Dear Urbanhounders,

This month, in honor of canine contributions to pop culture, we give you Urbanhound's 10 favorite fictional dogs:

10. Benji. He's cute, in a scruffy way, and even made Chevy Chase family friendly. That accomplishment alone merits a spot on our list.

9. Triumph, the insult comic dog. He is ugly, crude and decidedly not family friendly (catch phrase: "For me to poop on."). But if you've seen him take apart Star Wars fans, you know he's earned a place in our cultural history.

8. Old Yeller. Because even we hardened Urbanhounders love a good cry.

7. Gromit. Say what you will about Wallace (clever, persistent, cheese lover), but without Gromit's cool head and silent dedication, he'd only be a clay figurine on par with those raisins.

6. Hooch. Honestly, Hooch is totally underrated as a screen dog. Brave, loyal, and he owns his drooling problem. Plus, he holds his own with Tom Hanks.

5. Scooby Doo. A dog that solves crimes, despite his fears, and is always hungry? He's a pooch after our own heart. More: he has a wicked theme song.

4. Snoopy. Because the beagle is perhaps the perfect urban hound. And because he has the active fantasy life we all know our dogs have.

3. Clifford. We can almost trace our love of reading (and later, writing) to the lovable big red dog. Who didn't want a dog as cool as Clifford, who protected you from the bad boys and used his ears as tent flaps?

2. Lassie. Without Lassie, Timmy would still be stuck in the well. Enough said.

1. B-i-n-g-o. It was his name-o. And thanks to this song, sung to us from birth, we grew to love and appreciate the joy a dog brings to our lives.

Cheers,

Aaron Baar
Editor, Urbanhound Chicago

»  Did you know that 80% of applicants to vet school are women? Or that First Dog Barney has written a tell-all about the current administration? Now you can keep up with the doings in the dog world between issues of NewsHound: Urbanhound has a blog!

Puppies Behind Bars Dog Tags Benefit
Thursday, June 19, 6:30 PM to 9 PM
The Americas Society, 680 Park Ave., Manhattan
Puppies Behind Bars teaches prison inmates to raise and train service dogs. This is a fundraiser for a new program that provides assistance dogs free of charge to vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Learn more and download an invitation here.

Pet Loss Support Group
Thursday, June 19, 7 PM to 8 PM (and the third Thursday and first Friday of each month)
Bideawee, 410 E. 38th St., Manhattan
A gathering for those who are mourning a pet. Social workers who specialize in pet bereavement will be in attendance. The meetings are free and children are welcome. More information at the Bideawee website.

Take Your Dog to Work Day
Friday, June 20
This is the tenth year of this national event, created by Pet Sitters International to encourage enthusiasm for pets. For help on setting up a Take Your Pet To Work Day at your company, visit the Pet Sitters' website.

Groovy Summer Grooming Party
Friday, June 20, 7 PM to 9 PM
Animal Haven, 251 Centre St., Manhattan
Join groomer Jorge Bednersky of the Animal Planet show Groomer Has It at this grooming-focused cocktail party to benefit Animal Haven. Dogs under 15 pounds are invited. Tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance here.

Central Park PAWS Bagel Bark
Saturday, June 21, 7:30 AM to 9 AM
Great Hill Oval, Central Park West and 106th St. entrance, Manhattan
Bagels, coffee, dog biscuits, and good company at this brand new monthly gathering brought to you by Central Park PAWS.

It's My Bark Day
Saturday, June 21, noon to 4 PM
Rockaway Freeway Dog Park, Rockaway Freeway btwn. Beach 81st and Beach 83rd Sts., Queens
Not to be confused with It's My Park Day, this festival organized by the Allied Rockaway Foundation for Animal Recreation and Fitness (ARF-ARF) will feature music, raffles, contests, plus low-cost microchipping courtesy of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals and low-cost spaying and neutering at the ASPCA mobile unit.

Bi-weekly Bark Brigade
Sunday, June 22, 9 AM
K-9 Korral Dog Run, Park Lane South and 85th St., Queens
Urban Park Rangers lead a hound-focused hike on the trails of Forest Park.

No More Tears Rescue Auction
Sunday, June 22, 1 PM to 5 PM
St. Andrew's Church Hall, 40 Old Mill Rd., Staten Island
A fundraiser for this rescue group that focuses on dogs saved from puppy mills. Tickets are $25.

Hartsdale Pet Cemetery War Dog Memorial Celebration
Sunday, June 22, 1 PM
75 North Central Park Ave., Hartsdale, New York
This annual event honors dogs who have been of service to humanity, including military canines, search and rescue dogs, police and fire dogs, and assistance dogs. If you attend the ceremony, be sure to walk through this historic pet cemetery, the oldest in the nation, where you'll find the burial spots of the pets of celebrities including Diana Ross and Mariah Carey. Hartsdale, about 25 miles north of midtown, can be reached by car or Metro-North. Directions are here.

Dog Bowl
Monday, June 23, 6 PM to 9 PM
The Gutter, 200 N. 14th St., Brooklyn
This evening of bowling is a kick-off celebration for a new group called Dog Habitat Rescue. Cost is $30, $50 for two. Sign up for a lane here.

St. Hubert's Ice Cream Social
Wednesdays, June 25, July 9, July 23, August 6 & August 20, 6:30 PM to 8 PM
St. Hubert's Madison Animal Shelter, 575 Woodland Ave., Madison, NJ
Ice cream for people, Frosty Paws for dogs, and good company are the big draws at these evening gatherings to benefit St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for kids, and $2 for dogs.

FIDO Lecture: Signs & Symptoms of Health Risks in Dogs
Wednesday, June 25, 7 PM to 8:30 PM
Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, 53 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn
Dr. Salvatore Pernice, DVM will lecture on canine health. Please bring your questions Cost is $3 for FIDO members, $5 for non-members. To rsvp and for more information, call Theresa Wexler at 917-374-3792.

Doga Class
Wednesday, June 25, 7 PM to 7:45 PM
Bideawee, 410 E. 38th St., Manhattan
This is a partner yoga class for you and your hound. (We'll skip the downward-facing dog jokes.) Cost is $18 per class, package deals are available. More information and how to register here.

Pupnic
Friday, June 27, 5 PM to dusk
The Nethermead, Prospect Park, Brooklyn
This annual pot-luck picnic for dogs and their humans has become a great Brooklyn tradition. There will be food, good company, and games. If your dog's name begins with the letters A through G bring an appetizer, H through P a small entree, or Q through Z a small dessert. More information from FIDO.

Animal Haven Golf Classic
Monday, June 30, 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM
Montammy Golf Club, Route 9W and Montammy Drive, Alpine, NJ
This celebrity golf outing is a fundraiser for Animal Haven's dog and cat adoption center in SoHo. The event features a championship course, 30 all-star players, lavish four-star food, awards, and entertainment. Animals will be available for adoption. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Tiffany Lacey at 917-459-2422 or TiffanyL@ah-nyc.org, or visit the Animal Haven web site.

St. Nick's Dog Park Coffee Bark
Saturday, July 5, 9 AM to 11 PM
Mid-park between the 135th St. staircase and 136th St., Manhattan
Coffee and other refreshments are served at this gathering which happens on the first Saturday of every month in St. Nicholas Park. For more information or if you'd like to volunteer, write dogpark@stnicholaspark.org.

FIDO Coffee Bark
Saturday, July 12, 7 AM to 9 AM
Prospect Park, Brooklyn
As all Prospect Park dog people know, if it's the first Saturday of the month it must be time for Coffee Bark! Held in rain or in shine, in the park's Long Meadow, behind the Picnic House (enter at Prospect Park West and 4th Street, then go left around Picnic House), Coffee Bark includes muffins for humans and dog biscuits for hounds. This long-standing social is sponsored by Brooklyn's FIDO, officially known as the Fellowship In the Interest of Dog Owners.

Angel's Gate 5K Run for the Animals
Saturday, July 12, 9 AM
William T. Rogers Middle School, Old Dock Rd., Kings Park, Long Island
Show your support for this respected animal hospice by entering or sponsoring this 5 K run. It costs $15 to enter.

Broadway Barks!
Saturday, July 12, 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM (Rain date: July 28)
Shubert Alley, west of Broadway btwn. 44th and 45th Sts., Manhattan
This annual fundraiser and pet adopt-athon, hosted as always by Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore, usually draws thousands of theater fans, pet lovers, and a whole bunch of animal-friendly Broadway stars. Best of all, the event raises money for all the city's animal shelters and helps out lots of homeless pets.

Sir William's Dog Run Coffee Bark
Sunday, July 13, 10 AM to noon
Sir William's Dog Run, Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan
The Fort Tryon Dog Owner's Group invites everyone to this gathering at their beautiful run. To help out with maintenance of the run, stick around after the event.

If there's an event you'd like us to mention in the next NewsHound, please email us.

Canine Contamination. A study by the Environmental Working Group found that pets have higher concentrations of potentially toxic industrial chemicals in their bodies than people do. The study tested urine and blood samples for contamination with plastics and food packaging chemicals, heavy metals, fire retardants, and stain-proofing chemicals. Other research has documented the harmful health effects of chemical exposure in pets. The EWG outlines some easy steps you can take to reduce chemical exposure, like taking off your shoes at the door.

Shelter Stories. Patrick McDonnell, who draws the comic strip Mutts, has a new book out called Mutt's Shelter Stories: Love. Guaranteed. Along side the author's strips are photos and stories of rescued pets contributed by his readers.

Tainted Pet Food Settlement. An estimated 1,500 dogs and cats died due to pet food contamination last year. Now a judge has ruled that manufacturers must reimburse owners for all costs incurred as a result, including medical bills and burial fees. There will be no additional compensation for pain and suffering, which is in line with the legal definition -- common around the US -- of pets as property.

What's On. Another summer. Another reality show. On July 10, CBS will begin the search for America's Greatest Dog. The program pits 12 hounds and their people against one another in a series of training challenges, with one team eliminated each week. The winner gets a $250,000 prize. Meanwhile, Animal Planet's Groomer Has It is ending on June 28, with a challenge that involves grooming seven dogs in 10 hours. The channel's It's Me or the Dog begins a new season on June 21.