To celebrate their first anniversary, the tavern, at 700 S. Potomac St., is presenting a new collection of work by Jawetz. The  show, "Human(e) Beings," explores the relationships between people and animals from a variety of emotions and perspectives."

While the earlier exhibit by Jawetz focused on big dogs, the paintings featured in the new one are  personal images of people with dogs, cats and other animals.

Jawetz, in return for the inspiration they bring him, will give 5% of the sales from the show back to the animals, through a donation to the Baltimore animal rescue group Recycled Love.

The show will be on display from July 1 - 28, with an wine reception on July 15 from 6 to 8 p.m.

"Some of the paintings are funny, some are melancholy, and some are ambiguous. Many of the paintings are very personal," Jawetz said.

"I used my love of Impressionist art and of contemporary painters like Lucian Freud and Malcolm Liepke to try out new things with poses, colors and atmosphere."

Jawetz studied at the Art Students League of New York and currently works out of his studio in Baltimore.

He was showcasing his work at this weekend's Parade of Pets at the American Visionary Arts Museum, when we ran into him again and snapped a photo of him at work on a painting of his own dog, Pete.

Jawetz, when he wasn't watching the antics on stage -- where dozens of dogs displayed their talents or lack thereof -- worked on the painting throughout the event.

The finished product -- or at least the point it was at when the event concluded -- is to the right.

"There are things about it that I would normally develop further and fix," Jawetz said in the email in which he sent the picture along to us.

"But I decided that since my goal was to paint for the two hours that the festivities took place that I wouldn't make any changes after the fact.

"So this is the finished piece: Two hours worth of noisy, crazy, distracted painting. Definitely a memorable experience -- and one that I hope to have again in the future."

To see more of his work, visit his website: www.buskerdog.com. 

July's issue of the local magazine is dedicated to urban animals, and a few of those who live on the edges of Baltimore -- from the pets we invite into our homes to the wild species in our backyards and beyond.

The issue includes an interview with the amazing Temple Grandin, a professor of animal science at Colorado State University and the author of the bestseller Animals in Translation, who credits her insights into the way animals think to her autism.

Like animals, says Grandin,"I think in pictures ...As soon as you start thinking in words, you lose details. It’s the price we pay for abstract thought.”

In the issue's lead feature story, “Year of the Horse,” writer Charles Cohen chronicles the century-plus history and troubled future of the arabbers, Baltimore’s celebrated horse-and-cart produce merchants.

The closing of the arabbers’ largest stable in August 2007 and new regulations have all but eliminated the carts from the streets. Cohen followed the efforts of the arabber community to  save the dying trade, and he supplemented his in-depth portrait with accompanying documentary videos posted to the Urbanite website.

Also in the issue are a feature on local dog painter Gil Jawetz, and senior editor Greg Hanscom’s “Where the Wild Things Are,” a look at the Baltimore Ecosystem Study.  There's useful information about what to do when your pet dies, when you find a stray, and how to adopt a pet. And former Sun reporter Richard O'Mara reflects on his childhood cat. Bingo was his name.

Urbanite is a free monthly magazine about cities and city life as seen through the distinctive lens of Baltimore. Each issue revolves around a central theme and offers a range of perspectives to illuminate urban living.

The pug to your left came disguised as a crab cake. The toupeed fellow above was channeling Elvis. A turtle jumped, or at least crawled, through a hoop, and a snake made an "S" out of himself.

It was as wacky as always at today's annual Parade of Pets at the American Visionary Arts Museum. 

The real estate baroness died in August, and although the instructions weren’t part of her official will they are considered “expressions of intent.” As such, according to the Times, the trustees of her estate can take them into account in deciding how to dole out the fortune.

Both People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) have expressed interest –- well, much more than interest, this is downright droolworthy –- in putting the money to good use, according to an Associated Press report.

Both organizations, and a multitude of other local animal welfare organizations, will be be suggesting programs and applying for funds if Helmsley's billions really end up funding dog welfare.

Helmsley's will named her own dog, Trouble, as a beneficiary. Her two grandchildren, meanwhile, got nothing. In April, though, a Manhattan judge reduced the trust fund for the 9-year-old Maltese from the specified $12 million Helmsley specified to $2 million. The judge ruled the grandkids could split $6 million.

That means plenty is still left over.

Ingrid Newkirk, co-founder and president of PETA, said Helmsley's money could help save many of the 3 million dogs that are put to death each year, and reduce that number through spay and neuter programs.

"Many people cannot afford the surgery for their dogs," she said. "In these hard times, with house foreclosures, and people trying to pay for food and fuel, the last thing they're going to think about is the care and sterilization of dogs." She said Helmsley's brother, Alvin Rosenthal, who is one of the five trustees of the estate, has been a PETA donor in the past.

Pacelle noted that laws covering foundations generally require that a charity spend 5 percent of its assets per year. On an $8 billion estate, that would be $400 million — three times the Humane Society's annual budget.

"We do intend to reach out to the trustees and make the affirmative case that there is a tremendous amount of philanthropy to be done to help dogs in our society," he said.

Howard Rubenstein, spokesman for the trustees, said there would be no comment.

(AP photo)

“I speak for the thousands of pet owners, professionals and true lovers of animals,” said Ray McSoley, an animal behavior expert. “They sit with me, in chorus, urging you to pass the act prohibiting the rental of pets.”

Under the ordinance, proposed after FlexPetz announced plans to open a branch in Boston, any individual caught renting a dog would be fined $300, and the pooch would be impounded. The City Council is schedule to vote on the proposed ban on July 9.

City councilors heard arguments ranging from the legal issue of who is liable if a rented dog bites someone, to the potentially destabilizing effect of moving pets from place to place.

“I think the one unified position that I heard coming from the testimony was that this is no way to treat animal life. They are living beings, not commodities,” said city councilor Chuck Turner.

No one at the hearing opposed the ban, and no one representing FlexPetz attended, according to an article in today's Boston Herald.

Company founder Marlena Cervantes Cervantes said FlexPetz -- a San Diego firm that has opened rent-a-pet offfices in New York, Los Angeles and London -- was undecided on whether it would challenge a pet-renting prohibition in Boston.

The company has also drawn criticism in London.

“We are a small company, and we just don’t have the budget to fly out because the government is interfering in our business,” Cervantes said.

BioArts International -- the U.S. company that sponsored the "Best Friends Again" contest -- announced the winner Monday. BioArts International claims to have the sole worldwide license for the cloning of dogs, cats and endangered species.

A Korean company that has cloned several dogs, RNL Bio, disputes that claim, and says it is the sole authorized agent for dog cloning. RNL Bio is expecting the birth of what it describes as the first commercially cloned dogs later this month -- three fetuses now in surrogate mothers that were created with tissue from a dog named Booger, a pit bull who helped his master cope with her disabilities. RNL Bio has threatened legal action against BioArts for infringing on its patents and licenses.

BioArts says that within 30 days it will transport a sample of Trakr's DNA to the South Korean lab of its partner, Sooam Biotech Research Foundation.

Trakr and his master, James Symington, were among the first search-and-rescue teams to arrive at Ground Zero, where they helped locate the last human survivor of 9/11, according to BioArts.

"Once in a lifetime, a dog comes along that not only captures the hearts of all he touches but also plays a private role in history," Symington wrote in his winning essay.

Now 15, Trakr has a degenerative neurological disorder that impairs the use of his back legs. The disorder may be linked to exposure to toxic smoke at Ground Zero, experts say.

"We received many touching submissions to our contest, describing some truly amazing dogs," said Lou Hawthorne, CEO of BioArts. "Trakr's story blew us away. His many remarkable capabilities were proven beyond all doubt on our nation's darkest hour - and we view the work of cloning him as a great honor."

BioArts is holding a global auction for five more dog cloning slots next week, with bids starting at $100,000. The essay contest was held in conjunction with that promotion.

The company said Trakr's clone could be born this year. Symington now lives in the Los Angeles area.

"If the clone has Trakr's abilities, then of course we'll put him into service as a detection dog," Symington told the New York Daily News, "and I guess I'll come out of retirement as well."

Humane societies and rescue organizations in Florida, Georgia, Maryland and elsewhere are helping to find new homes for the 700 dogs seized last week in what the Humane Society of the United States calls one of the largest puppy mill rescues ever conducted.

Investigators removed the dogs Wednesday from Pinebluff Kennels in Lyles, Tenn. Many of the dogs suffered eye injuries, broken bones and skin conditions. Several were found dead.

The dogs were being sold on the Web site pinebluffpups.com for as much as $400. Most of the dogs offered on the site were small breeds, such as Chihuahuas, Terriers and Miniature Pinschers.

After months of investigation, county officials and HSUS investigators raided the operation in Hickman County, then dispatched the dogs to shelters in states from Florida to Maryland.

According to the Nashville Tennessean, the Hickman County Humane Society is seeking volunteers to help with sheltering and caring for the animals. They especially need veterinarians and veterinarian technicians, Haisley said. PetSmart Charities has donated enough food for the animals, but there is a need for blankets and towels, he added.

Assistant District Attorney Terry Wood said the owner of Pinebluff Kennels, where the animals were seized, has surrendered the dogs. She has not been charged yet. It could take weeks for investigators to go through evidence and decide what charges the kennel owner could face, Wood said.

More than 150 of the dogs have found refuge in Atlanta, where the Atlanta Humane Society had a sale this weekend to clear space so it could take in the dogs, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Another 130 were sent to the Humane Society of Broward County Florida, according to the Miami Herald.

About 100 have arrived in Maryland and Washington, D.C., Fox News in Washington reported.

The puppies, originally destined to be sold online, mall pet stores and pet boutiques, are now in the process of being adopted through the various rescue organizations. For more information about helping in the effort, contact the Hickman Humane Society.