Extreme closeup of a cat yawning

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Aren't the interwebs great?

Again, a plea for dignity

Early last week — yes, last week — I took Kate out in the evening to do her thing and I heard a strange rumbling sound, almost like a muffled radio transmission.

Then at the end of it I heard "Happy Halloween!" followed by demonic laughter.

October's going to be a looooooooong month.

My neighbors, in addition to a skeleton on their front porch, have put some sort of motion-activated device that plays spooky sounds. And it seems to be able to detect motion from across the street.

So far, every evening, Kate and I have been greeted by the sounds of the season — well ahead of the season.

Speaking of Halloween, take a look at this picture.

Do you do this to your pets?


They don't call it a dog's life for nothing. Please, people, give your dog a break and no costumes this year.

But if you must, take pictures and send them in to me. I'll post them for all to see.

(Photo of Mocha by Kathy McLaughlin/Poughkeepsie Journal)

Give a dog a command

Here's a cute Web site, sponsored by a heartworm medication manufacturer, where you can type what you want a little pooch to do.

Don't try asking the pup to do algebra or anything dirty. He's apparently much too smart for that.

Oh, and you might want to turn the volume down a bit.

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:
Winston — Terrier mix
"Winston, a male terrier mix, is one of our special-needs animals who is hearing impaired and has been trained in signing. This guy is full of life and loves to play ball and take walks. As an added bonus, you get the Winston support network, volunteers who will work with you one-on-one to understand his training. He is in need of a special family who is willing to be patient with him and help him become the great companion he is destined to be."

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.

My pet goat — not that version

The free-thinking, heavily caffeinated city of Seattle now allows miniature goats to be kept as pets.

The story from the Seattle Times gives more details.

The minigoats weigh between 50 and 100 pounds. Previously, they were classified as farm animals.

I would expect to see many more nicely manicured lawns in the Emerald City.

Monday morning rant

I was doing some running around the other day — Kate was home sleeping — and pulled into a parking lot off of Route 9.

A woman in a black car pulled into the same lot just before I did. As I walked to one of the stores, I saw her fiddling with her security and eventually heard the beep.

I was in the store about 10-12 minutes and the woman came out of the store just after I did.

As I was walking back to my car, I noticed that there was a huge golden retriever in the back seat of the woman's car. It was panting furiously.

And no wonder — it was about 75 degrees. There was not a cloud in the sky or a tree or shaded area in the parking lot.

The window was opened about 2 or 3 inches.

Had the woman not come out of the store when she did I would have called the police. I know that when I got back in my car it was pretty toasty.

I have a suggestion for that woman:

Put on a fur coat, get in your car and sit in it for 10-15 minutes in the baking sun.

If you can't take your dog into the store with you, don't take your dog shopping.

That is all there is to it.

Another Sunday feel-good story

A formerly homeless Chicago man who panhandles on the streets was reunited Saturday with his pooch.

Officials at the Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago believe the dog may have been taken from the man by a person who felt he couldn't adequately care for it.

I would hope the person's heart was in the right place, but the man was devastated by the loss of his beloved dog. And the community pitched in to help him get it back.

Here's the story from the Chicago Tribune.

There's no place like Wisconsin

Her mobile home was destroyed in June and her cat disappeared.

Well, Wanda Ploegler found her cat Smoky more than 2 miles from the former site of her trailer.

It's nice story for a Sunday.

More adoption success stories

Chico, Diamond, Boomer and Cassie.

These companion animals were up for adoption at the Dutchess County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Hyde Park, N.Y., and were featured in this blog's Ready for Adoption entries.

Well, I was recently informed they've all found new homes. Congratulations to their new owners.

There are plenty more animals at the shelter just waiting for the right person to walk through the doors.

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.

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:
Mommie — Domestic Short Hair
"Lovable black and white domestic short hair won't make you do your chores like most Mommies, but she insists on play time, treats and lots of TLC."

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.

Greenie meanies?

A class-action lawsuit was settled Monday by the makers of Greenies, a dog treat that supposedly cleans teeth and freshens breath.

In an article published by the Kansas City Star, the attorney for 10 dog owners said the case was settled but the terms were confidential.

The lawsuit claimed that the product injured or killed close to a dozen dogs.

The manufacturer, S&M NuTec, which is owned by Mars Inc., has repeatedly said Greenies were safe when the dogs were given the appropriate size and didn't gulp it down. They have since made the product more digestible and changed the packaging information.

Kate has, on occasion, eaten a Greenie.

Here again is a video I shot and posted in June.



As with all things chewable — food, snacks or toys — it is up to the pet's owner to make sure they are used safely. I have heard stories of dogs woofing down rawhide chews without eating them. They can swell in the stomach and cause blockages.

Once a friend gave Kate a flat piece of rawhide, something I thought was much safer than the pressed, rolled chews. A small piece lodged in her throat (she was acting like she had eaten peanut butter) and I had to go down the street to my vet/neighbor to remove it.

Vet/neighbor said she probably would have coughed it up eventually — and then eaten it again! Dogs will be dogs.

Mess o' kittens

Just add kittens and stir.

Here's a video recipe for cuteness for a Monday morning.

Jump to it

I know the blog has been really dog-centric lately. My apologies, but there just have not been any outdoor cat events.

Imagine Paws in the Park with 500 cats on leashes being walked through the woods of Bowdoin Park.

How about a dock diving event where the cat runs down a ramp, jumping into water to retrieve its favorite toy?

Let's face it: Dogs are silly and cats are smart.

But here's a cat whose curiosity almost caught up with him.

Dignity, always dignity

After watching this video, I was reminded of the words in the headline that come from the movie Singin' in the Rain.

Dogs are, for the most part, so patient with us.

Why do we do things like this to them?

Though I have to tell you that the nun outfit made me laugh out loud.

Thanks, Sarah, for finding the video.

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:
Foxy — Coonhound/Foxhound
"Foxy is as foxy does and as a coonhound/foxhound mix, this tri-colored female certainly has a full plate. If long walks in the woods followed by porch time and a nap sound like fun, come look for Foxy."

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.

It ain't easy being green

I don't mean to cut into Alice and Jackie's domain, but I've been reading a a lot of serious books lately, many having to do with environment.

One in particular — The World Without Us, by Alan Weisman — speculates on how the Earth would change if humans were to completely disappear. Houses would eventually crumble, streets would turn into rivers, forest and wildlife would reclaim what was theirs.

But there are some things that will be around for quite a while, like plastic bags.

So in my small way, I've started thinking green. I bought a couple of reusable shopping bags for groceries and, for the gift that keeps on giving, I now use biodegradable bags to pick up after Kate.

I was using food-grade gallon-size bags to collect and dispose of dog waste — an average of three a day.

Made from corn, the biodegradable bags are pricey, so I ordered a bunch from a national pet store chain who had them on sale. And there are Web sites that also sell the dog-waste bags, as well as other biodegradable home products.

Maybe if more people start using them the price will come down.

Now I'll have to work on the apartment complex setting aside some space for composting.

This past weekend was for the dogs

The two dog-related events — Paws in the Park and the 2007 Kiki Classic — are behind us for another year.

My colleague Sarah sent me this picture from the dock diving competition at Ledgewood Kennel in the Town of North East.

Sarah, who went to both events, said the Kiki Classic was a real blast.

If anyone has any pictures from either event, please feel free to send them in using the e-mail link on the left side of this page.

I look forward to seeing what you thought were the best moments of a dog-centric weekend.

Paws in the Park — cont'd.

Here are some more pictures — and thoughts — from the Paws in the Park Petwalk, held this afternoon at Bowdoin Park in the Town of Poughkeepsie.

The benefit walk was for the Dutchess County SPCA in Hyde Park, N.Y.


They set up a casino — please, no wagering! — for dogs and their humans to have some fun.


Below is Bucky, a 9-month-old German Spitz, owned by Jill and Ira Weiss of Staatsburg. He is trying his snout at a shell game — and successfully, I might add. If you picked the right cup, you got to eat the treat.


As people and their dogs participated in the fundraising walk part of the event, through the beautiful woods of Bowdoin Park, they passed a memorial section paying tribute to faithful and loved companions.


There were several vendors, some of which were selling dog treats and other goodies. Beacon Barkery set up a booth, along with the Le Bone Appetit, below.


There were a few competitions — you know how dogs are, as well as their owners. Some pooches were dressed up in costumes, some owners competed in the look-alike contest. There was even Kanine Karaoke. Below is a shot from the Doggie Limbo contest, made tricky by the obligatory and well-timed leash toss. "Tally me banana."


But, man, it was toasty out there. Weather reports put the temp in the mid-80s, but the heat index in the mid-90s. Fortunately for the humans, there were Italian ices to be purchased and enjoyed. For the furry ones, there were plenty of water bowls everywhere in the park. During the walk, there were several stations with yogurt and fruit for the bipeds and plenty of water for the dogs.

Always thinking, the DCSPCA people put three kiddie wading pools out and made sure the park's sprinklers in the playground were turned on.

The pools got a lot of action.


Kate commandeered one of the pools — not once, but twice. It was all I could do to get her out of it. After all, I had work to do, people to see, dogs to admire.


She also drank a lot of it, too.

DCSPCA officials estimated the turn out to be around 500 dogs and up to 1,000 family members. They were shooting to raise $40,000, and I was told by Anna Waz, the development director, that she thought they were going to be close.

But it was all about the dogs and the fun we have with them. It was good to be in the park with others who love their animals.


But I have to tell you that Kate was pretty happy to get to the newsroom. The cool, cool floor was welcome relief compared with the steamy September weather we experience here in New York.


Cuz, you can never have too many pictures of Kate.

Make sure you see the article I did on the Paws in the Park Petwalk in the Sunday Poughkeepsie Journal. You will also be able to see Kathy McLaughlin's beautiful photo gallery, full of pooches and the people who love them.

Paws in the Park

Kate and I made it through the 13th annual Paws in the Park Petwalk this afternoon at Bowdoin Park in the Town of Poughkeepsie.


It was a hot day, but everyone seemed to enjoy it. (Thanks to my colleague Sarah for snapping the picture of Kate and me.)

According to event organizers, over 400 dogs were registered for the walk and about 500 pooches were roaming through the park. They were accompanied by about 1,000 humans.

The benefit was for the Dutchess County SPCA in Hyde Park, N.Y.



I'll have more on the event throughout the evening, so keep checking back.

Weekend reminders

Links:

2007 Kiki Classic, dock diving competition

Paws in the Park Dutchess County SPCA benefit

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:
Ajax — Tabby
"Squeaky clean is an understatement when describing this amazingly good-looking long-haired brown tabby male. His desire to keep his living environment neat is only topped by his desire to get adopted."

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.

Almost nobody wants Trouble

Seems as if the person Leona Helmsley wanted to take care of her 8-year-old Maltese doesn't want the pooch. So says the New York Post.

Ahem.

I have room.

And I'm sure Kate would like a little sister.

Dogs get all wet during competition

If the smell of wet dog gets to you, stay away from Ledgewood Kennels this weekend.

The 2007 Kiki Classic will be held Friday through Sunday at the kennels' outdoor jumping pool in the Town of North East.

During the competition, a dog's handler will toss an object into the water and the dog will (usually) get a running start and leap in after it. The dogs are judged on distance jumped.

There are competitions throughout each day. You can find the schedule here.

The picture above — taken last year by Journal photographer Darryl Bautista — is of Holley, a 4-year-old chocolate lab, with Rande Murphy of Elma, N.Y.

Ledgewood Kennels is located at 639 Smithfield Road in the Town of North East. If you can get to Route 22 north of Amenia, you are almost there.

The competition is a lot of fun. The dogs really seem to enjoy it, and so do the owners. Unfortunately, I could never get Kate to participate in any activity where she had to get wet.

Just don't get too close to the dogs soon after they climb out of the pool.

Happy Labor Day

Have a safe holiday. Drive carefully, because I will be on the road laboring for the paper.

I'm sure her teeth aren't caps!

I know that on her new series, Damages, Glenn Close cannot be accused of chewing the scenery.

But on a recent Late Night With Conan O'Brien, the Emmy-award-winning and five-time-Oscar-nominated actress chows down on dog biscuit.

Here's the clip.

I've tasted the biscuits I've made for Kate, but I don't think I would dare — or my dentist would allow me to — try a boxed biscuit.

BTW, if you haven't caught Close's FX network show, there will be a marathon of all the episodes aired so far tomorrow, Labor Day, from 3 p.m to 8 p.m. EDT. An all-new episode will air Tuesday at 10 p.m., which is its regular time-slot.

Be aware, dog lovers, there are some disturbing scenes in the show.

Ready for adoption — the late edition

My apologies. It was a real week in the newsroom. I got the featured pet information from Keri at the Dutchess County SPCA on Tuesday as usual, but was too busy to post it by Thursday. And then I had car problems that had to be dealt with on Friday.

So — better late than never — here is the DCSPCA Pet of the Week. Ready for adoption. What are you waiting for?

This week's featured pet:
Diamond — Coonhound
"Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but this shining dog likes men, too! This purebred Bluetick Coonhound female will do anything from hiking to napping, with an emphasis on napping."

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.