via UPI.com

 A weekly movie night event in Cincinnati had shaggier guests than usual as dogs were given a one-time free pass to the event, dog owners say.  Jessica Sargent of Milford, Ohio, said her shepherd/Rhodesian ridgeback mix Tod was among the canine guests to the Procter & Gamble Movie Night on Saturday, the Cincinnati Enquirer said. Typically dogs are not welcome at the weekly outdoor events.

The Enquirer said specialty dog biscuits were up for sale at the outdoor screening thanks to the restaurant Bouchard's Anything's Pastable.


via http://www.bestfriendnyc.com/

Best Friend NYC celebrates dogs and introduces the “Artist Spotlight”- a non-for-profit online rotating showcase of
dog-themed art. Launching today “Artist Spotlight” features unique dog-inspired artwork in a variety of genres and media: from period portraits and countryside landscapes to digitally generated art and inspiring photography.

On April 1st  2009 “Artist Spotlight” will unveil its virtual doors and welcome visitors to browse through galleries of such diverse artists as Ann Hamilton (San Francisco, CA), Noel Hoffmann (Charleston, SC), Marie Mason (Kansas City, MO), Diane Mellendick (Orlando, FL), Shasta Molnar (Jackson Hole, WY), Daniela Ria (Atlanta, GA / Milan, Italy), Faye Rose (Eagleville, PA), Rebecca Rumbley (Bardstown, KY), Ellen Silverberg (East Hampton, NY), Debbie Stonebraker (Foley, MO), David Trowbridge (Brooklyn, NY), and Barbara Van Vliet (Weston, VT).

You now also able to order custom paintings and commission artists' artwork through our ever-growing shopping portal devoted to custom art. Best Friend NYC will donate 20% of all proceeds generated through the “Artist Spotlight” initiative to ASPCA.


via http://www.bestfriendnyc.com/

Jennifer Aniston has been talking to Star magazine promoting Marley & Me, her upcoming dog-centered film with Owen Wilson. The movie is not scheduled for release until Christmas, and is based on a story in which a family learns important life lessons from their adorable, but naughty and neurotic dog. Based on the memoir by John Grogan about a couple of misbehaving dogs, which Aniston  calls 

it “a beautiful examination of this marriage and life.”

How about the dog who played Marley. Was it tough to say good-bye?
Oh, that was hard. I was quite emotional. We really bonded. The whole experience was special and extraordinary. We did sort of become a family. Everyone was so invested in the story.

Is it harder to work with dogs than kids?
Children actually were trickier than the dogs! It was so funny, because in a lot of the takes you hear Mathilda, the dog trainer, saying either ‘back, back, back, move, sit!’ while we’re literally doing our dialogue. We had to tune it out.

You must have been used to the commotion, since you have two dogs. What’s so special about being a dog owner?
It’s nice to open your door and have somebody run to you and jump on you and kiss you because they cannot believe that you are actually back. They are so excited; they love you. It’s quite simple.

Besides your love of dogs, what else makes you happy?
A sunset makes me happy. Really silly things, like being with my friends with a bottle of wine and some nice cheese.

The movie is coming out in early December, just in time for Christmas. Among other dog-centered movies this summer, is comedy Beverly Hills Chihuahuas with voiceovers by Drew Barrymore and Salma Hayek.




via http://www.bestfriendnyc.com/

By Bob Keefer

Every show has at least one star who just might run off with the audience’s heart.In the Oregon Festival of American Music production of “The Wizard of Oz,” which opens Friday at the Hult Center, that actor’s name is Gracie.Gracie is the 4½-year-old Jack Russell terrier/poodle mix who’s been cast as Toto, the dog that accompanies Dorothy from Kansas to Oz.

Her career took off, almost in spite of the Langs, when they took her to a trainer to help contain her outgoing energy and, quite separately, noticed that strangers often stopped them on the street to comment on how cute she was.Now Gracie, who performs about 40 different tricks — one is opening a Gail Lang’s purse, removing a wallet and taking a dollar bill from it — has not only become a star of stage and television (she’s done several commercials and has been on local TV news) but also makes numerous live charity appearances in and around Eugene.

With the help of former Elmira dog trainer Chris Denning, Gracie — and the Langs — began making appearances around town, helping out with fundraisers for everything from the Rotary Club to the Eugene Symphony. 

She’s raised more than $6,000 for charity, Lang said. Gracie’s work also led her to be inducted into the Oregon Animal Hall of Fame earlier this year. Full story...

via http://www.bestfriendnyc.com/