Create Some Fine (Dog) Art

Tue., May 4, 1999

By Rick Bonino boninobeer@comcast.net

As any dog lover knows, the noble canine is a true work of art — which may be why dogs are so attractive to artists as subjects.

The Spokane Kennel Club is seeking original artworks depicting dogs for its second annual “The Dog in Art” juried exhibition, which will be presented during the club’s spring dog show May 28-30 at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds.

Many types of art are welcome, from paintings to photographs to sculpture to jewelry to pottery, so long as a dog is included in the subject matter. Entries will be divided into three categories: youth (under age 18), amateur adult and professional. Trophies and ribbons will be awarded to the winners.

Entry deadline is May 15; there is no entry fee. For more information, call Lorna Boydston at (509) 468-9906.

* My fair Lassie: Having professional photos taken of you and your pet is one of several attractions at a Pet Fair on Saturday at the Spokane County Animal Shelter, 2521 N. Flora Road.

The fair, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., also will include exhibits, refreshments, a Beanie Baby raffle and, of course, plenty of pets available for adoption.

And on Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the shelter is sponsoring a microchip clinic. For $15, licensed pets can have a computer chip implanted that will identify them if they’re lost.

For more information, call the shelter at (509) 458-2532.

* Class action: Dog owners can register next week for a variety of classes offered by the Spokane Dog Training Club.

Obedience and competition classes are available for puppies and adult dogs alike. Registration is May 12 at 7 p.m. at the club, 2620 N. Locust Road. For more information, call (509) 922-2645.

* Tick, tick, tick: This is prime tick and flea season for dogs and cats. And the bloodsucking parasites can be more than mere nuisances; in rare cases, undetected ticks can temporarily paralyze an animal.

Some tips for tick and flea control from the Pet Emergency Clinic:

While a variety of over-the-counter remedies are available, the best prevention is Frontline Top Spot, an oil-based topical treatment applied between an animal’s shoulder blades. Available at veterinary clinics for about $30-$35, it deters ticks for up to 1 month and fleas for up to 3 months; be sure to use the proper formulation for your pet (kitten, cat, puppy or dog).

When bathing dogs with flea and tick soap, wet and soap the neck first; fleas and ticks will rush toward the animal’s head and get trapped in the soap.

Check for ticks around the neck line, and for fleas above the tail and around the ears and belly.

When removing a tick from a dog, pull it straight out; if you twist it, the head can come off while the body remains in the animal.

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.