On Saturday May 15, the Los Altos Kiwanis Club held their 63rd annual Pet Parade down Main Street in Los Altos, California.
The Kiwanis Club International is a global organization of volunteers of every age who are dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time.
The Los Altos Kiwanis Club has been organizing the Pet Parade since 1948. Every year this beloved community tradition attracts thousands of people, hundreds of families, and hundreds of dogs and various other pets to participate and watch.
Marching in the parade were all kinds of dogs, some wearing costumes, while others sported dresses, t-shirts, bandanas and even pink tutus. Puppies and small dogs traveled in wagons, and some even had miniature doggie floats to make a grand show during the march.
The Los Altos Kiwanis Club members contribute many hours of community service each year and raise funds to support their efforts through donations and their yearly Christmas Tree sales.
Each year they put on the Pet Parade to bring together families and children within the community. “Seeing the families together and enjoying the event is the best part of Pet Parade,” says Dr. Charmaine Tu, a Los Altos Kiwanis Club member, organizer and MC for the Pet Parade. She is also the owner of Guinness, a chocolate lab who is the official Mascot of the Los Altos Pet Parade.
Dogs, children and adults weren’t the only ones participating in the Pet Parade. There were horses, goats, chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, mice, hamsters, hermit crabs, lizards, bearded dragons, parrots, macaws, box turtles, worms, and even garden snails all marching in the parade. “Kids will bring any animal they can find just to participate,” says Dr. Tu who marveled at the boy with the snails. When asked what her favorite pet in the parade was she said “The dachshunds in the hot dog outfits! I look for them every year.”
For more information about the Los Altos Kiwanis Club or to become a member please visit www.losaltoskiwanis.org. To find a Kiwanis Club in your area please visit sites.kiwanis.org.
It’s that time of year again and all sorts of water loving, retrieving, dock jumping dogs are participating in the Splash Dogs competitions. Splash Dogs is a nationally recognized dog enthusiast company that organizes and promotes dock jumping events across the United States. 
Junior Handlers ages six to sixteen, can even compete for a Division Title as long as their dog hasn’t competed with another person.
On Thursday, February 18, at LeDeux Hotel in Hollywood, California, a two-year old Golden Retriever named Ricochet accepted the Dogswell “Wag” award for “Most Charitable,” a title that is only partially fitting. However, the words “Most Charitable, Inspirational, Amazing, Determined, Touching, Accomplished, Tear Jerking, and Heartwarming” might not have all fit on the award plaque.
Ricochet came into the world white patch and all. The tiny pup was quickly name Ricochet because she bounced all around, a fitting name since she still bounces around the world touching people’s hearts.
from chasing birds while working, Judy made the tough decision to release her from the program. “Can you imagine a service dog running after a bird while on the job? In good conscience I couldn’t breed Ricochet knowing her puppies could have the chase drive. It wouldn’t be beneficial to the people that need them,” said Judy who decided to keep Ricochet as a pet.
Injury Recovery Center for physical therapy.
Ricochet’s fundraiser profits go to a variety of charitable causes, such as Ricochet’s Surfin’ Santa Paws toy drive which helped purchase toys for over 638 children in hospitals, and domestic violence shelters. She assists six year old Ian McFarland, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a horrific car accident that claimed the lives of his parents. She is even giving her Dogswell “Wag” Award prize, a year’s supply of Dogswell dog food, to the 
Away from her ‘cool surfer dog’ persona, Ricochet is very submissive and gentle. “She can get excitable, but she is very low key,” says Judy who must watch Ricochet around other dogs that may pick on her. Her favorite activities include running as fast as she can, lure coursing, digging for gophers, eating, surfing, and naturally, bird chasing! Ricochet plays hard, works hard, and sleeps hard, going to bed on her own at seven in the evening and rising every morning at eight. “In a sense she is very spiritual, there is some other energy at work and it is exhausting for her,” says Judy of her extremely loving and affectionate dog.
Ricochet’s best dog friend is a Golden Retriever Lab Mix, named Rina. “They are very different, but they get along very well, Rina is a wonderful teacher for her,” says Judy of seven year old Rina, who is also a trained service dog.
me acceptance, and to focus on the positive rather than the negative. Look at the things she has accomplished, they have been so big.”
are the first to greet visitors to Animals First property, followed by a large bristly black pig named Hammy Hamlet. There are four horses, two cats, a few moles, and of course, dogs. The pet resort is filled with the sounds of birds chirping, cats meowing, horses neighing, and wind rustling through the dry desert. However, with dogs being the number one inhabitants of the property, they are the most quiet residents, content basking in the sun and frolicking in the doggie playground. 
The Animals First offers dog and cat boarding, doggie day care, professional grooming, and training. There is even a Dog-ccessories Pet Store to purchase unique pet supplies. The facility boasts luxury theme pet suites such as the Hawaiian Getaway Dog Suite, a doggie playground, designer cat suites, and a spacious nine-stall show barn for horses.
Marc, born in Ohio, is an ordained pastor who almost became a Missionary before starting the Animals First business with Sandie. Married for 14 years, Sandie and Marc feel complete working full time with animals. They rescue Cavalier King Charles dogs, and even foster children in need of a loving home. In the event of fire emergencies they open their facility to animal control and rescues. During the last San Diego fire they took in 76 dogs, cats, and horses. “The horses were evacuated and horse trailers came in convoys that were lined up down the street,” says Sandie who even housed a family with five horses, three dogs, and two adults.
With all of the amazing and charitable things they do, Sandie and Marc continue to do God’s work through the animals. By attending special events, charities, and doing therapy work with sick and elderly people, Marc and Sandie can bring the joy and love they receive from the animals to others. Their beloved Golden Retrievers, Passion and Faithful, are always ready for some therapy treatment, along with pig Hammy Hamlet and a miniature pony named Hippo. Hippo, who is the size of a large dog, is welcome in Retirement homes. “He’s not housebroken but he’s never had an accident yet,” says Sandie of Hippo who also accompanies Police Horses at events. 
they could have piece of mind during their three week Australian vacation. Another time, a Bichon Frisé and a Newfoundland stayed at Animals First for 10 months while the owners transferred jobs to New York. 
California’s beautiful Sonoma County is home to award-winning wineries, luxury spas, scenic coastlines, amazing restaurants, and the world’s largest Social Therapy Dog Program ‘Creating Wellness.’
Roz’s own eight year old Golden Retriever named Ally. A graduate of the Bergin University of Canine Studies Social Therapy program, Ally is a sweet and loving dog who is eager to work at the Hospitals.
nursing skills. She prepares by having Roz thoroughly clean her feet with disinfecting wipes, and by adorning her fashionable K9 nurse’s cap. Once prepped she takes out her nursing bag containing various medical instruments: a stethoscope to hear a patients love for her, a reflex hammer to test a patients potential ball kicking skill, a hypodermic needle for injections of happiness, a cell phone incase she is paged, a band-aid cuff for children’s boo boos, and a rectal thermometer for – what else – show and tell! Even though all of her instruments are only toys she takes her work very seriously.
“The goal of a Therapy Dog is to make you feel better while you are getting better,” says Roz while working with her beloved canine, who she claims is even qualified to take a patients blood pressure. Their visits help facilitate healing, using all the unconditional love that a dog has to give.
also works as a Therapy Dog. Justice, a five month old Golden Doodle, is a Therapy Dog in training! Strict vegetarians, Ally and her sisters enjoy carrot treats, long walks, and naturally – sleeping.
“The greatest gift you can give another human being is yourself and a dog, there is nothing better than that,” says Roz. “This is the best job I’ve ever had in my life.” With all of her experience as a therapy trained Golden Retriever, one can truly say Ally has the golden touch when it comes to her patients.
clients such as the Discovery Channel, Nike, Sony, Victoria’s Secret, and Williams-Sonoma, while Max happily keeps Holly and her clients company. There has never been a client who didn’t want him around.
Life for Max is like a party – the studio is always buzzing with food stylists, clothing and product stylists, makeup artists, and clients. His favorite work days are food shoots, where magically he becomes the food stylists’ best friend. Naturally, Max spends much of his time in the studio’s kitchen, all trash cans have lids so he doesn’t go fishing for treats. During our interview Maximo’s eyes were intently fixed on Holly preparing food in the kitchen, waiting for something to drop, as something always does. Delivery days are particularly good for Max, if he sees a brown truck he starts whining because the UPS carrier always gives him bones, and if they don’t he’s all over their pockets.
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