Local woman's Zippity-Poo-Da eases downside of dog walking

   Anita Pendleton of Colorado Springs walks Guinness, her part-Australian shepherd, every day.

   She finds it lots of fun, except for one thing. "I hate to carry the poo," she says. And so she sat down at her sewing machine and created the prototype for Zippity-Poo-Da.

   It's a little nylon container that includes a bag dispenser and a place to put those icky bags of you know what. The bag has a Velcro strap to attach it to Fido's leash so he can carry it. Or you can attach it to your belt, backpack or stroller.

   Pendleton formed her own company, called Dog Business, to market her new product. Besides this venture, she says, she is busy "raising three kids and a husband."

   Zippity-Poo-Da is available at Le Pooch Connection, 2360 Montebello Square Drive, and Pet City pet shops at Chapel Hills Mall and the Citadel mall for $14.95, including a nylon leash; or $11.50 for the pouch alone. You can also get it online at zippitypooda.com.

   By the way, Pendleton says she uses blue sleeves similar to the ones The Gazette comes wrapped in for the pickup bag.

Dinos and other critters

   Since you can't adopt a dinosaur, how about adopting a homeless pet?

   We mention dinosaurs because if you adopt a rescue animal at the fourth annual Critter Fest at Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, you get free admission to the museum.

   The event is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 2-3 at the center, 201 Fairview St., in downtown Woodland Park.

   The fair will be held outside, with about 20 animalrehabilitation and -protection groups providing information.

   There will also be guest speakers on both days discussing such things as bats, reptiles, wolves, hedgehogs, zoo animals and such. The lectures are free with paid museum admission.

New toys

   It's summertime - how about a game of golf, some fishing or gardening with your pet?

   These are some favorite toys listed by the World Wide Pet Industry Association:

   - Hyperdog Doggie Driver allows you to practice your swing while Bowser practices his fetch. A tennis ball is inserted in the wood part of the driver and when you swing away, the ball is released. It's available for $19.99 at Walmart.com.

   - Fat Cat Inc.'s Catfisher Garden Mitt is a glove with little toy ladybugs, bees and flies attached to the ends of the fingers. Put it on and entice kitty to play. We haven't seen it, but hope the glove is thick enough to avoid those claws. You can get it at some Petco stores for $12.99.

   - Your kitty might be your next fishing buddy. With the Catfisher Fishing Rod & Reel, you can cast catnip lures up to 40 feet. The toy is $23.95 at fatcatinc.com. A pack of three replaceable lures and catnip is $6.95. 

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0371 or carol.mcgraw@gazette.com. For more pet news, see Pet Pourri online at gazettepetpourri.blogspot.com