How complex are animals?

New research shows that animals, including dogs, are a little more complex than previously thought.

According to an article by Marc Bekoff on the psychologytoday.com Web site, birds can plan future meals, fish remember and turtles grieve.

We all know that dogs produce a wonderful array of vocalizations. And now we know that dogs mean it when they [sic] "This bone is mine." Researchers from the Department of Ethology at Eotvos University in Budapest, Hungary, showed that when a dog has a bone and growls other dogs avoid him — the growl means "hands off my bone." They also discovered that a growl in play, for example, had a different acoustic structure and did not deter a dog from approaching the growler. The results show that aggressive vocalizations in dogs are context-specific and have a specific meaning when used to keep a bone from others.

Bekoff said we are learning more about the intelligence of other animals, including whether they can be emotional and have morals.

We need to keep an open mind on just how fascinating they are and how similar they are to us in many different ways. And, while there are many and significant differences, it's essential that we mind the similarities when we subject them to unnecessary pain, suffering, and death. We can all definitely do better in our interactions with other beings.

Kate update

For all those who have asked how Kate is doing she has many more good days than bad. She gets a sour stomach from the kidney failure on average every other week. Other than that she iseating well and her water consumption isn't too out of hand.

Seems to be more seasonal shedding this year. Kate is keeping the vacuum busy.

D-I-V-O-R-C-E whisperer

Do you confide in your dog or your cat?

Pets can be a bridge for children to cope with their parents' divorce, said marriage and family therapist Mitchell Rosen, writing in the Riverside (Calif.) Press-Enterprise.

Read his article here.

More and more I'm seeing young children who tell me their confidant is their dog, cat, or horse. They go for long walks and tell their pet all about mom and dad's fighting or the fears they have about what might eventually happen. This is not crazy behavior but might very well be sanity preserving. A child, an adolescent, an adult; we all need someone we can confide to. The alternative is to pretend, escape or deny. None of these are very healthy.

Rosen said he has also seen adults ensure through their divorce papers visitation with their pets.

But too often we neglect to ask the kids and actually get mad at them if they don't want to visit because it means leaving their pet.

Still finding new ways our pets are increasingly part of our lives.

Newsy Sunday

From Aurora, Ill., comes a story by Stephanie Lulay of the Beacon-News.

An Easter egg hunt for pooches was held Saturday.

The Sugar Grove Park District hosted its first Doggie Easter Egg Hunt in Volunteer Park, attracting about 50 dogs and their families to partake in the festivities.

Dogs sniffed out treat-filled eggs and posed for pictures with Mr. E. Bunny himself.

Never fear, the treat- and toy-filled plastic eggs were collected by the humans and not scarfed up on the spot by Spot.

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From NewsWest9.com serving Midland-Odessa in Texas comes an Associated Press story about a dog who helped find a missing man.

Jack DeBuck, 70, of Albuquerque, and his dog, who was not named in the story, were hiking and were missing for more than a day.

Eventually, they wandered into a cafe in Bernalillo, N.M., but DeBuck was disoriented and unable to give anyone information about himself.

The dog's microchip, however was able to tell police who DeBuck was and where he lived.

Maybe we should all get microchips implanted. Kidding. Just kidding.

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Thinking of moving to Montana and are wondering which city is friendliest to dogs?

Who isn't?

Erin Madison, writing in the Great Fall Tribune, in Great Falls, Mont., has a story that tells the tail, er, tale.

Missoula boasts three companies that will take dogs out walking during the day while their owners are out. Bozeman has numerous areas in its park system where dogs can play off leash. Like Great Falls, Whitefish opened a dog park this past summer, and Billings hopes to open three dog parks in the future.

Turns out, in Bozeman dogs are allowed in Lowe's and Home Depot.

Montana sure isn't sounding bad now.

Easter safety tips

With Easter around the corner (I personally am looking forward to the next WaPo Peeps competition), here are some tips for keeping your pets safe during the holiday.

From the Almanac on the University of Pennsylvania Web site:

• Don't give your pets chocolate.
• Put alcoholic drinks out of reach of pets.
• Pets should not eat sugar substitutes.
• Keep flowers out of harm's way.

These sound like pretty good ideas for all year round.

Diamonds are a dog's best treat?

Three days? What kind of diet is this dog on?

ABC News has a video about golden retriever who swallowed a huge diamond.

Watch it here.

I'll bet that dog was never so consistently picked up after than during that time.

Beacon going to the dogs in April

Now that spring is officially here, it's time to start thinking about Beacon Barks.

This year the 4th-annual dog-inclusive festival that takes over Main Street in Beacon is scheduled for Saturday, April 24.

Click on the link above for more information.

Beacon Barks is a collaboration between the Dutchess County SPCA and The Beacon Barkery.

These pictures and video are from last year's event.




Photos and video by Michael Woyton/Poughkeepsie Journal.

Who is stupider?

Fans of stupidity — and who among us isn't? — it's time to vote.

The Late Show with David Letterman has a Stupid Pet Trick vs. Stupid Human Trick competition going on now.

Go here for videos and to vote.

Each day you can cast your vote for your favorite pet trick or human trick. Today, for example, the competitors are a woman who spits out her gum and sucks it back in and a medical student who feeds his wife spaghetti using his nose.

Yesterday's pet tricks were a dog who says "I love you" and a dog with a monkey on his back who goes down a slide.

My choice from yesterday was not the winner.

The ultimate challenge — pet vs. human — will take place April 1-5.

Coming up is one of the most memorable stupid pet tricks: the duck who eats cottage cheese out of a woman's mouth.

Vote early, vote often.

You paid what for what?

My colleague Irwin Goldberg alerted me to an article in HV Biz magazine (unfortunately, I couldn't find a link to it) about Pet Acoustics' My Pet Speaker.

The $249.50 unit plays music composed with pets in mind and, according to the manufacturer's Web site, was "designed to support the hearing sensitivities of dogs, cats and horses."

OK.

A review by Helin Jung of PeoplePets.com found the speaker aesthetically pleasing (that's good), but said, "My Pet Speaker definitely didn't disturb her (the reviewer's dog Ethel)."

That's good, too.

Researchers quoted in the HV Biz article said some tones on commercial radio or TV station can be disturbing to animals' hearing.

Remember Law & Order (Chung-chung)?

The My Pet Speaker works with any music device, including mp3 players, iPhones and iPods. For $1.99 you can download from iTunes the Pet Acoustics Application which has relaxation music for animals.

For me, I think I will continue to leave the radio tuned to Symphony Hall on SiriusXM. Or sometimes classic country, though some of Randy Travis's low notes are too extreme for Kate.

Dog = emotional support?

Do you miss your dog more than your mate when you are away?

Do you "share a look" or have meaningful conversations with your pooch?

An article from Reuters in the Montreal Gazette said you might not be alone.

Read the entire article here.

A third of Americans admit to pining for their pooches more than their partners when out of town. But maybe that's because nine out of ten of them feel their pet is more pleased to see them after a hard day at work and is even more likely to notice when they've had a bad day.

A survey commissioned by Pup-Peroni (the San Francisco treat?) asked over 1,000 U.S. dog owners how they feel about the the animal in their lives.

Many Americans turn to their four-legged friends for solace before friends and family. Nearly two thirds believe their dogs are more dependable than their closest comrades and over 70 percent would rather go for a walk with pooch when feeling uptight than hang out with their best buddy.

Over two thirds say they feel more guilty about leaving their dog behind when traveling than leaving friends or loved ones. A majority say their pooch makes them feel happy, loved and relaxed.

Kate used to be excited when I came home from work. Now I'm lucky if she looks up at me.

Still, I wouldn't trade her for anything.

Newsy bits

From WIBW-TV in Topeka, Kansas, comes this veterinarian's warning about plants that might be toxic to your cat.

Of particular concern, with Easter coming, are lilies. Seems they are a no-no for cats.

Read the story here.
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Next, I'll just repeat the headline from the Chicago Tribune: Blog has the scoop on South Loop dog poop.

Read the story here.
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New book on a holistic diet for your dog.

Read the press release from PR Newswire here.
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Are rats the perfect companion pet?

Some people think so.

Read about it here in an article by the Associated Press's Sue Manning via ABC News.

Aging dogs equals aging answers

An interesting article by Dan McFeely of the Indianapolis Star appeared in USA Today about studying older dogs to gain insight into aging and cancer.

Read it here.

Researcher David Waters of Purdue University is taking a 23-day tour around the country examining 15 of the oldest-living Rottweilers, all of which are at least 13 years old. Rotties typically don't live longer than 10, according to the article.

Waters is calling the venture his "Old Grey Muzzle tour."

"If you want to understand aging, you have to look to those who have been extremely successful," Waters said. "These dogs are the equivalent to 100-year-old people and we want to find out what is the root of their success."

During each stop, which can last up to four hours, Waters performs a physical examination on the dog. He listens closely to the hearts and lungs. He performs a neurological exam, collects DNA samples, checks bone density and measures body weight and height. Additionally, Waters conducts interviews with owners, exploring the home environment and the things owners have done to keep their dogs healthy.

Waters said decisions owners make can profoundly affect longevity, such as diet, vaccinations and ovary removals.

Waters, 52, focuses on the Rottweilers, he said, because of the similar patterns of aging and cancer behavior for those that are afflicted. Waters says there is a growing need to find out what impacts healthy aging.

Kate would be happy to meet with Waters.

Video Sunday

Strange or funny animal videos is the subject of today's blog.

We'll start with Burrito, the golf-playing Chihuahua.

Watch it here.

You try making a hole in one with Al Roker breathing down your neck.

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How about a horse and a cat playing together?

Watch them here.

Cat has good claws.

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And, finally, did you know rats laugh when they are tickled?

Watch this video.

Where is former Rep. Eric Massa when you need him?

Is insurance the best way to counter dog attacks?

The British government is weighing whether to mandate dog owners taking out insurance against pet attacks.

See this article from Postonline.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn told the BBC: "There is a lot of public concern about dog attacks, including the recent tragic deaths of young children, and about the rise in the number of so-called status dogs used to intimidate or threaten people.

"This is a serious issue of public safety. The government wants to hear what people think about the law as it stands and what more we might do to protect people from dangerous dogs."

The government would have to amend the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act to include compulsory third-party insurance to make certain dog attack victims are compensated.

What do you think of this idea?

Nature's Variety expands pet food recall

Nature's Variety has expanded its recall of pet food because of concerns over salmonella.

The chicken-flavored raw, frozen food being recalled by the Lincoln, Neb.-based company includes 3-pound packages of chicken medallions, 6-pound packages of chicken patties and 2-pound packages of chicken chubs.

See Nature's Variety press release here. It includes the UPC numbers for affected products.

The company said it is now recalling, out of caution, all Chicken Formula and Organic Chicken Formula products with a "Best If Used By: date on or before Feb. 5, 2011.

Tests indicate packages with best-by dates of Oct. 29 and Nov. 9, 2010, in addition to the previously recalled packages with a best-by date of Nov. 10, 2010, may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Nature's Variety said it now uses high pressure pasteurization on its raw frozen diets to kill bacteria, which is why the company said the products with best-by dates after Feb. 5, 2011 are safe.

If you have purchased one of the affected products, please return the unopened product to your local retail store to receive a complete refund, or to exchange it for another variety. 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 complete refund or replacement.

The company has a customer care line that operates 24/7. Call 1-800-374-3142.

Little Bo grows up

There's no such thing as too much Bo.

The Washington Post jumped the one-year anniversary of Bo, the Portuguese water dog, arriving at the White House (by over a month!) with a series of 30 pictures that chronicle the pooch's growth.

See the slideshow here.

My favorite is Bo attending a meeting in the Oval Office. I just like knowing he's there when the hard decisions are made.

Did you know that Bo's favorite food it tomatoes (or toys)?

Did you know that Bo was a gift from Sen. Ted Kennedy and his wife Vicki?

If you didn't, you can read about it on Bo's official baseball card/portrait.

Download the PDF version here.

Official White House photo by Chuck Kennedy.

Hero pooch in Hopewell

I've been off for a couple of days, but I wanted to make sure you heard about Carmine, the 5-1/2-year-old puggle — a cross between a pug and a beagle.

He saved his family Feb. 28 by waking them up as their Hopewell Junction home filled with smoke.

Read my story in Friday's Poughkeepsie Journal.

The Josie Andaloro, her husband and her two children were all sleeping in the small living room which had a fireplace. The power had been out since Feb. 24 because of the massive snow storm, and somehow the fireplace got clogged and smoke was billowing out into the room.

My colleague photographer Lee Ferris and I went Josie Andaloro's house Thursday to talk about what Carmine did.

Here's a short clip of Andaloro talking about the ordeal while Ferris shoots a video.



Friendly little pooch and a very lucky family indeed.

Photo and video by Michael Woyton.

Dumbest idea I've heard in a while

An Englishman, who was fined and barred from driving for 6 months because he walked his dog while driving his car, tried to explain to the court that "a lot of people exercise their dogs in that manner."

Uh ... no!

An article on MSNBC.com, said Paul Railton last December was seen holding his dog's leash out the window of the car he was driving.

His lawyer, Paul Donoghue, said 23-year-old Railton acknowledged "it was a silly thing to do and there was an element of laziness." Donoghue was quoted by British newspapers as saying that his client "does not usually drive in such a manner."

Railton was ordered by magistrates in Consett, northeast England, to pay a 66 pound (about $100) fine, plus costs.

He also received three penalty points on his driver's license and as a result of existing points is barred from driving for six months.

MSNBC.com said some British newspapers report Railton was due to be tried for a 2007 attempted murder case, but the case was dismissed because of police misconduct.

Sounds like a repeat offender.

Sing out, Louise!

A great big thank you to Rachel Maddow for making my job so much easier.

A few days ago, she had a story about dogs who howl along to the "Law & Order" theme song.

Maddow asked her viewers to send in videos of their dogs howling to whatever it is they howl to.

And, gosh, did the viewers respond.

Here is Maddow's collection of canine clips.

I think the first one of Joey singing to the Empire Carpet commercial is my favorite, especially when his owner, at the very end, said, "Empire," and Joey howled again.

Also at the top of my list is Malkovich the Mastiff and Joey, who looks stunning in his outfit.

Now remember to play these at top volume on your computer.

Pets vs. the environment

What impact does your pet have on the environment?

The first thing that comes to mind is the amount of waste, for lack of a better word, pets produce every day. Think litter box. Think pooper scooper.

I've been using biodegradable bags to collect Kate's droppings for a couple of years now, even though I know all the trash collect in the city where I live goes to a dump.

It's a small thing, but at least I'm not using plastic baggies that will never degrade.

Nina Shen Rastogi, writing the Green Lantern column for the Washington Post, asks whether pets' food consumption has an environmental impact.

Read the entire article here.

You're right that the carnivorous diets of cats and dogs are likely to be worse for the environment than the diets of, say, birds and guinea pigs. But the meat we feed to our pets isn't quite the same as the stuff we eat ourselves. Most commercial dog and cat food is made from the parts we humans don't eat, such as organs, scraps, and rendered bones and tissues. Looked at one way, then, pet food is a kind of recycling operation: It takes waste products and finds a use for them.

Rastogi even brings up a debate as to whether dogs or cars are worse for the environment.

Does that mean you should ditch your Alsatian for the sake of the planet? No. The Lantern understands that pets are important members of many families and that suggesting that readers get rid of them -- no matter how big of a paw print they may have -- is a bit like suggesting you kill yourself to spare the Earth (a recommendation that appears with some frequency in the Lantern's inbox).

Pretty interesting stuff to think about. Read the article and follow the links Rastogi supplies. You'll see some thought-provoking things.