Only in Seattle

A new model of veterinarian care!


Urban Animal is committed to keeping pet care affordable and an approach that might include not pushing for the most extreme and costly interventions.

The office is another story. It is part Airstream and part 1978 Ford truck both of which are owned by practice founder Cherri Trusheim.

Urban Animal is located in an old medical building on Capitol Hill / First Hill in Seattle, Washington. The welcoming interior space has funky vinyl chairs and second-hand medical cabinets, paint-by-number dog portraits, and enormous vintage print of a cabin in the mountains, PLUS, in the corner a photobooth.

For only four dollars you and your dog can capture the moment with a take home print in only four minutes!

Dr. Trusheim worked as a relief vet and at an emergency hospital. Urban Animal accommodates walk-ins and is open on weekends.

I hope this model of veterinarian care becomes the norm.
Thank you, Dr. Trusheim!

Pot for Dogs?

In an effort to ease pain from arthritis, cancer, and other diseases in dogs, the Seattle company Medical Marijuana Delivery Systems is developing a "pot patch".

The product, to be called Tetracan, received patent rights in February of 2011 and could reach the market by the middle of 2012. This patch would be an alternative to pharmaceutical painkillers which have proven harmful, sometimes fatal in animals.


Maybe it will be sold with a box of milkbones?

Dog Buddies

I believe dogs have best friends.

Ginger and Brinkley, Golden Retrievers, met at Marymoor Dog Park in Seattle, Washington when they were six and seven months old. Jayme and Brian had a hard time separating them when it was time to go home. They decided to have doggie play dates.

As the story goes, the doggie play dates then turned into Jayme and Brian dates. It is a fact, proven here, that dogs are attractors for partners of the opposite sex.

Now Ginger and Brinkley get to play together when ever they want!

Ginger and Brinkley
Best Friends
Step-Sister and Step-Brother

A Dog's Job

Summer is around the corner! It is time to get outside with your dog. People who exercise look and feel better, and so will your dog.

There is a difference between going to the dog park and getting your dog involved in a sport – the dog gets to run and release energy, but she also needs to use her mind and take her cues from you – the pack leader. You are not only giving her the physical exercise but you are also giving her the mental stimulation. You are giving the dog a job, and every dog needs to work in order to be fulfilled.

With so many activities out there for you to bring out your dog’s inner athlete, take some time this spring and summer to do your research and get active! While breed does not necessarily matter, there are some breeds that will take to certain activities better (or quicker) than others. For example, if your dog has an active nose – Beagles, terriers, hounds – you might think about search and rescue training, or tracking activities. Tracking takes place on a field, where dogs are rewarded for finding the “scent.”

For high-energy, working dogs, like Huskies and German Shepherds, think about Urban Mushing – which is essentially dog sledding on city streets with the use of a harness and a scooter, trike, or skateboard.

For water dogs, like Labradors, consider dock diving and dock jumping, the canine equivalent of the long jump, only in the water!

For big and small dogs alike, you can get involved in agility activities, which takes advantage of a dog’s speed and quickness, to jump, balance and run through an obstacle course.

Of course, in addition to organized activities, there are other ways of bringing out your dog’s inner athlete, whether it’s a bike ride, rollerblading, or taking your dog with you when you go kayaking.

Skating with my son's dog Ginger on the Burke-Gilman Trail
in Seattle, Washington

Whatever you choose, engage your dog in the activity with calm and assertive energy. You’ll be amazed at how your dog responds!

"Doggy Disneyland"

"Doggy Disneyland", as it is locally dubbed, Marymoor Park is best known for its 40 acres of off leash dog park. This is where dogs can be dogs. Black Labs dogpaddle against Golden Retrievers to see who can get an old tennis ball thrown by an owner into the Sammamish Slough.

Saturday was one of those rare sunny winter days and I would dubbed Marymoor Park as "Doggy Zoo" because of all the people and dogs. We thought we could get there early and avoid the crowds, but not this beautiful day.


Ebony, Koda, Ginger, and Brinkley Ready to GO!


Marymoor Park

Sammamish River Trail

Sammamish River Trail is King’s County’s popular cycling, jogging, walking, skating and equestrian path. The trail runs 10.9 miles along the Sammamish River and offers extraordinary views of the river, Sammamish River Valley, Cascade foothills and Mt. Rainier.

It was a busy day Sunday when my son and I went skating with our dogs.


Brian with Brinkley & Ginger


Joanne & Ebony

The trail is used as a corridor between suburban cities and Seattle. The beautiful trail winds through Sammish River Park, Woodinville’s wineries and breweries, Sixty Acres Park, and connects to the Power Line and Bear Creek Trails.