D.C. gone to the dogs?

It's about time Congress did something worthwhile.

Lost in all the hubbub about the stimulus package a few days ago was a reception honoring true heroes: the Cannon Canine Honors reception.

According to the Humane Society of the United States:

The members of Congress who attended Tuesday's Cannon Canine Honors reception in the House Office Building Caucus Room are just as inspired by their dogs. Nearly 100 images were entered in The Humane Society of the United States's first Congressional Dog Photo Contest, and many brought their canine companions to the special occasion.

Two representatives — Walter Jones, R-N.C., and Paul Hodes, D-N.H. — were honored for uniting dogs with families of the fallen soldiers who loved them. The U.S. Capitol Police K-9 team was recognized, as well.

The L.A. Times blog L.A. Unleashed called it one of the few Washington, D.C., events that sounded like fun.

Honorees included Hoover, a bulldog owned by the chief of staff to Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.), who was named "Barker of the House"; Lucy, a mixed-breed owned by the press aide to Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who won "Senate Pawjority Leader"; and Camembert, a Labrador retriever owned by an aide to Rep. Whitfield, who won the distinguished title "Elder Statesdog."

And here are some more pictures from the L.A. Times blog Top of the Ticket.

How come I never get invited to something like this?

Up, up and away for flying with pets

Travel much with your pets? I mean, really travel, where you have to take a plane or a train?

Not surprisingly, it's getting more expensive to fly with your pet.

This article from the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel said the prices are climbing skyward.

The round-trip costs of traveling with a pet now are almost as much as some low-fare tickets. In an economic recession, the expense is tough for most pet owners to justify, said George Hobica, founder of the airfare deal Web site airfarewatchdog.com.

It's one thing to take a small dog with you in the cabin of a plane, but I can't imagine crating a dog and having it fly in the belly of the plane. What fear the animal must be experiencing.

I feel for the woman who shows goldens and has to fly with them, but for the average person, with costs so much higher, the real alternative is boarding or pet-sitting.

Vouchers for pet owners to offset vet costs

The people who make Advantage, the topical flea treatment for dogs and cats, are offering coupons to encourage pet owners to take good medical care of their charges in program called Help Your Pet, Get to the Vet.

In these challenging economic times, many pet owners are facing difficult choices about how to pay for and prioritize their pets’ care and wellness. And unfortunately, veterinary visits and preventive veterinary care are often cut due to financial struggles and concerns.

To that end, through Feb. 28, dog and cat owners can try for a chance to receive a $20 voucher good toward preventive veterinary care, such as vaccinations, wellness exams, flea and tick treatment and prevention, heartworm medication and dental care.

Vouchers available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m ET every hour on the hour, up to 1,000 distributed each day.

To try for yours, start here.

If you have to ask ...

On Sunday, the PBS show Nature will premiere an episode titled "Why We Love Cats and Dogs."

It will be shown at 8 p.m. ET on WNET, and shown throughout the week.

Here's is the Nature Web site about the show.

The program will show the connections we have with our pets and will, based on a couple of video excerpts, cause you to reach for the tissues every once in a while.

Some people are cat people, some are dog people. But regardless of which camp they fall into, most people are simply crazy about their pets. The connections people form with their cats and dogs are often the longest, strongest relationships in their lives. They are our soul mates, our best friends, sometimes even our surrogate children. What makes these creatures such key members of our families?

To finish this blog entry's title ... you don't know what you've missed.

Careful with the eject button!

When Kate was a pup and was still high energy after taking her to the dog run three times a day, I often wished that the little bone ridge at the back of her skull was an on/off button.

Push it once for her to go to sleep. Push it again — wakey, wakey.

Life in fifth-floor apartment in New York City would have been much easier.

Well, if you've ever wanted to be able to control your cat, here is something you might want to try.

The Control A Cat remote control is available for $6.99:

Simply point at your cat, press buttons on the remote and hope for the best. With buttons for "Stop Scratching," "Show Affection," "Remain Aloof" and others, you'll be in control in no time. It's finally your turn to make your cat do what you want.

No batteries are required, so good luck to ya!

Friends in high places

A couple of companion animals found themselves up, up and away recently.

In Houston, an unlucky feline was 80 feet above the ground, stuck in an expansion joint of one of the city's freeways.

Here's the story from the Houston Chronicle.

The chief investigator for the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had to use a cherry-picker to eventually nab the cat. It isn't known if it's a stray or some one's pet.

Be sure and take a look at the photo gallery of the cat before and after being rescued.

And in wintry Minot, N.D., a border collie mix climbed a snow bank onto a roof.

The Associated Press story in the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader is here.

Animal control officer Dick Schnell said the pooch was in a fenced-in yard with a kennel and apparently wanted a better view.

"He would sit on top and look like, 'It's pretty cool up here,'" Schnell said.

Tossed treats got the dog to a lower portion of the roof, but it wouldn't come down until its owner got home.

And we complain about the snow here.

Westminster photos

Here's a photo gallery by the Washington Post on the Westminster dog show that concluded last night.

Be warned, when I first opened the link there was an extremely loud commercial by Cisco that precedes the slideshow. You might want to turn your sound down.

It's not smoke and mirrors

How do you get someone to quit smoking?

Tell them that it's bad for his or her pet.

That is the conclusion of a study published by Tobacco Control.

An article on the Los Angeles Times Web site said research done by the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit found more than one-quarter of smokers said knowing that smoking was bad for their pets would motivate them to give it up.

"Secondhand smoke is as dangerous for pets as it is for the non-smoking people who live with smokers. Non-smokers who live with smokers have to worry about the risk of lung cancer and respiratory diseases. But even dogs and cats exposed to secondhand smoke have an increased risk of lung cancer, allergies, eye and skin diseases and respiratory problems."

And they can't just get up and leave when you light up.

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:
Guppie — Tabby
"There's no fish story about how this cat came to be named Guppie. Like all cats, this female caramel and white colored traditional tabby loves tuna and mackerel and salmon ... Guppie is an 'inside only' cat but last her family when they lost their 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.

Ready for adoption — extremely late edition

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

This week's featured pet:
Comet — Terrier mix
"Why wish upon a falling star when you can have your very own Comet? And this one comes complete with her very own active tail. This female terrier is truly a stellar sight, but you'd better look fast as this black and white beauty streaks past and doesn't stay too long in any one place. The fact she's sitting long enough to have her picture taken is in itself a heavenly feat. Truthfully, Comet is very well-behaved, incredibly intelligent and very friendly."

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.