Pet Briefs

DockDogs event return to SEWE

For the third year in a row, DockDogs will be making a splash at the Southeastern Wildlife Expo next weekend.

During this three-day event, DockDogs will be doing a long jump and a high jump. This year, dogs will be required to take a short run down the dock to retrieve a toy suspended at the end of the pool. The event will be at Brittlebank Park.

Pre-registration with discounted fees is under way at www.dockdogs.com through Tuesday.

Carlson exhibit at Dog & Horse

Dog & Horse Fine Art announces Beth Carlson's fifth anniversary exhibition of her sporting paintings.

The exhibit goes from Thursday through March 13, with an artist's reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Dog & Horse Fine Art is at 102 Church St.

For details, visit www.dogandhorsefineart.com or call 577-5500.

Great Backyard Bird Count set

Bird watchers coast to coast are invited to take part in the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, which takes place Friday-Feb. 15.

Participants will count birds in their own backyards, local parks or wildlife refuges.

Anyone can participate, from novice bird watchers to experts. Participants count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org.

On the Web site, participants can explore real-time maps and charts that show what others are reporting during the count. The site has tips to help identify birds and special materials for educators.

Participants also may enter the photo contest by uploading images taken during the count. Many images will be featured in the Web site's photo gallery.

All participants are entered in a drawing for prizes.

Number of insured pets growing

Despite a sagging economy, the number of pets with health insurance is growing rapidly in South Carolina.

As of 2009, Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. insured more than 3,745 pets in South Carolina and 300 of those in Charleston, almost a 200 percent increase from 2004 when the company insured only 105 pets in Charleston.

For more information, visit petinsurance.com.

AKC announces top dogs for 2009

For the 19th year, the Labrador retriever is the most popular purebred dog in America.

According to American Kennel Club 2009 registration statistics released recently, the German shepherd overtook the Yorkshire terrier and is now ranked second for the first time in more than three decades.

Other breeds in the Top 10, in order of ranking, are: Yorkshire terrier, golden retriever, beagle, boxer, bulldog, dachshund, poodle and Shih tzu.

Compiled by Brenda Rindge. Send items to pets@postandcourier.com.