The ValleyCats' season is almost over, but not before it goes to the dogs (ouch). This Saturday's game against the Vermont Lake Monsters is the annual Bark in the Park night, which means dogs are welcome at the game.
After a summer of playing fetch, your dog might like the opportunity to sit back and watch humans chase the ball for a change. (And a hot dog probably wouldn't be turned down, either.)
First pitch is 7 pm.
Otto considers his choice.

Not content to merely take over the human world, Rachael Ray -- and her brand -- recently expanded into the world of dog treats and dog food. The Rachael Ray Nutrish line features "premium" dog food, chewy "Grill Bites," and crunchy "Booscotti" (as in Isaboo, Rachael's dog).
Here's how the Booscotti are described on the RR site:
It's fun to watch my Isaboo start her tail waggin' the minute she sees these treats. I'll bet your dog will go crazy for them, too.
Well, we'll just see about that. We put the Booscotti to the test with Otto, the AOA office dog.
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By Jessica Pasko
Think your job is well, crappy, sometimes? Meet Steve Relles of Delmar. His job is literally crappy, and yet ... he loves it.
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Owney was apparently some sort of terrier mix.
Just before the beginning of the last century, Albany was known all around the world. Because of a dog.
No, really. It's true.
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"A dogs life isn't as easy as it looks. I need a little pampering too."
By Jessica Pasko
It's summer, it's hot and frankly you're not the only one who could use a little R&R. Yep, it's time to pamper your pooch. Sure, there are pet spas, pet manicures and doggy day cares but many of us can't justify those for ourselves, let alone our dogs. So here are a few local ideas to help you and your favorite canine through the dog days of summer without breaking the bank:
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Pretty much everyone with a dog -- or any pet, for that matter -- has probably taken their fair share of dog pictures. It's not like three million plus photos on Flickr have been tagged "dog" by accident. But we'd never heard of anyone having their dog professionally photographed.
Then we came across Heather Bohm-Tallman, a photographer from the Saratoga area who shoots weddings, events and... dogs. "Really?" we thought, "That's kind of cool. And maybe a little weird. We gotta talk to her."
So we emailed Heather a bunch of questions and she was nice enough to answer...
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Ming Mei just can't kick the habit. (Arf! We know, no treat for us.)
The Albany-Capital District Pug Lovers Meetup Group had its annual Pug Ball this past weekend in Colonie. And pugs of all sorts -- young, old, skinny, round, easy going, excitable -- were decked out to look their best. After a few minutes there, it was pretty clear: pug people have more fun than the rest of us.
Many pictures after the jump. Be sure you're braced for extreme cuteness.
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... said James Cronen about Morning Blend: Troy signs lease for new city hall