Dog riding a lawn mower

Title sez it all.

Watch via the Huffington Post here.

Procter & Gamble recalls 2 Iams cat food lots

From the Associated Press:

CINCINNATI — Consumer products giant Procter & Gamble Co. said Sunday it is voluntarily recalling two lots of Iams brand prescription renal dry cat food because it could be contaminated with salmonella.

The products are available by prescription through veterinary clinics.

No illnesses have been reported, but an FDA analysis identified positive results on two lots of Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal 5.5 lbs: numbers 01384174B4 0 19014 21405 1 and 01384174B2 0 19014 21405 1.

Codes are found in the lower right corner on the back of the bag.

Anyone owning the food should throw it out. Pets can become infected and people handling the dry pet food can become infected with salmonella as well if they do not wash their hands. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, seniors and others with weakened immune systems.

Customers seeking more information or a refund may call P&G at 877-894-4458.

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You can read the P&G press release here.

Doggie ice cream comes to London

Now there's another reason to go to London.

On Saturday, the world's first ice cream truck for dogs opened in Regent Park.

Here's a story from the Daily News by Aliyah Shahid.

The red, white, and blue truck, dubbed 'K99,' will dish (and cone) up a variety of pup-friendly flavors like "Dog Eat Hog World," a concoction of cured leg of pork and chicken. Then there's the classic "Canine Cookie Crunch," which is vanilla ice cream topped off with dog biscuits.

The truck will travel the parks through the summer. According to London's Daily Mail, the truck will play the theme song from "Scooby Doo," instead of the traditional Mr. Softee jingle.

And best yet, the ice cream is safe for humans.

Pit bull takes care of actress Moore

Actress Mary Tyler Moore has a pit bull named Spanky who alerts her when her blood sugar gets too low.

She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes around the time she began "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" in the 1970s.

Here is the article from PeoplePets.com.

"He helps me with my diabetes —he can sense when something's not right," Moore told PEOPLEPets.com at Broadway Barks. "He will come and sit and stare at me until I do something about it."

Moore and her husband also share their home with Shadow, a 12-year-old golden retriever; Shana, an 11-year-old miniature schnauzer; and Bond, James Bond, a 9-year-old Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen. They each have wonderful vocabularies, she says.

Afghan war vet gets big greeting

Here's a video that has received more than 2 million hits of a soldier returning from Afghanistan being greeted by his dog.

What a reaction.

Dog to a legend now in book form

A comic novel, centered around Marilyn Monroe's dog, will hit the shelves in December.

"The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog and of His Friend Marilyn Monroe" is by Andrew O'Hagan.

Read the full story from cnn.com.

According to the book's description, Maf — short for Mafia — met everybody who is anybody during his time with the actress, including President John F. Kennedy, and accompanied the silver screen star to acting classes, chi-chi restaurants, department stores and to Mexico for her divorce from playwright Arthur Miller.

"Marilyn was a strange and unhappy creature, but at the same time she had more natural comedy to her than anybody I would ever know," observes Maf, who was 3 when Monroe died in 1962 at age 36.

O'Hagan has said that Hollywood is interested in making a movie about Maf and Monroe.

Who will it star, I wonder?

Dog toots its own horn — and lives

Allentown, Pa., TV station WFMZ has a story about a chocolate lab who was stuck in a car and alerting its owners by honking the horn.

Here's the story.

Max, 11, owned by Donna Gardner of Upper Macungie Township, Pa., was mistakenly left in Gardner's car after she returned home from running errands.

"I came in and started cleaning and about an hour later I heard a horn blow," she said.

Gardner went outside, but didn't see anybody.

"So, I came back in the house and I started cleaning again and the horn blew again," she said.

She went back outside and saw Max sitting in the driver's seat of the car.

Max was checked out by a veterinarian. He was a little weak but OK.

Hot weather tips from the DCSPCA

HYDE PARK — As summer temperatures continue to soar, the Dutchess Country SPCA is reminding residents to take precautions to keep their pets safe.

"Our companion animals suffer just like we do in the hot summer months and it is so important that we provide special care to ensure their well-being," said Joyce Garrity, executive director, Dutchess County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The DCSPCA advises that pet owners take the following
precautions for pets:

• Never leave an animal unattended in a parked vehicle. Temperatures can rise quickly in a parked car, even with the windows cracked open. Heat stroke can be fatal to pets as well as to people.
• Keep lawn and garden pesticides out of the reach of your animals as they can be toxic to both dogs and cats. When walking your dog, stay away from streets that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides and/or other chemicals. Be sure to also keep citronella candles and insect coils in a secure place so that your animal does not have any contact with them.
• Make sure that clean, fresh water is always available for your pets. Do not leave a dog tied up outdoors. If your pet is allowed outdoors, make sure that it has access to a shady spot when it gets too hot. Paws can get burned on hot asphalt and concrete so take daily walks in the early morning or late evening to prevent your pet from becoming overheated. Take special care with animals with short-noses that may have trouble breathing in the heat and ones with white-colored ears, which burn easily in the sun.
• If you are caring for outdoor cats, make sure that they have access to a plentiful supply of water and keep feeding stations clean to prevent an invasion from ants and other insects.
• Keep a close eye on pets at a cookout. Reaching for tempting treats from the barbecue can result in burned paws and whiskers. And as tantalizing as it may be, do not give your pet treats from the grill as a sudden change in diet can result in a serious gastric upset. Also keep alcoholic beverages in a safe place and avoid raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate and products that contain Xylitol, a sweetener.
• Not all dogs can swim, and precautions should be taken to prevent an accident from happening when you are at a pool, lake or ocean with your pet.
• Keep your pets well groomed to control fleas and ticks; however, don't shave your pets down too much as their fur insulates them from the heat and prevents sunburn. Ask your veterinarian for advice about how to handle emergencies for bee stings and insect bites, using pet first aid.
• Prevent "High-Rise Syndrome," a common tragedy that occurs when cats and dogs fall out of apartment windows during the sweltering months in the city. Keep all unscreened windows closed and make sure that adjustable screens are tightly secured to keep your pets safe.
• Learn how to spot signs of heat stress in your pet, which include the following symptoms: heavy breathing, a rapid heartbeat, excessive thirst, heavy panting, glazed eyes, restlessness, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue and becoming unconscious. If your animal shows any of these symptoms, immediately call your veterinarian. Also take steps to gradually lower their body temperature; move the animal into an air-conditioned area and apply cold towels to the head, neck and chest or run cool water over the pet and allow the animal to drink small amounts of cool water.

Dogs go to new homes yesterday

The dog adoption yesterday in Highland was a success.

Here's my story about it in today's Poughkeepsie Journal.

The nonprofit group that ran the adoption is Pancake Hollow Farm and Rescue, Inc., also in Highland.

They are located at at 236 Pancake Hollow Road and can be reached by calling 845-721-1200.

I took a few pictures. The first is Liz Farinella and Jason Michalek of Milton who adopted a sweet husky-terrier mix.

Dog adoption set for today in Highland

I'm going to be over in Highland, across the river, today for a puppy adoption event being held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The homeless dogs will be given away from Dirty Dogs Pet Service at 3592 Route 9W.

The dogs were rescued by Pancake Hollow Farms and Rescue, a Highland-based group that travels around the country rescuing dogs that otherwise might be put to sleep.

The rescue organization is also accepting donations of bleach, paper towels, bath towels and garbage bags.

Call 845-691-4928. I'll post some pictures later.

'Pizza' for dogs

Found a new product at Adam's Fairacre Farms yesterday. For Kate, of course.

They are "Pup-Pies" for dog treats, made by the Lazy Dog Cookie Co.

I picked up Deep Dish Pizza, and after a little hesitation, Kate enjoyed it.


I cut it into pieces, but didn't give her the whole thing. It's about 4 inches across.

Something different from regular dog cookies.

Video Wednesday

How about a cat that's quick with its paws?

Watch this video.

Hope that person didn't get too scratched up.

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This dog is clumsy even on the rug.

Watch this video.

But it's funny. And there's a cone of shame!

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And finally, a cat that can open a door.

Watch this video.

Robots can learn from three-legged dogs

Research being done in Germany may affect the way robots move.

Martin Gross of the University of Jena is studying the way three-legged dogs move, thinking it could change the way robots get around if they lose one of their limbs.

Here's the story from Discovery News.

He noticed that his brother's three-legged dog, despite missing a hind limb due to cancer, was still faster than three other family dogs who had all four legs.

The same cannot be said of robots. If they lose a limb, they're likely to topple over, since they cannot readjust to the new way of walking. The entire robot could be rendered useless.

Gross said terrestrial locomotion is designed for an even number of legs. With the loss of a limb, there needs to be a reorganization of the way one gets around.

The study is part of the European Union's Locomorph project to help develop robots that can adapt in the event of an "injury."

Summer safety tips

Though the mornings are deceptively cool, it is definitely summer here in Poughkeepsie.

The warmer months, as we are all aware, can be bad for pets.

The Humane Society of the United States has some tips for keeping pets safe and healthy during the summer.

See them here.

They, of course, include never leaving your pet in the car or put it in the back of a truck.

It is very dangerous, and in some states illegal, to drive with a dog in the back of a pick-up truck. Not only can flying debris cause serious injury, but a dog may be unintentionally thrown into traffic if the driver suddenly hits the brakes, swerves, or is hit by another car. Dogs should ride either in the cab (in a crate or wearing a seat belt harness designed for dogs) or in a secured crate in the bed of the truck.

And a reminder since today is the Fourth of July, please make sure your pets have identification tags, so if they happen to get spooked by the fireworks and get out of the house or yard they can be returned to you.

Happy July 4th, everyone.

Terrifying sounds from above

With summer and the warmer weather, pet owners have to careful to make sure their charges have plenty of fresh water and somewhere to get out of the sun.

But also, this time of year brings the dreaded fireworks — something that can lead to stray and lost pets.

Read this article from the Orange County Register written by Samantha Gowen.

This weekend KatyDog will spend hours inside her favorite soundproof bunker: the bedroom closet.

July Fourth and all of its hissing, popping, thundering fireworks is enough to send the family dog and cat running from the sheer terror of it all.

The summer holiday is one of the most dangerous for unsecured pets. Animal control reports more stray and lost pets on July Fourth than any other single day of the year.

Gowan gives recommendations provided by the Animal Assistance League:

• Keep the pet inside
• Use a radio or television to drown out the booming sounds
• For unusually nervous pets, consult a veterinarian about tranquilizers
• Make certain ID tags and licenses are current

Kate, at her advanced age, doesn't seem to be bothered by fireworks or thunder as much as when she was younger. It's probably due to a loss of hearing.

The first summer I had her, when we were living on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, I made the mistake of taking her out for a walk at the time the New York Philharmonic was playing the "1812 Overture" in Central Park, two blocks from where we were.

When the accompanying fireworks were set off, Kate just about crawled over a car to get away from them, then under a car.

Thankfully, we weren't too far from the apartment buildings front door, and I managed to drag her safely inside.