Posts tagged "Philadelphia"

Here at Paw Nation, we know that every pet has a story, and it's usually a story their owners just love to tell. So we decided to hit the streets to ask pets (and their owners) about everything from how they were adopted to what was the naughtiest thing they've ever done. It's our weekly series, "Pet On The Street."

This week we went to Philadelphia to find out just how friendly the pups are in the City of Brotherly Love. Check out the video and then tell us in the comments about how your pooch likes to interact with other dogs.

Dog parks are an incredible resource for dog owners and animal lovers. For city dwellers, dog parks provide a rare space where dogs can run free. Even suburban and country dogs love dog parks for the ever-so-important socialization opportunities that they provide. New dog owners, long-time dog owners, and dog owners' associations find dog parks to be an oasis in which to commune. Many even hold events at these parks, adding to their fun.

By sniffing out specifications and reviews, we've compiled a list of the top dog parks in the five largest U.S. cities.

New York, N.Y.
1. Carl Shurz Park Dog Run, on the Upper East Side, is a picturesque park with a small-dog run.
2. Fort Tryon Park Sir William's Run, in Washington Heights, sports grass areas (a rarity in most city dog runs).
3. St. Nick's Dog Run, in Harlem, features the largest run in NYC and an active community.

Los Angeles, Calif.
1. Runyon Canyon Park, in Los Angeles proper, is great for hiking too.
2. Sepulveda Basin Off-Leash Dog Park, in Encino, boasts five acres of fun.
3. Dog Beach Zone, in Long Beach, is a very popular destination that even hosts interfaith blessings of animals.

Move over, Keyboard Cat. There's a new feline pianist on the scene, and this one's got real talent.

Five-year-old Nora, a gray rescue cat from Philadelphia, is a feline virtuoso, reports USA Today. A few years ago, her owners Betsy Alexander and Burnell Yow were upstairs in their home when they heard someone tinkling the keys of the piano downstairs. They crept down the stairs and found Nora pawing at the ebony and ivory.

Alexander is a piano teacher, and keeps two pianos side-by-side. The next day, while she was giving lessons to her students, Nora hopped up to the idle piano beside them and started playing away. The students loved it -- and Nora loved the attention.

"Nora's for real," feline expert Beth Adelman told USA Today, who visited Nora's home to watch her play. "They didn't teach her to do it. It was spontaneous. She's a showman -- and very good at getting attention."

Since her musical debut, Nora has become a minor celebrity. Martha Stewart gifted her with a bust of Bach. The original Piano Man, Billy Joel, sent the talented cat a signed photo. (She responded by sending him a signed photo of herself.) Nora's first concert video was posted to YouTube in 2007, and since then her videos have garnered more than 20,000 views.

According to USA Today, Nora's music has reportedly been described as lying somewhere between free jazz and the work of composer Phillip Glass. What do you think?

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