PETaPOTTY.COM Blog

Doggie ‘daycares’ mushroom in LIC
by Willow Belden, Editor
01/21/2010
Judging by the daycare centers for dogs in Long Island City, you’d never know we’re in a recession.
Within about a one-mile radius, there are at least four facilities, three of which sprouted since 2008 — and all are hopping. Each takes in 15 to 35 dogs on an average day, and demand is still rising.

“It’s definitely a market that isn’t saturated yet,” said Cody Osborne of Camp Bow Wow, which opened a franchise on Austell Place a little over a year ago.
Steve Neagus, Bow Wow’s owner, and Luis Martinez, who runs City Dog Lounge on Vernon Boulevard, both said the two facilities that opened in the last four months near the waterfront haven’t drawn customers away.
Most attribute the success of pet-care facilities to the Queens West development, which has brought several skyscrapers to LIC in recent years. As the new waterfront apartments fill up, the dog population is burgeoning, causing some to dub the neighborhood “Dog Island City.”
There are an estimated 1,000 canines in the Queens West complex alone, and developers are going out of their way to welcome more. AvalonBay, the company that runs the Avalon Riverview tower, set aside a prime piece of real estate — a corner unit with sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline — for a pet-care facility and signed a 10-year contract with an entrepreneur named Bruce Barlin.
Barlin, who previously ran a pet-care business in Jackson Heights, opened Pooches Sport & Spa in late 2009 and said the new facility is a big draw for prospective residents.
“[Avalon] realized they had to get dog-friendly in order to be competitive,” he said.
Daycare costs can add up quickly — the going neighborhood rate is $25 or more per day — but that isn’t dissuading people from sending their pups to the sitter.
Those who run the centers say the service is popular because people want their dogs to socialize and exercise.
“Dogs come home exhausted,” Barlin said — which means their humans can come home at night and relax.
The daycare centers in LIC all feature cage-less “playpens,” where dogs can romp about together. Dog Island City, which opened four months ago on 50th Avenue, even has a miniature treadmill for dogs.
“They know the concept: You have to run, and the more you run, the more cookies you get,” said owner Lidia Lozovsky.
Fran Cimino, who has lived in the City Lights building for four years, said she has noticed a change in her dog, Bodhi, since he started going to daycare.
“For the first couple of years, I would just have him walked,” Cimino said. “Now he’s much more sociable. For his 11 years, he acts pretty spry.”
Some pet owners also say their dogs suffer from separation anxiety, which is eased by being around other canines and people.
In case personalized care and all-day stimulation isn’t enough to draw customers, LIC’s dog facilities seem to be one-upping each other when it comes to fancy amenities.
Camp Bow Wow has webcams situated around the doggie playpens, so owners can watch their pals from the office or the Caribbean. And for dogs who spend the night, the lights are turned down low and classical music is played.
Pooches, in contrast, claims fame with its “Pet-a-potty” — a fake fire hydrant atop a patch of artificial turf, which drains directly into the sewer. Read Entire Article

Tori Spelling love’s PETaPOTTY-Thank you Tori and Stephanie Pratt uses it too!

From an airline catering exclusively to pets, to GPS tracking units for your dog and robotic litter boxes for your cat, “Your Pet Wants This” showcases the latest and greatest in products for your pet.

Multimedia Artist Rachel Schmeidler Presents “Hollywood Least Wanted 3D,” this Saturday on November 21. Los Angeles artist Rachel Schmeidler will host the charity event “Hollywood Least Wanted 3D” at the Rivera & Rivera Art Gallery downtown. The theme of the evening is helping unwanted and abandoned animals in need. Actor Zachary Quinto, star of the television program Heroes and the actor who portrayed the young Spock on the hit movie Star Trek, will be in attendance as an honored guest with his dog, Noah.

“Hollywood Least Wanted 3D” will highlight the cause of abandoned animals by using one of Hollywood’s hottest artistic trends—3D. The exhibit will feature anaglyphic 3D photographs of dogs “behind bars” in effort to raise public awareness and support for the animals. One hundred percent of raffle ticket sales/donations and 50 percent of the proceeds from the sale of artwork will go towards the participating rescue charity, the City of Los Angeles’ Animal Services division (http://www.laanimalservices.com/). Each adopted dog will go home with a year supply of dog food and a Mini PETaPOTTY.

October 06, 2009, 10:1AM MT
By Ted Brewer, Best Friends staff writer
This year’s Best Friends Lint Roller Party was one befitting the 25 years of saving lives, and the 25 more years to come.

Back in 1991, Francis and Silva Battista would sit at a card table in front of a market in West Hollywood and ask people to donate to an organization the couple had helped found, an organization that ran a no-kill animal sanctuary in southern Utah.

The mission of that organization — to save as many animals as it could from having to enter shelters and face euthanasia — is still very much the same, but the size and scope of its impact have come a long ways, to say the least, in the 25 years Best Friends has been in business.

Just how far the organization has come since those card table days was made rather evident at the 16th annual Lint Roller Party, held Saturday night, Oct. 3, at the iconic Hollywood Palladium to benefit the work of Best Friends’ Los Angeles Programs.

Live and silent auctions, an award ceremony, video presentations, vegetarian buffet catered by Wolfgang Puck, psychic readings, a wheel of fortune, caricature drawings, a rocking live performance by the Bangles and a bevy of other attractions and fundraising events drew a sweeping array of supporters, members, and benefactors from all over the country to the party. Approximately 600 people attended the event.

“We are celebrating 25 years of saving lives,” said Best Friends co-founder and interim CEO Gregory Castle in his opening remarks to the evening’s presentations. “With your help, we’re saving lives all over the country…. It wouldn’t have been possible without the support you’ve given us.”

Among those in the audience were a host of celebrities, including Lisa Edelstein from the television series “House.” Edelstein delivered the anniversary toast.

“A million thanks to all the founders of Best Friends,” Edelstein said. “We love you and appreciate you, and we’re so happy to be here.”

Other celebrities to walk the red carpet and pay tribute to Best Friends included Phyllis Smith from “The Office,” Monty Python’s Eric Idle, Amy Smart from the film “Mirrors,” Rachelle Lefevre from the film “Twilight,” Anna Faris from the “Scary Movie” series, M.A.S.H.’s Loretta Swit, film and television legend Robert Culp, as well as veteran actor and newly elected president of the Screen Actors Guild, Ken Howard.

Also there to pay tribute to Best Friends, especially to our work in Los Angeles, was the city’s mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa.

The anniversary celebration wasn’t just about looking backwards, but also of looking forward in anticipation of what the next 25 years will bring,” she says. “I think people [at the party] were inspired not just about the work we’ve done, but about the work we’ll continue to do in the future.”
What can you do to help? Give the Gift of a Best Friends membership to family and friends.

Farmers Market a rich history
In July 1934 a contingent of farmers pulled their trucks onto an expanse of empty land at the property known as Gilmore Island at the corner of Third and Fairfax in Los Angeles. They displayed their produce on the tailgates of their vehicles, to their delight, customers quickly arrived and parked their cars on a hastily created dirt parking lot in spaces designated with chalk. They strolled among the trucks purchasing fruit, vegetables, and flowers.

The atmosphere was casual, the open air commerce enticing, the goods fresh, and the result remarkable. Farmers Market became an instant institution.

With a partner, Arthur Fremont Gilmore purchased two ranches in the Los Angeles vicinity. The purchase inaugurated a string of serendipitous events which not even the far-sighted Gilmore could predict. When Gilmore and his partner elected to dissolve their arrangement, they drew straws – Gilmore’s straw secured 256 acres on which he created a successful dairy farm. A.F. Gilmore had no plans for a world-renowned institution when he moved to Los Angeles from Illinois in 1870. Rather, he was seeking a better life on the promising West Coast. When he married Mary Elizabeth Bell in 1882, the small adobe on the property became the new home for his family.

At the turn of the century, while drilling for water for his herd of dairy cows, A.F. Gilmore hit oil. By 1905, the dairy was gone and the Gilmore Oil Company born.

As Farmers Market at Gilmore Island became an international landmark, the property surrounding it grew famous with it. E.B. Gilmore, rarely missed an opportunity. Thus in the 1930s and ’40s, he gave Angelenos the opportunity to experience live sporting events.

In 1934, a few months before Farmers Market opened, Gilmore built the first race car track designed specifically for midget car racers, a venue built of love and commercial savvy. Gilmore loved racers and his marketing sense led him to support them as a “demonstration” of Gilmore Oil products.

His romance with cars extended well beyond the construction of Gilmore Stadium. As a sponsor, E.B. Gilmore took vehicles to the Winner’s Circle at the Indianapolis 500 in 1935 and 1937. As a patron, he helped establish a land speed record which lasted for eight years. As a businessman, he created “Economy Runs” which evolved into modern stock car racing. In 1987, E.B. Gilmore was elected to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame and in 1992, he was inducted into the Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa.

Gilmore Stadium was also home to the Bulldogs, the first professional football team in Los Angeles. Art Aragon, the Golden Boy of boxing, fought in the 18,000 seat stadium. The site was also used for rodeos, wrestling matches and even swimming. This was also where presidential candidate Harry Truman delivered his famous “stiff upper lip” speech.

PETaPOTTY products and services are proud that they will now be available in what is truly the heart of LA. Look out for events as well
Three Dog Bakery and PETaPOTTY 6333 W 3rd Street. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (323) 935-7512

Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory Poo Gardens by PETaPOTTY

“Dead Or Alive” PETaPOTTY’s dog sod Last’s the full season of Fantasy Factory. PETaPOTTY made two custom PETaPOTTY’s for Rob and his dog’s. They were seen in nearly every episode. We hope to change out their grass by next season? However, It’s good to see our grass be used for so long. Only in a PETAPOTTY! The Pet’s Place Of Business Watch this episode where Rob and Drama pop of a shot in the Playpen PETaPOTTY Thrill Of A Lifetime for free on MTV.com.

Rob reminisces about the rally car jump and looks at the finest moments with Meaty and Beefy.

Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory | Ep. 11 | ‘Best Of And Behind The Scenes’

PETaPOTTY Gallery located on the corner of PCH and West Channel in Santa Monica. We will be using the showroom as another location for weekly sod pickup. Get your sod orders in by Sunday for pickup on Tuesday. If you are in the area for a day at the beach stop by and check us out. The address is 107 West Channel Road Santa Monica CA 90402. The Showroom telephone number is 310 454 0045. Store hours are Monday thru Friday 10-6 and weekends 11-7. Thank you for your continuous support. Hope you get a chance to stop by.

PETaPOTTY -”The pet’s place of business” Opens new distribution point in Hollywood Calif. Across the street from the famous Chateau Marmont Hotel makes for easy access to fresh grass or even pick up a new potty for your pooch while staying anywhere in the hollyhood! A loading zone in front makes for a near drive threw experience for sod pick up.

Todays Celeb gossip on the Chateau:
“JOSH HARTNETT The actor was rushed to hospital with stomach pains.
Josh Hartnett was rushed to hospital yesterday with stomach pains. The ‘Pearl Harbor’ star was staying at the Chateau Marmont hotel in West Hollywood when he began complaining of “excruciating” abdominal pain at around 2am. An ambulance quickly arrived and took the star to Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where he is currently “under observation”. In a statement, Hartnett’s representative Susan Patricola said the 30-year-old actor had suffered a “flare-up” of an ongoing gastrointestinal problem. Hartnett is currently “resting comfortably” and will see a specialist today.”- Bild.com

OrangeBone (formerly The Puppy Store), the first puppy store to open its doors to date with one big dramatic difference–OrangeBone carries only shelter and rescue puppies and some mature dogs!

OrangeBone is the first store of its kind to evolve from selling purebreed puppies (puppymill dogs) to shelter and rescue animals. Located on Melrose Avenue (between Fairfax and La Brea Avenue) in Los Angeles, the Mecca for fun, fashion and celebrities. Their aim is to provide a fun informative and exciting shopping experience and above all to support the human-animal bond. They are always on the front line with the latest trends, hottest pet fashions and accessories. We are searching everyday for unique and exciting pet products so you can rest assured your pet will be wearing the latest in chic, hip and fun apparel. We only carry the highest quality products. Come and see for yourself what everyone is talking about! OrangeBone.com