Ballardblog.com

As Seattle records record temperatures, it is important that all of us stay cool. While it is important for us to know what to do to stay cool in hot weather, it is equally important for many of us to keep our pets cool as well. Here are a few tips to help your pets beat the heat:

 1. It is obvious, but make sure your pet gets plenty of water. Put ice water in your pets bowl to help them cool down.

2. Just like you, your dog like tasty cold treats on a hot day. Give your dog Frosty Paws (they sell them at both Safeway and Ballard Market) or make popsicles out of low sodium chicken broth.

3. If your house is carpeted, keep your bathroom door open so your pet can lie on the cold tile/linoleum

4. Put a fan in your animal’s favorite room, preferably in an area where they can lie directly in front of it.

5. Keep your pet cool with cold water. If you have a dog, spray them with a hose, put them in a kiddie pool, or put them under the faucet or shower nozzle. If you have a cat, wet a cloth or paper towel and gently stroke the top of their head and back.

6. Keep your animal calm. The more they move around, the hotter they get. If you can help it, take your dog for its longer walks when the sun goes down.

7. Panting is how your dog cools itself down. However, if your cat begins to pant – you need to cool it down immediately. If it continues to pant, you may want to consult a veterinarian .

8. When it is hot, never, ever leave your animal in a parked car.

9. Bottom line: If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for your pet.

1. Ballard Commons Park is part of the new municipal center.
A great way for kids to keep cool.

Address: 5701 22nd Ave. NW

I’ve been listening to a lot of new music lately, and few bands have caught my ear like Seattle-based Joy Wants Eternity. Their lush, evocative post-rock music has not left my CD changer in weeks. Though mainly instrumental, their music needs no words or voices to make it feel like a composed whole.

I’m looking forward to check out their live show – which includes a video backdrop – at the Sunset in Ballard on Sunday. The show starts at 9pm on July 19, 2009. Opening acts include Gifts from Enola and Misery Love Company.

Joy Wants Eternity Web Site

Joy Wants Eternity Myspace

The Sunset – 5433 Ballard Avenue NW
Seattle, Washington 98107
(206) 784-4880

This just in from Thomas:
 
I wanted to make sure you all had heard about the Neighborhood Status Report Update Open House on July 23rd at:

Phinney Neighborhood Center (6-8 p.m.)
6532 Phinney Ave. N
Seattle WA 98103
(206) 783-2244
  
So you may ask, how does this relate to most folks?  We are talking about how the City will invest in neighborhoods over the next few years as growth occurs.  These  investments  may come in the form of transportation, sidewalks, parks, bike paths, housing and human services, and deal with public safety, urban health and vitality among many other issues.  This is a chance to help influence those choices down the road.  We would love to hear from you whether you are unfamiliar with a neighborhood plan or you have devoted countless hours to the development and implementation of your plan.  Come learn about the neighborhood plans and how they are achieving goals sought by your community and the City. Let us know how you and your community view growth and change in Seattle.  The Status Reports will help all of us as we approach Neighborhood Plan Updates.
 
If you can not come to the July Open Houses, more meetings are planned for October when the draft Status Reports for many neighborhood planning areas will be approaching their final form.  Also, we would value your comments online if you can not attend, so please check out the Virtual online meeting @ http://www.cityofseattle.net/planningcommission/   .

206-684-0359

This just in:

Free Class at the Ballard Library. 

Name of Class: Creating Meaningful Success

Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM July 19th

Location: Ballard Library

Success in the 21st Century often comes with a high price tag – disease, dissatisfaction and a feeling of never enough. Explore the cultural scripts that keep you chasing after someone else’s dreams and start to unravel the fears and self limiting beliefs that keep you stuck. This interactive class will look at the relationship between success and personal fulfillment and get you started on the path to meaningful success in your own life. Perfect for anyone who has been affected by the recent economic crisis as well as those just looking for more in their lives!

Students can register for these and other classes by going to www.seattlefreeschool.org

One of our Ballard Blog readers weighs in with some dog park comments:

Some dog owners think that dog parks and particularly Golden Gardens Dog Park is nasty.

The dust raised on the dry summer days may not be all that hygienic. The mud after a rain bring joy to a dog and those that don’t like to wipe their dogs down before returning home don’t often return to the park.

The complaints about aggressive dogs and owners who lack any responsibility for their dog or dogs seem to create upsets with some dog owners who would rather take their dog to the Golden Gardens beach area desite the legal restrictions and fines.

Some dog owners are trying to get a bit of Golden Gardens beach area set aside for another dog park. If successful will this park too become unexceptable by those who are not happy with our present park?

Others, including myself think that the Golden Gardens Dog Park is just great. We enjoy the people there as well as the dogs. Dog people are as diverse as their dogs. And many dog people have more in common than just having a dog. We have made many friends with other dog lovers at Golden Gardens Dog Park.

In the past two years we have only encountered a few aggressive dogs who have quickly been taken from the park if their owners see their dogs heating up. Those owners who feel they can come and read a book and ignore their dog don’t stay long and are reminded to pick up after their dog.

Most dogs are boistress, active and happy to run free regardless of their owners feelings about the subject. Our dogs have never come home with a flea or had an upset from playing at the park. Their immune systems are probably higher than a housebound dog’s.

Although some dogs are just not a good candidate for dog parks, most would be if their owners were more forgiving of rough-housing , dirt, mud and occasional fights, which by the way are almost always broken up before they become serious. Of course taking a known aggressive dog to any dog park is not advised. We as dog owners are responsible for any damage our dogs might do.

Watching dogs interact is amazing. Socialized dogs are much more humane than we are as a rule. Getting to know more about your dog and its interation with other people and dogs is a great benefit.

I do take pictures of the dogs at Golden Gardens Dog Park and put them up on the website http://atthedogpark.info. This site is not for profit but for fun.

Marj