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When LilPeaPod came back from her adventure with Samson at the Worldwide Fido Awards, she told us all about the great staff at the Le Merigot – where she stayed while filming the show. I know some hotels have a "Pet-Friendly" policy, but aren't too friendly when you check in. Thankfully, that wasn't the case when she arrived:

I was very impressed with the staff of the Le Merigot Hotel in Santa Monica, who went out of their way to make us feel comfortable, and treated Samson like a king – it was definitely all about him while we were there. Our hostess at the hotel café even brought Samson some ice to chew on to cool him down in the heat! Needless to say, if we ever need a place to stay in Santa Monica, we'll be heading back to the Le Merigot.

I've stayed at a few W hotels (and North loved the doormen at the one in our old NYC neighborhood), where do you like to stay when traveling with your pet?

I've alluded to my fave home-away-from-home for my lil guy in other posts, but I've never taken the time to explain why I love it so much. First off, North's practically a celebripup at Pet Camp – I think his hyperactivity must be pretty impossible to forget! I always feel comfortable dropping him off there and I know he's having a blast.What's he doing you ask? He's scampering on artificial turf with a playground that rivals many parks for two-legged kids with slides, tunnels, and other equipment for him to explore. There's both a group and individual yards for friendly or friendless days on over 6,000 square feet of outdoor fun!

To find out what special treats they offer read more

I loved chatting with the charming contestants – and their peculiar pets – at the 2008 World's Ugliest Dog Competition. I was so excited to see the pooches that I nearly forgot all the other fair fun! From ferris wheels to funnel cake, there were plenty of things to keep me occupied 'til showtime. See the Sonoma-Marin Fair through my eyes . . . leading up to Gus's big moment in the sun! Enjoy!

Of all the wild events offered across the country, I've always wanted to attend the Santa Barbara Dog Parade and Canine Festival! Held on the first weekend of June of each year, it's one of the largest dog parades in the country bringing animal lovers and families from all over the U.S. to southern California to show off their stuff. All the pictures make it look like a blast!

Proceeds from this annual event go towards the Big Dog Foundation, a non-profit that has helped raise millions of dollars for dog-friendly charities like search-and-rescue teams and animal sanctuaries. Lucky for us, Renees3 brought B-Bop and doggie BFF, Qi to this event earlier this month, adorably dressed as Mark Anthony and Cleopatra – and shared her pictures with us! Check them out, and let me know about any fun canine festivals in your area, too.

To see the rest of the images, read more

One of Santa's little helpers at this year's Petchitecture event was Michael Cunningham, owner of one of my fave pet shops here in the city, Babies. He donated tons of tasty treats to please the furry guests, and buckets of goodies for the silent auction that brought in much needed funds for the Pets are Wonderful Support (PAWS), a volunteer-based organization that provides for the comprehensive needs of companion animals for low-income persons with HIV/AIDS, other disabling illnesses, and senior citizens. Since I dig his store (and his big heart), I thought I would give you a tour at Babies' brand new location at Laguna and Linden in the hip Hayes Valley area of San Francisco.

While I was there, I picked Michael's brain about some of the hottest trends of the upcoming summer season, his dog food of choice, and his fave celeb pets. To find out what he had to say, and to take a photo tour of the shop, just read more

Only fitting so close to Mother's Day that we feature our fave celebrity (dog) mommy. R-Bils brought her very special pooch to a very special shop in LA yesterday, K9 Loft. Looks like her lil pup got groomed up nicely and even sports a new bandana on his scruffly neck. Learn about this facility (and see adoro piccys) when you read more