BTB Advertiser Companion Animal Medical Center is celebrating their first anniversary this Saturday (April 10) with an Open House from 10am – 2pm.

Enjoy some cake and punch while you tour their state-of-the-art facility.

Also, Dr. Leslie Kasper wanted to let all our Readers know that she’s running a Spring Spay/Neuter Special with $25 off puppies/kittens, and $50 off dogs/cats over a year old.

Stop by and check out Companion Animal Medical at 19655 First Ave. South in Normandy Park, call them at 206-878-0405 or check out their website here.

Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by thousands of interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

According to The Seattle Times, a 9-year old boy named Cosmo Miller caught a 150-pound sixgill shark while fishing near Normandy Park last week.

The story goes that Cosmo was fishing with his grandfather, Dave Woltz, using a 30-pound test line when he hooked something big. It apparently took him almost an hour to reel the shark in and take some pictures before turning it loose (thank goodness this large shark is still alive, right swimmers? Actually, sixgill sharks are not dangerous to humans…).

Cosmo told the Times that the fish was about 8 feet long, about half the size of the 16-foot boat he was fishing in, and that he had broken two other fishing poles trying to catch one before.

Here’s a pic of Cosmo’s shark the Times used in their story:

Read Susan Gilmore’s full story here.

Previously, our sister site The B-Town Blog did a story on a documentary about sixgill sharks being filmed nearby – read that story here.

Here’s a video of an encounter with one of these puppies:

Welcome our latest Advertiser to The Normandy Park Blog: Companion Animal Medical Center in Normandy Park!

There’s a new vet and clinic in town, Dr. Leslie Kasper and her Companion Animal Medical Center with a new philosophy on the care and treatment.

Dr. Kasper told us here The NPB, “We believe every pet is a member of a family, so why should your animal’s doctor visits be any different?”

At Companion Animal pet-parents will always feel comfortable and confident in their companion’s care. Dr. Kasper and her staff simply love animals. You can see it in the way they treat them. They’re all pet-parents too!

“Whether it is a simple vaccine or a major procedure, we will strive to educate you on your patient’s current condition, overall health, and any prevention or future care that may be warranted,” stated Dr. Kasper.

Area resident Dr. Leslie Kasper can’t remember a time she didn’t want to be a veterinarian. She gained experience working in the field as an assistant and technician through high school and undergraduate school.

As a 2005 graduate from Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, she initially worked in Cheney, WA at a mixed animal practice. Although she enjoyed working with the livestock and farmers, she missed her family in Western Washington.

Dr. Kasper (then Strelow) spent the next two-and-a-half years practicing in both Bellevue and Renton, where she developed the clinical medicine, professional and business skills she utilizes today.

Dr. Kasper and her hubby Mike share their Burien house with their pet-family that includes two miniature dachshunds, Piglet and Molly, as well as a DSH lilac torti named PufDuster and two adopted kittens – TuTu and Evalyn.

Services for your pet-family:
What can we say about services in 20 words or less? Dr. Kasper’s clinic is state of the art with the most advance medical equipment in the area. Some of her services are:

• Routine Examinations with Specialized Preventive Care
• Nutrition and Weight Management
• Soft Tissue Surgery
• Dental Prophylaxis and Oral Surgery
• In-House Laboratory Testing
• Digital Radiography (X-Rays)
• Geriatric and Hospice Care
• Housing and Boarding Facilities
• Behavioral Consultation

Top: Dr Kasper with Piglet and Molly, Lisa with Bella, Teghan with Boxer.
Bottom: Rose with Chance, Audrey with Lil’Girl.

Meet the staff:

• Audrey—Licensed Veterinarian Assistant (LVT) Hospital Manager, 11 years experience
• Lisa—final stages of schooling to become a LVT.
• Rose — Certified Veterinary Assistant, 4 years experience
• Teghan — Veterinary Assistant: New to veterinary field; studying for masters in Animal Behavior
• Melanie—LVT, and has been with Dr. Kasper through then entire rehabbing process

Also on the staff are:

• Lil’Girl (greeter)
• Chance (sniffer)
• Piglet and Molly (worry-warts)

If you drive on First Ave South through Normandy Park halfway between Burien and Des Moines, you’ve probably witnessed Companion Animal Medical Center come to life at 19655 First Ave. South in Normandy Park (map below).

Now you can stop by and welcome them to the neighborhood and check out their state of the art clinic.

Or call them at 206-878-0405.

Or visit their website here.

For hours of operation click here.

View Larger Map

Last Saturday, the population of Normandy Park grew by 42,500.

You could be forgiven for missing your new neighbors because they’re only about an inch and a half long. They’re also covered in scales and like to eat bugs, so you may not have a lot in common with them. These new residents of the area are actually coho salmon fry:

For the last six weeks, the salmon fry been raised by the volunteer group Trout Unlimited in a small hatchery on the grounds of the Southwest Suburban Sewer District plant in Normandy Park. The group received the coho as “eyed eggs” from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. At the hatchery, a small building next to Miller Creek, the eggs and fry were incubated in trays constantly bathed in clean well water.

On Saturday morning (Jan. 17th), 15 volunteers used buckets and ice chests to carry the fish to 15 sites along Miller and Walker Creeks in Burien and Normandy Park. Another 25,500 fish were released in Normandy Park.

Upon release, the coho have to fend for themselves amongst wild salmon fry. All the fry have to learn to survive the challenges of high stream flows and polluted stormwater, avoid predators such as great blue herons, and find enough food (insects – yum!). A smart, strong, and lucky few will survive a year living in our streams before heading down to Puget Sound. Even fewer will survive another 2-3 years in Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. In 2012 and 2013, a tiny fraction of the 42,500 fry released today in Burien will have survived incredible odds and will struggle to swim back up Miller and Walker Creeks. Back in fresh water, they’ll be looking for a bit of gravel and a mate to spawn with (our Pacific Northwest “circle of life” can match the Lion King’s any day!)

To help ensure the fish have healthier streams to return to, there will be a variety of restoration projects where you can volunteer this year – and as always, The B-Town Blog will list the opportunities well in advance!

To learn more about the streams and how they support our new neighbors, visit the Miller and Walker Creeks stewardship webpage.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Extra special thanks to Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward Dennis Clark for this post and photos!]

We are more than happy to shout a big and loud Woof Woof! (that’s Doggie Speak for “welcome”) to our latest Advertiser: Wag the Dog Daycare!

You kind of have to look to find Wag the Dog – they’re next to Supercuts on Ambaum in Burien, just south of Martini Cleaners. There’s plenty of parking.

“Wag the Dog is committed to providing socialized fun-filled days,” owner Terri Benish says. “Our day care is filled with lots of toys for the dogs’ enjoyment, and beds for when they want to relax. We are ready and willing to cater to your pet’s needs at any time.”

At Wag the Dog, your pet will have access to an outside fenced-in play yard which allows him or her to remain on their normal potty routine.

Another unique feature are Wag the Dog’s four “Dog Cams” (check them out here) which enable you to check in on your pooch anytime of the day.

Terri offers additional features including grooming, nail trimming and teeth brushing.

“It’s been my dream all my life to work with animals,” says Terri, who for fifteen years worked as a real estate appraiser. “I love what I’m doing now. It is truly rewarding and fulfilling to work with my clients’ dogs every day.”

Terri opened her shop in March, after looking at locations all around the south Puget Sound area.

“I was delighted to find that Burien has very reasonable zoning regulations,” Terri said. “This city is quite business friendly.”

Well, as they say at Wag the Dog: “Wag On!”

Wag the Dog info:

Monday through Friday
7:00 am to 7:00 pm
15227 Ambaum Blvd. SW, Burien 98166

Phone 206-453-DOGS (3647)

info@wagthedogdaycare.net
www.wagthedogdaycare.net