out and about

I've made my way to Vancouver a number of times, by train and by car, and I have to say it's one of my favorite cities and is always a pleasure to visit. From their fab Stanley Park to amazing shopping (especially on Robson St.), really makes for a cool city to spend some time wandering around in. To me, Vancouver always seemed to be ahead of the trends when it came to sustainable living, and now, they are on point to start another trend for condo and apartment living: decks made for your pups built right into luxury apartments!

A 33-story high rise dubbed The Beasley, located in the trendy Yaletown district of downtown Vancouver, has a number of standard amenities that you would come to expect in any new development including a gym, meeting area, and outdoor patios for bbq's, but it's definitely the first of its kind dog deck that sets it apart from other surrounding high rises. To hear more about the unique feature, just read more

Well, well, well, the Sugar gang wasn't the only pack to recently travel to LA – a pair of African Wild dogs are now calling the Los Angeles Zoo home! The striking brother and sister duo are just over a year old and have spent the past month getting used to their new home after coming all the way from NY's Bronx Zoo. Learn why their presence is so special (and see another piccy) when you read more

My time in LA would not be complete without a fab party, yummy cupcakes . . . and pressies for North! My fave store I visited was Beverly Hills' Doggie Styles – not only was everyone super friendly (including the in-store Frenchie and Boxer) but they had some super-cute pet gear to boot. Now it's much chillier up in the Bay than in SoCal so when I saw this black velour hoodie ($39), I couldn't resist bringing it home for North's nighttime walks. See a couple more shots of North (even with the hood up!) when you read more

I've made no secret of my love for cupcakes so during my weekend in LA, Sprinkles was a must stop. With 20 (people) flavors, I was like a kid in a candy cupcake shop. And how sweet is it that they actually make puppy cupcakes with yogurt or carob frosting?! I was hoping a dog would wander by so I could buy him this treat and take his piccy while he enjoyed it . . . but, despite all the dogs I saw around Beverly Hills, there didn't happen to be any wandering down the street that morning. Boo. I knew this cupcake wouldn't make it home in my suitcase for North, but a new location will be opening at Stanford Shopping Center this summer, so I'll be able to drive down to the peninsula and pick up a cupcake for my pooch then!

Late last week I got an urgent phone call from a close college friend. She was in LA on her move back from Colombia leaving that evening on her way to DC for work. Her continent-crossing pittie, Baby, is (obvs) too big for clothes for the pocket-sized pups but she was worried about the warm-weather doggie getting too chilly and wanted to pick up a sweatshirt for the trip. She didn't have the time to order one of these fun hoodies I found so I immediately thought of the best store to send her to — The D.O.G. Boutique (that's the dee-oh-gee, for those in the know).

A few hours later, I got a happy text from her when she was sitting in the airport – hooray! Not only was the saleswoman super sweet, they found an awesome pink hoodie at this West Hollywood outpost. D.O.G.'s online store doesn't even hit half of their cool products so, if you're in LA, definitely check out this store!

For a family of snow bunnies, why should Fido sit out? Meet skijoring: a winter sport where the (intermediate level) cross-country skier is pulled over the snow by a dog. With a name coming from the Inuit word for “Let’s Go,” Atii Sled Dogs will evaluate any breed that weighs at least 35 pounds and likes to run. Dress warmly and bring (or rent) your XC skis, and the Mad River Valley, Vt. company will provide all the skijoring gear and two-hour lessons for $100 per person-dog combo. Curious where to stay – and other fun, local activities in Vermont – read more

Celebrate animals this weekend at the Seventh Annual Arizona Animal Fair! One of the largest events of its kind in the Southwest, the fest takes place in Tucson's Reid Park this Saturday from 10-4 p.m. Entry is free and all proceeds from the entertainment, food, and other activities go back to the animal-rescue community. Make your furry friend a star with Puppy Pawcasso or Glamour Paws Pet Photography, or get a holistic opinion with pet blessings and pet-psychic readings. There will also be a super adoption area with hundreds of available animals and rescue groups for everything from burros to birds, reptiles to rats. Even if you're not in the market for a new pet (and Fido and Fluffy have other plans), among the demonstrations going on will be canine freestyle, rescue dogs, and the Miniature Horse Association's "Petite Elite," showing off their powerful pulling skills for their little sizes.

Click here to share your own tips with PetSugar's Out and About travel group — and stay tuned as our week of Arizona continues!

Founded by a Russian Orthodox nun in 1965, The Hermitage Cat Shelter started out with about 50 cats as lifetime residents. When Sister Seraphim entered a nursing home in 1989, a board of directors took over the management and began adopting out the cats. The shelter is now both an adoption center and a sanctuary for special-needs cats, including those who are FIV and FeLV positive and cats with other chronic health and behavioral problems such as partial paralysis, neurological problems, blindness, deafness, missing limbs, and diabetes. This shelter is the state's first no-kill, no-cage sanctuary that helps even those felines that are not considered adoptable by other organizations. It's comprised of 4,000 square feet indoors and an additional 4,000 square feet of fenced-in, covered, outdoor play space for those fresh-air kitties.

Click here to share your own tips with PetSugar's Out and About travel group — and stay tuned as our week of Arizona continues!

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Baton Rouge's Cat Haven has one of the largest feral programs in the area. Even though they were just established in 1999, they have already trapped, neutered, and adopted or released almost 3,000 kitties! This process not only helps limit the numbers of wild cats in the area but can also save hundreds of kittens each year from a future life outdoors by transferring them into the haven's adoption program at a young age. Cat Haven also offers a Fix-a-Feline program to aid area families that want to have their pet spayed or neutered, but cannot afford the procedure — through it, they have applications and certificates awarded each month to pet owners in need. This, along with their feral cat program, hopes to limit the number of cats that are in the wild, in shelters, or put to sleep each year.

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No trip to Nola is complete without at least a brief stop in the French Quarter – just thinking about the beignets and café au lait makes me drool. I definitely want to check out the classic Hotel Monteleone next time I travel there – this historic (haunted!) hotel has been pet-friendly since March 2007. In addition to decades of history and tradition, they now offer special pet treats and tips for your four-legged friends.

My other area favorite is the Loft 523, everything I wish my apt was . . . but, sadly, is not. Frette linens, glass and limestone dual-showerhead showers with separate Agape "spoon" tubs, it's the perfect place for me to blog away on a Herman Miller desk while little North rests at my feet.

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