Freaky Howling Friday

Happy Halloween to all you canine lovers out there in cyberspace. Enjoy the multitudes of ghouls, wizards, witches and princesses that creep to your doorstep, hoping for treats tonight. Spend a wee bit of time reminiscing about your youthful excursions on Halloween night, while you sneak a bite of that candy. C'mon, admit you dip into the treat bowl! Don't feel guilty, you deserve it. Just remember to keep all those people goodies away from your pooches, so that this day isn't ruined by an emergency vet trip. When your beloved pups give you that look that says "Where's mine? I'm way cuter than those human small frys," reach for the canine cookie jar.

Melamine and the Raccoon Dogs of Asia

In China, 1500 raccoon dogs died in the last two months from eating melamine tainted food. The dogs died from kidney failure . What was even more appalling than the fact that China has still not reined in the use of unsafe levels of melamine in food, is that these dogs are specifically bred to produce fur for clothing. According to a Wikipedia article, three animal rights groups led an investigation in 2004 and 2005 and claimed that 1.5 million raccoon dogs were being raised for fur. The animal is not a true dog, but is a member of the canid family. It lives in the wild in Asia, but its feral numbers are diminishing. It is described as a non agressive, monogamous, non barking species.

Stores in the U.S. have been forced to pull their wares after it was pointed out that the fur on the collars of clothing they were selling was not synthetic, but raccoon dog fur. The Humane Society of the United States is calling for a ban on raccoon dog fur in the U.S. On their Fur Free web page, HSUS reports that both P Diddy Combs and Jay Z have clothing lines that used raccoon dog fur. JC Penny's was selling apparel with what claimed to be raccoon fur on it, but was in fact raccoon dog fur.

Why do people want to even pretend to wear raccoon fur? As long as there is a demand for fur on clothing, animals will suffer. And clearly we need to keep a diligent watch on the food we select for our dogs and ourselves. It seems wise right now to avoid any food produced in China.

All Things Dog - October 27, 2008

During times of war, humans aren't the only ones to come home injured. American dogs who are wounded while serving the military are now being treated at a new $15 million veterinary hospital at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Dogs injured in Iraq or Afghanistan receive emergency treatment onsight, then are flown to Germany for more care, before returning home. The new clinic, called the Working Dog Hospital, replaces a small building that opened in 1968 and had been inadequately handling the number of dogs needing help. The current facility features digital radiography, CT scanning, an intensive care unit and rehab rooms with underwater treadmill and exercise balls. For more about this story, see the Associated Press article.

Ballots are finally being cast and this darn election is almost over, hallelujah! The St.Pete Times ran an article last week about the number of places where you can find merchandise printed with political slogans and candidates likenesses for your dog to wear or chew on. I personally think it's unfair to force your political views on your canine loved ones, but I did enjoy the Bush's Last Day website that featured dog biscuits commemorating the departure of George W from the White House. For more info about political puppy gear, read the Times article.

All Things Dog - October 22, 2008

The Trib reported on an event called Pets in the Park that took place last week in Lykes Gaslight Park in downtown Tampa. It was sponsored by the Humane Society of Tampa Bay and Hillsborough County Animal Services to bring adoptable pets to downtown. HCAS will also be hosting an adoption expo, Nov. 15 at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

Also in the Trib, I read about a website called Petside. Last Thursday they hosted a event for pet bloggers and online pet sites to get together and support shelter adoption. Petside is an interesting commercially supported site with some useful information.

Today, Duncan Strauss is interviewing author Jon Katz on WMNF radio's Talking Animals show. Katz has written 17 books, among them; "The Dogs of Bedlam Farm", "A Dog Year", and "Dog Days". His latest book is "Izzy and Lenore, Two Dogs, An Unexpected Journey and Me". You can hear this interview on your FM dial at 88.5 or via the internet at 11:30 a.m.

From the Associated Press we have a follow up on Ratchet, the Iraqi dog that Army Spc. Gwen Beberg was desperately trying to get shipped to the U.S. Ratchet was due to land on American soil Monday, thanks to the efforts of SPCA's Operation Baghdad Pups.

And one last snippet from the Tribune. Two people were arrested in separate locations in Hillsborough County last weekend for shooting animals. James Fisher has been released on $2000 bail with one count of animal cruelty. He shot a basset hound who dared to come into his yard. The dog has survived and is recovering in the care of Hillsborough County Animal Services. The owner has not been located. The cat Miles Clayton Shirley shot was not so lucky. It died. Shirley was also released on $2000 bail with an animal cruelty charge. Shirley's excuse for shooting the cat from a distance of 50 - 70 feet away, was that he feared for his life. I hope the judge recommends psychiatric evaluation as part of his sentence.

Fun and Games for Hobbit

Hobbit just finished a class at Courteous Canine called Doggy Play Gym. It was taught by Jacqueline Munera, who is an excellent motivator. During the eight week course, the dogs learned skills and encountered obstacles that are used in Rally, Flyball and Agility. The last class ended with each dog competing through a course that included aspects from all three sports. There was a mini rally course that required the dogs to stop at signs and perform commands that were printed on the signs, weave through cones and run through an agilty tunnel. The Flyball portion required them to jump three jumps, retrieve a ball, then return over the jumps with the ball and drop it.

The whole course was timed and judged for precision and enthusiasm. There were four other dogs in the class; two Corgi's, a cute shaggy gray pup named Poppet, and a toy poodle. The owners played as hard as the dogs and all did a great job, finishing their courses and performing a trick. The Corgi's won awards for Boldest Course and Best Trick. The Poodle won Fastest Time, and Poppet won Most Precise Course. I was starting to feel sorry for Hobbit and Scott because their names hadn't been called, then they won the Best Overall Award. You bet, I was proud of my boys! But I clapped and cheered just as hard for the rest of the class. One of the great things that happens in a good class is the bond that forms between owners. By the end of the class, we were all rooting for each dog/owner combination, thrilled to see them achieve their personal goals.

That's Hobbit to the right, picking out his reward from the goody box.

All Things Dog - October 14, 2008

In the Trib this week there's a story about an Iraqi puppy that was pulled from a trash fire by an American soldier, Army Sgt. Gwen Beberg. She named the dog Ratchet and is trying to get him sent home to the United States with the help of SPCA's Operation Baghdad Pups. Beberg had arranged transportation home for Ratchet earlier this month, but a U.S. officer confiscated the dog before he reached the airport. More than 30,000 people have signed a petition to urge the Army to allow the puppy to go home with Beberg. Operation Baghdad Pups planned a trip to Iraq today to rescue six dogs and hopes to rescue Ratchet as well. For more on this story and to see a picture of Beberg and Ratchet read the Trib article.

Hillsborough County Animal Services will hold a series of orientation sessions for citizens who wish to join the Volunteer Partnership Program for animals at Hillsborough County Animal Services, 440 Falkenburg Road in Tampa.The following dates have been scheduled to welcome new recruits:Saturday, October 18 at 10 a.m.Wednesday, November 5 at 5:30 p.m.Saturday, November 22 at 10 a.m.Wednesday, December 10 at 5:30 p.m.Animal Services is also seeking volunteers at least 18 years of age to train as Reserve Animal Control Officers (RACO). Candidates are asked to commit a minimum of 20 hours per month, primarily on weekends, to assist field operations. RACO officers may be involved with animal handling but will not be asked to write citations.For further information on this Volunteer Partnership Program, call Hillsborough County Animal Services at 813-744-5660 or send an email to info@hillsboroughcounty.org .

Marjorie Kehe of The Christian Science Monitor offers reading suggestions as an alternative to the popular dog movie, Beverly Hills Chihauhau.

Also in The Christian Science Monitor, Georgianna Pfost writes about vacationing with her dachshunds, and the time her pooch, Taffy clued her into a special feature at her vacation spot.

Dog Park

We recently attended a family reunion at Walsingham Park in Largo. It's a beautiful piece of property surrounding a lake and shaded by oaks and pines. Near the shelter we occupied was a dog park. A steady stream of dogs entered the park during the day. One of the features I really liked was the benches placed in circles and semi-circles for dog owners. The configuration gave dogs plenty of room to roam in and around their owners. Other great features were a swinging bench for people, and tunnels and a hose-off area for dogs. It's a park we will definitely be back to visit with the dogs.

Dogs In Disguise

For those of you who cannot resist the urge to play dress up with your dogs, October is the month for you. Below is a list (courtesy of Petcetera in the Trib. Sorry I could not find a link.) of some of the multitude of dog events that provide you with an opportunity to parade your dog in costume, even if it's just a spooky bandana.

Dal-loween Event, hosted by Dalmation Rescue of Tampa will take place Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. -2 p.m. at Lake Park in Lutz, 17302 N. Dale Mabry Hwy. There will be a costume contest along with games that include Pumpkin Dash, Best Trick, Popcorn Toss, Karaoke Howl-Along and more. Vendors will sell canine goodies and a silent auction will benefit Dalmation Rescue of Tampa. All canines on leashes are invited with their two-legged escorts. For more info, email daldogevents@msn.com or call (727)787-1760.

18th Annual SPCA Pet Walk at North Shore Park, po1 N. Shore Dr., St.Pete. Oct. 18, from 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Adoptable pets, parade, Halloween contest, flyball and frisbee, K-9 obedience and agilty demonstrations, vendors, music and food court. Visit http://www.spcatampabay.org/ to form a team, create your own website, or make a donation. Call (727)586-3591 for more info.

Stride For Strays, Oct. 11 at 7525 North Blvd, Tampa. Festivities will take place at Lowry Park and include treats, prizes, demonstrations and vendors. Get a team together to raise money for Animal Coalition of Tampa. Register at http://www.stride.acttampa.org/. For info call (813)250-3900 or email info@acttampa.org.

Bark-O-Ween sponsored by Stop Pet Overpopulation Together Tampa Bay is taking place at none other than the Belleview Biltmore, 25 Belleview Blvd., Clearwater, Oct. 29, from 6 - 8 p.m. Prizes for best canine costume. Admission is $10. Visit http://www.spotusa.org/ or call (727)545-3463.

Barktober Fest benefits Labrador Retiever Rescue of Florida. Drawings and contest take place Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. at Paw Wash, 2319 Seven Springs Blvd, New Port Richey. Call (727)375-7070 for info.

Pet Masquerade at Downtown Dogs, Hyde Park Village, Swann and Dakota Avenues, Tampa, on Oct.25 at 10 a.m. Prizes for scariest, funniest and most original costumes. Benefits Humane Society of Tampa. See http://www.humanesocietytampa.org/ or call (813)250-DOGS.

All Things Dog - October 8, 2008

The Trib's Critter Calender has moved to the new Baylife section on Sundays. In the last issue there was a mention of the Humane Society University offering its national training program, Animal Cruelty 101 at SPCA Tampa Bay, 9099 130th Av. N., Largo from 9a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 19. Check in is at 8:30 a.m. Register by Oct. 14 for $50. Registration after that date is $60. To sign up, email register@hsus.org.


Also in the Critter Calender was a free basic obedience seminar hosted by Stop Pet Overpopulation Together Tampa Bay. Maria Ryan will talk about barking, chewing, escaping, and more at the Pinellas Park Library, 7770 52nd St., Pinellas Park on Oct.22 from 6 - 8 p.m. To RSVP call (727)545-3463 or go to http://www.spotusa.org/.

The Tampa Trib reported that SPCA Tampa Bay in Largo is now sheltering 130 animals rescued from Hurricane Ike's destructive path in Texas. The shelter is bulging at the seams with dogs being housed in the obedience training area and cats crammed into hallways. They're seeking volunteers, donations and people who are willing to adopt animals. For more information go to http://www.spcafl.org/.

The American Kennel Club's survey to help select an appropriate breed of dog for the Obama family is complete, and the winner is poodle. More than 42,000 people voted over a seven week period. Poodle sounds like a good choice for a family getting their first dog. Calling all shelters and poodle rescue groups in America; start sending the Obama daughters pictures of your available pooches. One poodle is not enough. I think they need at least two, don't you? To read more about the presidential dog breed survey, see AKC.

Vonnie's Dog Daze Of Pasco County

Vonnie Mikkelsen is one woman who is making a difference for the dogs at Pasco County Animal Services Shelter. She has been volunteering at the shelter weekly for over a year now, focusing on animal socialization, exercise and training to make them more suitable for adoptions. Her favorite part of the week is Saturdays when she gets to provide adoption counseling to the public. Dog Daze "mission of the week" was a project Vonnie started as a commitment to finding best-fit matches for the animals that she works with. She sends out an e-bulletin as a rallying call to volunteers and shelter staff to focus on the shelter animals, their special attributes, and their needs; and to get the word out to the public about great animals available for adoption at the pasco county shelter. The "Dog Daze" group is a loosely organized group of Pasco County Animal Services volunteers and animal lovers that share a very simple mission - to facilitate adoption of animals at the shelter.

Vonnie is also a charter member of the Friends of Pasco County Animal Services and former board member. Her "pet project" as a board member was a fundraising campaign to build a 10,000 sq. ft outdoor dog exercise and training area. The gates opened on SPREE (Shelter Pets Run and Exercise Enclosure) in May of this year and it has been a great asset to the animal adoptions program. Volunteers regularly use this area to socialize, exercise, and train the dogs to provide quality of life and teach basic "human-friendly" manners. Below is a sample of Vonnie's weekly Dog Daze bulletin. If you'd like to help her spread the word about Pasco County's homeless dogs, email Vonnie. To see more Pasco County animals available for adoption go to their Petfinder site. To learn more about Friends Of Pasco County Animal Services go to http://www.fpcas.org/

Meet "Penney"
Our Mission of the Week
A penny saved is a penny earned...and this Penney is worth a million! A well-behaved adult lab mix, Penney is affectionate, active and loves people and other dogs. She's in her element in the great outdoors and expresses unreserved enthusiasm exploring the water pool and chasing tennis balls at the shelter's "Spree" exercise facility. Penney would love to spend her life with an active, loving family. If you're looking for a secure investment with a return of nothing less than a lifetime of unconditional love, Penney's your gal.
That's why the Dog Daze Crew names Penney our Mission of the Week.

Update on "Scarlett"
ADOPTED!
Our beautiful southern belle has found her home.

Update on "Juno" : Juno is still waiting for a family...still smiling and still sweet as can be.You may remember Juno as the beautiful Bulldog-Catahoula blend who prefers to be indoors and the princess of her people's palace. Juno has now learned to follow basic commands and loves walks and romps in the grassy fields at the shelter. She'll make a wonderful family pet but says "no thanks" to dogs or cats in her home - at least until she gets settled.
Keep smiling Juno.


Shelter Volunteers - Come Join Us!
This Week's Mission:
"Penney"
WHEN: Saturday, September 27th (and every Saturday)
TIME: 12:00 Noon - 4:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Pasco County Animal Services in Land O' Lakes
See other adoptable animals: Pasco County Animal Services

Mission Statement:
We're just a group of crazy animal lovers that get together every week to place sheltered animals with their forever families.

Happy Third Year Ella Girl!

This week we celebrate Ella's birth. We have a rough idea when she was born based on the information we got from the Animal Services' paperwork that came with her. I chose October 1st as her birthday. This time of year suits her perfectly. She is such a fall colored dog. She has deep amber eyes and a brown, gold and rust mottled coat; like God sprinkled autumn leaves on her the day she was born. To think we saw her as a plain brown pup when we first laid eyes on her at the adoption event!

Ella is an outdoor gal. She makes me wish we had a farm for her to run on. But she is satisfied with running at the dogpark and leaping on lizards in the yard. She smiles alot these days, which makes my heart sing. Her tail, which a trainer said we may never see in a normal carriage, would make any catahoula proud. It curls up towards her back when she's in full alert and whirls like a rotor blade when she's really happy.

I used to think Ella was raised by a cat because she walked on the tips of her toes, never made a sound and pounced on her toys. She still has some of those traits, but she's secure enough in her home now to place her feet firmly on the floor and baby, she has found her voice. I consider this a delayed teenage stage of vocal liberation. She yips when she's happy and wants attention. She barks when she's alerted to squirrels. She sounds full alarm when she sees possible intruders, and she rants at the ducks who dare to waddle by our front window.

It has been a fascinating three years with this catahoula girl. I feel a dangerous bond with this dog, one of those painful relationships it is hard to separate from when there's a need. I know she trusts me and I try to live up to that. Who knows maybe someday, there will be a farm in her life. For now, there's all that life in suburbia with two doting humans and a jack russell sidekick can offer a dog. Happy Birthday Ella!