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Animal-Protection Laws put Oregon Among Top 5 States
A number of new animal laws that took effect in 2010
in Oregon resulted in the
Animal Legal Defense
Fund ranking it among the nation's top five states for going after
animal abusers. This year's legislative session debated 16 bills concerning
animals, an unprecedented number. Six of the bills the governor signed
are of direct concern to animal owners.
The most controversial of the bills debated last spring
was dubbed the puppy-mill bill. Hotly contested in public hearings,
the final legislation didn't contain all the measures its proponents
wanted to keep irresponsible breeders from churning out sick, unsocialized
dogs. But it put a number of restrictions on Oregon breeders, all designed
to combat the conditions found in puppy mills. Most controversially,
the law limits the number of sexually intact dogs anyone can own. Breeders
cannot have more than 50 of such dogs older than 2.
Dog Fancy Ranks Portland Number One City
Dog Fancy magazine (October 2006 issue) gave the top
ranking to Portland as the best all-around city for dogs in America.
According to Dog Fancy, there are 136,332 dogs living in Portland, which
the Census Bureau says has a human population of 554,130. With Forest
Park and 33 city-maintained parks with off-leash areas, Portland is
"one giant dog paradise."
Other top cities for dogs include Sanford, Florida;
Albuquerque, New Mexico; San Diego, California; Bellingham, Washington;
Palo Alto, California; and New York City, which is home to 1.5 million
dogs.
In 2003 The
Purina Pet Institute did an extensive survey of U.S. cities with
the healthiest pets and rated Portland third.
Portland also Loves Cats Portland, clearly,
loves dogs. On any day, rain or shine, owners all over the city can
be seen taking their four-footed friends for a stroll. Cats are less
visible. But the city loves them as well, prompting a national cat-support
group to include Portland in its list of the top 10 cat-friendly cities
in the country. The
Catalyst Council
picked Portland for the number four spot behind Tampa, Phoenix and San
Francisco based on the number of vets and veterinary hospitals in the
city along with the cat population − estimated
at 700,000 in the metro area.
Portland's 31 Off-Leash Dog Parks
Portland rank first in the country with 5.8 dog parks
per 100,000 residents − Portland has 31
off-leash areas. Five are fenced, all-day areas. The remaining are unfenced,
with seasonal hours compatible with traditional park use patterns and
adjacent uses. Boundary markers are in place at the unfenced sites.
There are signs in each off-leash area with maps, rules, and a place
to post notices. Users are asked to bring their own scoop bags.
Visit the
off-leash dog parks and hours page at the Portland Parks Web site
for more information.
Best Swimming Park The
Sellwood Riverfront Park is not only a good place to run your dog
off-leash and your canine friend can go for a swim in the Willamette
River after the run.
Sandy River Delta The 1,400-acre
“dispersed recreation site” at Sandy River Delta (Exit 18 off Interstate
84), where the Sandy and Columbia rivers meet, is Portland’s unofficial,
unleashed playground for dogs. The delta is a wide-open, largely unspoiled
mess of channels and backwaters. Plants include grasses, reeds,
cottonwoods, and blackberries. There are paths and a small dam on the
Sandy so obscure it has bushes and trees growing on it. Of course, these
days anything remotely untended must have its own monument to remaining
so: Here it’s a bird blind built by Maya Lin, the artist who designed
the Vietnam War Memorial, inscribed with the names of 134 bird species.
Suburban Off-Leash Parks
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Hillsboro
- The
Hondo dog park
is located across from Hillsboro Stadium—near the intersection of
Evergreen and 229th avenue.
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Lake Oswego - Luscher
Farm on Stafford Road
Open dawn to dusk. Fenced, benches,
handicap access, and parking.
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Milwaukie - North
Clackamas Park located at 5440 SE Kellog Creek Drive
Open 1/2 hour after sunrise to 1/2 hour before
sunset; fenced, benches, handicap access, tables, bags, water, shelter.
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Washington County
Dog Parks
Washington County Dog Parks is a volunteer community organization
for planning, establishment, construction and maintenance of fun
and safe dog parks in Washington County.
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West Linn - Mary
S. Young State Park on Highway 43 Benches, tables,
handicap access, and shelter.
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Wilsonville - Memorial
Park is located two blocks from the city library and two minutes
from I-5 Fenced,
tables, bags, restrooms, and water.
Canine Companions Boost Readers'
Confidence
Teachers and school officials say that a canine visitor
can help the children's learning. The
Multnomah County Library's reading-to-dogs program is a hit; kids
often sign up weeks ahead of time. Several other schools have brought
in dogs over the years, too. At
Gilbert Heights
Elementary School in Southeast Portland, Jasper, a yellow Labrador
retriever, has visited the library every other Tuesday for the past
six years. Librarian John Wolfgang lets teachers choose which kids can
read to Jasper.
Kids who struggle with reading have experienced a lot of failure by
middle school. The lack of confidence can cause, or at least exacerbate,
behavior issues and turn kids away from wanting to learn. Some
schools use a national program called
Read Naturally
to get them back on track.
The French-American School in Cedar Hills started bringing
in a new teaching tool: Olive, a young retriever-mix, patiently sits
while the kids read to her. To view a video of Olive with her readers,
click
here.
If you think your dog might make a good reading partner
for schoolchildren, contact one of these groups:
Taking Your Dog Out to Dinner
Many of the restaurants that have outside seating allow
dogs to accompany their owners at the table. Some of the eating
establishments along 23rd Northwest Avenue (an area of shops and restaurants)
cater to dogs. And they even will bring a bowl of water.
On a summer evening, stroll along 23rd and stopped for dinner with your
canine friend.
While the Lucky Labrador Brewing Co.'s three Portland-area
locations welcome dogs at outdoor tables and the Pied Cow Coffee House
on nearby Southeast Belmont and 34th offers a meat and fruit "puppy
platter" for $2.50 or $5, Hobnob is the first Portland establishment
to offer a full dog menu.
 Lucky
Labrador Brew Pub The Lab produces some of the tastiest brews
in the northwest and serves up some simple, yet excellent, pub fare.
Lucky Lab allows dog on their outside covered patio − its a great place
to relax and converse with friends or hang out with your canine.
Like to bark and wag tail? Then the
Hobnob menu is
for you. "Froze Noses," a little cup full of chilled yogurt, bananas,
peanut butter and honey is one of the bargains at Hobnob's $1 dogs-only
puppy menu at outdoor tables. The canine menu was introduced when
Jason Heller bought the bar and restaurant on Southeast Morrison and
34th Avenue and notice all the dogs in the Sunnyside neighborhood.
 Dogs
in the Pearl District
Hannah is a yellow Lab, a citizen of the city.
She rides the elevator with her owner. She commutes between her
4th floor condo in the Pearl and the street-level merchants who greet
her sweet demeanor with fellowship and a biscuit. Hannah is an
emerging generation of condo dogs who, in order to live indoors, must
be tested and certified as good citizens in terms of qualities.
This
good-citizen
mandate stands in bylaws for condominiums built by
Hoyt
Street Properties, the Pearl's largest developer and the nation's
first condo builder to require the pledge.
Downtown Ownership
Properties That Allow Pets
Most of the condo units in the Pearl, Northwest District,
etc. allow pets. Here is a partial list:
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Bridgeport
- 1130 NW 12th Avenue.
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Johnson
Street - NW 11th Avenue & Johnson.
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Kearny Plaza
- 1102 NW Lovejoy Street. Rentals only. Telephone 503.227.2000
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Legends
Condos - 1132 SW 19th Avenue. Telephone 503.223.7941
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Marshall-Wells
Lofts - 1001 NW 14th Avenue. Telephone 503.223.2255
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McCormick
Pier - 600 NW Naito Parkway. Telephone 503.228.7437
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The Mosaic
- 1400 SW 11th Avenue. Telephone 503.936.0332
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Park Place
- 922 NW 11th Avenue. Telephone 503.227.2000
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Riverstone
- 820 NW 12th Avenue.
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Streetcar
Lofts - 1030 NW 12th Avenue. Telephone 503.227.2000
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Tanner Place
- 726 NW 11th Avenue.
Pet Health Care
 The
Portland metro area has excellent pet health care specialists to include
an oncology center and 24-hour emergency hospital among others.
The closest locations to similar facilities are in Pullman, Washington
and at UC Davis in California. Dr. Juliana Cyman, the owner of the Portland
Veterinary Oncology Center, explained it this way: "Portland is
a great place to live and people are interested in receiving quality
care for their pets."
-
Portland Veterinary
Oncology Center Offers both radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Dr. Cyman is a board-certified veterinary radiation oncologist -
one of about 50 in the USA.
-
VDIC Provides veterinary MRI, CT (Cat Scan), ultrasound,
cytology and telemedicine consultation.
-
Dove Lewis
A 24-hour emergency and ICU hospital.
-
Kindred Spirits Acupuncture Several veterinarians in the
Portland area provide acupuncture to pets, veterinarian and acupuncturist
Kelly Jenkins Nielsen took the additional step of graduating from
the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine's rigorous program.
Small Animal Rehab
 The
Small Animal Rehabilitation Unit at
Oregon State University's College of Veterinary Medicine offers
advanced rehab methods such as underwater treadmill (see photo to the
left). Rehab can help animals build up strength after surgery or after
recovery from a widespread infection. It can prevent injuries to canine
athletes − dogs participating in flyball,
jumping or agility contests. And it can be a low-cost alternative to
some surgeries.
Today, four veterinary clinics in Oregon offer similar
treatments, hopefully making this cost-effective treatment easier to
come by. Here are Oregon clinics that offer advanced rehabilitation
treatments for pets:
Animal Adoption and Emergency Information
Oregon Humane Society
Oregon Humane Society
All adoptions require a completed application and an interview with
an adoption counselor. Applicants are carefully screened to ensure
their new pets will receive proper care. We match pets with people based
on their general lifestyle and the type of care they can provide. We
take these precautions because too many owners don't understand the
importance of this long-term commitment. You can download the
adoption application from the site.
To view a list of cats up for adoption click here:
Oregon Humane
Society Cats and Kittens. View the
cam
camera where you can observe some of the kittens that are up for
adoption at play.
The Society also provides a variety of behavior and
training resources for the public. They have basic training classes
for dogs, Reactive Rover Classes, Just for Fun Agility, a Problem Cat
behavior class, and more. For information about these classes,
click
here.
Family Dogs New Life
Family Dogs
New Life is an alternative shelter that specializes in canine adoptions.
There are no dog runs or kennels. FDNL offers a warm, home type
environment for both canine residents and potential adopters. All of
their adoptions include the following: spay/neuter, free veterinary
exam, one month pet care insurance, five week obedience class, leash
and collar, toy/treat packet, and food sample.
Pet Friendly Rentals
Oregon Humane Society The OHS Web site has a link to
"Pet-friendly rental properties in the Portland, OR area." The
listings includes the name of the rental, address, telephone number,
map, and the type of pets allows.
In his Cushy job at Hotel Monaco, Art Hardly has to Lift
a Paw
 Art's
story is the stuff of a made-for-TV movie. Early in his life,
this sweet, gentle dog was anxiously looking for a home at the Oregon
Humane Society.
The
Hotel Monaco
in downtown Portland held a contest among five dogs at the Humane Society
to select the perfect hotel dog − and Art
won paws down.
Like other employees, Art has a great benefits package
that will include fully paying for some upcoming ligament surgery he
needs. He also gets other perks, including regular grooming paid by
the hotel. All the employees know Art is on a strict diet, but he still
manages to cadge enough treats to keep him happy even as he gets svelte.
His favorite hobby is to ride the elevator. He's the only employee who
gets belly rubs from management and guests. Art works five days a week,
with a regular Tuesday through Saturday schedule.
The name "Art" came from the hotel's tag line, "Art
lives within." While the dog does work within, he actually was officially
adopted by the hotel's porter captain, Joseph Sundberg, and spends his
off hours living happily with Sundberg, his wife, daughter and two other
friendly dogs. —Deborah Wood, The
Oregonian, March 27, 2007.
P.S. - The
Hotel Monaco
takes care of all its guests in style, including your four-legged friends.
Pets Allowed
A number of Portland business establishments allow
dogs in their stores. Here is a partial list::
-
GI Joe's
-
Home Depot and Lowe's
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Oregon Mountain Community
-
Patagonia
-
Parr Lumber
-
REI (Recreational Equipment Incorporated)
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All the pet supply stores
Pet Supplies
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Bark Market
Holistic, natural pet foods and supplies. Located in
Portland.
-
Castor
& Pollux Makes certified organic pet foods as well as
a line of pet- and Earth-friendly products, including herbal flea
collars, shampoos, and stain removers. Located in Clackamas,
Oregon.
-
Furever Pets
Quality products and excellent service - one of my favorite places
to purchase pet food, etc. Located at 1902 NE Broadway Street,
Portland. Telephone (503) 282-4225.
-
Petopia Natural Pet Supplies 16101
SE McLoughlin Blvd., Milwaukie, OR 97267. Telephone:
(503) 607-0111.
-
Rad Cat
Rad Cat makes food for cats with allergies. Their cat food
is made from free-range chicken, free-range turkey or pasture-raised
lamb, along with other natural ingredients. Rad Cat is located
in Portland.
-
Ruff Wear
The Bend, Oregon company offers many items for dogs on the go. They
make an excellent dog life jacket.
Dog Walking and Overnight Pet Care
 When
our schedule is full, Ginger walks CB and Flanders and they love her
dearly. If you want to see two excited dogs, just tell them that
Ginger is coming to walk them.
Ginger is a pioneer in pet care with over 20 years
of experience. She has been involved in rescuing dogs all these
years. The photo at the left is Ginger (left) and pet owner Elizabeth
Pollock (plus 5-year old daughter Magnolia) on a walk with Rosa Marie,
a lab that Elizabeth rescued on a trip to Mexico. Rosa Marie came
with numerous behavioral problems. Thanks to Ginger's work with
Rose Marie, she has blossomed into a wonderful companion for Elizabeth
and Magnolia.
Contact Information: Ginger Matyas Katcandu Home
Visit Pet Care at 503-227-5188
Pet and House Sitting Services
Many pet owners find it easier to have someone responsible
stay in their home with the pets when they are traveling. Below
is a list of people that offer this kind of service:
-
Oregon
Pet Sitters Association Just enter your ZIP code at this
site to find a pet sitter.
-
Bark PDX
Pet walking and sitting service.
-
Happy Critter Pet Sitter Ms. Dukes offers dog training
and pet sitting services.
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Hearts
& Hands Animal Care Heart & Hands Animal Care provides
care overnight and day care for your friends.
-
Heavenly Critters
Pet Nanny Melinda does petting sitting and
house sitting for cats and/or dogs. Telephone:
503-880-5836.
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Kel's Pet Sitting
provides pet care services in the Southeast neighborhoods and communities
and includes SE Portland, Gresham, Troutdale, and Fairview.
-
My Dog Walker...and
More Dog walking, training, and pet taxi. Paige
and Tamela will run errands for you and even organize your life.
-
Pawswego
Petsitting Cat sitting, dog sitting, live-in house sitting
and overnight services - licensed, bonded, and insured.
-
PDX Pets
on the Go Visits and in-home care. Also dog walking.
Telephone: 503-222-0672 or 971-212 4472.
-
Pet Friendly
Hotels The site has a list of over 27,000 pet friendly
hotels from around the world.
-
Pet's Friend
Petsitting Day visits, overnight stays, and dog walking
on the west side of Portland.
-
Pets in the City
Pet sitting and dog walking. Serving NW Portland, downtown,
Pearl District, West Hills, and inner eastside.
-
Pups
Portland Urban Pet Services can manage all your pet care needs.
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Reigning
Cats and Dogs Pet sitting, dog walking,
online pet boutique and bakery. Located in NW Portland.
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SnuggleKitties
Cat sitting service.
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Town & Country
They cover Portland for pet sitting and the west side for dog walks.
Town & Country also does hotel dog sitting visits.
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TrailBlazers Pet
Sitting Service Dog walking service also.
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West Hills Cat
Sitting
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Yuppie Puppy Pet Services Serving Southeast Portland,
Clackamas, and Milwaukie.
Boarding, Day Care, and Training
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Arnold
Creek Cat Retreat A cat-only facility with no cages -
each cat has a large private room. 2020 SW Arnold Street,
Portland 97219. Telephone: (503) 892-2889.
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Dogs Dig It
Daycare, boarding, massage, swimming, play structures, and a shuttle
bus.
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Double Dog
Ranch At Double Dog Ranch your dog will discover freedom,
adventure and new friends in a secure, natural country playground.
-
Tail Chasers Doggy Day Care Located in Milwaukie (SW suburb),
Tail Chasers offers both boarding and day care.
-
Whispering Hills Labradors Training and boarding services
along with a doggie day care serving south Portland communities
and the Salem area.
Pet Moving
Hotel Pet Walking
Doggy Duty for Condominium and Loft Owners
 Doggy
Duty offers convenient potty relief for your urban pup and provides
a solution to midnight trips down the elevator, indoor accidents and
drenching walks in the rain.
Doggy Duty's hardwood constructed Doggy Duty box is
designed for use as a dog litter box. The box furnishes your dog with
a "personal" plot of grass* accessed on your balcony or indoors. Our
weekly or every other week fresh grass replacement service ensures a
hygienic area for your dog's relief needs.
Cremation
The Portland metro area has numerous companies that
offer cremation for pets.
With the vast majority of the animals brought in for
cremation came after long, happy lives. However, at times death comes
by accident. Some of the companies will retrieve an animal in those
situations. They not only pick up an animal but also offer to clean
the accident site to spare the owner.
Dignified Pet Services is the only place in the Pacific
Northwest that cremates horses in one piece. Its employees will drive
to Seattle, Bend and Northern California to pick up the bodies.
Pet Cremation Services
Cremation and Burial Services
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Portland Pet Linksss
American
Veterinary Medical Association
Information about veterinary medicine and animal care.
Dog
Blog for Portland
The Oregonian sponsors the Portland Dog blog and allows postings
of photos of your dog.
Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital
The only not-for-profit hospital in Portland devoted exclusively to
emergency and critical care for animals 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Don't miss their
dogtoberfest
where you can can get your dog washed, enjoy live music, and socialize.
Dog
Friendly
Go Places With Your Dog! Travel, sightsee, shop and work with your pooch.
Listings of dog-friendly hotels, attractions, stores and employers that
allow dogs of all sizes.
Oregon Humane
Society
Voice (503) 285-7722 - Fax (503) 285-0838. View a list of cats and dogs
up for adoption, also gives you opportunities to volunteer, and more.
Columbia Agility
Team
The Columbia Agility Team (CAT) is a nonprofit club that was formed
in 1993 to promote the fast-growing sport of dog agility in the Portland
area.
X-Fidos
Flyball
Flyball is a dog sport involving two 4-dog teams in side-by-side lanes.
At the signal, the first dog on each team is released across the starting
line - it runs 50 feet over four jumps (height based on the size of
the team's smallest dog) to a spring-loaded box. The dog must hit the
box with its paws to release a tennis ball, catch it, and return with
it over the four jumps. As it crosses the start line, the next dog is
on its way. Click
here to view a video that explains the sport.
Portland
Rental Service
They have pet friendly rentals to include houses, townhouses, and apartments.
Children and dogs are as necessary to the welfare of
the country as Wall Street and the railroads.
Harry S. Truman, 1884 - 1972
Traveling with Pets
Visit Pets
Welcome, the internet's largest pet/travel resource. They
list over 25,000 hotels, B&Bs, ski resorts, campgrounds, and beaches
that are pet-friendly.
Oregon Pet
Sitters Association
Professional membership group. You can find a pet sitters on their site
by just entering your ZIP code.
Portland
Dog Blog
Proud of your dog? Send me a picture and details. Smart, funny, lovable,
loyal - why is your dog special?
Bobbie the Wonder Dog
"Bobbie the Wonder Dog" of Silverton, Oregon, was the canine hero in
a story that became a national sensation. On a February day in 1924,
the 2-year-old scotch collie-mix dog appeared on the door step of his
owners, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brazier. What amazed them was that they had
not seen their dog since he disappeared six months earlier from a car
trip in Indiana.
Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and his
Shepherd mix HerShe. The Governor and his wife Mary adopted HerShe
from the Humane Society of the Willamette Valley in Salem during the
summer of 2003.
View the
cam camera at the
Oregon Humane
Society Cats and Kittens
where you can observe some of the kittens that are up for adoption at
play.
The Book, Best Hikes with
Dogs: Oregon, gives detailed information on 75 hikes in Oregon that
you can take with your dog. It is available at
Powell's Books
in Portland.
Oregon Horse County
The wild Kigers horses in Southeastern
Oregon (Steens Mountains) are true to Spanish mustang origins. According
to the 2002 Census of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Clackamas
County in the Portland metro area is number nine in horse population
(9,223).
The Dog
The truth I do not stretch or shove When I state that
the dog is full of love. I've also found, by actual test, A wet dog
is the lovingest.
Ogden Nash
Spot Magazine is published in Portland.
It is the one-step resource for information, ideas, and events of interest
to animals and their people.
The
Double Dog Ranch
is more than just a "overnight kennel" for your pet. It is a combination
of dog camp, playground, and spa.
Top
Dog in Portland
The Labrador retriever continues to
be the most popular breed of dog nationally and in Portland, according
to figures from the American Kennel Club.
In Portland, small dogs occupied six spots, with pugs (at No. 4, higher
in Portland than any other U.S. city), Chihuahuas and Yorkshire terriers
all moving up and dachshunds ranked third behind two types of retrievers.
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