Sadly this stuff happens all too often

Jamie White, self described blogger and dog lover, scored a point for humans by giving a sick dog some happy last days.

Her invective leads to some words (that are meant for adult eyes,) but we can all understand her indignation. Sadly we humans are not always kind to each other and we are not always kind to the other species with whom we share this world.

It reminds me of the little terrier mix that was rescued by Valley Save A Pet many years ago. She was pregnant and had been found tied to the railroad tracks in Solon. They named her Carly, and fostered her here where she gave birth to eight puppies. We kept the last one who wasn't adopted and he was the best dog we ever had. I have often wished I could one day meet the people who did that, and I would be accompanied by several burly, card carrying ASPCA members. I hope those people never again have adopted a dog, but many people who have no business having dogs have no idea they have no business having dogs, and they keep being crappy dog owners their whole lives.

So a big shout out to Ms. White for her service to dogdom. And a big thumbs down to the people who failed their family friend when she needed them most.

Speaking of dogs who are heroes...

One of my long time clients had a golden retriever named Theo.  One night there was a fire in the house and the smoke detectors weren't working. Theo ran into the bedrooms, barking and jumping on them, and they all got out. I have always wondered if my dogs would be similarly heroic.

Well, here is another example of a dog who took the whole 'man's best friend' concept to a whole new level. Dogs can be completely amazing sometimes.

Speaking of pets you should not board...

...the BLOBFISH. 

I love that name. Don't you have the urge to just poke its pudgy little nose and make a honking sound? 

The gift of sight

For those of you who are still wiping away the tears from the latest post about pets who have died, I have a welcome change of pace.  Danny, the sweet looking puppy, gets cataract surgery and can see for the first time ever. Kudos to the vets and donors and volunteers who made it happen.

On the ever crucial placement of oven racks

In an effort go make this a well rounded blog, I would like to pass along to you this set of helpful tips on oven rack placement.

You may thank me by bringing me a perfectly baked chocolate chip cookie.

All it takes is for one person to have a brilliant idea

And for someone else to say, "Let's do it!"




It's brilliant. Brilliant.

 I want a chubby tailed german dobenauzer. Except I happen to know that adding schnauzer to doberman will make it even barkier. Maybe a bunny tailed scottish shepterrier.

Sarah Silverman and her 'Duck'

Like her or not, she wrote a nice little tribute to her canine companion of 14 years. It was part of a larger collection called The Last Lesson We Learn from Our Pets in a blog called The Dish. We all have these stories to tell and I always appreciate when someone can put it into well written words.

Our Pets Have Us Well Trained

Nothing like a little purrrsonal service.

And I bet there's not a damn one of them named Flipper

This is a blog about things, some of which are furry. Dolphins count. Plus I love dolphins (who doesn't?) Now I extra love them.

Scientists discover that dolphins call each other by name. 

Dogs are like the guy who can't remember names and calls everyone pal. And cats? Cats aren't even speaking to us. They just make a noise and if we're lucky enough to hear it good for us. 
. 

A Dog-tastic Welcome Home

I wish every single man and woman who comes home from overseas could have a welcome like this.

Sometimes a parade is not just a parade

One of the great things about living in a small town is that you get to know enough people that you are sure to see someone you know most of the time you go out.  It is for this reason that my wife insists on being fully presentable whenever she leaves the house, even just to get drive-through coffee. And I don't think I can go to the grocery store without seeing at least one person I know, not counting the cashiers or the nice lady in the bakery who has the border collie. We got to know many of them through our businesses, both of which are right in town, but there are many who we met via our kids: school parents, scout parents, orchestra parents, soccer, baseball and softball parents. How many hours did we stand together on the sidelines on a dreary October morning watching our pride-and-joys chase a soccer ball up and down a muddy field? 

High school created some separation as kids veered into diversified interests, and as the need for parental chaperoning and chauffeuring diminished. As a result, there are a lot of people I haven't seen in a long time. And the funny thing is I haven't noticed. Those relationships fall away so quietly that we never know they're gone. 

And so it was at the 4^th of July parade that my wife and I set up our chairs in the grass and engaged in our people watching for the year. Not only did we see the folks we see a lot, but also many whom we haven't seen in ages. And with that, years and years of scout meetings, play dates, rehearsals, spaghetti dinners, practices, popcorn sales, and ball games came flooding back, accompanied by the pang of having children who are all grown up and gone. But there was something else, something bigger, or maybe something smaller. 

It's easy to think of Aurora as a big town. We're so close to Cleveland and Akron. We're near major league sports. We have easy access to malls and big box stores, and most of us work someplace we have to drive twenty minutes to get to. It's easy to think that we're not connected to each other. But on Independence Day when we were all waiting for the parade on our flag-lined main street, it was like a town meeting without the agenda. I could walk up and down the street and see someone I knew every fifty feet. If I ever wanted to live in Mayberry this might be as close as I will ever come. Howard and Floyd were there. And Barney and Goober and Helen. Andy drove the lead car. Aunt Bee sat under a shady tree while a thousand Opies fidgeted, waiting to chase after bubble gum tossed from parade floats. My kids had played with their kids, studied with their kids, got in fights with their kids and made up with their kids. My kids had them for math and history, swam in their pools, and had teeth filled and eyes checked by them. For 364 days a year we are spread out over 24 square miles, going about our business, but today we are together, reminding each other that much of what we love about Aurora is right here in the sunshine, hanging out together on a summer day.

 

Everyone thinks he a comedian

What could have been a horrifyingly sad story about a dog stuck in a car engine while the car was driving from one Florida beach to another, turned into an opportunity for amateur comedians to show us their stuff, not the least of whom is Broward County Fire Rescue worker Mike Jachles.

Side note to reporter: dogs don't sweat.

Click here  http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2013/07/05/pkg-puppy-rescued-from-car-hood.wsvn.html

The world's cutest puppies? You decide.

Cavalier King Charles spaniels are pretty darned cute. My daughter has one, named Gus.

Gus lives in Toronto and we hope to see him in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, my daugher has scoured the interwebs for the very latest in cute Cavalier stuff and here is the best argument yet that they are, indeed, the cutest puppies of all.

 

That fine line between something and nothing.

On Sunday I spent much of my day in the emergency room. Turned out to be nothing major, but I learned a new word. Vitreous. That's the stuff in the eyeball that makes it all squishy. Sometimes the components separate (when you get, ahem, older) and this causes 'floaters', which are shadowy streaks in the periphery of your vision.

I had one occurrence on Saturday of seeing the floaters, and thought nothing of it. The body does lots of odd things, just one time, and I've learned to chalk them up to, ahem, aging. But then Sunday morning I woke up and there were floaters constantly bugging the corner of my vision. Coupled with a weird sore throat, (and my daughter will appreciate this) I imagined the worst.

Two doctors and an ophthalmologist later (so, three doctors)  I was told that us old dudes sometimes get these things and to come back if they get worse.

So now I have these things in my peripheral vision that makes me think something is there. At night they look like lightning, which fooled me this evening when we had actual lightning. And I got to thinking that someone who's paranoid could be driven nuts.

"Who's there?"
"No, there. I saw that."
"Stop following me!"

If Edward Snowden has floaters, it won't mean they aren't out to get him. 

And no one gave a crap about the sore throat, which has kind of gotten worse.

Here Purkoy, here dog.

Here is a glance at some of the names medieval people gave their pets, at least according to this site. Purkoy was a dog named by Anne Boleyn, which may have contributed to her later troubles. No one could prove treason, but it was clear she named the dog.

I think it would be fun to have a revival of medieval names for pets. I'd love to see a Jakke, a Parceval, or a Garland. My next dog?

Turgk.

The case against Flexi leashes

This is a blog post by one Cassie Leigh-Stock, a certified dog trainer in Massachusetts, who I do not know.  I am re-posting it because a lot of what she says makes sense, and is, at the very least, something you need to consider when purchasing and using a Flexi leash.

I can attest to their propensity to tangle and jam. I have also been skeptical that the thin cord that makes up most of the leash is strong enough to hold a big dog who decides suddenly to take off after a cat. But I hadn't before considered the human suffering aspect of the devices. She has included  a warning from the Flexi lease site, that describes various injuries that can occur, including finger amputation. Yikes!.

Check it out.

Since summer is here, let's talk about dogs dying in cars

I know everyone from Dick Goddard to your best friend, Sal,  talks about not leaving dogs in cars. Here's why.

I can barely stand how hot it is for the short time it takes for my A/C to ramp up. Imagine being a dog in the back seat for ten minutes. Or fifteen or twenty. Because you only meant to run in and pick up that one little half gallon of milk, but then you remembered you were out of cheese, then you met your old fifth grade teacher in the cookie aisle when you were reaching for that package of Double Stuf Oreos, and all of a sudden it's been 30 minutes.

Have a great, and safe summer.

So when we talk about the goodness of people this is what we mean

This young girl decided that her birthday wasn't all about her. I'll let Portage Animal Protective League tell the story (as borrowed from their Facebook page)

Alexis of Ravenna, totally shocked the APL yesterday, April 23, with "A" Birthday donation! 75 of Alexis' third grade schoolmates from Willyard Elementary, and family and friends, brought gifts for the Shelter. The daughter of Ricky and Michelle, Alexis has done this before. When Alexis turned 7 last year, she decided that the furry friends at the APL needed "gifts" more than she did. On April 17 of this year, Alexis turned 8 and she knew what to ask for. In sight of all the bad things recently, this donation and all like it, are a reminder that there is so much good in the world. Alexis is an example of thoughtfulness, generosity, and great upbringing. To Alexis, her parents, schoolmates, friends and family, we say "THANK YOU! YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE!"

If you want to donate, here's the web site  Portage Animal Protective League

Please Choose Wisely

I've seen it time and time again. People get a sweet little lab puppy because they're so cute and labs are "such great pets." They are. And they are also big and energetic and bouncy and enthusiastic. They can be bulldozers and they can pull over small trees. They are a lot of dog. A LOT of dog.

Choose your pet wisely. Please. Please. Please.You can get great advice from your veterinarian. Their number one concern in the welfare of the dog and they will steer you in the right direction.

Pic of the Day

Thanks to my friend Scott S for this one.