Look Dog, No Hands

Tue., June 23, 1998

By Rick Bonino boninobeer@comcast.net

Plenty of people who run, walk and hike with their dogs probably wish they could keep a handle on their pet without using their hands.

That’s the idea behind the Sport Leash, made by a Spokane company called WalkinTheDog. Deborah Blake came up with it a few years ago so she could swing her arms while power walking with her black Labrador-mix, Maggie.

The concept is simple: An adjustable leash for the dog attaches to an adjustable waist belt for the owner. A quick-release loop allows the owner to easily detach the belt in emergencies while still keeping the animal under control.

There’s also a complete line of accessories that attach to the belt, including a two-compartment pouch, a water bottle and carrier, a key pouch and a key chain.

The basic belt-and-leash unit costs $24.95. Look for it at Thunder Mountain Dog Supplies, Pet Stuff, Northwest Seed and Pet and Heights Home Center, or call 1-800-338-9255.

Hey, Leo: Having a hard time understanding your cat’s behavior? Maybe you just need to figure out its sign.

“Astrology for Cats,” by Simone Reyes and Ken Compton (Great Quotations Publishing, $5.95), provides profiles of cat personalities by sun sign, including dominant traits and favorite hangouts, games and days of the week.

It’s an eye-opener for those of us who figured feline horoscopes boiled down to: “You are aloof, independent and have a keen insight into the human condition.” But just one question: Do cats have the same sign for all nine lives?

Disc-o dogs: If you’ve got a pooch that can catch a Frisbee in its mouth — or if you just like watching them — the 1998 Alpo Canine Frisbee Disc Championship is coming to Spokane’s Shadle Park on July 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Owners can register their dogs for the competition that evening (there’s no entry fee). Demonstrations and exhibits include an appearance by Stan Sellers and his professional Frisbee-catching dog, Zulu.

For more information, call the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department at 625-6200.

Fur ‘n’ policy: An Ohio life insurance company has started offering discount rates to customers who have pets, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Based on research showing pet owners are less susceptible to high blood pressure and heart disease, Midland Life Insurance believes being around animals offers health benefits roughly equivalent to not smoking cigarettes.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.