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The New Barker Dog Magazine on the Radio Today.

Be sure to tune in to THE NEW BARKER edition of The Skip Show today between 1 and 2p EST. At 1:30 we’ll be discussing “he who shall remain nameless” and his new clothing line. Hint: football season is just around the corner, and the hype is on for the man who claims redemption for his “immature” behavior regarding dog fighting. Call in to give us your thoughts. Should we move on (he obviously has)? 727.441.3000. Or email Skip at skip@skipshow.com.

The New Barker dog magazine has been part of The SkipShow with CMA award-winning radio personality, Skip Mahaffey every Monday afternoon since July, 2011. We talk about all things dog, and add some dog-themed music to the mix. Sometimes, we are even able to stump Skip on our musical selection. Go to http://www.SkipShow.com and click onto the microphone to listen live on your computer.

What’s Your Name? Is It Bronco or Bronx?

My dog’s name is Tebow. No, it’s Bronco. No, wait a minute, it’s Bronx.
New York Jets quarterback and former Florida Gator QB, Tim Tebow is hard at work with his new teammates. But the real news, making headlines right now, is the fact that he changed the name of his dog from Bronco to Bronx. Some dog and football fans are concerned the Rhodesian Ridgeback could become confused, even sighting concerns on Twitter that Tebow is a bad dog owner. Some are weighing in, saying it’s cruel to change a dog’s name.

But, re-naming a dog is not an unusual occurrence. How many families have changed the name of their newly adopted dog after bringing him or her home from a shelter? Heck, dogs adapt to new names, just like football players adapt to new teams. For dogs, it’s love+food = adaptation. For football players it’s adulation+money = adaptation.

At least Tebow isn’t adding tattoos to his dog’s body a la LaDainian Tomlinson.

Confused dog? Let us know what you think. And while you ponder the question, we’ll leave you with this little ditty by Don and Juan. By the way, you haven’t lived until you’ve been serenaded by the love of your life with this beautiful classic, a cappella, no less. You had me at “shooby doo wap wa da.”

Art for the Sake of Dogs.

Grant, by artist Mark Barone. Spring, 2012 issue of The New Barker.
Over the last week, there have been two articles regarding the covers of national magazines. One appeared in last Sunday’s New York Times about celebrities and their babies. The article stated that the actor Matthew McConaughey received somewhere between $500,000 to $1 million to pose with his baby on the cover of OK! magazine. The magazine’s founder, Sarah Ivens Moffett had a clear idea what she wanted to see on the cover: a shirtless McConaughey, holding the baby, without the mother. McConaughey had quite another idea: Matthew, fully clothed, appeared along side Camila Alves, the baby’s mother and Levi, their two-year-old son.

The other article appeared in a recent ImPrint post about the rejected covers of The New Yorker magazine. The “uninhibited outtakes” have been collected for a new book, Blown Covers: New Yorker Covers You Were Never Meant To See” from Abrams Books. Francoise Mouly, The New Yorker’s art editor since 1993 says of the cover selection process, “Sometimes something is too provocative or too sexist or too racist, but it will inspire a line of thinking that will help develop an image that is publishable.” The full ImPrint article can be read here, but be forewarned – some of the images may be offensive.

Before Oprah started her magazine, research revealed that every other magazine title with Oprah’s image on the cover would sell out. That is one of the main reasons Oprah’s image always appears on the cover of O.

The first issue of The New Barker, 2006. Cover artwork by Florida artist, Sonja Quillen.
Every cover of The New Barker dog magazine has always featured an original piece of artwork by a Florida artist since its first issue printed in 2006. Selecting the artist for each cover is as much exhilarating as it is nerve-wracking, for the same reason: There is a wonderful pool of talent from which to choose. The New Barker dog magazine celebrates the art of dog® with each cover’s artwork. A simple philosophy, but not a simple process, by any means.

We deviated from this Florida pool of talent for the Spring, 2012 issue because we were particularly moved by one artist’s message. And, isn’t that what art is supposed to do? It can provoke a smile, a cry, or a laugh. Art can motivate one to take action, or at the very least, to take notice. That is not to say we have not been moved by every single artist whose work has graced the cover of The New Barker. Each piece of art has meant something to us in its own special way.

The second issue of The New Barker, Spring, 2007. Cover artwork by Florida artist, Michelle Mardis.
Art is subjective, and we’re reminded of that by our readers with every cover. In fact, the artwork on the second issue of The New Barker elicited this response from a letter writer, “Why on earth did you put a boring black Lab on the cover of The New Barker?” Opinions. They’re like belly buttons. Every body has one.
Boo, a Corgi, appeared on the Summer, 2007 issue of The New Barker. The artwork was created by Pat Weaver.
Border Collie by June Allard/Berte. Summer 2008 cover of The New Barker.

The three covers that have generated the most response from readers so far, have featured a Pembroke Welsh Corgi by Pat Weaver, a Border Collie by June Allard/Berte, and a German Shepherd by Linda Chapman. Ms. Weaver is an internationally recognized watercolor artist. Ms. Allard/Berte is one of the country's foremost portraitists. Ms.Chapman's work has been widely collected and purchased by numerous museums, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. How fortunate to have them all as Florida artists.

The portrait of the Beagle on the Spring, 2012 issue is that of Grant. He was a Florida dog, who was euthanized in a Florida shelter. In our selection process, we reviewed several portraits by the artist Mark Barone, all Florida dogs who suffered the same fate as Grant. None of the portraits we reviewed in our selection process included Pit Bulls. While many Pit Bulls end up in animal shelters across Florida, we wanted to remind readers that other breeds are also available for adoption at shelters. Chihuahuas. Yorkies. Border Collies. German Shepherds. Corgis, Scotties, Poodles. And Beagles. Over the course of two years, Mark will be completing the portraits of 5500 dogs whose lives ended at a shelter. The project is called An Act of Dog. The number represents the approximate number of dogs euthanized in shelters across the United States – every single day.

The author, Alice Hoffman is quoted as saying, "Once you know some things, you can't unknow them. It's a burden that can never be given away." The New Barker has always been a lifestyle magazine, celebrating the beauty of all dogs, and our love for each of them. It is our editorial intent to leave the readers feeling good after reading each issue, and perhaps a little more informed. Two things I've learned for sure over the last six years: 1) publishing is not for the faint of heart; 2) trying to please everyone will please no one.

View more covers of The New Barker dog magazine.

April 15 Marks the 100th Anniversary of the Titanic Disaster.

There were a dozen dogs aboard the Titanic when it hit an iceberg and sank, 100 years ago, April 15. Three of the dogs, all on the smaller side, actually survived. Traveling first class with their owners, the dogs were kept inside their owners’ cabins instead of in the onboard kennel. A Pomeranian named Lady was saved by her owner Margaret Hays, who wrapped the dog in a blanket and sneaked her onto a lifeboat. Sun Yat-sen, a Pekingese owned by Henry and Myra Harper (of Harper & Row Publishing) and another Pom, owned by Elizabeth Rothschild, were the other two dogs who survived.

An exhibit at the Widener University Art Gallery in Chester, Pennsylvania, called “RMS Titanic: 100 Years” acknowledges that the other stories of the dogs did not have such happy endings. One story was of William Carter, a Philadelphia coal magnate who was traveling with his family, which included his two children and their two dogs, Lucy (a King Charles Spaniel) and an Airedale. In order to persuade his children to board a lifeboat, he told them the dogs were safe. The family survived, but the dogs did not. John Jacob Astor IV and his wife also lost their two Airedales, Kitty and Airedale. A Fox Terrier named Dog was reported lost in the tragedy as well.

But the most heartbreaking story was that of Ann Elizabeth Isham, who actually left a lifeboat in hopes of saving her Great Dane. She was found by rescuers several days later, floating dead in the water, still holding tight to her beloved dog.

The Titanic exhibit is produced and curated by J. Joseph Edgette, PH.D., professor emeritus of education and folklorist emeritus at Widender University. He is also an authority on the Titanic and said he was particularly touched by the dogs on the cruise. “There is such a special bond between people and their pets. For many, they are considered to be family members,” said Edgette. “I don’t think any Titanic exhibit has examined that relationship and recognized those loyal family pets that also lost their lives on the cruise.”

Be sure to tune in to The New Barker segment of The SkipShow with CMA award-winning radio personality, Skip Mahaffey on Monday, April 16. Our special guest will be comedienne and animal advocate, Elayne Boosler. We’ll talk to her most likely about four decades of bad hair days, why she thinks Facebook is a clocksucker, her upcoming Florida shows in West Palm Beach and Sarasota, and of course her Tails of Joy foundation. The SkipShow airs between 1p and 2p EST, and streams live on the internet.

I Wish There Were More Weekends Than Weekdays.

By now, many of you have noticed: We didn’t have much of a Winter here in Florida. And, as a Floridian who truly loves tropical weather, I am certainly not complaining. But an unseasonably warm Winter in Florida does present other problems, mainly a proliferation of bugs. So, as we prepare to put out the Spring issue of The New Barker, we are gearing up to tackle fleas, ticks and other critters that will just plain bug us and our companion pets if we are not prepared. In our Dog HomeFront section, we’ll have tips and ‘todes on dog friendly landscaping.

The Spring issue of The New Barker will feature some amazing dogs at play and at work. And, thanks to our contributing rover reporters from all over the state, we’re featuring dog friendly events and stories from the Panhandle to the Palm Coast, Miami and the Florida Keys, Dunedin to DeLand.  Our dog social calendar was pretty full this first quarter of 2012. And the next few months are shaping up to be ultra busy with dog events across the state. While we print a three month calendar in each issue, our online calendar is updated at least once a  week. Be sure to sign up for Weekend PupDates, The New Barker email blast that goes out about two times a month, letting you know about the hottest dog friendly events, and venues in Florida.

The Spring issue will also feature opportunities to win dog friendly getaways, some pretty impressive gift items, and gift certificates at some of Florida’s favorite places to dine. As a lifestyle magazine, we will be featuring unique perspectives on the AKC Eukanuba National Championships, the Florida Classic Clusters in Brooksville, and of course our annual trek to New York City for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Oh, and find out how your dog could become our bikini-clad, pull out centerfold in the Summer issue.

One of our favorite feature pieces in the Spring issue involves Manatee County Animal Services, and their promise to be a No Kill community by the end of 2012. Thanks to their county commissioners, the public and folks like Chris Weiskopf, they are well on their way. Some other towns in Florida are working on following suit with Manatee County, while others are taking a wait-and-see attitude. Meanwhile, dogs continue to die in shelters across the state, despite the number of rescue groups willing to step up and help out. And while you might expect many of the deaths to be Pit Bull-related, count Yorkies, Dachshunds, Chihuahuas, Dalmatians and Boxers among the statistics. In this issue we welcome a contributing original feature from Nathan Winograd.

Thanks to the  Humane Society of Manatee County and Realize Bradenton, we are bringing the creative team behind An Act of Dog to Florida. Meet Mark Barone and his partner Marina Dervan, and come see some of the poignant work Mark is painting. He has committed the next two years of his life to painting the portraits of 5500 dogs euthanized in shelters across the country. Why 5500? That is the average number of dogs euthanized – every single day in this country. The couple will be in Bradenton during The New Barker co-hosted The Artful Purpose Art Show, March 24. The show coincides with the Annual Paws in Motion walk on the riverfront for the Humane Society of Manatee County. And, both events take place in the same vicinity and general timeframe (8a-2p) as Downtown Bradenton’s Saturday Morning Farmer’s Market.

One last piece of business before I sign off and jump back on production. Since July of 2011, I have had the extreme pleasure of being part of a radio program produced by CMA award-winning radio personality, Skip Mahaffey. While I still get flummoxed and tongue-tied (thank goodness for Skip’s uncanny ability to recognize my deer-in-the-headlights look) we are having a lot of fun. Our live interviews have included Elvin Bishop, Nathan Winograd, Guy Gilchrist, Dr. Marty Becker, Victoria Stilwell and Aaron Tippin to name but just a few. Recently, we had a young man who was inspired by his Jack Russell to help raise money and awareness for Canine Cancer. When Spiro Cromwell’s dog, Jack was diagnosed with cancer, he was sad, but wanted to do something for all of the other dogs living with cancer. He became involved with the National Canine Cancer Foundation, and has raised a little more than $2,000 over the last two years.

Spiro, his mother Emerald and their new puppy Murphy visited with us in the studio for a live interview. At one point, we lost contact with the production booth and with Skip who was on Skype. Our producer came into the booth trying to figure out why our computers were not receiving a connection. Turns out, Murphy, the puppy that he is, chewed through the wires. Live radio – you just never know what’s going to happen next.

Tune in to The SkipShow this Monday, March 19 between 1p and 2p EST as we interview Mark Barone and Marina Dervan with An Act of Dog. We’ll also have a volunteer from Golden Retriever Rescue of Mid-Florida and most likely a few guest surprises as well. We always feature songs that are dog-themed in content like Man of the Hour by Nora Jones,  and Like My Dog by Billy Currington. Enjoy.

Spiro, upon discovering that his dog, Murphy chewed through the wires in the studio during the airing of The SkipShow with The New Barker.
Spiro, Emerald and Murphy recently visited with The New Barker during the airing of The SkipShow radio program.

Pet-A-Palooza is This Sunday, March 11 at Coachman Park, Clearwater

CBS RADIO Tampa Bay (WSJT-FM, WYUU-FM, WRBQ-FM, WQYK-FM and WQYK-AM), brings Pet-A-Palooza back to Coachman Park in Clearwater on Sunday, March 11th. The day is filled with pets, food, vendors, interactive booths, live music and more.

The goal of Pet-A-Palooza is to adopt animals and increase the awareness of the rescue causes in the Tampa Bay Area. This year, the Animal Based Charities’ Adopt-A-Thon Alley will be filled with over 30 rescues and shelters, see the fill list of shelters and rescues on below. We have also received a generous donation of 36,000 meals of Halo Spot’s Stew through Free Kibble, for the rescue groups involved in the event. Information on this donation can be found at play987.com/freekibble.

Entertainment and activities will include Twig the Skateboarding Sheltie and Puppy-in-Training Chili, The Upper Suncoast Dog Training Club, the Tampa Bay Lightning Rolling Thunder and the Tampa Bay Rays Street Team and Raymond. Plus, multiple performances from The Canine Stars, a world famous, world class group of dogs working who have been featured on Animal Planet.

Live music will fill the park all day long. There will also be an acoustic performance from American Idol Season 10 fan favorite, James Durbin, closing out the day at 4pm. James Durbin was known for “bringing heavy metal to the ‘American Idol’ stage” last season by performing Queen and Muse songs and then by singing onstage with metal legends Judas Priest during the final episodes. Durbin ultimately placed fourth on Season 10 of the ratings juggernaut, going that far due to his “rawk” edge, his unbridled emotion, his undeniable swagger, his powerhouse voice and his God-given talent, all of which meshed into a potent cocktail that allowed him to stand head and shoulders above a sea of pop singers.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or at Coachman Park on the day of show for $5, tickets can also be purchased, service charge-free at area business, a full list is available at CBSTampa.com/PetAPalooza. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Animal Based Charities to support their efforts to find every one of our furry friends a happy home.

Further information on Pet-A-Palooza can be found at CBSTampa.com/PetAPalooza.

The History of Pet-A-Palooza:
The inaugural “Pet-a-Palooza” premiered on Saturday, April 15th, 2000 in Las Vegas and attracted over 4,000 pet lovers and 1,500 dogs. It has since grown to attract over 15,000 pet lovers and 3,000-4,000 dogs. Additionally, CBS RADIO Tampa Bay has worked with over 40 different animal rescue groups and non-profit organizations to adopt animals and increase the awareness of the rescue causes. Pet-a-Palooza has grown into a national platform across multiple CBS RADIO markets.

About Animal Based Charities:
Animal Based Charities, Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that supports Tampa Bay animal rescue groups. ABC’s mission is to support animal rescue groups with their fundraising efforts, media awareness and adoption event exposure. ABC provides the groups with these tools so they can concentrate on what they do best — rescue and adoption. You can find more information on Animal Based Charities, Inc. at www.animalbasedcharities.org/

Rescues Involved in Pet-A-Palooza 2012

ABC Animal Based Charities
All Dog Rescue of Florida
Animal Friends Society
Akita Rescue / A New Leash on Life
Boston Terrier Rescue of FL
CARES Brooksville Rescue
Cat Crusaders
Dalmatian Rescue of Tampa Bay
DARE To Rescue
Dunedin Doggie Rescue (Dog-eden)
English Springer Rescue America
Feral Fanciers of Polk County
Florida Big Dog Rescue
Florida Parrot Rescue
Friends of Strays Foster
Humane Society of Florida – Citrus County
Husky Haven of Florida
Internet Miniature Pinscher Service
League of Humane Voters-FL
Limbo Chihuahuas-Chi Mix-Small Dog Rescue
Manatee Doberman Rescue
PAWS Rescue Group
Pibbles To The Rescue
Pinellas County Animal Services
Pit Bull Happenings.com
Pet Pal Animal Shelter
Pug Rescue of Florida
RUFF; Rescued Unwanted Furry Friends
Rugaz Rescue
S.A.F.E. Saving Animals From Euthanasia Society of Florida
Save Our Strays
Siberian Husky Rescue of FL
Southeast Beagle Rescue
Suncoast Basset Rescue
Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary
We Care For Paws Foundation

Read more about Animal Based Charities at animalbasedcharities.org.

Pet-A-Palooza 2012 is sponsored by Mastro Subaru and Halo: Purely for Pets. The New Barker is the official Dog Magazine of Pet-A-Palooza.

CBS RADIO, is one of the largest major-market radio operators in the United States.  A division of CBS Corporation, CBS RADIO operates 130 radio stations, the majority of which are in the nation’s top 50 markets. CBS RADIO owns and operates WSJT, WLLD, WYUU, WRBQ, WQYK FM/AM in Tampa.

 

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Media Contacts:

Amanda Allwood – 727.563.8839 amanda.allwood@cbsradio.com