A Pets Ten Commandments #7

7. Before you hit me...before you strike me... remember that I could hurt you, and yet I choose not to bite you.

A Pets Ten Commandments- #1

A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS. ........

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

The rest will be displayed every other day.

I'd love to give proper credit but I don't know who wrote this. So to whoever you are, thanks.

150 Dogs Up For Adoption

It's hard to imagine 200 dogs in one location. Yet that is how many were taken from a puppy mill in Missouri. Of the 200, 150 are up for adoption. While many are pure bred, it's also true that many of these have lived their entire lives in cages and are not even house broken. If your heart is set on a pure bred and there is nothing wrong with that. Make sure the breeder is reputable and don't ever knowingly buy from a mill.

War Hero Remembered

During World War II a stray named Rip was credited with saving more than 100 bombing victims- locating them amid the rubble. After himself being rescued from starvation, Rip, a terrier mix, began searching bombed out buildings and locating victims. He won a Dickin Medal- a British medal of bravery given to animals. His medal was recently auctioned and fetched over $14,000.

Dogs have often served with man during times of war- during WWI and II carrying supplies and medical aid. During ancient times dogs were bred to fight.

Long Distance Adoption

According to NBC News Connecticut, 45 street dogs were flown in from Puerto Rico overnight to the SPCA in Stamford, CT. They will be available for adoption this weekend. This is a great example of doing whatever it takes to get these dogs adopted rather than the alternative. To view the story follow the link below.

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Street_Dogs_Arrive_in_Connecticut_Hartford.html

Or got to the CT SPCA site www.spcact.org for more information.

A Break From Tradition

Each week on ABC News with Charles Gibson they have a "Person of the Week" feature that runs on Fridays. This past Friday the Persons of the Week were about the people who created and support the Wish Upon A Hero site. The idea was born from wanting to support charities but not knowing where the money went and the desire to support individuals as well. Here people post their wants and needs and others may elect to grant a particular wish.

It's a great idea. The ABC news story highlights the success. Its even more powerful in today's tough times. Please check it out.
www.wishuponahero.com

Thanks

Penny -The Grand Dog

If our daughter and her boyfriend have a dog, doesn't that make her our Granddog? I think so even though I am too young for a grand anything...

Penny is a dynamo. She has many of the qualities of other Grandchildren. She comes over when we say and leaves when we are done. She is a great dog and is one of the few dogs that our terminally shy dog Sissy will play with. And she's cute too.

Lyme

You've previously been introduced to Hobo. He is one of our older dogs. Having older dogs we realize that every new day is a gift. One day I noticed that Hobo could barely get up our one step into the back door. It got to the point where I helped him up and down so he could go to the bathroom. That evening things just seemed worse. I was sure that we were nearing the end of our time together. I held and petted him while we called the vet.

We got into the vet first thing the next morning. All sorts of tests were done including blood work to test for Lyme disease. The good news is that it was Lyme and Hobo responded immediately to his prescribed drugs. All the dogs are treated monthly with flea and tic protection. But if a tic gets in and is infected with Lyme..

If your dog suddenly gets limp, comes up lame, seems suddenly old, has sudden joint pain consider Lyme and get your dog tested. The fact that you don't see a tic is no guarantee- get them tested. Deer tics are small and in long haired dogs nearly invisible.

Off to the Park

Saturday March 7th. Great weather. Well almost. A huge thaw and the local dog park was a HUGE mud pit. Not that any of the dogs were complaining. Sunday the 8th. Rather than return back to the pit and the subsequent required bath I opted to go for a walk at a regular (non-dog) park.

What a great day and the park was packed. So many great dog intros- they love it. Met several people who were new with dogs, new to introducing dogs to other dogs and kids and people. I asked several if they had ever been to the local dog park- none had. One went so far as to say she was afraid there would be pit bulls there. I assured here there would and labs and retrievers and shepherds etc. For the most part people who go to dog parks, are responsible owners, who have socialized theirs dogs. My experience is that the dog park is a 97% positive experience. Would enjoy hearing from others about their dog park experiences.

Why, Jack?

I've been asked why I posted such an ugly photo of Jack. Here is another photo. Sometimes you just have to work with what you have.

Dog Log Cafe Sissy's Final Tail

I usually get attached to a new dog immediately. Without exception there is some connection. Not so with Sissy. At about the one year mark of fostering her we received a call from the Humane Society that we needed to do something- either return her or adopt.

For several months after bringing Sissy home, Xena was her only K-9 friend. Every weekend, weather permitting, we would take all the dogs to the dog park. Most of the dogs love it. Not Sissy. Her fear kept her at arms length from all the other dogs who tried to befriend her. But when she and Xena would take off running, perhaps after a real or imaginary squirrel, Sissy was in heaven. If she could play with just Xena, she was in heaven. Problem of course is that Xena wants to play with everyone. After a while Nikki and Xena and Sissy began to all play.

There was still the problem with us, me and Sissy. She would not allow me to approach if I was standing though she would tolerate me while sitting. In fact after a year she would come up to me in the car while going to the park and nudge me for some affection. She tolerates women much better and allowed our daughter's boyfriend to approach and to pet her while standing.

With all our lack of trust and lack of public displays of affection there was no way I was going to return her and have her go back in that cage. I knew, no matter how short the time, that she would have lost everything she gained. She and Xena and Nikki are good friends. A new beagle has entered our lives, Penny and they too are friends. Sissy and I are also making progress both while sitting and standing. It will improve with time.

Next installment- Penny.

Dog Log Cafe Number 6 Sissy

I recall being at the Humane Society one weekend day and seeing a dog all the way in the back of her cage, frightened to no end. She stayed like this no matter who walked by. Complete terror. Though we had five dogs already and had some success at helping other dogs in need as I looked at this dog I could not think of a way to help; I could not imagine what we would do.

A week or so later we received a call from the Humane Society asking if we were interested in fostering another dog. One with shyness and fear issues. We agreed to look and it was this same dog, named Sissy. In her current state she was not adoptable, would not come to anyone and showed nothing but fear. Her history was a little uncertain. She was probably a year to a year and a half old and had already had a litter of pups. She came from a shelter in North Carolina with her last remaining pup. (we are in CT) It was possible she had always been a stray.

Again I looked at her in her cage and could not imagine the way in which we would help her- yet we agreed.

I took her for a walk around the property prior to putting her in the van for the ride home. She stayed at the very end of the leash, as far away as possible. I believe she shook in fear the entire drive home. It was my hope that our other dogs would be the answer for Sissy and they had been in the past. Next entry - the introduction to the rest of the pack.

Dog Log Cafe- Volume 5 Jack Bear

As previously stated from time to time we have been privileged to work with the local Humane Society. Several months after Lenny we were asked to consider fostering a miniature poodle. All the dogs we have met have a story and Jack, real name Jack Bear, is no exception.

The story we got is that Jack at the time was ten years old and that actually there were two, Jack and another miniature poodle. The other dog died and Jack started crying and didn't stop. So the owners bought a puppy hoping that Jack would enjoy the new friend and stop the crying. Well Jack kept crying and the couple decided they liked the new dog better and after ten years gave Jack up to the Humane Society.

Jack would not stop crying there either and we were again asked to bring him home in the hopes that the pack would help him get over his crying or grief. We met Jack after his having some teeth pulled. He was crying then, we agreed to take him and he cried all the way home. He was afraid of the pack and barked and cried. But like Lenny he soon came around began to fit in. His crying stopped probably an hour of so after he got home. After several weeks we received a call from the Humane Society that that had someone interested in meeting Jack and possibly adopting him.

It just so happened that this was a day or two before my daughters birthday and she informed me she was hoping to keep Jack with us. So Jack Bear became her birthday present and pack member number 5.

Think you're a manly-man? Try calling out Jack Bear to your miniature poodle and see how macho you sound.

Dog Log Cafe- Tough Times

A discussion this morning on a daily news show highlighted the affect that these tough economic times have on pets. When people get laid off often the pets are the first to suffer as they are given over to adoption centers and shelters in an effort to save money.

Dogs don't judge. Don't care that you're rich or poor. They repay love with love. In these tough times please remember the pets. Adopt if you can- you will be rewarded.

Dog Log Cafe- Washington Pups

Congratulations to newly sworn in Vice President Biden and his family on the adoption of their German Shepherd Dog. The Obamas have still to choose their new dog.

President Bush had two Scottish Terriers, Barney and Miss Beazley.