NWsource | Lisa Wogan

Local wedding ceremonies have gone to the dogs

Lisa Wogan — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:09:07 -0700

Before Kirstie Warren was a professional wedding planner, she was a fiancée with a beloved Chihuahua-terrier mix -- a dear friend she wanted by her side on the big day. So for her Cannon Beach, Ore., wedding in 2001, she bucked tradition and decked little Macie in a purple bandana with a small, hand-sewn pocket into which she secreted the wedding bands.

Cats in the garden? How to cultivate harmony

Lisa Wogan — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:56:45 -0700

A cat in a garden is a romantic, poetic image. A cat in a garden is a plant-chomping, turd-dropping nightmare. It really depends on your point of view.

Seattle author Garth Stein reads from canine novel "The Art of Racing in the Rain" on June 25

Lisa Wogan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:34:08 -0700

One of the tastiest refreshments people have been carrying out of Starbucks lately is a book with a deep-blue jacket and the profile of a yellow, smooth-coated dog. That's because the coffee giant decided to sell The Art of Racing in the Rain by Seattle author Garth Stein in more than 7,000 stores.

Sit, stay, spa: Pamper your pet with a new skin care line for dogs

Lisa Wogan — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:48:29 -0700

I usually wash my dogs in the backyard with the hose. It's a cold, chaotic, treat-heavy experience. But today, I turned my guest bathtub into a mini dog spa to sample one of a new line of animal skin care products recently launched by Bellevue organic chemist Adelia Ritchie.

A cat a day could keep the doctor away

Lisa Wogan — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:40:25 -0700

I'm not sure how I missed reports earlier this year of a University of Minnesota's Stroke Research Center study that found cat owners may be "less likely to die from heart attack, stroke or other types of cardiovascular disease."

Pet boutique High Maintenance Bitch reopens in Wallingford

Lisa Wogan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:27:49 -0700

After closing its doors for a long nap, High Maintenance Bitch reopens this weekend.

Take your dog to work on Friday

Lisa Wogan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:24:02 -0700

On June 20, beagles and shepherds, Labradors and true-blue mutts will leave the comfort of the couch and join the rat race for Take Your Dog to Work Day. For 10 years, working stiffs have celebrated their canine companions by bringing their pets along to the office for one special day.

While cubicle pups aren't the surprise they once were, it's still helpful to bone up on a few pointers for the big day. Check out these excellent tips from local pros.

Northwest School of Animal Massage offers wellness workshops

Lisa Wogan — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:45:14 -0700

Over the years, I've been shown a few animal-massage moves by pros: simple strokes and kneading along the spine or at the base of the tail that cause my dogs to stretch luxuriously and get a satisfied look in their eyes. It's like magic.

Off-Leash Lessons from Dog Heaven

Lisa Wogan — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:39:08 -0700

So I'm just back from a book signing in Boulder, Colorado, and I'm happy to report that the Berkeley of the Rockies is one dog-infatuated town. Lean, shiny, smiling mutts peer out from nearly every funky truck bed, snooze under every sidewalk café table, and pad alongside nearly every lean, shiny, smiling human. For outdoor-adventure-loving quadrupeds, it's hard to imagine a better hometown or destination than Boulder.