickets. Wonder if the trip is "dog friendly?"

Christine Taylor (soon to be Christine Rousse) with her prize black lab plushy.

Amongst those gathered in support of RUFF (Renton's Unleashed Furry Friends/Renton Community Foundation), I saw Marcie Maxwell, Rich Zwicker and ever so briefly, Marcie Palmer. There was seating both in the outside beer garden as well as within the pub at The Dog and Pony. The fare was basic hotdogs and hamburgers with the inclusion of a Veggie burger for our nonmeat eating friends, plus a side of potato salad and some chips. There were about 6 beers on tap, all of them donated, and each ticket came with two beer coupons good for a pint of beer or a glass of wine or soda. Examples of the dog-themed beer of the evening were - Laughing Dog Brewery's Alpha Dog (a nice double IPA), and Flying Dog Brewery Double Dog Double Pale Ale.

We had gorgeous, temperate weather for the event. Everyone seemed to be having a really good time. The beer garden this day, alas, was free of dogs. Sorry Fido!

Big Dog Thanks go out to Jay and Kristen Fisher (Jay, pictured here above) for hosting and helping out with this event for such a good cause. Also, a shout out to the following companies who contributed to the successful evening:
Cedar River Composting
Click Distributing
Deschutes Brewery
Elysian Brewing Company
Food Services of America
Flying Dog Brewery
Fuller's Breweries International
Georgetown Brewing Company
Lagunitas Brewing Company
Laughing Dog Brewing
Mac & Jacks Brewing Co.
New Belgium Brewing
The Odom Corporation
Pacific Beverages
SAB Miller
World Class Beverages

Still want more!? Visit www.rentonoffleash.org

A bee's life

Cross pollination is ever so important - even when the flower in question is a little - well, yarny, shall we say...

Barks,beers and little woofs

June 13th the Renton Offleash Dog Park will receive another good boost in the arm - the Barks and Beers event to benefit the park will be held at the Dog & Pony and the tickets are going fast. The Dog and Pony has always held human's best friend in high regard - the patio out to the side of the establishment is dog friendly and is used in the warmer months by many as a great place to dine on some great pub food and beer along with the furry "other half".

And while I have your attention - I want to put in a word for the smaller woofs in the crowd. Wookie, above, is a Chinese Crested Powder Puff, who weighs in at a whopping 4 pounds. Just this week he was grabbed up in the jaws of a much bigger dog at a dog park that does not have an area for "smaller dogs". His human, Sue Rider, hopes that in the entire 5 acres that is being allotted for the park, some consideration will be given to the wee folks who don't always have the easiest of times with those 80 pound four leggers. I second that motion. I have a wee one and he is just plain afraid of anyone else's shadow when it comes right down to it, even though he likes to make out with his initial annoying barking that that is not the case. Napoleon complex - owner diagnosed.

Barks & Beers Saturday June 13th 5-9pm
Dog and Pony Grill and Alehouse 351 Park Ave (425) 254 - 8080
www.thedogandpony.com
Tickets available now at the Dog for $30/$35 at door (but only some will be available)
Includes two dog-themed beers and your choice of hamburger,veggie burger, hotdog served with some tasty side dishes.