Dave McMahon is a full-time dog trainer who has operated Dave McMahon’s Dog Training Academy in Niagara Falls for 23 years.

His has just published a hundred page dog training manual called “Obedience Training for the Family Dog”.

Everyone is invited to meet Dave at the Victoria Avenue Library on Jan. 31 between 1 and 3pm. He will be pleased to give suggestions on how to teach dogs essential commands and answer your questions. Autographed copies of his book will be available for $20.

McMahon has been teaching at Niagara College since 1990. Dave McMahon's Dog Academy is also a Career School For Dog Trainers.

Visit his website at www.davemcmahon.ca for a complete summary of his career and services.

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Borrow the popular book “Marley & me: life and love with the world's worst dog”...

The not-for-profit Federation of Ontario Public Libraries points out that the use of public libraries increases in uncertain economic times and during an economic downturn. In response to lower household incomes, cash-strapped families and individuals will access the public library's extensive collection of books, databases, DVD's, audiobooks, magazines and newspapers, rather than buying and renting these same materials. Affordable children’s programs are well attended. Residents on fixed incomes are frequent library users. As the public's buying power shrinks, more people seek employment, complete their education or upgrade their skills. These people rely on their public libraries for vital information on job opportunities, career planning and training, small business management and computer training. Because a significant number of residents do not have access to computers with high-speed Internet at home, there is great use daily of public library computers. Public libraries also provide access to a full range of licensed electronic information which helps to close the digital divide in our community....

Yes, the public library is well used by more than 40,000 active registered borrowers and the statistics continue to show it! We are pleased to see that 2008 set another all-time borrowing record at the Niagara Falls Public Library with 692,884 books, magazines, audio visual and electronic materials having been loaned to the public. Each of our four libraries showed increases in 2008 with Community Centre Branch leading the way with an impressive 12% increase over 2007. This was our hope as more residents in this growing area can now more conveniently get to a neighbourhood library. The last all-time borrowing record was set as recently as 2006 when 675,169 items were loaned. We conducted a one week survey of library use from Nov. 17 to 23, 2008 which resulted in the following statistics. That week 10,742 people in total entered one of our libraries consisting of 5,265 at the Victoria Avenue Library, 3,017 at Community Centre Branch, 2,005 at Stamford Branch and 455 at Chippawa Branch....