"tropical fish supplies" - Google News

2020 Best of the East Bay: Pets | People | diablomag.com - Diablo Magazine

Posted: 26 Jun 2020 12:00 AM PDT

Danville's Dog Tired Adventures hits the Tri-Valley's top dog-walking trails.
Kevin Sueksdorf

Spotlight: Best Combination of Animal Rescue and Human Needs

Walnut Creek's Animal Rescue Foundation trains dogs to provide service and comfort to veterans.
Courtesy of Animal Rescue Foundation

Pets and Vets, Animal Rescue Foundation

Anyone who has owned a dog knows that the connection between a pet and its person is a unique bond. That's what makes the Animal Rescue Foundation's (ARF) Pets and Vets program so special. Founded in 2011, the program benefits U.S. military heroes by pairing them with rescue animals. Similar service dog programs often cost thousands of dollars and have long waiting lists, but ARF's Pets and Vets program does its best to match  veteran-dog teams quickly, always at no cost to the veteran.

Pets and Vets dogs provide remarkable  benefits to veterans dealing with  post-traumatic-stress-disorder, reducing depression, panic, and stress, as well as encouraging sociability and establishing self-care practices. ARF exclusively trains rescue dogs for the program, which are paired with veterans in Alameda County County and Contra Costa County—or anyone committed to attending weekly training sessions at ARF's Walnut Creek campus. A skilled trainer, also a veteran,  teaches the dogs how to perform at least three tasks to help alleviate the veteran's disability, such as alerting  a veteran to oncoming panic attacks and interrupting night terrors. The training  program provides veterans with a  supportive class environment, as well  as structure and task achievements often missed after the service members have left the armed forces.  arflife.org/pets-and-vets.

Readers' Picks

DOG-TRAINING CLASSES

Tailored Dog Training, Concord, tailoreddogtraining.com.

Runner-up // Laura for Dogs, Walnut Creek, laurafordogs.com.

DOG WALKER

Dog Tired Adventures, Danville, dogtiredadventuresca.com.

Runner-up // Danville Trails and Tails,  Danville, danvilletrailsandtails.com.

GROOMER

Comfort Corner Grooming, Alamo, comfortcornergrooming.com.

The owner [of Comfort Corner Grooming], Melonie, is a saint. She loves every fur baby that walks through her doors. Her prices are super reasonable, and she always goes above and beyond." —Michele Heathorn, Danville

Runner-up // ShamPooches, San Ramon, shampooches.us.

PET STORE

Pet Food Express, multiple locations, petfood.express.

Runner-up // Murphy's Paw, Pleasanton, murphyspaw.com.

PET PHOTOGRAPHER

Jen Frase Photography, jenfrase.com.

Jen Frase has a  really good eye as a photographer. She's  a very nice person and [is] easy to work with.  She photographed  our dogs, but I  would recommend  her for any type  photography." —Scott Frazer, Lafayette

Runner-up // Share the Joy Photography/Barbara Brady-Smith, Lafayette, sharethejoyphotography.com.

PET BOARDING

Club K9, Fremont-Sunol, San Ramon, clubk9.com.

We have used Club K9 for years.  They're always  accommodating, friendly, safe,  and reliable. They  provide great care  and continue to  upgrade their  facilities."  —Matt Wilhite, Pleasanton

Runner-up // Wunderbar's Pet Hotel, Walnut Creek, wunderbarspethotelinc.com.

PET CARE CLINIC

Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center and Urgent Care, San Ramon, webvets.com.

Runner-up // Lafayette Animal Hospital, Lafayette, lafayetteanimalhosp.com.

Editors' Picks

BEST OFF-LEASH DOG HIKES

Fernandez Ranch, Martinez

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, many go-to dog parks in the East Bay were closed or have had on-leash policies this year. Fortunately, our four-legged friends have been able to enjoy Fernandez Ranch, a spectacular open-space park off Highway 4 between Martinez and Hercules. The trails in this massive park offer panoramic views of beautiful wilderness. Dogs can be off-leash, as long as they are under their owners'  control. jmlt.org/fernandez_ranch.html.

For the Love of Dog owner Heather Smalley keeps her clients in line.
Courtesy of Heather Smalley

BEST VIRTUAL TRAINING

For the Love of Dog, multiple locations

During recent months, dog expert Heather Smalley used her Facebook page to create training videos to help the many folks who were sheltering-in-place with a new pet. Smalley, who trains and walks dogs in the Tri-Valley, with an emphasis on Blackhawk,  Danville, and San Ramon, gives  tips about all the problems that can come when introducing a new dog into the household as well as advice about socializing  the animal with other dogs during trips to  the park. fortheloveofdog.biz.

BEST WAY TO GET SUPER SNUGGLY FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Bottle Baby Kittens, Tri-Valley Animal  Rescue, Pleasanton

Want to help your community and play with little kittens? Spend a few weeks raising  orphaned kittens that arrive at the East County Animal Shelter in Dublin. These babies are up to 4 or 5 weeks of age—up to one pound each—a vulnerable time when they need a chance to grow and get adopted. Volunteers with the Bottle Baby Kittens program will pick up  a litter from Tri-Valley Animal  Rescue, along with heating pads, formula, bottles, food, and a cage. The program will train you before you pick up the kittens, so all you need to provide is the home and love. tvar.org.

A baby parrot snacks on a pea at Your Basic Bird.
Courtesy of Your Basic Bird/Gareth Bogdanoff

BEST ONE-STOP BIRD SHOP

Your Basic Bird, Berkeley

This delightful shop in Berkeley's Elmwood district has been providing birds and services to the East Bay for nearly 40 years. Owned by Claudia and Bon Bhunka, Your Basic Bird has a wide range of socialized parrots—African grays, cockatoos, lovebirds, Amazons, and many more—as well  as other small companion animals (hamsters, rats, rabbits, etc.) The staff is very  knowledgeable, and the shop also stocks  a full line of pet products and supplies.  yourbasicbird.com.

BEST PLACE TO STOCK UP ON LIVE BLACK WORMS

Concord Aquarium, Concord

This family-owned shop on Concord's  Arnold Industrial Way has been in business for more than 20 years, offering tropical  fish, aquariums, and the food and maintenance equipment needed to keep your  home aquarium running smoothly. Also, it  claims to be the only aquarium shop in Contra Costa County offering live black worms. So, if you have been looking for such a product as this, you're welcome.  concordaquarium.com.

Search This Blog

Acuarium