Preparation is key in hurricanes

Should the unimaginable happen and the Gulf Coast is hit once again by a devastating hurricane, please remember these safety tips for your pets.

This is from the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald.

Take water for your pets, along with food, medication and bedding. According to the article, many motels and hotels will be happier about allowing a dog or a cat in their premises if you have a crate for the animal.

Here's thinking good thoughts for everyone in the Gulf Coast region.

Comment on Greatest American Dog

I got a comment from "anonymous" yesterday about Thursday's episode of Greatest American Dog.

Here it is:

I love your recaps of the episodes, they are a hell of a lot funnier than the episodes themselves.

I have to say this time that I was more upset than amused at the goings on in the show though. I don't care how ell trained the Elephant was , those things have a tendency to snap in captivity, not to mention that considering multiple dogs nipped at the puppies last episodes you'd think the producer wouldn't want to risk them nipping at something 100 times the dogs size.

I was shocked that it was Galaxy who got hurt and not Presley considering how much he was flailing during the zipline.

Despite thinking Galaxy is perhaps the best trained dog still left there I hope she goes home next week. There is no reason for her to have to suffer just for the sake of a game show.

I replied that I wondered if I was over-reacting to the show, but the more I thought about it, the more I couldn't shake the feeling that these TV producers, self-proclaimed dog advocates and even the dog owners are merely exploiting these trusting, loving, follow-you-anywhere pooches.

I say, shame on them. And where are the animal rights people in all this?

Greatest American Dog — episode 8

If I hadn't been told what the theme of last night's episode of Greatest American Dog was, I never would have guessed it.

My first choice was "Stupidity." Then I decided the theme was "How to Scare the Bejesus Out of Your Dog (paper towels and Clorox extra)."

While I feel in my heart I was right, the theme, according to the Weasel Host, was "Courage."

Yes, the housemates found the courage to talk about Beth (Ugh) Joy now that she's gone. Yes, they found deep within themselves the courage to make fun of her.

I'm so proud.

And the housemates also found the courage to try and make their dogs do really stupid things, like sit and watch a 9,000-pound African elephant named Susie come charging toward them.

That was the Golden Bone challenge, which should have been renamed the Bonehead challenge for this week.

The poor trusting animals (the dogs, not their money grubbing humans) had to sit in a circle while Susie came toward them, at one point thrashing her head and making scary elephant noises.

If the dog stayed in the circle while Susie grabbed a banana with its trunk (I'm not making this up) the dog wins.

Unbelievably, Andrew (of Laurie &) and Presley (of Travis &) stayed put. Presley left the circle a split second after Susie took the banana.

Leroy, Star and Galaxy had the good sense to get the hell away from the elephant.

The tie breaker had Andrew and Presley in a sit-stay, with their humans off to the side facing them. Susie then charged toward them. The first dog to break the sit-stay loses.

Presley had the good sense to get out of the way of a charging elephant.

Laurie gets the luxury suite and a letter from her husband. She shows she actually has the courage to have feelings.

The elimination challenge has the trusting dogs go up an incline, across a bridge and then leap off a ledge and travel down a zip line.

I wouldn't do it, and they are making these poor dogs do it?

The Weasel said, "This may be the toughest challenge yet."

I didn't think anything would be more dangerous to the dogs than a 9,000-pound elephant, but there you have it.

The humans could choose to have their trusting dogs go up a steep incline or one that is not as difficult and across a narrow bridge or one that is wider. As far as "the leap of trust" they either do it or don't do it. The landing is 32 feet high and the zip line to which they are harnessed is 50 feet long.

The dogs and humans are suited up in harnesses. That way no one can get hurt, right?

JD & Galaxy are up first. Up the steep incline, no problem. Across the narrow bridge, no problem. JD goes down the zip line and calls Galaxy. Galaxy jumps off, coming down the zip line wagging its tail.

Teresa & Leroy go up the steep incline. Leroy barks. Teresa tells him to shut up. They go across the narrow bridge. Then comes the leap. Teresa keeps calling Leroy, he obviously doesn't want to jump.

After a commercial, we see Leroy frantically pacing along the edge of the platform as Teresa, ever more shrill, keeps telling him to come. The poor dog eventually jumps off, gliding down the zip line, its legs stiff.

Bill & Star go up the easier ramp, then across the narrow bridge. Bill goes down the zip line, but Star refuses. After a bit, the Weasel asks Bill, "Are you calling it quits?" when the question should be "Do you think you shouldn't keep asking your dog to something it doesn't want to do?"

Travis & Presley go up the steep incline and across the narrow bridge. Presley jumps off the ledge and flails his legs all the way down.

Laurie & Andrew go up the easier ramp as quickly as Andrew's tiny legs can, and across the narrow bridge, also quickly. Despite a squeaky toy, Andrew doesn't budge from the ledge.

Judge Britty said that "jumping from a height takes tremendous courage." No, it doesn't. The dogs didn't exhibit courage; they just trusted their humans and did what they wanted to please them. Remember Star in last week's episode, trying to lie down but getting back up immediately because Bill wanted her to?

The judges loved Leroy's leap of faith but hated his barking, thought JD's constant praise and encourage were impressive, told Travis he needs to be able to control Presley's excitability, chastised Bill for going up the easier ramp and for not making Star jump, told Laurie that a Maltese doing what he did was outstanding, but in the end the dog and his owner were failures because he didn't jump.

While the judges deliberated, or were being told by the producers what to do, the dogtestants went back to the mansion.

Bill said he was glad that challenge was over. Travis said, "Golly." Does anyone say "golly" anymore?

Travis said, "Golly, I got the worst comments of anybody there. My dog did everything it was supposed to do." Can't disagree with you there.

Then Galaxy was shown limping. The pooch was obviously hurt.

They bring in someone to look at the dog and she said it was a muscle strain. JD said he is going to do everything possible to help her and make sure she is rested.

But on with the show.

As the contestants come in to the judges' table -- sorry, that's Top Chef -- the judges' lair, Galaxy is still limping and Britty asks about it.

Judge Old Guy said, "We hope it isn't anything serious." Note, no one said, "Maybe we shouldn't have asked your dogs to leap off tall buildings."

JD & Galaxy get special recognition and Galaxy limps over to stand by the Weasel.

The bottom three:
Laurie & Andrew
Bill & Star
Travis & Presley

Judge Clutchy said Presley was a little out of control. Judge Old Guy said, in a bad way, Star went up the easier ramp, but wouldn't listen to Bill when you encouraged her to jump off the zip line. Judge Britty said -- and I almost threw my laptop at the TV when she said it -- "Laurie and Andrew, Andrew exhibited a lot of stress signals in front of the zip line. Lots of pacing backwards and forwards, which is a stress signal."

Well, yes, the dogs were stressed by this entire episode. You would be stressed too if there was an elephant charging toward you and then you were told to jump off a ledge. How dare they berate the owners for allowing their dogs to be stressed when the entire episode was devised to do just that.

And, excuse me Judge Britty, you didn't say that Leroy was stressed. He was pacing frantically at the edge, but eventually jumped. So I guess that stress was OK. Well, was it?

Bill & Star were chosen to leave. Britty said it was tough for them, but their performance was the weakest. Clutchy kissed whatever it is that she clutches on every show.

The preview of next week's episode hinted that an injury may force JD & Galaxy to go home early.

Happy now, CBS?

As long as you are spending money ...

Remember David & Elvis, the New Yorker and his jack russell who were booted off Greatest American Dog?

Well, David threw Elvis a "bark mitzvah" that cost $10,000. See the story here.

Today, you are a dog?

Take two and call me in the morning

Every morning, Kate takes two pills. The first one is for spay incontinence, which is managed easily by one Proin 25 chewable.

The vet who originally prescribed this for Kate said dog's love them. "They eat them right up."


Let's put it this way, about one time in 10 I have to either pick up the soggy pill, open Kate's mouth and drop it in (holding the snout closed until she licks her nose) or gather up all the little pieces and put them in her food bowl.

Sometimes Kate will hold the pill in her front teeth. Makes me laugh every time.

The second pill is glucosamine. It too is chewable. Though there usually isn't much chewing.


I got a laugh from the kennel where Kate stayed while I was away for a week. The owner said, "Oh, Kate sure likes taking her pills with liverwurst."

Duh. Kate trained them well, didn't she?

Fair matches pooch with new family

I got an e-mail from Debra Hall of Hopewell Junction. She had a great story that happened partly because of the Canine Tent at the Dutchess County Fair, that just closed.

She said I could share it with you.

Marley

Marley is 8 years young. We rescued her from a lab rescue. Her old family moved to NYC and did not want to take the furkids with them. We cannot understand how anyone can do that. Their loss is our gain.

She is a very wonderful addition to our family. Duncan and Marley like each other very much. She slept like a baby on her bed all night long! The only thing dangerous about her is her wagging tail!

Duncan

Then in a follow-up e-mail Debra wrote this:

I guess you should include this also. I got Marley after speaking with a gentleman that owns a lab rescue located in Saugerties. I met this man because he had a booth at the Dutchess County Fair in the canine tent. I asked him if he had a very well behaved 6- 8-year-old who was homeless due to no fault of their own. That was when he told me about Marley. The name of the Lab rescue is Canine Country Club. We, my husband David and I, were very impressed when we saw the set up at the rescue. When we met Marley I knew instantly she was going to be ours even though she is just shy of 80 pounds ... much bigger than I really wanted.

I took her to the vet today and he found a small, pea-sized mass in her lower belly. In 2 weeks she will have it removed with surgery. Otherwise she is in perfect shape. No heartworm, no lyme, no anal glad problems either, lol.

I left my 2 dogs home alone today to go to the dentist. When I came home she gave me such a wonderful greeting. I can tell she knows she has a home for life, and she deserves one because she is a fantastic dog. How someone can leave a dog behind after 8 years, I do not know.

Just wanted you to know the whole story.

Congratulations, Debra. Good job, Marley.

More about pet therapy at Castle Point VA hospital

Thanks to Annette Smith for writing this nice e-mail in reference to an article in the Poughkeepsie Journal (see this entry) about pet therapy going on at Castle Point.

Great coverage of yesterday's "mass" dog therapy event, and especially for allowing the Castle Point facilities to get such a nice "plug." My Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Nicky, and I were there also, and I more than agree with everything you stated.

I, too, am a Vietnam Veteran, and I, too, have used the Castle Point Out Patient facilities for many years with nothing but Accolades for their staff.

During our Therapy Dog visits I am able to see the "every-day" running of the Castle Point Nursing Facility, and must say that I see very dedicated people who personalize each and every veteran. As they accompany me, I marvel at how they are able to greet each patient by name, and stop to have a small chat about their family, pet, past experience, or whatever topic is special to that particular veteran.

Castle Point is certainly a home away from home for many well-deserving veterans, and the Therapy Dog program certainly helps to enhance this.

Again, thank you

Annette Smith

Nellie in the house

I love Nellie McKay's "The Dog Song." It's on my cell as a ringtone.

Here's a vid of her singing the tune.

Enjoy.

A day at the fair

Dutchess County Fair, that is.

I was assigned to do a story for today's Poughkeepsie Journal about the Talent Tent and other entertainment that goes on at the fair.

What? Animals and crafts and carnival rides and expensive food aren't enough for you?

So I was at the Talent Tent talking to Hudson Valley Idol contestants, and what was next door? Within barking distance? The Canine Tent!

Here's a link to the Dutchess County Fair, so you can see what all is going on today and Sunday.

The only place at the fair dedicated to companion animals. Yes!

I didn't have time to do my usual well-sourced look at the Canine Tent, but I did have the time (between Idol acts) to shoot some vids.

Here they are with minimal comments. It's my weekend and I'm tired.

Here's a vid during the dog Frisbee-catching demonstration. They invited a couple of kids from the audience to toss the flying disk.



Several organizations had booths in the Canine Tent, including this Lab rescue group.



One of my favorites ('cause they took such good care of Kate in the past) is Ledgewood Kennel. They are in this vid, among others.

A wit remembered

On this day in 1893, Algonquin Round Table member Dorothy Parker was born in West Bend, N.J.

She was an animal lover and loved her dogs. Here's a link to a poem she wrote about one of them.

Such glorious faith as fills your limpid eyes, Dear little friend of mine, I never knew. All-innocent are you, and yet all-wise. (For Heaven's sake, stop worrying that shoe!)

We'll forgive her for saying about Katharine Hepburn, after she returned to Broadway in "The Lake" after being in Hollywood, that "She runs the gamut of emotions from A to B."

It's a great line.