Another take on treadmills

To counter the previous posting, watch this video.

Walk it off

Nothing that I could write would be funnier than this video.

It's a cat on a treadmill.

Winter trials and tribulations

Last winter we had maybe two days when it snowed. Thinking back, I'm not remembering it being that big a deal.

Not for me, mind you. I have boots.

I only care when it affects Kate.

When you are dependent on the outside for your bathroom facilities, any impediment must be taken seriously.

This month's snow — and then ice — left some impressive piles of the white stuff here in the City of Poughkeepsie. Granted, a walk down the street this morning revealed even more grass showing than even 24 hours ago — here at the end of December.

Several hard rains and temps well above freezing have decimated the snow, leaving Kate plenty of choice when it comes to doing her bidness. But when the snow first arrived, and the snow shovelers finally did their jobs, there was precious little space for a dog who usually requires grass to complete the task.

And then the freezing rain came, leaving a glassy surface over the mounds of snow. That was an obstacle that could not be overcome. The picture above, taken this morning, showed that Kate could indeed still stand on the snow, but only for a second. Soon after the picture was snapped, two of her paws fell through.

Now we are back to lots of prime real estate for Kate to choose from. For now, no searching for the first available spot. I am certain that eventually the clouds will gather, the weather forecasters will fret and the snows will come. And Kate will be frustrated (I'm projecting again).

And to the person who couldn't be bothered to pick up after your dog when it went on the sidewalk, I hope your New Year is filled with ruined shoes.

Scream therapy?

Maybe this pug is excited about the possibility of a dog park coming to the Town of Wappinger.

Or maybe it is just a very strange pooch.

Thanks, Kathy, for the tip.

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:
Fuzzmom — Tiger
"A promise to love forever shouldn't end because someone moves away. Especially for a 10-year-old cat who has known no other family. Cats are creatures of habit and experience distress and depression when abandoned by their owners. Fortunately, they do adapt, and we expect that this older white-and-gray tiger female will rebound nicely if someone is willing to take her into their home."

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.

Merry Christmas, pet lovers

Here's my absolute favorite Christmas song.

It's Darlene Love singing "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" on The Late Show with David Letterman.

Have a wonderful holiday.

Merry Christmas Eve

I haven't been posting much lately. Been trying to take some time off. I know, how selfish.

Anyway, it's Christmas Eve, and I wanted to share something with you.

It's a version of "White Christmas" sung by Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, with an excellent animation.

No, there's nothing pet-related in this post ... except for the fact that the animation makes me smile, and Kate makes me smile.

Enjoy.

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:
Kelly — Chow mix
"Chow — Wow! Handsome older male Chow proves the theory that you get better with age. A mellow personality and a realization that good things come to those who wait, Kelly is just biding his time — a new home is just around the next corner."

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.

Welcome, or not?

Is your dog automatically welcome at your friends' and acquaintances' homes? Do you wait for an invite, or do you just bring Fido along?

A New York Times article takes a look at the sometimes thorny problem of what to do with the pooch when you have to go to a party or visit for extended periods of time.

I only bring Kate when the invitation has been offered. I don't fish around for it either.

When I was living in Shekomeko, I would be invited to dinners where I was told to bring Kate with me. Most if not all of the people were dog owners or dog lovers.

However, I stopped letting her come along after one dinner party where one of the guests insisted on feeding Kate from her plate. I asked her not to — after all, I was the one who would have to deal with the stomach problems, or worse. She refused, so I never brought Kate to another large party again.

Don't worry: Kate's social calendar is just fine.

Requiescat In Pace

Pacino 1997-2007

Pacino, the Italian Greyhound who was my friend Bill Szarka's companion for almost 11 years, died today.

He was ill for the last few weeks and took a turn for the worst during the last couple of days.

The kind of love and the care Bill provided for Pacino truly shows the depth of his humanity.

Pacino was Bill's first dog and will certainly be missed.

In addition to Bill, Pacino is survived by DeNiro and Brando, also Italian Greyhounds.

Ready for adoption

Here is the Dutchess County SPCA Pet of the Week — a day early. Ready for adoption. What are you waiting for?

This week's featured pet:
Simon — Orange Tabby
"There's something very special about Simon. It's not just his great personality or even his greater looks, but it's something that is almost tangible yet not quite visible. Simon was rescued by our humane law team, so maybe it's his gratitude showing through. Simon is also FIV positive, so maybe he's happy he's getting a chance at a longer life."

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.

Another dog park possible in Dutchess County

Good news for the Town of Wappinger.

Councilman Vincent Bettina has proposed establishing a dog park in Castle Point Park. The town board recently passed a resolution that would enable the town planner to study the feasibility of a park there.

“There is a nice fenced in area that wouldn’t require much modification,” Bettina said. “It would be good to have a place where people can go and enjoy being with their pets.”

This would be the second park in Dutchess County, the first being in the Town of Fishkill.

LaGrange town officials are open to the idea of a dog park operating on town land adjoining the highway garage on Stringham Road, but they want to see if there is enough community support first.

The town is willing to fund most of the construction through the recreation fees, but want to $16,000 from residents toward the estimated cost of the fence.

The dog park in Fishkill is paid for completely by the town, though Supervisor Joan Pagones said a fee for non-residents is being considered.

I say, keep 'em coming. Hey, City of Poughkeepsie, are you listening?

It's Santa time

Holiday spirit

I know what I've said in the past (here and here), but I honestly thought Kate would never sit for this kind of stunt.

What's scary is how much the antlers match her coloring.

Christmas poll

Come on, fess up.

How much do you really spend on your pets this time of year? All the new squeaky toys. All the fuzzy catnip-filled mice. The treats.

Cast your vote in the poll on the left side of this page. And leave a comment telling everyone what kind of things you do buy.

The range is on a scale of $0 (Scrooges!) to Sky's the Limit a la Leona's Trouble.

Is your cat prepared?

Keeping your cat healthy and prepared for an emergency just became a little easier.

The American Red Cross just released a 100-page manual of instructions on everything from checking your cat's temperature to making a safety plan in case of a disaster. The manual not only gives step-by-step instructions on almost 70 health topics, but also includes a DVD that has demonstrations on performing many of the first-aid steps described in the book.

The $16.95 book is available through the Red Cross Store.

Don't worry dog lovers. There is a "Dog First Aid" book, too.

The American Red Cross of Dutchess County can be reached by going here.

Ready for adoption

Here is the Dutchess County SPCA Pet of the Week — a day early. Ready for adoption. What are you waiting for?

This week's featured pet:
Icey — American Eskimo
"This adorable American Eskimo female may be named Icey, but she'll be sure to keep your lap warm this winter. She's 4 years old, loves TLC and cuddles and would be best suited for a quiet home without other animals and small children."

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.

Happy, but safe, holidays for pets

This time of year, with all the festivities and decorations, it is important to keep in mind how pets figure into all of this.

Safety is utmost, especially with tinsel, ornaments and lights — not to mention food and treats that are fine for humans but bad for pets.

Martha Stewart's Marc Marrone has some suggestions, as does the Humane Society of the United States.

A couple of hints from the Humane Society:

* Decorations such as tinsel, glass ornaments and garlands can easily attract pets, but are dangerous choking hazards. Electric decorations such as stringed lights can give your pets a shock should they chew on the wires. Keep decorations out of their reach.

* The unusual commotion of the holiday season can be stressful on animals as well as humans. Put your pets in a quiet room or quiet area of the house when guests are visiting.

* Certain plants such as Mistletoe berries, and the leaves, stem and flowers of the Poinsettia can be dangerous to pets. Be sure to keep these plants well out of the reach of animals in your home, or consider using artificial versions.

Photo by Karl Rabe/Poughkeepsie Journal file

Goodbye, Earl

My favorite comic strip, which I read on washingtonpost.com, is Mutts by Patrick McDonnell. It is at times poignant, clever, thought-provoking and amusing.

It stars Earl and Mooch, a dog and cat, respectively, whose owners are doting and loving, as well as loved by Earl and Mooch.

Well, sad news tonight that the real-life Earl has died. He was Patrick's companion for more than 18 years. He is survived by Patrick and his wife, Karen, their cat MeeMow, and the entire Mutts family.

At times like these, I give Kate an extra kiss and hug.

This tops it all

Looking for that special gift for your cat?

Try Kitty Wigs.

I can't even get Kate to wear a Christmas ribbon around her neck.

Peanut butter is sticky

Wild Oats is a lucky feline and a real survivor. The Tennessee feral cat got its head stuck in a peanut butter jar and ended up wearing it for 19 days.

Here's the story from the Associated Press.

A veterinarian said the cat probably lived off its excess fat.

Holiday pix for pets

Today at the Petco in Poughkeepsie you can get your pet's picture taken with Santa. All proceeds go to benefit the Dutchess County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Pictures will be taken from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The store is located at 1933 South Road. Here's directions.