In repose

Kate & the snow

Here's my Kate on the walk in front of my place. I think over the last couple of days we've had about 8 to 9 inches. (Some was melted by "warm" temps.)

In the City of Poughkeepsie, we had no where near the amount southern Dutchess had. Two feet of snow and massive power outages down there.

I hope everyone stays safe and warm.

Theme song to howl to?

ABC News posed the question "Why do dogs howl at 'Law & Order' Song?"

To me it makes sense; the producer is, after all, Dick Wolf.

Here's ABC's answer by Ki Mae Heussner.

Apparently Knuckles is a YouTube sensation.

Remember this video from Paws in the Park 2008.



Dogs, Cats, Etc.: annoying cubicle mates since 2007.

Treo the hero

A video from the Associated Press about a bomb-sniffing lab awarded a medal.

Missing cat found 250 miles away

A 9-year-old cat, missing for eight months, was reunited with his Maryland family.

Ringo hitched a ride in a U-Haul van with a neighbor who was moving to Pittsburgh, some 250 miles from his Reisterstown home.

Here's the story and video report by Ron Matz from WJZ-13 TV in Baltimore.

Of course, only Ringo knows where he's been for the past eight months. During that time the Brantley family prayed for his safe return and their prayers were answered.

"It was hard because at some points it was like, things are going to be OK, but other times it was just really, really upsetting," said Megan. "It was the fact that he was gone and not knowing what happened was upsetting the most because we've had him since he was a kitten."

Nice ending.

Dogs helping the judicial system

Dogs being used to provide emotional support in courtrooms is an interesting idea.

Here's a story from USA Today by Kathleen Gray.

The idea of using dogs to ease the tension of being in a courtroom is gaining popularity across the country. Courthousedogs.com began in Seattle when [King County senior prosecuting attorney Ellen O'Neill] Stephens took her son's service dog, Jeeter, to work and discovered that the dog had a calming effect on young witnesses. The prosecutor's office started using Labradors Ellie and Jeeter as courthouse dogs in 2003 for pretrial interviews and in courtrooms. Now the practice is spreading across the country to courts in Texas, California, Florida, Missouri and Michigan.

Gray, a reporter for the Detroit Free Press, wrote that the dogs go through a couple years of training, first learning basic commands such as come, sit and stay and then more advanced commands such as opening doors, coping with crowds and picking up dropped items.

In southern Missouri, therapist Diane Silman uses Simon, her 2-year-old black Labrador, on an almost daily basis to help with interviews and court testimony of abused children and domestic violence victims.

"The dog is non-judgmental and is so soothing," said Silman, executive director of the Ozark Foothills Child Advocacy Center in Doniphan, Mo., which conducts pretrial interviews.

From Courthousedogs.com:

Assistance dogs accompanying a witness in the courtroom should have the following characteristics:

• They must be quiet, unobtrusive, and emotionally available for the witness when the need arises
• The dogs should be able to sit or lie down beside the witness for an extended period of time
• The dogs should not engage in any behavior that would distract the witness or other people in the courtroom
• The dogs should be able to assist the witness for as long as necessary

How about it New York?

News you can use

Fran Lee, the woman who fought for pooper-scooper laws, died at age 99.

Here's her obituary from the New York Times.

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The Canadian Medical Association Journal calls for a ban on pets in airline cabins.

Read the story in the New York Times.

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And finally, from the San Jose Mercury News: It's never too late to socialize your dog.

I should send this to some of the people who live on my block.

Whajja bring me?

I know I've shown a similar video, but I just get a kick out of Kate nosing through the groceries when I come back from the store.

I realize I'm taking a risk, because there's chicken (both roasted and raw) in the bag.

Kate's a good girl, though. She may drool a little, but she won't tear into them.

Now, pound cake is another matter.

Raw food recall

Nature's Variety has issued a voluntary recall of its Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet for cats and dogs.

According to TD Ameritrade, the manufacturer said the products, with "best if used by" date of 11/10/10, may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected products are limited to chicken medallions, patties and chubs. No other Nature's Variety products are affected.

If you are a consumer and have purchased one of the affected products, please return the unopened product to your retailer for a full refund or replacement. If your package has been opened, please dispose of the raw food in a safe manner by securing it in a covered trash receptacle. Then, bring your receipt (or the empty package in a sealed bag) to your local retailer for a full refund or replacement.

Nature's Variety received a consumer complaint, which is how it became aware of the problem. Tests of the suspect lot code found it was contaminated with Salmonella. The company said subsequent lot codes have tested negative for Salmonella.

No pets or humans have reported illnesses in connection with the contaminated food.

Reed Howlett, Nature's Variety CEO, stated, "Because pet health and safety are our top priority, Nature's Variety takes every step necessary to ensure the quality and safety of our products. In addition to our industry best manufacturing practices, and in an abundance of caution, all Nature's Variety raw frozen products now will undergo a 'test and hold' period before being released for sale."

What's a chicken chub? By the name alone I wouldn't buy it.

Poll: Dogs smarter than we think

The Marist Poll released their findings about the intelligence of dogs.

Hey, it can't be all about President Obama's job approval.

The poll of U.S. resident found 80 percent think dogs are more intelligent than we think they are.

Only 15 percent think dogs are less intelligent.

More women than men think dogs are smarter, according to the poll.

Marist Poll Director Barbara Carvalho wrote an accompanying piece called "Are You Smarter Than Your Dog?"

She said she credits the dogs she has owned with "a great deal of intellectual savvy."

But, intelligence doesn’t always mean easy to train. In fact, the most intelligent breeds often present the greatest challenges to mere mortals, like myself. It’s not that they don’t understand what’s expected, it’s just that they can figure out a better way to do it. If it matters to your canine relationship which one of you is more intelligent, don’t be fooled by a pretty face. Some personal soul searching into your habits and daily routines combined with a little research into the instincts and inclinations of a breed can go a long way to helping you find a perfect, life-long match.

The survey was of 1,072 U.S. residents, 18 years of age or older. The margin of error is +/- 3 percent.

Top dog is a Scottish terrier

Probably a favorite here in the mid-Hudson Valley (because of the FDR-Hyde Park connection), Sadie — the Scottish terrier — won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last night.

Here's how media covered it.

The Washington Post.

The New York Times (in its Sports section).

The Australian (from Sydney).

Bloomberg News, who said:

Sadie, a champion Scottish terrier, won the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in Manhattan last night after impressing judges with her poise and movement before a cheering crowd.

“A dog of this quality comes along once in a decade,” said Elliott Weiss, the Westminster judge who picked Sadie from seven finalists. “She’s pleasing to the eye from every angle, moving and standing.”

Congratulations to Sadie. Fala would have been proud.

It's all about the dog

A new champion will be crowned tonight at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

The finals will air on the USA Network from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET.

Here are the results from Monday's judging of hound, toy, nonsporting and herding. A Puli won in the herding group. Check this out.

Today the sporting, working and terrier groups will be judged, followed by the best in show.

Here's a USA Today article by Janice Lloyd about the annual show.

She will be tweeting the event, and you can follow her @jlloydusat.

Lloyd wrote that true champions — and not necessarily their breeders or handlers — know how to work a crowd.

That Grace Kelly-type seductiveness is not as easy to teach as sit or stay. In fact, some say it is not teachable.

"A famous handler, George Ward, used to always say about a dog that the more independent and unpredictable it is, the better a show dog it is," says Matthew Stander, co-founder of Dog News, a weekly magazine "I think that that's true. It shows the dog has a mind. You don't want it to look like a robot."

We all remember 2008's Uno, the first beagle to win best in show.

It's all about the cute.

Cuteness alert

How about a Shiba Inu that watches a puppy cam? Click here.

Cats who don't do much

The hilarious comedienne Paula Poundstone has 12 cats. She has made a few videos that feature her felines.

This one is called "My Cats Don't Do Anything."



I should make one about Kate, called "My Kate Doesn't Do Anything."

Oh wait, I just did.



Check out Poundstone's tour schedule on her Web site, and be sure and listen to her when she's on NPR's Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!

Cat and robots and Legos, oh my

It's all about cats today on Video Sunday.

With robots!

Kitty vs. Robot. It's a smackdown. Watch here.

Cat vs. Robot Cat. Very patient kitty. Watch here.

Robot vs. Cat. With Legos! Watch here.

OK, here's one puppy video (you knew I couldn't resist): Puppy vs. Robot. Watch here.

Keep feeding him

Check out this extremely funny video.

Don't worry; it's dog-related.

Pets help owners cope

A survey of 400 Americans conducted by Catalyst Direct, a digital direct marketing firm based in Rochester, N.Y., found that pets help their owners deal with the tough economic climate.

Reported by UPI.com, the study said a majority "stated their pets' emotional support and non-judgmental attitude are key to helping them survive challenging times."

While 73 percent of those questioned said they were more worried about finances, 89 percent said their pets help them deal with stress, 83 percent said their pets provided a steadiness in an uncertain economy and 86 percent valued their pets' appreciation.

From Catalyst Direct:

When asked about spending cuts, pet owners stated that they would be willing to compromise on personal purchases before cutting back on purchases for their dogs and cats: 79% would reduce spending on vacations; 77% on clothing; 49% on certain personal/family food items; 41% Internet/cable and 41% on gas.

The company said its study was unique in that it looked specifically at benefits pets provide their owners in dealing with economy-related personal pressures.

Romping in the nation's capital

Even the first dog loves the snow. Here's a picture of Bo chest-deep in the district's historic snowfall. After today, Washington, D.C, could surpass Syracuse, N.Y., as the snowiest city in the nation.

Cuteness alert: halftime kitties

Dan Hopper of bestweekever.tv made a difficult choice Sunday: whether to watch an aging rock band play during the Super Bowl halftime or kitties!

In my opinion, he made the wrong choice (aging rock band — oh, listen, honey, they're playing the theme to CSI), but he wisely tuned in to one of the 140 airings of Puppy Bowl VI.

Hopper provides a link to the kitties halftime show. I suggest you watch it over and over and over.

As I said to some friends yesterday, the Puppy Bowl was really good this year. I actually watched the whole time after I got home from the newsroom.

Previous years, the pups — with one or two exceptions — weren't that feisty.

Say it ain't so

Sez you!

That is my response to an article in the Daily Telegraph by Matthew Moore that said cat owners are more intelligent than dog owners.

Those of you who can read can see the entire article here.

Researchers at the University of Bristol say that the superior intelligence of cat owners is unlikely to be caused by their exposure to the famously cunning and selfish pets.

Rather, more educated people tend to work longer hours and choose a pet to fit their lifestyles. Unlike dogs, cats require no walking and can manage with little human company.

The study, in which 2,980 Britons were interviewed about pet ownership, was published in the Veterinary Record.

The popular myth of cat intelligence was dented last year with the publication of a study showing that they did worse than dogs at a simple reasoning task. Cats presented with two pieces of string, only one of which was attached to a food reward, could not tell which one to pull for their treat.

I'm sure cat owners with their "superior intelligence" would reply that the cats just chose not to be rewarded.

Puppy Bowl VI

Has it been a year already?

It's time once again for the Puppy Bowl — the sixth one, that is.

Animal Planet's counter-programming to that other Bowl is two hours of adorable puppies, along with the kitten half-time show, hamsters and cheer-leading bunnies.

The special kicks off at 3 p.m. ET today, and will be repeated every two hours, with the final showing beginning at 3 a.m. Monday.

The network's Web site has the starting lineup, complete with pictures, and a whole bunch of other cute things.

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And finally, in the spirit of the Super Bowl — and all things Saints — watch this video of a Saints Beagle fan getting in the mood during the championship game when the New Orleans team won its place in today's face off.

Huffington Post has an interview with referee Andrew Schecher, who will preside over his fourth Puppy Bowl.

The Animal Planet producer said the shoot takes 12 hours and 43 puppies. However, Schecher is a professional through and through and is not taken in by the overwhelming puppiness.

I'm proud to say that I am completely unbiased towards their cuteness. I play a 100% fair game -- it's every puppy for themselves. I do not pick sides regardless of how often the lick my face. It's very difficult, but I'm very professional. And this is a side note -- my favorite thing about "Puppy Bowl" is that we're not directing them or dressing them up. We're just observing natural puppy behavior. And when you see a puppy exploring the world around him, and he's so curious about everything around him, you can't not fall in love with him.

I'll be working the afternoon/evening shift today, and I have a feeling the newsroom TV set won't be tuned to Animal Planet (go figure!), so I'll have to check the Puppy Bowl out on my DVR when I get off work.

Is there a Hallmark card for Pet Dental Health Month?

According to veterinarian Marty Becker, an aspect of caring for dogs and cats that is the one of the most overlooked is dental health.

See the article and video from ABC News here. The segment was promoting February as National Pet Dental Health Month.

Becker said bad dental health can cause serious health problems and can shorten the pet's life.

Fortunately, it's easy to change your pet's dental destiny. Veterinarians now recommend brushing your pet's teeth daily to prevent problems. It's not difficult to teach pets to accept this daily regimen, as long as you start slowly and use positive reinforcement as your pet learns to accept first your handling of his mouth, the introduction of brush and paste and finally a full daily brushing.

Becker also recommends feeding a dental diet along with a paste called OraVet Plaque Prevention Gel that is rubbed on the pet's teeth once a week.

But brushing isn't enough: Your pet also needs your veterinarian's help to keep teeth and gums healthy. That means a complete oral examination on at least an annual basis -- twice a year is even better -- which may include dental X-rays to locate problems just as it does with your own dentist.

Becker said to be wary of some groomers who offer "anesthesia-free" teeth cleaning. He calls them cosmetic procedures that may make your pet's dental problem worse in the long run.

Watch the video. Becker demonstrates how to brush a dog's teeth on a real dog that belongs to guest anchor Jeremy Hubbard.

A cat with a special ability

A moving and interesting story about a cat that seems to be able to sense when patients in a hospice are about to die was excerpted in the Readers Digest Feb. 2010 issue.

Making the Rounds with Oscar, by Dr. David Dosa, talks about the process by which Dosa explored the relationship of the cat and his hospice patients.

Since I'm the last doctor my patients see, it's my job to take care of all their medical needs, to ease their pain, and to make them comfortable. That's a job I take seriously, which is why Oscar eventually won me over.

Dosa, skeptical at first about the anecdotes from staff and patient family members, eventually started weighing the evidence about Oscar's ability, even positing the feline could smell ketones caused by the death of the body's cells.

Maybe that's all Oscar really was: a companion, a sentient being who accompanied one person on his or her journey to the next world. Or accompanied a family member through the grief of losing someone he or she loved, a kind of underworld of its own. Wasn't that enough?

Sounds good to me.

Take the time to read, at least, the RD version of the fascinating story.

Polish pooch rescued from ice floe

Incredibly, a dog survived a 75-mile trip on an ice floe — and that included being rescued 15 miles out at sea.

Here's the Associated Press story on msnbc.com.

The pooch was first seen on an ice floe on the Vistula River, about 60 miles inland in Poland. Local firefighters in Grudziadz were unsuccessful in rescue attempts.

On Monday, the dog was spotted 15 miles from shore on the Baltic Sea. Crew members of the Baltica saved him.

The rescue was difficult because the dog kept falling into the water. Fearing he could drown, the crew lowered a pontoon to the water and the mechanic, Adam Buczynski, managed to grab the dog by the scruff of the neck and pull him to safety.

In port, the 44-pound (20-kilogram) dog was taken to a veterinarian, who found him in surprisingly good condition and estimated he was 5 or 6 years old.

Now named Baltic, the dog is staying on the ship, which is a Polish research vessel.

So far, four people have claimed to be his owner, but the article said he wouldn't go near two of them and the other "owners" did not show up at meetings with the crew and dog.

Be sure and watch the video of the rescue.

Pretty lucky dog, don't you think?

For the love of pets

Are pets recession proof?

That's the premise of an Albany Times Union article by Christen Gowan.

The owners of Paw Lickers Bakery and Boutique, located in Greenfield Center, N.Y., just outside of Saratoga Springs, think so, too.

At Paw Lickers Bakery and Boutique in Greenfield Center, business had been so steady that co-owners David and Marianne Gage were able to expand into new space in the Stewart's Shops plaza on Route 9N.

The mother-and-son duo bake the doggie delectables sold in the Saratoga County store and also market them to other stores. "It's been fantastic," David Gage said of the recent expansion. "Seventy-five to 80 percent of the business is online through the Web site."

Gage goes back to the not-so-old saw that the dog isn't just a dog, but a member of the family.

"People still want to get the best things for their pets," Gage said, regardless of the economy. "We take comfort in our pets. The last thing we want to do is cut them off."

The American Pet Products Association, a Greenwich, Conn., nonprofit, estimates 61 percent of American household have pets and their owners will spend about $45.4 billion on them this year. Most of that will be for food and supplies.