WAG

From the desk of Bay Woof Editor Mindy Toomay

I suppose it's some old conditioning from school days that boosts my happiness quotient (HQ) when June rolls around. And don't our dogs seem happier, too? It must be a contact high.

As the summer travel season begins, we bring you a heart-warming story about a woman who fell in love with a homeless dog while vacationing in Mexico. A pregnant homeless dog, no less. What could she do but take the dear thing home to Oregon and find loving families for the ensuing seven pups? Read all about it.

If there are no foreign trips on your horizon but you're still hankering for a change of scene, see Road Trips with Rover. You'll find tips there for dealing with your pup's car sickness, car stress, and car safety – and it just might put you in the mood for a jolly holiday together. (Be sure to call ahead and check out the pet policies of lodgings in your chosen destination.)

Two sure-fire ways to raise your own HQ this summer without traveling at all are making new friends and improving your bond with your dog. This issue can help you do both. Sue De Shong of WoofReport.com provides Internet resources for getting more social – whether you're looking for simple companionship or red-hot romance – with the help of your dog. Kyra Sundance explains how to grow the trust between you and your dog – a project that can change both of your lives for the better.

Bay Area dog trainer and certified life coach Kevin Mendez chimes in with his own suggestion for getting along better with your canine companions. If they aren't meeting your expectations, he says, look in the mirror and improve your own behavior.

On the health front: Vallejo veterinarian John Huebner discusses the hows and whys of dog allergies in his Ask Dr. Dog column, and Dr. Nancy Kay touts the Morris Animal Foundation Walk to Cure Canine Cancer.

Here's an interesting fact that makes me wish the exception could be the rule. Unlike the vast majority of communities across the nation, Marin County has more adoptive families than homeless dogs. For over a decade now, the Marin Humane Society has been addressing the situation by saving the lives of dogs elsewhere. Learn about its Pet Partnership Program. In other shelter news, a coalition of East Bay groups that work tirelessly on behalf of homeless dogs was recently awarded almost half a million dollars by Maddie's Fund to continue its life-saving projects.

That's it for our June issue. Hope it helps you and your dear dogs launch the summer season in high spirits. Next month's Bay Woof is all about Dogs at Work and Play. Don't miss it!

- Mindy Toomay, Editor