And the World Dog Award Goes to…?

uggie_jean_dujardinMove over, Oscars — er, Oscar (if that’s your dog’s name) — because the CW Network is going to air the first ever World Dog Awards!

And unlike “The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest” — all the world’s dogs are apparently eligible to win the gold in this competition (possibly to draw more viewers, ya think?) — although no word yet on the official categories. (Hollywood Reporter)

The #Dogs Less or More Traveled?

travels-with-casey-coveroff the leash year at the dog park matthew gilbertWalt Whitman trekked all over the countryside, and Emily Dickinson rarely left the house — and yet both have long been considered two of America’s greatest storytellers.

Well, the same could be said for two new dog memoirs that head in decidedly opposite directions. Travels with Casey by Benoit Denizet-Lewis details a year-long cross-country adventure with his Yellow Lab, while Matthew Gilbert’s Off the Leash circles around the community and camaraderie found at the local dog park. So, I guess whichever type of dog story resonates with you could depend on your lifestyle! (LA Times)

French #Dogfriendly Book for Kids…and #Chiens

If you enjoy the artwork of Maira Kalman or Wendy MacNaughton (Lost Cat), then you will surely love the witty illustrations of Jackie Clark Mancuso in her new kids book, Paris-Chien: Adventures of an Ex-Pat Dog.

The charming dog tale is all about Hudson, a curiously inquisitive Norwich Terrier, trying to fit into the Parisian lifestyle. Bon appétit! (Picture Book Review)

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Broadway Barks for #Dogs!

83327 broadway barksIf you’re feeling lucky this weekend, then chances are there will be a lotta lucky dogs available for adoption at the annual star-studded Broadway Barks event, where you can check out such pet-friendly celebs as Bernadette Peters, Audra McDonald, Zach Braff, and many more. But, of course, we know the real stars are the dogs! (DogTipper)

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Jeff Koons: Lover of #Dogs

If you’re in the Big Apple for the upcoming 4th of July weekend — you might want to catch the Jeff Koons Retrospective going on all summer long at The Whitney Museum of American Art.

Koons is the artist who’s famous for his huge balloon dog sculptures — but has some other provocative, non-canine-themed pieces as well. Of course I prefer his dog art. But I have to admit, the gigantic Play-Doh installation looks pretty cool! (The Guardian)

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Mayor Gets Pooped On!

A dog-loving California mayor has resigned from office because of PoopGate — yes, he was busted on security camera for throwing his dog’s poop onto a neighbor’s yard, presumably because he didn’t warm to the neighbor’s aggressive “No Dog Poop” sign.

On a related note, HuffPo published a fun batch of Dog Poop Signs From Around the World slideshow for everyone’s enjoyment. Hmmm, I smell a childrens book coming soon! (HuffPo)

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Animal Madness?

I know most of us dog/cat/pet lovers are mad about our animals — but what if the animals we love have a serious mental illness and, literally, go mad? Well, now there’s a book out by Laurel Braitman called Animal Madness: How Anxious Dogs, Compulsive Parrots, and Elephants in Recovery Help Us Understand Ourselves — that probes deep into the minds of our furry loved ones.(WSJ)

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Summer Dog Book Club Picks

la_ca_0506_the_dog_who_could_flyoff the leash year at the dog park matthew gilbertThe LA Times came out this weekend with its summer reading picks — two dog books made the list, The Dog Who Could Fly: The Incredible True Story of A WWII Airman and the Four-Legged Hero Who Flew At His Side (by Damien Lewis) and Off the Leash: A Year at the Dog Park (by Boston TV critic, Matthew Gilbert). (LAT)