It's the grey ghost

Marge, a 4 year old, Weimaraner just won the sporting dogs group at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show.

I had my money on the Vizsla, but the Marge was close second.

Still to come are the working dogs and toy groups. And then the Best in Show.

The show is being televised on the USA Network (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.)

Who's the best dog? Why you are!

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show wraps up tonight with the best in show competition.

You can watch the proceedings live on the USA Network from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

For background and complete lists of best in breed winners, check out the Westminster Kennel Club's Web site here.

A cardboard box in the corner

Here's a sweet commercial from a major brand of dog food.

Enjoy.

Kara's owners need your help

Kara is part Husky and she's on the run, somewhere in the Red Oaks Mills area. Her owners, who got her Jan. 3, need your help. They write:

On January 22nd, she ran out our front door after a squirrel while some furniture was being delivered. Of course we immediately went after her but were far too slow. She has been gone now for 2-1/2 weeks. We have posted flyers and posters from Poughkeepsie to Hopewell Junction to Fishkill. The outpouring of support and enthusiasm for helping to find this lost dog has been just incredible and we are very grateful.

Thanks to all the helpful folks who have phoned in we now know that she is she is sheltering in the woods near Maloney Rd., ranging through Macghee Rd. to Kevin Heights and to Daley Rd. She has been seen several times and is reliably identified. She is wearing a red collar with a large plastic orange tag, and she is mainly black with tan legs and chest and a white muzzle, about 40 lbs in weight. If folks would like to help find her, please store the cell phone # in your phone and call if you see her (845-380-8526.) She will probably come for treats if you would like to try calling her and have a fenced area where she can be kept until picked up. You will need to be quick if you want to grab her collar! But under no circumstances should she be chased — she will be scared off people, and people are her main hope. She has never exhibited the slightest sign of aggression. Meanwhile we are continuing to post flyers and to search the neighborhood as much as we can. We have received at least 10 calls from that area and at least 50 calls with offers of support or potential sightings which turned out to be other dogs.

Even if we do not get Kara back we know that we are fortunate to have discovered and to be part of this world of love and support for these animals here in our own community. It is truly amazing. But we are a long way from giving up! So please join in the search, keep your eyes and ears open, and call us if see her. Thank you.

Charges in tainted pet food tragedy

Charges were handed down yesterday by a federal grand jury in connection with tainted pet food that may have killed thousands of dogs and cats last year.

According to Bloomberg.com, ChemNutra Inc., a U.S. company, and two Chinese businesses were charged. Top executives from the companies were also indicted.

They were accused of importing 800 metric tons of wheat gluten mixed with melamine, which is found in fertilizers, plastics, cleaning products, glues and inks, and isn't approved for use as food for humans or animals in the U.S.

In March, 14 cats and dogs died, after appearing to suffer from kidney failure. More than 150 brands of dog and cat food were recalled.

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:
Jalapeno — Grey domestic shorthair
"This young female shorthair would rather take a nap than spice things up! We know she's dreaming of her very own window perch for napping and birdwatching ... and, of course, the day when she gets to go home for good."

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.

How old do you feel?

Here's a little amusement from the people at Purina.

This Web site says it will calculate the "real" age of your dog based on a series of questions.

According to my answers, Kate is far younger than her 13 (human) years would indicate.

I take issue with the findings that she is somewhat underweight and is missing vaccinations.

The choices for her shape included drawings of a dog with various stages of ribs showing and then a multiple choice that asked me to choose from round or thick all over, husky, slim, very thin and bony.

Our vet doesn't seem to have problems with either.

But then again, it's an Interweb questionnaire.

Have fun.

Vick dog update

Here's an incredibly moving article from The New York Times about the dogs who were rescued from Michael Vick's house of horrors.

"... [T]here is one haunting sign that Georgia might have endured the most abuse of any of the 47 surviving pit bulls seized last April from the property of the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in connection with an illegal dogfighting ring.

"Georgia has no teeth. All 42 of them were pried from her mouth, most likely to make certain she could not harm male dogs during forced breeding."

I hope there's a special place in hell for people who do this to animals.

How to tell a good dog

Good dog vs. bad dog video.

No endorsement of the company that uses copyrighted material to help advertise their services is implied.

Puppies! redux II

We all know what Sunday is.

It's time for that all-American experience "The Puppy Bowl IV" on Animal Planet.

The action starts at 3 p.m. (ET/PT) and is replayed throughout the evening. So grab a bag of your favorite kibble and dip and watch puppies doing what they do best.

Check out the Web site for some "aaaahhhhh"-inspiring athletic prowess and just darn cuteness.

And for cat lovers, the "Bissell Kitty Half-time Show" is back.