It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…In Anacortes!

This weekend promises to be full of fun holiday activities to attend here in Anacortes!

Kick off the Christmas season by going to the annual  Anacortes Chamber of Commerce Christmas Tree lighting!

Date:  Friday, December 2nd
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location:  Ninth Street and Commercial Avenue

After the tree lighting, enjoy the Art Gallery Walk !

Date: Friday, December 2nd
Time: 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Location: Downtown Anacortes

Start your morning off right and enjoy some Breakfast with Santa!
You can purchase tickets for this event at the Anacortes Parks & Recreation Dept. for $3

Date: Saturday, December 3rd
Time: 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Location: Anacortes Senior Activity Center

Annual Lion’s Club Christmas Parade – This year’s theme is “Holly Jolly Christmas”!

All dog owners and their dogs are invited to come and walk with us in the parade.  If you don’t have a dog, please walk with us anyway!  You can help give out doggie treats.  Prizes will be awarded to the best dressed humans and pets!

We are meeting before the parade at 3rd Street and Q Avenue in front of the PET Van at 10:30 a.m.  We hope to see you and your furry friends there!

Date:  Saturday, December 3rd
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location:  Commercial Avenue

Here are a just few tips to keep your furry friends safe this Halloween!

Keep candy out of your pets’ reach- Dogs can often reach much higher than you may think, so be sure to keep candy off the floor as well as counters and tables. Not only is chocolate dangerous, but xylitol, a sweetener used in candy and gum, can also be toxic. Any treats should be pet treats. Also, candy wrappers can be as or more dangerous than the candy. Foil and cellophane can cause bowel obstructions that may require surgery.

Make sure all of your pets are wearing tags- Keep your pets  ID tags current. Opening the door repeatedly for trick-or-treaters creates plenty of escape opportunities.

Look out for Halloween decorations- Decorations can be dangerous, so be sure to keep them safely away from your pets. Candle flames can set fire to a pet’s fur. Hanging or dangling decorations can be an entanglement or choking hazard to some animals. Please also remember not all pumpkin should be eaten.  Food-friendly cooked and pureed pumpkin is safe in small amounts for dogs. Dogs should not eat the shell or seeds of squash or pumpkins. Also, keep glow sticks out of reach of pets. The fluid inside can cause mouth pain, irritation and drooling. Ingesting a glow stick can cause an intestinal blockage too.

Remember to call the vet immediately if you think your pet may have ingested anything toxic.

Wishing you a fun, safe and Happy Halloween!!!

If you would like to see photos of beautiful home for sale in Anacortes, La Conner, Guemes Island, and throughout Skagit county, visit our website www.CBBain.com/Anacortes.

Annual Hedgehog Gathering
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15

 Anacortes will be home to a showing of small spiny mammals when the annual A Hedgehog Gathering IX comes to town.  The international hedgehog show is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Depot Arts Center, 611 R Ave.

The nonsanctioned show is a great opportunity for hedgehog people to get together and share their love of the little spiny creatures.  A hedgehog show is like a dog or cat show.  The animals are judged in three categories: attitude, health and shape. Kim Miller serves as professional hedgehog judge.  Registration is at 9 a.m.  Educational talks are at 2:30 and 4 p.m. Junior showmanship, where kids get a chance to show a hedgehog, starts at 4 p.m.

Featured artist is Donna Nevitt. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for school children.  The gathering benefits the Anacortes Community Theatre, the Depot Arts Center and the hedgehog show.

It is sure to be a fun event so don’t miss out on the fun. 

If you are interested in seeing more fun furry creatures, check out the 2012 Pet Calendar!!!