Pet Guide – Baltimore Magazine

The Baltimore Pet Lover’s Guide

Aaron Hope — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 13:17:57 +0000

Home & Living

September 2025

WHY DO WE LOVE OUR PETS? Is it because they offer the purest form of unconditional love, making us feel valued, adored, and special? Is it because they’re good for our health? (Studies show that pets can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as ease loneliness, encourage exercise, and improve overall health.) Or is it because our hearts melt when our cats purr or our dogs look at us with those patented puppy-dog eyes and go wild with excitement when we come home, even if we’ve only just left to get mail at the end of the driveway? Of course, it’s all the above and more.

True love doesn’t always make a lick of sense—having a pet is a real commitment of time, money, and learning to let go (forget about those rugs and upholstered sofas), not to mention a total test of patience, as anyone with a puppy (or elderly animal) can attest. And yet most pet owners do it again—and again—when their pet passes.

More and more Americans are relishing the joys of adding a pet to the family tree. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the number of pet-owning households with dogs increased from 31.3 million in 1996 to 59.8 million in 2024, while cat-owning households went from 27 million to 42.1 million in that same timeframe. And during the COVID-19 pandemic, pet ownership exploded, with one in five households acquiring a pet. (A survey by the ASPCA reveals that approximately 23 million American households added a new cat or dog during the crisis.) In other words, pets are becoming an increasingly integral part of our lives.

Our Pet Lover’s Guide is a celebration of all creatures great and small, present and past, of those we loved and those we’re still loving. In the feature that follows, we share which area restaurants welcome four-legged friends, we marvel at the amazing abilities of service dogs, and we share a few of our staffers’ stories about the furry (or feathered) loved ones in their lives.

And while Baltimore isn’t exactly Paris, where pets are welcomed almost anywhere humans go, Charm City offers plenty of places to enjoy time with your pet outside your home. If you’re an avowed pet lover, new to pet ownership, or contemplating adopting a cat or dog, or buying a bird, pig, or snake, we hope our story inspires you.

Service dogs work their tails off for their human handlers.

By Jane Marion

n the Greenspring Campus of Kennedy Krieger High School in Baltimore, Rocket stretches across the wood floor of the gym snoring, just like any other dog sacked out after a long car ride and a full morning of activity.

But on this June day, Rocket has had a busier morning than most of his puppy peers. After all, he serves as the sidekick, official fetcher, and rightpaw man to his best friend, Ari Jarrett, a spirited 8-year-old, wheelchair-bound boy who, on this day sunny Saturday afternoon, is engaged in his usual round of recreational activities. Today that means swimming and basketball. For Rocket, there have been ongoing reminders to walk parallel to the wheelchair, dropped swim googles to fetch and return, plus emotional support for Ari, who, understandably, has a fear of sinking when he swims.

Ari was born with a rare defect to his skeletal system, resulting in the pinching of his spinal cord before birth. “He is totally unable to walk or stand and has a host of other medical issues,” explains his mom, Brianna Jarrett. “Otherwise, he’s just like any other 8-year-old-boy,” she adds, noting with an affectionate laugh that, like most moppets that age, he can be a bit of a terror.

Being a service dog is a full-time job—and not every dog is up to the task. Clearly, Rocket is. Wherever Ari goes, Rocket follows, whether that’s a recent screening of Moana 2 at the Horizon Cinema in Glen Burnie, food shopping at H Mart in Philadelphia, attending Pasadena Elementary School, where Ari just finished second grade, myriad doctors’ appointments, and even church service on Sunday mornings.

Unlike emotional service dogs, who provide comfort and a calming presence, service dogs are trained to perform a task. That task can include monitoring blood pressure for someone who struggles with diabetes, mobility assistance, alerting for seizures, assisting individuals with visual impairment, or psychiatric support for conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Rocket, some 85 pounds of chocolate English Labrador, became a beloved member of the Jarrett family last July 15. It’s a busy household that includes parents Brianna and Fred, Ari’s two sisters, including his twin, a pit-mix rescue named Bingo from BARCS, plus two cats, two fish, and five chickens, who roam their Anne Arundel backyard. Rocket is a family dog like any other, but he’s also an incredibly competent canine who assists Ari in living as independent a life as possible.

Based on the recommendation of a friend, the Jarretts turned to Sweetwater Labradors, a breeder on the Eastern Shore’s Kent Island and chose him from a lively litter of puppies. To make sure he’d be the right fit for Ari’s needs, the Jarretts enlisted the help of Christy Dugan, who owns the Howard County-based Dog Training Elite of Central Maryland, one of the few outfits in the area that trains service dogs.

Any breed can be a service dog, says Dugan, but genetics plays a huge part. “Dogs were bred for specific purposes,” she says. “The breed does make a difference.”

Dugan assessed Rocket using temperament training, a kind of canine personality test that can predict what a puppy will be like as an adult. “For a service dog, we are looking for a dog that is social,” says Dugan. “One that wants to be with people. We are looking for a dog that will follow along. In this case, we are looking for a dog that will want to retrieve and is not afraid of loud noises.”

It’s often advantageous to acquire a service dog as a puppy so they can be properly trained in the most basic skills: potty training, crate training, and obedience. From there, the training moves on to visiting public places, whether that’s taking the animal on a bus or to a doctor’s office, so they learn to remain neutral to their environment while focusing on their handler.

“We expose them to as many situations and places as possible and to ignore all the distractions around them,” explains Dugan. “Once we get them comfortable with that, we start the task training, and it is these tasks that make them a service dog, training the dog to help with whatever their handler needs.”

Although Ari was first drawn to the “green dog,” he says (the one wearing a green collar), Dugan was convinced that it was the blue-collared Rocket—both energetic and easygoing—who was the right dog for the job of picking up objects that Ari dropped on the floor. “If he drops something, he can’t pick it up,” says Brianna. “And as an 8-year-old in school, they drop stuff constantly, so one of those things we wanted to do was get a service dog to help with mobility issues.”

Ari lists the various items Rocket routinely fetches for him: “pencils, pens, goggles, markers, my violin case.” Recently, says Brianna, Rocket pitched in without anyone asking and removed a stack of tortillas wrapped in a dish towel when she and Fred were cleaning the dinner table. “I put them away in the refrigerator,” says Brianna laughing. “They were still perfectly stacked.”

While Rocket is still considered a service-dog-in-training, it’s clear that he’s top dog. Back at the gym, Dugan’s husband, Sean, drops his wallet on the floor in front of Rocket to demonstrate his talents. Without missing a beat, Rocket picks the wallet up in his mouth and hands it back—even more amazing since the wallet is metal and dogs don’t like metal in their mouths.

Later, as Ari comes off the court for a snack, Rocket sleeps like a champ and remains completely unfazed as the chair comes perilously close to rolling over his nose and then his paw. Mind you, he might be asleep, but he’s still at Ari’s beck and call. Even in the chaos of the gym, with some 20 kids playing tag in wheelchairs and bouncing balls, one word from Ari is all it will take for him to run to his side. “He’s tired because it’s all brain work,” says Dugan of the snoring dog.

Training, as is the case with all service dogs, is ongoing. “It takes thousands of hours to train a service dog,” says Dugan. “It’s very intense and we like to start training with a dog as young as possible.”

Five days a week, Ari does 15-to-20-minute training sessions. “He sits in the chair and drops random things for Rocket to fetch, and we also use him as a conveyor belt,” says Brianna, who’s sitting on the sidelines. “I will call him and give him something to take to Ari.”

Of course there are various rewards, from pieces of chicken to cheese, but it’s clear that praise, petting, and love work just as well, as Rocket licks Brianna’s face, wags his tail when Ari pets his head, and puts his limbs on Fred’s shoulders and kisses him. “Service dogs like to get paid,” notes Dugan, “and this family pays him in full.”

In the months to come, the young dog will learn a few new tricks. “We are also getting ready to teach him bracing,” says Dugan, “so that Ari can use him as a backstop and can lean against Rocket.”

Beyond the tasks themselves, Rocket serves an even more important function: “Having Rocket has made Ari so much happier,” says Brianna.

As for Rocket, he seems to take pride in understanding the assignment. “He loves everyone,” says Brianna, “but he knows his job is Ari.”

RESOURCE GUIDE

EAT

Affogatto

This new disco-themed cat cafe in Fells Point features fancy caffeinated drinks—espresso topped with gelato and coffee-art lattes—alongside scratching pads, feline artwork, and water fountains for the kittens in residence, all of whom are up for adoption.

Blue Pit BBQ

The restaurant’s name is inspired by the owners’ own blue-nose pit bull. Dog-friendly features include a patio with water bowls and treats. The pulled pork leaves everyone begging for seconds.

Good Boy Bagels

The doggy décor at this charming Canton bagel shop beckons dog lovers and their four-legged patrons. Enjoy a bagel and schmear while your dog gets a treat and a bowl of water or get your order to-go (they’ll ask for your dog’s name and breed and deliver it curbside).

Ovenbird Bakery

Owner Keiller Kyle is a former bird biologist, but he’s a dog lover too, which is why this wonderful Highlandtown bakery has a pooch-friendly vibe and four-legged companions are welcomed.

Peabody Heights Brewery

This Abell brewery on the site of the Old Orioles Park allows leashed dogs on its grounds. Crack open a cold one while feeling the warmth of a cold nose.

Growing up with farm animals teaches life lessons.

By Christianna McCausland

n an overcast day last March, I found myself in line waiting on the season’s most sought-after commodity: chicks. Each spring, tractor supplies and feed stores fill with buckets of them, but this year, with soaring egg prices, these little balls of fluff are in high demand. A sign on the door said chicks would be available at 2:30 p.m. and no more than 20 per customer. As we waited, a guy started canvasing others, weighing his odds against the inevitable sellout. “How many are you getting? What breed?” Someone toward the end of the line got a call on his cell. “My wife says they just got a delivery of Rhode Island Reds at TSC—I’m out.” Several others followed him. It was like camping out for U2 tickets in the 1990s.

Thankfully, I was lucky number eight and came home with my four chicks—two each of Black Copper Marans and Olive Eggers—tucked into a cardboard Munchkins box. (Worth noting: They were twice the price of last year.)

While the chicken craze is a recent phenomenon, I can’t remember a time when farm animals weren’t part of my life. We grew up with James Herriott on MPT in the kitchen and a menagerie of ponies, sheep, hens, cats, and more outside. My brother (now a veterinarian, shocker) was always bringing home wounded and abandoned animals as well as keeping his own zoo of exotics, including a gecko and a white rat named Templeton he trained to sit in the hood of his sweatshirt.

And so many rabbits. There was the bunny who moved to an outdoor hutch because it kept chewing electrical cords and an albino lop with an underbite that required special tooth trimming. And there always seemed to be a miniscule kitten needing to be fed with an eye dropper. My mother raised sheep and was particularly adept at resuscitating sick lambs with shots of glucose and time on a heating pad or, my favorite, by popping them into the oven on low with the door cracked open. She always raised the orphaned lambs, too. Each spring there’d be a dog kennel in the entry hall and a basket on the backseat of her station wagon where these little cotton ball cuties would reside, getting bottle fed every three hours. Every April I still crave the joyful company of lambs. (I follow a lot of shepherds on Instagram.)

If it sounds idyllic, it kinda was. And it’s a life that was important for me to give to my own daughter. But not just because it is idyllic. Also, because it is hard. Farm animals teach you the toughest lessons. There were dogs that attacked our ewes and racoons that went on bloody rampages in the henhouse. Two years ago, I lost almost all my hens to a brazen fox, and we’ve had chicks hand-raised under a grow light in my office that failed to thrive and faded before our eyes. And inevitably, that lamb was going to end up in our oven as supper.

But without them, how do we learn not only where our food comes from, but how hard people work to get it there? How do we learn the physical and emotional gentleness to hand-feed an animal that may fit in the palm of your hand, as well as the fortitude to chase off a rogue dog with a shotgun? Sustainability, self-sufficiency, animal welfare, responsibility—it’s all there to be learned. There is no responsibility greater than to ensure the hens have adequate water during a heat wave or are shut in safely on a frigid night. Get it wrong and their death is on your hands. It’s why I don’t name our hens—their lives can be fleeting. But death, too, is a lesson.

We have a precious dog and an imperious feline in our household, but it is the chickens who remind us that life is both brutal and beautiful.

RESOURCE GUIDE Continued

PLAY

Cylburn Arboretum

Set on 200 acres, this serene spot in Mt. Washington offers dog-friendly hiking trails, specimen trees, gardens, and a greenhouse. If you enjoy geeking out over nature, bring your binoculars to get a proper close-up of the wildlife.

Lake Roland

There are plenty of wetlands and woodlands to go around in this waterfront park with miles of pastoral paths. If you want a designated, fenced-in park, there’s also the lakeside, members-only Paw Point Dog Park for Fido to fraternize off-leash.

Oregon Ridge Park

Enjoy more than 1,000 miles of glorious nature and hiking trails for frolicking or frisbeethrowing at this Cockeysville treasure. There are also picnic tables and streams for splash sessions if you or your pet need to cool off.

Patterson Park

Our town’s answer to Central Park has countless paths for dog-walking and peoplewatching. There’s also a dog park within the park—plus benches, a water fountain, and turf—if you need to give your greyhound a little exercise off leash.

Quiet Waters Dog Park

Bordering the South River and Harkness Creek, this dog park in Annapolis offers some of the prettiest vistas around. There are off-leash areas for your canine and swimming, digging, and chasing opportunities abound as well as a rinsing station for good, clean fun.

Sometimes dogs make the best dining companions.

By Amy Scattergood

hen I adopted Angus, six brutal weeks after the death of my previous dog, he wasn’t malnourished, but he was about 20 pounds underweight. An 18-month-old German shepherd from Phoenix Animal Rescue, a terrific shelter in southern Pennsylvania with a fondness for Malinois and German, Dutch, and Belgian shepherds, Angus is my sixth German shepherd and third rescue. Sixth consecutive shepherd, I should say, as I do not—yet—live in the backwoods of northern Canada, otherwise I’d undoubtedly have a whole pack of them. Two and a half years later, Angus weighs in at a sturdy 110 pounds. This is because he has become not only my life companion, but my dining companion.

As I write about food for this magazine, I come home with a lot of leftovers, many of which find their way into Angus’ bowl. When I wrote a feature about Baltimore diners, while I breakfasted with my late father, I’d often order take-out for my dog—side orders of the scrapple my father loved, that I do not love, but that Angus enjoys as much as my dad did.

And when my dad and I would visit the restaurants I was reviewing, he’d often contemplate the menu, then say, “What would Angus like?” For the record, Angus loves oxtails and meatballs, unsurprisingly, but is also fond of ramen, dumplings, tacos, and tofu. As I can’t take him into restaurants—except for Ovenbird Bakery in Highlandtown, pictured below, which we visit regularly—he mostly gets take-out except when we’re on our daily walks around the city.

These take us to Fells Point, en route to the Inner Harbor and the Sagamore Pendry hotel, where there is a large basket of dog biscuits at the concierge stand. Across the cobblestones, the Daily Grind has a walk-up window for dog-walkers, through which they’ll hand over a square of cheese with your cortado. There’s also Fuzzie’s food truck, recently permanently installed a few doors down on Thames Street, which, bless them, has a special bunless smashburger for dogs on its menu. And then there’s the Royal Farms on Fleet Street, where I had my first order of the justly famous fried chicken when we stopped for a snack one day after a long walk around the harbor.

Angus has had many chicken dinners, in the form of leftovers from Bunny’s Buckets & Bubbles, Peruvian chicken from Highlandtown, and the splendid rotisserie birds from Chachi’s and the now-closed Nana, but his favorite to-date has been from the bag of RoFo we got on the way home.

He is a Baltimore dog, after all.

RESOURCE GUIDE Continued

SHOP

Book Hounds

This bookstore in St. Michael’s takes its name seriously. Dogs are welcomed with a free biscuit and lots of soft surfaces, from hot-pink dog beds to Chesterfield sofas. Of course, there are water bowls and snacks to spare.

Clipper’s Canine Café

This Ellicott City shop is a natural pet food store and boutique featuring a “raw bar” of Naugahyde bones, stylish collars and leashes, as well as shampoos to transform your dog from stinky to sweet. Consider buying a Canine Care Pack for service dogs who go to veterans.

Howl

Long before it was trendy to feed your pet like you feed yourself, this 22-year-old mainstay was focused on high-quality, ethically sourced food and gear (dental chews, shedding combs) for cats, dogs, and small animals. They carry hard-to-find brands and deliver those heavy bags of kibble to your front door.

Scratch & Sniff Pet Supplies

This all-natural pet supply store in Jacksonville has a knowledgeable staff, a friendly vibe, and a highquality selection of pet supplies for the dog, cat, gerbil, or bird in your life. They also offer nutritional counseling and DIY washing stations.

Sea Dog Pet Boutique

This family-owned shop sells anything your animal needs, from toys to treats. Much of it is Maryland-themed, like the crab-shaped toys and bow ties and Ravens bandanas.

After my beloved Oscar died, could I love again?

By Max Weiss

am firm believer that dog people should have dogs. This belief has gotten me through the death of my quintessential mutt Maggie (“What breed is she?” I innocently asked the vet. “All of them,” he replied) and the needy, clingy, soulful Harriet, who followed. But when Oscar died, I wasn’t sure I could do it again.

I’d raised him since he was a pup, just a slippery, squirmy little guy who had two modes: extreme chaos and sound sleep. Eventually, he calmed down (a bit) and his true personality shined: silly, neurotic (he had random fears like thresholds and windy staircases), cuddly, and loyal. I live alone, so it’s not a lie to say that Oscar got me through COVID—he was a four-legged lifeline.

So, when Oscar died at the age of 15, I wasn’t sure I could do it again. His death hit me hard—I wailed so loudly I feared the neighbors would call the police.

But dog people have dogs.

Six months after Oscar died, I dipped my toe into the adoption pool again. The Instagram algorithm already knew my type—scruffy and small.

My feed was filled with doe-eyed, pert-eared terrier mixes, along with various descriptions of their personalities: high energy, fearful, not recommended for families with small children, etc.

I saw Gus—then named Chocolate Chip—on PetFinders.com. He was 14 pounds, black and brown, with fur that was alternately scruffy and fluffy (scluffy?). I thought he looked a bit like Toto from The Wizard of Oz.

He had been abandoned in a construction site in Austin, Texas, along with two other dogs. One of the dogs got hit by a car and died. The other two, Gus and a blond terrier type named Rosemary, got scooped up by local shelters.

I applied for Gus like I was applying for a high-stakes job. The shelter, Dizzy Dog, wanted to make sure I wouldn’t return him. “What behavior would you find unacceptable in a dog?” they asked. “Smoking?” I cracked. They did a virtual tour of my home, confirmed I had a gated backyard, and there was an extended phone call where I learned the “3-3-3” rule of what to expect when your dog first arrives: Three days of fear and uncertainty; three weeks of settling in; three months when they realize they’re here to stay and begin to show their true personality.

Then I did a Zoom call with Gus’ foster mom, Amanda. (Gus sat in the back of the frame munching on a bone, as if protesting the very concept of a virtual meet-and-greet with a dog.) My adoption application was approved and it was time to ship Gus halfway across the country to come home.

I was told to meet the transport truck at the White Marsh Royal Farms.

“Sounds sketchy,” I told the adoption agency. “It’s for easy access on and off the highway.” I arrived early, as is my wont, and wasn’t sure I was in the right place until I saw other hopefuls emerge from their cars with leashes and squeaky toys.

Finally, the truck, neatly stacked with dog crates, pulled up and Gus was the first to come out.

I had given myself a pep talk not to take it personally if he was scared, didn’t take to me right away, hid in his crate, or even if he snapped at me.

He’s been traumatized, I reminded myself. He needs time.

Instead, he melted into my arms. When I put him down on the grass, he promptly pooped. An angel and a genius! I could lie and say there was a long adjustment period, that the 3-3-3 rule was a handy guide, but that just wasn’t the case.

Gus was sweet and loving and well-behaved from day one.

I was told that I shouldn’t have him sleep in the bed with me for the first week or so—to allow him to establish his crate as his own safe space.

The first night, I dutifully dragged Gus’ crate to my bedroom, put him inside, and turned out the light.

He began to whimper.

The great “Don’t Let Gus Sleep in the Bed With You” experiment lasted for all of two minutes. He’s been sleeping with me ever since.

Six months into our relationship, Gus is just the best little guy, my ride-or-die. I talk to him about Oscar sometimes. They would’ve liked each other.

A post script: Remember Rosemary, the dog who Gus was found with? Well, she stayed in the family. A month after I adopted Gus, my sister, Felicia, who had lost her adorable poodle-mix Ruby just a few weeks before Oscar died, adopted Rosemary, now named Gertie. Who doesn’t love a happy ending?

ON THE COVER

J.B. Shepard’s pet portraits bring out the personality in each of the subjects he shoots.

By Jane Marion

—Costume Design and Styling by J.B. Shepard/The Puptrait Studio

Local photographer J.B. Shepard didn’t set out to become a pet portraitist. For years, Shepard was shooting what he says were “edgy, darker” portraits of people. But when a friend who had a Great Dane who was dying of cancer wanted a final photograph of her beloved Thunder Bear before he died, she commissioned a portrait.

“She told me that everyone was doing these girly, flowery things with dogs,” he recalls. “It just wasn’t her vibe, so she asked me to photograph Thunder Bear.”

The result was a haunting image of an all-black, sinewy dog sitting on a bright yellow sofa in silhouette. The tumor is visible on the dog’s forepaw as it dangles off the sofa.

Years later, it’s one of the many provocative images in the award-winning artist’s Woodberry studio. After that one gig led to many jobs, the lifelong dog lover started his photography business, Puptrait, in 2015.

Through the years, Shepard’s signature style has evolved into putting some sort of costume on the canines, which he says adds to the energy and helps capture the essence of each dog. The costumes themselves, usually a hat or a so-called “ruff” collar (meant to mimic an Elizabethan-style collar), are handmade and crafted from found and recycled materials, including junk mail, newspapers, and cardboard boxes.

“Usually when you’re talking to a dog, they are listening to your commands or waiting there for you to give them a treat, and you end up with these expressions that are very removed,” notes Shepard. “One of the great things about these costumes is that we pull them out of that mindset—it gives them something to interact with that isn’t us.”

Do some of the dogs object to the costumes? Of course. But Shepard says he can often capture the pup in that split second the hat or collar is secured—and he never forces the issue.

From Chihuahuas to Labs, he’ll shoot any breed, though Staffordshires and pit bulls are favorites. “They’re just so durable and have people-sized heads,” he says, “so you can just take a hat and some glasses and put it on there and it stays.”

While the artist is passionate about his work, the one downside is dealing with subjects that are so ephemeral.

“The one thing that never gets any easier is that all the dogs are eventually gone,” says Shepard, “but you know that’s part of the gig.”

The legacy of these pop culture pets live on.

BENJAMIN “BEN” MOORE

Ace Hardware

Ben was a greeter and mouser at Ace in Waverly for 14 years. The late feline was given a retirement party in 2023. Hundreds attended.

SNAKES

Dr. Howard Kelly

A founding physician at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, the gynecologist was also an expert on exotic snakes, which he kept in his home library.

FRANK

H.L. Mencken

Menken kept a pony outside his Hollins Street home. The Shetland once put his head through an open window to eat ice cream left on a sill.

FRANK

Frederick Douglass

Douglass had a bullmastiff named Frank. The dog allegedly died of grief a few weeks after the abolitionist’s death on Feb. 20, 1895.

CATTARINA

Edgar Allan Poe

“The Black Cat” writer had a tortoiseshell cat who sat on his shoulders when he wrote. She lived with him from 1844 until his death in 1849.

OLLI AND FERNIE

Jesse Sandlin

These Juliana pigs share an East Baltimore rowhome with chef Jesse Sandlin. They have their own bedroom on the second floor.

KILLER CAT

Hampden

This tabby who prowled Hampden’s Avenue had his own Instagram account and raised money for BARC’s animal shelter. He is immortalized on a saltbox.

TUCKER BALTIMOORE

Wes Moore

The Maryland governor has an adorable gray rescue shih-poo who can be seen playing, peeing, and fetching at Government House in Annapolis.

HERMAN

Port of Baltimore

As an expert mouser, this gray cat was a favorite feline at the Port of Baltimore. He held a U.S. Coast Guard ID in 1943, with a pawprint in place of a fingerprint.

Source

Video: Behind the Scenes at Orioles’ Pet Photo Shoot

Meredith Herzing — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 15:52:00 +0000

Source

The Ultimate Pet Guide

Jess Mayhugh — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Sure, Baltimore has always been a great place for people, but lately it’s really gone to the dogs—and cats, and ferrets, and finches, too. Witness the boom in first-rate dog obedience schools, self-serve dog washes, doggie day care centers, bustling dog parks, and AKC-worthy groomeries. With that in mind, our pet primer aims to help you find everything you and your little buddy need—from organic oat grass for your tabby, to the perfect playdate spot for your pug, to a first-rate obedience class for your (mischievous) malamute. Read on, and happy tails!

GROOMERS & SPAS

Bark ‘n Bean, 130 Hillsmere Dr., 410-268-7387. We’d be hard pressed to find a cuter concept than the one behind Bark ‘n Bean—a coffee bar and dog wash all in one. This dog wash is both self-serve and full-serve, and no appointment is necessary. You can do-it-yourself with one of four easy-to-use wash systems or leave the washing, drying, combing, and ear cleaning to one of the pros and sit back and enjoy a Café Cubano (as well as free Wi-Fi access) under this Annapolis shop’s private label in the coffee bar or adjacent lounge, where you can also shop for unique pet products.

Fells Point Pet Center, 1916 Fleet St., 410-276-2433. The best human stylists have a way of connecting with their clients—and that’s true of dog groomers as well. At Fells Point Pet Center, groomer Diane Wallace (who has groomed several first-place American Kennel Club and Eukanuba champions) understands that getting beautified can be a stressful experience for your pet. To ensure the experience is a pleasant one, a single session can take up to six hours with plenty of naptime, walking breaks, and TLC in between bathing, shearing, and blow-drying sessions.

The Groomery, 1619 Sulgrave Ave., 410-367-3647. Human hair salons have come and gone in the village of Mt. Washington, but The Groomery—open for grooming since 1986—has stood the test of time. Owner Kathy Phillips runs her shop like an old-fashioned business. She doesn’t have a website, she doesn’t take credit cards, and she doesn’t use any of the new-fangled equipment you see at more frou-frou shops, but she works wonders with hand scissors, a blow dryer, and the knowledge that a Portuguese water dog has different needs than a Lhasa apso. Phillips’s fans include Nest magazine editor/former Baltimore resident Joseph Holtzman, who commuted from Manhattan for years so Phillips could groom his standard poodle, Guido.

Pampered Paws Salon, 203 Old Padonia Rd., 410-628-7055. Donna Weiner’s groomery is set inside a charming old, yellow clapboard house with pink and white zinnias spilling out of window boxes. Everyone feels at home here, and dog owners (including WBAL-TV anchorwoman Marianne Banister with her King Charles Cavalier, Kelsey) linger to catch up on their canines or eat a Hershey’s Kiss out of the crystal candy dish. Groomers Beth Bachran and Kelly Ingman—who have nearly 50 years of experience between them—hand fluff and hand dry every dog, and treat every furry customer like their own.

Scrub-a-Dub Dog, 5909 Falls Rd., 443-919-7909. Giving a dog a bath can be a full contact sport, but the days of wrestling your bull mastiff into the kitchen sink are behind you with this newly opened dog wash in Mt. Washington. Self-serve washing and blow-drying stations, plus stacks of towels and disposable aprons, help make washing your dog hassle free. Scrub-a-Dub also sells a unique line of Uppity Puppy spa shampoos, Revitalize doggie vitamin waters, William Wegman-designed dog beds, and a doggie treadmill for those down days when Rover wants exercise, and you don’t. Send in a photo of your grubby dog for the dubious honor of winning the monthly “Dirty Dog” contest. (The winner gets a free makeover!)

Wash the Wag, 3508-3510 Harford Rd., 410-366-PAWS. At Wash the Wag, you can stop by for a self-serve pet wash, a lion cut for your cat, or a cutting edge ‘do for your poodle from one of several experienced groomers. But the experts at this year-old Lauraville-area shop also aim to shower you with useful information on what to do when your tabby has itchy skin or which holistic supplements add luster to your dog’s coat. This dog wash is also one of the few we’ve found with a special hydrotherapy bathing unit for thick-coated dogs or dogs with skin conditions.

KENNELS/DOGGIE DAY CARE

Best Friends Fur Ever, 1009 Philadelphia Rd., 410-671-7529. With an acre-and-a-half area for swimming, sunning, and sniffing; large indoor areas with radiant heated floors; and a caring, dedicated staff, Best Friends Fur Ever is the kind of day care center and boarding facility your dog will never want to leave. With a 24/7 on-site manager, Best Friends is also one of the few outlets in the area that boards geriatric dogs, many of whom are often turned away by other kennels because of their special needs (be it incontinence issues or requiring middle-of-the-night medication). It’s nice to know that when it says forever—er, furever—it means it.

Camp Bow Wow, 7165 Oakland Mills Rd., 410-964-BARK. Just opened in August, this day care and overnight boarding facility in Columbia is one of 90 Camp Bow Wows across the country (and the first in Maryland). Playtime prevails in spacious indoor and outdoor play areas supervised by one of Camp Bow Wow’s certified camp “counselors” trained in dog behavior, pet first aid, and CPR. Overnight accommodations include comfy, cozy cabins with sleeping cots and a fleece blanket, a frozen peanut-butter-filled Kong campfire treat, and classical music to lull your lovey to sleep. Joys of modern technology alert: A high-speed webcam allows you to check up on your little guy anytime, day or night.

Cat Hospital of Towson (CHAT), 6701 York Rd., 410-377-7900. At CHAT, one of the few feline exclusive veterinary and boarding facilities in the Baltimore area (and the U.S. as a whole), staffers understand that cats are not small dogs but their own unique furry beings. “Cats have different needs and different personalities, and that’s what we focus on and celebrate,” says Dr. Jane Brunt, owner of CHAT. Located inside a 1920s colonial home, the bark-free atmosphere is so cozy, your cats will be purring in no time as they enjoy a sleepover filled with plenty of playtime (think catnip pillows, mylar sparkler teaser toys), brushing, and healthy treats. Other options include medically supervised boarding and nutritional and behavioral counseling.

Charm City Dogs, 401 N. Gay St., 410-637-3647. Charm City Dogs operates more like a preschool than a pet day care center. There are two cage-free playground areas filled with brightly colored Little Tykes toys, a time-out area for those in need of a little downtime, and a dry erase board with every dog’s name to help keep all the details (medicine, snacks, bathroom times) straight. Owner David Crowther greets his furry charges by name, and thanks to a focus on socializing, your canine will be as dog-tired as you are at the end of each day. Don’t expect to receive that annual goofy preschool picture, though. Instead, three webcams enable you to get your Fluffy fix in real time as you procrastinate over that pile of paperwork.

Good Doggie Day Care, 3500 Ash St., 410-889-3031. What is it about Good Doggie Day Care that makes clients so happy? Is it the ultra-professional staff? (Owner Jo Anne Garrett, a former accountant and Peabody classical ballet teacher, favors hiring women 40-plus who have raised children.) Is it the playtime periods with loads of great toys in more than 9,600 square feet of space? Is it the ridiculously inexpensive pick-up and drop-off van service ($4 from Hampden to Federal Hill, for instance)? Is it because the center is so spotless it could double as the Board of Health headquarters? All of the above, no doubt, but we think it’s the puppy love that exudes from every corner of this cheerful, wonderful place.

Reisterstown Boarding Kennel Pet Resort and Spa, 14454 Hanover Rd., 410-833-2090. Feeling guilty about that upcoming vacation to Tahiti while your furry friend stays home? At Reisterstown Boarding Kennel (RBK) your cat or dog can enjoy a little R and R time, too. The choices are endless, from visiting the indoor heated pool (for aquatic conditioning or therapeutic swimming) and great grooming services (coat conditioning, a facial and paw scrub) for your dog, to playtime with toy mice, scratching posts, and bird watching for your cat. “Room” upgrades are also available. (The Taj Mapaw suite is our personal favorite with a color television and plush bed for your pooch or a four-level “townhouse” with a handmade oak bed from Maine for your feline.) But whatever your wallet, every RBK guest is treated like a V.I.P. (That’s Very Important Pet!)

PET STORES & SPECIALTY SHOPS

Bark, 5805 Clarksville Square Dr., 443-535-0200. Lots of pet food stores say they carry natural or organic products, but at Bark, all products—including humanely sourced, free-range meats; high-quality natural skincare products (homeopathic flea and bug bite ointment); and non-toxic toys—are carefully screened to exacting standards. There’s something for all the pets in your household, too, from natural wheat cat litter and farm-fresh oat grass to preservative-free finch food to organic chinchilla chow. Another reason to celebrate: Bark is situated on one of the healthiest blocks in Clarksville—aptly known as the “Conscious Corner”—where owners Jeff Kaufman and Jody Cutler also own an organic market (Roots), a natural green cuisine restaurant (Sage), and an earth-friendly clothing store (Nest).

dogma—life, with your pet, 3600 Boston St., 410-276-3410. Thanks to this Brewer’s Hill boutique, becoming a pet owner doesn’t have to mean your sense of style has gone to the dogs. Owners Scott Stanton and Virginia Byrnes carefully select every product on their shelves, including “Who’s your doggie?” onesies, handmade snowflake sweaters, natural dye chew toys, collars and leashes from preppy (pink-and-green polka dot) to punk (leather and spikes), and more than 200 upholstery fabrics so that Fido’s boudoir bed can coordinate with yours. Finally, your dog can be as fabulous as you are. (Bonus: Dogma groomer Linda Burton is one of the best in the biz!)

Howl, 3531 Chestnut Ave., 410-235-2469. Recent FDA recalls on tainted pet-food products remind us that pet owners need to be more informed than ever these days. At Hampden’s Howl, owner Robin McDonald and her expert staff of animal lovers will guide you through the well-stocked aisles of affordable, organic, grain-free dog foods and healthy, high-quality, filler-free cat foods. It feels good to be an educated consumer.

Lucky Lucy’s Canine Cafe, 1126 S. Charles St., 410-837-2121. Don’t go to Lucky Lucy’s Canine Café on an empty stomach or you’ll be tempted to try one of their home-baked, peanut-butter crabs and cats, chicken-and-cheese squirrels, mini chicken fire-hydrant treats, or bone-shaped banana bread birthday cakes. (For the record, they’re for your dog, not you.) Truth be told, owner Nancy Dixon, who was in the human food business for 15 years, bakes most goodies on the premises of her Federal Hill shop, and, with human-grade ingredients—including unsalted butter, nonfat milk, cheddar cheese, peanut butter, and chicken stock—there’s no reason you can’t have a nibble. Just no begging at the table.

Paws Pet Boutique, 64 State Cir., 410-263-8683. Located in the heart of Annapolis, this Best of Annapolis 2007 winner has it all—Go Navy dog collars, breast-cancer-awareness leashes, organic crab-shaped catnip toys, and animal-themed apparel, jewelry, and gift items such as baseball caps embroidered with basset hounds. But the best part of this shop (which was featured in the Sarah Jessica Parker movie Failure to Launch) is that husband-and-wife owners Michelle and Larry Ullrich-Kownacki are extremely community minded and support numerous canine causes including the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Emergency Guide Dog Fund. High paws all around.

Pet Depot, 2151 Greenspring Dr., 410-561-0931. In a business distinguished by chi-chi boutiques with items that are borderline ridiculous (does Rover really need a gold lamé, monogrammed carrying case?) and mega-warehouses long on volume and short on quality (how many squirrel-shaped plastic chew toys can you throw out in one year?), Pet Depot strikes the perfect balance. The place is big, but not too big, and its merchandise is both fanciful and functional. In addition to a full line of quality products for cats and dogs (and first-rate obedience classes), Pet Depot has a huge selection for every conceivable kind of creature—alfalfa nibble sticks for rabbits, birdseed for cockatiels, and skin and coat supplements for the family ferret. Also, check out the hydrotherapy pool for Fido—the perfect recreation for your four-legged Michael Phelps.

Pretentious Pooch, 1017 Cathedral St., 443-524-7777. When nothing but the best is good enough for your BFF (best furry friend), head to Pretentious Pooch for exclusive, one-of-a-kind splurges you just won’t find anywhere else. (In fact, if you do, owners Christopher Lee Woodside and Tom Berger are apt to stop carrying it.) Swarovski crystal collars, 24-karat gold-rimmed monogrammed doggie dishes, Italian cashmere coats, a full line of Isle of Dog spa products, and an assortment of other over-the-top accessories (amassed from more than 200 outlets) will make your dog the most pampered pooch on the block. What recession?

PARKS

Gunpowder State Park, 877-620-8DNR. Spanning about 18,000 acres across Baltimore and Harford counties and with many miles of trails, the hiking opportunities are limitless inside Gunpowder State Park. Enjoy a moderate hike with sloping hills and valleys along the Jerusalem Village trail if you have a small dog or, if you really want to take a hike, cross the border with your Border collie into Pennsylvania on the Northern Central Railroad Trail (now known as the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail).

Hannah More Park, 12035 Reisterstown Rd., 410-887-1142. A cautionary “tail”: Hannah More’s new Baltimore Animal Recreation Center (B.A.R.C.) is the only sanctioned off-leash park in Baltimore County, so unless you want to risk heavy fines, this is your only chance to let Rover roam free. The B.A.R.C. Park includes a one-and-a-half-acre park for large dogs and a three-quarter-acre park for small dogs with water fountains as well as plenty of wide-open grassy spaces to play games of fetch and tug-of-war. Annual dues are $25.

Meadowood Regional Park, Falls and Greenspring Valley Rds., 410-887-3678. This Baltimore County Park is an ideal place to strut your mutt if you like knowing exactly how far you’ve walked without using a pedometer. Each well-paved loop is about a quarter-mile long, with clean bathrooms, vending machines and water fountains to slake your thirst, a fresh supply of pooper-scooper bags, and a small tributary to the Gywnns Falls just deep enough for cooling those tired dogs (yours and the four-legged variety).

Oregon Ridge, 13555 Beaver Dam Rd., 410-887-1815. For a wide range of trails and bucolic beauty, it’s hard to beat the 10 trails of Oregon Ridge Park winding through 1,100 acres. Not much in the way of paved paths here. Think rugged beauty, white-tailed deer, red fox, and some hills so steep, hearty Baltimore denizens have been known to ski here in the winter. Need something short for your Shih Tzu or more substantial for your shepherd? All trails are connected, so you can go under a mile or as many as you like on the site of this old iron-ore mining village.

Quiet Waters Dog Park, 600 Quiet Waters Park Rd., 410-222-1777. This Anne Arundel County Park, nestled between the South River and Harness Creek, has something for everyone, including 340 acres of open woodland space, six miles of paved hiking trails, two enclosed dog parks, and a designated dog beach for the doggie paddler in your family. The park, which sponsors dog-friendly seasonal events such as the annual Howl-O-Ween Barkin’ Bash, also has all the amenities that can make an outing more pleasant—an abundance of poop bags, trash cans, water fountains, pet rinsing stations, and clean bathrooms for when you’re the one whose gotta go. Closed in the winter (Nov. to March) and on Tuesdays.

TRAINERS

4 Paws Pet Services, 410-321-PUPS. When it comes to dog trainers, Joy Freedman is as pedigreed as they come. A dog behaviorist and obedience instructor for 12 years, she studied at the National Institute of Dog Training and, last year, when Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan came to the Hippodrome, Freedman was the only area trainer personally selected by Millan to assist on stage. Freedman—who writes the “Ask the Trainer” column for Baltimore Dog Magazine and makes expert appearances on local radio and television—is a behavioral specialist who recognizes the different learning styles of dogs. “If I’m trying to treat a jumping issue, I’m not going to treat a husky in the same way I’m going to treat a chihuahua,” she says. Makes sense to us.

All Star Canine at The Maryland SPCA, 3300 Falls Rd., 410-235-8826. No one understands the need for a well-trained pet better than the Maryland SPCA, which receives about 2,000 unwanted dogs a year. “Our training focuses on how to live with your pet,” says executive director Aileen Gabbey. “The goal is, ‘How can we keep you from driving us crazy so we don’t end up giving you away?'” The SPCA has a number of classes taught by expert professionals, including puppy play groups, a six-week doggie basics class, and a free Saturday morning Positive Pooch class for owners who adopt a dog from the SPCA.

Angela Mowry, 16511 St. Mary’s Church Rd., 301-928-6686. Traveling professional dog trainer and behaviorist Angela Mowry, who serves all of Maryland (including the Eastern Shore) and Virginia, has trained police dogs and worked in high-end competitions. She has taken on the hardest cases out there: obedience school dropouts and shelter dogs that were scheduled to be euthanized for aggression. So, needless to say, she’ll have no problem taking on your little guy, whether he’s an excessive barker, furniture chewer, or fence jumper.

B-More Charming School for Dogs, 443-825-1414. Like electrical appliances, a new dog should come with an operating manual, but the next best thing (and maybe even easier to understand) is the B-More Charming School at Howl in Hampden. Co-owners Lauren Bond (whose experience includes therapy dog training, and aggressive behavior issues) and Carolyn Stromer (a former professional dolphin trainer at the National Aquarium in Baltimore) are up on the latest scientific methods to teach new behaviors and break bad habits. Classes and seminars include: Puppy Kindergarten, Basic and Advanced Obedience, and for those who really want to impress their friends, Parlor Tricks.

Rachel Lachow, Positively Obedient, 410-833-4844. Dogs don’t just go fetch for certified pet and dog trainer Rachel Lachow. They ring bells to signal they want to go outside or swim to the steps of a swimming pool instead of flailing in the shallow end. In fact, dogs are so obedient around the soft-spoken Lachow that conspiracy theorists believe she wears meat-scented perfume. The truth? After 28 years as a dog trainer, Lachow is just doggone good at her job. She sees the potential in every pet and helps train us to be better pet owners.

PET WALKERS

Canine to Five, 410-375-9202. The motto for this pet-sitting service, serving Harford County, Baltimore City, and Baltimore County, is “We sit, we walk, we fetch for you.” Canine to Five does all that and so much more. Services include pet sitting (includes walking, feeding, playing, paw cleaning), pet walking, veterinary visits, home delivery of pet supplies, and even housesitting. Owner Chrissy Wohltmann has a loyal customer base of retirees, corporate types, and young moms who need a pinch hitter to lead their pack.

Dog House Girls, 410-276-1284. Entrusting your dog (or cat, or bird) not to mention your house keys and alarm code to a stranger can be tricky. Dog House Girls takes all the worry out of going to work or on vacation. Rates are reasonable ($12 for a 30-minute walk), the staff is dedicated and friendly, and the hours are incredibly flexible (7 a.m. to 11 p.m., 365 days a year). Dog House founder Pauline Houliaras is a true pet lover with a great resume: She has a graduate degree in clinical psychology from Loyola (comes in handy for discerning the difference between tail wags and ones tucked between the legs) and is vice president of the Canton Dog Park, which she also helped found.

Gotta Go Pet Sitting, 410-483-4853. With eight pet children of her own (five dogs, two cats, and a horse), we’re amazed that Gotta Go’s Jenny Hildebrand has time for sleeping, let alone time to own and operate a first-rate pet-sitting service on top of her work as a part-time veterinary technician with Stevenson Village Vets. Hildebrand, who primarily services Baltimore County, lovingly tends to your dog or cat, writes a detailed daily diary, and offers personalized service, whether it’s canine car service to the groomer or a rousing game of Frisbee with your Lab.

Luv My Pet, 410-685-6939. The last thing you want at the end of your work day is to find that your flokati living-room rug has been soiled beyond repair, or, even worse, to look into the excitable eyes of your raring-to-go puppy and feel guilty that you weren’t around to play tug of war all day. For dependable dog walking or pet sitting 365 days a year, call Luv My Pet, covering Owings Mills to Federal Hill. Luv My Pet owner Jeff Rothschild is a former Morgan Stanley financial adviser who turned in his briefcase for biodegradable poop bags. Rothschild will do one-on-one walks or match your pup to a play group. He comes highly recommended by local day care centers, vets, and high-end condo concierges.

Walk the Dog, 410-366-0400. When Walk the Dog co-owner Molly Doherty walks a city street, it’s not uncommon for her to bump into one of her many satisfied customers. “The dogs will wag their tails at me,” says Doherty, “and then I have to introduce myself to their owners!” While Doherty and her cohorts—including co-owners Julie Benoit and Kelly Zimmerman—walk up to 200 dogs a day, Walk the Dog maintains a customized approach to pet sitting, whether you need a slower-paced walk for an older animal or someone to look after your cat while you’re away. Walk the Dog is one of the premiere go-to pet-sitting services in the city and is known for its reliable staff and philosophy of taking care of all members of the family. (Doherty has even been known to unplug that curling iron left in the “on” position.)

Extreme Puppy Love
Can You Dote on Your Pet Too Much?

When Evan Feinberg, a veterinarian for Pikeville’s Stevenson Village Veterinary Hospital, was a graduate student, he treated a dachshund that arrived in a baby stroller because it was too fat to walk.
“She was a sweet lady, and I’m sure she meant well,” says Feinberg of the dog’s owner. “But especially when it comes to obesity, it’s always so much about the owner. This is definitely an area where you can love your dog too much. More food does not necessarily equal love.”
Dogs have long been known as man’s best friend, but can that love go too far? Is all that puppy love really what’s best for your dog?
“Dogs are babied way too much,” says Adam Goldfarb, an issues specialist with The Humane Society of the United States. “They are pushed in strollers and carried in purses. This is reflective of a larger problem of people treating their dogs not as dogs, but as fashion accessories.”
The ironic part is, dogs actually prefer a little discipline and structure, say experts. “You’ve got to have the dog work for things,” advises Allison Nozemack, a training and behavior manager for the Maryland SPCA. “Nothing in life is free. You have to make them sit for a treat or sit for attention. They need to learn to defer to you, and if they don’t, they have lost their place in the family. You have to instill that you are the leader, and if all you do is lavish them with attention, you are doing the dog a huge disservice. It’s just like having a spoiled child.”
Trainer Joy Freedman of 4 PAWS Pet Services concurs. “People discipline their children,” says Freedman, “yet they treat their dogs like stuffed animals, letting the dog run all over them. Something you would never put up with from your kids, you put up with from your dog. People will say, ‘My dog jumps all the time,’ but you either want it to jump or not. If you don’t, it has to be taught that sitting on someone’s lap is by invitation only.”
Freedman believes that extreme indulgence can actually be harmful to your pet’s health. “A dog’s total dependence on you can actually be bad for them,” says Freedman. “There are people who take their dogs everywhere. I know people who don’t go on trips because they don’t want to leave their dog in the house or with a pet sitter. The more the dog depends on you, the less healthy and capable it is.”
What are some of the warning signs to look out for? “If your dog is growling at your husband when you’re in bed, that’s ridiculous,” says Nozemack. “Put the dog in the dog bed. The problems are often human driven—we create these little monsters by what we do.” —JM

Pit Crew
More and more shelters are filling up with pit bulls. But are they safe to adopt?

Last spring, Baltimore County speech therapist Dana Schnepf fell in love with Taos, a seven-year-old pit bull up for adoption at the Maryland SPCA. Unlike many pits who end up in shelters because they have been abandoned or who have become too much for their owners to handle, Taos came from a good home and was known for his sweet temperament. Schnepf, who lives with her mother in Owings Mills, was all set to adopt Taos and brought her mother to meet the dog before completing the adoption process.
“Everyone got along fine,” recalls Schnepf, “but my mom is a tiny person, and she was intimidated by his size and how big his head and mouth were. She said if I wanted to get him I could, but she’d never feel comfortable with him in the house. I couldn’t do that to her.”
Schnepf found an Australian cattle dog at The Baltimore Humane Society that she thought she could learn to love, but it just wasn’t the same. “After we left the shelter,” recalls Schnepf, “my mother told me that if I thought Taos was the right fit for our family then she would not stop me from adopting him. She was willing to give him a try.”
A few days later, Schnepf brought Taos home. It didn’t take long before Taos ingratiated himself with the whole family. “Now my mom loves him!” says Schepf. “I catch her giving him little pieces of steak and cutting the fat off for him. I had the same stereotypical view of pits, and now my friends who know Taos say, ‘I could see getting a pit bull.’ I’m glad to think Taos has helped change that perception.”

Revere them or fear them, there is no breed of dog that evokes a stronger reaction than the pit bull. The fear is understandable, given the history of these dogs. Historically, pit bulls were bred for the Elizabethan blood sports of bull and bear baiting. Modern-day versions of that—pit-to-pit combat—occur clandestinely in basements and backyards across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a report stating that pit bulls were responsible for more dog
bite-related attacks than any other breed during a 20-year period.
Having been banned from some area counties (including Prince George’s County), and left to languish in shelters, pit bulls have become the ultimate underdog. “We had one potential adopter who came to meet one of our dogs,” says Bonnie Hurwitz, founder of the Baltimore-based Adopt a Homeless Animal Rescue, a group dedicated to helping pit bull terriers and mixed breeds find “forever homes.” “She was kissing him and everything and really seemed to connect, and then when a friend said something about the dog being a pit bull, she left almost indignant that we were trying to adopt out this dog.”
The plight of the pit is often a sad one, although it wasn’t always so. “If you go back in history, Anne Frank’s dog was a pit,” says trainer Joy Freedman. “Petey from Little Rascals was a pit bull. Through history, they have been known as extraordinarily good dogs. They are easy to train, but if they are fearful, they become aggressive. They are one of the sweetest, smartest breeds, but with all the inbreeding, they have become so foreign to who they really are.”
At Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS), the majority of dogs are pit bulls and pit bull mixes. “Pit bulls are what’s left sitting in our shelter,” says Mead, BARCS’s executive director. “The other dogs get adopted out.” At BARCS, where they get 12,000 animals a year, pits are the most frequently euthanized breed. “It’s a shame because they are absolutely wonderful animals and we’ve had great success in adopting them out,” says Mead. “We call them our ‘wiggle butts.'”
City Paper managing editor Erin Sullivan helped found her own awareness group, B-More Dog, as a reaction to Baltimore County legislation in the fall of 2007, which would have required pits to be muzzled in public at all times and crated in concrete kennels even when in the owner’s backyard. Although the legislation did not pass, “We thought, ‘Why stop the momentum?'” says Sullivan, who has owned pits for six years. “Let’s start promoting better ownership practices: Keep your dogs leashed in the parks, be careful around small children, get the dogs the exercise they need. Physiologically, they are no different than any other dog. There’s no locking jaw, no brain that outgrows their skull—these are myths.”
At the Maryland SPCA, the adoption process for pits and pit mixes is more stringent than for other dogs. The application is a two-day process during which the potential owner receives information about the breed as well as training tips and background information on a particular dog. “We have to correct the myth that these dogs are unfriendly with people,” says Kat Knauff, an admissions counselor for the Maryland SPCA. “but people do need to know they are a high-maintenance breed.”
Experts say that the key to pit bull ownership—as well as ownership of any dog—is knowing their needs. Sums up Sullivan, “I’d like to see the entire universe of dog owners up their game and be more responsible so that no one has to be the pariah in the dog park.” —JM

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