Greatest American Dog — episode 4

It was America's Top Dog Model last night on the fourth episode of Greatest American Dog.

The elimination challenge is a photo shoot with the dogs depicting an emotion.

But I'm getting ahead of myself, because on this show about dogs, it's all about the humans.

With David & Elvis gone, Ron (of & Tillman) says he's relieved that he won't have to sleep with one eye open. Elvis, you remember, bit Tillman during a tussle. Ron's statement is strange because he and David supposedly kissed and made up.

And Travis and Laura continue their long march toward hooking up. In the kitchen. While cooking. If I'm ever invited over to their house, remind me to eat a little something before hand.

Brandy continues her long march toward being jealous of Laura, and makes snarky remarks while the pre-couple continues "cooking."

Cut to the next morning and there's Beth (ugh) Joy preparing Bella Starlet's food, with syringes of something. Hmmm. Is there anything wrong with her pooch that requires medical intervention or is it simply Beth (ugh) Joy's neurotic behavior made manifest in how she (over)treats her dog?

I'm not sure I want an answer to that.

On to the Dog Bone Challenge where the owners will see how well they know their dogs. Kinda like a very furry episode of the Newlywed Game.

The owners have to indicate whether the dog will go for something (steak, stick, tofu?) or leave it alone.

Going for it = licking or mouthing; sniffing = leave it.

I'm sure those are rules we all live by.

Had I been given a choice about this show, I would have chosen "leave it."

Of course, we see the owners say that XXXXX will never touch YYYYYY, and then they are found completely wrong. And they are shocked. Shocked!

J.D. & Galaxy win the challenge for the second time, sending Travis & Presley to the doghouse. Travis said he grew up on a ranch so it's OK. He lived in a doghouse on a ranch?

Oh, and Tillman throws up in the swimming pool. Charmed, I'm sure.

Next the little weasel guy, sorry, the host Jarrod Miller comes in to brief the dogtestants on the elimination challenge.

As we know, it is a photo shoot and each owner will work with a professional dog photographer to best convey a word they've chosen out of a bowl.

J.D. & Galaxy, sneaky. Bill & Star, stubborn. Beth (ugh) Joy & Bella Starlet, mischievous. Teresa & Leroy, angry. Laurie & Andrew, curious. Travis & Presley, joyous. Brandy & Beacon, jealousy. No, just kidding. They picked loving. Laura & Preston, regal. Ron & Tillman, lazy.

My Kate could have done lazy.

Everyone starts planning how best to portray their word. Bill over reacts, obsessing over having to work with a photographer. Bill, chill!

To get him to look angry Teresa sprays Leroy with what we later find out is grapefruit juice/water and tries shoving a lemon in his face. Then she tries to anger him with a vacuum cleaner and Leroy bites her finger. She calls him a little bastard.

What family doesn't have its ups and downs. (Good dog.)

Laura gives Teresa a snarl band that is used in movies to make a dog show its fangs. Teresa doesn't know if she will use it, but keeps it anyway.

The shoot goes on, from contestant to contestant. Some of the pictures are pretty good.

The judges finally get to see the pix.

They pick J.D. & Galaxy's sneaky picture as the best in show. It really was quite good and beautifully depicted the word sneaky. Part of the win is having the picture printed in Dog Fancy magazine.

For the bottom three, the judges chose Ron & Tillman, Teresa & Leroy and Brandy & Beacon.

Tillman's picture was just his head lying on a chair or something. The judges felt Ron was the lazy one in producing the picture.

Brandy's loving idea with Beacon and roses didn't work.

Teresa admitted she used the snarl bands to create the angry effect and is trounced by the judges for using them. The word "inhumane" is used where "uncomfortable" might be more appropriate. Good thing she didn't mention spraying grapefruit juice in her dog's eyes.

Even though I don't have a dog in this fight, I was shocked that the judges tossed Ron & Tillman out.

So what if he didn't prepare for the hoity toity dog photographer. At least he didn't provoke his faithful companion to bite him.

To me there was no question that "inhumane" trumps "lazy" any day.

Bad judges. Bad.

Ready for adoption — video edition

Here are the Dutchess County SPCA Pets of the Week — Ready for adoption. What are you waiting for?

This week's featured pets:
Kittens — All kinds!
"Come on, who can resist a face like this? And we have dozens more just like them! Kitten season ha been very active this year, and we have a bountiful bunch of adorable kittens neeing homes. Stop by today, and get your purr on. Many shapes, sizes and colors to choose from."


The Dutchess County SPCA is located at 636 Violet Avenue, Hyde Park, NY 12538. The shelter is open Sunday, Monday, Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed Wednesdays. Call 845-452-SPCA (7722). Browse our adoptable animals today!

Shelter pets rule.

It takes a lickin'

And Kate doesn't hate it.

I saw an ad for this frozen treat somewhere and looked it up on line.

Yoghund is made with organic low fat milk with live bacterial cultures. The boxes it comes in are made from 100% recycled materials. They even use paper cups in case your pooch eats it along with the yogurt.

The Web site's store locator said that Hannaford's in Highland carried the product so I went over the bridge last night after work and picked up some for Kate to try.

The only flavor they had was banana and peanut butter. The other flavor they manufacture is blueberry and vanilla bean.



And here's a cute puppy who probably needs to cut down on Yoghund.

Anyone missing a cat?

Princess Chunk is not a cat that would be easy to miss.

Weighing in a 44 pounds, this kitty was found wandering outdoors in Voorhees, N.J., without a collar.

Here's the whole story from sister Gannett paper the Courier Post in Cherry Hill.

The current mystery, besides the cat's astonishing weight, is how she could have escaped from her home.

"She's built like a quarterback," said (Deborah) Wright, of Sicklerville, (shelter volunteer and current foster owner of the cat). "I mean, how do you lose a 44-pound cat?!"

Where does a 44-pound cat sit?

Anywhere it wants to.

Now if it were Alaska that would be funny

The race for mayor of Fairhope, Ala., is a real dog of a race.

That's because there's a dog running for mayor. Ha!

An Associated Press article, with the incorrect headline setting the town in Alaska, said that Willie Bean Roscoe P. Coltrane is a 7-year-old yellow Labrador retriever whose owner entered him in the political contest.

Unfortunately, the pooch missed the July 15 qualifying deadline, so it will have to be a write-in vote.

I say, go for it, Willie Bean. Make us proud.

You know, with all the cynicism about politics and the political process, what is truly amazing about this story is that there are seven candidates for mayor!

Pet thefts on the rise

Another sign of the economy, according to this article on MSNBC.com, is a rise in pet thefts.

American Kennel Club spokesperson Lisa Peterson said that toy breeds, puppies and purebred dogs that are expensive-looking are most vulnerable. Stolen breeds tracked by the AKC in 2008 include Yorkshire terriers, poodles, Pomeranians and bulldogs.

Some thieves walk off with puppies from pet stores and animal shelters or take dogs tied up outside stores and coffee shops. Others break into cars where dogs have been left while their owners run an errand. Some have even posed as prospective puppy buyers to case breeders’ homes, breaking in later to snatch the dogs, says Peterson.

So, keep your eyes on your pooches, people.

Traveling with your pet?

With vacations underway, it's time to think about how to safely travel with your dog or cat.

Car trips can be stressful for humans, so think how Fido or Fluffy must feel. At least they don't have to worry about the price of gasoline.

Response Insurance has a few tips to help make the journey a smooth one.

• If your pet isn't used to car trips, try a few test runs to acclimate them. Spending time in the car while parked and short drives at first is a good start.

• Cats should be kept in a carrier; dogs should be held in a restraining harness. This keeps your pet stable in the event of sudden movement or a crash.

• Feed the pet less than normal. Too much water can upset the stomach; provide ice to chew on. Pack toys and bedding.

• Outfit your pet with a collar that has an ID tag that includes permanent and vacation addresses and phone numbers. Have a photo of your pet with you. There is always micro-chipping.

• Don't let your dog stick its head out the car window. Small stones and debris become dangerous projectiles at highway speeds.

• Never, never, never (my emphasis) leave your pet in a car in warm or hot weather.

• Pack a first-aid kit with tweezers and alcohol for tick removal, cloth bandages and topical antiseptic.

Greatest American Dog — episode 3

The theme of last night's "The Greatest (yeah right) American Dog" was backstabbing and being wussies.

Hold on a second. I'm getting a phone call.

What? You're kidding.

OK, I've been told the theme of last night's show was teamwork.

But there was a lot of backstabbing and there were a lot of wussies.

Picking up where last week left off, Beth Joy (believe me, the second part of her name doesn't fit) screamed when the contestants got back to their house after the elimination round.

Beth Joy was still upset the judges didn't like her putting a dress on Bella Starlet. She singled out Laurie & Andrew for the little top knots on his head, which Laurie says is standard grooming for presentations.

Neither is pleased with the other. All the rest of the bipedal contestants roll their eyes and look askance.

Later, Elvis's (of David & Elvis) talent is made manifest by clearing the entire backyard play area of all dogs and humans except for Laurie & Andrew.

The others (wussies) are so terrified by Elvis and his alleged aggression that they leave when he is let off leash.

Andrew and Elvis play together nicely and Laurie and David bond. Or do they?

The Dog Bone Challenge is as exciting as untangling knots.

Which is what the challenge is: "Tangled Leash."

Paired off, the teams have to work together (see? teamwork) to get their dogs through, around, up and over benches and pillars while they are leashed.

Believe me, that description was MUCH more exciting than the actual challenge.

Travis & Presley and Brandy & Beacon win, though Brandy started going crazy and shrieking. Travis didn't appreciate that.

They choose Laurie & Andrew for the dog house. Laurie asks why and Travis pleads the fifth. Wussie.

Oh, and Brandy has the hots for Travis, but Travis is spending waaaaaay too much time with Laura (of Laura & Preston — ya need a scorecard!). Brandy is not amused.

The Best in Show Challenge is a relay race combined with an obstacle course. Two teams, five pairs in each. Dogs do the course, guided by the humans.

They decided who is best at what and divide up the obstacles. Then they practice.

During the first team's challenge, J.D. & Galaxy screw up the first Frisbee toss, even though that is their signature stunt. Ha. Beth (ugh) Joy & Bella Starlet don't do jumping through the hoops very well. Travis & Presley ace pushing the cart. Bill & Star do the see-saws and maze pretty well (except Star jumps out of the maze when Bill says out; Star was just doing what he said) and Laura & Preston race through the tubes. Time? 2:52.

Whew.

Second team: Teresa & Leroy catch the Frisbee on the first try. Laurie & Andrew do pretty well on the hoops, though Laurie cheats by increasing the size of the hole in the paper-covered hoop, Ron & Tillman mess up the cart pushing, David & Elvis have trouble with the seesaw (on leash) but whiz through the maze (off leash), Brandy squeals (stop it!) while Beacon goes quickly through the tubes, though Brandy holds the final, collapsed tube up for her dog (that's a no-no). Time? 3:01.

Not so whew.

All members of the quickest team are safe and move on to whatever next week holds.

The judges say that Ron & Tillman needed to prepare more, Brandy shouldn't have helped Beacon and Laurie should not have made the paper hoop hole bigger. The entire team is criticized for David having Elvis on leash. Laurie tosses David to the wolves, saying to the judges that Elvis was on leash because he had bitten other dogs.

The judges don't like that Laurie has traded team ideals for personal gain.

The bottom three: David & Elvis, Ron & Tillman, Laurie & Andrew.

David & Elvis are out. I wasn't surprised, because, while David had a great relationship with his pooch, there wasn't the same level of training on their part as the other two.

After their loser lap, David turns to his former contestants and the judges and says, "Elvis has left the building."

Everybody laughs uproariously.

Except me.

DCSPCA needs donations

Elmo (top) and Able are just two of almost 80 cats recently taken in by the Dutchess County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals since March.

In March, DCSPCA humane law officers investigated cats living in horrible conditions in Hyde Park. More than 30 cats, many of whom were pregnant, were living in an 8x10-foot room.

They were seized and taken to the shelter, where the pregnant animals have given birth and all are being nursed back to health.

Then in June, the DCSPCA responded to a call about cats living in a garage in Dutchess County.
Officers found 49 cats living in an area so filthy and pungent it burned the eyes of the rescuers, according to Executive Director Joyce Garrity.

The cats were covered in excrement and were filthy and matted. Many had genetic deformities. DCSPCA vets are working to bring them back to health.

Garrity said, in a press release issued today, that rehabilitation, veterinary expenses and food will place a heavy burden on the organization.

So the DCSPCA is requesting support from the community in the form of monetary donations, as well as the contribution of wet cat food and kitty litter.

The DCSPCA is located at 636 Violet Avenue in Hyde Park.

For information, call 845-452-SPCA (7722).

Ready for adoption — video edition

See Sage practice her sit!

Here is the Dutchess County SPCA Pet of the Week — Ready for adoption. What are you waiting for?

This week's featured pet:
Sage — Terrier/whippet
"This beautiful whippet/terrier mix would be a great companion for the outdoors/hiking couple. Very athletic (and in good shape) brindle and white female enjoys the company of other humans. But life as an only dog would be best, as she doesn't like to share her affection with you and other dogs. Just a little 'Sage' advice."


The Dutchess County SPCA is located at 636 Violet Avenue, Hyde Park, NY 12538. The shelter is open Sunday, Monday, Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed Wednesdays. Call 845-452-SPCA (7722). Browse our adoptable animals today!

Shelter pets rule.

Taking care of the working dog

NASCAR's Tony Stewart has donated bulletproof vests for police dogs in five states.

Here's the story from USA Today.

The vests cost almost $900 each, according to information provided by the Tony Stewart Foundation. Stewart's contribution totals in excess of $35,000 for 40 vests.

The vests are bullet- and stab-proof, and so far Vest 'N P.D.P. Inc., a nonprofit that collects donations to purchase them has provided 169 vests to police dogs in 22 states, not including the recent donation by Stewart.

500th post

It's been about a year and five months, but we've finally reached a milestone: 500 posts. Kate is taking it with her usual enthusiasm.

Here's the first one I did back on March 19, 2007.

I have a dog. Dogs are the superior pet. I’m sure others might take issue with that statement. But it’s a fact.

At least to me it is.

That said, this blog is here for you and me to talk about all kinds of pets: cats, ferrets, rabbits, fish, turtles, gerbils, you name it. Even dogs.

Let’s get the formalities out of the way. I’m a reporter for the Poughkeepsie Journal. My beat is covering the eastern part of Dutchess County. But enough about me. Let’s get to what’s important – and what brings us here.

My dog is named Kate. After Kate Hepburn. It’s the cheekbones. Kate is a (best guess) 12-year-old (even more of a guess) boxer/shepherd mix, who is (absolute certainty!) a sweetheart and the best dog in the whole wide world.

I know people have had pets as a part of their lives probably since the first time a caveman dropped a bit of roast mastodon on the ground and a wild four-footed furry creature snapped it up and wagged its tail in thanks.

But even after over 11 years of coexistence under a number of different roofs, I still look at my dog and marvel at the fact that I’m sharing my home with another species.

And another species that is entirely dependent on me. Some have said it’s like having a 2-year-old child who never grows up. I say it’s more like having a 2-year-old who never stops shedding.

The only thing that's changed is that I cover a different part of the county. Kate is still a bright spot in my life. I am blessed to be able to take care of her.

Police dog dies in patrol car; A/C failed

A police dog tragically died in a patrol car, even though his partner had left the air conditioner on.

The car's air conditioning compressor failed, and Sam Diesel, the 2-year-old German shepherd, had been in the vehicle for over an hour.

Officer Sara Movahedi was working inside the police station when the dog died. It is standard procedure to leave police dogs in vehicles with the motor and air conditioning running. The state police K-9 units here do it all the time.

Here is the complete story from the Lakeville Ledger in Florida.

This should be a lesson to those of you who continue to shlep your dogs with you in the cars when they would be much safer at home.

Unairconditioned cars can heat up dramatically. Use your common sense.

UPDATE: From the Tampa Tribune: The police department will revamp their procedures for leaving police dogs in vehicles. Turns out, the officer/handler left the dog in the car for more than three hours. I can understand leaving the dog in the car when you are on patrol, but while you are at the police station? Is it a matter of convenience, the ability to move quickly, or a matter of not having a crate at the station house?

Greatest American Dog — episode 2

I can't believe it's only the second episode.

Tillman the bulldog and Elvis the jack russell got into a fight. Tillman gets bitten near the eye. His owner Ron is understandably upset but, you know, dogs are dogs and they get into scraps.

Elvis's owner Jack sleeps in the doghouse again, even though he doesn't have to, to avoid having the dogs in the same bedroom.

What a guy.

Ron says, referring to Tillman's losing battle with a much smaller dog, "He's a farter, not a fighter."

What a guy.

The dog bone challenge (sheesh) is a series of commands. The last dog to successfully perform wins the "golden bone" (they still haven't renamed it!) for his or her owner and a chance to live it up in the luxury suite, filled with dog toys and treats.

Travis & Presley win, sending J.D. & Galaxy, who won the first DBC, to sleep in the dog house. Travis welcomes everyone in the suite, which is quite unlike what J.D. did last week.

A bit of added drama occurred when Bill let Star outside the next (at least on tape) morning. Out of sight, Star yelps and Bill finds her bleeding. They are wisked to the vet. Star is examined and found to have a torn ear tip, possibly from a cat.

While waiting, Bill says that Star is not a dog, she's a companion. Cue the music.

The best in show challenge was called "Petiquette." At the Bone Appetit restaurant, oh my sides hurt from laughing, the dogs are tested in their ability to heel and then to sit in front of their favorite meal without eating it.

Much to everyone's amazement none of the dogs touch the food.

Most annoyingly though, Elan keeps saying "Ah, ah, ah" to poor large schnauzer Kenji.

The owners have to leave the dog on their pedestals and walk around the table. Kenji makes a break for it (smart dog) though. None of the other dogs follow (they had their chance — I'm beginning to wonder if Star planned her little medical incident just to get the hell away from the show).

The judges like how Laurie works with Andrew. they are amazed Tillman (the farter) leaves his steak alone. David needs to work on less confusing hand signals. Brandy's Beacon doesn't heel very well.

Travis talks baby talk to Presley (a good thing), Bella Starlet shouldn't be dressed up — by Beth Joy — especially when grooming is part of the challenge (a bad thing).

Bill & Star win best of show.

The bottom three are Elan & Kenji, Beth Joy & Starlet and David & Elvis.

Beth Joy tells the judges off, saying that it's in the Constitution that she should be allowed to dress up her pooch (no, not really). But she does say that one should be dressed up at a dinner party, if even one can't see how one is groomed.

Can't argue with logic.

Is spite of her outburst, Beth Joy & Bella Starlet will be back.

The judges boot Elan & Kenji. And they still make them take a non-victory lap.

A must for computer users with cats

Does your cat commandeer your computer, typing letters to Dear Abby to complain about you or to pet food manufacturers asking for better tasting grub? Have unordered packages been arriving at your door step from Amazon.com?

Do you simply want to keep the critter off the keyboard?

Well, try PawSense.

According to the Web site, the program recognizes when kitties are walking across the keyboard and prevents unauthorized commands from being entered. It also emits a sound manufacturers say cats don't like and they are then conditioned that the keyboard is a bad place.

Some days I feel like that.

PawSense is available for Windows 95/98/ME, NT, 2000, XP and Vista. A Mac version is not yet available.

That's because cats who use Macs know how to type properly.

And then there's Nora.

Buy two, they'll keep each other company

Pet lover fans of the Sci-Fi Channel series Eureka will probably want to check out the offerings on this Web site.

Forget those stinky little robot dogs. This is almost the real deal.

Congrats are in order

Congratulations to Roxy, all of 1 pound 13 ounces at almost 9 weeks old.

She's the latest addition to my friend Audrey's family.

Confidential to Roxy: Audrey's a wonderful person and will take real good care of you. You don't know how lucky you are.

Valley of the dogs?

Anybody remember the Saturday Night Live commercial satire "Doggie Downers"? For pooches who are hyper?

As the skit unfolded, it was suggested that if one's dog was in a depression, they could be given "Puppy Uppers."

A New York Times Magazine explores the world of pet pharmaceuticals in a story you can find here.

Veterinarians and dog behaviorists discuss the causes of a growing trend toward medicating companion animals.

Research estimates at least $15 million was spent in 2005 on behavior-modification drugs in the United States. Pfizer alone has seen its share of the market increase to $1 billion since 2003, up 57 percent.

Kate had separation anxiety, something that now I could have medicated her for. We worked on it, with a trainer. It took times and there were setbacks along the way, but we did it.

She is afraid of thunderstorms and fireworks. (So am I.) But I don't want to have her spend the entire spring and summer in a Prozac trance.

Is it easy just to pop a pill rather than work on modifying a behavior? Probably.

If the dog is in imminent danger to itself or to others, including humans, then obviously a long- or even a short-term process of training isn't enough. Medication may be the only answer other than putting the animal down.

But my feeling is that all training options should be explored before you medicate for behavior. And if you are planning on getting a dog, seek out a trainer to work with you so that problems can be prevented. It's easier to teach a dog the right way to act than to correct behavior that has become ingrained.

As I said, there are times when medications are surely necessary and lifesaving, but let's not turn our pets into little over-medicated humans.

Greatest American Dog — episode 1

You know the phrase "It shouldn't happen to a dog"?

Well, Greatest American Dog shouldn't happen to any species.

I've said before that I'm not a fan of reality series. They are too contrived, and the "writing" is done in the editing room.

During the first episode, which aired last night, we met all the contestants vying for the title and $250,000 — from skateboarding bulldog Tillman (of the YouTube vid) and his human Ron to Bella Starlet, a mutt, who her human Beth Joy likes to call the "Pamela Anderson of dogs." Ugh.

I wouldn't compare my dog to Pamela Anderson even if it meant I would get $250,000. Some things come at too high a cost.

The 12 dogs and their owners all live together in an estate filled with food and dog furniture, and surrounded by sumptuous grounds with a large pool and dog-shaped topiaries.

There is nothing really innovative about the way the program is set up. There is a challenge at the beginning and a reward. There is an elimination challenge (and not the kind you have to clean up) and someone and their owner is sent packing off the island, er, off the runway, um, out of the kitchen. Whatever.

And there is a host named Jarod Miller, a "zoologist, pet expert, television host and go-to talk show guest," according to the CBS Web site. I remember seeing one of the first appearances of Miller on TV. He was on Letterman's show. There were animals; things didn't go well. Letterman made mincemeat of the guy. It was hilarious.

So the first "Dog Bone" challenge, for which the winner and its owner get to sleep in a luxurious suite outfitted with dog treats and toys. The winner's owner also gets to pick one pair to sleep outside in a large dog house. Oy. All the rest of the contestants have to sleep elsewhere in the mansion, poor babies.

The challenge was an interminable game of doggie musical chairs. The pups were lead around elevated platforms by their humans and when the music stopped, they (the dogs) had to get onto a platform in a sit position. Somehow I think the humans would have had a tougher time of it.

Whoever was not on a platform and in a sit position was out.

Did I say it was interminable? Well, it also went on too long.

We did find out that Leroy, a border collie, owned by Teresa, has a barking problem, and all Teresa does about it is shout at Leroy. Not great, Teresa. Don't get too comfortable.

The winner of the challenge was former professional snowboarder J.D., a "dog entertainer," which doesn't mean he entertains dogs, but entertains with dogs, and his pooch Galaxy, an English pointer/border collie mix.

He received the "golden bone" from Miller which unlocked the primo suite — mind you they were all taking this way seriously — and chose David, a doctor, and Elvis, a parson Russell terrier to stay in the dog house. David was not amused, and neither was I.

The other contestants took pity on David and brought him food and blankets and his luggage. Judging from the introductions made of these people at the beginning of the show, I wouldn't want to be rooming with any of them, so I think David got the better deal.

The elimination challenge was a talent show and the contestants broke up into teams of four pairs.

They were being judged by some really unappealing people: dog trainer Victoria Stilwell, Dog World & Dog Fancy editor Allan Reznik and author Wendy Diamond.

J.D. quickly chose who he thought would be the most talented: Teresa & Leroy, Bill & Star and Laura & Preston. They call themselves Team Aloha, so naturally the theme is beaches and grass skirts.

The judges don't like Leroy's barking (I agree), they thought Bill was nervous, Galaxy ends up on J.D.'s back (his signature trick, I'm sure he'll do it again and again) and Preston played with a beach ball, which the judges seemed to enjoy.

Team Bark Wag High — I'm not making this up — was made up of Brandy & Beacon, Beth Joy & Bella Starlet, David & Elvis (he's still in the building) and Travis & Presley.

The judges didn't like Brandy physically manipulating Beacon, who really didn't perform anything correctly, even a sit. Bella Starlet danced; whoopee. Elvis rolled over. Travis did the only clever routine. He pretended he was a cop and he frisked Presley who then played dead.

Don't try to get out of this the easy way, Presley!

The last team was Team Disco Dogs, complete with huge Afros and embarrassing clothing. Michael acted as host, leaving Ezzie to do practically nothing. Elan & Kenji do high fives and dance; Ron & Tillman do the skateboarding trick, which if you need to see it again search YouTube.

But Ron, come up with something else. You can't make it through the whole thing just being a dude who thinks he's cool.

The weakest pairs were Brandy & Beacon, Beth Joy & Bells Starlet and Michael & Ezzie. Two of which were heavy on the costumes. I really can't stand dressing up dogs.

Dignity, always dignity.

Too late for that.

Alas, the judges boot Michael, a self-described comedic actor and waiter, & Ezzie, a Boston terrier.

Then they made them take a farewell lap around the room. Again, oy.

Needless to say, I said I would blog about this reality series, but frankly, for the sake of the dogs, I'm praying for cancellation.

If you missed the first episode and should you feel the need to watch it, you can find it at CBS.com. That is, if there isn't anything better on the Weather Channel.

Ready for adoption

Here is the Dutchess County SPCA Pet of the Week — Ready for adoption. What are you waiting for?

This week's featured pet:
Rocket — Shepherd mix
"Appropriately named, as this young adult male shepherd mix tends to bounce off the walls if he misses his daily walk. Goofy nature and athletic build allow him the ability to play for hours and never get bored. Good with people, though we may recommend a home with older children due to his over-exuberant behavior. Obedience classes would definitely benefit this guy."

The Dutchess County SPCA is located at 636 Violet Avenue, Hyde Park, NY 12538. The shelter is open Sunday, Monday, Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed Wednesdays. Call 845-452-SPCA (7722). Browse our adoptable animals today!

Shelter pets rule.

Great American advertising goes to the dogs

Get the popcorn and the dog biscuits ready. Tonight is the first episode of Greatest American Dog, a new reality series on CBS.

It airs at 8 p.m. ET.

Seems the network is pouring on the advertising. This article talks about putting ads on hot dog stands (a bit of a stretch, in that the "greatest" American dog will not be something one consumes) and hiring dog walkers to put their charges in vests and collars that promote the show.

And Reuters has a review of the program. If Letterman hadn't invented stupid pet tricks, what would a headliner writer do?

In the show, 12 people compete along with their pooches for a $250,000 grand prize.

In full disclosure, I really think that all reality shows are stupid. (Though I watch Top Chef and am trying to stomach — ha! — The Next Food Network Star.)

The long pans across the faces of the contestants, the music that portends bad things, the incipient dialog that if it were scripted (?) the writers should be fired. All pretty dumb.

And, of course, the contestants saying, "I'm not here to make friends."

I'll bet the dogs are there to sniff ... well ... friends.

So all that said, check back for my week-by-week summary of the dog-eat-dog world of reality television.

And may the best pooch win.

If the election were held today ...

... a lot of people would be very confused.

A poll conducted by the Associated Press/Yahoo News found that pet owners favored John McCain over Barack Obama 42 percent to 37 percent.

McCain has an English springer spaniel, a mutt, two turtles (Cuff and Link), a cat, a ferret, three parakeets and fish. Obama does not have any pets, but, according to the AP article, has promised his daughters a dog win or lose the election.

More promises from politicians.

Maybe Obama needs to pull an October (or sooner) surprise and pick up a puppy — an adorable, cuddly Democratic puppy, maybe a lab. Or two. Who couldn't vote for a lab? Or two?

Remember: Nixon had three dogs while he was in the White House.

Want to know more about White House pets? Click here.

Update on Vick's dogs

The Washington Post had a moving article yesterday on what has happened to the dogs seized when Michael Vick's dogfighting operation was shut down.

"Of the 47 surviving dogs, 25 were placed directly in foster homes, and a handful have been or are being adopted. Twenty-two were deemed potentially aggressive toward other dogs and were sent to an animal sanctuary in Utah. Some, after intensive retraining, are expected to move on to foster care and eventual adoption."

The jury is still out, for some experts, on whether the dogs can be retrained.

"John Goodwin, a dogfighting expert with the Humane Society and a proponent of euthanizing fight dogs, is skeptical of the emerging reports of the Vick dog recoveries. ... 'The behavior is bred into them,' he said. 'These groups are not rehabilitating these dogs. They're training them to behave in a more socialized manner. But these pit bulls should never be left alone with other dogs, because you never know when that instinct to fight another dog is going to surface.' "

Be sure and listen to the audio gallery.

Here are some other entries I did on the Vick saga.

UPDATE: Michael Vick filed for bankruptcy protection, saying he owes up to $50 million. Here is the story from ESPN.com.

Foreclosure pets on the rise in Arizona

Sister Gannett paper the Arizona Republic has a front page story on how pets are affected by the foreclosure and subprime mortgage crisis.

Reporter Samantha Hauser writes:

Foreclosures in metropolitan Phoenix continued to rise in May, with 3,402 foreclosures filed, up more than 14 percent from April, according to the Information Market.

Shelters across the nation also are seeing an increase, according to the Humane Society of the United States, which has no affiliation with the Arizona Humane Society.

The problem is most acute where foreclosures are common and the general economy is struggling. States such as Arizona, California and Florida are being inundated with foreclosed homes, and subsequently, their animal shelters are being flooded with pets.

I've written about this several times in the past.

There are grants to help shelters that find themselves overwhelmed. But it's really going to take a turnaround in the economy to get things back to normal.

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Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Final 4th tips for pets

This picture show the way Kate will not be Friday night if there are fireworks within her hearing distance.

As a final reminder that fireworks and pets do not mix, here are some tips on Fourth of July safety for your companion animals.

From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

From the Los Angeles Daily News.

To sum up, don't take your pet with you to a fireworks display. Make sure pets are securely inside during fireworks, perhaps in a safe room with a radio or television playing to mask any outside sounds.

Just in case they do escape, make sure they have proper identification on them and you have a recent picture.

And if they have an accident because of the noise and bright lights, give them a break and don't scold them. They were scared.

Ready for adoption — video edition

Here is the Dutchess County SPCA Pet of the Week — Ready for adoption. What are you waiting for?

This week's featured pet:
Bunny — Domestic mediumhair
"There's something funny about this bunny. She doesn't hop, couldn't care less about carrots and the only time her nose wiggles is when the can opener is running. The color of the fur is right — a nice gray — but we're not used to seeing stripes on a rabbit. Also peculiar rumble sounds come from her throat. Is it possible that we have the first hybrid rabbit? Hop on in, take a look and help us solve this mystery."


The Dutchess County SPCA is located at 636 Violet Avenue, Hyde Park, NY 12538. The shelter is open Sunday, Monday, Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed Wednesdays. Call 845-452-SPCA (7722). Browse our adoptable animals today!

Shelter pets rule.

BTW, in celebration of Independence Day, the DCSPCA is discounting all cat adoption rates by 25 percent. The discount is good until Monday, July 7! Go to Hyde Park and adopt a cat.

A quandary

This is a tough one.

Here's a story from Newsweek.com written by a man who paid $11,000 in medical bills on his 11-year-old cat.

We are talking multiple surgeries and treatments, for cancer and two bouts of pancreatitis.

The man admits to being a well-paid, single university professor. I'm assuming from the statement that, while it might have made a dent in his bank account, it wasn't such a burden.

At what point do you say enough is enough, no more procedures, no more treatments? How do finances fit into the equation?

Does it all boil down to quality of life — your pet's and yours?

I have to take Kate to a kennel in a few weeks, and one of the things I'll be asked by the staff there is, since she is an older dog, what would I want to tell them to do if there were an emergency. What should they tell the vet in terms of allowable procedures?

I mean, I love Kate, but ...

Banned in Boston?

Critics of rent-a-dog operations were vocal Monday during a Boston city council hearing.

At issue was FlexPetz, a company with shops in New York City, Los Angeles and London. The company's Web site says it will open in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Paris and Boston in mid-2008.

Not if Boston city council members have their way.

Here's the story from the Boston Herald.

If you've been following this blog, you know how I feel about FlexPetz. If you don't, read these.

Interestingly, no one spoke against the ban, nor did anyone from the company come to the hearing, according to the Boston Herald article.

Another job well done

Radar — not the M*A*S*H character — just retired.

The soon to be 10-year-old border collie spent seven years chasing birds away from Southwest Florida International Airport runways in Florida.

Birds = bad for airplanes.

Well-trained border collie = good for airport.

Here's an article from the sister-Gannett paper the Ft. Myers News Press. The video is pretty dull, but at least you can see Radar.

Radar will live out her years a the five-acre ranch belonging to her handler, an airport operations agent.

Good dog.