Win free month of doggie daycare at Dogtopia Bethesda

Dogtopia Bethesda isn't open yet at 4936 Fairmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. But the doggie daycare and boarding facility is promoting a Founders' offer for $99. The first 50 dogs signed up will get up to 2 free weeks of "sneak peek" doggie daycare before the facility officially opens to the public. And you will be eligible to win a free month of doggie daycare.

MoCo Humane Society has urgent need for hard-to-find items in coronavirus panic buying

Rocky and his fellow adoptable friends at the Montgomery County Humane Society in Rockville need your help. They're looking for the same essential items you're having trouble finding at local stores. Humans have cleared the shelves of hand sanitizer, hand soap, bleach, Clorox wipes, toilet paper and wet and dry puppy food in coronavirus-related shopping. The society is "urgently" asking residents who can donate these supplies, along with sheets and blankets, to bring them to their headquarters at 601 S. Stonestreet Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850 between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM seven days a week.

Bethesda nightlife has gone to the dogs

Bone Jour to take over

vacant Quincy's sports bar

The nighttime economy has come crashing down all across downtown Bethesda. Just days after the 17th downtown nightspot shuttered in the wake of the Montgomery County Council's Nighttime Economy Task Force catastrophe, one of the abandoned bars is going to the dogs - literally. Bethesda pet business Bone Jour has leased the vacant building at 4920-4922 Del Ray Avenue, which has sat empty since 2017.

Previously home to Quincy's and Hard Times Cafe, the sizable space will give Bone Jour more room to offer additional services for dogs and cats, which include grooming, pet boarding and obedience classes. Bone Jour is expected to move in before the end of summer. This reminds us of Councilmember Hans Riemer's bizarre proposal to have the County government "assess the health impacts of dogs, and assess the health impacts of cats." Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed on the Council, but unfortunately, they did not stop Riemer's disastrous "Nighttime Economy Initiative," which ended up tanking the nighttime economy in Montgomery County.

Sign installed at Loyal Companion in Bethesda

The permanent lighted sign has been installed at Loyal Companion, the future pet store opening at 6900 Arlington Road. It is located in the end unit previously occupied by Bradley Care Drugs in the Bradley Shopping Center in Bethesda.

Bethesda PetSmart to be renovated

The once-new but now-aging PetSmart store at 6800 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda is going to get a refresh. Renovations will include new finishes, flooring and millwork. New millwork fixtures will also require updates to the mechanical and electrical systems in the building. According to the pet retail chain, the renovations will cost $200,000.

Veterinary Holistic Care to move to Rockville

Veterinary Holistic Care, a veterinary practice that has operated in Bethesda since 1995, is moving to Rockville. Their existing office is located on a site now planned to be redeveloped into a six-story apartment building by ZOM Living, at 4820 Moorland Lane.

The new home of VHC will be at 4 West Middle Lane, in the Courthouse Center shopping center. In this larger facility, VHC plans to add an underwater pet treadmill, a full surgery suite, and full pet grooming services. No official moving date has been announced as of press time.

Coming Soon signage gives first info about Pet Parents in Bethesda (Photos)

Pet Parents has no website, social media or contact information - and as a result, no public indication of what the new business at 4907 Fairmont Avenue will offer customers. Until now. Coming Soon signage just installed at the storefront in the Bainbridge Bethesda refers to "premium, all-natural, health-promoting products combined with extraordinary services." Stay tuned for more details.

Pet Parents opening on Fairmont Avenue in Bethesda

The Bainbridge Bethesda luxury apartment tower has filled another of its ground floor retail spaces. Coming soon will be Pet Parents, next to Experimac, at 4907 Fairmont Avenue. This won't solve the lack-of-street-activation problem around the Bainbridge after business hours, but should be appreciated by pet owners in the nearby apartments.

Pet resort opening in Pike District of N. Bethesda (Photos)

Dr. Boyd's Veterinary Resort is opening its first location outside of California here in the Pike District of North Bethesda, at 11503 Rockville Pike. This was formerly a Staples store. Dr. Boyd's offers veterinary hospital services, dog and cat boarding, doggie daycare and training, and a pet spa with grooming services.

STRUT YOUR MUTT MAY 17 IN BETHESDA

Once again, it's time to parade your furry friend on the streets of Bethesda. Strut Your Mutt Bethesda 2014 will take place on Saturday, May 17, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle.

Register your dog online now for a $25 fee, plus processing charge. In return, you'll get a doggie goody bag, event T-shirt, and, of course, entry into the parade. There will be more than just the parade, though:

10:00am - 3:00pm	Registration, Dog Vendors, Music
10:00am - 3:00pm	Kids Play Area - Moonbounces and Games
10:00am - 2:00pm	Raffle - win 50% of the pot - you need not be present to win!
10:30am	Parade Line-up - at Main Stage
10:45am	Dog Parade
11:30am	Dog Contests - Main Stage
Noon - 3pm	Every half hour: Training shows  and Adoption Shows by rescue groups.
2:15pm	Raffle Winners Announced
3:00pm	Strut Your Mutt Concludes

Parade Awards - one winner in each category

• Best Strut - large dog
• Best Strut - small dog
• Biggest dog
• Smallest dog
• Best tail wag
• Best Parade Outfits
• Best Mutt

Contests - 1st, 2nd and 3rd places:

• Owner/Dog look-alike
• Best Kisser
• Best Costume
• Best Trick
• Best Singer

Strut Your Mutt is a rain or shine event.

There will also be exhibitors showing and selling a variety of dog products. Strut Your Mutt is organized and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bethesda-Chevy Chase. Parking will be available in county garages on Cordell/St. Elmo Avenues (Garage 40), and on Woodmont Avenue by Black's Bar and Kitchen.

HAMPDEN LANE VET - AND BETHESDA NATIVE - MOVES TO BRADLEY HILLS ANIMAL HOSPITAL (PHOTOS)

If your pet is a patient of Bethesda veterinarian Dr. Robert M. Mueller, you're probably already aware that the Bethesda native has moved his practice to the Bradley Hills Animal Hospital, at 7210 Bradley Boulevard. The reason is that his own animal clinic, Hampden Lane Veterinary Office, had to close because the home housing it is being demolished for new development. Toll Brothers City Living is redeveloping the site as a luxury condo building called Hampden Row.

Former home of Hampden Lane Veterinary Office

Now it is the future home of the
Hampden Row luxury residential
building by Toll Brothers City Living

The home is expected to be demolished
in the near future

Dr. Mueller attended Burning Tree Elementary School, Pyle Middle School and Walt Whitman High School. He and his wife operated their Hampden Lane clinic for over 30 years. Mueller's new home has an even longer history of caring for animals in Bethesda: known previously as Bradley Boulevard Veterinary Clinic since 1975, the location was renovated in 2001 and relaunched as Bradley Hills Animal Hospital by Dr. Charles Weiss, who remains in practice there as well.