Breed bans, insurance discrimination, and, thee, my pit bull

Everyone's calendar is chockablock in December, but here's a day-long symposium I'd make some elbow room for: "Prosecuting Dangerous Owners and Muzzling Dangerous Dogs," presented by a consortium of legal and academic entities. Saturday, Dec. 1, at New York University's Lipton Hall in D'Agostino Hall (108 W. 3rd Street) from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Pug-a-licious!

Sorry for the hiatus ... sometimes you've just got to take a break, you know?

I got some hate mail for my recent diatribe about puggles. While I know there are some mahvelous pug-beagle mixes out there, I still hold tight to my conviction that that match is not one made in heaven, not to mention obedience class.

  Speaking of one half of that hybrid, the third annual All-Pug Halloween Costume Contest Party kicks off Sunday, October 28, at Animal Haven Soho ( 251 Centre Street, NYC). More than 100 costumed smush-facers are anticipated.

The $5 costume-contest entry fee is being donated to Animal Haven, a no-kill shelter.

Among the prize catagories: Most Creative, Most Over-The-Top, Best Pug-Human Costume Coordination and the coveted Best in Show.

For more information and to RSVP, go to http://pug.meetup.com/40/ or contact the group organizer, Lin Randolph, at nycpugmeetup@earthlink.net.

Bobbi says ... BOO!

Bobbi & the Strays holds its annual Halloween party and fund-raiser on Thursday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. at Russo's on the Bay in Howard Beach.

Planned for this year's spooky celebration: a live auction for the celebrity jewelry of Cher, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and Tom Cruise.  In attendance will be actor Joseph Gannascoli (he played in-the-closet Vito Spatafore on  "The Sopranos," and now has his own line of marinara sauce) and "Goumba Johnny," the WKTU deejay.

For more information, call 718-845-0779, or email Bobbicares1@aol.com.

Costume is optional. How many brindle whippet lookalikes you figure will attend?

Bobbi & Strays fund-raiser TONIGHT

Do I hear fifty?

On Thurs., June 22, Posh Nightclub at the Garden City Hotel hosts a Charity Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction to benefit Bobbi and the Strays.

For those who have been on the Vivi trail since its earliest days at JFK
Airport, Bobbi's outpost in the airport cargo areas was a frequent meeting
spot and "refueling" station for posters and flyers.

While Vivi eventually headed northward, Bobbi and the Strays continues to
do its quiet, unassuming work, helping homeless dogs and cats in this
under-served area of southeast Queens.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Bidding begins at 8 p.m. Ticket price is $35, which
includes buffet and OPEN BAR!

Alas, hotel magnate Brian Rosenberg is happily married and will not be on
the block.

Tickets available at door- please come and show your support and possibly
buy a bachelor or bachelorette, too!


For ticket information, email egiurco@optonline.net, or call (516)
679-5556.

Frisbee-o-rama

The Vivi-obsessed will forgive me if I post the occasional non-search related item, as the cat people will soon stop speaking to me if I don't acknowledge other species (or even breeds) exist.

To that end:

FREE Frisbee Catching Seminar

Saturday March 11 2006 @ 11 a.m.
Eva’s Play Pups, 52 N 11th St , Williamsburg Brooklyn

L train to Bedford Ave. North to N11th street

Can your dog catch popcorn? Fetch Better yet, does he have a mouth? Then he can catch a Frisbee.

Or so promise the trainers of Empire of the Dog, who've taught everything from border collies to Chihuahuas to dive for the coveted flying disc.

This seminar is FREE for humans, but you'll pay $20 advance registration if you want to bring your well socialized dog. To register, visit www.empireofthedog.com.

Anemone? I hardly know you

Grouper fish have the option of changing their sex if there aren't enough available mates of the opposite sex. We humans have no such hermaphroditic options.

Instead, there's "Sex and the Sea," a singles social mixer this Saturday, Feb. 11, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the New York Aquarium. The Brooklyn aquarium will have its education staffers on hand to discuss such pheromone-pumping subjects as how octopuses change color in order to woo the one they love. But the hooking up is up to you.

Tickets are $30 for members; $35 for non-members, which includes beer and wine, hors d’oeuvres and on-site parking. You must be 21; call 718-265-3448 to make a reservation.