Dear Urbanhounders,

Pampered pets and their obsessive owners have become stock characters in nearly every lampoon of American excess. And, while it's safe to say there's a kernel of truth to it (after all, someone is buying the pink satin dog robe and matching nightie from Paris Hilton's canine couture collection), the real story is far more complex than the cliché: Our dogs are members of our family.

We want to take them with us on vacation, out to dinner, and even to yoga class. Sometimes we indulge them. So what's wrong with that?

We plan weekend get-aways with them in mind, and we go out of our way for places like W Hotels where the amenities include dog beds with turn-down service and a concierge who can arrange a birthday party for your pup. When we must leave our dogs behind, we gladly pay for the swimming pool and blueberry facial scrubs at Wag Hotels and the orthopedic beds and webcams at D is for Doggy.

The connection between our hearts and wallets is nowhere more evident than at the vet, where we now have as many diagnostic tools and treatment options for our dogs as we do for ourselves. And, unlike a $1760 Louis Vuitton carrier or "handcrafted" canine canopy bed, these are expenditures we're willing to make even in the face of economic downturn. In fact, a recent survey suggests we'd go so far as to cut back on groceries for ourselves to give our dogs the care they need, exactly as if they were our children -- which, in fact, they are.

With best wishes to you and your all-deserving hounds,

Laura Cavaluzzo
Editor, urbanhound San Francisco

Nadia Zonis
Editor, urbanhound New York

Dog Friendly Spring Soiree Mix and Mingle
Friday, April 11, 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Upstairs Lounge at Proof, 239 Third Ave. btwn. 19th & 20th Sts., Manhattan
One hundred percent of the $20 cover charge for this cocktail party goes to support Bideawee. You will be served a complementary Wagging Dog (Rum and Coke) or Meow-tini (Apple Martini). Dogs drink free. Please purchase tickets in advance at the Bideawee web site.

Dog Night at Shea
Friday, April 11, 7:10 PM
Shea Stadium, Flushing Meadows, Queens
Bring your hound along to cheer the Amazins against Milwaukee. Tickets online, or call 718-507-TIXX.

Walkin' New York Dog-Friendly Tour of Central Park
Saturday, April 12, 11:30 AM (Rain date: Sunday, April 13th, 11:30 AM)
59th St. and 5th Ave., in front of the statue of General Sherman, Manhattan
Bob Gelber of Walkin' NY will guide you and your hound through the byways of Central Park, with a history lesson along the way. Tickets are $20, with $4 of each ticket going to Bideawee. Please RSVP to Bob@WalkinNY.com or 212-349-7916.

Lenny the Pug's 3rd Annual Birthday Benefit
Sunday, April 13, 2 PM to 5 PM
Animal Haven, 251 Centre St., Manhattan
A raffle, silent auction, exhibitor tables, and treats for people and dogs are some of the highlights of this birthday bash to benefit the Animal Haven shelter. Tickets are $25 in advance, $35 at the door, no charge for dogs.

Pet Loss Support Group
Thursday, April 17, 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.

Macy's Barkfast
Sunday, April 20, 9 AM to 10:30 AM
Macy's Herald Square, Manhattan
A festive breakfast tribute to pets to benefit the Animal Haven shelter. Tickets ($50 for adults and $20 for kids, with 100 percent going to Animal Haven) can be bought online. Dogs (on leash) welcome!

Estate Planning with Your Pet In Mind
Thursday, April 24, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
MR Club, 122 E. 83rd St., Manhattan
Frances Carlisle, Esq., a specialist in animal law, will discuss strategies for providing for your dog after your death. Admission is $25. For more information, contact the Metropolitan Dog Club at 212-465-3164 or events@metropolitandogclub.com.

The Dachshund Spring Fiesta
Saturday, April 26, noon
Washington Square Park, Manhattan
Calling all Doxies! This event is one of our favorites. Each year, hundreds of long hounds and their humans gather under the arch in Washington Square, march around the fountain, and sing the famous Dachs Song, which begins simply, "There's no other dog like a Dachshund" (complete lyrics at the Dachs Song site).

Animal Haven Soho Flea Market
Sunday, April 27, 11 AM to 4 PM
Animal Haven Soho, 251 Centre St., Manhattan
Pet supplies, jewelry, toys, and lots more will be on offer at this sale to benefit Animal Haven.

NYC Pitbull Rescue First Sunday Meetup
Sunday, April 27, noon
Madison Square Park, Fifth Ave. and 23rd St., Manhattan
If you are committed to fighting stereotypes about pitbulls, join other pit enthusiasts who belong to this Meetup group.

Third Annual New York City Barking Beauty Pageant
Sunday, April 27, 6 PM to 8 PM
Animal Haven Soho, 251 Centre St., Manhattan
Is your hound the loveliest in all the land? Then this pageant may be just the thing for you. Competing in three preliminary categories (Activewear, Glamourwear, and Talent), hound participants are free to wear and do anything they want (creativity is what counts). Prizes will be rewarded to both small and big dogs in each category, and, there will be one overall grand-prize winner. Registration is $50 and audience admission is $10 a human. All proceeds will benefit Animal Haven and Stone Soup Theatre Arts, a group that produces theater works that deal with contemporary social issues. For rules, more information, and to register, visit the pageant website.

Cocktails for Canines
Friday, May 2, 6:30 PM
Star Lounge, 222 W. 23rd St., Manhattan
Enjoy a cocktail and contribute to the well-being of the needy pets at Animal Care & Control. $25 minimum donation requested.

Coffee Bark
Saturday, May 3, 7 AM to 9 AM
Prospect Park, Brooklyn
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 the Picnic House), the monthly Coffee Bark includes muffins for humans and dog biscuits for hounds. The long standing social is sponsored by Brooklyn's FIDO, officially known as the Fellowship In the Interest of Dogs and Their Owners.

St. Nick's Dog Park Coffee Bark
Saturday, May 3, 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.

Petco Unleashed! Fourth Annual Chihuahua Race
Saturday, May 3, 10 AM
Valley Stream Petco, 366 W. Sunrise Hwy., Valley Stream
Is your Chihuahua fleet of foot? Petco is looking for the fastest Chihuahua in America and they are holding regional time trials around the country. Winners get a free trip to San Diego for the national finals in August. If you think your Chi has what it takes, register online.

Sir William's Dog Run Coffee Bark
Sunday, May 4, 8 AM to 10 AM
Sir William's Dog Run, Fort Tryon Park, 190th St. and Fort Washington Ave., Manhattan
The Fort Tryon Dog Owner's Group invites everyone to this gathering the first Sunday of each month at their beautiful run. Free coffee and donuts. If you'd like to help out with maintenance of the run, stick around after the event.

St. Vincent's Patient Pet Care: Cinco de Mayo Event
Monday, May 5, 6:30 PM to 9 PM
NYU Kimmel Center, 60 Washington Sq. South, Manhattan
A fiesta to raise funds for a program at St. Vincent's that supports pets while their human companions are in the hospital. Tickets are $75 and can be ordered online. For more information contact Kate Fischer at 212-604-8649 or mfischer@svcmcny.org.

The Good Dog Foundation 10-Year Anniversary Gala Dinner
Tuesday, May 13, 6 PM
Espace, 635 W. 42nd St., Manhattan
An event to benefit The Good Dog Foundation, a group that trains therapy dog teams that work at hospitals, senior centers, and schools for the disabled around the city. For details and tickets call 718-788-2988.

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

Hound insurance news. Progressive now offers a policy called Pet Injury Coverage that will reimburse up to $500 for vet care for a dog (or cat) injured in a car accident. Meanwhile, some employers are providing pet health insurance as an employee benefit through companies like PetFirst and Veterinary Pet Insurance.

Bikers Against Animal Cruelty (BAAC) 2009 Calendar Photo Contest. If you love your motorcycle almost as much as you love your dog, submit a photo that shows them both off -- it could be selected to be in the first BAAC calendar. This group of motorcyclist enthusiasts raises funds for medical care for injured and abused shelter animals. For more information and to enter the contest, write Admin@BikersAgainstAnimalCruelty.org.

Support the Pets in Housing Bill. The proposed legislation would protect tenants' right to have pets. For details visit the League of Humane Voters of NYC.

What's On. At 8 PM this Saturday, Animal Planet airs an update episode of It's Me or the Dog in which trainer Victoria Stilwell visits three dogs to see if they've been able to maintain their weight loss. At 9 PM the channel premieres its new reality program, Groomer Has It. Jai Rodriguez (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) hosts as 12 groomers compete for a $50,000 prize and a mobile salon. Then at 10 (also on Bravo Wednesdays at 10 PM), Showdog Moms and Dads follows five families who sacrifice everything to make their dogs champions.