My dad sent me this email:
They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie as I looked at him lying in
his pen. the shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly.
I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the
small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when
you pass them on the street.
But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life
here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I
had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said
they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who
had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that
meant. They must've thought I did.
But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie
and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of
which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes, and a sealed letter from his
previous owner.. See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got
home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to
give him to adjust to his
new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. Maybe
we were too much alike.
For some reason, his stuff (except for the tennis balls - he wouldn't go
anywhere without two stuffed in his mouth) got tossed in with all of my
other unpacked boxes. I guess I didn't really think he'd need all his old
stuff, that I'd get him new things once he
settled in. but it became pretty clear pretty soon that he wasn't going
to.
I tried the normal commands the shelter told me he knew, ones like "sit" and
"stay" and "come" and "heel," and he'd follow
them - when he felt like it. He never really seemed to listen when I called
his name - sure, he'd look in my direction after the fourth of fifth time I
said it, but then he'd just go back to doing whatever. When I'd ask again,
you could almost see him sigh and then grudgingly obey.
This just wasn't going to work. He chewed a couple shoes and some unpacked
boxes. I was a little too stern with him and he resented it, I could tell.
The friction got so bad that I couldn't wait for the two weeks to be up, and
when it was, I was in full-on search mode for my cellphone amid all of my
unpacked stuff. I remembered leaving it on the stack of boxes for the guest
room, but I also mumbled, rather cynically, that the "damn dog probably hid
it on me."
Finally I found it, but before I could punch up the shelter's number, I also
found his pad and other toys from the shelter.. I tossed the pad in
Reggie's direction and he snuffed it and wagged, some of the most enthusiasm
I'd seen since bringing him home. But
then I called, "Hey, Reggie, you like that? Come here and I'll give you a
treat." Instead, he sort of glanced in my direction - maybe "glared" is
more accurate - and then gave a discontented sigh and flopped down. With
his back to me.
Well, that's not going to do it either, I thought. And I punched the
shelter phone number.
But I hung up when I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten
about that, too. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your
previous owner has any advice.".........
_______________________________________
To Whoever Gets My Dog:
Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the
shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner...
I'm not even happy writing it. If you're reading this, it means I just got
back from my last car ride with my Lab after dropping him off at the
shelter. He knew something was different. I have packed up his pad and
toys before and set them by the back door before a trip, but this time...
it's like he knew something was wrong. And something is wrong... which is
why I have to go to try to make it right.
So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with
him and he with you.
First, he loves tennis balls. the more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's
part squirrel, the way he hordes them. He usually always
has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it
yet. Doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll bound after it, so be
careful - really don't do it by any roads. I made that mistake once, and it
almost cost him dearly.
Next, commands. Maybe the shelter staff already told you, but I'll go over
them again: Reggie knows the obvious ones -
"sit," "stay," "come," "heel." He knows hand signals: "back" to turn
around and go back when you put your hand straight up; and "over" if you put
your hand out right or left. "Shake" for shaking water off, and "paw" for a
high-five. He does "down" when he feels like lying down - I bet you could
work on that with him some more. He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and
"treat" like nobody's business.
I trained Reggie with small food treats. Nothing opens his ears like little
pieces of hot dog.
Feeding schedule: twice a day, once about seven in the morning, and again
at six in the evening. Regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the
brand.
He's up on his shots. Call the clinic on 9th Street and update his info with
yours; they'll make sure to send you reminders for when
he's due. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in
the car - I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he
knows.
Finally, give him some time. I've never been married, so it's only been
Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere
with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits
well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be
around people, and me most especially.
Which means that this transition is going to be hard, with him going to live
with someone new.
And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you.....
His name's not Reggie.
I don't know what made me do it, but when I dropped him off at the shelter,
I told them his name was Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and
will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. but I just couldn't bear to
give them his real name. For me to do that, it seemed so final, that
handing him over to the shelter was as good as me admitting that I'd never
see him again. And if I end up coming back, getting him, and tearing up
this letter, it means everything's fine. But if someone else is reading it,
well... well it means that his new owner should know his real name. It'll
help you bond with him. Who knows, maybe you'll even notice a change in his
demeanor if he's been giving you problems.
His real name is Tank. Because that is what I drive.
Again, if you're reading this and you're from the area, maybe my name has
been on the news. I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie"
available for adoption until they received word from my company commander.
See, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank
with... and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to
Iraq, that they make one phone call the shelter... in the "event"... to
tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily,
my colonel is a dog guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He
said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good
on his word.
Well, this letter is getting to downright depressing, even though, frankly,
I'm just writing it for my dog. I couldn't imagine if I was
writing it for a wife and kids and family. but still, Tank has been my
family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my
family.
And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family and that he
will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me.
That unconditional love from a dog is what I took with me to Iraq as an
inspiration to do something selfless, to protect innocent people from those
who would do terrible things... and to keep those terrible people from
coming over here. If I had to give up Tank in order to do it, I am glad to
have done so. He was my example of service and of love. I hope I honored
him by my service to my country and comrades.
All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this
letter off at the shelter. I don't think I'll say another
good-bye to Tank, though. I cried too much the first time. Maybe I'll peek
in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.
Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss
goodnight - every night - from me.
Thank you, Paul Mallory
_____________________________________
I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure I had heard
of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even
new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and
posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three
buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.
I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at
the dog.
"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.
The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.
"C'mere boy."
He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He
sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard
in months.
"Tank," I whispered.
His tail swished.
I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered,
his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just
seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my
face into his scruff and hugged him.
"It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank
reached up and licked my cheek. "So whatdaya say we play some ball? His
ears perked again. "Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?" Tank tore from my
hands and disappeared in the next room.
And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.
Showing posts with label dog stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog stories. Show all posts
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Taco Bell Chihuahua Dies
She charmed millions without ever saying a word, and managed to make fast food tacos adorable.
Gidget, the Chihuahua best known for her Taco Bell ad campaign, died from a stroke on Tuesday night at age 15. "She made so many people happy," says Gidget's trainer, Sue Chipperton.
PEOPLE met both Gidget and Sue at a Hollywood animals photo shoot in February, where the pup was a consummate pro and delighted the crew with her playful nature.
The mostly retired actor lived out her days laying in the sun – "I like to joke that it's like looking after a plant," says Chipperton – and entertaining at shoots when her trainer brought her along. "Gidget," says Chipperton, "always knew where the camera was."
Source: People.com
Friday, June 19, 2009
Prison-trained puppies help wounded troops
If there's anything Oprah Winfrey knows for sure, it's what the love of a dog can do for your life. "There is nothing in the world like puppy love," Oprah says.
Still, dogs are more than just companions. They can be the eyes for those who can't see, lead those who can't walk and calm people suffering from conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder.
Where do these service dogs get their start? For some, it all begins behind prison walls...
At the Fishkill Correctional Facility in upstate New York, more than 1,600 men convicted of abuse, robbery and murder are serving their time.
"I've been incarcerated for robbery in the first degree," an inmate named Michael says. "I really had no regards for other people. It was always me, me, me, me."
Now, a groundbreaking program called Puppies Behind Bars is transforming these offenders.
Inmates are given 8-week-old puppies and taught to train them to become service dogs for the disabled, including wounded soldiers.
The puppies and prisoners are together 24 hours a day. The puppies sleep in crates in the inmates' cells.
In return, the puppies give the prisoners something many of them have never experienced before -- unconditional love. "I'm going to make my family and those around me proud of me again. Joining this program, it helped me to give myself a sense of pride again. To know that by nurturing and raising these dogs to their fullest potential, that I could give back."
Animal lover and five-time Academy Award nominee Glenn Close first learned about Puppies Behind Bars when she volunteered to help inmates at the women's prison in her town. She was so moved by the impact of the program that she called "The Oprah Winfrey Show" herself to share this story.
"We know the bond that can be created between humans and animals. And there is common knowledge that it's a healing quality," she says.
"The bond that's created between inmates -- who never knew love, never knew responsibility, have only been told that they're worthless -- and the bond that they then train their dogs to establish with these wounded returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan is changing their lives."
Roberto is an inmate whose life has been changed by the program. Convicted of second-degree murder, Roberto has been in prison since he was 17. "I am now 33 years old. I wish I could turn back the hands of time for the hurt and pain that I've caused so many people, especially my victim's family," he says.
Roberto was chosen for Puppies Behind Bars and immediately bonded with his yellow lab, Frankie. "From the moment I got her, it was amazing," he says. "There was some beautiful moments in here that I shared with my puppy."
Eventually, Frankie had to move on -- and Roberto had to say goodbye. "The first night I was without Frankie, I have to say it was a long night," he says. "It was hard for me to realize that the next morning I was going to wake up and not actually feed her that morning."
Since leaving Roberto, Frankie has become a lifeline for Sgt. Allen Hill, who suffers from traumatic brain injury and severe combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder after he was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Frankie helps Sgt. Hill overcome his paralyzing, violent flashbacks by kissing his face.
After a few months together, Sgt. Hill and Frankie return to Fishkill to meet Roberto. When Frankie sees Roberto, she takes off running. "She looks beautiful," Roberto says.
Sgt. Hill thanks Roberto for all that he's done. "Frankie has been there for me. She's been my rock when I've needed her to help me out with a flashback or a nightmare. I can do things that for a year and a half I couldn't do," Sgt. Hill says.
Roberto is moved. "This is an overwhelming feeling, and to see you is breathtaking," he says. "And to see what Frankie had done in your life."
Now paroled, Roberto is expected to be released from prison this summer, but what he learned from Puppies Behind Bars will stay with him forever. "Being able to be involved in the puppy program has taught me to be a responsible person," he says. "It has taught me patience."
Sgt. Hill, his wife, Gina, say Frankie has changed their lives. "The biggest difference that Frankie has made in my life was, one, she allowed me the opportunity to go back to church," he says.
"And, two, she's helping me gain my independence back so I'm not so reliant on Gina and other family members."
Gina says she's starting to see her husband's playful, energetic side come through once again. "We're starting to see that side of him again that we haven't seen in the year and a half he's been home from Iraq," she says. "Frankie has brought my sons their daddy home. She has lit the light back in him that had been so dark."
Perhaps the greatest legacy of Puppies Behind Bars is the lesson of love each inmate learns. Jesse, another prisoner at the Fishkill Correctional Facility, is currently training Joy, his third dog.
"She brought forth in me the ability to love again. It had been so dormant in me for so long because of the cold place that I'm in," he says. "I didn't know that I could love again, and we all get to see how greatly these dogs affect the lives of the people that they touch."
Source: CNN and Oprah
Still, dogs are more than just companions. They can be the eyes for those who can't see, lead those who can't walk and calm people suffering from conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder.
Where do these service dogs get their start? For some, it all begins behind prison walls...
At the Fishkill Correctional Facility in upstate New York, more than 1,600 men convicted of abuse, robbery and murder are serving their time.
"I've been incarcerated for robbery in the first degree," an inmate named Michael says. "I really had no regards for other people. It was always me, me, me, me."
Now, a groundbreaking program called Puppies Behind Bars is transforming these offenders.
Inmates are given 8-week-old puppies and taught to train them to become service dogs for the disabled, including wounded soldiers.
The puppies and prisoners are together 24 hours a day. The puppies sleep in crates in the inmates' cells.
In return, the puppies give the prisoners something many of them have never experienced before -- unconditional love. "I'm going to make my family and those around me proud of me again. Joining this program, it helped me to give myself a sense of pride again. To know that by nurturing and raising these dogs to their fullest potential, that I could give back."
Animal lover and five-time Academy Award nominee Glenn Close first learned about Puppies Behind Bars when she volunteered to help inmates at the women's prison in her town. She was so moved by the impact of the program that she called "The Oprah Winfrey Show" herself to share this story.
"We know the bond that can be created between humans and animals. And there is common knowledge that it's a healing quality," she says.
"The bond that's created between inmates -- who never knew love, never knew responsibility, have only been told that they're worthless -- and the bond that they then train their dogs to establish with these wounded returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan is changing their lives."
Roberto is an inmate whose life has been changed by the program. Convicted of second-degree murder, Roberto has been in prison since he was 17. "I am now 33 years old. I wish I could turn back the hands of time for the hurt and pain that I've caused so many people, especially my victim's family," he says.
Roberto was chosen for Puppies Behind Bars and immediately bonded with his yellow lab, Frankie. "From the moment I got her, it was amazing," he says. "There was some beautiful moments in here that I shared with my puppy."
Eventually, Frankie had to move on -- and Roberto had to say goodbye. "The first night I was without Frankie, I have to say it was a long night," he says. "It was hard for me to realize that the next morning I was going to wake up and not actually feed her that morning."
Since leaving Roberto, Frankie has become a lifeline for Sgt. Allen Hill, who suffers from traumatic brain injury and severe combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder after he was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Frankie helps Sgt. Hill overcome his paralyzing, violent flashbacks by kissing his face.
After a few months together, Sgt. Hill and Frankie return to Fishkill to meet Roberto. When Frankie sees Roberto, she takes off running. "She looks beautiful," Roberto says.
Sgt. Hill thanks Roberto for all that he's done. "Frankie has been there for me. She's been my rock when I've needed her to help me out with a flashback or a nightmare. I can do things that for a year and a half I couldn't do," Sgt. Hill says.
Roberto is moved. "This is an overwhelming feeling, and to see you is breathtaking," he says. "And to see what Frankie had done in your life."
Now paroled, Roberto is expected to be released from prison this summer, but what he learned from Puppies Behind Bars will stay with him forever. "Being able to be involved in the puppy program has taught me to be a responsible person," he says. "It has taught me patience."
Sgt. Hill, his wife, Gina, say Frankie has changed their lives. "The biggest difference that Frankie has made in my life was, one, she allowed me the opportunity to go back to church," he says.
"And, two, she's helping me gain my independence back so I'm not so reliant on Gina and other family members."
Gina says she's starting to see her husband's playful, energetic side come through once again. "We're starting to see that side of him again that we haven't seen in the year and a half he's been home from Iraq," she says. "Frankie has brought my sons their daddy home. She has lit the light back in him that had been so dark."
Perhaps the greatest legacy of Puppies Behind Bars is the lesson of love each inmate learns. Jesse, another prisoner at the Fishkill Correctional Facility, is currently training Joy, his third dog.
"She brought forth in me the ability to love again. It had been so dormant in me for so long because of the cold place that I'm in," he says. "I didn't know that I could love again, and we all get to see how greatly these dogs affect the lives of the people that they touch."
Source: CNN and Oprah
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
A Dog's Love
A great email I received.
'Watch out! You nearly broad sided that car!' My father yelled at me. 'Can't you do anything right?' Those words hurt worse than blows. I turned my head toward the elderly man in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him. A lump rose in my throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared for another battle.
'I saw the car, Dad. Please don't yell at me when I'm driving.' My voice was measured and steady, sounding far calmer than I really felt. Dad glared at me, then turned away and settled back At home I left Dad in front of the television and went outside to collect my thoughts. Dark, heavy clouds hung in the air with a promise of rain. The rumble of distant thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil. What could I do about him?
Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon . He had enjoyed being outdoors and had reveled in pitting his strength against the forces of nature. He had entered grueling lumberjack competitions, and had placed often. The shelves in his house were filled with trophies that attested to his prowess. The years marched on relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift a heavy log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him outside alone, straining to lift it. He became irritable whenever anyone teased him about his advancing age, or when he couldn't do something he had done as a younger man.
Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack. An ambulance sped him to the hospital while a paramedic administered CPR to keep blood and oxygen flowing. At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room. He was lucky; he survived. But something inside Dad died. His zest for life was gone. He obstinately refused to follow doctor's orders. Suggestions and offers of help were turned aside with sarcasm and insults. The number of visitors thinned, then finally stopped altogether. Dad was left alone.
My husband, Dick, and I asked Dad to come live with us on our small farm.. We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust. Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. It seemed nothing was satisfactory. He criticized everything I did. I became frustrated and moody. Soon I was taking my pent-up anger out on Dick. We began to bicker and argue. Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation. The clergyman set up weekly counseling appointments for us. At the close of each session he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad's troubled mind. But the months wore on and God was silent. Something had to be done and it was up to me to do it.
The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow Pages. I explained my problem to each of the sympathetic voices that answered. In vain. Just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly exclaimed, 'I just read something that might help you! Let me go get the article.' I listened as she read. The article described a remarkable study done at a nursing home. All of the patients were under treatment for chronic depression. Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they were given responsibility for a dog.
I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon. After I filled out a questionnaire, a uniformed officer led me to the kennels. The odor of disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the row of pens. Each contained five to seven dogs. Long-haired dogs, curly-haired dogs, black dogs, spotted dogs all jumped up, trying to reach me. I studied each one but rejected one after the other for various reasons 'too big, too small, too much hair.'
As I neared the last pen a dog in the shadows of the far corner struggled to his feet, walked to the front of the run and sat down. It was a pointer, one of the dog world's aristocrats. But this was a caricature of the breed. Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. His hipbones jutted out in lopsided triangles. But it was his eyes that caught and held my attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me unwaveringly. I pointed to the dog. 'Can you tell me about him?'
The officer looked, then shook his head in puzzlement. He's a funny one. Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front of the gate. We brought him in, figuring someone would be right down to claim him. That was two weeks ago and we've heard nothing. His time is up tomorrow.'
He gestured helplessly. As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror. 'You mean you're going to kill him?' 'Ma'am,' he said gently, 'that's our policy. We don't have room for every unclaimed dog.' I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown eyes awaited my decision. 'I'll take him,' I said.
I drove home with the dog on the front seat beside me. When I reached the house I honked the horn twice. I was helping my prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front porch. 'Ta-da! Look what I got for you, Dad!' I said excitedly.
Dad looked, then wrinkled his face in disgust. 'If I had wanted a dog I would have gotten one. And I would have picked out a better specimen than that bag of bones. Keep it! I don't want it' Dad waved his arm scornfully and turned back toward the house. Anger rose inside me. It squeezed together my throat muscles and pounded into my temples. 'You'd better get used to him, Dad. He's staying!' Dad ignored me. 'Did you hear me, Dad?' I screamed.
At those words Dad whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes narrowed and blazing with hate. We stood glaring at each other like duelists, when suddenly the pointer pulled free from my grasp. He wobbled toward my dad and sat down in front of him. Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw. Dad's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw. Confusion replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited patiently. Then Dad was on his knees hugging the animal.
It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship. Dad named the pointer Cheyenne. Together he and Cheyenne explored the community. They spent long hours walking down dusty lanes. They spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty trout. They even started to attend Sunday services together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at his feet. Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three years. Dad's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many friends.
Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne's cold nose burrowing through our bed covers. He had never before come into our bedroom at night. I woke Dick, put on my robe and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. But his spirit had left quietly sometime during the night. Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favorite fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad's peace of mind.
The morning of Dad's funeral dawned overcast and dreary. This day looks like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the aisle to the pews reserved for family. I was surprised to see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the church. The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to both Dad and the dog who had changed his life. And then the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2. 'Be not forgetful to entertain strangers.' 'I've often thanked God for sending that angel,' he said.
For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that I had not seen before: the sympathetic voice that had just read the right article...Cheyenne's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter. . his calm acceptance and complete devotion to my father. . and the proximity of their deaths. And suddenly I understood. I knew that God had answered my prayers after all.
Life is too short for drama and petty things, so laugh hard, love truly and forgive quickly. Live While You Are Alive. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. Forgive now those who made you cry.. You might not get a second time. And if you don't send this to at least 4 people - who cares? But do share this with someone. Lost time can never be found.
'Watch out! You nearly broad sided that car!' My father yelled at me. 'Can't you do anything right?' Those words hurt worse than blows. I turned my head toward the elderly man in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him. A lump rose in my throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared for another battle.
'I saw the car, Dad. Please don't yell at me when I'm driving.' My voice was measured and steady, sounding far calmer than I really felt. Dad glared at me, then turned away and settled back At home I left Dad in front of the television and went outside to collect my thoughts. Dark, heavy clouds hung in the air with a promise of rain. The rumble of distant thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil. What could I do about him?
Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon . He had enjoyed being outdoors and had reveled in pitting his strength against the forces of nature. He had entered grueling lumberjack competitions, and had placed often. The shelves in his house were filled with trophies that attested to his prowess. The years marched on relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift a heavy log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him outside alone, straining to lift it. He became irritable whenever anyone teased him about his advancing age, or when he couldn't do something he had done as a younger man.
Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack. An ambulance sped him to the hospital while a paramedic administered CPR to keep blood and oxygen flowing. At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room. He was lucky; he survived. But something inside Dad died. His zest for life was gone. He obstinately refused to follow doctor's orders. Suggestions and offers of help were turned aside with sarcasm and insults. The number of visitors thinned, then finally stopped altogether. Dad was left alone.
My husband, Dick, and I asked Dad to come live with us on our small farm.. We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust. Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. It seemed nothing was satisfactory. He criticized everything I did. I became frustrated and moody. Soon I was taking my pent-up anger out on Dick. We began to bicker and argue. Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation. The clergyman set up weekly counseling appointments for us. At the close of each session he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad's troubled mind. But the months wore on and God was silent. Something had to be done and it was up to me to do it.
The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow Pages. I explained my problem to each of the sympathetic voices that answered. In vain. Just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly exclaimed, 'I just read something that might help you! Let me go get the article.' I listened as she read. The article described a remarkable study done at a nursing home. All of the patients were under treatment for chronic depression. Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they were given responsibility for a dog.
I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon. After I filled out a questionnaire, a uniformed officer led me to the kennels. The odor of disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the row of pens. Each contained five to seven dogs. Long-haired dogs, curly-haired dogs, black dogs, spotted dogs all jumped up, trying to reach me. I studied each one but rejected one after the other for various reasons 'too big, too small, too much hair.'
As I neared the last pen a dog in the shadows of the far corner struggled to his feet, walked to the front of the run and sat down. It was a pointer, one of the dog world's aristocrats. But this was a caricature of the breed. Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. His hipbones jutted out in lopsided triangles. But it was his eyes that caught and held my attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me unwaveringly. I pointed to the dog. 'Can you tell me about him?'
The officer looked, then shook his head in puzzlement. He's a funny one. Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front of the gate. We brought him in, figuring someone would be right down to claim him. That was two weeks ago and we've heard nothing. His time is up tomorrow.'
He gestured helplessly. As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror. 'You mean you're going to kill him?' 'Ma'am,' he said gently, 'that's our policy. We don't have room for every unclaimed dog.' I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown eyes awaited my decision. 'I'll take him,' I said.
I drove home with the dog on the front seat beside me. When I reached the house I honked the horn twice. I was helping my prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front porch. 'Ta-da! Look what I got for you, Dad!' I said excitedly.
Dad looked, then wrinkled his face in disgust. 'If I had wanted a dog I would have gotten one. And I would have picked out a better specimen than that bag of bones. Keep it! I don't want it' Dad waved his arm scornfully and turned back toward the house. Anger rose inside me. It squeezed together my throat muscles and pounded into my temples. 'You'd better get used to him, Dad. He's staying!' Dad ignored me. 'Did you hear me, Dad?' I screamed.
At those words Dad whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes narrowed and blazing with hate. We stood glaring at each other like duelists, when suddenly the pointer pulled free from my grasp. He wobbled toward my dad and sat down in front of him. Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw. Dad's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw. Confusion replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited patiently. Then Dad was on his knees hugging the animal.
It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship. Dad named the pointer Cheyenne. Together he and Cheyenne explored the community. They spent long hours walking down dusty lanes. They spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty trout. They even started to attend Sunday services together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at his feet. Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three years. Dad's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many friends.
Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne's cold nose burrowing through our bed covers. He had never before come into our bedroom at night. I woke Dick, put on my robe and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. But his spirit had left quietly sometime during the night. Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favorite fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad's peace of mind.
The morning of Dad's funeral dawned overcast and dreary. This day looks like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the aisle to the pews reserved for family. I was surprised to see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the church. The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to both Dad and the dog who had changed his life. And then the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2. 'Be not forgetful to entertain strangers.' 'I've often thanked God for sending that angel,' he said.
For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that I had not seen before: the sympathetic voice that had just read the right article...Cheyenne's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter. . his calm acceptance and complete devotion to my father. . and the proximity of their deaths. And suddenly I understood. I knew that God had answered my prayers after all.
Life is too short for drama and petty things, so laugh hard, love truly and forgive quickly. Live While You Are Alive. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. Forgive now those who made you cry.. You might not get a second time. And if you don't send this to at least 4 people - who cares? But do share this with someone. Lost time can never be found.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Big Pet Food Tax for Spay/Neuter
Big Pet Food Tax for Spay/Neuter
A proposed tax on pet food of $57.50 per ton to help low income residents in Washington State spay or neuter their pets would be the first of its kind in the nation, said the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (Washington).
No tax is imposed on pet food anywhere in the United States beyond sate feed inspection programs. The hefty tax proposed in Washington, which would also be used to fund sterilization of feral and free-roaming cats, is more than 400 times the inspection fee currently imposed on pet food and would result in significant increase in the cost per pound of dog and cat food at the retail level, PIJAC said in a PetAlert.
According to the bill digest, the solution to companion animal overpopulation is a statewide spay/neuter surgery network that should be funded through a fee that is “targeted at the class of Washington residents that is most responsible for companion animals and their impact on our communities: owners of cats and dogs.”
PIJAC argues that putting the burden of funding for the program on responsible pet owners is unfair, discriminatory and inappropriate, and that the money to pay for what it says is primarily a feral cat problem should come out of the Washington general fund instead.
Duane Ekedahl of the Washington based Pet Food Institute testified against the bill in a Jan. 27 hearing before the Agricultural & Rural Economic Development Committee. The bill had not moved out of committee at press time.
Source: Pet Age Magazine April 2009
What are your thoughts?
I don't know what to think about this tax. While I think it is great to give assistance to low income families and I love the idea of fixing feral cats, I just don't know if it is fair to tax others for it. Also increasing the cost of already rising dog food, how ever small or large is not a good thing.
Can some sway me one way or the other? Or give more than the small article stated?
A proposed tax on pet food of $57.50 per ton to help low income residents in Washington State spay or neuter their pets would be the first of its kind in the nation, said the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (Washington).
No tax is imposed on pet food anywhere in the United States beyond sate feed inspection programs. The hefty tax proposed in Washington, which would also be used to fund sterilization of feral and free-roaming cats, is more than 400 times the inspection fee currently imposed on pet food and would result in significant increase in the cost per pound of dog and cat food at the retail level, PIJAC said in a PetAlert.
According to the bill digest, the solution to companion animal overpopulation is a statewide spay/neuter surgery network that should be funded through a fee that is “targeted at the class of Washington residents that is most responsible for companion animals and their impact on our communities: owners of cats and dogs.”
PIJAC argues that putting the burden of funding for the program on responsible pet owners is unfair, discriminatory and inappropriate, and that the money to pay for what it says is primarily a feral cat problem should come out of the Washington general fund instead.
Duane Ekedahl of the Washington based Pet Food Institute testified against the bill in a Jan. 27 hearing before the Agricultural & Rural Economic Development Committee. The bill had not moved out of committee at press time.
Source: Pet Age Magazine April 2009
What are your thoughts?
I don't know what to think about this tax. While I think it is great to give assistance to low income families and I love the idea of fixing feral cats, I just don't know if it is fair to tax others for it. Also increasing the cost of already rising dog food, how ever small or large is not a good thing.
Can some sway me one way or the other? Or give more than the small article stated?
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Weddings Going to the Dogs
Wedding Going to the Dogs
NEW YORK — Andy MacDonald's wedding day went off without a hitch. The celebration took place in his cousin's house outside Seattle with a hundred guests in attendance. Toward the close of the ceremony, Inge solemnly walked down the aisle to present the two rings that would seal the couple in holy matrimony.
And she didn't even stop to sniff her butt.
MacDonald's collie-malamute mix had the honor of serving as ring bearer for the Seattle couple. "We just had to keep an eye on her so she wouldn't eat the cake," MacDonald says.
Man's best friend has turned into the best man as an increasing number of couples are using dogs in their wedding ceremonies. This new breed of wedding guest has created a niche industry that caters to Fido's appearance on his owner's big day.
"It's a shift in the way people view pets," says Brian Iannessa, a spokesman for Veterinary Pet Insurance, explaining the trend behind canine participants in weddings. "People are incorporating pets into their lives more than ever before, taking them on trips, celebrating their pets' birthdays."
Forty-two percent of the insurance company's clients had or plan to have their pets participate in their wedding, according to a recent poll of 3,000 pet owners. Iannessa estimates that the vast majority of those surveyed were dog owners.
The dog has moved from the barn to the backyard to the bedroom, explains Iannessa. "In some cases, dogs are viewed as human members of your family, and it makes sense to include them in important milestone moments."
This isn't entirely new. In the past few years, we've seen celebrities in the vanguard of the pet-as-wedding-guest phenomenon, creating designer outfits for their dogs, who serve as flower girls, bridesmaids, and more. Adam Sandler had his dogs, Matzoball and Meatball, at his Malibu, Calif., nuptials, giving Meatball the title "best dog" and placing a yarmulke on his head. Gwen Stefani walked down the aisle with her sheepdog, Winston, when she married Gavin Rossdale in London.
But even regular folks now include Old Faithful in the ceremony. When Susanne Goldstone Rosenhouse's mother suggested she include the family's two dogs in her wedding, Rosenhouse laughed. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized it would be a fitting addition to the nuptials.
"My parents are empty nesters, so these are now their kids," says Rosenhouse of the two white Maltese. She adds that a sibling rivalry has developed between her and the dogs.
The next step was to convince everyone else. "The rabbi said, 'You are not serious. This is not happening,'" says Rosenhouse, who was having a traditional Jewish wedding. "But it did not interrupt the religious ceremony, so why not?"
Snoopy and Giovonni, dressed in small tuxedos, walked down the aisle with Rosenhouse's human siblings.
A small industry has sprouted up alongside the burgeoning phenomenon. Dogs can receive wedding doggy biscuits as well as a private room to decompress after completing their role in the ceremony. There are specialty stores where owners can buy everything from full-length bridesmaid's dresses to bow ties for their dogs, so they're dressed appropriately for the occasion.
Jenny Gregorich, owner of Poochie Heaven, an online dog-clothing store, receives around seven orders a month for dog wedding attire. She is also frequently commissioned to create custom tuxedos for clients who want their dogs to match the exact color or style of the wedding.
"In general, tuxedos are more popular than dresses. For every three tuxedos, I sell one dress," she says. "Especially a tuxedo with a matching top hat."
Once they are all gussied up, the bride and groom need to make sure their dog will follow the script."You don't want to have your wedding be the first day your dog has been to the venue," cautions Charlotte Reed, pet lifestyle expert and author of "The Miss Fido Manners Complete Book of Dog Etiquette."
Reed, who devotes one chapter of her book to proper canine wedding manners, recommends beginning to train a dog two months before the wedding. She also reminds couples to check with venues, photographers and wedding officiants to make sure they are OK with having a dog as one of the guests.
"A doggy date is a must," says Reed, warning that if left unattended, dogs may jump on guests' dry-clean-only outfits or sneak a piece of wedding cake-resulting in a trip to the vet, instead of the honeymoon, after the wedding.
Jordan Kaplan, owner of Petaholics, a dog-walking and pet-sitting company in New York City, has had his share of doggy dates. Pets, like some out-of-town guests, have a large number of demands that the handler deals with, including food and water, transportation to and from the ceremony and frequent toilet breaks.
Kaplan recently dog-sat for a wedding at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York. The French bulldog wore a tuxedo, while the Maltese opted for a white dress shirt. The dogs stood on the sidelines for the entire ceremony. The French bull only voiced an opinion one time.
"He barked once when they asked if anyone had an objection to the marriage," Kaplan says. "It was perfect timing."
Luckily, the couple and guests did not take it as a warning but as a joke, and the wedding continued without any other doggy outbursts.
If you want your dog in the wedding, you have to be prepared for the unexpected. In other words:
"If you are the bride who wants everything kind of perfect," says Kirstie Warren, a Seattle-based wedding planner who had her own dog at her wedding seven years ago, "it's probably not the best thing for you."
And although giving a cherished pet an active role in the ceremony adds to the day, it is important to be cautious, says MacDonald.
"She actually walked down with fake rings because we didn't want to risk her running away."
Then the ceremony really would have gone to the dogs.
By Sarah Breger Columbia News Service
See:
Dog Tuxedos
Dog Wedding Dresses
Local woman buys sick dogs from Largo PetLand
One thing that we would like to stress at Poochieheaven is that you should not buy a puppy from a pet store. We feel that many people have no idea where these puppies come from or what the living situations are like for the mom and dads left back at the puppy mill. We feel like the best way is to educate people about what goes on. Please read the following article about a lady's experience buying for a PetLand store.
Local woman buys sick dogs from Largo PetLand
It is amazing to me that so many people still don’t know that dogs sold at pet stores come from puppy mills. It just goes to show that people still need to be properly educated on where their pet is coming from.
For example, there was an article I read last week about a lady named Carol Munkhouse, who purchased, not one, not two, but three different dogs from the Largo PetLand. And go figure, all of them were very sick, the worst being Brutus her English Bulldog. Brutus has a genetic condition that prevents him from walking long distance. Did I mention that Munkhouse had spent almost $3000 on this dog? And she would only be able to return the dog and get store credit (which is why she kept getting additional dogs, who ended up all being sick
too.)
In November, the Humane Society of the United States revealed the results of an eight-month investigation into Petland Inc., the country's largest chain of puppy-selling pet stores. The results show that many Petland stores across the country are supporting cruel puppy mills, even while telling unsuspecting customers that the dogs only come from good breeders.
According to that investigation, many of Petland's puppies are not supplied directly by breeders but are purchased from a "middle man"—large-scale "pet distributors," otherwise known as brokers—showing that the company may not even know who the breeders are or what their standards of care may be like. The investigation revealed that some of Petland's brokers are also buying from puppy mills.
So, please, if you are looking to get a puppy, check with your local shelter or rescue group. These groups get in all breeds at all different ages. And if you are going to buy a dog, do not do it over the Internet. You should go to the breeders house and see the conditions from which that dog came.
To read more about the HSUS investigation in PetLand, click here.
Author: Jessica Whitehouse
Local woman buys sick dogs from Largo PetLand
It is amazing to me that so many people still don’t know that dogs sold at pet stores come from puppy mills. It just goes to show that people still need to be properly educated on where their pet is coming from.
For example, there was an article I read last week about a lady named Carol Munkhouse, who purchased, not one, not two, but three different dogs from the Largo PetLand. And go figure, all of them were very sick, the worst being Brutus her English Bulldog. Brutus has a genetic condition that prevents him from walking long distance. Did I mention that Munkhouse had spent almost $3000 on this dog? And she would only be able to return the dog and get store credit (which is why she kept getting additional dogs, who ended up all being sick
too.)In November, the Humane Society of the United States revealed the results of an eight-month investigation into Petland Inc., the country's largest chain of puppy-selling pet stores. The results show that many Petland stores across the country are supporting cruel puppy mills, even while telling unsuspecting customers that the dogs only come from good breeders.
According to that investigation, many of Petland's puppies are not supplied directly by breeders but are purchased from a "middle man"—large-scale "pet distributors," otherwise known as brokers—showing that the company may not even know who the breeders are or what their standards of care may be like. The investigation revealed that some of Petland's brokers are also buying from puppy mills.
So, please, if you are looking to get a puppy, check with your local shelter or rescue group. These groups get in all breeds at all different ages. And if you are going to buy a dog, do not do it over the Internet. You should go to the breeders house and see the conditions from which that dog came.
To read more about the HSUS investigation in PetLand, click here.
Author: Jessica Whitehouse
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Peanut Sniffing Dogs
I once worked at a school where they had entire tables that the students who ate on them could not have any peanut butter products. There was also a classroom where the people in there were not allowed to eat peanut butter- even at home, due to the severe peanut allergies of one of the students in the classroom. I could only imagine how hard this would be on the parents and children that are this allergic to a very common food. I had to share this story when I saw it. Just as a seeing eye dog would help someone who is blind, a peanut sniffing dog would greatly improve the lives of someone who is severely allergic to peanuts.
MONUMENT — Eight-year-old Riley Mers still has a scar on her foot from a time when a peanut shell slipped into her sandal at the park, burning her skin like an acid. She's gone into hives and struggled to breathe from inhaling peanut residue too faint to smell. In her short life she's learned enough about emergency rooms to know she doesn't like the "dresses" they make her wear.
But the Monument child with the dangerous food allergy now has a new ally that might restore some sense of normalcy to her life: a Portugese water dog named Rock'O. The dog has been trained to detect the presence of peanuts before she can, potentially saving Riley's life while allowing her to get out in public.
Until now, every encounter with strangers or even friends has been a rare and nerve-racking experience.
"It's just so life-changing you wouldn't believe it," she said, calling the black, curly haired dog her "guardian angel."
The girl received her dog Sunday after he underwent six months of training. Rock'O will go wherever she does, alerting her to the presence of peanuts.
Peanuts are used in far more ways than providing spread for a sandwich or a salty snack, and her allergy is sensitive enough for the most minuscule exposures to cause problems. Some potting soils, for example, contain peanut shells as filler.
Riley's parents learned that the hard way when the girl, as a toddler, had an allergic reaction as they were potting plants.
That's meant a life where going to a friend's house requires an extensive sweep of the home and a crash course for the parents.
She attends a few classes at Kilmer Elementary School, in Lewis-Palmer School District 38, but gets most of her education online. The school does not serve peanut butter, but a child bringing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to school could create a danger for Riley.
Such situations won't change, but Rock'O will provide "long-range radar" for Riley, said her dad, Brett Mers.
The dog might stop her from going into a room if it smells peanuts. If a parent or someone is with her, they can enter the room with Rock'O and, like a bomb or drug dog, sniff out the source and remove it.
Rock'O was trained at the Florida Canine Academy under Master Trainer Bill Whitstine, who donated his services to the family. Although Whitstine has long trained dogs to detect bombs, narcotics, flammable materials and bed bugs, this was his first for peanut allergies.
"This really is a bomb dog for this child," said Whitstine, "because the peanut is a bomb for her."
While the new use of canines holds promise, it is not without potential problems. Chief among them is cost. The labor to train a dog to detect peanuts drives the price to about $10,000. And if a dog has an off day or is not properly trained, the consequences can be severe.
"It has to be done right, because somebody's life depends on this dog," said Sharon L. Perry, who claims to have trained the first peanut-detecting dog three years ago and is director of training at the Southern Star Ranch Boarding Kennel, in Florence, Texas.
"If these dogs miss a peanut, the child is dead."
Perry spent a year training the first dog and two weeks training the family in using the dog.
The idea came from a narcotics officer who knew the family and suggested that they get a narcotics dog trained in peanuts.
Since then, Perry's delivered five dogs to families and has nine still undergoing training. Perry was contacted by the Mers, she said, and did not know until interviewed by The Gazette that other trainers were doing peanut detection.
Her worry, she said, was that people in a rush to deliver dogs won't do it right.
"If it is not perfect, you've just made a child sick."
Riley's parents, Brett and Sherry, are hoping to provide more kids than just their daughter with such a dog. At the same time Rock'O was being trained, they were organizing Angel Service Dogs Inc.
Formed on Feb. 6, according to the Colorado Secretary of State's Office, the business would like to provide allergy-detecting and seizure-detecting dogs at reduced costs and eventually for free.
For Riley, Rock'O means a chance to go to birthday parties and the mall with a little less fear.
"I could do a back flip," she said about her excitement. "My friends - it's not their fault that they eat peanut butter."
Source: Denver Post
MONUMENT — Eight-year-old Riley Mers still has a scar on her foot from a time when a peanut shell slipped into her sandal at the park, burning her skin like an acid. She's gone into hives and struggled to breathe from inhaling peanut residue too faint to smell. In her short life she's learned enough about emergency rooms to know she doesn't like the "dresses" they make her wear.
But the Monument child with the dangerous food allergy now has a new ally that might restore some sense of normalcy to her life: a Portugese water dog named Rock'O. The dog has been trained to detect the presence of peanuts before she can, potentially saving Riley's life while allowing her to get out in public.
Until now, every encounter with strangers or even friends has been a rare and nerve-racking experience.
"It's just so life-changing you wouldn't believe it," she said, calling the black, curly haired dog her "guardian angel."
The girl received her dog Sunday after he underwent six months of training. Rock'O will go wherever she does, alerting her to the presence of peanuts.
Peanuts are used in far more ways than providing spread for a sandwich or a salty snack, and her allergy is sensitive enough for the most minuscule exposures to cause problems. Some potting soils, for example, contain peanut shells as filler.
Riley's parents learned that the hard way when the girl, as a toddler, had an allergic reaction as they were potting plants.
That's meant a life where going to a friend's house requires an extensive sweep of the home and a crash course for the parents.
She attends a few classes at Kilmer Elementary School, in Lewis-Palmer School District 38, but gets most of her education online. The school does not serve peanut butter, but a child bringing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to school could create a danger for Riley.
Such situations won't change, but Rock'O will provide "long-range radar" for Riley, said her dad, Brett Mers.
The dog might stop her from going into a room if it smells peanuts. If a parent or someone is with her, they can enter the room with Rock'O and, like a bomb or drug dog, sniff out the source and remove it.
Rock'O was trained at the Florida Canine Academy under Master Trainer Bill Whitstine, who donated his services to the family. Although Whitstine has long trained dogs to detect bombs, narcotics, flammable materials and bed bugs, this was his first for peanut allergies.
"This really is a bomb dog for this child," said Whitstine, "because the peanut is a bomb for her."
While the new use of canines holds promise, it is not without potential problems. Chief among them is cost. The labor to train a dog to detect peanuts drives the price to about $10,000. And if a dog has an off day or is not properly trained, the consequences can be severe.
"It has to be done right, because somebody's life depends on this dog," said Sharon L. Perry, who claims to have trained the first peanut-detecting dog three years ago and is director of training at the Southern Star Ranch Boarding Kennel, in Florence, Texas.
"If these dogs miss a peanut, the child is dead."
Perry spent a year training the first dog and two weeks training the family in using the dog.
The idea came from a narcotics officer who knew the family and suggested that they get a narcotics dog trained in peanuts.
Since then, Perry's delivered five dogs to families and has nine still undergoing training. Perry was contacted by the Mers, she said, and did not know until interviewed by The Gazette that other trainers were doing peanut detection.
Her worry, she said, was that people in a rush to deliver dogs won't do it right.
"If it is not perfect, you've just made a child sick."
Riley's parents, Brett and Sherry, are hoping to provide more kids than just their daughter with such a dog. At the same time Rock'O was being trained, they were organizing Angel Service Dogs Inc.
Formed on Feb. 6, according to the Colorado Secretary of State's Office, the business would like to provide allergy-detecting and seizure-detecting dogs at reduced costs and eventually for free.
For Riley, Rock'O means a chance to go to birthday parties and the mall with a little less fear.
"I could do a back flip," she said about her excitement. "My friends - it's not their fault that they eat peanut butter."
Source: Denver Post
Friday, March 06, 2009
Oprah's New Puppy- Sadie
Oprah has a new puppy in her life! A blong cocker spaniel puppy. She showed her off her Friday show. Thank you Oprah for adopting!
She showed off Sadie, her new blonde cocker spaniel puppy. The audience let out a collective "aww" when the dog was brought out on stage wearing an orange and pink polka-dotted jacket. "The dog chose me," Winfrey said when pal Gayle King asked how she selected the adorable pup at a Chicago shelter on Sunday.
"She was on my shoulder, nuzzling." The talk show host showed a variety of photos of her new pup – including ones of her eating, wearing a pink Ralph Lauren sweater and napping with a stuffed bunny. Winfrey and her longtime steady, Stedman Graham, adopted Sadie at the PAWS shelter, a no-kill facility where the animal-rights advocate has sponsored a room in honor of her dog Sophie, who passed on last year. "Thank you for my new love PAWS," Winfrey said as she cuddled Sadie. She urged viewers to consider adopting from a shelter where many people are giving up pets in these tough economic times.
This past week has been a sleepless one for Winfrey, who said that the puppy’s crate was actually in her bed during Sadie's first night in her new home. "We've had a rough week, I haven't slept," she said.
After introducing the puppy to the world, Winfrey brought out Sadie's three brothers who are all available for adoption at PAWS. Co-host Ali Wentworth held a pup and pleaded on camera to her husband George Stephanopoulos, begging to take one puppy home.
Sadie joins the other members of Winfrey's menagerie, golden retrievers, Luke and Layla. Winfrey's other beloved cocker spaniel, Solomon, also passed away last year.
Source: People
She showed off Sadie, her new blonde cocker spaniel puppy. The audience let out a collective "aww" when the dog was brought out on stage wearing an orange and pink polka-dotted jacket. "The dog chose me," Winfrey said when pal Gayle King asked how she selected the adorable pup at a Chicago shelter on Sunday.
"She was on my shoulder, nuzzling." The talk show host showed a variety of photos of her new pup – including ones of her eating, wearing a pink Ralph Lauren sweater and napping with a stuffed bunny. Winfrey and her longtime steady, Stedman Graham, adopted Sadie at the PAWS shelter, a no-kill facility where the animal-rights advocate has sponsored a room in honor of her dog Sophie, who passed on last year. "Thank you for my new love PAWS," Winfrey said as she cuddled Sadie. She urged viewers to consider adopting from a shelter where many people are giving up pets in these tough economic times.
This past week has been a sleepless one for Winfrey, who said that the puppy’s crate was actually in her bed during Sadie's first night in her new home. "We've had a rough week, I haven't slept," she said.
After introducing the puppy to the world, Winfrey brought out Sadie's three brothers who are all available for adoption at PAWS. Co-host Ali Wentworth held a pup and pleaded on camera to her husband George Stephanopoulos, begging to take one puppy home.
Sadie joins the other members of Winfrey's menagerie, golden retrievers, Luke and Layla. Winfrey's other beloved cocker spaniel, Solomon, also passed away last year.
Source: People
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The Obamas New Dog
The Obamas are getting a Portuguese Water dog according to the new reports. What do you think of this suggestion? What do you think they should name it? Do you think they would be better with their second choice a "Labradoodle"?
The whole world, it seems, wants to know: What kind of dog are the Obamas getting and, for goodness sake, when?
Speaking to PEOPLE at the White House recently, Michelle Obama leaned in and confided: "You're getting some scoops here." So, when? In April, Mrs. Obama says – after she and the President take daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, on a vacation for spring break. Here's a sample of a typical family conversation on the matter: "So Sasha says, 'April 1st.' I said, 'April.' She says, 'April 1st.' It's, like, April!," Mrs. Obama recalls. "Got to do it after spring break. You can't get a new dog and then go away for a week."
And what kind of dog will soon be frolicking on the South Lawn? Mrs. Obama says she thinks she is going to look for a rescue Portuguese Water dog who is "old enough" and a "match" for the family dynamic. "Temperamentally they're supposed to be pretty good," she says of the breed that Sen. Ted Kennedy has also lobbied for (he has two Water dogs of his own). "From the size perspective, they're sort of middle of the road – it's not small, but it's not a huge dog. And the folks that we know who own them have raved about them. So that's where we're leaning." The Name Game
The only thing still up in the air is the name. And Mom's not feeling it with some of the names her girls have come up with. "Oh, the names are really bad. I don't even want to mention it, because there are names floating around and they're bad," Mrs. Obama says with a laugh. "You listen and you go – like, I think, Frank was one of them. Frank! Moose was another one of them. Moose. I said, well, what if the dog isn't a moose? Moose. I'm like, no, come on, let's work with the names a little bit."
Asked if she can believe the public interest in her family dog search, Mrs. Obama shakes her head. "Okay, that's surprising," she says. "One of the things I didn't anticipate is the level of the excitement about the dog. I knew my kids were excited. They've been excited for years. They've even calmed down, because they feel like, 'They said we're going to get one, so let's just shut up about it.' "
Diplomatically, and careful not to insult enthusiastic dog-lovers, she adds: "It's all great and gracious attention. People are just being as helpful as you can imagine. So I know that we will find the perfect breed. And we'll find people who are caring folks who will help us find the dog of our dreams."
Source: People
Saturday, January 24, 2009
The Science Diet Scam
Here is a great article about Science Diet.
Poochieheaven offers great organic dog food that is much better for your dog's health.
Of all the crooks in the commercial pet food industry, Hill's (the maker of Science Diet and Prescription Diet foods) has got to be the worst. The fact that their slogan "Veterinarian Recommended" is a cleverly used trademark is just the beginning. If you don't know even some very basic facts about commercial pet food, I suggest you poke around on my Dog Food Website for a bit before reading on. Of course you can also read this article first and then go there to read up on the details you don't understand.
Warning: this is going to be a long read.
Let's dive in with a short summary:
Science Diet is a pet food that is often recommended by veterinarians, and is heavily advertised, so many people buy it, thinking they are giving their pets the best product on the market. The fact that it is pretty popular doesn't make it a quality product though.
Why is Science Diet recommended by veterinarians?
The answer is simple and Tara Parker-Pope of the Wall Street Journal probably said it best in her article "Why Vets Recommend 'Designer' Chow" (reprinted here):
[...] Borrowing a page from the pharmaceuticals companies, which routinely woo doctors to prescribe their drugs, Hill's has spent a generation cultivating its professional following. It spends hundreds of thousands of dollars a year funding university research and nutrition courses at every one of the 27 U.S. veterinary colleges. Once in practice, vets who sell Science Diet and other premium foods directly from their offices pocket profits of as much as 40%. [...]"
So there you have it - veterinarians don't recommend this food because they are convinced it's a great product, but because they make a profit and have other personal benefits. To the contrary of what many people think, nutrition is not a major subject in veterinary schools, and most of the courses offered are sponsored by one of the pet food giants. Any vets specializing in nutrition or following a holistic approach do their own research outside of what they were taught at college. If you look at books about pet nutrition, you will find that pet food companies are involved in those too.
The Waltham Book of Companion Animal NutritionDoes Waltham ring a bell? Pedigree, Whiskas, Cesar, Sheba? The stuff you find on the shelves of the pet supply aisle at your grocery or department store?Canine and Feline Nutrition: A Resource for Companion Animal Professionals.Daniel P. Carey, Diane A. Hirakawa and Leighann Daristotle, all three of them employees of the IAMS Company in leading positions. The fourth person, who edited this book, is Linda P. Case, the only independent on the team, but she also endorses the products this company manufactures.
Look at others used as textbooks at veterinary schools and investigate the authors. You'd be surprised at the level of involvement of the pet food industry. But I don't want to spin conspiracy theories here. No doubt that research is needed to learn more about how to keep our pets healthy, and that it has to be funded somehow - but as a consumer I do not appreciate being left in the dark, much less mislead purposely about what is best for my pet. So back to the topic at hand:
Have you ever looked at the ingredient lists of Science Diet products and compared those ingredients to the claims Hill's makes about the quality of their foods? Well, I have. And frankly, it disgusts me how many people get scammed into buying an overpriced product of poor quality just because they don't know much about what they are actually feeding their pets.
Adult Original?
Mostly grains with some chicken and chicken byproducts, animal fat and some chicken liver flavor. 48.1% carbohydrates.
Adult Beef (or Chicken or Lamb) & Rice Recipe?
Some beef, chicken or lamb and some rice or rice fragments, but mainly other grains (corn meal, soybean meal, ground grain sorghum, ground wheat), some chicken byproducts (except in the lamb variety - and yes, even the "beef" variety most likely has more chicken byproducts than beef!), animal fat, beet pulp and flavors. 50.6%, 50.2% and 48.7% carbohydrates respectively. I'm beginning to get the impression we are trying to feed cattle here, not animals with a carnivorous background!
The other "normal" foods of the main product line follow pretty much the same principle, but it gets worse when we get to the so-called "light", "oral care", "sensitive stomach" or "senior" products. 16% "soybean mill run" (read floor sweepings) and 10.8% peanut hulls? And you are paying how much per bag for this crap? $29? $33? $38? More??? Talk about being taken for a ride. Did your vet recommend that too?
But it gets better yet. We haven't discussed the fairly new "Nature's Best" line yet. It's available " with real beef" or "with real chicken". Go have a look at the ingredient lists, I'll wait.
Did you check it out? Good. What did you see? As you may know (or not), the ingredients are listed by descending weight proportions as they appear processing. What I see is that the first two ingredients are rice fractions and wheat and the third is turkey. The "real" beef or chicken is listed 7th and not even among the main ingredients. As per AAFCO labeling rules, a product labeled "with [something]" only has to include a minimum of 3% of the named ingredient by total weight. Out of the 6 main ingredients, 4 are grains or grain byproducts, one is a poor quality source of fat (rendered from nonspecified animals, possibly including euthanized pets) and only one is actually an animal-based protein. Peas, carrots and flavorings in small quantities round out the "wholesome goodness found in nature" advertised by the manufacturer as "real beef/chicken, real garden vegetables and wholesome grains - the best of everything". Mind you that not even USDA inspected ingredients are used, so my guess would rather be feed grade grains and poor quality meat.
It's hard to believe that even that can be topped, but they did it!
Yes, it is possible. Believe it or not. Enter "Science Diet Advanced Protection" - the ultimate scam, Hill's attempt to secure its market share, riding on the more and more popular natural/holistic wave. I present you the ingredient list of this product with "patent-pending breakthrough of nutritional technology" boasting a "unique antioxidant blend, sourced from ingredients like citrus fruits, carrots, spinach and tomatoes":
========== Main ingredients ====================
Just for comparison I'll list the ingredient list of a product that has a similar formula but actually includes clean, good quality ingredients:
Chicken, turkey, chicken meal, turkey meal, brown rice, pearled barley, lamb meal, oatmeal, chicken fat, dried eggs, salmon, natural flavoring, canola oil, flaxseed, fresh potatoes, fresh carrots, fresh peas, whole fresh apples, cranberries, dried chicory root, salt, potassium chloride, lecithin, garlic, vitamins, dehydrated kelp, minerals, yucca schidigera extract, sage extract, digestive enzymes and probiotics.
The manufacturer of the above mentioned quality product guarantees that all ingredients are human grade and free of antibiotics or hormones - an assurance of quality you will never hear from Hill's. If I told you that this food costs about the same (or even less) per 35 lb bag than Science Diet "Advanced Protection", would you believe me? What about if I said that one 35 lb bag of this quality food would last longer than 35 lbs of "Advanced Protection" because it contains less grains and more quality animal protein - and thus is more digestible and provides better nutrition?
So are you still getting scammed or already looking into a better dog food?
Don't be fooled, Hill's is not the only company trying to convince you to shell out your hard earned money for a poor quality product. Many other pet food manufacturers are doing the same thing, all you need to do is watch the cute, colorful commercials on TV or walk down the pet food aisle at your grocery or department store. Heck, even your local pet store is likely to have more crappy brands than good ones on their shelves.
So for the sake of your dog (and the same goes for other pets as well!), next time you go shopping for pet food, don't just toss a random bag with a bargain price tag into the cart, but look at the ingredient list.
Or even better, do your homework beforehand so you actually know what to look for.
Poochieheaven offers great organic dog food that is much better for your dog's health.
The Science Diet Scam
By Sabine Contreras, BetterDogCare.com, © Sabine Contreras 2004-2008
By Sabine Contreras, BetterDogCare.com, © Sabine Contreras 2004-2008
Of all the crooks in the commercial pet food industry, Hill's (the maker of Science Diet and Prescription Diet foods) has got to be the worst. The fact that their slogan "Veterinarian Recommended" is a cleverly used trademark is just the beginning. If you don't know even some very basic facts about commercial pet food, I suggest you poke around on my Dog Food Website for a bit before reading on. Of course you can also read this article first and then go there to read up on the details you don't understand.
Warning: this is going to be a long read.
Let's dive in with a short summary:
Science Diet is a pet food that is often recommended by veterinarians, and is heavily advertised, so many people buy it, thinking they are giving their pets the best product on the market. The fact that it is pretty popular doesn't make it a quality product though.
Why is Science Diet recommended by veterinarians?
The answer is simple and Tara Parker-Pope of the Wall Street Journal probably said it best in her article "Why Vets Recommend 'Designer' Chow" (reprinted here):
[...] Borrowing a page from the pharmaceuticals companies, which routinely woo doctors to prescribe their drugs, Hill's has spent a generation cultivating its professional following. It spends hundreds of thousands of dollars a year funding university research and nutrition courses at every one of the 27 U.S. veterinary colleges. Once in practice, vets who sell Science Diet and other premium foods directly from their offices pocket profits of as much as 40%. [...]"
So there you have it - veterinarians don't recommend this food because they are convinced it's a great product, but because they make a profit and have other personal benefits. To the contrary of what many people think, nutrition is not a major subject in veterinary schools, and most of the courses offered are sponsored by one of the pet food giants. Any vets specializing in nutrition or following a holistic approach do their own research outside of what they were taught at college. If you look at books about pet nutrition, you will find that pet food companies are involved in those too.
Need some examples?
The Waltham Book of Companion Animal NutritionDoes Waltham ring a bell? Pedigree, Whiskas, Cesar, Sheba? The stuff you find on the shelves of the pet supply aisle at your grocery or department store?Canine and Feline Nutrition: A Resource for Companion Animal Professionals.Daniel P. Carey, Diane A. Hirakawa and Leighann Daristotle, all three of them employees of the IAMS Company in leading positions. The fourth person, who edited this book, is Linda P. Case, the only independent on the team, but she also endorses the products this company manufactures.
Look at others used as textbooks at veterinary schools and investigate the authors. You'd be surprised at the level of involvement of the pet food industry. But I don't want to spin conspiracy theories here. No doubt that research is needed to learn more about how to keep our pets healthy, and that it has to be funded somehow - but as a consumer I do not appreciate being left in the dark, much less mislead purposely about what is best for my pet. So back to the topic at hand:
Have you ever looked at the ingredient lists of Science Diet products and compared those ingredients to the claims Hill's makes about the quality of their foods? Well, I have. And frankly, it disgusts me how many people get scammed into buying an overpriced product of poor quality just because they don't know much about what they are actually feeding their pets.
Adult Original?
Mostly grains with some chicken and chicken byproducts, animal fat and some chicken liver flavor. 48.1% carbohydrates.
Adult Beef (or Chicken or Lamb) & Rice Recipe?
Some beef, chicken or lamb and some rice or rice fragments, but mainly other grains (corn meal, soybean meal, ground grain sorghum, ground wheat), some chicken byproducts (except in the lamb variety - and yes, even the "beef" variety most likely has more chicken byproducts than beef!), animal fat, beet pulp and flavors. 50.6%, 50.2% and 48.7% carbohydrates respectively. I'm beginning to get the impression we are trying to feed cattle here, not animals with a carnivorous background!
The other "normal" foods of the main product line follow pretty much the same principle, but it gets worse when we get to the so-called "light", "oral care", "sensitive stomach" or "senior" products. 16% "soybean mill run" (read floor sweepings) and 10.8% peanut hulls? And you are paying how much per bag for this crap? $29? $33? $38? More??? Talk about being taken for a ride. Did your vet recommend that too?
But it gets better yet. We haven't discussed the fairly new "Nature's Best" line yet. It's available " with real beef" or "with real chicken". Go have a look at the ingredient lists, I'll wait.
Did you check it out? Good. What did you see? As you may know (or not), the ingredients are listed by descending weight proportions as they appear processing. What I see is that the first two ingredients are rice fractions and wheat and the third is turkey. The "real" beef or chicken is listed 7th and not even among the main ingredients. As per AAFCO labeling rules, a product labeled "with [something]" only has to include a minimum of 3% of the named ingredient by total weight. Out of the 6 main ingredients, 4 are grains or grain byproducts, one is a poor quality source of fat (rendered from nonspecified animals, possibly including euthanized pets) and only one is actually an animal-based protein. Peas, carrots and flavorings in small quantities round out the "wholesome goodness found in nature" advertised by the manufacturer as "real beef/chicken, real garden vegetables and wholesome grains - the best of everything". Mind you that not even USDA inspected ingredients are used, so my guess would rather be feed grade grains and poor quality meat.
It's hard to believe that even that can be topped, but they did it!
Yes, it is possible. Believe it or not. Enter "Science Diet Advanced Protection" - the ultimate scam, Hill's attempt to secure its market share, riding on the more and more popular natural/holistic wave. I present you the ingredient list of this product with "patent-pending breakthrough of nutritional technology" boasting a "unique antioxidant blend, sourced from ingredients like citrus fruits, carrots, spinach and tomatoes":
========== Main ingredients ====================
corn meal (not ideal as a first ingredient, which should be a quality source of animal protein)chicken by-product meal (anything but quality cuts of meat!)soybean meal (a byproduct of the manufacturing process of soybean oil)animal fat (rendered fat of unspecified animals, possibly diseased, decayed or even euthanized pets)
========== Present in lesser quantities ============flaxseed (no complaints here)chicken liver flavor (a higher amount of a flavoring ingredient than vegetables? interesting...)dried egg product (a byproduct of the egg grading industry instead of fresh, whole eggs?)dried carrots (instead of fresh carrots?)dried spinach (instead of fresh spinach?)dried grape pomace (when it is known that grapes can be toxic to dogs?)dried tomato pomace (a byproduct of the tomato processing industry)dried citrus pulp (the dried residue of peel, pulp and seeds of oranges, grapefruit and other citrus fruit - a byproduct more suitable as cattle feed, but in this product actually marketed to make the consumer think it's "citrus fruit"?.)vegetable oil (could be worse I suppose, but a specific oil like sunflower oil would be preferable.)oat fiber (as opposed to whole grain oats that include the entire range of nutrients?)and some amino acid supplements, rosemary extract, minerals and vitamins.
Just for comparison I'll list the ingredient list of a product that has a similar formula but actually includes clean, good quality ingredients:
Chicken, turkey, chicken meal, turkey meal, brown rice, pearled barley, lamb meal, oatmeal, chicken fat, dried eggs, salmon, natural flavoring, canola oil, flaxseed, fresh potatoes, fresh carrots, fresh peas, whole fresh apples, cranberries, dried chicory root, salt, potassium chloride, lecithin, garlic, vitamins, dehydrated kelp, minerals, yucca schidigera extract, sage extract, digestive enzymes and probiotics.
The manufacturer of the above mentioned quality product guarantees that all ingredients are human grade and free of antibiotics or hormones - an assurance of quality you will never hear from Hill's. If I told you that this food costs about the same (or even less) per 35 lb bag than Science Diet "Advanced Protection", would you believe me? What about if I said that one 35 lb bag of this quality food would last longer than 35 lbs of "Advanced Protection" because it contains less grains and more quality animal protein - and thus is more digestible and provides better nutrition?
So are you still getting scammed or already looking into a better dog food?
Don't be fooled, Hill's is not the only company trying to convince you to shell out your hard earned money for a poor quality product. Many other pet food manufacturers are doing the same thing, all you need to do is watch the cute, colorful commercials on TV or walk down the pet food aisle at your grocery or department store. Heck, even your local pet store is likely to have more crappy brands than good ones on their shelves.
So for the sake of your dog (and the same goes for other pets as well!), next time you go shopping for pet food, don't just toss a random bag with a bargain price tag into the cart, but look at the ingredient list.
Or even better, do your homework beforehand so you actually know what to look for.
Getting healthy dog food will cut down on many health care problem you face with your dog. As stated in the article feeding a dog food with less grains will actually last you longer, thus saving you money!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Dalmation Bladder Stone Gene ID'd
Researchers at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine have identified a gene mutation that causes high levels of uric acid and bladder stones in Dalmatians.
Elevated levels of uric acid is a trait found in all Dalmatians; other dog breeds do not usually product uric acid, according to the university. These high levels can cause bladder stones that often have to be surgically removed.
With this finding, dog breeders may be able to eliminate this trait.
"This defect, which in dogs is peculiar to the entire Dalmatian breed, has been reported for nearly a century and was probably unintentionally introduced as breeders worked to select more distinctive spotting patters," said Danika Bannasch, DVM, Ph.D., lead author on the study.
"It is now possible that this trait can be removed from the breed by crossing Dalmatians with the normal offspring of the original Dalmatian-pointer breeding that occurred in the early 1970s," she said.
The school's Veterinary Genetics Laboratory will being offering DNA testing for the mutation in dogs by Dec. 1st. For details, visit www.vgl.ucdavis.edu.
The discovery will also help scientists better understand the related problem in humans. Elevated levels of uric acid in humans can result in kidney stones, hypertension, and gout, and inflammation of the joints.
The Nov. 7 study published in the scientific journal Public Library of Science was supported, in part, by a fellowship from the Morris Animal Foundation and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases within the National Institutes of Health.
Elevated levels of uric acid is a trait found in all Dalmatians; other dog breeds do not usually product uric acid, according to the university. These high levels can cause bladder stones that often have to be surgically removed.
With this finding, dog breeders may be able to eliminate this trait.
"This defect, which in dogs is peculiar to the entire Dalmatian breed, has been reported for nearly a century and was probably unintentionally introduced as breeders worked to select more distinctive spotting patters," said Danika Bannasch, DVM, Ph.D., lead author on the study.
"It is now possible that this trait can be removed from the breed by crossing Dalmatians with the normal offspring of the original Dalmatian-pointer breeding that occurred in the early 1970s," she said.
The school's Veterinary Genetics Laboratory will being offering DNA testing for the mutation in dogs by Dec. 1st. For details, visit www.vgl.ucdavis.edu.
The discovery will also help scientists better understand the related problem in humans. Elevated levels of uric acid in humans can result in kidney stones, hypertension, and gout, and inflammation of the joints.
The Nov. 7 study published in the scientific journal Public Library of Science was supported, in part, by a fellowship from the Morris Animal Foundation and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases within the National Institutes of Health.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Watch that Doggie Door
A cute email I got!
This fawn followed this beagle home ---- right through the doggie door ---- in the Bittinger, MD. area recently. The owner came home to find the visitor had made himself right at home. This hit the 6 o'clock news big time. 
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Top Dog & Cat Names of 2008
Dogs
Top names
1. Max
2. Bailey
3. Bella
4. Molly
5. Lucy
6. Buddy
7. Maggie
8. Daisy
9. Sophie
10. Chloe
Most unusual
1. Rush Limbark
2. Sirius Lee Handsome
3. Rafikikadiki
4. Low Jack
5. Meatwad
6. Peanut Wigglebutt
7. Scuddles Unterfuss
8. Sophie Touch & Pee
9. Admiral Toot
10. Spatula
Cats
Top names
1. Max
2. Chloe
3. Tigger
4. Tiger
5. Lucy
6. Smokey
7. Oliver
8. Bella
9. Shadow
10. Charlie
Most unusual
1. Edward Scissorpaws
2. Sir Lix-a-lot
3. Optimus Prrrime
4. Buddah Pest
5. Snoop Kitty Kitty
6. Miss Fuzzbutt
7. 80 Bucks
8. Sparklemonkey
9. Rosie Posie Prozac
10. Toot Uncommon
Source:msnbc
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
You thought your dog was large!?
I have a big dog (90lbs) but he compares nothing to this.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1087166/How-saved-Britains-Biggest-Dog-The-battle-20st-Samson-condemned-kennel-sky.html#addComment
I can't even imagine this in my house.
What are your thoughts?
Do you think they even make dog carriers large enough for a dog this size?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1087166/How-saved-Britains-Biggest-Dog-The-battle-20st-Samson-condemned-kennel-sky.html#addComment
I can't even imagine this in my house.
What are your thoughts?
Do you think they even make dog carriers large enough for a dog this size?
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Please think twice.
When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, an despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad,"you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" - but then you'd relent and roll me over for a belly rub.
My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs" you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.
Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" -- still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate.
Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love." As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch -- because your touch was now so infrequent -- and I would've defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway. There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me.
These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog ," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family.
I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers." You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?"
They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you that you had changed your mind -- that this was all a bad dream... or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me.
When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days.
As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?"
Perhaps because she understood my dog speak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself -- a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her. It was directed at you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of you. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.
Please think about all future changes in your life before getting a dog. Don't buy from a pet store or breeder. Adopt, spay and neuter, dogs in shelters need you.
My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs" you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.
Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" -- still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate.
Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love." As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch -- because your touch was now so infrequent -- and I would've defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway. There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me.
These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog ," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family.
I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers." You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?"
They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you that you had changed your mind -- that this was all a bad dream... or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me.
When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days.
As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?"
Perhaps because she understood my dog speak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself -- a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her. It was directed at you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of you. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.
Please think about all future changes in your life before getting a dog. Don't buy from a pet store or breeder. Adopt, spay and neuter, dogs in shelters need you.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Halloween Hazards for your Dog
Keeping your fur children safe on Halloween should be a priority along with keeping your human children safe.
Here are some tips from the ASPCA:
- Avoid giving your dog candy. Chocolate is bad for dogs and should not be given anytime of the year. Candy that contains the artificial sweetener xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which can lead to depression, lack of coordination, and seizures. Make sure to the candy in a place where your dogs can not get into it.
-Make sure that you and your children clean up the candy wrappers. Cats will think these are great toys, but wrappers made of aluminum foil or cellophane can cause intestinal blockage and induce vomiting.
-Keep your pets in another closed room during trick or treating hours. The multiple openings of the door can be a perfect opportunity for your dog or cat to run out of the door. Make sure your dog or cat is wearing identification in case they would get out.
-If you are using dog Halloween costumes, make sure that they don't limit their movement, sight, hearing, or ability to breath and drink water. Bandanas work great for those dogs that don't want to wear a costume. Also remember that other children in costumes may scare your dog and cause them to act differently then they normally would.
-Be very careful with jack o' lanterns and other decorations that have candles. Pets can easily knock these over and start a fire. Just like any other electrical cords, cords from decorations can be very harmful if chewed on.
Look into an area dog daycare, many may have Halloween specials where they can spend the trick or treating time. They will be safe and have fun too!
Here are some tips from the ASPCA:
- Avoid giving your dog candy. Chocolate is bad for dogs and should not be given anytime of the year. Candy that contains the artificial sweetener xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which can lead to depression, lack of coordination, and seizures. Make sure to the candy in a place where your dogs can not get into it.
-Make sure that you and your children clean up the candy wrappers. Cats will think these are great toys, but wrappers made of aluminum foil or cellophane can cause intestinal blockage and induce vomiting.
-Keep your pets in another closed room during trick or treating hours. The multiple openings of the door can be a perfect opportunity for your dog or cat to run out of the door. Make sure your dog or cat is wearing identification in case they would get out.
-If you are using dog Halloween costumes, make sure that they don't limit their movement, sight, hearing, or ability to breath and drink water. Bandanas work great for those dogs that don't want to wear a costume. Also remember that other children in costumes may scare your dog and cause them to act differently then they normally would.
-Be very careful with jack o' lanterns and other decorations that have candles. Pets can easily knock these over and start a fire. Just like any other electrical cords, cords from decorations can be very harmful if chewed on.
Look into an area dog daycare, many may have Halloween specials where they can spend the trick or treating time. They will be safe and have fun too!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Seizue Alert Dogs
There was recently a great article on seizure alert dogs on CNN.
I love reading these articles about dogs that help people whether they are seeing eye dogs, seizure alert dogs, dogs that work in the military, or Ratchet the soldier's dog from Iraq.
I am shocked by the amount of things that dogs can be taught, from opening a fridge to herding sheep. I think the best part about all of these stories is how they improve and help the humans in their lives. While my dog can't do any thing special besides roll over (sometimes he makes it no farther than half over), he improves my life every day just because he is in it.
I would love to hear how your dog has benefited your life or what neat things they can do.
I love reading these articles about dogs that help people whether they are seeing eye dogs, seizure alert dogs, dogs that work in the military, or Ratchet the soldier's dog from Iraq.
I am shocked by the amount of things that dogs can be taught, from opening a fridge to herding sheep. I think the best part about all of these stories is how they improve and help the humans in their lives. While my dog can't do any thing special besides roll over (sometimes he makes it no farther than half over), he improves my life every day just because he is in it.
I would love to hear how your dog has benefited your life or what neat things they can do.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Puppy Saver
I recently read the article called the The Puppy Saver from People Magazine.
If you have ever wanted to know about the horrors of puppy mills and why you should not purchase puppies from a pet store, I would suggest reading this article.
It is from People's Best & Worst dressed issue- September 29, 2008. It is on page 163 and features Bill Smith who rescues dogs from Amish Puppy Mills in Pennsylvania.
Please adopt your dog or buy from a responsible breeder. Pet shops get their puppies from puppy mills no matter what they try to tell you. A responsible breeder would never sell their puppies to a pet store, as they want to know what kind of homes their puppy is going too.
Buy a puppy from a pet store is not "saving it", as the more people buy the more demand there is and the more the puppy mills will produce. A great place to look for dogs that are for adoption is www.petfinder.com.
What is your experience with puppy mills? Have you gotten a dog from a pet store only to have a lot of health problems with it?
If you have ever wanted to know about the horrors of puppy mills and why you should not purchase puppies from a pet store, I would suggest reading this article.
It is from People's Best & Worst dressed issue- September 29, 2008. It is on page 163 and features Bill Smith who rescues dogs from Amish Puppy Mills in Pennsylvania.
Please adopt your dog or buy from a responsible breeder. Pet shops get their puppies from puppy mills no matter what they try to tell you. A responsible breeder would never sell their puppies to a pet store, as they want to know what kind of homes their puppy is going too.
Buy a puppy from a pet store is not "saving it", as the more people buy the more demand there is and the more the puppy mills will produce. A great place to look for dogs that are for adoption is www.petfinder.com.
What is your experience with puppy mills? Have you gotten a dog from a pet store only to have a lot of health problems with it?
Monday, September 15, 2008
Great Dog Story
Here a great dog story that has come across the news.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- A dog specially trained to call 911 when his owner suffers seizures grabbed the phone and whimpered for help when the dispatcher answered Wednesday morning, police said.
Chris Trott, a veteran police operator, said she heard a cry from Buddy, who she later discovered was an 18-month-old German shepherd.
Buddy's owner, Joe Stalnaker, was suffering one of his more severe seizures, said Sgt. Mark Clark of the Scottsdale Police Department.
Ten years ago, Stalnaker said he was in a military accident that severely injured part of his brain, leaving him prone to potentially fatal seizures.
He got Buddy when the dog was 8 weeks old through the help of Paws With a Cause, an assistance animal adoption service.
Stalnaker said he trained the animal to recognize when he is having a seizure and respond by grabbing the phone and bringing it to him.
"He doesn't actually sit there and dial 911, but whenever he picks up the phone, one of his teeth inevitably hits the number, and if it's held down for more than three seconds, it dials the police department," Stalnaker said.
When Buddy hears the operator, he puts the phone down and whimpers as if he is in distress. The 911 system matches the call to the address and dispatches emergency help, Clark said.
Trott stayed on the phone with Buddy until she could hear paramedics arrive, less than three minutes after the dog had placed the call, Clark said.
Buddy rode in the ambulance with Stalnaker to the hospital, and both man and dog were back home two days later, feeling much better.
From: http://www.kpho.com/news/17467640/detail.html#-
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- A dog specially trained to call 911 when his owner suffers seizures grabbed the phone and whimpered for help when the dispatcher answered Wednesday morning, police said.
Chris Trott, a veteran police operator, said she heard a cry from Buddy, who she later discovered was an 18-month-old German shepherd.
Buddy's owner, Joe Stalnaker, was suffering one of his more severe seizures, said Sgt. Mark Clark of the Scottsdale Police Department.
Ten years ago, Stalnaker said he was in a military accident that severely injured part of his brain, leaving him prone to potentially fatal seizures.
He got Buddy when the dog was 8 weeks old through the help of Paws With a Cause, an assistance animal adoption service.
Stalnaker said he trained the animal to recognize when he is having a seizure and respond by grabbing the phone and bringing it to him.
"He doesn't actually sit there and dial 911, but whenever he picks up the phone, one of his teeth inevitably hits the number, and if it's held down for more than three seconds, it dials the police department," Stalnaker said.
When Buddy hears the operator, he puts the phone down and whimpers as if he is in distress. The 911 system matches the call to the address and dispatches emergency help, Clark said.
Trott stayed on the phone with Buddy until she could hear paramedics arrive, less than three minutes after the dog had placed the call, Clark said.
Buddy rode in the ambulance with Stalnaker to the hospital, and both man and dog were back home two days later, feeling much better.
From: http://www.kpho.com/news/17467640/detail.html#-
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