AKC Launches new AKC Canine Partners Program for Mixed Breeds

Last month, the American Kennel Club launched its new AKC Canine Partners program.
More than 1200 mixed breeds have enrolled already! More than 365 AKC events have been approved to hold mixed breed classes!

If you own a mixed breed dog you can now enroll in AKC Canine Partners and take advantage of the programs and benefits AKC has to offer, including enrollment in AKC Companion Animal Recovery pet recovery service and a one year subscription to AKC Family Dog Magazine. Keep your dog healthy, happy and safe.

Take a look at the new website www.akccaninepartners.org
The website includes updated show trial applications for clubs to apply for mixed breed classes at upcoming events. If you have any questions you may contact AKC directly at akccaninepartners@akc.org

If you happen to also be interested in finding homes for sale in Ventura, California or you are searching for a new home with your pet, please check out my website at:

Ventura Homes For Sale

Please Cast Your Vote Californians!

This is from the American Kennel Club and something I think every Californian should be aware of:

California Senate Bill 250 – You May Never Own an Intact Dog Again!
California Senate Bill 250 is before the full Assembly for a vote this week and we need your help. Please contact your state Assemblymember and Senator immediately and ask him/her to oppose SB 250.

The bill will force sterilization of an unlicensed, intact animal if it is impounded (even once!) or violates any one of a variety of animal control ordinances that are not related to an animal's reproductive status. This legislation will not improve the lives of cats and dogs, will negatively impact responsible owners and breeders, and by placing additional burdens on owners of intact animals, may lead to an increase of animals in shelters.

The bill will prohibit an owner who has had an intact dog license revoked from owning any intact dog, so if you have one problem animal you would be banned from ever owning an intact dog again! This is completely unreasonable.

The AKC encourages owners who do not want to engage in responsible breeding programs or compete with their dogs to spay and neuter their animals. We object to forced sterilization of dogs for minor animal control violations. With the confusion of overlapping jurisdictions and a high number of people being forced to move due to foreclosures, it is easy to see how an owner could overlook pet licensure. Instead of encouraging these people to come into compliance, SB 250 penalizes them by requiring sterilization, even for a single offense. By requiring an expensive elective surgery in addition to fines to reclaim their animal, some owners will be forced to make the heart-wrenching decision to abandon a family pet.

Existing state law already requires that owners of intact animals pay a license fee that is at least double that of the fee for sterilized animals and provides for enhanced and graduated fines for owners whose intact dogs are impounded. These statutes are sufficient to incentivize owners to sterilize their animals and to address animal control concerns with specific intact animals who are impounded. If local governments feel the need to adopt further ordinances, it is within their power to do so.

This bill is currently on the Assembly floor and will likely be voted on in the next few days. If it passes the Assembly it will return to the Senate to enable the Senators to vote for or against the changes made in the Assembly. Please contact both your Assemblymember and Senator immediately! Passage of SB 250 will make it much harder to obtain a locally raised purebred dog in California!



What You Can Do

Contact your Assemblymember and Senator and ask him/her to oppose SB 250. A sample letter for you to personalize is available here. To find out who represents you in the California State Legislature, please click here.

Also, for Ventura County Real Estate and Ventura Homes For Sale please check out my website at:
http://www.Venturahomesforsale.org

Sago Palm Alert

Here is an article that says that the Sago Palm is poisonous to our animals. Be aware and check out this info at:

http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/sagopalm.asp

For all your Ventura County Real Estate needs and Ventura Homes For Sale in Southern California check out:


http://www.janiscalkins.com/

Being Resourceful and Giving Back!

Just had to share with you that I found a couple of really neat websites today in regards to pets.
Almost everyone who has loved a pet has lost a pet to old age, sickness or an unfortunate circumstance. It is such a depressing time when we are going through this. Well I discovered a place where you can have a tree planted in honor of your pet. It's the Arbor Day Foundation Trees for Pets. It enables you to honor a special companion in your life with a gift of a tree. You can do it for your own pet or do it for someone elses pet. What a nice way to honor our 4 legged friends and feel like their memories live on year after year! Check out: http://www.arborday.org/treesforpets

Also something that was exciting to me was discovering http://www.adoptapet.com I put in my zip code and all kinds of pictures for nice pets in my area appeared. So if you have just settled into that new house and are looking to make it a home for a new pet too, check out this website and enjoy! Find local pets via the web.

If you happen to be looking for a home in Ventura County California or if I can help you with any of your Ventura Real Estate needs just tap into my website at:

VenturaRealEstate

Libby Tries Out Herding Sheep

Libby tried out herding last weekend and really loved it! You should take your dog out and try it. Ted Thompson Ondrak is the instructor and he holds training in the Moorpark area of Ventura County on Monday afternoons. You can contact him at http://www.socalherding.com Ted is a licensed herding judge for the American Kennel Club. He is a founding member of the Antelope Valley Stockdog Club, the Greater Los Angeles Stockdog Club and the co-founder of the San Fernando Valley Herding Association.
If you are looking for something new and exciting to do with your dogs, this is it! For the past 15 years Ted has been teaching and giving herding clinics.


By the way as a side note, Ventura Real Estate and Ventura Homes For Sale have really picked up in the last month. We are seeing multiple offers and overbidding on homes in the $250,000-450,000 range. The Market is hot again right now. Many feel it is a great time to jump back into the housing market. Ventura County has always been a favorite place for a home due to its mild climate and ocean breezes.
Check out the current housing market on my website at:

www.JanisCalkins.com or www.Venturahomesforsale.org

Save The Greyhounds!

I picked up the local paper this morning and was touched by an article on abandoned greyhounds that are in Guam. How ironic that this just arrived after having been up to Solvang recently and running into an annual "greyhound festival" that is held there each year. Owners were strolling all over the town enjoying their greyhounds. They appear to be very mellow and enjoyable pets.

This mornings article is entitled"Group Races to Save Greyhounds".
Greyhounds from Guam need to be rescued as soon as possible! 150 former racing greyhounds were abandoned in the U.S. territory in the South Pacific and need homes. They were abandoned after the racetrack there abruptly closed its doors in November.
After hearing this news, Homestretch Greyhound Rescue, a nonprofit organization located in Fillmore, California and operated by Barbara Davenport, starting having greyhounds shipped to her place. She and her husband, Bob, have received 54 greyhounds from Guam. They are seeking financial assistance in order to bring more greyhounds over to the states, as well as homes for these greyhounds. What they really need in addition to financial donations (needed to pay for flying the dogs over), are boarding kennels that could provide short term accomodations at little or no cost. Greyhounds make wonderful pets. They are not wild and energetic, but love to lay around and just be a companion.

If you are interested in adopting or providing aid please go to http://www.guamgreyhounds.org or call 800-446-8637. Also, contact Barbara at http://www.homestretchgrey.org


Please keep me in mind if looking to buy or sell real estate in Ventura County!

For all you Ventura County Real Estate Needs visit: http://www.JanisCalkins.com

Tough Times...Time To Relish Little Pleasures

Okay, I'm feeling soapy today so get ready. Lately, I have been into enjoying more of the small pleasures in my life. Being a real estate agent in this economy can drive you sort of crazy if you let it. Yes, I believe it is a great time to jump into the market, so contact me if you agree!
Now...let's talk about the winner of Westminster this year. Every year for about 12 years I attended Westminster with first both of my parents and later years just my mom...The last year of my mom's life she said to me in January, "I know I am supposed to go somewhere important next month, I just can't remember where.". Yes, this is sad but it shows her enthusiasm for wanting to attend that dog show. And YES she went with me. It was her last one she attended but it was soooo special for us to go together. Born and raised with a boarding kennel and show dogs and the show circuit, I realized that this is what she lived for.
This year I wish she could have seen the Sussex Spaniel win...He almost died a number of years ago, but he lived through it and you could tell...the Westminster was also his last shining moment!! How wonderful. "Stump" or Ch. Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee (okay you have to be fun to come up with this name!) represents one of the oldest breeds recognized by the AKC. Long,low,large bone,massive head with a rolling gait and happy tail is the Sussex. He was so enjoying the moment!! He shouted, "Look at me!" "Pick me!" That's what I want to do when I am trying to get clients in this business. I want to say, "I'm the one!" "I know the market!" "Call me for all your Ventura County Real Estate Needs!"...sorry, I digress. I have real estate on the brain too. Sadly, the Sussex has dwindled to no more than 600 in the USA. Check out the website if you decide you want to buy a puppy instead of a home.
It is: http://www.sussexspaniels.org

Or if you decide to buy that house instead (smart move by the way!) check out real estate in Ventura County California or Ventura County Homes For Sale at:

http://www.Venturahomesforsale.org

The Boys Have Become Teenagers...Watch Out!

These two have given me so much pleasure! BUT they are constantly into digging the yard and picking up wood from the woodpile and running in and out of the bushes. They LOVE one anothers company and roll and play and pull at each other. Oh what a life! I do need to sell one of them. I am looking to sell him to someone who wants to show him at the dog shows. They are both show quality animals and I do want to promote my breeding.

On a side note, Ventura County Real Estate sales are picking up! Now is the time to jump into the market and invest in property in my opinion. Interest rates are low and values have dropped due to the many foreclosures in this area. These lower prices won't last forever...So come live by the beach and bask in the sun like my puppies do!

Check out the Ventura Real Esate and homes for sale at:

http://www.Venturahomesforsale.org

AKC Recognizes Three New Breeds

The American Kennel Club is recognizing three new breeds.
One is the Irish Red and White Setter pictured here. They call this dog "handsome and rugged" and say it is considered by experts to be the original setter from which all others sprang. They make a high spirited companion for outdoorsy people who wish to share their active lifestyles with a dog.
Next is the Pyrenean Shepherd. This breed herded sheep in Southern France. It is a superb athlete and would do well in today's agility sport.
A bit distrustful by nature, this dog does need early socialization. Lean and lively with a sparkling personality.
Last is the Norwegian Buhund. This dog was bred to hunt, guard, and herd. A little under Medium size with its tail curled over its back, this dog is very intelligent but has lots of energy, strength, and stamina. Consistent training is needed from puppyhood.

Check out Ventura County Real Estate and Ventura County Homes for Sale at:

www.Venturahomesforsale.org

No Animal Left Behind! New Law 01/01/09

AB 2949 Landlords/REO Lenders and Abandoned Animals. This law requires a person or private entity that discovers an abandoned animal in or about the premises of real property that has been vacated upon, or immediately preceding, the termination of a lease or other rental agreement or foreclosure of the property to immediately contact animal control for the purpose of retrieval and care.

This law impacts banks with REO properties and their real estate agents.

This is a terrific law to protect those animals left behind at vacant properties by the occupants. If you see a stray animal lurking around a vacant property and there is a real estate sign on the property with a listing agents name, please call the listing agent and have them take responsibility as is accorded under this new law in California. These poor animals should not be left to fend for themselves with no home, no food, no water, no shelter.

*** Stay tuned for my next post which will talk about 3 new breeds just approved by the AKC!

**** The pup in the picture above is for sale to show home only!! Contact me if you are interested in purchasing a GSD pup 6 months old to show competitively at the dog shows.


Ventura County Homes For Sale at
www.JanisCalkins.com

The German Shepherd Celebrates 100Years With the American Kennel Club!

Von Stephanitz described the German Shepherd Dog like this:
"Remarkable in his unswerving loyalty to his master, irrepressible in his high spirits, never idle, always in motion, good-natured but not a flatterer, a constant pleasure to the eye."

In 1908 the American Kennel Club added to its registry two wonderful breeds that have long served their country and will continue to serve their country fighting domestic terrorism. The German Shepherd and the Doberman Pinscher. The GSD's ability to sniff for explosives is because of his keen sense of smell. This strong, alert and intelligent breed is the third most popular breed in the United States today.

If you are thinking of purchasing a home and want a great companion and protector consider purchasing a German Shepherd. As a home companion they are calm, steady alert and protective and form an unbelievable love of family. They are totally devoted to loving and protecting the family. They have an uncanny ability to distinguish between good people and bad people and seem to always be able to sense danger. They have a look of quality and nobility. This dog faithfully keeps America from harm.

Please check out my real estate website at: http://www.Venturahomesforsale.org