Top Dog

Dallas' top dogs answer to these popular names, says new trend report

Ranger is one of the most popular dog names in Dallas.

These days, when someone calls out "Charlie!" or "Maggie!" it's especially hard to know if they're summoning a child or a dog. There's a reason for that, says petsitting service Rover.com, which has just released its list of dog name trends for 2015. Besides human monikers, current pop culture hits (think The Hunger Games and Star Wars) and food dominate the most popular picks.

Around the nation, nearly half of all pet parents have progressed from Fido and Spot to Max and Bella — except for Dallas, that is. We're one of the few cities where the Twilight-inspired name not only isn't No. 1, it doesn't even crack the female top 10.

While Edward and Jacob are holding steady, Jake has dropped out of the top 10 for males. What you will find in Dallas, however, is an abundance of Rangers scampering around the dog park.

Also trending downward are names from post-apocalyptic zombie series The Walking Dead and fantasy saga Game of Thrones, while Harry Potter's Luna and Dobby and "geek chic" names like Gizmo and Chewie (or Chewbacca) are rising.

Food (Pepper, Ginger, Peanut) and booze are also hot, especially in Dallas, which proudly lands in the top 10 nationwide for alcohol-related dog names. Your chance of meeting a Shiner here is only matched by coming across a Coco, Gracie, or Toby, which top the list of red state names.

Finally, the study notes that one in 20 pet parents have social media accounts for their dogs. You know who you are.

trends

Homeless News

Downtown Dallas homeless service Stewpot lands bigger better space

The Stewpot

It's official: The Stewpot, a community program that serves the homeless, has a new home. According to a release, First Presbyterian Church of Dallas — the organization that oversees the Stewpot — has acquired the CitySquare Community Center building at 1610 S. Malcolm X Blvd. where the StewPot will soon reside.

“This new facility will allow us to better deliver our programs and continue to support the 12,000 people served annually by CitySquare’s Neighbor Resource Center and Food Pantry programs,” said Brenda Snitzer, executive director of The Stewpot.

The Stewpot is a community ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Dallas. Established in 1975, it began with a concerned group of church members who started preparing lunch for the congregation's homeless and hungry neighbors.

It serves those experiencing homelessness and poverty. Its programs have tripled in size in recent years, and the ministry has outgrown its current space at 1835 Young St. across from the church.

When CitySquare announced earlier this year that it would cease operations and sell its property by the end of the year, First Presbyterian leaped in to make a bid on the space. Members voted on Sunday, December 8 to approve the acquisition. The closing is scheduled for Friday, December 13. The Stewpot will begin moving into the new space later this month.

As a part of the acquisition, The Stewpot will continue two of CitySquare’s core programs: its Food Pantry and its Neighbor Resource Center, which helps people with housing options, SNAP, WIC, healthcare, financial assistance, and mental health services.

The property is a mile from The Stewpot’s current facility on Young Street, across the street from the church. With this acquisition, The Stewpot will move its operations and offices, while continuing to serve more than 1,000 meals daily at The Bridge downtown.

charity downtown