Kate dances!

Well, the good folks at JibJab have this nifty Interweb type thingie that lets you put yourself or loved ones into Christmas videos based on the movie "Elf."

Kate, being ever photogenic, is the star of the one I made. And there is a cameo by yours truly.

And, of course, you can buy stuff, including a downloadable version of the video to have and keep and bore all your friends with.

The JibJab people are extremely clever, don't you think?

Ready for adoption — Thanksgiving edition

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

This week's featured pet:
Maddy — Tabby
"You'd think Mandy's got it made the way she's just lounging about in her cat bed. Life is pretty good for the cats residing in the free-range room, but it is clearly no substitute for a home and a family. This striking brown tabby female would gladly trade the bed for a lap. A home with other feline friends would be fun as well. Mandy loves a big family!"

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.

Voluntary pet food recall extended

Mars Petcare US has extended its voluntary recall of dry cat and dog food manufactured at its Allentown, Penn., facility with "Best By" dates between August 11, 2009 & October 3, 2009, because of potential contamination with Salmonella.

See the complete press release here.

The recall affects product sold at BJ's Wholesale Club, ShopRite Supermarkets and Wal-Mart locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia.

The press release lists all the brands affected by the recall. This is an extension of the voluntary recall of Special Kitty brand dry cat food.

So far, there have been no reported cases of human or pet illness causes by these products.

Cat health research needed

There are 82 million cats in homes across America — you know who you are.

In spite of the fact that cats are the No. 1 pet in the U.S., felines receive less medical care than dogs. Also there is less medical research on cats than on dogs.

Because of that, the Morris Animal Foundation has started the Happy Healthy Cat Campaign to help eliminate suffering and premature death in cats.

Check out the Web site to find health warning signs and common health problems for cats.

There is plenty of information on the site for cat owners, as well as veterinarians and scientists.

The foundation will also increase funding for feline health research and the training of new scientists.

So where have you been?

A dachshund, missing for five years, has been reunited with its owners.

Here's the story from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Pictures of presidential pets

With all the interest in what kind of dog the Obamas will eventually get for the White House, the Washington Post has assembled a slideshow of presidential pets.

See it here.

There's even a horse or two.

And thanks to the Presidential Pet Museum, here's a list of, well, presidential pets.

Sweet embraceable kitties

For all you cat lovers out there, here's a cuddly little video.

Tips on adopting a pet

A friend sent me an e-mail from the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, reminding people of 10 questions they should consider before adopting a pet.

Here they are:

1. Do you know that this particular breed/type of pet is right for you?
2. Are you ready to make a long-term commitment to your new pet?
3. Will you be responsible enough to provide your new pet with the appropriate food, attention and medical needs?
4. Do you travel or are you away from home often? If so, who will care for your new pet?
5. Can you spend quality time with your pet?
6. Is your home situation “pet-friendly”?
7. Are you economically stable and will be able to care for your pet?
8. Do you have other pets at home? If so, will they get along?
9. Who will the pet live with? Will your guests/family commit to the new pet as well? Do they suffer from allergies?
10. Do you have the time, energy and patience for a pet?

They are good questions, and something to think long and hard about. Getting a pet, especially at the holiday season, may not be the best of thing to do. Read No. 2 again.

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:
Emily — Lab mix
"Emily may be part lab, may be part Ridgeback and who knows what else. What we do know is that mixed breeds are usually the healthiest and most long-lived dogs and that shelter dogs make the best pets (Hello, White House!). Emily is a young female, very active and would do best in an active 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.

Puppy watch

Economy got ya down? Got those post-election, what do I do now blues? Waiting for the ax to fall at work?

How about watching shiba inu puppies?

Click here for the webcam.

From where I sit ...

Take a look at this kitty sitting pretty.

Now if the owner could just get the cat to empty the dust bin!

Future first dog on hold, wisely

The president elect and his family will wait until after they move into the White House to get a dog.

Here's an Associated Press article.

First-lady-to-be Michelle Obama told CBS's "60 Minutes" that it wouldn't be a good idea to bring a dog into the mix during the transition.

That's a good call, I think. Nothing could be worse for the dog, or for the family for that matter, to have the extra worry about getting used to two drastically different situations in such a short period of time.

And they are still talking about getting a shelter dog. Good for them. I am certain that they will be able to get a pooch that will not aggravate Malia's allergies.

I'm not going to suggest medical intervention for the child; that would not be my place.

But I suffer from seasonal allergies and I take a medication that deals with it, preventing it from turning into something more serious, like asthma.

I'm sure the Obamas, as responsible parents, already know this. After all, they will soon have the best medical care in the entire world.

Free rabies clinic for Dutchess County residents Sunday

HOPEWELL JUNCTION — A free rabies clinic will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, hosted by the Dutchess County Department of Health in cooperation with the Dutchess County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The clinic will be at the East Fishkill Fire Training Center, 2502 Route 52.

Dutchess residents can obtain rabies shots free of charge for their dogs and cats, as well as domestic ferrets, at least 3 months of age. Non-residents will be charged $10 for each pet they have vaccinated.

All dogs must be on leashes. Cats and domestic ferrets must be in a carrier.

The vaccination will be good for three years for pets with prior immunization. For pets without proof of previous vaccination, it will be good for one year.

New York state requires rabies shots for all cats, dogs and domestic ferrets by the age of 4 months. Owners can be fined up to $200 if they fail to get pets vaccinated and keep them up-to-date.

Duck!

We haven't had an "awwwwwwwww"-filled blog entry in a while, so here goes.

First, a snoring duck video.

Next, a pecking duck and a very patient dog video.

Finally, if you think puppies are cute and ducklings are cute, then how about a baby duck that follows a puppy around? Watch this video.

Boy, I'm exhausted from all the cuteness.

Sally's got a new home

HYDE PARK — Sally, the terrier mix found abandoned in a clothing donation bin, has been adopted and left the DCSPCA shelter for her new home today.

The dog was adopted by Paula Clausi-VanSteenburgh and her daughter Monica VanSteenburgh of Highland.

Sally was rescued from a bin in a Hyde Park shopping center Sept. 15 by humane law officers from the Dutchess County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. A man who had been emptying the clothing bin alerted them to the situation.

The dog had been in the container without food or water for about a week.

“I’m so glad some good comes out of Sally’s circumstances,” Clausi-VanSteenburg said.

She worked with the dog on some basic obedience before taking her to her new home which has a pit bill mix named Pluto.

Monica VanSteenburgh said bringing Sally home will be a wonderful experience.

"Pluto will be so happy to have another dog to play with," she said.

DCSPCA Executive Director Joyce Garrity said Sally now weighs 36 pounds. When found, the dog weighed 16 pounds.

Garrity was pleased Sally is now in a good home.

“If you were going to write the ending, this couldn’t be better,” she said.

"Today is really a very special day for a really special dog that started in a tragic, horrific way," Garrity said.

She said she thinks Sally will have a wonderful future with her new family.

"And she'll have her own 12-year-old girl to play with," Garrity said.

More on the future first canine

President-Elect Barack Obama's press conference Friday showed just how important the question is about his family getting a dog.

See a clip of Obama speaking on the issue here.

The Washington Post chimes in with a photo gallery of pooches that might fit the hypo-allergenic bill for daughter Malia.

As as far as the future leader of the free world being a "mutt," so can your dog, Mr. President-Elect.

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:
Chloe — Terrier mix
"A mom's life can be very discouraging sometimes. You've seen your brood grow up and get adopted and you're left holding the empty nest. Chloe came into the shelter as part of a Humane Law seizure, very pregnant, delivered a litter of eight beautiful pups, and we made sure they got into great homes. Now it is time for this sweet gentle terrier female to find a warm, comfortable, quiet place to live."

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.

New addition to the future first family?

Now that the pesky election is behind us, it is time to focus on what really matters.

What kind of dog will the Obamas have in the White House?

As I wrote yesterday, the president-elect said in his victory speech Tuesday he would make good on his promise to his two daughters to get them a dog.

Everyone is now weighing in on the matter.

I think he should get a pit bull and name it Sarah, but that ain't gonna happen.

The Mercury News said the Obamas will get a shelter dog, but USA Today said they will consider getting a rescue. You can see the articles via the links provided.

The Chicago Sun-Times said the American Kennel Club is coming up with various pure bred suggestions, focusing on hairless breeds like the Chinese Crested, which would be good for daughter Malia Obama, who has asthma.

And some newspapers are soliciting suggestions for the first family-elect, like the San Francisco Chronicle. One reader said the dog should be named Maverick. Ha.

Personally, I think the right thing — which would send the right message — is for the Obama's to take their time and explore getting a pooch from a rescue group that deals with hypo-allergenic breeds — pure and mixed.

I can't imagine them being able to go to shelter after shelter looking for the right dog; the demands on all of them are just beginning and will only get worse through Jan. 20. Working with a rescue group would enable the right match to be made and would avoid puppy mills.

Good luck to the Obamas. That will be one really lucky puppy.

Pet rumors dog Obama

With Barack Obama's victory only a few hours old, already there are rumors about who will be appointed to serve in his administration.

The only clear indication of a White House post is Obama's promise to his daughters, Sasha and Malia, to get them a dog.

Here is a Reuter's article on that issue.

“Sasha and Malia, I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us,” Obama said at the start of his victory speech.

I'm hoping that the president-elect and his family will consider a rescue and not go the puppy mill route.

You are under the spotlight now, Mr. President-Elect.

VOTE!

Title sez it all.

Cure for election jitters? Cute babies!

OK people, I know you all have some real decisions to make by tomorrow. I hope the stress of shaping the future of our country hasn't gotten to you yet.

Well, how about taking a break, catching your breath and watching a couple of videos?

You can choose to watch a video with a big old pile of kitties by clicking here.

Or you can choose to watch a video with a bunch of golden retriever puppies by clicking here.

And if the thought of making yet another choice makes you crazy, just watch both of them.

You'll be glad you did.