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:
Brock — Terrier
"Got a biscuit? Then you can be Brock's buddy. Handsome gray terrier male understands that positive behavior yields positive praise, but he'd rather pass on the praise and go straight for the cookie! To say he is food-motivated is an understatement. This middle-aged boy would learn to speak Latin if it meant a Snausage. Very intelligent, ready to learn, this active boy would do best in a child-free environment."

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.

Animated dog

Here's an animation of a comic strip I've just started reading and enjoying: Pooch Cafe.

The dog's name is Poncho and his owner is Chazz.

Read more about Pooch Cafe on its Web site.

Mich. Chihuahua caught up in wind gust

Tinker Bell had a bad day Saturday.

The Michigan Chihuahua was blown away by 70 mph winds at a flea market.

Here's the story from the Detroit News.

Just in case you didn't think the story was already strange enough, the owner's name is Dorothy (no tornado jokes, please) and a psychic told her where she could find the dog.

Photo caption: Dorothy, left, and Lavern Utley of Rochester Hills, Mich. hold their dog, Tinker Bell Monday in Waterford Township, Mich. (AP Photo/The Detroit News, Mark Hicks)

Cat + bath tub filled with water

Equals cuteness.

Watch the video here.

Mutts on animals in need

The comic strip Mutts, written and drawn by Patrick McDonnell, is breaking my heart this week.

McDonnell is doing a series of shelter stories, so far focusing on pets left behind in foreclosures.

I've been blogging about the mortgage crisis affect on pets for over a year now.

Like I said, it breaks my heart.

Kate & frozen yogurt for dogs

Sunday was another hot spring day in Pok City, so I gave Kate some Yoghund to enjoy.

More pictures from Beacon Barks

Thanks to everyone who was in Beacon on Main Street for the 3rd annual Beacon Barks.

Here are additional pictures I took. Embiggen for more detail and enjoy.

























And here's the best for last. Kate was a real trooper yesterday, in spite of the heat. She took every opportunity to get out of the sun. Hey, it's tough wearing fur when it's hot.

More video from Beacon Barks 2009

A hot day, but lots of fun for all the hundreds of pooches and their owners during Beacon Barks 2009.

Debbi Calabrese, one of the organizers, said the turnout was far greater than either of the two previous years.

She was a little concerned about the high temperatures (locally the high was 90 degrees, besting a 47-year record for the date). After the parade was over, kiddie wading pools and ice packs were brought out to ensure the dogs could adequately cool off.

I know that lots of people were hugging the south side of Main Street where (minimal) shade could be found.

Here are a couple of videos from before the parade kick-off, with people gathering west of Main Street.





Libby Faison, co-owner of the Beacon Barkery and co-sponsor of the parade and festival, made a few comments before the parade kick-off.



Beacon Mayor Steve Gold read a city council proclamation giving certain rights to dogs in Beacon. He said he would marry any two dogs "regardless of breed, pedigree or gender." Beacon is a progressive city. [Sorry about the shaky video. Kate decided to head in another direction as I was shooting it.]



Here's the beginning of the parade.



Here's part of the parade toward the end.



And finally a pan of Main Street.



That's it for today. I've got more pictures and will post them Sunday.

A hot day in Beacon for Beacon Barks

Beacon Barks took place today under sunny skies and with record-setting temperatures.

The event was co-sponsored by the Dutchess County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Beacon Barkery.

Here's DCSPCA Executive Director Joyce Garrity:



I will be posting more pictures and videos later in the day or tomorrow, so keep checking back.

Until then here are a few pictures.

People — and their pooches — gathering on the west end of Main Street before the festivities began.

Dogs of all sizes and shapes walked in the parade.

Here's one clever costume.

With temperatures fast approaching 80, Kate took advantage of shade wherever she could find it.

A wild & crazy dog

Bo is "kind of crazy."

So says first lady Michelle Obama, reported in the Huffington Post:

An energetic breed, Bo plays well into the night, as he did on Wednesday.

"It was like 10 o'clock. Everybody was asleep and we hear all this barking and jumping around," Mrs. Obama said. "The president and I came out and we thought somebody was out there. And it was just Bo. He was playing with his ball. And it was like there was another person in the house."

He's a puppy, fer cryin' out loud.

Try more exercise and play dates with other puppies. As Kate's trainer said, "A tired puppy is a happy owner."

Reminder about Beacon Barks

The forecast for Saturday in Beacon, N.Y., calls for 71 degrees and sunny at 11 a.m.

That is the time the Beacon Barks parade and street festival kicks off.

Bring your dog and join in.

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:
Brandy — Collie mix
"Brandy — you're a fine girl, what a fine pet you'll be. This adorable collie mix came from two abusive homes, one toward her, the other toward another human, so a calm, drama-free home would be the best. Brandy is good with older children, but best as your only pet."

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.

Hair today, it's always hair today

It's spring and you know what that means.

Extreme shedding.

Right now the tumbleweeds are tumbling in my apartment. I can vacuum on minute, turn around and there they are — tufts of dog hair, seemingly from no where.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, nothing beats a certain hair brush.



With the help of my colleague Jenny Lee-Adrian, who took the video, we captured the grooming process.



See, Kate is happy, I'm happy, and at least temporarily, my vacuum gets a rest.

Are you ready for Beacon Barks 2009?

Hey, everyone with dogs out there in the mid-Hudson Valley. It's time again for Beacon Barks.

The parade and street festival is in its third year, sponsored by the Beacon Barkery, the Dutchess County SPCA and Signal Graphics Printing.

It will be held Saturday, rain or shine, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with opening statements just west of Muddy Cup on Main Street at the beginning and the parade kicking off shortly thereafter.

Kate and I are planning to go again.

Here is some video from last year.



Accuweather is predicting a temperature of 64 degrees under partly sunny skies for Saturday at 11 a.m.

So you really have no excuse then, do you?

Cuteness alert

Puppy howling?

Puppy adorable.

The little one howls when its owner whistles.

Too cute.

Watch it here.

And then I wrote ...

How about a dog who likes to accompany himself on the electronic piano?

Watch it here.

Marilyn, is that you?

Here's a (slightly creepy) parrot that sings.

Watch it here.

Dog's got the blues

And he's got it bad.

I'm taking some time off this week, but I've pre-posted some videos — all with a musical theme.

Here's a pup who sings the blues while his owner plays the harmonica.

Watch it here.

It's a boy named Bo at the WH

It's official.

There's a first puppy.

Read the story in the Washington Post here.

There was supposed to be an unveiling Tuesday, but in Washington, D.C., it's hard to keep secrets.

From the WaPo:

The little guy is a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog given to the Obama girls as a gift by that Portuguese water dog-lovin' senator himself, Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. The girls named it Bo -- and let it be noted that you learned that here first. Malia and Sasha chose the name, because their cousins have a cat named Bo and because first lady Michelle Obama's father was nicknamed Diddley, a source said. (Get it? Bo . . . Diddley?)

Much happiness with your new companion animal, Sasha and Malia.

Be sure and look at the photo gallery for a couple pix of the new pooch and stroll down White House animal memory lane.

Boy, even a dog can't make Nixon look friendly to me.

Oh, and while you are on the Washington Post site, check out the winners of the 3rd annual Peeps contest. High-larious.

Is my dog Jewish?

I wondered to myself after Michael's post about kosher dog food whether Ace was, in fact, a Jewish dog.
He refuses to play with the doggie dreidel, yet he loves potato pancakes.
So, I thought I'd do the true test.
Will he eat matzo?
But, to make it more telling, I gave him a choice. Doggie bone or plain, dry, matzo?
The result...

It wasn't even up for debate in his head. He went right to the matzo, scarfed it down and licked up the crumbs.
Then, he waited for me to give him more as I ate my dinner.
Perhaps I'll let him try the matzo primavera recipe from Wednesday's Busy Cook when I make it this weekend. Or not.

Keeping Fido kosher

With many people now observing Passover, it may be too late to get your dog or cat to also keep Kosher — at least this year.

Evanger's Dog and Cat Food Company, located in Wheeling, Ill., makes and sells a line of kosher dog and cat food.

They have 30 products, which, according to their Web site, "have been endorsed by the Chicago Rabbinical Council as acceptable for use by those who observe Jewish Law, and are free from any chometz which makes them acceptable for use during the Passover holidays."

The food is not made with grains, nor does it combine meat and dairy. But it is not kosher for human consumption.

The products include:

Dog food:

• 100% Beef for Dogs
• 100% Beef with Real Meat Chunks
• 100% Buffalo
• 100% Duck
• 100% Organic Chicken
• 100% Organic Turkey with Potato & Carrots
• 100% Pheasant
• Beef, Chicken & Liver for Dogs
• Beef with Liver for Dogs
• Cooked Chicken for Dogs
• Cooked Chicken with Real Meat Chunks
• Duck & Sweet Potatoes
• Hunk of Beef for Dogs
• Lamb & Rice Dinner for Dogs
• Senior Dinner for Dogs

Cat food:

• Chicken, Liver & Tuna for Cats
• Seafood Dinner for Cats
• Whole Mackerel with Gravy

Of course, when you say the food is for dogs, everyone will know what you mean. But when you say the food is for cats, you have to be clear that you don't mean Mr. Katz down the street.

Where's the puppy, Obama?

Now that Pres. Obama is back from his week-long trip to hobnob with the heads of state and our soldiers in Iraq, he needs to concentrate on the really important things.

Like when the heck are the kids getting a dog?

The Houston Chronicle has some other questions for him as well. Read them here.

According to the article Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., hinted during a radio interview the pooch will be a male Portuguese water dog puppy.

Some of the questions posed in the article:

• Where did they find a rescue puppy?

• Curly or wavy coat?

• What will he be named?

• Will it have a security escort?

Inquiring minds want to know.

UPDATE: The CBS News Political Hotsheet quotes the first lady's press secretary as saying the dog has been picked out but will not be arriving this week. Stay tuned.

No really, what's for dinner?

Here's a video I think is amusing.

It's a hamster in a wok.

No, it's not a menu item gone wrong, though I do feel a little sorry for the hamster.

Must be tough having a brain the size of a cashew.

Watch the video.

Here's some feedback on the meatloaf you made for Kate and generously shared with some other dog-owners at the Journal...
My picky dog, Ace, stared at the MuttLoaf at first, but I think it was because it was in a strange dish. As soon as I dropped it in his bowl — atop the breakfast he didn't eat — he devoured it.
He'll get the second half tonight as a treat.
Here he is, staring at the food.
Thanks.

Speed Bump's smooth humor

Well, Dave Coverly made me laugh out loud once again.

Take a look at his comic panel from yesterday.

Perfect.

Sunday in the kitchen

It was a nice spring day Sunday, so as Kate soaked up some rays, I decided to cook her a little something special. Note to Barbara: I'm not trying to muscle into your arena.


I have been thinking about making more meals for Kate, especially after I was told how much the special prescription food Kate is on now costs ($60 for 17.6 pounds — about a month's worth).

So I pulled out the Three Dog Bakery Cookbook by Dan Dye and Mark Beckloff (Andrews McMeel Publishing) and decided to try the "Lazy Day Loaf" (see the picture at the top of this entry).

Other choices were "German Shepherd's Pie," "Chicken Cat-Chiatore" and "Chowdown Cheesy Casserole."


With the oven preheating to 350 degrees, I assembled the ingredients: 1 pound ground turkey, 2 eggs, 1/8-cup skim milk, 1-1/2 cups bread crumbs, 10 ounces frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained) and 4 ounces low-fat Cheddar cheese (cubed).

I mixed together the turkey, eggs, milk and bread crumbs and put half that in a greased loaf pan. Then I spread the spinach on top of that and added the cubed cheese.


I topped that with the other half of the turkey mixture and popped it in the oven for 1-1/2 hours. I let it cool slightly before taking it out of the pan and then slicing it into eight servings. It should be stored in the refrigerator.




It looks pretty good, doesn't it? With a little seasoning in the turkey and the spinach, this could be quite tasty for people.

As a snack I gave Kate a small piece from the end.



She obviously enjoyed it. And yes, the end was a little crunchy. Isn't that the way meat loaf should be?

I'll probably give her a half slice at meal time along with some of her dry food.

Kate's a lucky girl, isn't she?

Here's the story

What's that, Lassie? Timmy's in solitary?

Adding to their repertory of sniffing out bombs and drugs, some canines are being used to keep cell phones out of prisons.

Here's the story from Newsday.

- - - - -

Activity at the Columbus (Ohio) Pet Expo over last weekend seems to indicate the economy for pet-related products and services is on the downturn.

Here's the story from the Columbus Dispatch.

- - - - -

There's no business like show business.

At least that's what a cat must have thought when it curled up for a nap on a television van's satellite dish and got stuck.

Here's the story from WCBS-TV in New York City.

Book 'em

While we wait patiently for the president to return from Europe, so the really important things can happen — like getting a dog for your kids — USA Today has a story about two books written about the First Dog.

They are:

Which Puppy? (Simon & Schuster, $16.99, ages 4-8) will be released April 7; First Dog (Sleeping Bear, $15.95, ages 4-8) arrives April 15.

Which Puppy? is written by Kate Feiffer.

Feiffer, 45, quickly wrote a story and enlisted her father, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Jules Feiffer, 80, to do the illustrations. He spent three weeks "drawing dogs day and night."

I love Jules Feiffer's cartoons, especially those in the New Yorker, when he would draw someone doing an interpretive dance.

The other book is by another set of close relations.

Meanwhile, another father-daughter team, J. Patrick Lewis, 66, and Beth Zappitello, 44, had just handed in a manuscript about an "All-American mutt" in a global quest for a perfect home. The day after the election, their editor asked if they could revise the book. The result is First Dog, illustrated by Tim Bowers.