A reader and Cedar Park resident, Gwen, sent us a letter wondering why there are more abandoned dogs in her area. She’s particularly referring to the 4900 block of Cedar Avenue where a few dogs have been found lately wandering about. Gwen and her neighbor found two large dogs (pictured) there on Monday. Here’s what she writes:

“I spent [Monday] afternoon trying to locate the owners of two enormous pitbulls with another West Philly resident. When I posted about the incident on Facebook, two different friends responded with stories of their own regarding discovering abandoned dogs at the same corner. Very disheartening, dangerous and cruel to the poor dogs, and dangerous for residents, their children, and their dogs. Who is abandoning these dogs? They were friendly, but seemed truly lost/abandoned, with no leashes or tags, and they were walking in the road. I can’t stop thinking about them.”

Unfortunately, these dogs’ owner was not found, but hopefully they will find a new, better home soon. Gwen says that after a couple of hours of knocking on doors, checking in with the Baltimore Pet Shoppe, and borrowing rope from the block captain, the person who first found them took them to the ACCT Philly shelter. “They will be ready for fostering and adoption as of this evening,” Gwen writes.

We spotted this intrepid hunter keeping a close eye on a patch of ivy – more specifically, the birds in the ivy – along the 4600 block of Baltimore Avenue this week.

A neighbor, Lauren, needs help locating her dog, a Pomeranian named Jason, who got out very late Thursday night/early Friday morning. He was last seen near 50th and Market. “Jason means the world to me,” writes Lauren.

Lauren created this sweet poster to spread the word about Jason.

Blessing of the Animals at St. Francis De Sales Church (Archive photo/West Philly Local).

September and October are usually months when a lot of cool events for pets and pet owners take place in the neighborhood. This weekend is filled with such events. Three events will be held on Saturday and one on Sunday (see more info below). Please note that the annual “Bark in the Park” event, with various contests and prizes for dogs, will be held on October 11 October 12 at Clark Park (43rd and Chester), starting at 2 p.m. No registration is necessary, just show up!

Saturday, Sept 27

Low-Cost Cat & Dog Vaccine Clinic/ Free Physical Exam at UPenn Alpha Psi (4002 Pine St), 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Bring your cat or dog to a low-cost vaccine clinic organized by Penn Vet students at their Alpha Psi fraternity house at 4002 Pine St. The following services will be available at the clinic:

• Rabies and Distemper Vaccines: $10 for both
• Deworming, flea and tick treatments, microchipping ($20)
• Free physical exam by vet students

Questions? Email: upennalphapsi@gmail.com

‘End of Summer’ Sidewalk Sale at Baltimore Pet Shoppe (4532 Baltimore Ave), 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Baltimore Pet Shoppe is holding its annual “End of Summer” Sidewalk Sale on Saturday. There will be huge discounts (30-75% off!) on pet toys, accessories and treats.

Doggie Strut and Photo Booth at Coffee Market (45th and Pine), Noon – 1 p.m. 

Sign up your dog for the annual “Doggie Strut” event taking place at Coffee Market (formerly Earth Cup Coffee) this Saturday. This free event includes nail clipping, ear cleaning and an info booth by Penn Vet students. There will be contests, awesome prizes and giveaways from Baltimore Pet Shoppe, and a photo booth (the expert judges will decide on 12 centerfolds for Coffee Market calendar). “Instead of specifying categories for the competition, this year the owners get to invent their category,” says Coffee Market owner Natasa Brkanin. Owners also get awarded with a coffee market gift certificate. Stop by Coffee Market or Baltimore Pet Shoppe (45th and Baltimore) to sign up. For more information, visit Coffee Market’s Facebook page.

Sunday, Sept 28

Blessing of the Animals at St. Francis De Sales Church (4625 Springfield Ave), 12 p.m.

Bring your little best friend(s) to be blessed in honor of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the friend of all of God’s creatures. The event starts at Noon. Enter through the school yard on Farragut St. Please keep dogs on a leash. For more information, call 215-222-2255.

Chico

A West Philly Local reader is looking for a new home for his two lovely and beautiful cats, Chico and Mouse Face. The cats owner now often travels out of the country for work and is forced to seek out a new home for them. The cats are around 9 years old; they are brothers from the same litter.

“It would do my heart a world of good to know that perhaps there is a way to find them a good home here in the neighborhood. Knowing that they’re close to me and that I am friendly with the potential new owners would make my life so much better,” the cats owner, Dev wrote in an email.

The following items will be included with the cats:

• auto-feeder
• water fountain
• Cat Genie automated litterbox (Youtube video of how it works)

Dev also would like to compensate the new owners monthly cost of food at the start, provided he met them and they all got along.

If you’re interested in adopting these cats or for more information about them, email: deviant [at] deviating.net

Mouse Face

A friendly, brown dog (pictured) was found today at around 4:30-5 p.m. roaming around St. Bernard, Warrington, Florence and 51st. The dog was taken to ACCT at 111 W. Hunting Park Ave.

If this is your dog or if you have any information about the dog’s owner please contact ACCT at 267-385-3800.