Pets

Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour 2 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 egg 1/2 cup oil 1 cup crunchy peanut butter 2 teaspoons vanilla water 1 cup carob chips (optional) Directions: Combine the flours...

Ingredients: 3 cups water 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/4 teaspoon vanilla 3/4 cup diced apple 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 egg, beaten lightly 3 tablespoons honey 4 cups whole wheat flour Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease...

Meet Leo, a pit bull rescued from Michael Vick’s dogfighting ring, as he now soothes cancer patients as a therapy dog in California. He has started his new life with Marthina McClay and Our Pack, Inc. a Pit Bull rescue...

At the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) request, U.S. Marshals seized a variety of potentially tainted pet food products stored under filthy conditions at the PetCo Animal Supplies Distribution Center located in Joliet, Illinois. The warehouse had a widespread...

More dogs and cats have died from kidney dysfunction than you would believe. When I graduated from the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine in June of 1970, I looked forward to the day when I would be able...

Leona Helmsley’s $8 billion gift to the dog world is the talk of the dog park it seems. The New York Times heard as many ideas for what to do with the money as there were dogs at the parks. Froggy, a 5-month-old Yorkshire and cairn terrier mix, stared at the front-page article, sniffed it dutifully and wandered off Wednesday for better sniffing elsewhere in the Washington Square Park dog run. So Leona Helmsley, before her death last year at 87, had secretly earmarked up to $8 billion of her real estate fortune for the care and welfare of dogs — way beyond the mere $12 million she had…

With Archie & Lydia having problems lately I’ve thought about how great it is that I don’t have a regular 8 to 5 job working for someone else. Instead, I’m able to work out of my home office and be close to my dogs and cat. I’ve always enjoyed the fact that I don’t have to leave them for nine, ten, or more hours a day but now, when both of my dogs are having health problems it makes me realize even more just how fortunate I am. I was curious to what lengths other people have gone to be able to stay with their pets when they are ill so I asked my contacts…

Some people get really hacked off when the beach goes to the dogs, but in Imperial Beach, CA this past weekend it was in place for surfer dudes and their dogs. The Loews Coronado Resort held the third annual Surf Dog Competition, with more than 60 dogs riding the waves. California’s Imperial Beach has gone to the dogs. It wasn’t just beach-goers catching the waves there this weekend, but man’s best friend as well. The canines were hanging ten for a great cause at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition. It’s billed as the largest dog surfing competition in…

Lydia’s at the vet’s office. I took Lydia in this morning for surgery. Last week she was having some problems with her back end - limping a bit and licking quite a bit. Thinking it might be her anal glands, I expressed them. When I did, I felt a growth that didn’t seem right. So, off to the vet we went, and when he examined her, he confirmed it and said it needed to come out. So that’s where she is now, and Archie and I both hate not having her here. I was hoping she’d be ready to go home in the next hour or so but when I called the vet’s office to check on…

The Boston city council held a hearing yesterday to hear what people had to say about FlexPetz, a dog rental company, planning to open an office in Boston. The city council is considering a ban on pet rentals. In case you’re not familiar with FlexPetz, it’s a company that provides dogs to people on a rental basis. Rather than owning their own dogs, people pay to have the dog with them for a few hours or a few days. When they’re done with the dog for the specified time, the dog moves on to another part-time owner. Needlesss to say, it’s a highly controversial concept…

Happy Fourth of July! Our blogging crew is taking the three-day weekend off to do … whatever the heck we want to do. For me, it will almost certainly involve wet retrievers. The little retriever below isn’t mine. His name is Ghillie, and this picture from his first Fourth of July is one of my all-time favorites. Ghillie lives in Michigan, and here’s what he looks like now. We’ll be back Monday, but don’t let that stop you from adding anything worth reading to the comments. We’ll be checking in on the comments now and then. Also: If you haven’t signed…

Yesterday morning when I walked out to take care of the hens, 4-month-old Ilario slipped out behind me and scampered up the eucalyptus tree in my yard. He got about 15 feet up and then decided maybe being up a tree wasn’t going to be as exciting as he imagined it would be. I took his picture, and then he came down rather gracelessly on his own, unharmed. Clara did the same thing at about the same age. It seems the bark of that tree is very appealing and makes a kitten want to dig in and climb up.

The news that a judge had trimmed the amount put into trust to care for the dog of the late billionaire Leona Helmsley from $12 million to paltry $2 million was immediately overshadowed by a little tidbit that immediately got every big non-profit animal-advocacy group in the country salivating in their conference rooms: The bulk of the Helmsley estate is to go to the dogs. Well, maybe. From the New York Times: Her instructions, specified in a two-page “mission statement,” are that the entire trust, valued at $5 billion to $8 billion and amounting to virtually all her estate, be used for…

We visited the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park in Grand Cayman yesterday in the hope of seeing iguanas and finding out more about their status on the island, especially after the horrific attack that killed seven of them in May. As we entered the park, the booth attendant asked if we had brought bottled water. “We won’t be long; we’re here mainly to see the iguanas,” we told her. She said that might take a while, since they roam the park freely. But luck was with us. We started walking down the trail and after about a minute I spotted one heading straight for us,…

This should be a post about a new antibiotic, but it’s not. Do you know why? Because my power has been off for the last three hours. That’s right; Pacific Gas and Electric either doesn’t know or doesn’t care that I lost all yesterday to some vicious food-borne pathogen and did not have three hours to sacrifice to their putrid mismanagement of the power needs of the people of (large parts of) Northern California. So you’ll have to wait until tomorrow Monday for the antibiotic article, and instead be satisfied with this small rant, inspired by the Great Pet…

It’s the Fourth of July and all you U.S. readers know exactly what that means…NOISE! To suitably celebrate the anniversary of our country’s violent birth our neighbors will be out on their lawns sending up illegal flares likely to ignite nearby tinder and frighten our pets into sub-couch submission. It’s an annual feast for the pyromaniacal among us. Too bad our noise phobic creatures can’t understand why we humans feel the need to make things go BOOM! by way of celebrating our independence. I’m lucky. My pets seem largely unstressed by the far-away…

With the R-word in full-on over-usage across the US, the news media is grasping for any kind of story to prove that we’re really truly, honest-to-God suffering. With this American penchant for black news to back up our basest fears, some outlets are using pets to illustrate the economy at its worst.If last year was all about low quality pet food ingredients this year it’s foreclosure abandonment. This, along with news of pet food expenses driving pets into the streets to join the teeming minions in our overcrowded shelters, means the stories aren’t pretty. It’s gotten…

Hot on the heels of last Saturday’s comedown (see the previous post) came an angry phone call from a client displeased with his pet’s health certificate. This was Saturday morning and the health certificate had been issued the previous day. Unfortunately, the flight (a Delta Airlines jaunt from Miami to Salt Lake City) was a couple hours off—and it didn’t look like the dog was boarding it. The problem? A little phrase called the “acclimation statement” which explains the temperature range at which an animal may travel. Here’s the version the USDA…

OK so I did a bad thing last Saturday…a very bad thing. A client I know well from years of stray cat care brought in a stray six month-old kitten so I could treat its ostensibly broken leg. Instead, I determined that a small abscess (probably from a bite wound) was the cause of his lameness.Because the kitten was a tad on the wild side, I sedated him and proceeded to clean the area and debride the wound. While the kitten was out I had the bright idea of neutering him. To obtain proper consent I called the client to inform her of the slight alteration in our plans. Unfortunately the…

In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center a group of twenty-seven dogs braved the hazards of the world’s biggest pile of toxic rubble for a collective total of just over 15,000 hours. Though other dogs sporadically joined them in their labors, these 27 were monitored as part of a collaborative study undertaken by the Animal Medical Center in New York. Their acute injuries, environmental toxin exposure and long-term (five-year) health were reported in a paper in the July 1st edition of JAVMA (Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association). Fatigue,…

AVMA News Bytes   To view this message online, click here   Thursday, July 3, 2008 More Than 4,000 Danes May Have Salmonella The Associated Press By Gabriel Gabiro (COPENHAGEN, Denmark) - Danish health officials fear more than 4,000 people may be infected with salmonella and are checking everything from refrigerators to credit card receipts to find the source of what may be the worst outbreak in 15 years.   Salmonella Outbreak Spotlights Outdated Tracking System Medill Reports (Ill.) By Sydelle Moore (WASHINGTON) - After the recent salmonella outbreak, the government is still…

AVMA News Bytes   To view this message online, click here   Wednesday, July 2, 2008 Financial Incentive Offered for Vets to Treat Cows, Not Kittens (With Audio) MissouriNet.com By Brent Martin Veterinary students will soon have a financial incentive to serve down on the farm, rather than treat pets.   FDA Adds up to 100 Labs to Help Trace Salmonella Outbreak By Elizabeth Weise USA Today The Food and Drug Administration activated its Food Emergency Response Network on Tuesday, adding as many as 100 laboratories to its efforts to trace the source of the salmonella outbreak that…

AVMA News Bytes   To view this message online, click here   Tuesday, July 1, 2008 HIV 'Locked Out' of Sabotaged Cells New Scientist (U.K.) By Andy Coghlan Mice have been made resistant to HIV by sabotaging a gene in the blood cells that the virus normally infects.   Scientists Say Ailing Penguins Signal Sea Problems The Associated Press By Seth Borenstein (WASHINGTON) - The dwindling march of the penguins is signaling that the world's oceans are in trouble, scientists now say. Penguins may be the tuxedo-clad version of a canary in the coal mine, with generally ailing…

AVMA News Bytes   To view this message online, click here   Monday, June 30, 2008 Cancer Cure Trials Move From Mice to Men The Independent (U.K.) By Jonathon Owen In a major breakthrough in the search for a cure for cancer, the first human trials are to begin using a technique that has already been shown to destroy the disease in mice. The trials are the culmination of years of research prompted by the discovery of a cancer-proof mouse by researchers almost a decade ago.   Science Goes to the Dogs Bend Bulletin (Ore.) By Lily Raff In the last decade, scientists have…

AVMA News Bytes   To view this message online, click here   Friday, June 27, 2008 China's Illicit Farm Practices Threat to Health, Top Vet Says Bloomberg News By William Bi China's food safety is threatened by illicit practices by some farmers in the livestock and fishery industries, putting the health of millions at risk, said the chief veterinarian at the country's Ministry of Agriculture.   Revising HIV's History ScienceNOW Daily News By Elizabeth Pennisi (MINNEAPOLIS) - The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) responsible for most of the AIDS cases in the world infected…

Oscar, my beloved furry "kid", has had to endure the dreaded cone during times of injury.  My friend Adena from The Swanky Pup has posted a new product on her blog, the BiteNot Collar.  Finally a solution to keeping your pooch from licking and tearing at their bandaged paws.  Certainly worth checking into. 

I was having coffee with my dear buddy Val the other day, and we had a few laughs over the challenges that we're both facing these days in our lives.  It's wonderful having true connections with people you care about - and with Storybooking, you can celebrate those connections through your photos and your words.    If you haven't yet discovered the art of online publishing, I invite you to sign up for a FREE Basic Studio account.    Once you have decided what project(s) you would like to do, you can pre-purchase that product credit from me.  I am offering a FREE…

I found a wonderful site that explores the amazing human and animal bond in so many areas.....seniors, special needs, those with psychiatric disorders, pet grief and many other elements. The Centre for the Human and Animal Bond is in the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine.  It's definitely worth checking out.What a better way to celebrate the love you have for your pet than to make a book, poster or calendar about them. E-mail me for a FREE personal webinar lesson on our amazing publishing system.  You''ll be amazed.

Heritage Makers has some wonderful specials on this month.  You can see all of the specials on my website, www.MakeBooksOnline.com   There are some wonderful new templates that will help you tell your Life Story or the Story of your family.  We ALL have stories....and they deserve to be preserved in a beautiful book.  And don't forget about your pet's story too!I found a fun dog blog the other day called Puppy Tales Today.   Definitely worth checking out!!

There are some exciting things happening with Heritage Makers these days.  We now have playing cards that you can design, or if you'd like, use a pre-designed template.  There are over 30,000 pieces of art....all at your fingertips!Curious to see what a Fathers Day templated book looks like?  Click hereHow about a dog book sample.  Click here Discover the fun of storybooking today!    www.MakeBooksOnline.com

  At Embrace, we're all off having a well deserved break with our 2 legged and 4 legged family but we wanted to wish you a good one for today. Have a fun and safe day for all involved (and perhaps those that aren't involved too.) And we're looking forward to seeing the pictures tomorrow - do send some along!

How many dog toys does a dog go through in a lifetime? Many many, I think we'd all agree. I know that even my parents' Jack Russell Terriers go through them like they were actually eating them (yes well, they were...) Here is a site we can all have fun with: Licked Toys - the first dog toy graveyard. What a brilliant idea! It's just a fledgling site but I think we can all come up with a photo or two of a crunched hedgehog or a destroyed tuggy to add to their collection.

A few months ago, Akemi asked me if I'd answer a few questions about entrepreneurship for her website, which I was happy to do. It turned out to be more fun than I thought. A snippet for you:What is the best part of being an entrepreneur for you? It’s such a cliché but it comes down to being able to build something from nothing that solves people’s problems. There’s no feeling like it. I also like that if I am going to work hard, I might as well do it for my own benefit since I put my all into whatever I do. And finally, I’m not sure I could work for anyone else now – I would be…

Ok we have 7 official winners and 3 pending winners. Part of the goal with this contest was to see if people could actually study their camera long enough to send the proper size file if we give stuff away. Low and behold ... you guys mastered the technology, you sent me 1MB and larger files! Thank you all so much, I know it had to have been difficult!I know I sound just a wee bit sarcastic, but 65% of our clients send us sweet adorable images that are so low in resolution they hurt my eyeballs when enlarged ... we are talking huge jagged pixelation. You guys all did a great job on the…

We had a terrific response to yesterday's contest and we have 10 winners. It will take me an hour or two to match up names with photos, and as soon as I can do that I will post the winners here on the blog .... so stay tuned.

Over the years I have seen some trends on popular dog breeds and we often will go in cycles around here doing 6 or 7 of one breed in a single month. Today I am going to post what I think are our most popular breeds. You can click any thumbnail to see more of that breed. You can also get an overview of many of the dog breeds we have worked on by clicking here. Be sure and scroll down to see our free portrait offer at the end of this post.#1 The Pug #2 Labrador Retrievers#3 Boston Terriers#4 Chihuahuas#5 Golden Retrievers#6 Bulldogs#7 Dachshunds#8 Boxers#9 American Bulldogs#10 FrenchiesFree…

"Smoochee and Chloe's Blue Heart"I just finished "most" of the work on this new doggy pet portrait. The title comes from the funky blue heart that is formed in the negative space between the two pups. I first noticed this shape on my friend Melissa's Puggie artwork a few weeks ago. Of course her ground was red so the heart shape really jumped out at me. For those of you not seeing it .... look at the light blue color in between their ears and the heart's point is where their bodies meet.About The Artwork: This painterly style portrait of Smoochie & Chloe has bold colors highlighting their…

"Bliss The Italian Greyhound"Bliss the Greyhound was shipped last Friday and her humans have already sent us a shot of her hanging. I love the red wall. Last night I set up a Gift Shop Page of goodies featuring her artwork. Gift shop pages can be sent up on request once a pet portrait project has been finalized.Yesterday I worked on Hyper the flying Dingo ( below) and Petunia the Pug ( last image). I will be trying to get a few more people proofed today and will be printing all approved portraits.

Remember to crate your dogs or bring them inside at dusk!Dogs tend to leap fences and bolt gates due to extreme anxiety caused by July 4th fireworks. A dog inside is a dog secure..From: Terrierman's Daily Dose Blog >> http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com

The AKC is suggesting Barack Obama to commit political suicide.The American Kennel Club is asking Americans to cast a vote for the best qualified "first pet" for the family, limiting the list to a selection of American Kennel Club dogs that they claim are "hypoallergenic" breeds because Obama's daughters' are supposed to have some allergies.Let's cut to the chase: there's no such thing as a "hypoallergenic" dogThere are some dogs that shed a little less than others, but in that bailiwick you would have to include just about all of the terriers that actually have to be stripped (i.e. the true…

Accompanied only by a small Jack Russell terrier named Dash-- there were a total of seven dogs, all named Dash -- Sir Aurel Stein traveled a total of 25,000 miles, over freezing Himalayan passes and across scorching deserts.With the support of the British and Indian governments, he traced the ancient caravan routes of the silk trade, oversaw the excavation of numerous archaeological sites, and documented the spread of Buddhism from India to China. His finds filled whole rooms in London's British Museum and Delhi's National Museum.Among his most spectacular finds was the Diamond Sutra, the…

God bless the bus driver in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire who drew the line when this prattling freak (age 25) and his geek girlfriend-on-a-leash (age 19) tried to get on the local bus.The driver said No Doing: "We don't let freaks and dogs like you on."Perfect.If you claim to be a "human pet," then perhaps you will have to live by pet rules. And the pet rules are simple: No dogs are allowed on the bus!Of course, these bits of boot-scrape are living on the dole, living in public housing, and planning to start a family.Planning to start a family? Of course they are. Where is the RSPCA spay-neuter…

From: Terrierman's Daily Dose Blog >> http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com

My sentiments exactly. Sniff around @ IsabellaCane. ($33)

Happy muzzle, happy mutt...that's what I always say.  Actually I've never said that, but it is how I feel after finding these beautiful muzzles! Sniff around @ Dogs In The City. ($20)

Look this this face...how could you not take him home? Sniff around @ Amazon. ($14)

Where else can you find a 'get well' card for a dog that was recently neutered? Sniff around @ Sincerely Fido. ($4) (The good folks at Sincerely Fido have extended a 'buy 3 cards and get the 4th free' offer using the code BSB3G1F708 which expires on 9/1/08. Woof!)

This piece is titled, "My Dog Smiles When I Come Home." They're right, however, my humans smile, too. Sniff around @ Trick Dog. ($185)

I was reading the Englewood Independent yesterday and a sidebar article caught my eye. Northmont has hired a new superintendent, Douglas Lantz, formerly the superintendent from Franklin City Schools. Great! New blood, fresh leadership, a focus on building the human infrastructure of tomorrow… But, then I get to Linda Blum’s quote. For the people who have since lined their recyle bins with the paper, here it is: “[Lantz's] experience as an athlete and a coach have taught him much about teamwork and the important components of an organized structure.” What?? Where is the…

I now know that Ohio is a serious, serious battleground state for the US Presidential election. On Saturday, the WSJ ran an opinion piece entitled “The Self-Inflicted Economic Death of Ohio” in which Finn outlines all of the ways Ohioans have sabotaged their state’s economy. His thesis appears to be along the lines of: Ohio has not invested in its human capital infrastructure and what is being left are old men with no skills, education or prospects. And as this population ages, they demand more services from their government and therefore government is the only industry that…

Bongo lives in Støvring, Denmark and thinks that his city is the 11th best place to live, not Copenhagen. So, maybe we re-number the list a bit… 11, Støvring, 11.5, Copenhagen. Here’s Bongo “enjoying” living (and sleeping!) in Støvring.

I stumbled upon the Mercer Consulting report posted on www.businessweek.com yesterday and found a series of photos from the most livable cities in the world. Number 1 was Zurich and they had a photo of the boats, 2 was Vienna with a lit Christmas scene…. and number 11 was Copenhagen. The best scene they had of the city? Two dogs greeting each other in the street! I love Copenhagen! Not because it made a “best” list or that the city buildings are rock solid and impervious to dog spray or that they have Tivoli Gardens. But because they love dogs and are not afraid to show it!

Friday, June 20 is “Bring your dog to work” day Rufus is wishing every dog a happy “Bring your dog to work day.” It is nice to see how the other half lives when we’re sleeping alone on the coach at home!

Did you guys hear this yet? A flight attendant named Lisa Wilson is claiming Lopez’s guard dog bit her leg on a plane trip almost two years ago and now she’s aiming to line her pockets by filing a $5-million lawsuit. Wilson alleges the attack, on July 3, 2006, caused her to fall and suffer back injuries that prevent her from working now or in the future. NetJets, a private airline company, assigned Wilson to work the flight taking J.Lo to Burbank Airport and when Lopez boarded the Gulfstream IV jet at Republic Airport on Long Island, N.Y., with Floyd, a German shepherd, Lopez gave…

Is there anything cuter than a bulldog puppy? Pete Wentz is hearing the pitter patter of tiny feet, err, paws with his new puppy, Rigby and oh what a cutie pie he is! Check out the pics at one of our favorite celebrity blogs, Gossip Girls.

Actress Kim Cattrall offered her celebrity status today at the opening day of Harrod’s summer sale in London. Like every celebrity who is lending themselves to the occasion, Kim held a couple of puppies from Harrod’s pet department. We sure hope these puppies aren’t from any puppy mills!

Cute alert, cute alert! It’s our favorite time of day, TOP DOG time! Meet another adorable pooch, Mojo, a 6-year-old Chihuahua mix who was adopted from the Camarillo Animal Shelter in his hometown in July 2007. He was a ready-made dog when her arrived at his new home. Completley house trained, didn’t destroy anything, etc. Mojo is a lover as long as you are in his Fav 5. Mojo frequently visits the beach for some sun and fun and he loves chasing the Seagulls on the beach even if they are bigger than him. His mom, Asya is so protective of her little guy he shirt he is wearing has a…

It’s with sad news we report after confirming with the Osbourne publicist, following a battle of illness recently, Sharon Osbourne’s beloved Pomeranian, Minnie, has passed away. More details to follow but our hearts and condolences are with Sharon and her family. Thanks goes out to Myri who runs a nifty Osbourne fan blog for alerting us of this story.

Cats: Kermie & Tiggy

Cat: Kermie

Cat: Moonie

Cat: Djidji

Cat: Cheeto

Introducing... Jeff! Breed: Collie Age: 8 Likes: I need mental stimulation and a few walks a day, but I'm not extremely energetic. I'm a friendly, housetrained dog. Dislikes: Sudden movements. Needs: I'm deaf, and I need to be the only dog in a calm home without children. Contact: Call Dogs Trust Bridgend on 01656 725219 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has lent its expertise and resources to Tennessee's largest-ever puppy farm raid, showing that the problem is just as widespread as suspected. The cruelty investigation team, including two forensic vets, discovered 747 animals in enclosures dotted around the 92 acre Pine Bluff Kennels estate. The vast majority were dogs, but horses,

I've been busily creating a presentation for our annual ICAWC conference today, so I've taken one eye off the dog blogs. Still, I managed to surf long enough to stumble across a trailer for an intriguing-looking film! Hotel for Dogs looks to be the story of a couple of kids who try to create the ultimate hotel for 26 forgotten pooches, including baths, food, old trainer vending machines and

Because I have a pretty keen interest in blogging and social networking, I was pottering around Squidoo the other day and made a lens for fun. I decided to make it on behalf of Dogs Trust, to spread the word, and wrote about a topic from our main website's A-Z. The topic was pet first aid. No-one likes to think about a pet emergency happening to them, and yet anyone who has owned (or been owned

As those of us in America celebrate our country’s independence today, we need to be cognizant of the effect  fireworks have on our beloved pets. The newspaper Deseret has a good article on the subject.  Here’s an interesting tidbit on the effect of the loud booms and bangs that I never considered. In most normal five-day stretches during the summer last year, his shelter would pick up about 66 stray cats and 70 stray dogs. But he said that in the five days surrounding July 4, it picked up 90 cats and 95 dogs - or 36 percent more than normal. “We always see big increases…

If you are anything like my wife Lisa and I you have more pictures of your dog(s) than your family. Now you can put some of those great shots to use by submitting them to Milk-Bone, and you may very well be on the way to a $100,000 spokesdog contract. If you need some helping getting that great shot, here’s a little video to help you get it. Sure the video includes pictures of Pamela Anderson, Hillary Duff, Nicole Ritchie and a host of other famous folks but more importantly it contains pictures of their dogs. Good luck, and we just may be seeing you in ads across the media spectrum!

Security. It’s all the rage in this internet age and can be a thorn in one’s side. Take for instance the verification code that you have to enter to gain access to a lot of sites, just to prove you aren’t a robot. You know the codes I’m talking about. They’re the ones that are all warped and wavy making it difficult to discern a 0 with an o or an I with a 1. Now there’s a better solution. Asirra stands for Animal Species Image Recognition for Restricting Access. Basically it’s an HIP [verification process] that requires you to differentiate photos of cats and dogs, a task that…

Let me first say that it is an absolute honor to be Dogster’s new blogger. With Joy’s departure I know I have large shoes to fill (and no, I’m not saying Joy has big feet) and will strive to meet the high standard she has set. My dogs, Bo and Copper, have been part of the Dogster community for some time, making new friends every day. The newest addition to the family, Logan, is finding this online world to his liking. Just yesterday he turned to me and said, “Woof”, which, loosely translated means “Did any Pup Pal requests come in for me?” I think…

There is amazing news coming out about the intentions in Leona Helmsley’s (the NY hotel baroness) will and how it will be executed. On June 16th Manhattan Surrogate Judge Renee Roth reduced Leona’s $12 million bequeath to her Maltese, Trouble, to only $2 million (and assigned the $10 million to grandchildren who had been entirely shut out). It was also reported that will executors are spent $100 thousand in the last year on security detail for Trouble who had received death threats. Now that all the named and direct beneficiaries of the will have been sorted out, there is the…

Let’s face it.Dogs are tops.And bringing your dog along to work can make the day go faster and seem brighter. Seems I’m not alone in my thinking. In fact, Pet Sitters International has been running a “Take Your Dog to Work Day” every year since 1999. And they’re bursting out of their furry britches to get businesses on board. Swell idea all round if you ask me.At my work, we have a “one dog a week” policy and Benny is regularly the participating pooch.He loves it and so do our clients. It’s a good size office with enough space for me to chuck him a ball occasionally, plus…

Got a shivering pup looking up at you with those big brown eyes? Given that we coat horses to keep them cosy in winter, coating a dog isn’t so much of an indulgence, really. For DIYers, this dog coat pattern on Circle of Crafters looks like a real winner. The author, Bobbi-Lynn, has thoughtfully included a range of sizes according to your pooch’s girth, and I’d imagine it wouldn’t be that hard to extend the back measurements to accomodate your favourite sausage dog. I’m sure this pattern could even be re-jigged a little to accomodate a certain Cornish Rex I know,…

Cat treats are a little harder to come by than dog treats. It’s easy to see why – treats tend to be mostly about training, and most people don’t even think about training their cats! That said, I think cats can and should get some training. Most cats can be taught to come when they’re called, and if you catch ‘em young, they can be taught all kinds of tricks. Check out this youtube video from the States. I reckon at the very least, cats should be taught “come” (which could save their life one day), and “get down” which comes in oh so handy at our place where little black…

I’ve always wanted a climby thing to keep my acrobatic cat amused and out of our hair, but as a lifelong renter the options aren’t so good. I can’t exactly be screwing avant-garde home-made climbers into the wall a la apartment living. And the thought of purchasing a standalone cat climber is a little depressing. (Seen how much floorspace these babies take up? Now get out your calculator and work out how much rent you’ll be paying to house this. That’s valuable floorspace you’re paying for my friends. Floorspace you could be STANDING IN RIGHT NOW.) So file…

It’s puppy season again and new owners everywhere are falling in and out and back in love with their new best pals. My Jack is nearly through the puppy stage now, but memories of our little terror are still vivid in my mind. So here is Miss D’s definitive list of products that make the road to puppy ownership a little less, erm, slippery. 1. Puppy School Puppy School is taking off all over the world. The idea is, a bunch of starry-eyed owners and their ridiculously cute new pets gather together in council halls and veterinary surgeries in the first week. You get to learn all about What…

Love, love these funny creatures and their extremely big eyes ))) ShareThis

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These funny birds were called in such a way, not only because their mouths look like shoes, but because they have their size as well. BTW, shoebills have the largest bill among the rest of birds. What is more, these species reach 1,5 m (height). Although these birds belong to one of the most fascinating creatures, we and scientists don’t know a lot about them. Shoebills are native to East African swamp regions, so people are not welcomed there. But, what scientist know for sure, these creatures are very patient, they can’t stand motionless in water for hours while waiting for…

Axolotl is a very unusual and attractive creature. As a rule, axolotls are called water-dogs. And they DO have some resemblance to them, don’t they? Absolutely love their whimsical and grotesque appearance. ShareThis

Despite the fact that Stewie has been extra vocal in expressing his displeasure with me in the last week and I’ve only been moderately successful in tempering his bad mood, I wrote up some tips on what to do if your parrot screams a lot for the PetKnows blog. While we might not like that our [...]

Stewie is eagerly eating his treat… a snap pea! (Shh, he doesn’t seem to realize that peas are veggies). So far, beside corn, these are the only fresh veggies he likes — and both are kinda high in sugar, more like fruit than veggies in terms of nutritional value — but I’ll take what I [...]

Haven’t had a chance to update the blog with the big news: I got a second bird! Mika is a two-year old white capped pionus — a total sweetheart of a parrot.  She joined Stewie and me last weekend. Mika, the white capped pionus, reading a Washington Post story about the rising cost of vet care.   I got her [...]

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The ASPCA released its annual estimate of pet care costs, and according to them caring for a bird costs $270 in the first year and $200 each subsequent year … to which I respond a resounding “AS IF.” Maybe for this bird, but that doesn’t even come close to what I and other parrot owners [...]

I’ve played with my camera to try to get some great shots of our bursting fireworks displays and managed to come away with a handful that I really love. I wanted to share something that will make your life a little easier if you’re looking to try your hand at some bursting photos over the weekend: 11 Tips for Sparkling Fireworks Photos @ Photojojo You should always play with these settings beforehand and if you can program it, do that - because once they start, you don’t have much time to be playing with your camera. What are your plans for the holiday weekend? …. do I…

I grilled up some mean (and tender, and lean) butterflied barbeque chicken, beer brats and hot dogs. I threw together a fruit pizza (basically, a giant cream cheese frosted sugar cookie with fruit on top). I had chips and condiments. I had bottled water and capri sun - and I had more than enough for everyone. I had great company. The kind that makes you think “I could do this every day of the week.” And I could. I’d love to. And more great company stopped over just to peek in and have a look at the yard and patio. It was wonderful. I had skewers and sticks, marshmallows, and…

Back in the end of 2003, we had a studio addition built onto the back of our house. While that job was being completed, my hubby was called to active duty and left for Iraq. I was left to my own devices then to work on big projects, and I did what I could do on my own, and reached out for help when I needed it. (and wouldntchya know, some of the people who told me to call whenever I needed anything, went around telling people that I only ever called when I wanted something! Gah! I still can’t get over it. ) I digress. My father in law came to my rescue a couple of days, he helped me dig…

If you had to choose three colors to describe me, what would they be? (Throw in a couple extra for good measure, if you wish.) This post is from Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature Blog. Visit my portfolio and browse my original paintings and photography! Color Me.

Wild vine wrapped around a power line @ our Church Because I haven’t said much at all this week, I thought I’d give you a little Weekend Wrap-up of how the week went for me, over here, all childless and “eh” and stuff. So here’s the skinny version, Leanne Lite, you might say, just to bring you up to speed. I missed my kids. I worked on a few blog designs this week, Lisa Riggs is up and launched but I’ve still been in there tinkering and changing and tweaking and stuff. I launched Individual Sole last week but am also working on some added features for that…

I am off to the hospital for at least a week, the Hickman catheter has become infected, so a surgery to remove it, IV antibiotics to control both the spine infection and this infection, and with a small amount of luck, a new Hickman catheter.. and then home. I am hoping that all is in place correctly so that I can use the laptop while I’m in the hospital..but that’s not a promise! TheMasterOfTheUniverse,Pet,and The Bengal Brats wish you all a safe and Joyous Independence Day celebration!

By Alice from Our Cats Pictures Once-apon-a-time, the prevalent belief was that cats couldn’t be trained. The assumption was that the cat is an independent animal, and it will do as it pleases, and not as you please. Well, it is an independent animal, and a free spirit of course, but a cat can and should be trained in certain circumstances. Cats that are aggressive, or destructive, or are not house trained can be trained otherwise. I am not sure however, if I would train my cat to walk on a leash like this person did. NYT slideshow (Mine walks me to the post office and back, without a…

Click Image For Full SizeLance Cpl. Julie Martinez Lance Cpl. Julie Martinez, a radio operator with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, checks the communication capabilities during a backload of Marines from Combat Logistics Regiment 3 to the USS Essex June 9. These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero. We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams. Those Who Say That We’re In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don’t Know Where To Look This post is part of…

H/T Texas Fred..with thanks! This is worth reading and damn sure worth considering! The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental. 1. Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you. 2. If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck. 3. I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy. 4. When seconds count, the cops are just minutes away. 5. A reporter did a human-interest…

This is the most fought over chair in the Bengal Brats Universe. Shotke is getting braver day by day, and is almost ready to challenge Tigger and SonnyBob for occupancy rights. For more Tuesday Cats visit Cats on Tuesday or The Cat Blogosphere It’s amazing how much better Shotke looks, still thin, but getting better! I hope someday that sad look leaves his eyes. Click for full sized photo.

Just in time for the fourth! These doggies will be stylin' in their new tees from Muttropolis. Congrats to: Carol in PA Len in MD Theresa in TX Connie in WI and Paula in NH! Check back next week for...

The Fourth of July is when we show that we are proud to be American. Now our dogs can show off their pride too with festive collars, leashes and outfits. Dixie and I just love dressing up with a theme,...

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Sweaters are for winter, and t-shirts are for summer! When I'm on the West Coast, one of my favorite shops is Muttropolis. This place even has really fun doggie meet-ups. Dixie and I had a doxie meet-up last time we...

Congrats to Stephanie P. from North Carolina for winning this week's Trendy prize, Kiehl's Pet Gift Set! Check back next week for another trendy giveaway!

As those of you who’ve been paying attention know by now, I have a weakness for all things custardy. Egg custard. Dutch babies (aka custard plus flour). French toast (aka custard plus bread). Bread pudding (custard plus bread again). What could make the perfect marriage of eggs and milk even more blissful? Cherries… enrobed in a flour-enriched custard, and baked into clafoutis. In this version, I used a mixture of sweet Bing and sour Montmorency cherries, and increased the sweetening (honey, because it’s local) to counteract the sour cherries’ tartness. Sweet and Sour…

When I visited a job site in rural King County last week, I was delighted that the brown, weedy lawn I’d seen in February had grown into a lush, thigh-high meadow. Wildflowers shaded from white to deep maroon played peek-a-boo among the tall waves of grass. As I waded through the new growth with my client, we remarked on its beauty, and he told me that it would be mowed in a few days, as the drying grasses would soon become a fire hazard. As I was leaving the site, I paused to pick a handful of small daisies. A week has passed, and I imagine the meadow has been shorn to a thick stubble.

When I brought in our Local Roots CSA box from our front porch this afternoon, it seemed heavier than it has the past three weeks. And no wonder! Tucked in with the leafy greens were several items that, while leafy, had other edible parts. Today’s box contained: Head of red oakleaf lettuce Italienischer lettuce (also a type of oakleaf) Bunch mild mustard greens Baby fennel! Baby carrots! Broccoli! The salad greens are lovely, but I’m excited to see those other vegetables, which we’ll use for stir-fries, or sauteed with farro… or perhaps in a salad with some of that…

At ten o’clock, there is still a little light in the sky. Enough light for me to see several inch-long green tomatoes clustered on one of the four plants on our patio; not enough light for my camera to show them to you. San Marzanos, these tiny fruits, already oblong, but without the dimples and pointed ends they’ll have when mature. I’ve never grown tomatoes, and have no idea whether the tremendous knack my grandmother had has come down to me. I worry that I may not be able to keep these plants alive through the summer, that I could kill them through benign neglect, of a…

Oh my, it’s hot here. Only a couple of degrees cooler than my hometown, Houston, but fortunately much less humid. Last week, Laura was skeptical about my suggestion that summer might have arrived in western Washington; this week, I think there’s no denying that summer is here. (I still expect it to be cool and rainy on the 4th of July; that’s just traditional.) I knew today was going to be hot, but I had cooking to do for lunches during the week, so I started early, and rotated one thing after another into the oven. At the end of 2 1/2 hours, I had a loaf of no-knead bread…

We couldn't think of anything cuter than dogs in Fourth of July costumes, so head on over to CostumeDogs.com for some really cute examples of patriotism in action! HAPPY 4th OF JULY EVERYONE!

We secretly call our dogs the "three stinkies".  They just have dog smells, and sometimes their beds can get a little funky too.  Whenever I'm cleaning up around the house, I finish up with a few spritzes of Febreeze on the upholstery and drapes, so I was especially happy to hear that Febreeze has a new product specifically targeted toward pet odors. Yesterday, I straightened up just as usual, but at the end I spritzed the area with their beds with the Air Effects odor eliminator.  I went away, came back, and was pleasantly surprised by how "pretty" the room…

a fun post from Laura's blog... How many dog toys does a dog go through in a lifetime? Many many, I think we'd all agree. I know that even my parents' Jack Russell Terriers go through them like they were actually eating them (yes well, they were...) Here is a site we can all have fun with: Licked Toys - the first dog toy graveyard. What a brilliant idea! It's just a fledgling site but I think we can all come up with a photo or two of a crunched hedgehog or a destroyed tuggy to add to their collection. As a side note, they also have a fun dog shopping blog: Barkability.com Check out our past…

It might be a little late to order your dog's costume for the Independence Day Parade, but perhaps these ideas will spark your creativity. The Mini-Uncle Sam hat is simple, and would look great your patriotic dog.  This one is just $4.99.  The Uncle Sam Costume is way cute, new for 2008 and $14.99.  Both are available at buycostumes.com, and you might find similar items at the local party store if you're looking to have your pup join in the days parade. Send us your pet's parade photos, and we'll use them in future posts!         

Ice cream and Popsicles are the perfectly refreshing treat for people, but dogs are stuck with dry bones, rawhides and kibble.  No fair! But Yöghund has tasty frozen yogurt in doggie-sized containers that offer the benefits of probiotics, and of course delicious-ness!  Banana & Peanut Butter flavor would be a huge hit with your pups, and they're introducing Blueberry & Vanilla Bean soon.  You can find them in stores or order on-line in 4 or 20 serving containers For a change you don't need to take my word on it. Read what real dog's are saying at Yoghund.com

It's that time of year again. In fact, in our little corner of New Mexico the fireworks aspect of Independence Day starts in mid June and lasts until mid July. We can sit on the deck and get a show every night if we so desire. For my money it gets old after about an hour and maybe even sooner for many pets. As you know, Darcie is pretty deaf, so she doesn't have 4th of July issues any more, but she sure used to. She'd tremble, drool, hide and just generally freak out at the first blast, flash or even sniff of sulfur. There are a number of do's and don'ts that can be helpful. We used to take…

Hi there, it's Tom again. Here's an Out Loud episode with video clips and pictures from the Erie, CO, Bark in the Park event that Yvonne mentioned in her earlier post (this episode is narrated by me, since Yvonne suffered her shoulder injury the night before and had to miss the fun). Check out the "world's shortest pet parade" and the athletic exploits of Twiggy, Sparky, and friends!

I betcha thought I forgot...but I didn't. Today is Take Your Dog to Work Day. Did YOU take your dog to work, today? Send me pictures if you did. The folks at Purina take their dogs to work all the time. I've written about it before. Here at WME, Carmie is with me everywhere I go, so...I don't know if I can technically announce that I take my dog to work. Hmmm... I know that if I were working elsewhere, I'd push like crazy to institute the right to take my dog to work. Wouldn't you? Over at Typepad, the company that created the web-based tool this blog uses, they have a nice post on this…

As most readers know, my dog Darcie is pushing 18 years of age. For an 18 year old she's pretty healthy. She can't see too well. She can't hear much and she doesn't like to take long walks like she used to. But hey, if I'm doing as well as Darcie when I'm 126 I'll be very happy. Like I'm going to make it that long. Darcie's biggest problem is probably chronic pain from arthritis in her cervical spine. She can't go down steps very well so she doesn't sleep in our bedroom with us anymore. She can still go up steps, just not down because going down involves extending her neck to see the steps…

Still recovering from a dislocated shoulder - rough-housing with the granddaughter in CO last week. It's definitely more fun being injured while fooling around, than any other way. I think of Miah's laughter and instantly feel better. Traveling with my arm in a sling wasn't fun. Luckily, no mishaps, despite the rush of bodies intent on making their gate on time at Chicago's O'hare. Tom did play interference for me! Once home, the reaction from Carmie and Wabby was interesting. They are both very attentive. I could not go with Tom when he walked Carmel, until today. Yes, even walking hurt…

Happy Fourth of July! Our DogCars.com bloggers are taking the three-day weekend off to do … whatever the heck we want to do. We’ll be back Monday with a new post, although we’ll be checking in on the comments now and then over the weekend to thwart the spammers. If you haven’t signed up for our PetConnection.com e-mail newsletter, don’t forget to do so. The July edition is going out on Tuesday, and being a subscriber will automatically make you eligible for our monthly giveaway of $1,000 in pet-care gear. This month, the cool stuff is all coming from Petmate.

It only took about five minutes Monday for me to see someone breaking the law. I live in California, where the new, hands-free cell phone law went into effect Monday. And wouldn’t you know it, as soon as I hit the freeway, I spotted a criminal. There she was, driving along happy as a clam, chatting away on her pink cell phone like everything was fine. It didn’t look like she was in distress, or in an emergency (the law says it’s OK to hold your phone in an emergency), so I can only assume that this woman was a criminal. The news about the hands-free law has been everywhere:…

With the price of gasoline well over $4 per gallon, most owners of large sport utility vehicles are putting their gas guzzlers out to pasture while they seek out more efficient transportation. But those of us who travel with multiple dogs have had a quandary: Do we bite the fuel bill bullet and drive the SUV? Or leave the pups at home and take the compact? The 2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid presents a modest compromise for dog-loving families who refuse to lose their crew for the sake of a few drops of oil. The Vue hybrid runs on gas and electric power that achieves an average of 26 miles per gallon…

Because our emphasis here is strictly canine, I don’t pay a lot of attention to vehicles that aren’t dog-friendly … sports cars, for example. Case in point: While waiting in the doctor’s office yesterday, I eagerly grabbed the latest copy of Motor Trend magazine, flipping quickly past the spread on “muscle cars” and looking for the “first look” feature on the redesigned Honda Pilot (they liked it, and from I could read, I’m guessing we will, too). That’s my excuse for missing this little bit of automotive news until a friend…

Summertime traveling with dogs is a fun and rewarding experience . . . but it can be a messy one as well. Dog food bags or boxes are hard to store and can easily tip over and turn a car into a giant box of dog food in no time. Attempt to bring cans or fresh food ingredients, and you’ve got even more issues. However, a product has hit the market that takes all the fuss and muss out of DogCar travels while also providing your pup with a meal that is fun for him to eat because it’s shaped like a bone. It’s called WholeMeals Food for Dogs and it was developed with veterinarians…

Now send Barack your baby. [I LOL'ed. Be sure to read the FAQ.](H/T to John at For Your Entertainment.)

Baby river otters... OMG OMG OMG I MUST HAVE A BABY OTTER. Here's the link and here's the vid — [runs off to look for a baby otter]Absolute best place on the West Coast for an otter fix: Monterey Bay Aquarium.

It wouldn't happen in Spain. That's the hope, anyway. As William Saletan writes in Slate: Under a resolution headed for passage in the Spanish parliament, respecting the personal rights of "our non-human brothers" won't just be a good idea. It'll be the law.Such niceties are too late for Moe. "Celebrity chimp missing in San Bernardino Mountains" is only the latest headline in Moe's odd life. Back home in Tanzania, the story goes, a poacher killed the little chimp's mother, and Moe was adopted by a childless American couple who raised him like a son. When he proved unmanageable as an adult the…

No, this isn't a post about psittacosis. Gina's covered that. This post is a reminder — OK, a warning — that parrots and macaws and cockatoos live longer than many people and need more care than the most demanding human infant. When pet birds don't get the care they need and deserve, they go nuts. The cockatoo in the photo is wearing a collar to prevent him from self-mutilating. Hell of a life for a creature that may live to 90.Charlie the macaw is one of the lucky ones. Charlie lives with artist/author and most excellent blogger Julie Zickefoose, and you can read [or listen to] her NPR…

Absolute genius. Have to get me one of these. The artist is Tom Ballhatchet — more photos on his site.

The Fourth of July can be the most terrifying day of the year for some dogs. Three of my dogs grasp the concept of celebrating freedom with loud noises and bright lights. Nothing bothers them. But the generic dog is convinced that the British are coming and it will be very bad for us all when they arrive. No matter...

Citing two “unidentified sources” (and don’t we all love those?) the New York Times is reporting that Leona Helmsley left a two page mission statement that leaves almost her entire fortune valued at between $5 billion and $8 billion to be used for the care and welfare of dogs. Apparently Helmsley who died last August indicated in 2003 that the...

Only this time it is just over a picture of a dog. A card with a cute puppy sitting in a policeman’s hat was distributed to advertise a Scottish police force’s new non-emergency telephone number in the district of Tayside. Because dogs are considered unclean, some Muslim shopkeepers are angry and have refused to display the card. The puppy is...

Sixty dogs of all shapes and sizes competed in the 3rd annual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition at Imperial Beach, California. Dogs were scored on confidence level, length of ride and overall ability. The competition raises money for the Modest Needs Foundation, which "combats poverty." Three categories won honors: Surfer dogs 40 pounds and under, surfer dogs over...

In the UK, “Police sniffer dogs trained to spot terrorists at railway stations may no longer come into contact with Muslim passengers – after complaints that it is against the suspects’ religion.” Source ~Is this about religion or is it a way to undermine security in preparation for another terrorist attack? ~While we don’t want to offend the religious beliefs...

29 June 2008 ~ Face it. This not the worst thing you caught me doing. As I maintained my 100% elimination rate on grass ~We thought of delaying this post until she manage grab as many photos as possible from someone else. At the same time, she's afraid of amnesia and forgotten what to brag about. This year, the Dog Olympic Day was not as crowded as previous year, might be due to the MKA Dog Show scheduled on the same day.We signed up for the Agility Trial. No class being specify, only maxi and mini dogs category. My pal claimed that it looks like a Snooker course, although I had totally no…

My pal once said that 'A dog is just a kid with fur'. She not only gotten herself a kid with black fur, but one that constantly capable of making a fool out of itself and she joined that peculiar furry kid by making a fool of herself. At times, they can be so pissed off with each other until they reluctant to talk. After calming down the nerves, they both laugh out at themselves and by the end of the day, she hug on her peculiar black mutt who've not taken a bath for 3 weeks, telling her how much she loves to smell her stinky black fur.The cycle keep repeating routinely and they will never be…

She said we can't afford to lay all our chips on agility anymore. If I didn't made any progress after years of agility, is time to redirect our focus on something else. I don't think getting a qualifying score for Pre-Novice and Novice Obedience will be much of a problem. No running in the ring that will trigger me to go berserk. The exercise we fear most is 'stay'. But that we will resort to more proofing, then cross our paws and pray.Nonetheless, overdose of heeling and stay for Novice can really make me a dull girl. Why not stimulate your mind with some of the Intermediate and Open…

~ A new table for me. Higher and bigger than before. Sweet ~A table meant for mini sized dog is the equipment I usually trained on. In a way I find it embrassing, I am a big girl. To expressed my disapproval I always show my refusal, no matter how clear the cue was. 'Get your ass up the table', she bellowed. In order to satisfy my desire, she brought out Mr Naked Brother table for me to try on. It was high, that's for sure. We give it a few try to see wether do I have any difficulty to climb on it. Staring at the high table this Sunday is not something that she wanted. She keep lifting me in…

~ Is good to be back on trek. I bet all the trees, bushes, flowers, stream, mud and mosquitoes miss me lot ~The Schutzhund trial is next weekend and there were still a number of trainers around at the Padang Merbuk up till 12pm. We got to watch their bite work routine. I love the sound of the whip, it got me really excited, I seek around for the source of the unusual sound. Hannah was driving full force forward to grab on the helper, is simply amazing. Ginger got a go at trying out her bite work on the smaller version of the sleeve. Bite work looks cool, just too bad that I'm only capable of…

If you missed last Tuesday's episode of the Sundance Channel's Big Ideas for a Small Planet, we found a clip of a portion of it. This clip is from the segment about the Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Center - a new Green shelter. If you really want to see the episode you can download it via iTunes through a link on their site!

Folks are always asking me, what shampoo do you use, what bed do you sleep in, what food do you eat, what vitamins do you take, and more! So I put together this list of some of my great green gift and living ideas. I use most all of these products, nearly everyday! So check 'em out and live a happier, healthier life! West Paw Eco Friendly Dog Toys - Tree Hugger $13.49 West Paw Eco Nap M Sage $53.99 Random House The Nature of Animal Healing for Dogs and Cats $15.99 Zukes Mini Naturals Peanut Butter 6 oz. Bag $3.99 Planet Dog Travel Towel Shammy for Dogs $21.99 Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Soccer Ball…

From zoos to shelters to pampered pets, Sundance Channel's upcoming episode on Big Ideas for a Small Planet, explores how animals' diets and living environments are increasingly reflecting the 'green-ness' of their human guardians. The episode will air tomorrow night 9:00 PM/ET! A not to be missed episode and definite DVR alert! And