Posts tagged "St. Patricks Day"

Adorable adoptable dogs from the Humane Society of New York rubbed furry elbows with celebrities and were treated to swanky snacks and dog-friendly beer at a St. Pawtrick's Day party. The event was hosted at Kimpton's The Muse New York hotel in conjunction with Wendy Diamond's Animal Fair magazine. Everyday pet owners as well as TV personalities and their dogs were decked out in festive attire, all to benefit the Humane Society of New York.

Guests and their pups were offered green hats, beads and more before stepping in front of the cameras for a photo op. Most were already primped and prepared, as you'll see below, but a few still took advantage of the fun props.

Be sure to check out all of the photos and then go online to see what fundraisers are happening in your area for animal welfare organizations or shelters.

Welcome to Local Lowdown, where we give you ideas for hanging with your hound (and kitty!) in your home city. We'll tell you about interesting local events, important activities, useful resources and other fun happenings all across the country. And feel free to help us do a better job by writing in with suggestions for local events near you.

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You don't need an Irish wolfhound, Irish setter or any of the nine dog breeds recognized as the Dogs of Ireland to enjoy St. Patrick's Day with your pooch; you just need to know where to celebrate!

Show your spirit and dress your pup in his finest green attire (if he'll let you), or simply choose a festive shamrock collar or bandana. Then join or watch one of the hundreds of St. Patrick's Day parades planned for this coming weekend. In addition to the floats, bands, Irish dancers and more, many humane societies often join the processions with dogs available for adoption, hoping the luck o' the Irish will find them homes. Chicago's South Side parade even offers a best-dressed "Irish" dog contest.

Below is a sampling of parades celebrating St. Patrick's Day this weekend. Start your search for a parade here or check in with your local Humane Society to see if they have special events planned around the parade in your area.

Chicago, Ill.
Take part in the South Side Irish Parade Family Fest on Sunday, March 14, which includes a parade and festival featuring the best-dressed "Irish" dog contest, live entertainment and more.

Jersey City, N.J.
March with the pups and people of Liberty Humane to show your support at the 48th Annual Jersey City St. Patrick's Day Parade on Sunday, March 14.

Meet jet-setting show dog Curry, Paw Nation's newest advice columnist. In between competing at the top dog shows, Curry finds time to answer the questions all dogs long to ask. From grooming advice (Curry just won Best in Breed at Westminster, so she knows a thing or two about looking gorgeous) to tips on getting along with the craziest of canines (she lives in Manhattan so she has to make friends with the many other dogs on the block), this 3-year-old Glen of Imaal terrier has all the answers to your crucial canine queries.

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Like you, I'm proud to be from Ireland and have big plans for St. Patrick's Day. What about you? I would also love to meet some of the other terriers from the great Emerald and Isle – what do you know about them?
-- Polly. a 5-year old Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Hi Polly,

I am planning on going to see the parade in NYC to celebrate the great day. My daddy brings out my special green leash, which is a huge improvement from the Leprechaun outfit he once tried to squeeze me into.

But getting back to your question, nine dog breeds were developed in Ireland to hunt and retrieve birds, herd sheep, track down fox and badger, turn the spit on the fire, rid the farm of vermin and keep the bed warm at night. These include the Irish Wolfhound and the Irish Setter -- but let's be honest, you and I only, really care about the terriers. They are:

The Glen of Imaal Terrier
This is me. Glen of Imaal Terriers are rough-and-ready working terriers -- big dogs on short legs that were originally bred to rid the home of vermin and rotate the turnspit over the hearth. (To this day, we are all excellent cooks.)

The Kerry Blue Terrier.
Originally bred to hunt and retrieve, the Kerry Blue's trademark soft wavy coat looks like velvet. They have a typical terrier personality and are true hunters -- so cats beware!

The Irish Terrier
Known for their fire red coats that are short and wiry, the Irish Terrier is one of the oldest terrier breeds known. If you ever find yourself at a museum, look at the dogs in the old pictures. Bet some of them look like Irish Terriers!

The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Any dog that is named after the coat it is wearing is definitely something out of the ordinary -- which is exactly the case with a Soft-Coated Wheaten. Polly, you already know of course, but my other fans will be interested to learn that these elegant and friendly dogs sport a soft, warm, wheaten colored coat with a texture that is so silky they should be in ads for hair product.

Clearly, all of us Irish terriers are gorgeous -- even if we've earned our reputation for being a wee bit stubborn. But one thing is sure, if you're lucky enough to live with one of us, I think you will agree it's better than finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow!

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Ask Curry your questions by e-mailing her at curry@pawnation.com.