Public Notice: Dog Week of Summer

Regular readers of this column may have noticed that there's often kibbles and bits of pet news scattered through the small print at the bottom. This week, in keeping with the "dog days" cover story theme we've got going, I figured what the heck, let's bring it front and center. By the way, for many, many, many more images of our cover boy, see www.fb.com/hankthechrondog.

Dog walkers needed at the Austin Animal Center: To ensure that the animals receive needed exercise, the AAC is actively seeking volunteers to help with walking medium-to-large dogs. To that end, they're holding information sessions for possible volunteers; the next one is 9-10am Saturday, Aug. 8, at the 7201 Levander Loop location. Meanwhile, you can get more info about various volunteer opportunities at www.austintexas.gov/department/volunteer or www.austinanimalcenter.org. Contact the shelter today and you could be walking dogs next week.

Love Your Rescue Pet Day is a daylong benefit for Austin Pets Alive! on Saturday, July 18. Shop or dine at one of some 30 businesses around town, and they'll donate a portion of the day's sales to APA! There's also a LYRPD kickoff fundraiser the night before, Friday 6­-8pm, at Blackfinn Ameripub in the Domain. For more info and a list of participating businesses, visit www.lyrpd.com.

Teddy Bear Surgery: The Austin Humane Society welcomes kids and their stuffed animals to the shelter this Saturday, July 18, where staff veterinarians will diagnose and treat all types of stuffed dogs, cats, lions, and other animals, with the kids alongside them in the shelter surgery suite. "Injured limbs will be wrapped in gauze and surgeries will be stitched together with colorful yarn." The event is free to the public, but registration for treatment is already full. 1-4pm at the AHS, 124 W. Anderson.

And because cats are always the star of their own movies: The eighth annual KittyPalooza runs from 11am-7pm Sat.-Sun., July 18-19, at the Austin Animal Center, 7201 Levander Loop. Adoption fees for all shelter cats and kittens will be waived, all cats will be spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated, and the first 100 adopters will get a goodie bag of supplies for their new cat(s) to enjoy. You can even start preparing now by printing out a KittyPalooza Backstage Pass at www.austintexas.gov/department/animal-services.

APA! will also be hosting a KittyPalooza adoption event on Saturday, July 18, from 11:30am-­7pm at their Town Lake Animal Center location, 1156 W. Cesar Chavez, bringing cats and kittens currently placed in foster homes on-site for potential adopters to meet and greet, and waiving adoption fees.

And of course, all three shelters are continuing their $25 Super Shelter Adopta­thon through the end of July.

And on the support side: Austin's Chief Animal Services Officer Tawny Hammond this week announced the hiring of Kristen Auerbach to be the new deputy chief Animal Services Officer. Auerbach was Hammond's assistant director at the Fairfax County (Va.) Animal Shelter, and has been its interim director since Hammond came here in June.

The RideScout Route pilot program continues with some new wrinkles. With temperatures on the rise, open-air electric cabs have been replaced by an enclosed 20-passenger shuttle. Service is also expanded to include Whole Foods to the west, and additional hours for lunch and evening commutes. The free shuttles run westbound on Sixth Street, and Eastbound on Second, between Trinity and Guadalupe, every 10-15 minutes, weekdays from 7:30-9:30am, 11am-1pm, and 4-6pm. More info at www.ridescout.com.

Austin B-cycle is offering free rides for a month of up to 30 minutes at a time. B-cycle is made for getting around town quickly; for all members, rides under 30 minutes are free. Visit www.austinbcycle.com by July 20, sign up, choose Local30 access, and enter the promo code "GetBcycled" for a free month of membership.

And Austin B-cycle is again providing extra services for Blues on the Green, Wed., July 22, in Zilker Park, with valet parking at the park from 5:30-10:30pm, and $5 coupons for local eateries for early arrivals, at Barton Springs Rd. & Kinney St. between 5-8pm.

A State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center will open at noon Monday, July 13, providing info on the assistance available to homeowners, renters, and business owners who sustained damage as a result of the storms and flooding from May 4 to June 19. 1520 Rutherford, 9am-6pm Mon.- Fri.; 9am-2pm Sat. Or register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 toll free from 7am-10pm daily.

On behalf of Bastrop and Hays Counties, FEMA requests volunteers to aid in relief efforts. To help out for a few hours, or a few days, contact Volunteer Reception Centers in Bastrop (1106 College St., 512/521-3001, 8am-5pm, Mon.-Fri.); San Marcos (126 W. Hopkins St., 512/753-2320, 8am-5pm, Mon.-Sat.); or Wimberley (200 Stillwater Dr. #2, 512/715-4134, 8am-4pm, Mon.-Sat.).

Free Summer Concerts at Local Libraries: The Austin Public Library is doing its part to support the local music scene this summer. Book Your Summer includes three musical performances this week:

• Friday, July 24: Kenny Williams at 3pm, and Warren Hood at 4pm, at the Carver Branch, 1161 Angelina.

• Saturday, July 25: Los Texas Wranglers at 3pm, at Terrazas Branch, 1105 E. Cesar Chavez.