Shower With Your Dog
Monday, December 31, 2007
Do you like to take a shower with your dog? Or, at least have it there with you?
One couple in Bremerton, WA fought over this issue, as they prepared to take a shower together. According to the
Associated Press...
The woman told her boyfriend that if the dog doesn't stay out, she didn't want to be his girlfriend anymore. He replied that maybe his next girlfriend would appreciate the dog more, and called her a name.
The police report said the woman punched him in the face several times and the man dislocated his shoulder after the naked couple grappled. He told police his girlfriend threw a picture frame, which broke and cut him.
Now she's in jail.
My wife and I never close the bathroom door when we shower, but for whatever reasons, Max doesn't seem to want to watch. Mia, however, follows me around everywhere, and will lay down on the bathroom floor and wait for me to finish showering.
Labels: Strange Stuff
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Dogs Inherit $800,000
Saturday, December 29, 2007
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Pup-Peroni 50 Calorie Packs
Friday, December 28, 2007
Del Monte Pet Products announced today the release of their new Pup-Peroni 50 Calorie Packs.
Just like what the 100-calorie packs have done for people snacks, Del Monte hopes that 50-calorie snack packs will do for dogs.
And it's no coincidence that they released this at this time, with New Year's Day just a few days away. It allows you to add your dog into your New Year's weight loss resolution.
Though, I'm not sure 50-calorie packs is what is needed to trim your dog down. In my opinion it's really about getting your dog on a feeding schedule with measured proportions.
Del Monte says that one 50 calorie pack is an ideal daily serving for a small dog (5-10 pounds), while medium to larger-sized dogs, ranging from 45-70 pounds, can enjoy more than four or five of the new Pup-Peroni snack packs.
The new 50-calorie packs will be available at all major pet stores.
Labels: Dog Snacks
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Nazi Saluting Dog Looks for New Owner
Friday, December 21, 2007
In Germany, a dog named "Adolph" is now searching for a new owner, after his previous owner was sent to jail for teaching him how to salute like a Nazi.
The dog's owner, Roland T, a Nazi sympathizer, was ordered to cease his public expression of Nazi sympathism, but the man, who apparently suffers from brain damage due to an accident, has not done so. So now he's in jail.
The Daily Mail, a UK-based newspaper reports that if Adolph's new owners don't train him to forget the offensive trick, Adolph may end up being put down...
But new owners could land in the same fate if the German Sheppard crossbreed continues to raise his paw to hail his namesake, dictator Adolf Hitler.
So the nine-year-old dog – now renamed Adi – will have to learn a new trick – and quick - if he is to avoid more trouble from the country's ardently anti-fascist authorities.
OpinionI guess it just goes to show that Germany is still a fascist state, if you can't be free to express your political beliefs, regardless of how perverse they might be.
If Roland T truly is brain damaged from an accident then this is just a sad, SAD story all around. Here's a man who has no other companion than his faithful dog, and being punished for expressing his beliefs, and not totally understanding what the State wants from him.
And now a dog that may ultimately face death because he too doesn't understand what the State wants from him.
Labels: Strange Stuff
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Why Microchips Don't Always Work
Thursday, December 20, 2007
It appears one reason why microchips don't always work is because shelters don't always scan!
An article in
The Flint Journal says that the Genesee County Animal Control failed to scan a golden retriever, which could have ended up in the incinerator if a good samaritan hadn't intervened...
Gerhardt said his initial remarks were misunderstood but agreed Murphy was not checked for a microchip because he acted aggressively.
"Nothing says you have to scan," he said Monday, noting the state law only requires the shelter to attempt to identify animals through license tags.
On Wednesday, Gerhardt said the shelter actually scans most every incoming animal for microchips unless animals are especially difficult or aggressive.
I'm upset to hear that a shelter isn't doing everything it can to return a dog back to its owner. County shelters, and the employees who work there, are paid for by taxpayers. They have a
duty to the taxpayers.
This is still the fault of the owner, relying on an invisible fence to contain a large dog, and then apparently not having a license tag hanging on the dog's collar.
Also, microchips are not a fail-safe measure.
Labels: Microchips
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Animal Rights versus Human Rights
Thursday, December 20, 2007
The San Francisco Chronicle published an article complaining that America seems to be more intersted in animal rights than the rights of African Americans, in light of the recent 23 month prison sentence for Michael Vick.
Here's an interesting quote from the article...
In American culture, ethnic groups external to African Americans appear to have become more upset over dog fighting than African Americans are. If we were to look at animal welfare rights versus the rights of African Americans, one might conclude the welfare of animals gets more attention in some circles than the welfare of black people in this country. There are more groups fighting for the rights of animals than for the rights of African Americans.
Here are my observations on this.
Animal rights is not a big issue in the United States; only a teeny-tiny percentage of Americans really give a damn. Across the country, people don't really care. Dog fighting rings get busted all the time, and they may only get a few sentences of mention buried in the back of the local fish wrap.
In this case, Michael Vick was a football star, and he was indeed one of the big stars of the NFL, not just a rank-and-file player. That's why his crimes were given so much attention. Had he been any other black guy, or guy in general, his dog fighting operation might not have even been mentioned.
You don't hear Barack Obama putting chicken rights on his POTUS platform, and you don't see Hillary shaking her fist over the problem of dog fighting in America. If animal rights were more important than human rights, it would stand to reason that Presidential hopefuls would crawl over each other to get PETA's endorsement. But they don't.
So the person writing the article in the San Francisco Chronicle seems to have the same "selective vision" as the animal rights activists have, choosing to view the world's problems through their own set of eyes, instead of looking at the big picture.
The media coverage on Michael Vick
was never about the dogs. It was about a celebrity that got busted by the cops. It was about tabloid journalism.
Dog bloggers tried to capitalize and bring attention to the problem of dog fighting, but they accomplished no more than just preaching to the flock. This was a tabloid matter from the beginning, and our nation saw it as that.
Labels: Animal Rights, Michael Vick
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Chihuahua Attacked by Hawk
Thursday, December 20, 2007
The Downers Grove Reporter ran a story about a chihuahua that was attacked by a hawk in an Illinois suburb...
When she went out to check on the noise, she found her 2 pound, 5 ounce Chihuahua, Tico, in the talons of a large hawk. She began throwing things at the bird, starting with a bottle of oil, snow and a piece of wood. The bird would not let go of her pet.
Eventually she grabbed a snow shovel and threw it, finally scaring the bird off her pet, though it continued to perch on a fence.
Tico now suffers from a head puncture, swollen face, and lost the use of its hind legs.
You never think of hawks attacking small pets, but it's something I see down here in Southern California. I live in the inland area, where hawks are everywhere. I've seen hawks fly into my backyard to go after vermin and small birds, the birds are not all shy about it. One neighbor had a dog attacks by a hawk, but was able to get away.
The article went on to say that the owner has a Yorkshire Terrier, and that it's too big for hawks. But I mentioned another hawk-attack story a few years ago, where a Yorkshire Terrier was attacked...
http://www.doggienews.com/2004/12/hawk-attacks-yorkshire-terrier.htmI suppose this kind of thing is unheard of in Illinois, but you just can't let your guard down. I hope little Tico will recover.
Labels: Hawk Attacks
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Puppies for Christmas - A Wonderful Gift
Friday, December 14, 2007
Each year, animal rights organizations launch a campaign of "stop giving puppies for Christmas". I've always taken the opposite opinion, that giving a puppy or kitten for Christmas is a wonderful idea, for both the animals and their intended recipients.
The only suggestion I have to make is that giving animals as gifts MUST NOT be a surprise gift. The recipient should have expressed their interest in assuming responsibility for a pet. There's nothing wrong in talking it over with the recipient before you buy the puppy.
Additionally, if you intend to give a puppy to your child for Child for Christmas, understand that YOU will end up taking care of that animal. You can't expect a child to feed, walk, train, and take a dog to the vet.
As far as animal rights groups goes, just think of the irony of their message, about banning the practice of puppies for Christmas...
- More dogs are euthanized than adopted out to families, shouldn't PETA, HSUS, and the ASPCA encourage more dog adoptions?
- Animal rights groups complain that many people don't understand the responsibilities that go along with dog ownership. Therefore, doesn't it make sense to let more people own dogs so that they can understand?
- Shelters continue to kill animals all year around; they don't stop during the month of December.
- Adopting a dog or puppy for Christmas is no different than any other time of the year. It's still a matter of being responsible.
If animal rights groups truly cared for the well being of animals, they'd do everything they can to get more animals into the hands of families. Why they would beg you not to give a puppy for Christmas shows that they don't care for the animals, they just care about their vegan ideology.
I will say one thing, get a puppy or dog from an
animal shelter or
animal rescue. Yes, you can find puppies there! Go to
PetFinder.com to find locations near you.
If you want to buy from a breeder, then visit the breeder in person, and inspect their breeding facilities. Don't buy puppies from a newspaper or pet store, because you're more than likely putting money into the hands of puppy mills.
For once, I'd like to see all the pet writers acknowledge that adopting a puppy from a shelter or rescue makes a better Christmas gift than any toy or jewelry you can buy. Just make sure your recipient is prepared for the puppy.
Labels: Christmas
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Hill's Science Diet New Stories Website
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Hill's Science Diet recently launched a new website to help animal shelters and rescues.
Throughout the month of December, the company is encouraging dog owners to share their heartwarming stories of how fat and miserable dogs were turned into lean and happy dogs. The website also lets you send out Christmas e-Cards.
For each story posted and E-Card sent, Hill's will donate one dollar, up to $20,000.00, to help shelters within its network purchase supplies to keep thousands of dogs and cats alive and adoptable. Each participating shelter is eligible to receive $500.00 of the total donation amount.
Visit their new website at:
http://www.feedingisbelieving.comLabels: Hill's Science Diet
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Most Popular Dog Names of 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
PetFinder.com today released its list of the most popular dog names based on its database of 260,000 adoptable pets...
1. Buddy (712)
2. Max (552)
3. Sadie (445)
4. Jack (428)
5. Daisy (416)
6. Lucy (406)
7. Lady (385)
8. Charlie (382)
9. Rocky (369)
10. Duke (358)
They also published their list of the most strange dog names...
1. Not Pants
2. Zhivago
3. Fat Alice
4. Barney Google
5. Cinderella Cookiedough
6. Ditto Dippin' Dots
7. Fizzleboom
8. Miss booty-q
9. Bubba Big Foot
10. Partly Cloudy
I actually like, "Partly Cloudy".
You can see lists of popular dog names published in previous years...
Labels: Dog Names
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Best Friends Pet Care to Build New Facility at Disney World
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Best Friends Pet Care Inc. has signed an agreement to build and operate a full-service, luxury pet resort at Walt Disney World.
The new facility will cater to park and resort guests as well as Walt Disney World employees, providing a full range of pet hospitality services including dog and cat boarding, day care and grooming services, and doggy day camp.
Pet guests will enjoy such amenities as luxury suites with television and raised bedding, activities such as nature walks and playgroups, and pampering services ranging from ice cream treats to bedtime stories.
The luxury pet resort will be located on Bonnett Creek Parkway in the Walt Disney World Resort, and is expected to open in mid-2009.
In addition, Best Friends Pet Care will assume operating responsibility for the five existing pet boarding facilities in Walt Disney World Resort, beginning in January 2008.
For more about Best Friends Pet Care, visit...
http://www.bestfriendspetcare.comLabels: Dog Daycare
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Pet Prayer Flags
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
A Portland, OR-based business called, Prayers on the Wind is selling these "Pet Prayer Flags".
It's a way to memorialize the recent passing of a beloved pet.
The center flag contains the following statement...
You have gone ahead
And nothing is the same
Leaving paw prints on my heart
That will always remainAccording to the company, these flags originate from a Tibetan custom, believing the prayer message of these flags become a permanent part of the universe as the wind blows through them, and their colors fade away from the elements.
The price is $12.99 for a string of five flags.
Visit Prayers on the Wind online at...
http://www.prayersonthewind.comLabels: Pet Funeral Products
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Freshpet Select Bites
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
The Freshpet company, which produces the Homestyle Select and Deli Fresh brands of refrigerated dog food, now has bite sized version called "Freshpet Select Bites".
Freshpet Select Bites are the same foods found in the company's food rolls, but offering the convenience of "open and serve". No more having to slice up the rolls, removing the plastic, or having to seal up the unused portion.
The new bite-sized variety is found the same refrigerated section of pet food stores as you'd find the company's other products.
The name "Freshpet Select" will eventually replace the Homestyle Select brand, according to a company spokesperson.
Visit Freshpet Select online at...
http://www.freshpet.comLabels: Dog Food
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The Pedigree Tree
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
If you're wanting to find a beautiful chart to showcase the family history of your pedigree dog, check out "The Pedigree Tree".
The Pedigree Tree is a visual family tree of your pet's ancestry outlining the history, lineage and hereditary characteristics of your dog.
It comes in a 12" x 16" custom crafted print, and include the names, championships or individual accomplishments and characteristics of each pet's heritage. Each print features the dog's photograph designed right into the artwork, as well as an informative breed description - even for 'mixed' breeds. Each Pedigree Tree is an elegant print that is individually numbered and authenticated.
Prices for The Pedigree Tree vary by design, but run between $70.00 to $100.00 Canadian dollars ($69 to $98 USD).
If you're interested in giving The Pedigree Tree as a gift to someone, the cut-off date is December 15th, 2007.
Visit The Pedigree Tree online...
http://www.thepedigreetree.comLabels: Dog Pedigrees
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Dog Park Tote Bags
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
A dog apparel and accessories retailer called From Scratch is now offering these "Dog Park Tote Bags".
They each depict a map showing the location of local dog parks.
Available are varieties for New York City, and Chicago.
Each tote bag retails for $24.00, great for carrying around extra poopie bags, a bottle of water, and your favorite book.
Find it online at From Scratch...
http://www.getitfromscratch.com/ GIFS_Site/html/tote_bags_dogpark.htmlLabels: Dog Parks, Tote Bags
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PoochIQ - Dog Intelligence Test Kit
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Ever wondered how smart your dog is?
There's now a testing kit available called, "PoochIQ". The kit comes with a testing booklet, and several toys. You run your dog through a 15 exercises, and then evaluate the results using the booklet.
PoochIQ's developer says they devised the scoring system using an in-house algorithm designed to normalize the test results among a group of one hundred pooches of varying breeds who were tested with the PoochIQ kit. They claim the scoring system is fairly accurate, while the descriptions for each IQ level may vary from dog to dog.
At just $49.99, it might be fun to run the exercises just as a game to play with your dog.
Visit PoochIQ online...
http://www.poochiq.com
Labels: Dog Intelligence
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FlexPetz - Rent-A-Dog
Saturday, December 01, 2007
The Telegraph Newspaper publishes a report about a company in the United States called "
Flexpetz", a "rent-a-dog" company seeing its success building upward.
The convenience of Flexpetz is that at the end of day, they'll come to your house and pick up the pet, rather than you having to return it.
The article goes on to explore the opposing opinion pet sharing, suggesting that it's horrible for the dog...
But Paula Greaves, founder of the animal helpline Pet Search UK, gets hot under the collar at the whole idea of dog sharing. 'Sharing a pet is a terrible idea,' she says. 'If you can't commit properly to a pet as part of your family, you shouldn't have one. Dogs have loyalties, feelings and pine for people. It just won't work to try and share your dog with a lady up the road.'
I think it's actually wonderful idea.
So many perfectly healthy and adoptable dogs are being killed by organizations like PETA and government run shelters, for no other reason that they don't want to commit money to keeping them alive. The "rent-a-pet" is actually a humane endeavor; dogs that would otherwise be euthanized, have a chance at life.
And in fact that's where Flexpetz gets their dogs, from shelters.
There are so many people who can't commit themselves to a dog, and this is way for unwanted dogs to be wanted. The "rent-a-dog" solution can give shelter dogs a new lease on life, give some companionship to someone, and generate some taxable commerce.
It's a win-win-win all around.
Labels: Pet Rentals
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