Won't you come home bichon Bailey?

Bailey's getting pampered now.

Free grooming, lots of food, lots of sleep.

All it took for the 10-year-old bichon frise was a 7-mile trek home after getting lost.

Here's the story from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Cutie Petutie dog salon?

Is Rosie O'Donnell the owner?

Cat furniture

Looking for more comfortable surroundings for your cat?

Check out The New York Times.

I love the cat cocoon.

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:
Archie — Jack Russell Terrier
"Jughead and the rest of the gang aren't around, but that's OK as Archie will keep you in stitches all by himself. Very active (as if they come any other way!), this Jack Russell male prefers to be your one and only. Not that he's trying to be selfish with your time, he just doesn't want any competition."

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).

Shelter pets rule.

Paws in the pumpkin patch

How about a Halloween party for you and your pooch?

Positive Paws Training School is presenting a Doggie Halloween Party Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the American Legion Post No. 1466 in the Town of Poughkeepsie. For directions, click here.

There will be a costume contest, fun and games and for $12 you can get a picture of your dog in the pumpkin patch.

Your dog needs to be on a leash that is no longer than 6 feet, and the Positive Paws people ask that aggressive dogs be left at home. Well, that makes sense.

Call 845-635-8977.

Photo by Karl Rabe.

Teeny tiny doggies

Teacup Chihuahuas.

Who would have thought that these cute, little dogs are the same species as a Great Dane.

It takes a village, or at least a golden retriever

An orphaned kitten who would not use a bottle is being nursed by a golden retriever, according to this Winchester (Va.) Star article.

Honey, the golden who hasn't whelped in 18 months, is indeed a honey.

And Precious, the kitten, is ... well, you figure it out.

Blessing the blessed

Take a look at my colleague Rasheed Oluwa's story in today's Poughkeepsie Journal on the blessing of the animals Sunday at the Hyde Park (N.Y.) United Methodist Church.

The second-annual ceremony marked the Oct. 4, 1226, death of St. Francis of Assisi, animals' patron saint.

Check out the photo gallery by Journal photographer Darryl Battista while you are there.

Kate would have been there but I was too busy sleeping she had other plans.

Toy story

Kate has more toys than she knows what to do with.

And yet, I keep buying more.

The picture above is one of the silliest-looking toys Kate has. It's a Fat Cat Crackler. Embiggen for the full effect.

Kate still has a couple of the Crackler skunks only one of which still makes a squeaky sound.


They are supposedly indestructible, though I've been told by people that their dogs have torn through them.

Kate has more toys than she knows what to do with.

And yet, I keep buying more.

What are your pets' favorite toys? Least favorite toys?

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:
Nacho — Pastel Calico
"Hey — that's Nacho kitty! But it could be with just a simple adoption. Beautiful pastel calico female was abondoned at the shelter, hopefully with the intention of finding a better home for her."

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).

Shelter pets rule.

Tuesday morning cat dancing

This video made me laugh out loud.

Enjoy.