Ninja Cat reprise

To end the week, we pay homage to Ninja Cat — the Web sensation featuring cat that sneaks up on ya.

First, the silent version. Click here. (Hit your back key to, well, come back.)

Second, Ninja Cat set to the theme to Jaws. Click here. (You know about the back key, right?)

Third, Ninja Cat set to original dramatic music. Click here. (I hope he doesn't mention the back key again.)

Fourth, and finally, Dramatic Ninja Cat. Click here. (Sorry, chipmunk.)

Move over Susan Boyle

Here's the next real singing phenom.

I think you'll agree the singing is poignant, plaintive and down right expressive.

Oh, and it's a basenji singing along to the theme from The Godfather.

Listen to it here and annoy your cubicle mates.

Kitten on the keyboard

First there's the cat that plays the keyboard. Click here.

Which led to a whole bunch of videos, like this one, where someone does something enormously stupid and the cat plays them off.

And then there's this kind of cat keyboard.

The littlest Bacon brother?

Here's the cutest tiniest pig, named Kingsford.

Watch this video of him "tormenting" a cat, squealing and walking along the beach.

I think everyone should have a piglet.

And keeping with the piglet theme, here is one more vid of a litter of piglets reacting to sounds.

Complete with a shout out to Amy Winehouse.

Dog park dedication in LaGrange Saturday

The newly opened See Spot Run Off Leash Area in the Town of LaGrange will be formally dedicated at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The new facility is located in Overlook Park on Overlook Road off Route 55, just over the Poughkeepsie town line.

Read a story in today's Poughkeepsie Journal by my colleague John Davis.

This is the second dog park in Dutchess County. Fishkill's Friendly Paws Dog Park is on Route 52 in the town.

They are looking for donations to buy more benches and shade canopies. There is information on that in the Davis's article.

Have fun in the new park!

Summer is coming

With the summer season on our doorstep, it's time to remind people of some basic tips about your pets and warm weather.

Here's information from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

A few of my favorites:

• Never leave your pet alone in a vehicle — hyperthermia can be fatal. Even with the windows open, a parked automobile can quickly become a furnace in no time. Parking in the shade offers little protection, as the sun shifts during the day.

• Always carry a gallon thermos filled with cold, fresh water when traveling with your pet.

• The right time for playtime is in the cool of the early morning or evening, but never after a meal or when the weather is humid.

• Provide fresh water and plenty of shade for animals kept outdoors; a properly constructed doghouse serves best. Bring your dog or cat inside during the heat of the day to rest in a cool part of the house.

For information from the Humane Society of the United States, click here.

A couple of things they say:

It is very dangerous, and in some states illegal, to drive with a dog in the back of a pick-up truck. Not only can flying debris cause serious injury, but a dog may be unintentionally thrown into traffic if the driver suddenly hits the brakes, swerves, or is hit by another car. Dogs should ride either in the cab (in a crate or wearing a seat belt harness designed for dogs) or in a secured crate in the bed of the truck.

Summer is often a time when people fertilize their lawns and work in their gardens. But beware: Plant food, fertilizer, and insecticides can be fatal if your pet ingests them. In addition, more than 700 plants can produce physiologically active or toxic substances in sufficient amounts to cause harmful effects in animals.

With people and dogs spending more time outside, dog bites are likely to increase in the summer months. Spaying or neutering your dog reduces the likelihood that he will bite and provides many other health benefits.

All that said enjoy the summer.

I will be taking next week off, but I have pre-posted a few videos for your amusement.

Sneak attack cat

Boy, could this be fun for airport security.

Here's a video of a cat that likes to hide in a suitcase.

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:
Shanna — Mastiff
"Got a big yard? 'Cause we've got a BIG dog! Shanna is a 4-year-old Mastiff female who loves to play. Her initial imposing looks soon fade to a jolly demeanor when she realizes it's time for a walk. Good with some commands ("sit" is a popular one with her), she would do best in a home with grown children and parents who are experienced with the breed."

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.

Isn't he adorable?

And Bo is, too!

Here are a couple of White House photos of President Barack Obama taking a break to play with Bo May 12.

Can your cat yodel?

How about Advanced Cat Yodeling?

Watch the video here.

More pix from Fishkill's Dog Show Off Sunday

Members of FIDO (Fishkill Independent Dog Owners) were holding a raffle and a bake sale to benefit the Friendly Paws Dog Park.

Beacon's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) had a booth.

The Beacon Barkery was on hand as well.



Here's someone who wanted to join in the festivities, but had to stay in the dog park.

A nice crowd on a Sunday in Friendly Paws Dog Park in Fishkill.

Clean as a (dog) whistle

A French entrepreneur has come up with what could be called a laundromutt.

He invented the Dog-O-Matic, a sort of dishwasher/car wash/dryer for pooches.

Here's the story from the Daily Mail.

For anywhere from about $20 all the way up to $47 — depending on the size of the dog being washed — the machine will wet down, soap up and dry off your Fluffy.

It takes about half an hour. The inventor, Romaine Jerry, said it doesn't harm the dog.

"It doesn't take long to wash the dog — usually a few minutes. The longest part is the drying. The dogs don't seem to get bored. They just sit there and they come out clean."

I'm not sure the dog really appreciates being cooped up in a box and having all this soap and water thrown at it.

Sort of reminds of the joke where the dog is telling his friends about the time he was stuck in the car while it went through a car wash.

"And then the thunder came from all directions. And suddenly stopped."

Fishkill Dog Show Off going on

Some of the goodies for sale at today's Fishkill Dog Show Off.

You are going to the Fishkill Dog Show Off without me?

Dogs to show off at 'Show Off' in Fishkill

FISHKILL — Head to Doug Phillips Park on Route 52 Sunday with your pooch for the Town of Fishkill's annual Dog Show Off.

Taking place from 1 to 4 p.m., there will be demonstrations, vendors and a low-cost rabies licensing clinic.

Donations of blankets, newspapers, towels and bleach will be given to the Dutchess County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Hyde Park.

There will also be a raffle and bake sale to raise money to improve the park.

While you are there, you can pick up information and applications for the new fee to use Friendly Paws Dog Park. The fee takes effect June 1.

Here's my story about the new fee than ran today in the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Dog park in LaGrange opens

An off-leash dog park has opened in the Town of LaGrange.

The free facility is located in Overlook Park on Route 55. Turn onto Overlook Road and then take a left into Overlook Park. The leash-free area is behind the footballs fields.

See the article here.

This is the second dog park in Dutchess County. The Town of Fishkill has one on Route 52 in Doug Philips Park. Beginning in June, there will be a fee to use the park.

See tomorrow's Poughkeepsie Journal, or check back here for more information on the Fishkill park.

Cats? Indoors or outdoors?

For a dose of Friday cuteness, here's a kitten who has fallen asleep on a bookshelf.

It looks almost like a stuffed toy, doesn't it?

The question came up recently asking if I had a cat would I allow it outside.

Well, living in the City of Poughkeepsie, I am always startled when I see a cat out and about. To me — and I know loads of people will disagree — I want to be sure the pet is safe, healthy and secure, no matter if it's a dog or a cat.

So I probably would follow the example of my friend Gretchen who brings her cat outside only in controlled circumstances, i.e., carrier or on a leash.

That said, here are the top reasons to keep your cat indoors from about.com.

I think, besides not getting hit by cars or menacing wildlife, the foremost reason is the first one, monitoring the cat's elimination for possible problems.

People in urban settings, where dog leash laws are enforced, not to mention pooper-scooper laws, probably have the healthiest dogs simply because they cannot avoid seeing if their pooch has a problem eliminating or has a change in bowel habits.

That is why, again to me, just opening your door and letting your dog go outdoors to do its business, is not really safeguarding your companion animal. (Forget for a moment, letting a dog randomly choose whose lawn to christen.)

I know someone who lost a dog to a severe intestinal illness and was unaware there were any problems until they were irreversible because there was no monitoring.

To me, it's just not worth the perceived convenience.

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:
Squirrel — Rottweiler/Shepherd
"She may be a little nuts, but you won't find this squirrel in any tree! This female rottie/shepherd mix is a bit on the active side as well as a tad bit skittish. A calm adult-only home would be the best for her, somewhere she can nest up and relax. Once a stable routine is formed for her, Squirrel will blossom into a wonderful family 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.

Careful, Joe, it's difficult finding another job

President Barack Obama may have to tighten the leash on Vice President Joe Biden after the latter's remarks over the weekend.

Biden was talking to some Syracuse, N.Y., elementary students and was asked if he had ever petted a dog. The veep, never willing just to simply answer the question, waxed on and on about his dog, eventually saying that it was smarter than Bo, the president's new pooch.

See the story from the Christian Science Monitor here.

“The new dog I have is only five months old and his name is Champ,” Biden told the schoolkids.

“My dog is smarter than Bo, his dog,” he jabbed.

“I think so,” he taunted. Yeah, I do.”

Oh. My. God.

I'm guessing the lunch the prez and veep have won't be a cordial "let's go out and grab a couple of burgers" affair.

What's that you say?

Here are two cats who get rather talkative while watching birds out the window.

Watch the video.

Anyone care to interpret?

And it reminded me of this previous post.

I still think they are talking about me.

The president brought the funny

The best line — at least to me — from the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner Saturday was delivered by President Barack Obama.

"All this change hasn't been easy. Change never is. So I've cut the tension by bringing a new friend to the White House. He's warm, he's cuddly, loyal, enthusiastic. You just have to keep him on a tight leash. Every once in a while, he goes charging off in the wrong direction and gets himself into trouble. But enough about Joe Biden."

Ha!

The prez loves his dog

But I thought he got it for his daughters?

Here's a clip from Face the Nation, with Bob Schieffer talking about President Obama and Bo.

Another kind of therapy dog

Zoey, a golden retriever, is a therapy dog.

She does what dogs do best: provide a vehicle for a good hug when needed.

Only Zoey is a grief therapy dog. See the story about her in USA Today.

She offers empathy and comfort to friends and relatives who have gathered at Michigan Memorial Funeral Home in Flat Rock, Mich., to say goodbye to a loved one.

"It's almost as if Zoey knows that her calm presence just seems to make people who are sad a little less sad," says the dog's owner, Kelly Dwyer, whose husband owns the funeral home where Zoey has become a regular.

She and Dwyer have been doing the work since November and has been invited to nearly two dozen visitations.

Good dog.

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:
Bobby — Ragdoll/Flame-point Siamese
"Shy, almost to the point of being painful, can be extremely difficult when you live in a 'glass house' like the shelter. Handsome male flame-point Siamese is longing for quiet, comfortable surroundings and a big-hearted person to give him the TLC and special diet that he requires. With patience and time, Bobby will come out of his shell and show his appreciation."

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.

Sometimes all you need is a stick

I think the entry title says it all.

Watch the video here.

Video Tuesday

How's this for cute?

A bunny adopted by a cat.

Watch the video here.

Feel free to groove to the music.

Who said there's no free dog's lunch?

A California-based premium pet food company is giving away 10,000 bags of its dog food.

The catch?

The dog's owner has to be unemployed.

From the Dogswell Web site:

Is your career in the pooper scooper? Have you recently been canned and are desperately in need of some kibble? Are you simply tired of this doggone economy? Dogswell is here to help! From April 15 – May 15, Dogswell will offer one free bag of dry dog food to the first 10,000 eligible people.

It's called the Bow Wow Bailout, and you can click on the link above to get the redemption form and instructions on where to send it.

This economy is something isn't, creating marketing possibilities everywhere?

ASPCA says little risk of swine flu to pets

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said there is little risk of cats and dogs contracting swine flu.

Their entire press release can be seen here.

To date, only humans have been affected by the new A/H1N1 virus, and it is unknown whether the virus will impact other animals. Although the virus is being termed "swine flu," researchers have not confirmed that this new strain evolved in pigs and are working to determine more about its origins.

"At this time there is no data demonstrating any risk of dogs and cats contracting this strain of the virus," says Dr. Louise Murray, the Director of Medicine at the ASPCA's Bergh Memorial Hospital in New York City. "However, owners of pet pigs, as well as farmers, should monitor their animal's health more closely during this outbreak. Steps to limit possible transmission from humans to pigs and vice versa are recommended."

People who own Vietnamese Potbellies, African Pygmies and other pet pigs should know there are Influenza type A vaccines available for healthy swine.

And the ASPCA recommends keeping pet pigs and swine farms isolated from any public exposure that might put them at risk for illness.

Dog duty designate in D.C.

What do parents everywhere say when a child asks to get a pet?

"You will have to take care of it," is usually the reply.

For the reality, take a look at this article on msnbc.com about Michelle Obama's new puppy, Bo.

She said:

"Even though the kids are supposed to do a lot of the work, I'm still up at 5:15 a.m. taking my dog out. So for everyone who has a child asking for a puppy – you have to want the dog," Mrs. Obama said to knowing laughter from a luncheon audience of congressional spouses.

Good to know things aren't all that different depending on where you live.

It's some sort of mysterious force

Here's a kitten who hasn't figured out what a fan really does.

Watch this video.

"There it is ... no, now it's over here ... wait, it's gone ..."