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:
Roxie — Shepherd mix
"Roxie is full of moxie, enough so that you'd think she was twice the size she really is! If high energy (but well behaved) is a plus for you, then this petite female shepherd mix is just your style. High-spirited missy does not like canine companions, so she would have to be your one and only."

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.

Take a dog, then add a cat and a rat

A Santa Barbara, Calif., man has trained his diverse pets to just get along.

Watch the video.

It's like Kermit said ...

Is your pet green?

Eco-friendly, that is.

I've been using biodegradable baggies to clean up after Kate. And I do not give her rawhide or pigs ears because they contain chemicals.

According to an article from the Canadian Press, more retailers are emphasizing environmentally friendly products.

Fueled by increasing popularity of environmentally friendly products of all kinds, the sustainable pet product industry is expected to grow to nearly $1 billion in sales by 2009, according to Packaged Facts, a consumer research company in Rockville, Md. Many pet stores are adding special eco-friendly sections to their aisles, and online sales are booming.

So what are you doing for your pet that helps the environment?

Don't worry, Kate's safe

A new study says that owning a cat is probably good for your health.

In an article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, medical researchers compared 4,435 adults in the U.S. They found that people who didn't own a cat had a 40 percent higher risk of dying from heart disease.

"Our best guess would be that having a pet provides some amelioration against stress and anxiety, and we're seeing a benefit related to that," said Dr. Adnan Qureshi, a University of Minnesota neurologist and executive director of the Minnesota Stroke Initiative.

There was no protective relationship for dog owners, the study found. However, Qureshi said that could be because of the limitation of the data.

I say keep studying.

Hard at work

She was invited

Since I had to work the late shift — and it's snowing like crazy, I mean crazy — my editor suggested that I bring Kate in so I wouldn't have to go home to take care of her at dinner time.

Kate, needless to say, is pulling her weight, making sure all the other newsroom people have a warm dog to pet.

Thanks to Barbara Gallo Ferrell for the photo.

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:
Crybaby — Tiger
"She got her name because she would cry and cry when she first came to us as a stray. With some TLC from the staff, she's a happy young girl looking for a forever home (preferably an adult, quiet 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.

Tangle of legs in the a.m.

What's cookin'?

Shame on me for not thinking of Kate when I redid my kitchen. Seriously, she doesn't seem to mind the setup shown above.

There's a bowl for fresh water, and there's a bowl for food. There is always water, and twice a day munchies appear in the other dish.

But in California, people are incorporating their pets' needs when they remodel their kitchens.

Here is a blog entry from the Los Angeles Times.

This cat gets around

Miko the cat ended up 240 miles away from her Albuquerque home.

People are speculating that she hid in a truck because she was cold and traveled up Interstate 25.

Here's the story from FOXNews.com.

Hey, hitchhiking is dangerous.

Look before you leap, beagle-wise

Take a look at this picture from the 2008 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. (Click it to embiggen for closer inspection.)

With the winner of best in show being a beagle, here come the cautionary — and for good reason — stories about why you should think before rushing out and getting one.

The Boston Globe has an article, as does the Arizona Republic.

From the Globe:

They're nose-to-the-ground howlers. They dig in yards and chew through furniture. And when it comes to cachet at the dog park, well, let's just say you don't usually see them in the trendier precincts. Bred to track rabbits, they're not always the easiest pets.

I've mentioned my neighborhood encounter with the cute as a button, but surprisingly loud, pooch.

When we were living in Manhattan, we used to visit the dog run by the Natural History Museum. There was a woman who came to the run with her beagle. She obviously loved the dog, but freely admitted it wasn't the dog for her or her family.

Forewarned ...

Photo credit: Westminster Kennel Club

Blaze — the party animal

More from Blaze:

Hi, Kate,
I have recovered from what was a hectic Valentine's Day! My pals and I got together for a "Pup Luck" Valentine's party! We all brought our favorite snack.
Yeah, my Mom and her friends' kids are all grown ... now we're the kids!! I must say it does have its advantages!!!! Of course, I had an outfit change for the party ... don't want to wear the same thing twice!!
Hope you had a great day!!!
— Blaze

Hey, Blaze, Kate is going to be so sorry she missed out on the party.

Thanks for writing.

Welcome to the U.S., Charlie

The Washington Post has a touching story about a dog that befriended some of our troops in Iraq. They wanted to bring him home with them.

The story not only has a happy ending for Charlie, the border collie mix, but for other pets in war zones that provide companionship to service members.

V-Day wish to Kate

This is Blaze who sent Kate a Valentine's Day wish.

Hi Kate,

I hope your Valentine's Day is filled with Puppy Love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
Blaze & Deb (my human....I love her!!!!!)

Thanks Blaze and Deb.

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:
Harvey — Akita/Chow
"He's never met a cat he's liked. Preferring a feline-free home, this black male Akita/Chow mix would do OK with another dog, but would best be suited in a solitary home. He would be a great companion dog for a hiker, as he loves long walks and is great on his leash."

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.

More dog show pictures

The Washington Post has a slideshow from the 132nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

There are a couple of repeats (the Chihuahua is cute, but not that cute) but well worth it.

More pix from Westminster

The New York Times has a photo slideshow from the 132nd annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show that is certainly worth a look.

Poor Ike!

I was going to say 'Numero Uno' but ...

Here's more on the history-making beagle who won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last night.

Uno is the first beagle to take the top award.

The stats:

Name: Ch K-Run's Park Me In First
Breed: Beagle, 15 In.
Sex: Dog
AKC: HP 16966001
Date of Birth: May 05, 2005
Breeder: Kathy Weichert & Leah Bertagnolli
Sire: Ch Windkist A Walk In The Park
Dam: Ch Legacy's Lil Secret At K-Run
Owner: Caroline Dowell & Eddie Dziuk & Jon Woodring & Kathy Weichert

The link will also take you more pictures from the show.

And the winner is ...

2,500 dogs and it came down to seven.

It's Uno, the 15-inch beagle, making history tonight at Madison Square Garden.

Westminster group winners

They are the beagle, the sealyham terrier, the poodle, the Australian shepherd, the wiemaraner, the toy poodle and the akita.

The beagle, Australian shepherd, weimaraner and the akita have never won best in show.

Does Macy tell Gimbels?

The working dogs group had some really great looking dogs, but the winner is Macy, the Akita.

Wow, they were something. The Tibetan mastiff was stunning and so were the bull mastiff and the great dane. How the judge made a decision, I'll never know.

Second was the doberman pinshcer, the great dane was third and the bull mastiff was fourth.

Next in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show for 2008 is the best in show.

Kate watching working group at Westminster

Toy poodle's a winner

Ch Smash JP Win A Victory, a 3 year old female toy poodle, was named the best in group for toys in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

The Brussels Griffon was second, the Havanese was third and the pug was fourth.

The poodle was just a bunch of balls of fluff, but pretty.

Next is the working dogs.

The show is being telecast on the USA Network.

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.