Three reasons I love the Triangle (in pictures)

1. Because it’s entirely possible to go to a fashion show based on the theme of using plastic bags. This show was at the Whole Foods in Raleigh on Earth Day.

2. Because Durham residents are so passionate about local politics that they will go to great lengths to display their support.

3. Because you can go to a wine fest one weekend (this pic was taken at the Great Grapes! fest in Cary last Saturday), then go to the World Beer Festival the following weekend (I’ll be at the Raleigh event from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday).

What are three reasons why you love the Triangle (or greater Triangle area)?

Whining about Wine Fest

I stuffed myself with some BBQ Saturday afternoon, hoping to prevent a hangover from all the wine I assumed I’d be drinking at the “Great Grapes! Wine, Arts & Food Festival” at the Koka Booth Ampitheatre at Regency Park in Cary, NC. Turns out that wouldn’t be a problem because most of the wines were much too sweet for my taste. The featured wines were all produced by North Carolina wine makers, many of whom fancy the muscadine — a gross-tasting grape of sorts that is fancied by many in North Carolina (clearly not by me, though).

I still had fun at the festival, thanks in part to the grape stomping contest, which featured NBC17’s morning anchor Donald Jones. I’m lucky because my shift briefly overlaps with Donald’s, so for a couple hours each morning I’m entertained by his antics. Donald has an incredible sense of humor and makes mornings much more fun.

Donald is an avid cyclist, and he disclosed after the contest that he biked 42 miles earlier in the day. So all the stomping you see him doing in this video is after an already busy day for him. BTW, Donald also blogs about his cycling ways.

Stolen Puppy Reunited with Owner

Remember the puppy that was stolen from a Cary apartment during a burglary? She was a Golden Retriever named Lulu, and when she went missing Cary Police put out a press release asking the public for help finding her. I blogged about her because I didn’t know how I felt about the police putting out a news release seeking help finding a lost dog.

Well, Lulu has been reunited with her owner, the News & Observer reported Sunday. Supposedly, Lulu was purchased by an unsuspecting woman at a gas station in Angier for $50. The woman couldn’t keep up with the new pup, the N&O reported, so she gave it to her sister who apparently realized it was the stolen pup. Awww. A happy ending.

I have to wonder though, who buys a puppy from a gas station?

Meet a Potentially Famous Dog in Real Life

If you’re looking for some canine contact this weekend, consider heading to Circuit City to meet Hank.

Hank is the local Golden Retriever who is a finalist in the electronics store’s “Find the Next Firedog” contest. I blogged about him earlier this month, saying that if he wins, the local nonprofit Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue will receive $50,000.

Hank will be on hand from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Cary Circuit City, 1490 Piney Plains Road, along with representatives from NRGRR, according to a news release I received yesterday.

And it’s not too late to vote for Hank (NRGRR officials say he is the only dog from North Carolina in the contest). To vote, click here. I’ve been told that if you vote you will receive an e-mail with a link to confirm your vote and it may go to your junk/spam filter.

What Kind of Person Steals a Puppy?

Cary Police are seeking help finding a new breed of criminal: A puppy thief.

Police say a man allegedly broke into a Cary home on Monday and stole a Golden Retriever named LuLu — in addition to jewelry, a laptop and digital camera. So police issued a press release this afternoon asking for help locating the “puppy pincher.”

Here are the first two paragraphs of the release:

CARY, NC –Cary Police are asking for your help in retrieving a female Golden Retriever puppy named “LuLu” who was stolen during a home burglary on Monday, January 14, 2008 on East Cornwall Road in Cary; LuLu was last seen wearing a pink collar. Police are also seeking help in locating a person of interest who was seen near the home during the burglary.

The person of interest is described as a white male, about 5-feet-10-inches to 6 feet tall, with sandy-colored, medium length hair and was last seen wearing a tan windbreaker and khaki pants. He was also seen driving a beige Ford Taurus at the time of the theft.

By the way, if you’ve seen LuLu, police ask that you contact Crime Stoppers at 226-CRIM(E) or call Capt. Dave Wulff at (919) 469-4017; you may also visit www.carycrimestoppers.net.

Obviously, someone has to be a real jerk to break into someone’s home and steal anything, nonetheless a puppy. And it makes sense that police would want to track down the perpetrator. But do you think it’s also the responsibility of the police to track down the puppy?

Who Doesn’t Look for Their Lost Dog? At least 30 Locals, Apparently

If your dog is missing, you should look for it.

No-duh, right? Wrong, apparently.

For some reason, a Wake County animal shelter is seeing an influx of lost dogs, and no one appears to be claiming them. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals issued a news release today urging “Pet Owners to Search for the Lost Dogs.” SPCA officials suspect that up to 30 of the 73 dogs currently in its lost and found pet center have owners who just haven’t found them.

“It would be tragic for these dogs not to be reunited with their owners just because the owner didn’t know where to look,” said spokeswoman Mondy Lamb. The shelter takes in stray animals found outside the Raleigh, Cary and Garner areas, according to the news release. She speculates that the influx might be the result of dog owners being out-of-town for the holidays and their dogs got out. Now, she guesses, they don’t know where to look or haven’t done a thorough search

So what should you do if your pet goes missing? Fill out a lost animal report online. Then go to the lost and found pet center to look for your lost pup anytime between 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Have you ever lost a pet? If so, did you find it or was it lost forever?