Arts, crafts and some yummy goodies will be served up Saturday at HOPE Animal Shelter’s Craft and Bake Sale.

All proceeds from the sale, with food and items lovingly made by HOPE volunteers, will go to help the animals.

You may find treasures at the sale/Art and photo Ryn Gargulinski

HOPE is Tucson’s only no-kill dog and cat shelter and, like the rest of the world, can use all the extra help it can get through this economic crap.

We’re not sure what types of craft you’ll find. Part of the fun of such sales is the wide and interesting variety. Heck, you may be lucky enough to snag a crocheted Santa Claus toilet paper cover.

What: HOPE Craft and Bake Sale
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21
Where: Outside HOPE Animal Shelter, 2011 E. 12th St.

For more info on the sale or the shelter, visit HOPEanimalshelter.net

Sawyer Says: Go.

What’s the coolest thing you ever got from a craft sale? The cheesiest?

Are you a bake sale fan? Are they more fun or less fun than cake walks?

Did you ever bake or make a craft for a sale and have everyone laugh in your face?

Tucson’s – and Arizona’s – biggest pet party is heading our way in February, but now is the time to get on the bandwagon.

Sawyer and Phoebe discuss if they want to volunteer or rent a booth/Ryn Gargulinski

The Arizona Animal Fair, an annual free event for people and pets, is hitting Reid Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20.

Hosted by SAFE, or Saving Animals From Euthanasia, the fair is billed as the largest event of its kind in the state and one of the largest in the whole Southwest.

Demonstrations, doggie dancing, pet psychics and photography meet with food, live music, low-cost vaccinations and mircochipping for a festive and fabulous event.

Don’t miss the petting area, which will feature horses, burros, llamas and even potbellied pigs. I want to pet a llama.

Want to do more than just show up?

Volunteers, sponsors, exhibitors and vendors are wanted.

Volunteer – More than 100 big-hearted animal lovers are needed to help make the fair happen. Volunteering can be as simple as helping to set up or as elaborate as helping to coordinate the event in progress.

Sponsor – Spend as little as $25 – or as much as $10,000 – to sponsor the event. Sponsorship will not only give you a cozy feeling that you are helping the fair happen, but you’ll also get your business’s name out in front of some 8,000 folks expected to attend the event.

Exhibitor/vendors – Got art? Food? Schmancy collars and leashes? A non-profit that caters to animals? Booths are available for a variety of prices, depending on the organization, and grants from SAFE are even available for qualifying non-profits. Application deadline is Jan. 23, space permitting, and a host of folks have already signed up. These include Doggie Diva Pet Care, Protect Police K-9s, Cause for Paws and dozens of others.

All proceeds from the event go to help the animal rescue community.

For more information or to download vendor and other applications, visit AZAnimalFair.com.

Folks can also call Roxanne at CatScratch Events 275-0445 or e-mail roxanne@azanimalfair.com.

Have you been this annual event?

What’s your favorite part of it?

Being behind the scenes at the Tucson Dog Show at the Pima County Fairgrounds makes for some interesting video – but don’t take my word for it, check it out below.

Best puppy winner Jelly with Gail Skee from Silver City, N.M./Ryn Gargulinski

Highlight: Definitely the people. Schmoozing with dog lovers, especially those so into the pooches that they are willing to spend days traveling and hours preparing, is a hoot. Some have even dedicated their entire lives to dog shows. Not a bad gig, as one handler and groomer said, if you don’t mind dogs on the mind, in the house, and dominating your life 24/7.

Lowlight: I think I heard one woman crying after her dog did something weird in the ring. Don’t know what it was but folks were asking her “Are you alright?” and her dog, a Doberman Pincher, was shaking a stuffed toy as if he wanted to kill it. Maybe the dog bit a judge? Nah, there’s no way I would have missed that one on video.

Note: Video quality suffers due to high compression currently necessary to view videos on this site.

Thanks to all the folks who let me sneak up on them with the video camera. And there were dozens of them, too many to include them all in the finished product. Here’s a rundown of those who do appear, in order of appearance:

Behind the scenes/Ryn Gargulinski

Cooper, show dog Golden Retriever
Fantasy (aka My Joy Fantasy Dreamer), show dog Sheltie with Joyce Van Kirk
Macy, show dog Golden Retriever with Sabine Werner from Phoenix
Casey Kilcullen-Steiner on unloading equipment, from Tucson
Jelly, best puppy winner Golden Retriever with Gail Skee from Silver City, N.M.
Karen Blisard in Bucket Bitch shirt from Silver City, N.M.
Citation, show dog Sheltie with Gayle Eades from Anza, Calif.
Longtime judge, from Mesa who chased me away before I could get his name
Gina, show dog

Also: Check out dog show slide show by Sawyer’s friend Mark Evans by clicking here.

Do you love dog shows? Why or why not?

How would you like an 80-year-old Monster living in your backyard? One Southwest Side family loves it – but that’s because Monster is a charming and gentle tortoise.

Monster is his fashionable backyard habitat/submitted photo

Monster may weigh in at a stocky 40 pounds and be so named because he is huge compared to the family’s other two tortoises, but he still has to be separated from Wilson and Sleepy.

“Wilson gets aggressive,” Monster’s mom said – but no problems were reported between Monster and the family’s two birds and two dogs.

Monster is even known to help with chores around the home and yard. He loves following his human dad around, and even “helped out” by getting beneath a chair his dad was standing on while working on his truck.

“Monster went under the chair and lifted him about 2 inches off the ground,” mom said.

“I guess the hardest part of owning a tortoise is that they can get so big, making their habitat is a little harder,” she said. “Oh yes, and finding romaine lettuce on sale.”

Do you have a pet that rivals Sawyer? E-mail comment and photo to rynski@tucsoncitizen.com

What do you think?

Do you think tortoises make a good pet? Why or why not?

Prairie dogs, which once roamed free all over Arizona grasslands before disappearing from the state, are in the process of being painstakingly re-introduced to southern Arizona.

Black-tailed prairie dog/Photo George Andrejko, AZ Game and Fish

Yet one man still saw fit to blow one to smithereens last week, according to a news release from the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

The guy, reportedly an Oro Valley deer hunter, used a high-powered 22-caliber rifle.

Prairie dogs weigh approximately 2 pounds.

The little critter was annihilated Friday morning, Oct. 23, near Sonoita, where a sign is clearly posted that says prairie dogs are off-limits.

Authorities tracked down the man after someone reported the crime. They found his vehicle Saturday evening and confronted him.

He claimed he was shooting at coyotes.

Well then, we have to give him some leeway. We can certainly see how the mix-up occurred, since prairie dogs and coyotes are so similar in stature, size and species. And why was he shooting at coyotes when he was out in a deer hunting area?

There was no mention if the man carried duct tape.

The slaughtered black-tailed prairie dog had been one of a group more than 100 imported last year from New Mexico to the area, east of Sonoita and north of State Route 82. More than 60 were introduced last month in the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, about 50 miles southeast of Tucson.

Arizona’s black-tailed prairie dog’s population declined in the late 1800s and mid-1900s before dying out altogether.

The guy’s name is not being released pending the outcome of the investigation.

“We cannot successfully re-introduce this species to southern Arizona without protecting them,” said Don Mitchell, acting supervisor for the state Game and Fish Department in Tucson. “Let this incident serve as a warning to others not to indiscriminately shoot at wildlife.”

What do you think?

What is the mentality of someone who uses a high-powered rifle to blow away a 2-pound critter that just so happens to be off limits?

Would such a person kill a kitten or a child?

What would be a fitting punishment for killing a protected animal?

The terrible twosome’s wacky habits

Phoebe the barking machine/Ryn Gargulinski

Phoebe is a barking machine.

She barks – incessantly – at everything from thunder to lightning, fireworks to car doors slamming, the doorbell to a passing motorcycle.

She especially has a field day with unseen people walking behind the backyard wall. And she’s nearly breaking the sound barrier while the folks next door have workers installing and standing atop their new patio roof.

Phoebe is the reason man invented earplugs. But you can’t complain about her being a good watchdog.

Sort of.

While her barking may have deterred a few unbeknownst robbers, vacuum salesmen and serial killers who were lurking about the property, it is falling short when I need it the most.

Bird feasting on new seed/Ryn Gargulinski

My latest deployment in my war against Bermuda grass has been gouging out still more sections of the lawn and adding five bags of topsoil coupled with two bags of grass seed. Quite pricey grass seed, I may add, as it’s billed as “Miracle Grass – as seen on TV.”

I need an alert watchdog to deter the birds that have been merrily stuffing their beaks with this all-you-can-eat seed buffet.

Bird feasting on seed/Ryn Gargulinski

And where can we find our fine Phoebe the barking machine?

Phoebe "protecting" the grass seed/Ryn Gargulinski

The terrible twosome’s wacky habits is a feature that highlights the strange habits of Ryn’s dogs Sawyer and Phoebe. If you have a strange pet habit to share, please e-mail to rynski@tucsoncitizen.com

What do you think?

Should I fire her from watchdog duty?

Does your pet protect your grass seed or similarly fall short on certain duties?

HOPE Animal Shelter is living up to its HOPEful name, but Tucson’s only no-kill dog and cat shelter is going through some tough financial stuff.

HOPE's Barkin' Ball is Saturday/submitted image

Yes, we know, we all are.

But these guys are living month to month and sometimes scrambling to cover the rent – not to mention the food, shelter and medical bills for dozens of rescued animals.

You can help by checking out the Barkin’ Ball this Saturday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 9 p.m. at St. Phillip’s Plaza. The event comes complete with live jazz, tasty eats, auctions and socializing under the stars. Dogs, of course, are welcome.

The shelter is offering a 2-for-1 special on tickets. Mention when you call or contact them.

If 2-for-1 tickets and live jazz are not enough to persuade you, consider another argument.

The Barkin’ Ball is about more than just having a good time – it’s the main fundraiser of the year that allows the shelter to keep its doors open.

The shelter takes in the unwanted, if you will – the shoe chewers, the scaredy cats, the ill or otherwise ill-behaved.

“Since HOPE’s inception, we have rescued sick, injured and behaviorally challenged dogs and cats from other local shelters,” said HOPE’s Executive Director Susan Scherl. “With medical care, including surgeries, patient socialization and lots of love from our wonderful volunteers we have been able to place these animals, who otherwise would have been euthanized, into loving forever homes.”

Can’t afford a ticket? You can still donate through the shelter’s website at HopeAnimalShelter.net so they can keep a good thing going.

Can afford a ticket? Enjoy the jazz.

What: HOPE’s annual Barkin’ Ball
When: 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24
Where: St. Phillips Plaza, corner of East River Road and North Campbell Avenue
Tickets: $65, 50 percent of which is tax deductible
Dogs and kids age 11 and under are free
Buy tickets at the door, by phone at 792-9200 or online at HopeAnimalShelter.net

Do you donate to any animal charities?

Will you put HOPE in your will?

The terrible twosome’s wacky habits

Sawyer and his pet chicken (sorry, Lefty!)/Ryn Gargulinski

Sawyer’s latest fascination is with the stinky little woodchips around one of my backyard trees.

Well, he’s more than fascinated with them. He eats them.

He’s also been known to chow down on my grass seedlings, a raw chicken breast he snatched off the counter and a blackened piece of something that could have been a flattened lizard out on our dog walk.

Some may also remember the post about the missing cucumber and how it was found mutilated in Sawyer’s possession.

The worst, by far, were the river rocks in Oregon.

Sawyer scarfed down three of the things, one of which was about 3 inches long and lodged sideways blocking his intestine. The operation to remove it cost some $800.

Another dog needed surgery after eating 22 pounds of Astroturf. The pooch apparently liked the way it unraveled at the edges and ended up with a hunk of it in his stomach.

No operation – but plenty of prayers – were needed for the canine who knocked a peanut butter jar off the counter then proceeded to wolf it down, busted glass and all. Somehow it all passed through without a hitch.

Since the river rocks, I’d like to say Sawyer has been pickier about his eating habits. But he still mauled and digested part of a pair of shoes, one of my former cell phones, and has now moved on to the stinky little woodchips.

The terrible twosome’s wacky habits is a new feature that will highlight the strange habits of Ryn’s dogs Sawyer and Phoebe. If you have a strange pet habit to share, please e-mail to rynski@tucsoncitizen.com

Sawyer eating something that's actually edible/Ryn Gargulinski

What’s the weirdest thing your pet ever ate?

Did he or she need surgery to remove it?

You could be inadvertently supporting a puppy mill – or a breeder that hoards pets and keeps them in disgusting conditions – unless you properly do your homework before adopting a pet.

Do you know where this hound has been?/Ryn Gargulinski

A recent influx of complaints have been surfacing about a handful of local organizations that call themselves “animal rescues,” according to a news release from the Animal Cruelty Task Force of Southern Arizona.

The investigations are ongoing and ACT did not disclose any names, but it did provide some tips for folks who are ready to adopt a pet:

* Research any business or non-profit organization before you buy or adopt from them – or before making a donation. Just because a group calls itself “animal rescue” does not mean it is an incorporated 501(c) 3 charity. Check out Charity Navigator and Guide Star to research both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations.

* Never buy or adopt an animal “sight unseen.” Check out the animal’s living conditions.

* Pet stores are required by law to provide a complete breeding and medical history for any dog or cat. Ask for it. Humane agencies and animal controls are exempt from this law.

* Don’t trust written certificates that ensure pedigree. This is where fraud often kicks in. Do your own research.

* Never buy an animal out of a car, on the side of the road, at swap meets and the like. Those practices are now prohibited by state and local ordinance. Turn those jokers in, instead.

* Get all health guarantees and refund policies in writing and take a new pet to the vet within 48 hours for an exam. Call the vet the seller says he has been using to make sure he has.

* Comparison shop. Real rescue organizations will usually charge a reasonable fee, not an outlandish amount. Check for guarantees.

Learn more about animal laws:

ACT and the Humane Society of Southern Arizona are offering Animal Law 101 classes for pet owners. More info: Jenison Silva 321-3704 ext. 125, Mon. to Fri.

You can also research relevant laws and reporting animal crimes at act-az.org/buyerbeware.html

All info from ACT.

Have you ever adopted a pet from an unscrupulous source?

What happened?

Thankfully our fathers may not look like gorillas, but research has found that we may be better off if they act like them.

Sculpted gorilla head/Photo Ryn Gargulinski

This doesn’t mean we want dear dad flinging feces from a tire swing, but rather engaging in the same nurturing behavior found in mountain gorillas in Rwanda.

University of Arizona researchers, primatologists and husband and wife team H. Dieter and Netzin Steklis have trekked to Rwanda to hang out with these gorillas nearly every year since 1991.

The couple’s goal was to learn more about family dynamics in this nearly extinct gorilla population, of which only about 400 still survive in the wild.

Find out what they found out at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2 at a university event at McClelland Park. The event is free, open to the public and includes a tour of the lab.

Banana splits, quite aptly, will be served.

Nurturing behavior in adult male gorillas can influence how their offspring turn out – or if their offspring even survive, according to an article about the findings on the UA website.

One of the main subjects has been Titus, a male gorilla whose life was chronicled by video and field notes up until his death about two weeks ago. He was first observed by Dian Fossey herself some 35 years back.

Both H. Dieter Steklis and his wife, Netzin, worked as affiliate scientists with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. But their work isn’t stopping there. They have been invited to share their research with UA’s Norton School by Bruce Ellis, the endowed chair of Fathers, Parenting and Families at the school.

“Because this kind of male behavior is so rare among our closest relatives, the great apes, research on gorilla families can help us better understand human families,” Ellis said in the UA article.

What: “Gorillas in Our Midst: What Titus Can Teach Us about Fatherhood,” a research presentation, open house and tour for the public and UA community
When: 2 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2
Where: McClelland Park, Park Avenue at Fourth Street
The research presentation will begin at 2 p.m. at McClelland Park. The open house and lab tours will run from 3 to 4:30. The banana split social will be held in the Tyndall Avenue Garage, located one block west of McClelland Park.

What do you think?

Is studying animal behavior to learn more about human behavior an incredibly useful practice?

Or is it a massive waste of time and money?