The Wake-Up Call: Dog Days, Schedule Changes

It's a doggie-themed day today, with tickets on sale to see one of the world's most well-known dog trainers, and people around the country hauling their pets to the office. So we thought we'd share this Youtube video on Treibball, a new and weird sport started by those wacky Europeans. As our friends at dog training site Kibbles & Kids point out, it's "a little like a cross between a herding competition and doggie soccer." To us, it looks like cute dogs pushing around giant beach balls with their noses while their owners shout encouragement. We'll let you ponder the deeper meaning of this pastime while we tell you what's going on today.

In the Patch:

. Oops: Council members didn't mean to pass a loophole in the zoning code that could allow Walmart to open a controversial new store without further review. At least, that's what some of them said at Wednesday's meeting. The council has called a special meeting for today at 4:00 p.m. to talk about what went wrong, and how it might be fixed. See for details.

Wake-Up Call moves to Monday-Thursday schedule.  Starting next week, The Wake-Up Call will get you going the first four mornings of the week, while , our Weekend Planner, will run Friday morning to set you up for your weekend. Let us know what you think of the change.

Outside the Patch:

Take Your Dog to Work Day. You've heard of 'Take Your Daughter to Work Day.' Did someone not want childless pet owners to feel left out? Actually, the event aims to promote pet adoption, according to its official website, as well as "celebrate the human-canine bond."  We're wondering how employers will react to packs of chihuahuas and golden retrievers descending on their manicured conference rooms. If any of you brave souls out there dare to participate in this holiday, please send us an email and let us know how it went.

'Dog Whisperer' tickets on sale today. Continuing with our canine theme, dog lovers who really want to commune with their pets can now purchase passes to see famed animal behaviorist Cesar Millan when he visits Sacramento in September. At $36 to $46 per person, the tickets aren't cheap—but then, not everyone can talk to dogs, now can they?