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F E B R UA RY 2 1 – M A R C H 7 | 2 0 1 5
W W W. S A N TA B A R B A R A S E N T I N E L .CO M
SYVSNAPSHOT
by Eva Van Prooyen Keeping a finger on the pulse of the Santa Ynez Valley: what to eat, where to go, who to meet, and what to drink. Pretty much everything and anything situated between the Santa Ynez and San Rafael Mountains that could tickle one’s interest.
Dog Days at the Hedges Household
“P
eople call me when they are looking for a dog,” says canine foster mom Rachel Hedges, adding, “I’m a dog lover. I’ve been fostering dogs for four years and placed over 40 of them in new homes.” Rachel takes pride in understanding dog breeds and moving them in to happier homes and says, “Whatever your personality and lifestyle… there’s a dog for that.” Rachel explains she mainly volunteers for LaPaws, Lompoc’s animal shelter, which serves the whole Valley and works hard to place all animals. She reports LaPaws was renovated within the last year, and “now has a fresh face, is more user-friendly for dog seekers, and is a better environment for the dogs. It’s a nicer place for people to physically come in and meet the dogs.” Rachel reports she has being working with canines for 22 years, training them in all different fields including: agility, Fly-Ball, sheep herding, obedience, and Schutzhund Training (German for “protection dog”). She lives in Santa Ynez with her husband, Santa Barbara Police officer David Hedges, and their 12-year-old son, Strieker, and says, “I got a full head-on course in Schutzhund when German Shepherd K-9 Officer Brag came to live with us. David and Brag had a very successful K-9 career of eight years on the police force serving Santa Barbara, and Brag retired one year ago.” Rachel says she was inspired to work with foster dogs after attending a “Pet Adoption Day” at the Santa Ynez Feed & Milling Co. “Fostering made sense for us; we had more love to give at our house and there was room for another dog, but what we especially love is socializing them, working them, sometimes rehabilitating them if they have special needs, and ultimately placing them in a forever home with their new family.” Rachel says she was never a small dog owner until “We found our Chihuahua, Chippy. He was down, out, and abandoned, roaming the streets in Los Olivos in 2008. No one claimed him, and I got particularly interested in fostering Chihuahuas. There are so many of them in the shelters. Most people think Chihuahuas are yappy and aggressive. They really aren’t. I think what happens is that people treat them like babies because they’re small and they become undisciplined. As long as you train them like a big dog, using positive reinforcement and correction, you’ll end up with a smart, sweet, funny, loyal, disciplined dog. They’re also low-impact. Everyone can fit a Chihuahua in their home, no matter what the size.” All of the dogs Rachel fosters, she says, she would keep if she could: “We integrate them into our home. If someone shows interest, it has to be going to a home as good as ours or better.” In reminiscing about good pairings and placements,
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Rachel reports, Cora, a cream-colored Chihuahua, now lives with Dawn at the Alisal Guest Ranch and greets all the visitors, and Nicole took home Kai, a serious Queensland, and foodie, once known for removing candy bars from purses and hiding the wrappers – he now greets visitors at Carr Vineyards and Winery Tasting Room in Santa Ynez. Currently, Rachel says she is fostering and working with a cream-colored German Shepherd mix named Etta. She was found on the outskirts of Lompoc living under a house for six months and needed socialization. “I get her out every Rachel Hedges fostered Queensland Heeler, Kai, for day in Santa Ynez, and although she is six months. He was originally a serious dog in need of timid and scared, she’s getting used to a lot of routine but now can be seen greeting guests at Carr Vineyards and Winery Tasting Room, taking town noises, going out in public, and his job seriously. seeing people.” Rachel chuckles and says within the animal loving circles in the Valley, “there is actually a well-known ‘Foster Failure Club’ for those who are never able to let go of the dogs they were working so hard to move along. It’s a funny thing. There are people that can foster and some that just can let them go.” “LaPaws wants more foot traffic in the shelter,” says Rachel, adding, “If you don’t see a dog you’re looking for, tell them – chances are they have it or it’s in foster care.” They are located at 1501 West Central Avenue in Lompoc. For more information, call (805) 737-7755.
Eva’s Top Four Faves:
My personal picks, best bets, hot tips, save the dates, and things not to miss! Solvang Century, Metric, and 1/2 Century 2015 The 33rd annual Solvang cycling event will spin into a fun frenzy early morning on Saturday, March 14. There is still time to train and definitely time to sign up for this event. Choose from three scenic rides: 100, 63, or 50 miles! (I’m going to ride either the 63 or 50.) Registration is limited to the first 3,000 riders and includes ride support from dedicated bicycle mechanics, snack and water stations, a swag bag filled with items such as bike lights and power bars, and a post-ride barbecue lunch with beer, wine, and music. Intersection control by Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department. $115 single rider $195 for tandem. Sign up online at www.bikescor. com/solvang_century_Registration.html. Los Olivos Wine Festival A new festival is about to launch! Los Olivos Business Organization (LOBO) and Visit SYV uncork this inaugural wine country experience with food, music, and wine on Saturday, February 28, from 11 am to 5 pm. Event details boast “Hospitality Lounges” up, down, and around Grand Avenue, complimentary wine and food tastings at each participating tasting room, commemorative glass (for your ever-expanding mishmash collection), a Master Glass Seminar from Riedel wine glass company, and something called a “Mystery Tour.” $65 per person. For more information, visit www.losolivosca.com. Drought-friendly Car Wash? The idea of a drought-friendly car wash seems like an oxymoron… which indeed it is, but I like the drive through the automated car wash at Mobil branded Chumash Gas Station at the corner of Highway 246 and Edison Street in Santa Ynez. For $10 (with or without a gas purchase), you get the “Ultimate” wash and 80 percent of the water is reclaimed/recycled. 4th Annual Mardi Gras Party Organizers of this SYV Chorale fundraiser are luring music and party lovers with promises of an evening filled with authentic Louisiana Mardi Gras celebration tradition complete with gumbo and fried catfish, Southern desserts, music, beads, masks, “lots of revelry”, an honored queen, and jazz music. The raffle items are also a nice draw – I’ve got a hot ($10) raffle ticket in hand for the two-nights stay at Bianchi Vineyard House. Costumes and masks are encouraged. Saturday, February 28, from 5:30 to 10 pm at Solvang Veterans Hall, 1745 Mission Drive. $40 per person. For more information, visit www.syvchorale.org.