8:24 AM PDT, May 25, 2010 Downtown L.A. In The Dumps Over Dogs, Jaime Chambers reports

A dog goes to the bathroom on a downtown Los Angeles street. (KTLA-TV)

LOS ANGELES — People usually complain about excessive barking when it comes to neighborhood dogs. But in downtown Los Angeles, it’s what the animals are leaving behind that’s putting residents down in the dumps.

An influx of dogs has turned the city into a doggie dumping ground of sorts. Residents and business owners say the piles of poop and rivers of urine on city streets are a growing concern.

“The biggest problem is the pee. It drains down the sidewalk. You can’t go to any corner without stepping through it. The dogs step in it and then they track it everywhere,” one resident told KTLA.

“It’s just a distraction from the beautiful city that we live in,” said another resident.

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While the problem lies in waste not being picked up, dog owners say a park would also help.

“There aren’t a lot of open spaces. There’s not a lot of parks. But you have to kind of, I guess, make due,” Junior Purnell said.

Janene Zakreajsek, owner of Pussy & Pooch Pethouse and Pawbar, says dog owners can purchase a “pet a potty,” which features a patch of synthetic grass inside a container.

Dogs simply do their business on the indoor/outdoor potty and owners clean it up for continued use.

According to the Downtown Center Business Improvement District, an estimated 40% of downtown residents own dogs.

The DCBID launched a small marketing campaign, urging residents to practice good downtown dog etiquette.”

Copyright © 2010, KTLA-TV, Los Angeles

“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

Animal Planet's latest and greatest in products for your pet

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.

Each adopted dog will go home with a year supply of dog food and a Mini PETaPOTTY

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.

PETaPOTTY provides all the relief on the 2010 Natural Balance Rose Parade Float

PETaPOTTY supplies all the relief for Tillman and Rose on the 2010 Natural Balance Float Rose Parade Float. This year Natural Balance is going for a record, the longest float ever seen. Here we are in the Natural Balance Training Center equipped with XL custom PETaPOTTY’s.

Enter to Win a Seat on the Natural Balance Pet Foods Rose Parade Float on New Year’s Day 2010!

We are very proud to be apart of the float that’s going for the gold. PETaPOTTTY and founders are all big fans of Snowboarding, and add dog’s to the mix is just plain “Animal Comedy” Tillman earlier this year set the world record for the fastest skateboarding dog and PETaPOTTY will be there on the float thats going to break the record for the longest float!
Go, Natural Balance, GO!!

Tillman is now the ambassador of the rose parade and has his own 32 Ft. “Rock Star” Motor Coach that he’s touring in. PETaPOTTY will be installing another custom PETaPOTTY in the coach later this month.

Yappy hour at the Shorebreak Hotel

The Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach — which happens to be pet friendly — Hosted a fund-raising event on Sept. 10 to benefit the Best Friends Animal Society and the Orange County Humane Society.
The economic downturn around the county has put added pressure on animal rescue groups to care for more abandoned pets. To help our homeless furry friends, Brenda Calvillo organized the fun-filled event that will feature hor d’ouvres, music, wine, a silent auction and more.

But don’t fret, dog owners, the makers of PetaPotty were on hand to spare the new hotels floors a wee little accident or two.

Devon Guzzi’s birthday party and grand opening of EMPIRE CLUB September 25, 2009 was the place for Johnny V to crash an interview to get Baha Men to give PETaPOTTY a little shout out! “Who let the dog’s out” Baha Men performed live later that night at the Empire lounge in Hollywood. …
David Hasselhoff’s Ex Wife, Pamela Bach, from Baywatch was hanging out and bevy of beauties showed up to see the birthday boy or was it Baha Men?

Thank you Tori for the kindest words during the PETaPOTTY Interview- Coming Soon!

BOW WOW WOW HOWLYWOOD WAS GREAT NIGHT OF CHARITY, COMEDY, & CELEBRITIES! Much Love Animal Rescue’s events have always had the best auctions and this year was no exception. You have never seen an auction like this! If you enjoy getting deals on travel, spas, fine dining, jewelry, hot motorcycles, nice cars, and visiting the sets of TVs hottest shows – the auction tables at Bow Wow WOW Howlywood is where you want to be. You can shop guilt free knowing that 100% of the Much Love auction proceeds go towards the care of our animals.

They had a Dream trip for two to SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA with airfare, hotels and tours – provided by the new V Australia and Travelscene, a 2009 XL 1200C Harley Davidson – from Bartels’ Harley Davidson
and a week at Casa Del Mosaico, a private villa in Durado, Puerto Rico, just to name a few.

Celebrities like Denise Richards, Jerry O’Connell, Tori Spelling showed for the cause. This year’s summer event honored Priscilla Presley, Carole Raphaelle Davis, Carole Sax and Jacob Fenton for their efforts to rescue animals.

A well-heeled Brentwood lady, who spent more than $11,000 at the massive silent auction. BrownHot Events produced a stunning evening that included…

RUBBING ELBOWS: Little Friends Photography

Getty Images

The first annual SurfinDogs Surf Competition drew over 45 dogs that surfed their way into over 5,000 spectators’ hearts. As the dogs strutted their stuff on the red carpet, and mingled with their owners at the after party, PETaPOTTY was on hand throughout the event to make sure The Pets had a place to do their business. The Pooches were definitely pampered at this event; dogs were even greeted with Mutt-tinis as they waited to strut their stuff on the Red Carpet.

PETaPOTTY has been featured on many of today’s hottest TV shows such as MTV’s, Rob & Big’s Fantasy Factory, where PETaPOTTY built a special Custom Poo Garden for Rob Dyrdek’s best friends Meaty & Beefy. PETaPOTTY was also recently featured on E! Entertainment Celebrity Dog Special, A day in the life of a Hollywood dog, as well MSNBC, ABC, LA Times and many more.
 
About PETaPOTTY
The PETaPOTTY is an eco friendly, self-draining toilet system for animals.  Made of non-porous polyvinyl, the PETaPOTTY is guaranteed for life not to rot, warp, discolor, fade, or retain moisture. Each unit is designed to allow pets the freedom to do their business whenever necessary and to provide pet owners with the satisfaction of not having to deal with unwanted messes and carpet stains. Liquids drain through a layer of soil-less organic or synthetic sod pulling unwanted bacteria away from a pet’s potty space and into an easily removable pan.   The system’s top pallet is seal to ensure proper drainage and to keep the PETaPOTTY and its surrounding area sanitary.  For additional information, Please visit http://www.petapotty.com .

About SurfinPaws
SurfinPaws was started by René Bruce in 2009. It was inspired by his dog Kia’s first surf competition that was put on by a friend of Bruce’s in Del Mar, California. Kia, seven year-old Jack Russell Terrier, is the “spokes dog” of the event. Kia has been riding boards, scooters and jet skis since she was a pup when, at 16 weeks, her paws hit a skateboard for the first time. Since then Kia, has been featured on various news sites, Reuters, Yahoo! and even National Geographic and The Discovery Channel because of her riding talents. For additional information, please visit www.surfinpaws.com .
Surf City USA is a registered mark of the Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau.