Florida Rescued Dogs

Happy New Year and a Sad Good-bye

2008-12-30T00:56:00.000-08:00

Scott, Ella, Hobbit and I send wishes for a new year full of positive changes. Looking back at 2008 can be disheartening, but we're not without hope. The people I've met on this blog have taught me that.

I'm sorry to say that this is the last entry for the blog. When I started this venture in January of this year, I thought it would be a casual thing; something I spent a few minutes every now and then on. Ha! It quickly developed into a creature that demanded feeding and it didn't want fluff. It wanted information that pointed out the good and bad happening in our little corner of the dog world. I found it difficult to ignore the blank pages for more than a couple days at a time. Unfortunately, other issues have demanded my time in the last few months, and I've scrambled to keep the blog afloat.

It's been a rewarding experience. I've heard so many inspiring stories and connected with animal lovers who encourage me to see the good in human kind. This blog has introduced me to a myriad of animal advocates and programs; from the individual who quietly rescues dogs and cats off the street, to outstanding operations like Best Friends Animal Society. Thank you for the supportive words, helpful links and suggestions for articles. A special thanks to the one person who responded to my post seeking contributing writers for this blog. I apologize to you for not responding back. I lost your email!

I'll leave the blog up for a couple months, so people can copy any links they might find helpful. Some of you know that I'm striving to become a children's book author and illustrator. In 2009, I plan to intensify my education towards that goal. I'm in the process of reconstructing my professional website to focus on this new path. When it's finished, it'll have a blog that will sometimes offer news of Hobbit and Ella. I'll post the website address on this blog before I shut it down. If you're interested in visiting the new site and you don't want to check back here for the address, email me and I'll contact you as soon as the site's up.

My writing will always feature animals, as my art has. The insight I've gained from doing this blog will surely be a part of my stories. Hobbit and Ella say a fond farewell, with a wag in their tails and a song in their hearts. They thank you for all that you do to benefit animalkind.

Cheers to Hillsborough County Animal Services

2008-12-29T04:13:00.000-08:00

The St.Petersburg Times ran a very nice piece in today's Opinion section on HCAS's efforts to place more animals and lower the rate of euthanasia.

2008 Updates

2008-12-29T00:38:00.000-08:00

Earlier in the year, I did an article about dogfighting in Florida. I referred to a case in Hillsborough County where a man named Maurice Bayless had been arrested in April of this year on charges related to dogfighting. I promised to follow up on that charge to see where it led. According to HC Clerk of the Circuit Court's website, on June 2 a written not guilty plea was entered and the case was continued. On July 31, the right to the speedy trial was waived and the case continued. On Nov. 3, a pre trial was scheduled for Jan. 20, 2009 with a possible jury trial on Jan. 26. The road to justice is long and winding, but every gavel that hammers down on a jail sentence for animal abuse is worth the effort.

I ranted against the common use of fireworks back in July. With New Year's celebrations breathing down our necks, I felt it timely to post a link that is addressing this issue in Florida. The Ban Illegal Fireworks site is hosted by a Hillsborough County resident through Neighborhood Links. It features information about the legal status of fireworks use in Florida and what's being done to ban them. A warning: the "protect animals" link on the sidebar shows a graphic image of a dead horse that may be disturbing to some.

The Story of Moses and Seamus

2008-12-24T00:28:00.000-08:00

My Christmas gift to you is a tale that traveled many channels to get here. I heard about it through a friend who heard about it through a friend who had a friend who told the story. I have three people to thank for providing this gift: my friend Ginny Powell, who first relayed the story to me; Jackie Seal, who spent the better part of this year urging the tale's originator to write it down for this blog; and the story teller herself, Marcia McCall. Marcia must be an amazing woman because this is an amazing tale.

"This is the story of Moses….but before I can begin the story of Moses, I must tell the story of Seamus. Seamus is a unique fellow, one who knows what he wants at all times and is not afraid to either pursue it or enlist the support of anyone who can help him obtain his heart’s desire. His became self-sufficient at a very early age, and one would suspect from his youthful behaviors that his independence was not so much from choice, but necessity. He was extremely wary and untrusting, but not afraid of much. He preferred to avoid relationships, keeping a safe distance in both time and space until he could be sure his trust and safety would not be compromised.
When I first saw Seamus, he was very young, perhaps no more than 8 or 10 weeks old, a wee ginger tabby kitten, trying to make himself invisible in the grass near my front steps. He made it quite clear that he was merely observing the environment and the situation, but was not yet ready to be more involved with it! (He has never revealed to me just how he came to be there or why he was all alone, he just miraculously appeared one day.) A few days later, I saw him again, looking leaner, so thin his sides were nearly touching each other. I set bowls of food and water out—he ran off the moment I came near. I watched from behind a curtained window, but he would not return to eat while I was watching. Half an hour later, the bowl of food would be completely empty! This was the pattern for a few weeks, until one day, he came up to me, and rubbed around my ankles and purred! I was elated! In my joy, I stooped to pet him, but that was NOT the right thing to do…..yet! Getting to the petting stage took another week or more! We began with a few wary pats on the head, and then moved on to a full stroke of his body! He sniffed, looked me in the eye, and watched my every move, as if analyzing my motives! He was indeed a very suspicious fellow! It took a few days, but by then petting before food gradually became part of our routine and before long, the petting became an important part of our feeding rituals! Still, he would not allow himself to be picked up or snuggled, as I longed to do to this poor little waif of a kitten. That stage of our relationship took a few weeks more! By this time, Seamus was several months old, no longer a kitten but not quite a full grown cat. Finally, he trusted me! He snuggled his head into my neck and purred pure contentment! He then decided that a permanent relationship with me might not be so bad and he really wanted to be my cat! I told him he would have to get his shots and be neutered before he could live in my house, and he agreed to submit! So Seamus became my full fledged cat when he was about six months old, in October of 2006!
We became fast friends. Seamus always joined me for my first cup of morning coffee out on the back porch. He seemed to enjoy sitting with me every day and I really enjoyed him. Sometimes he would become rather vocal, as if he was talking to me! We would have conversations….about nothing! He was rather a chatty cat. At that point, I decided he must have kissed the blarney stone, so hence I named him Seamus! A red haired, story-telling Irish cat!!!! After he had eaten his breakfast he would go exploring in the nearly half acre back yard that ran all the way down to the Hillsborough River. When he tired of his adventures, he napped in the basket by the window. At night, he shared my bed with me. He decided he rather liked domestic life after all! We settled into a pleasant, long term relationship!
Fast forward seven months. Seamus and I were enjoying morning coffee on the back porch at about 5:30 or so in the morning on Memorial Day, 2007. It was still dark out, and I was not yet dressed for the day. As we were slowly waking up, the frantic cries of some animal in terrible danger startled us wide awake! The cries were coming closer, they seemed to be coming from down by the river. Seamus looked at me as if to say “Are you just going to sit there? We have to do something! Come on, hurry up, let’s go find out what has happened to this creature!” So off we went, in the dark, down the hill, through the vine dense underbrush, with me in just a nightgown and flip flops! I thought that if I should fall and break something, no one would know where to find me, or worse, some alligator from the river might find me first! Was I mad????
The cries were ever more desperate, we HAD to find who or what was making these awful sounding cries of fear and danger. We reached the river’s edge, and the water level was lower than usual, creating a drop in the bank. We saw a small critter bouncing up and down, running in the edge of the water. Seamus immediately went into the river bed, walked into the water and coaxed the small, dark bouncing creature to come to him. Wading through the edge of the dark river water, Seamus nudged the little creature on and brought him straight to me. When they were close enough for me to finally see clearly, I saw it was a very small puppy….very young, maybe 6 weeks old, maybe less. As I scooped the trembling creature into my hands, it looked at me with huge, shiny eyes. It was very, very scared! A baby, in the river! I thought of how the Pharaoh’s daughter had found the baby Moses in the River Nile, and I said “you must be another Moses”! And so he became my Moses!
He was wet and muddy, but cute as a little teddy bear! Seamus watched as I cleaned him up and put him in a basket with a clean towel. Seamus immediately hopped into the basket and began licking and purring to the puppy. They snuggled together that whole day! Moses was too exhausted to move around much, he would wake up, take a few steps and fall right back to sleep! He was even too tired to eat. Seamus stayed by him the whole time. Not sure if he was yet weaned, I tried feeding him with a pet nursing bottle….Ah well, it didn’t work. It was Seamus who led Moses to the bowl and waited while Moses ate everything in sight! He was weaned and he was HUNGRY!!! And he was so cute and so cuddly, and I was so in love!
As they say, the rest is history…Moses is now 19 months old; Seamus is still his guardian, playmate and best buddy! We all pile into bed together every night, happy to be together, sharing love and contentment. As the Moses of the Old Testament led the people of Israel to the Promised Land, my Moses has led me to a place in my life of more promise and love than I ever could have known without him.

All Things Dog - Tuesday, December 23

2008-12-23T00:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Hanukkah!

The Christian Science Monitor reported on Vice President Elect Joe Biden's recent purchase of a German Shepherd puppy. Animal rights activists are disappointed in Biden's neglect to focus his attention on the thousands of shelter dogs awaiting adoption when making his choice.

An Associated Press article about a Petside.com poll says 67% of pet owners claim they and their pets understand each other's vocabulary. Can we say "Duh?" I'll go one step further and say that Ella and Hobbit don't have to make a sound to communicate. They have expressions just like people, that are easily read.

The Trib reported that Elena Sheppa, wife of ex Lowry Park Zoo CEO, Lex Salisbury, was charged with animal cruelty for leaving her two dogs in a hot car for hours. While her husband was singing his swan song in front of the zoo board, Sheppa's dogs were spotted by concerned bystanders. When Sheppa noticed the concerned parties, she tried to sneak off; parking the vehicle in another place. The witnesses followed and called animal control.

Don't forget animal shelters this season. They're all in need of our help to make shelter animals' lives more comfortable. Hillsborough County Animal Services has an Angel Tree set up at their shelter. To learn about their wish list and how to donate, see Angel Tree. The Humane Society of Tampa Bay has their annual Tree of Love up where you can buy an ornament to put on the tree or place a gift for shelter animals under the tree. Check out your local shelters and rescue groups to ask what their needs are this holiday season.

Kristen Levine offers her favorite books as gift suggestions for animal lovers in her Petcetera column in the Trib.

A Long Winter's Night

2008-12-19T00:18:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year when we get the urge to trim the eaves, drag a tree inside and dress in red and green. Sometimes, we get a wee bit carried away; like last week when we picked up that adorable elf hat at the pet store........

"Hobbit, look at this elf hat we got you. Isn' it cool?" says Scott with as much sincerity as he can muster.

"Elf hat? What's an elf? You want to put it where? No, this is defintely not cool." cries Hobbit; astonished that we have stooped this low.

"Get it off of me, quick before someone sees me with it on!"

"Okay, okay, calm down. I'll take you for a piggy back ride

to make up for it," coos Scott.

"I'm calm. I'm cool. I wasn't rattled. A piggy back ride you say?" Hobbit asks.

"Is this all there is to this ride? It's sorta lame, don't ya think?"

"Well, I can raise up a little. How's this?" asks Scott.

"Ho hum. Bor-r-i-i-n-g," says Hobbit with a yawn.

"Fine. How about now? You're almost as tall as the angel, although referring to you and an angel in the same breath is laughable." mutters Scott.

"Y-you-you can pu-u-t me down now. You're probably getting tired." sputtered Hobbit, trying to hide his shivers.

(Yes, Virginia, Jack Russell's do show fear, but Hobbit asks that you keep that to yourself.)

"Now, let's settle down for a good old fashioned Christmas tale" says Scott. "That's good pooches. Ready? 'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house .."

"Dad?"

"Yes, Hobbit."

"Is this a long story?"

"No, now be still. Twas the night before Christmas.."

"Ahem, Dad?"

"What is it now, Hobbit?"

"Is it scary?"

"No, it is not. Is that all?"

"Does it have Scrooge in it? I heard he's bad news."

"No, Scrooge is not in it. It's about a jolly old elf." Scott says, with growing exasperation.

"Elf, you say? Is that the same elf that wears the dorky hat?" Hobbit smirks.

"No, it's a bigger elf! Now, do you want to hear this story or not? Your sister gave up and left fifteen minutes ago."

"Yeah, yeah, don't have a coronary. I'm listening."

"Good. "Twas the night before Christmas

and all through the house; not a creature was stirring , not even a mouse," continues Scott.

"Mouse? Let me at it! Where is it? I don't see it. Dad, are you yanking my chain?"

Scott sighs.

All Things Dog - December 17, 2008

2008-12-17T00:58:00.000-08:00

Do you have a dog like Hobbit in your house, who will eat anything in reach of his ever- gobbling mouth? Beware the dangers of this holiday season. Very Important Pets has a good list of suggestions to keep your pets safe.

The Animal Coalition of Tampa has a Fix One/Get One Free special this month. For details about this month's spay/neuter offer and low cost vaccinations see ACT. While you're there, check out Lights of Love. Make a $10 donation and have a light placed on a tree in honor of a loved one or to celebrate an occasion. And finally, click on the image of Angel, the rescued Pit Bull, to see pictures of the dog wash held in her honor.

In the Trib's Sunday feature on history and heritage, Gary Mormino offered a fascinating story about Col. Tom Parker. Yep, that would be the same man that promoted Elvis. It seems Parker was a field agent for the Humane Society in Tampa in 1941. He also created the city's first pet cemetery. To read about how Parker gave away 100 puppies the Christmas of '41, see
A Wartime Christmas. Scroll down to Hound Dogs, Blue Christmas.

Twelve Days 'Til

2008-12-13T00:33:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season, as they say, and there's twelve days left to find the perfect gift for those on your Christmas list. Hanukkah starts the 22nd. Kwanzaa and Boxing Day are on the 26th, so everyone is out shopping. To parody a classic carol, here are a dozen suggestions for the canine lovers on your list.

On the first day of Christmas, a true mutt lover brings - an item on a shelter needs list.
*Donate an item on a shelter's "Needs" list and credit the recipient on your gift list. Take a picture of what you donated and include it in a nice card.

On the second day of Christmas, a friend of canine brings - two brown eyes shining.
*Help a loved one adopt a rescue dog. Take a friend or relative to a shelter or contact a rescue group and be part of their adoption experience.

On the third day of Christmas, the noble minded brings - three hours of helping.
*If you volunteer with a rescue group or shelter, invite a friend to share a volunteer session. Include lunch or breakfast, so you have time to chat about the experience. The visit will create a special memory and it may inspire the recipient to become a volunteer them self.

On the fourth day of Christmas, the shelter shopper brings - four doggie mugs.
*Some shelters have gift shops or sell promotional items to fund raise. One of those is
SPCA of Tampa Bay. Rescue groups often sell t-shirts with their logos on them. Do some shopping there.

On the fifth day of Christmas, the smiling baker sends - five golden treats.
*There are lots of recipes online for dog treats. There's also The Healthy Dog Cookbook by Jonna Anne and Mary Strauss and Shawn Messonnier, DVM , which has a whole chapter of simple recipes for dog treats.

On the sixth day of Christmas, an enlightened soul suggests - a half dozen canine- themed books.
*Anything by Patrick McDonnell - author of the Mutts comic strip and books; books focus on animal rights and environmental issues.
*The Healthy Dog Cookbook.
*Speaking For Spot, Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs by Nancy Kay, DVM.
*Tell Me Where It Hurts by Dr.Nick Trout.
*Choose a Book from Dogwise
*Anything by Pat Miller

On the seventh day of Christmas, a green citizen sends - seven eco- friendly stocking stuffers.
* All at Eco Choices:
Food Can Covers
Pet Waste Bags
Dog Toys
Doggie Placemat
Paw Balm
Shampoo and Rinses
Leashes and Collars

On the eighth day of Christmas, a kind soul brings - eight weeks of positive training.
*Create a safer, happier world for some one's dog while strengthening the bond between animal and handler. We use Courteous Canine, but I'm sure there are many other good positive trainers out there.

On the ninth day of Christmas, the efficient shopper brings - nine gifts that give back.
*Look for shops who donate a portion of their proceeds to charities:
Stray Dog Arts - offers dog themed greeting cards from original paintings.
Big Dogs Porch - t-shirts, sweatshirts, journals, magnets, calenders, mugs, prints, tiles and more adorned with a wide variety of dog art. All proceeds go to breed specific rescue groups, ASPCA or RSPCA.

On the tenth day of Christmas a thrifty person sends- $10 Bark subscriptions.
*The Bark - An intelligent and eye appealing modern dog culture magazine, featuring dynamic guest authors, and experts leading their fields in animal behavior, care and training. Offers a wide ranging look at the dog world and what is being done worldwide to further the canine cause. And they have a great Christmas deal- $10 unlimited gift subscriptions.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, the conscientious brings - eleven useful weblinks.
*Petfinder.com - for finding the perfect rescue dog.
*Missing Pet Network - for finding or reporting lost dogs.
*ASPCA Poison Control Center -for that scary time when your dog eats the plant someone gave you.
*The Pet Center - for veterinary questions.
*Association of Pet Dog Trainers - to find a trainer in your area.
*Pets Welcome - for travel plans with fido.
*Kong Stuffing Recipes from Westwood Animal Hospital- when you run out of ideas for stuffing the invaluable Kong.
*Dog Community- to converse with other dog lovers.
*Sirius - free dog behavior advice from Ian Dunbar.
*Pet Loss Support - so you don't grieve alone.
*Caber Feidh - holistic health index

On the twelfth day of Christmas, a holistic friend sends - twelve issues of the Whole Dog Journal.
*Whole Dog Journal - monthly newsletter that informs and educates dog owners about holistic health care and nonviolent training.

Christmas Comes For Charley

2008-12-10T00:21:00.000-08:00

Vonnie Mikkelesen volunteers for the Pasco County animal shelter and is a tireless advocate for the shelter's dogs. She publishes the Dog Daze pages that shine a spotlight on shelter dogs in urgent need of adoption. Charley was recently featured in two of the Dog Daze issues. Vonnie sent me this message last week:

"I'd like to share with you some recent developments that have happened for Charley. Last Tuesday, at the heartfelt urging of staff at the Pasco shelter, Charley was transferred to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. I have to say that when I heard the news, I was a bit concerned that Charley might get lost in the shuffle and the numbers upon his transfer, so I made an inquiry on his behalf.
Much to my great delight, I found out not only had he made it into their adoption program, he had already won over the hearts of his new caregivers. They informed me that they had already planned an immediate full-out print and television media blitz coverage on his story this week. And then today, he was adopted! That's him with his new "Mom" in the photo above.
Superb work by the Pasco shelter staff for believing in him and for bringing him back to health and for a shelter-rescue partnership that knows no borders and works together tirelessly to advocate for and give our animals a voice and second chance.
Lesson learned - good things happen to good souls that forgive and move on... "

Sue Carlton of The St. Petersburg Times wrote a touching article about Charley, a dog who has suffered much at the hands of miserable humans and risen to love and be loved again.

All Things Dog - December 8, 2008

2008-12-08T03:55:00.000-08:00

The Trib reported two weeks ago that 123 animals taken from a Lakeland home are being evaluated for health issues. The dogs suffer from ear infections, skin conditions, whipworms, and mouth and gum problems. Carolyn Bragg was charged with 123 counts of animal neglect and one count of offering dogs for sale without a health certificate, after the animals were rescued from her house. Bragg's daughter, Sue-Ann Goodman was charged with tampering with evidence. The State department of Children and Families also took custody of her 12 year old daughter. Most of the dogs seized were Pomeranians, Yorkshire Terriers, Dachshunds, and Pugs, but there was also a litter of Golden Retriever pups. They will be offered for adoption as soon as they as the county is granted legal ownership.

This is the time of year when cute-as-a-button pups are being pushed as the perfect gift for your loved one. They're sold at pet stores, through breeders and in the newspaper. Lately, I see more and more roadside signs advertising purebred puppies. Florida state law mandates that dogs offered for sale must be at least 8 weeks of age and accompanied by a health certificate that is no more than 30 days old. For more information about Florida's Pet Law or to report disreputable dealers, go to the state Division of Animal Industry website.

A Note From An All-Year-Round Elf

2008-12-04T00:31:00.000-08:00

Jackie, a woman whose heart is devoted to helping animals, sent me this note:

I was at the big Pet Adoption Expo that took place at the state fairgrounds on November 15, volunteering with the Humane Society. It was great fun; altogether 350 animals found new homes; which is good to know in this time when so many are being abandoned. A couple weeks ago, when volunteering at the Humane Society, I took out one of the little Yorkies that had come from the puppy mill bust in Riverview earlier in the month- she was a tiny 8-year old, obviously had been over-bred, and was shivering a lot. But she sat on my lap in the sun, being loved on, and walked around on the grass .... and I wondered if any of those things had ever happened to her before, poor little thing. I hope she's found a good home, everyone adored her.

Note from this blog author:
Remember those creatures great and small when you're playing elf this holiday season. It's wonderful to hear that 350 were adopted, but so many are left behind. If you're thinking of giving a dog or cat as a gift, give a rescued pet. That little Yorkie may still be waiting for a permanent lap to rest on. But be wise; make the recipient of your generosity part of the process, so they can make a suitable match.

New Pet Store in Lutz

2008-12-02T00:08:00.000-08:00

We're excited to have a new pet supply shop near us. A few weeks ago, The Dog's Meow opened at 16311 N. Florida Ave. in Lutz. I attended their grand opening and was not surprised to find the store overrun with dog lovers and their menagerie of pooches. Lutz has suffered from the lack of an independent pet store.

The Dog's Meow offers a nice variety of natural petfood for both dogs and cats, including Solid Gold, Evo, Wellness and Natural Balance, as well as natural treats. A small portion of the store is dedicated to shampoos, hygienne and healing products. They have a good selection of pet waste bags and waste bag holders, pet waste picker ups, odor eliminators, etc. Several rows of shelves are dedicated to accessories, like ceramic dishes and canisters. In the "Boutique" area, there is a beautiful array of designer dog collars and dog togs. The toy section offers a generous variety of well made products. The store owners strive to offer items that aren't available elsewhere.

The decor at The Dog's Meow is fun and colorful with large polka dots bouncing playfully around the walls, along with black silhouettes of dogs and cats. The aisles are wide, so dogs and their handlers don't feel crowded. Some of the shelves are yet to be stocked, so it will be fun to stop back in and see what they'll hold. The store owners are very accomodating and open to customer's suggestions. Sarah, the owner, says they'll be hosting adoption events in the future. Pet grooming will be available soon.

Greyhound Rescue and Adoptions of Tampa Bay Wraps Up the Season

2008-11-26T00:43:00.000-08:00

Secret is an example of the beautiful dogs that Greyhound Rescue and Adoptions of Tampa Bay works with. Secret is a brindle and white male, born 3/25/06, and he's ready for a loving home. Secret is a sweet active young man and still has the mindset of a puppy! He's strong on a leash but is learning to walk nicely, and while he's not cat-friendly, he gets along beautifully with other greyhounds and with the Italian greyhound in his current foster home. He's still learning manners, like how to stay off the counter-tops! A fun, energetic boy, Secret is hoping the right family will come his way soon. Wouldn't he look perfect under the Christmas tree with a red ribbon around his neck?

Greyhound Rescue and Adoptions of Tampa Bay or GREAT works with racing trainers and owners who want to place retired dogs, as well as taking in dogs from shelters. They cover a wide territory in Florida including, Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, Polk, and Southern Hernando counties. Foster homes provide temporary care and time to evaluate each dog, along with helping them transition from track life to companion animal. GREAT's objectives, besides finding homes for their rescued dogs, are to educate the public about the breed and heighten awareness about over-breeding of greyhounds for racing, and the mass euthanasia that results from that practice.

GREAT has a very informative website that includes a history of the greyhound breed, adoption information, an events calender, newsletter, photo and video galleries, helpful links, and breed merchandise. Their adoption fee of $200 includes blood work, spay/neuter, vaccines, heartworm test, fecal test, full dental, microchip, collar, leash, muzzle and GREAT tag. GREAT doesn't typically place dogs in homes with children under the age of six, but does make allowances in certain situations. On their website is a page devoted to senior and special needs dogs. They offer a unique program called Care For Life, to encourage people to adopt older dogs and animals with special needs. The program helps adoptor's cover costs for certain medications and procedures that pertain to medical conditions the dog has when it's adopted. Candidates are chosen for this program on a case by case basis.

As with all rescue groups, GREAT relies on volunteer support and donations. Non profit groups need us now, more than ever. GREAT has an extensive adoption event schedule at various locations in the Tampa Bay area. Check out the "Meet and Greet" link on their site for times and dates of adoption events. One of their biggest fund raisers of the year is starting Nov. 28. That weekend and almost every day in December up until Christmas eve, they will have volunteers wrapping packages at the Carrollwood Barnes & Noble Booksellers at 11802 N. Dale Mabry Highway, and at the Brandon Barnes & Nobles at 122 Brandon Town Center Drive. Now, that's what I call great volunteerism! (pun intended) If you are one of those people who hates wrapping gifts, here's your chance to have someone do it for you and help out a good cause at the same time. The best way to determine when GREAT will be available at both locations is to check out their event calendar, at www.localendar.com/public/GREAT.

I'm Thankful

2008-11-25T04:08:00.000-08:00

I have so many things to be grateful for; I could write a book. Among them are my canine-loving husband and the two beasties that share our life. I'm constantly humbled by the generosity of individuals who volunteer their time to rescue animals, especially those who are the backbone of rescue groups and shelters. There's a growing army of animal lovers in this country, who are rising to the call of duty. There are even those who do double duty; serving their country as warriors in Iraq, while rescuing dogs and cats from the streets of Baghdad. And now, we have a President-Elect, who has stated to millions of viewers here and abroad, that his wish is to bring home a shelter dog for his daughters. That action alone, should heighten awareness and boost adoptions.

Thursday, I'll overdulge in delicious food and soak up the lively discussions, gentle jesting, and laughter that happens among good friends. That evening, Scott and I will drop sated onto a sofa, bookended by two champion snugglers, in front of a crackling fire. I don't know why I'm so blessed, but I'm thankful for it. I wish my readers a peaceful, bountiful Thanksgiving. I know your pets are well-loved and they are giving that love back, and that's yet another thing to be grateful for!

*Check out the ASPCA's recommendations for safely sharing your Thanksgiving meal with the critters.

All Things Dog - November 24, 2008

2008-11-24T00:22:00.000-08:00

According to the Tampa Tribune, thirty of the dogs that were rescued from a breeder last week in Riverview are now ready for adoption. Most of the dogs are small types like Chihuahuas and Yorkshire terriers. Some of them have health problems such as heartworms, heart murmurs and periodontal disease. the dogs range in age from 8 weeks to 14 years. For more information contact Hillsborough County Animal Services at (813) 744-5660 or see HCAS online.

On The Associated Press site last week was an article about Baghdad's street dogs. Under Saddam Hussein's reign, stray dogs were killed. When he was deposed in 2003, the practice stopped. Now, authorities are saying packs of street dogs have become dangerous in Baghdad, attacking people and spreading disease, so they have begun a campaign to kill stray dogs with poisoned meat and rifles. I wonder if there are any animal shelters in Iraq or programs to help homeless animals? I see now why so many puppies are hanging out with American soldiers. The puppies soldiers are caring for will need extra protection now.

The Trib's pet articles yesterday were about lost dogs. They provided good advice and useful contacts for anyone having lost or found an animal. Tagging along was an account of pet columnist, Kristen Levine's personal experience with a found dog. You can read more here.

Fundraiser for Angel

2008-11-20T00:12:00.000-08:00

This Sunday, November 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be a fund raiser for Angel, a young pit bull who was found emaciated and barely alive a couple weeks ago in the Sebring area. Angel is now in the care of Pit Positive, a Tampa rescue group devoted to helping pitbulls. The Animal Coalition of Tampa is sponsoring the event and The Village Groomer ( 14442 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa [813] 961-1599), is hosting. For $10 your dog gets a bath, nails trimmed, ears cleaned and anal glands expressed. Now, that's a deal!
The photos of Angel broke my heart. She's going to need lots of care before her world is right. To read more about Angel's story, see the blog set up by Pit Bull Gear.

The Things Hobbit Has Chewed This Week

2008-11-18T03:55:00.000-08:00

Look at that face, those big brown eyes and forlorn eyebrows - the picture of vulnerability and innocence. In the mornings this week, Hobbit has snuggled into the chair by the window while I work at the computer. In the evenings, he huddles under a warm throw with Ella and Dad on the sofa. In between...............

He wrecks mayhem and havoc. This week so far, he has chewed a bottle of shampoo from the shower, Ella's collar (while it's on her), his new Kong Wubba, a piece of floor molding with staples, a leash, a business card, my new jacket's zipper, the brush attachment on my vacuum cleaner, and the mister on a drip irrigation hose. And this is despite the fact that there are four new dinosaur chews in reach.

Oh, and there was the battle we had on Sunday over the spider, which was half dead by the time I found him with it. It resembled a brown widow and not wanting to take any chances, I tried to lure him away from it, but it was his prey and he wasn't giving it up. I distracted him by waving the mini banner I had just brought in from the yard at him. He ran in the kitchen, humped up his back, and turned to face me, slowly and on the tip of his toes like a cat. I was pretty sure I was looking at a dog who was defensive enough to bite me, but I couldn't leave it at that. I walked up to
him talking, sat down beside him and slowly
reached over to touch his side. He was shaking
like a leaf. I sat on the floor with him, talking and stroking him until he stopped shaking. I felt bad to have rattled him so and vowed never to wave anything at him again. But here lies a problem; how do you stop a dog from a risky behavior when they don't respond to "Leave it" or "No"? Even yummy treats won't tempt Hobbit away from something he's claimed.

He is such a whirlwind of behaviors and reactions, our little Hobbit. At 20 months, he's still young enough to be channeling puppy hood, and his anxiety issues are far from resolved. Add to that the natural energy and drive of the Jack Russell breed and you have chaos in a canine package. There is progress though. He hasn't eaten a pen in almost two months!

All Things Dog - November 17, 2008

2008-11-17T00:52:00.000-08:00

Florida Poodle Rescue will be participating in the 85th Annual St.Petersburg Christmas Parade, Saturday December 6th, 2008 Downtown St Petersburg. If you and your Poodle(s) would like to participate with Florida Poodle Rescue & their Float, call 727-781-5292. There will be a picnic in the park afterward.

The Humane Society University's Animal Cruelty 101 course will be taught at SPCA of Tampa Bay, 9099 130 Av. N, Largo, Wednesday, Nov. 19. The session runs from 9a.m. to 4p.m. and registration starts at 8:30a.m. Fee is $60. To sign up email register@hsus.org.

This is belated, but still worth the mention. Patrick McDonnell does one of my favorite comic strip's, Mutts. He honored Animal Shelter Week (Nov.2-8) with his art. You can see the week of strips on the Humane Society site.

Fall Pet Adoption Expo

2008-11-14T06:04:00.001-08:00

The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is sponsoring an adoption event at the Florida State Fairgrounds' Special Events Building, 4800 Hwy. 301, Tampa, Saturday, Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 30 rescue groups will attend with over 300 adoptable pets. Also on hand will be an "Ask a Vet" booth and an "Ask a Dog Trainer" booth and merchandise vendors. Each pet adopted will leave with a bag full of goodies. For more information call (813) 367-2078

Helen Woodward Animal Center

2008-11-12T00:08:00.000-08:00

I discovered the Helen Woodward Animal Center when I was researching an article for the Home 4 The Holidays pet adoption event. Home4 The Holidays is just one the many programs that HWAC is involved with to benefit animals and people. Although the center isn't located in Florida, I felt this unique facility would interest all animal lovers.

Helen Woodward founded HWAC in 1972 with a group of friends. Sitting on 12 acres in Rancho Sante Fe, California, it's a non profit organization that relies entirely on donations. The facility includes a No Kill adoption shelter, an equine hospital, therapeutic riding program, and an education center.

HVAC has a wide range of services tailored to helping creatures and the people who love them. At their adoption facility, they offer free spaying of the mothers of dog and cat litters that are surrendered to the shelter through the Spay, Don't Litter program. Since 1984, Animeals has provided free petfood to the elderly and disabled population of San Diego County with the help of Meals on Wheels and other agencies. HVAC's equine center serves people who face mental and physical challenges through their therapeutic riding program. Pet Encounter Therapy benefits people in hospitals, psychiatric facilities, children's shelters and senior centers through interaction with animals. They travel with dogs, rabbits, birds and guinea pigs to facilities, helping to enrich lives and heal through animal touch.

Education is a major focus at HVAC. They provide classes to children, nurturing the bond between animals and humans and encouraging compassion for all in the next generation. They also offer free 3 day workshops titled Animal Center Education Services. The seminar strives to teach more effective ways to find families for homeless pets and put an end to euthanasia. Animal shelter workers travel to HWAC from places like Singapore, Iran and Ireland to learn how to increase adoptions, improve fund raising, better manage volunteers, and promote through public relations and marketing. In 2007, ACES traveled to Canada to present the "Business of Saving Lives" conference to 250 animal welfare leaders.

Helen Woodward was a woman with a passion for not just helping animals, but for nurturing the relationship between animals and humans. HVAC is a shining example of what can grow from the vision of one person.

All Things Dog - November 10, 2008

2008-11-10T00:22:00.000-08:00

A friend sent me this link from Most Emailed Photos. It's a puppy sheltering under a soldier's gun in Iraq. It's easy to see why U.S. military personnel are going to so much trouble to bring these dogs home with them.

According to the Tampa Tribune, last week 77 dogs were rescued by Hillsborough County Animal Services from a Riverview breeder called PM Tinies. The entire house where the dogs were being kenneled was said to be covered in feces and urine. Three people were arrested including business owner Patricia Walters. Walters was charged with 41 counts of confinement of animals without food or water and 41 counts of animal cruelty.

I watched Barney the White House Scottie bite a reporter on the news. Unfortunately for Barney, this moment lives on in a You Tube clip. You can read about it at the Associated Press. I can't say I blame Barney for being snippy. He's being ousted from a very nice home. Who wouldn't miss having the white house chef prepare your meals?

For news about the future First Dog, the Obama family puppy is discussed in an article at Globe Life. It refers to Michelle Obama having stated in an earlier interview that they would like to get a dog from a rescue shelter. Barack Obama repeated that sentiment last week in his first press conference as President Elect.

Hillsborough County Animal Shelter Wish List

2008-11-07T00:11:00.000-08:00

HCAS has sent out a call for donations of the following items. The first two starred items are urgently needed.

*Towels
*Dog/Cat food (wet or dry)
Treats (no rawhides please)
Flat Sheets
Dog and Cat Toys
Any grooming items
Rechargeable batteries (AA and AAA)
Photo quality printer paper
Cute material for dog bandanas
Dog and cat cages for off site adoptions
Dog and cat reference books (breed guide, training guide etc.)
Various office supplies (pens, paper, highlighters, little notebooks, scissors, etc)
Peanut Butter (smooth only)
Newspapers
Tennis balls

And, of course…………….VOLUNTEERS AND FOSTER FAMILIES

Hillsborough County Animal Services
440 Falkenburg Road
Tampa, Florida 33619
Ph. (813) 744-5660 Fax (813) 635-7428

Volunteer Information (813) 612-5388
http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices/

History Happens

2008-11-05T05:06:00.000-08:00

As I stood in a not-so-long line yesterday at the polls, I was thankful for many things: early voting, patient poll workers, and a mild overcast day. Others in this country were not so lucky. In Virginia, lines were 5-7 hours long and they were wearing heavy jackets to keep out the cold. In one state, people stood in the rain and dripped water all over their ballots.

I did have some qualms about voting with blurry vision. Hobbit chose yesterday morning to destroy my only pair of glasses. I suspected a Republican conspiracy. I tried to repair the damage. The glasses were bent almost double. He had one lens in his mouth when I found him. A nose pad broke off when I tried to bend it back into place. He had eaten the latex off one earpiece, leaving a thin, sharp wire. I managed to get the lens back in and the glasses twisted back to a resemblance of normal. They sit cockeyed on my nose and one lens is closer to my eye than the other. I wrapped tape around the earpiece. I considered shipping Hobbit to Texas, a staunch Republican state.

I watched NBC's wall to wall election coverage last night with Brian Williams at the helm. Tom Brokaw provided commentary that only a well seasoned journalist could of this historic event. The images of the crowd gathered in Chicago moved me to tears at times. So many hopeful faces, young and old, black and white holding their collective breath. The interviews with older black Americans were poignant. They were people who experienced the civil rights movement, marched with Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. and believed that indeed, they would overcome. Their only regret was that their parents and grandparents hadn't lived to see this day.

I didn't think I would live to see this day either. A person with dark skin and a distinctly foreign name, chosen to lead our nation. I listened to Barack Obama's acceptance speech and when he said "It's been a long time coming, but tonight change has come to America," I wanted to believe him. He brought his family out on stage and mentioned that accompanying them on their move to Washington D.C. would be his daughters' new puppy. No word yet on what that puppy will look like or where it will come from. I had some fun this morning imagining what housebreaking would look like in the White House. Picture several Secret Service types, scurrying to keep up with Mrs. Obama and her daughters as they rush the new pup outside for a wee wee break. I predict that the next four years there will be more laughter in that big house on the hill, than there has been since the Kennedy children ran through the halls.

All Things Dog - November 3, 2008

2008-11-03T00:56:00.000-08:00

Sherry Silk, Executive Director for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay will be featured on WMNF radio's Talking Animals show this week, Wednesday Nov. 5 from 11:30 to noon. That's at 88.5 on your FM dial.

November is Adopt A Senior Pet Month sponsored by the ASPCA. For more about this event go to http://www.aspca.org/.

This week is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States. Help raise awareness by hosting an event for your local shelters. For more info see http://www.animalsheltering.org/.

While you're waiting for all those votes to be tallied on election day, here's an entertaining link to check out at Rover 411. They held a contest for McCain and Obama canine look-a-likes. I think the McCain choice was great, but the Obama winner looked more like his suit, than it did like him. Well, maybe the eyebrows work, but Obama only wishes he had eyes as endearing as the boxer's, and the boxer's expression is missing Obama's big smile. Tuesday, the election of the century will be over and I have a feeling some folks are going to need remedial training on how to play nice, when their candidate doesn't get elected. Think Positive Reinforcement when sore losers get grumpy.

Freaky Howling Friday

2008-10-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-29T00:33:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-27T00:50:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-22T00:59:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-20T00:25:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-12T06:06:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-09T04:01:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-08T00:16:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-06T00:35:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-10-01T00:47:00.000-07:00

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!

All Things Dog - September 29, 2008

2008-09-29T00:06:00.000-07:00

October is Adopt A Dog month sponsored by the American Humane Association.

According to the Trib, Hillsborough County Animal Services will be changing the hours for the animal surrender portion of their facility. Starting Oct. 1, hours will be from 1-5 p.m. Mondays and Fridays and 2-6 p.m Wednesdays. Previously they were open six days a week in the afternoons. Animals to be surrendered should be vaccinated for rabies and have county tags. Marti Ryan, spokesperson for HCAS encourages owners to seek out other options for their pets, using Animal Services as their last resort. HCAS does their best to adopt out the animals they receive, but they are a kill shelter, and far t oo many animals don't walk back out that door.For more info see HCAS or call (813) 744-5660.

A warning was sent to me by a reader about dogs ingesting cocoa mulch, sold by Target, Home Depot and other garden centers. Ingredients in the cocoa shells used in the mulch can be harmful to dogs if ingested and have resulted in death in at least one case. You can read more about this product and the potential risks at snopes.

Baghdad Pups

2008-09-23T07:10:00.000-07:00

The Tampa Tribune reported this week on St.Petersburg's Marine Lance Cpl. Matt Kirchgraber, who is continuing a trend among soft hearted Americans fighting overseas; he brought home a stray. Kujo, a shepherd mix, was just a few weeks old when Kirchgraber found him in Baghdad, huddled next to a dead litter mate in the snow. The marine nursed the puppy to health and with the help of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Baghdad Pups program, Kujo found his way to America. He came over on the same plane as Jasmine and Hope, two cats who were also rescued with help from Baghdad Pups.

The Baghdad Pups program started in September of 2007, when a soldier wrote for help in bringing a border collie named Charlie to the U.S. Charlie had been adopted by the soldier's unit in Iraq and they couldn't imagine leaving him behind in that war ravaged land. It seems the rewards go both ways between soldiers and dogs. The dogs give the soldiers something to look forward to, remind them that there is more to the world than war and help them forget that war for brief periods. I imagine the bond that forms between people and animals in that situation, must be almost unbreakable. I wonder whether these animals will be therapeutic to the soldiers who will spend part of their lives recovering from the trauma of war.

The SPCA requires animals meet certain criteria to be considered for the Baghdad Pups program. Among other factors, the animal must have been found by the military as a puppy or kitten under three months of age, and cared for by one soldier or one unit for at least two months. One person must agree to provide them a permanent home in the states. That home must be a safe environment and the owner agrees to spay or neuter the animal within thirty days of their arrival in the U.S. Animals are also vaccinated and screened for health problems. They are required to be socialized with no signs of aggression towards people.

According to a Washington Times article in April of this year, the SPCA gets several requests a week to help transport animals from Iraq and Afghanistan. By April of last year , they had successfully shipped six animals to new homes in America. They hoped to accomplish the transport of 45 more animals by this summer. The cost per animal is roughly $4000 and requires tedious planning. This seems a unique situation in the history of war. I'm sure these Americans aren't the first soldiers to have bonded with animal's they encounter in war. But they may very well be the first to adopt those animals and bring them home.

All Things Dog - September 22, 2008

2008-09-22T00:48:00.000-07:00

The Tampa Tribune Featured the following articles last week:

This man really defies believing. Herminio Soto of Plant City told Animal Services investigators when they came to his home, that he can starve his old dogs if he wants to. By old dogs, he means 8 and 10 year old bull terriers that had the misfortune of landing in this household. He allows them to forage rotten oranges off the ground in the yard occasionally, but otherwise believes that starving to death is a better solution than euthanasia. At their age, he feels those are their two alternatives. Hmmm, I'm thinking Soto, who is 58, is way past his prime and should be foraging off the ground himself. What this man really needs is a psychiatric evaluation. Thank goodness the dogs are now at Hillsborough County Animal Services along with three other bull terriers, two puppies and a one year old. Mr. Soto is in jail on animal cruelty charges. Read more here.

And in yet another glaring example of inhumanity, Michael McKinney of Tampa has been charged with animal cruelty for the second time in two years. In 2006, he pleaded guilty of animal cruelty and was sentenced to time served. In that case, one dog was found dead, hanging from a fence and another suffered severe head, face and neck wounds. This time, a male adult pit bull mix was found with head, neck and face wounds, consistent with dog fighting. One adult female pit mix was found with six pups, one of them dead. She delivered five more puppies at the HCAS shelter. Another female had a prolapsed uterus. Animals were chained to axles driven into the ground, with no shelter, and some had no water. McKinney's comment to investigators when they served him with charges was "I'll walk." Let's hope justice is served and he walks right into a nice long prison term. Come on, Florida prosecutors, remember the Vick's case. Don't condone dogfighting in the state of Florida! The full story is here in the Trib.

And on a positive note, there was a small blurb hyping the Lutz Dogpark, with a Border Collie and some labs hamming it up in a photo.

Canines in Hollywood

2008-09-18T04:48:00.000-07:00

There are two movies to watch for that feature our four-legged friends. One is Marley and Me, based on the well- loved book of the same name by John Grogan. It's an autobiographical depiction of the journalist's thirteen years with Marley, a boisterous labrador. The movie stars Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston and is due out Christmas Day. You can see more at http://www.marleyandmemovie.com/

The second movie is Hotel For Dogs, based on a children's book by Lois Duncan. It's the tale of two children who are forced to find a place for their dog, when their new guardians refuse to allow a pet. The brother and sister, along with two friends create a home for their dog and eight other strays in an abandoned hotel. The movie stars Emma Roberts and JakeAustin as the siblings, and a supporting cast that includes Lisa Kudrow, Don Cheadle and Kevin Dillon. Release is set for January 16. You can see a trailer at www.hotelfordogsmovie.com.

Barks and Whines From Dame Dog

2008-09-15T03:44:00.000-07:00

I'm new to blogging, but learning quickly that the foxes of the blogworld are very sly indeed. Previously, I have published responses that seemed sincere, but in reality were product promotions. Recently, I received a response that sent up a red flag, but I couldn't track it because it was posted anonymously. I have never wanted this blog to be littered by commercials. I set up the blog so that reader's responses must be approved by me before they are published. That way I could omit the ones I felt were ads. So, I have two choices. I can eliminate the feature that allows people to post anonymously, or I can stop posting responses that have any kind of link in them. The first choice would hinder readers who want to publish, but are shy about using a name. So, I'm going with the second. If you have a link attached to your response, it won't be published here. If there's a non profit link that you want the readers to know about, email me and tell me about it.

I apologize for this week's slim pickings. I'm in charge of a family reunion which is looming large on the near horizon. That will be over in mid October, and hopefully, life will settle down around here. But my lack of time to dedicate to the blog for the next couple weeks, brings up an issue. When, I started this blog, I had no idea the amount of time I would end up devoting to it. Nor how it would get under my skin. Sometimes, I wish I had nothing else on my schedule, so that I could make it a more worthwhile site. There are so many groups out there that deserve to be talked about; so many inspiring stories about rescue work and dogs who have survived despite their terrible fates. Unfortunately, instead of finding more time in my schedule for the blog, I'm facing more demands on my time. I don't want the blog to become stagnate. So, I'm tossing an idea out to readers. I'd like to find feature writers to contribute to this site. Articles can range from personal experience to current events to topics and research, but all should be pertinent to the people who rescue Florida dogs. If you are interested in participating in this project, email me and let me know what type of stories you'd like to do. I'll let readers know by the end of the year, about the results of this effort.

A Local Hero To Animals

2008-09-11T00:03:00.000-07:00

Bob Reina is the man who recently helped save Bindi, the stray dog who lost a leg to a gator and wandered alone for days. Reina adopted Bindi after meeting her and being won over by her appreciation. But, according to Tampa Tribune and The St.Pete Times, Bindi's new owner didn't stop there. He asked what he could give that would make a difference at Hillsborough Animal Services. The answer was beds, and Reina delivered 325 Kuranda beds to the shelter at the cost of $18,000, so that dogs no longer have to lay on hard concrete floors.

Now, Mr. Reina is on a campaign to eliminate the need for euthanasia at HCAS. He plans to use the video marketing company that he works for, Talk Fusion, to increase donations and sign up volunteers. A website will be created, where users can easily sign up to make donations or volunteer. Care Crew, a non profit organization, will be helping HCAS with marketing. Reina would also like to create a group of veterinarians who would go into communities offering low cost spay/neuter services. Imagine what could be done if more people were this enthusiastic and commited to a cause like ending the need for euthanasia.

Diary Of A Dog Woman by Rohana Chomick

2008-09-08T03:59:00.000-07:00

I am honored this week to be the first to publish this fictional story by Tampa writer, Rohana Chomick, who has many years of experience rescuing stray cats and dogs.

Day 1: She scared the hell out of me. Out of the corner of my eye I glimpsed a dark mass roaring out from under a car parked on the street, heading for the open area under a little green bungalow. All I could tell was that it was some sort of animal.

Day 2: It was hard to tell what she was. So fast, like a greyhound chasing a terrified rabbit, down the street she went, vanishing into the burgeoning uncut bushes in front of a sagging house. I only wanted to give her food, but she followed “The X-Files” axiom – trust no one. What she didn’t know is that I’m a patient and persistent person, and I have all the time in the world since I’m unemployed.

Day 5: Haven’t seen her for days. I call her a “she” because…well, just because. Today as I round a street corner with my plastic baggie of dry dog food (stolen from my own dog) and a red throwaway plastic bowl, I see something hovering behind a pile of broken cement. I call, here, puppy, puppy. Not that I can really tell if it’s her, or if it’s her, that she’s a dog. Could be a large raggedy cat. All I can see is torn ears. Then, suddenly with no warning, it blasts out of its hiding place and races into the trash-strewn, overgrown alley. It’s her, and she’s some sort of small dog.

Day 7: For two days I scout around the pile of cement and the alley where I last saw her, but she’s nowhere in that vicinity, at least not that my human eyes can see. I call her silently, hoping she can hear my spirit call to hers. Nothing. For the second time, I turn to go but then I hear a slight rustle in the wild azalea to my right. I don’t turn to look; I slowly put the red plastic bowl on the weeds in front of me and dump the dog food into it. I trek back quietly, step by slow step, until I’m on the street. I notice a small nose poke out of the azalea, sniffing the gift a couple of feet away. I don’t move; a stone statue has nothing on me. The nose becomes a dark-colored muzzle, and then eyes and forehead. Even from where I stand I can see the blood and the gnats flying around her face. Inside I am crying, but in the real world I am a tree, not moving, barely breathing, hoping for invisibility. Her eyes gobble the food but she quickly disappears back into the safety of the azalea. I have been spotted or sniffed. I walk away, hoping she’ll eat the food before it rains or raccoons scarf it up.

Day 8: The bowl is empty, but whether she has eaten it is another story. I pour more food into the bowl and walk away. There’s an aging oak tree across the street and I hide behind it. Today I made sure not to lather on any lotion or cologne, but I know a dog can still smell my human aroma. I’m guessing that she’s sickly so maybe she can’t sniff me out across the street, concealed behind a thick tree trunk. I stand there for 30 minutes, peeking out every few minutes, but no one comes to eat the food. She may have moved on, or perhaps she has died. Tears come readily to my eyes, but I’m not ready to give up yet.

Day 9: The bowl is empty again. I hope that she is the one who has eaten it. I call her again. Puppy, Puppy, come here. Of course she doesn’t come. I decide to give her a name. Everyone needs a name. It’s true that once upon a time she did have a name, but that name and life are long gone. I will give her a name to honor her new life, even though it’s a desolate existence right now. I will give her a name that promises an amazing future. I sit on the pile of cement and think. Of course, I’m not even sure if she’s a she, or if she’s still alive, but stuff like that has never stopped me from going forward. I stand up and walk to the alley. I say out loud, I christen you Wyoming. Wild. Free. Beautiful. My only answer is the distant cry of a police siren.

Day 10: The woman who lives in the house by Wyoming’s alley is watering a frog bowl of wilting impatiens when I come by today. I ask her if she’s seen a stray dog. She stares at me like she’s trying to figure out what I am and then says, that thing your dog? Have you seen her today, I say. Yeah, I called the dog catcher people, but I ain’t seen them yet. No, I scream. She backs away from me, dropping her water pitcher, and hastens into her house, slamming the wood screen door. No, no, no, I yell. I have to find Wyoming. I have to rescue her. I know Animal Services will most likely euthanize her the minute they get their hands on her because she’s in poor health. Wyoming, I call. Wyoming. The woman gawks at me over a half-curtained window and then backs into the gloom of her house when she sees me looking right at her. I search everywhere but I can’t find Wyoming. I search for hours. I see the Animal Services truck cruising the streets but it leaves after 30 minutes. Wyoming has hidden herself like a pro. From all of us.

Day 11: In all the fracas yesterday, I forgot to leave food during the day but I filled the bowl last night around 9:00 pm. Today the bowl is empty. I pour more food in the bowl and add a bit of cooked chicken to spice up the aroma. Then I quickly walk to my hiding place behind the oak tree. The woman who called Animal Services is not home today; at least her car is gone, so maybe Wyoming will show up to eat the food. After 15 minutes, when I peer around tree, I spot a lithe gray cat eating the chicken. I leap out and yell, get away from that food. Startled, the cat jumps up, drops the piece of chicken it was chewing, and dashes down the alley, dodging beer cans, broken furniture, and dangling branches, and scoots under a wood privacy fence. I go back into hiding. I wait for an hour but no cat and no Wyoming. I probably scared away every animal within a block. And then it begins to rain, light at first, then an all-out assault. I walk home, defeated once again.

Day 14: The food has vanished for days but no sightings of Wyoming. She’s probably dead, either from what ailed her, starvation, another dog, or Animal Services. For two weeks my life has been focused on rescuing this poor little dog and now it seems as if hope has died along with Wyoming. I fill the food bowl out of habit, and then I walk over to the pile of cement and begin to cry. A crow squawks overhead as it lands on a tree branch; it’s soon joined by a couple of other crows and they begin a raucous conversation. I listen as the tears travel down my face. Life just isn’t fair. I don’t know how or why Wyoming wound up in the streets, alone, sick, hungry. I tried to help her, but all my efforts were not enough. I just want to scream to God, why, why, why. I sense one of the crows leaving its perch and flying to the alley floor. I hear a yip. I quickly get up from the pile of cement and peek around the wood fence. There’s Wyoming, defending her food against the intruder crow. Now I can see all of her. Definitely a female. Probably a terrier mix. I notice bloody sores, patches of fur missing, matted fur, a white scar trailing down her left hind leg, ragged ears, and a swollen right foot. But she’s alive! I back away so she doesn’t see me and flee. It’s time for a serious rescue.

Day 20: A happy ending. Just the way I like it. Here’s how it went: four days ago I caught Wyoming by positioning her red plastic food bowl, filled with cooked chicken and raw beef, in a humane trap in the alley. It took two days of trying and I stayed behind that oak tree all day, each day, watching, waiting. Occasionally a cat would drift by, sniffing the food and the trap. One almost took the bait but I scared it away by waving my arm from behind the tree. The poor cat probably lost one of its lives thinking the tree had come to life.

I didn’t see Wyoming the first day. That night the trap caught a raccoon who was not pleased to be jailed. I released it and watched it zip down the alley like an Olympic athlete. Then I refilled the bowl with the same food as yesterday. After about an hour or so, the good food aroma beckoned Wyoming from her hiding place under an overturned sofa. She walked around and around the trap, trying to figure out how to get the food without going into the trap. She sat at the entrance for awhile. I could see saliva dripping from her mouth. Then she stood up and rushed into the trap, in an effort no doubt to grab the food and run. It didn’t work. The trap door came down and she was caught. She howled in anger and fear. I ran to her, talking to her, calling her by name. She shrank against the side of the trap, growling. I picked up the trap with a thick towel in case of an attack and laboriously carried her home (she may have been small and thin, but she and the trap were heavy).

I placed the trap on my enclosed porch and sat in a chair near her, talking to her, telling her that everything was going to be alright. She glared at me, but I saw her tail slightly flick back and forth.

In the four days since I caught Wyoming she has changed from a wild, frightened dog into a friendly, somewhat skittish pal to me and my old Malamute, Juneau, who has taken quite a liking to her. I figure at one point in her life Wyoming was well-loved and taken care of by someone who had the resources to do so. I don’t know what happened to change her circumstances, but once she came to understand that I was going to feed her, take care of her (which included a visit to the vet), and love her, she calmed down and began to let go of her reservations. It always amazes me how fast and willing children, dogs, and cats are to jettison their former circumstances and reach out for the love offered to them by a caring individual. Perhaps it’s an innate trust, something that I should probably learn to cultivate when it comes to humans.

Day 130: I’ve been so busy these past few months. Wyoming has healed beautifully. She now weighs about 25 pounds and her fur is a shiny salt and pepper color. Her left hind leg still bears the white scar and her ears are still torn, but nowadays she prances like a loved dog. She has a happy face and sleeps well, although she sometimes has flashback episodes that leave her inconsolable for a little while. It’s always Juneau who retrieves her from the land of her painful memories. And with her youthful enthusiasm (the vet guesses her to be about 3 years old), she has brought new life into my 10-year-old Juneau. The other day I saw him actually running and chasing Wyoming and her Cocker Spaniel friend in a dog park we like to visit.

It’s almost Christmas, my favorite time of year. There’s a lot to reflect upon and a lot to do, but what I do know for sure is that this Christmas there will be three joyful family members in my holiday photo – me, Juneau, and Wyoming. Ain’t life grand….

All Things Dog - September 8, 2008

2008-09-08T00:42:00.000-07:00

During the month of September, the Animal Coalition of Tampa is offering to neuter male dogs for $55, and cats for $20. You must present the coupon on their website to benefit from this offer.The ACT clinic is at 1719 W. Lemon St. For more information, call 9813) 250-3900 or go to their website.

Duncan Strauss, the host of WMNF radio's Talking Animal's show, is seeking donations of premium's for the station's upcoming fundraising drive, which will take place the first week in October. Premium's can be services, as well as goods. If you have something you think a listener would be happy to donate for, contact Duncan.

In the Trib's Critter Calender last week, it was reported that Pinellas Co. Animal Services is seeking volunteers who can transport the pets of special needs residents who evacuate during emergencies. For more info, call Greg Andrews, (727)582-2623.

Dogtown on National Geographic

2008-09-05T05:29:00.000-07:00

This info came from blog reader, Jackie:

FYI - tonight (Friday) at 9 PM on the National Geographic channel, the "Dogtown" series will start up again for a four-week stint. This show is filmed at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah, and tonight's show will be about the "Vicktory Dogs" - the 22 pitbulls (well, they feature four specific pitties) that came to them from the Michael Vick case.

Dog Park Picks

2008-09-03T04:00:00.000-07:00

"So, what's this dogpark place about? It might be wise to stick close to Mom 'til I figure it out."

"What are all those dogs running after? I don't see anything to get excited about. No squirrels. No cats. Huh, beats me."

" I think I'll lay down here and take a nap. Watching all those dogs tuckered me out."

Pup In Need Of TLC

2008-09-01T06:36:00.000-07:00

*Update: Darla has found a foster home! Thank you, whoever you are.

This request came from a volunteer at
Pasco County Animal Services. This puppy was brought in over the weekend. She lived on a farm and tangled with a member of the livestock community, resulting in a broken leg. Her owners were unable to get her the help that she needed, so they surrendered her to the shelter. She's a 12 week old shepherd mix dubbed Darla, and in need of a nice, quiet foster home for the next two months, while she recuperates. Of course, should her warm licks of appreciation and grateful tail wags persuade you to call her a permanent family member, that would be okay, too. PCAS will take care of her veterinary needs while she is being fostered. She will need to be brought into the shelter once a week for a check up. If you have a place for Darla, email Dr. Spencer or call (813)929-1212 or (813)929-1217 and ask to speak to veterinary staff.

All Things Dog - September 1, 2008

2008-09-01T00:35:00.000-07:00

A Tampa man flew to Canada last month to help his distraught daughter search for her lost dog. Sugar, a Maltese/Poodle mix had escaped from a yard and was missing seven days. Her journey home involved being hit by a car, and saved by a kind bystander who performed mouth to mouth resuscitation on the dog after it stopped breathing. You can read the rest of this story at the Durham Region News site. The owner's father, Gene Costain, wrote a lovely column about this experience, which was featured in the Trib's commentary section Monday, but I haven't been able to find it online.

With Gustav barreling towards Louisiana, I wondered how that state had prepared for the evacuation of pets during disasters. I looked at their Humane Society and SPCA websites for information and wasn't disappointed. Shelters will be set up throughout the state with animal shelters being adjacent to human housing. Buses began evacuating the elderly and sick, as well as those without transportation over the weekend. Animals in carriers were accepted on the buses. The state's animal shelters were in full swing, with outside assistance called in and on the way. My thoughts and prayers are with those folks.

Here in Tampa, the Tampa Tribune reports that Cinder and Powder, two Labrador Retrievers assigned to Tampa Fire Rescue handlers who do Fire Rescue work, are also on call with FEMA. They have trained several days a week in search and rescue work for over two years with their handlers, Lt.'s Brian Smithey and Roger Picard. Picard and Smithey are watching Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna, and are ready to leave as soon as the call comes in that their help is needed.

On tbo.com last week, it was reported that Charlotte Mathews-Nelson, a Dover woman was arrested and charged with animal cruelty, after ten skeletal like dogs were found living in rusty vehicles on her property. Among the dogs was a lab mix puppy, a pit bull and several terriers, including one who was nursing three puppies. She told officers that she did not have money to feed the animals. From the woman's picture, she looks like someone who is suffering herself. Animals who belong to people with too many problems of their own, are likely to suffer even more than their owners.

Foster Home Needed

2008-08-29T04:06:00.000-07:00

*Update on Patty Cake- she's found her foster home!

Patty Cake is a sweet pitbull in need of a very special foster home. She has an advanced case of heartworms and requires someone to care for her through the three months of treatment. She'll do best in a home with no other dogs. If you think you can help, please contact Art.

Recall Of Dangerous Dog Toy

2008-08-28T11:46:00.001-07:00

A loyal reader sent me a link to a blog that tells the story of a ball manufactured by Four Paws. The ball has a hole in the top and dogs have gotten their tongues stuck in it and been unable to remove them. Chai, the lab who is featured in the blog, eventually had to have his tongue amputated. At the Four Paws site, they claim to have stopped shipment of the Rough and Ready Pimple Ball, along with several other silmilar products and asked retailers to pull the toys from their shelves.

Dog Park Picks

2008-08-27T04:49:00.001-07:00

Dog Mysteries For The Fun At Heart

2008-08-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

If you like mystery and farce, and aren't afraid to swallow an anthropomorphized Labrador, you will love J.F. Englert's new Bull Moose Dog Run series, starting with "Dog About Town" and "A Dog Among Diplomats". The synopsis on the back of the book reads more or less like this: Harry is a man mourning the loss of his beloved girlfriend, Imogene, who disappeared one night while running an errand. He's also the owner of a plump, poetry-loving Lab, Randolph. Like most Manhatten dogs, Randolph spends his days sifting through a world of scents, his owner's neuroses, and an overcrowded doggy run at the American Museum of Natural History. But now Harry has drifted into a world of would-be occultists. Which might not be so bad if one of them wasn't also a murderer.

Randolph is sentient canine who taught himself to read as a puppy on the newspapers his mistress put down for potty training. He is inspired by great classics, especially the work of Dante, and excuses the general perception that humans have of dogs as unintelliegent because, in his words " Most dogs certainly do not behave in ways that would suggest sentience (though most humans do not either as is apparent from the hastiest of glances at the newspapers)." Randolph is challenged to not only protect his hapless owner from harm, but to steer Harry toward clues that will lead to the killer's identity. He is also trying to cipher a code that Imogene left in her journal, just before she disappeared.

The book is a fast, enjoyable read. Randolph is a likable character. His owner, Harry evokes sympathy, but I found myself getting annoyed with his lack of attention to Randolph. My dog- mother self wanted to scream when Harry fed the Lab whatever came home in a take-out package or was pulled from the "deeply troubled refrigerator." But the literature lover in me, recognized that Harry was eating the same junk food he fed the dog and this description only served to emphasize the emotional collapse Harry had suffered when he lost Imogene. My husband actually laughed at me when I expressed my discomfort with the inappropriate feeding. He remembers his bachelor ways and had no problem with Randolph and Harry's diet.

In "A Dog Among Diplomats", we find Randolph being loaned to a diplomat from Near Upper Pilasia, who is in need of a therapy dog to help calm his anxieties. The diplomat has taken up temporary residence at a boarding house near the United Nations. Several murders occur at the boarding house and Imogene, Randolph and Harry's true love, is implicated. Which suggests that Imogene is still alive, but mysteriously hidden. Randolph must prove that his mistress is innocent and find the true killer, and do so in the midst of political intrique. Very heady stuff for a Lab.

Randolph has his own quirky blog at http://www.adogabouttown.com/ JL Englert generously offers his books to dog shelters for fundraising purposes. To learn more, contact adogabouttown.

Storm Fay

2008-08-19T03:48:00.000-07:00

It looks like Tampa Bay will escape the wrath of Fay, but Hillsborough County was prepared to shelter our pets. Volunteers for the pet friendly shelters were on alert throughout the day yesterday and asked to be ready to report to Sickles HS or Burnett MS as early as 8 a.m. this morning. It's comforting to know that people trained to care for our animals would be on hand if we needed to leave our homes and find shelter. I'm grateful to the hard working people, who have commited to helping others during disasters. They have the same concerns as we do during these storms, yet their first thought is for others. Thank you CHAART and the volunteer force behind it.

That said, Hillsborough County is still in need of volunteers for the pet friendly shelters. CHAART has offered two training sessions this year and the turn out has been poor. So, if this is a need you can fill, please email Raquel at CHAART and she will hook you up.

Political Dogs

2008-08-18T07:03:00.000-07:00

No, I am not calling politicians', dogs, and if I were it would be a compliment. I'm refering to the issue of the current presidential candidates' pets or lack thereof, and the growing attention it's generating. Consider that The American Kennel Club and Best Friends Animal Society are vying for Barack Obama's attention after hearing that he intended to get a puppy for his daughters after the election. Both organizations have set up websites to allow people to vote for their choice of pup. And then there is the site where your dog can cast his preference for Presidential candidate at http://www.petsvote.com/.

On the Best Friends petition site , they easily got the 50,000 signatures they were trying for in an effort to convince the Obama family to adopt a shelter dog. The Best Friends Animal Society asks that readers stay tuned for an important update. The Kennel Club site offers viewers a chance to vote for their favorite choice of dog for the Obamas. They selected five breed candidates based on the Obama family needs. It's been reported that the two Obama daughters, age 6 and 9, have allergies. The breeds to be voted on are Minature Schnauzer, Bichon Frise, Poodle, Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier and Chinese Crested. Best Friends' points out that the Obama family can find any one of those breeds in rescue organizations.

I cruised a couple blogs to get a sense of what people were saying about this issue. One person commented that it was a silly issue to begin with and unworthy of the press it was getting. I disagree. While the Presidential candidates' stance on owning pets will not be a deciding factor in who I vote for, I do think they have the nation's attention and their choices influence America. Including their choice of pets. When Obama chooses a dog for his household, he will be an example to millions. Think about the message he will send, if he decides to be a part of the solution for the homeless pet problem.

All Things Dog - Aug.18, 2008

2008-08-18T00:42:00.000-07:00

On Animal Planet , Sunday, August 24, at 10 p.m., the Michael Vick's case will be featured. They will revisit the case and learn what has happened to the dogs who were rescued.

In last week's Trib's Petcetera section:
The Humane Society University is offering training for Disaster Animal Response Teams (DART) volunteers. The course will be offered in Gainesville, Sept. 12-14 at Sante Fe Community College, 401 N.W. 6th St. The program involves classroom instruction, and role playing. Topics range from leagal and safety issues, animal rescue and transport, damage assessment to team response and incident command systems. Free online course are recommended also. To enroll for the training, go to www.humanesociety.org/university. (Keyword DART)

Also in Petcetera: The Animal Coalition of Tampa (ACT) is offering to spay and neuter pit bulls or pit mixes for $55 duringthe month of August. ACT is at 1719 W. Lemon St. in Tampa. You can call the clinic at (813) 250-3900 for more information or go online at http://www.acttampa.org/.

Hillsborough County Animal Services has scheduled training for volunteers at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 27 at their facility at 440 Faulkenburg Rd. For more info call, 98130744-5660, email info @hillsboroughcounty.org, or see HCAS online

Special Needs Pup's Last Chance

2008-08-15T05:39:00.000-07:00

The white smiling face to the right is an 8 month old deaf pit or pit mix. She's a sweetie with one day left on her calender. She' s scheduled for euthanization tomorrow at the Polk County shelter.

They also have a 3 month old deaf pup who is learning sign language and in need of a home. If you're interested in either of these dogs email Art.

International Homeless Animal Day

2008-08-15T00:23:00.000-07:00

Saturday, August 16 is International Homeless Animal Day. The International Society for Animal Rights began National Homeless Animal Day to draw attention to dog and cat overpopulation, increase awareness of the millions of unwanted animals killed every year in shelters, and stress the importance of spaying and neutering. From it's modest beginnings in 1992, the occasion has grown to include foreign animal protection groups, thus the need for the new name. ISAR feels candlelight vigils are the most poignant way to dramatize the importance of the overpopulation problem. Dedicated shelter personnel have held moving rituals, where they read euthanized animals' names and dates that each one died. Some offer prayers or play music.To order free vigil packets and learn more, see ISAR

Locally, International Homeless Animals Day is being recognized by Hillsborough County Animal Services and CHAART (Community of Hillsborough Animal & Agricultural Response Team) who will conduct sign-in and pet-sheltering procedures such as those performed during actual disasters. New recruits are welcome to attend, but pets should not be brought to the practice drill. Volunteers will be trained by experienced animal professionals. Information about pet-preparedness will be available, and a pet-evacuation kit complete with micro-chip ID will be on display for interested pet owners. Pet-Shelter Disaster Drill and Volunteer Sign-up is Saturday, August 16th, 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon at Burnett Middle School (1010 N. Kingsway Road, Seffner) . Having a disaster or hurricane plan is vital. For more information , please call 813-744-5660 or log onto http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/

I only had time to do a fast internet search, but I was surprised to not find any of the local shelters and rescues recognizing International Animal Homeless Day. But that doesn't mean people can't create their own celebrations or just acknowledge the day by adopting a stray, volunteering at a shelter, or having a pet spayed or neutered.

More Dog Park Vignettes

2008-08-14T00:38:00.000-07:00

These two lab types paired up immediately and they had never met. I always find it interesting how animals of similar breed will seek each other out.

As you can see, they were good buddies before the day was done.

A very kind gentleman allowing Ella to meet him on her terms.

What's Poisonous to Dogs?

2008-08-12T00:10:00.000-07:00

My vet thinks dogs will eat virtually anything. Their noses may be capable of astounding detection, but most of the species lack the ability to distinguish between good and bad comestibles. A blog reader recently sent this link to a scary story about a dog who ingested rat poison, without it's owner knowing about it. I had flashbacks to a day many years ago when I realized my Jack Russell had just eaten rat poison at the horse farm where I worked. A call to the local vet guided me to feed her a teaspoon of salt, which I did and she immediately threw up the poison and the salt. I don't think salt is good for dogs, but it worked in that situation and my dog never showed any ill effects.

Rat poison is an obvious no no, but the list of things that are toxic to dogs is long and not always obvious. I think it's safe to assume that most of the concoctions we keep under our sinks and in our garages and sheds, should be kept away from our pets. The medicine cabinet contents should also be off limits. The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center's list of the top ten poisonous substances include human painkillers, cold medications, antidepressants and dietary supplements. Some foods that sit benignly in a person's stomach may be toxic to animals. Raisins, apple seeds, onions and walnuts are a few things you don't want to leave on the floor for the Hoover's of the dog world to suck up. As far as plants go, there are so many on the poison list, you might as well assume most of what's in your yard and house needs to be kept out of your pet's mouth. Toxic plants include such common species as caladium, english ivy, azalea and philodendren. The Humane Society of the United States provides a list of poisonous plants and foods.

Then, there's the things they eat that don't seem at all appealing like plastic, latex and metal. Zinc is highly toxic to dogs. The zinc in one penny can kill a dog.
The American Veterinary Medical Association offers a brochure online and in print titled "What You Should Know About Household Hazards". It's a handy reference to keep in your pet's first aid kit. APCC provides advice on prevention and what to do if you think your animal has been poisoned, along with a venue for pet owners to ask questions. They also have a hotline to call if you suspect your pet has eaten something toxic. There is a $60 consultation fee for that call, but it's worth it when the clock is ticking and your pet's life is at stake. When you investigate all that your dog could possibly eat that's harmful to them, it seems like a daunting task to keep them safe. I have one dog that uses common sense and discernment about what she puts in her mouth (Ella), and another who eats first, suffers later (Hobbit). Keeping phone numbers to our vet, after hours clinics, and poison control near at hand are essential in our house.

All Things Dog - August 11, 2008

2008-08-09T06:48:00.000-07:00

PitPositive and Big Dog Rescue are presenting The 24-Hour Dog Adoptathon at 2105 N. Jamaica St. in Tampa, starting Friday, August 22 at 6 pm and running until Saturday evening, August 23 at 6 pm. The 24-hour event is the first of its kind in the Southeast US and brings together a number of local animal welfare groups working to get dogs placed in forever homes. Participating rescues and shelters include Hillsborough County Animal Services, Heidi's Legacy, Pet Pal Animal Shelter in Pinellas County, German Shepherd Rescue, Bull Mastiff Rescue, Humane Society of Tampa and Lakeland's Animal Services. Large and small adult dogs as well as puppies will be available for adoption. There will also be an obedience demonstration, pet grooming and a talent search for a dog to star in an upcoming ad campaign about the importance of spaying and neutering. For more info, see Adoptathon

The Trib reported that Susan Lambert is facing a hearing this week in Pasco County to allow continuation of her rescue shelter in Odessa. Lambert and supporters formed CARES (Community Animal Rescue and Education Shelter) last year when she left
Suncoast Animal League. Lambert's facility sits on five acres and has created tension with her neighbors, who complain of barking dogs. A special exemption is being considered to allow her to house up to 25 dogs.

Also in the Trib; summertime brings out the bugs in Florida and some of those can be a problem for our pets. Besides fleas and ticks; ants, bees, mosquitoes, spiders and scorpians are among the insects that can cause allergic reactions. Florida Veterinary Specialists veterinarian, Sonja Olsen says she regularly sees patients for insect bites this time of year. For advice on how to safeguard your pets and what to do if they are stung, read the rest of this article.

A Coyote's Life

2008-08-08T10:53:00.000-07:00

A friend sent me a website called Daily Coyote. Wyoming is a long way from Florida and a coyote will never be a dog, but this one was rescued as a 10 day old pup and the photos on the site are so beautiful, I wanted to share it with you. Shreve Stockton, the woman who took Charlie in has kept a daily photo journal of his life, which she posts on her blog. I don't agree with domesticating a wild animal, but after reading the back history on this story, I think I would have been tempted to follow her path. The pup was brought to her door by someone who said both parents had been killed by a rancher. She intended to let the coyote go if he seemed destined for the wild, but he adapted readily to her life and when she thought about the coyotes being killed in her area by ranchers and the mass slaughter resulting from overhead hunts in planes and helicopters, she couldn't turn him loose.

Charlie's caretaker is benefiting from his existence by selling photos and t-shirts and ads on her site. She has a book coming out in November called Daily Coyote. She was accused by an anonymous reader of pimping the coyote. She posted that response and put it on a t-shirt. Before you peg her an opportunist, read the Q&A section on her blog to get a sense of how devoted she is to Charlie and think about how hard it is to make a living as a writer, which is her profession. If you visit her site, click on the September archives to look at the early photos of Charlie as a pup. They're worth the extra time.

Jasmine Searching For Love

2008-08-06T04:15:00.000-07:00

Update: Jasmine has been placed in a family with three children and another Jack Russell. Let's pray this marriage lasts!

This request comes from my sister- in- law in South Carolina who raises Jack Russell Terriers and has been helping in dog rescue for many years. Jasmine is a year old Jack Russell. She belonged to a family who kicked her out in the backyard after she passed that cute puppy stage, then left her to entertain herself. We all know the rest of this story. Jasmine dug under the fence to escape boredom and search for the attention and stimulation she needs. I'm sure the family did what many families do; they caught the dog, covered the hole and stuck the dog back in the yard. After they tired of this routine, they decided the dog was too troublesome and here she is, on the internet, dating again. She never thought she'd be searching for love at this stage in her life. She thought she was loved and settled forever. But divorce happens, even to the best of dogs. So, if you know someone who's looking for a longterm relationship, the "til death do us part" kind of deal, this dog's for you. She's housebroken (very important when you're looking for a life partner), kid friendly, and gets along with her own kind. Her foster home is working on the digging under the fence issue, but in my experience that impulse is forgotten when a dog gets the attention it needs. If Jasmine sounds like the girl for you, email me and I'll pass the info on.

Serious Ball Dog

2008-08-05T04:41:00.000-07:00

Scott took these photos of a ball obsessed dog at the dog park last weekend.

Here he is waiting for one more toss.

Taking a break at the watering hole.

Waiting for the next ball tosser to take the bait.

All Things Dog - Aug 4, 2008

2008-08-04T00:44:00.000-07:00

Michael Mountain, president and founding member of Best Friends Animal Society was featured on WMNF radio's Talking Animals show on July 9. I owe my blog readers an apology for not catching this sooner, but you can still hear the archived interview at Talking Animals. This is an excellent half hour program hosted by Duncan Strauss and offered the first two Wednesdays of every month from 11:30 until noon. This week the guest will be Richard Belzer, best known for his role on Law and Order, but also spokesperson for North Shore Animal League, which claims to be the world's largest no kill shelter.

The Christian Science Monitor had some interesting commentary last week about the role of Presidential dogs. In regards to the upcoming election, it seems McCain has a dog and Obama does not and that is affecting their popularity with America's pet lovers. It might be advisable for Obama's PR folks to run out to the nearest rescue shelter and give some unwanted dog a chance at a White House kind of existence. I wonder if that would be the first rescue dog to be a First Dog? If there hasn't been a rescued dog in the White House, I think it's time for one. How about a campaign to put a shelter dog in the whitehouse?

Here's a chance to tell your love story for Hill’s Second Chance For Love Contest. Hill's Pet Nutrition is sponsoring the contest as part of their campaign to help place 1 million sheltered dogs and cats in loving homes. To enter visit www.hillspet.com/secondchance, tell your story about a pet you've adopted that's given you both a second chance at love. Essays of up to 150 words or short videos are accepted online. Two grand prize winners, one cat and one dog, will get a photo shoot with a professional pet photographer, Jim Dratfield, in New York City, plus a year's worth of Science Diet pet food and $10,000 will go to the Hill's shelter of your choice. Eight second place winners will get a year’s worth of Science Diet pet food coupons and a Hill's shelter of their choice will receive $2,000. Hill's sponsors quite a few shelters in Florida. For a complete list of qualifying shelters in the state, see shelter list . Start posting those stories, people. Let's win some of that money for the overflowing shelters in Florida!

While reading and choking on an article in the Trib about how the county found $5 million dollars in extra funds after the property appraiser finished his yearly assessment ( okay, is anyone really surprised by this news?) , I noticed that the county intends to use some of the funds to fix the ventilation system at the animal shelter. Hillsborough County Animal Services director, Dennis McCullough said the county is working on a new design for the system. The cost for that project has yet to be determined. This just goes to show, that timing is everything, especially in government. Would that money have been allocated for the project at HCAS if the Trib's story about the faulty ventilation system hadn't hit the paper last week?

Saving Bindi

2008-08-01T04:23:00.000-07:00

A female german shepherd mix was rescued in the east part of the county this week by a Hillsborough County Animal Services worker. The dog was the apparent victim of a gator attack and had lost part of it's front left leg. Roger Parker, the control officer was called out by people who had seen the dog limping around the area. Parker thought she was dead when he found her, but when he spoke, she opened her eyes and limped over to him. He rushed her back to the HCAS facilities, but they were unable to immediately deal with the dog's medical issues because of the nearly 100 sick and neglected animals they had already taken in from Seffner earlier in the week. A HCAS volunteer, Bob Reina, stepped in and offered to pay for the injured shepherd's medical bills. She was rushed to Florida Veterinary Specialists and surgery was performed. She was also found to have a broken jaw. She is said to be recovering nicely. The staff at FVS named her Bindi after the daughter of the late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irvin. You can read more about this story at the Trib and the St.Pete Times blog.

So, how many people did it take to save Bindi? The people who saw her and called HCAS; The HSAS officer who took the time to find her, then went the extra mile when she couldn't get immediate medical attention and called on volunteers to help; the generous man who opened his wallet to fund her recovery; and the staff at FVS who amputated her leg, fixed her jaw and will see her through recovery. Now, just one more person is needed, and here lies the key to Bindi's happiness, someone to adopt and love her for the rest of her life.

Training Aids You Might Not Find At The Pet Store

2008-07-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

Hobbit has caused us to be especially creative in our approach to training and search for methods to discourage the destruction of property. Friends and family members have compared our life with Hobbit to life with an ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and OCD(Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) child. We celebrated our first year with him July 3. I thought I'd share some of the ways we've learned to deal with his issues and Ella's, as well.

Nubby rug runners - clear plastic rug protectors turned upside down are useful in keeping pets off furniture. They sell small pieces of something similar in pets stores and catalogs, but we found a 2 x6 ft runner for under $10 at a discount department store. When you have a dog like Hobbit, who jumps on everything (dining tables, coffee tables, bedside tables, you get the picture), you need lots of these things!

Spring step lidded garbage cans - We use them in all the bathrooms, and bedrooms. So far, Hobbit hasn't figured them out. I bought mine at Walmart or Target for about $10 each.

Yard sale buys - You can find collars and leashes, toys still in packaging, towels and blankets in good shape. The little varmint gnawed through about six leashes, so cheap used ones were a must.

Spare collars with tags - Hobbit chewed all his tags and Ella's beyond recognition, so we ordered new ones and keep them on spare collars. My brother the vet, advises keeping tags on the dogs at all times, in case they should sneak out for an adventure. If you're reading this blog, bro, I'm not recommending anyone but people with tag eaters keep their tags on spare collars! You can also eliminate an ID tag by having collars made with contact info on them.

Spray mister - I keep a mister bottle of water handy. This is only for those times when situations escalate to the point of possible harm and quick action is called for. Then, I like to have aids available to distract the dogs to interrupt their escalating agitation or break their focus on that baby bird that just fell out of the nest. I spray the water mist over their heads or in front of them (never spray it into their faces) and it surprises them. Another thing I use as a distraction is a toy that is intriguing and hasn't been fully explored. The ones that work best for my dogs are the ones that make strange sounds. The babble ball that talks and a funky looking toy that moos when it hits the ground a certain way. That one always gets their attention. If Hobbit and Ella are tussling and have reached a level of arousal that signals inevitable dogfight, I can throw that moo toy in the middle of them and they separate immediately. The trick is to interrupt the situation before it gets out of hand and to make sure the toy is one they don't get to play with often, so it keeps the unfamiliar status.

Portable fencing - If you have a portion of a yard that you want to restrict the dogs access to, portable fencing is great. We bought the black wrought iron looking sections that they sell at Home Depot and Lowe's. They come in two sizes ( large is about 3 ft. tall), and are a manageable width, around 4 ft. You also have to purchase the poles and stakes and a gate if you chose. But the beauty is you can do as small a project as you like, they're attractive and fairly sturdy. They will not replace regular fencing and can be knocked over if a dog really pushed on them, but they do a fine job of convincing the dogs to keep out of an area when the gate is closed. And everyone who's seen the fence, has commented on what a nice addition it is to the yard. And yes, that is double fencing you see in the background of the photo above. We installed the shorter privacy fence, to help with the territorial reactions bewteen the dog next door and ours. It helps, because our dogs can no longer see that dog through cracks in the fence, the sound is muffled and it is one more barrier.

Easy Cheese - Those cans of fake cheese product that come out of a nozzle when you squeeze it are invaluable when you know something is coming that will set your dog off. Scott most recently used it while the vet was giving Hobbit injections. It worked better than a muzzle, which was the alternative and Hobbit is slowly learning to accept scary things. I've seen it used effectively in training classes to help slightly aggressive dogs tolerate other dogs coming close. It's powerful stuff! I'm not condoning filling your dog with junk food, but for training it does have its purpose.

Just Say No To Chains

2008-07-29T04:04:00.000-07:00

Throughout the year I read stories about bad things happening to dogs who are chained outside, sometimes due to neglect and cruelty, other times not. Like the story in today's Trib about the young pit bull who was stung more than 1000 times by bees and died a horrible death. The owner had no idea there was a huge bees' nest under her neighbor's trailer. She loved her dog and considered it part of the family. She mourns the loss of her pet. I sympathize with her, but I also find fault with anyone who ties a dog outside. What chance did her beloved dog have of escaping those bees? From the sounds of it, he wasn't even near their nest. He was stuck in a place the bees chose to come to. My dogs have been stung by a single bee or wasp and let me tell you, they run for momma. That dog would have at least had a chance of surviving if it had not been on a chain.

Dogs Deserve Better is a non profit group dedicated to freeing chained dogs nationwide. According to their website, besides being a miserable existence for the animal, chained dogs are often unsocialized and can become territorial and aggressive towards other animals and humans. DSB claims that chained dogs have been responsible for the death of over 200 children since 2003. DSB makes it easier to educate people you encounter who are chaining their dogs. They offer a printable version of a letter or door hanger that features the photo of a beautiful canine and reads "Please don't shut me out. I want to be with you." It offers gentle words to encourage the dog owner to reconsider their practice of chaining. If you see a chained dog and are not comfortable leaving literature yourself, you can send the owners name and address to DSB and they will send a letter.

Unchain Your Dog is a beautiful website about a couple in Arkansas who have done an enormous amount of work towards freeing chained dogs. You can read about the most recent work to pass laws, plus what laws are being passed in different areas of the country. There's a link to an article about the city of Miami passing an ordinance against chaining. There's also a poignant comic strip about chained dogs done by Mutts creator, Patrick McDonnell. Chaining dogs is no more acceptable than chaining humans. If a person does not have a fenced yard and intends to put their dog outside on it's own, then fencing should be installed before they adopt a dog. There are dogs who live in cities like New York, who live healthy, happy lives being walked on leashes and visiting dogparks. But a dog is not happy, healthy or safe tethered outside for long hours without human interaction.

*Update on the story of the dog that died from bee stings: Today the Trib reported that someone is donating a puppy to the family. People tend to react impulsively when they're moved by sympathy. But this tells me that the owner of the puppy who has a fresh litter of 11 pit bull mixes, is willing to give her dogs to people who will tie them outside. My hope is that the woman who lost her dog to bee stings has learned a hard lesson and will not subject the new puppy to the same circumstances. Along with the person giving her a puppy, Pet Angel Memorial Services offered her free cremation and memorial services for her dog. I think a fence company offering free services is what she needs.

All Things Dog - July 28

2008-07-27T06:25:00.000-07:00

Hill's Pet Nutrition is sponsoring a Second Chance For Love Tour in an effort to place 1 million unwanted pets in suitable homes by the end of the year. Last weekend they offered to pay adoption fees for the first 25 applicants at Pasco County Animal Shelter.

According to St. Pete Times, Jack Q. Brown of Oldsmar is in the Pinellas County jail on animal cruelty charges. He held a bichon, yorkshire mix dog out his car window, letting it hit the ground, then dropped it while going 45 mph. A good samaritan saw the incident and caught the dog, then called deputies. The owner, whose information was on the dog's tags came to pick it up. Here's a case where I wish we had protective services and intermediate foster homes set up for animals like we do for children. I don't know how that man came to have the dog, but I'd sure want to know what the owner's connection is to this man and how the dog ended up in his hands, before I handed the dog over to them.

On NPR's Blog of The Nation last week, Barrie Hardymon talked about our "obsession" with our pet's medical needs. The post includes links to recent features related to this issue including the use of narcotics to deal with animal's psychological issues. It's interesting commentary.

In the Trib, I read that Marlon Scott, son of City Councilman Tom Scott, is likely to receive $50,000 from the city for unfair treatment by police officers when they arrested him in 2006 for animals cruelty charges, battery on an officer and resisting arrest with violence. His dogs had been taken away the day before by Hillsborough County Animal Services for being tied in the sun on short chains with no shelter. Let's assume he was treated unfairly by police officers. Does this negate the fact that animal services officers saw a need to remove his animals due to neglect and cruelty? What kind of message is Tampa sending, to be rewarding this type of behavior, no matter how connected the perpetrator is to city government?

In Seffner this week, The Trib reported that Hillsborough County Animal Services took 55 goats, 35 dogs and 7 cats from a home described as decrepit. The animals were in poor condition. The goats were standing in ankle deep manure and some of them may have to be euthanized. The dogs were in stacked rusty kennels with no food or water. The owners, Larry and Rae Lynn Smart advertised locally as breeders. Their house and yard were strewn with litter and feces, old appliances and broken down cars. The roof was caved in and only one working light could be found inside the home. This is just plain sad. These people can't take care of themselves, much less all these animals. To read more about this story see tbo.com.

Pet Telethon

2008-07-25T03:58:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a new pet? The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is hosting a telethon on Channel 8, Saturday, 7/26 from 1-6p.m. Local celebrities will include Tampa Ray's mascot, Raymond, Buc's cheerleaders, Yankee's mascot, Blue and Sparky the fire dog. So, Saturday afternoon, when you can't stand to be outside in this heat another minute, pull up a chair and sit yourself down in front of the tube for a good cause. To check out any of the more than 50 adoptees to be featured, go to www.humanesocietytampa.org.

Hillsborough County Animal Shelter Too Hot For Dogs And Humans

2008-07-24T04:24:00.000-07:00

I remember in 1993 when the new animal shelter was built in Hillsborough county at 440 Falkenburg Rd. It cost $4.4 million and should have been just what the doctor ordered, more space and better facilities for animals and staff. Why then, three years after the grand opening, was the new director told the number of ventilation fans for the kennels was scaled back to save money? Even after noting the ventilation was inadequate, Bill Armstrong, the director, considered the issue a low priority and nothing was done to alleviate the problem. It took one woman, Connie Johnson, chairwoman for the county Animal Advisory Committee, to bring this problem to light. She fosters a dog at the shelter and noticed the stifling conditions in the kennels. After complaining to the current acting director, Dennis McCullough, some ceilings fans were installed. Eight of the eighteen fans along the top of the walls in the kennels do not work. Others are rusted and old. Terry Goodman, county superintendent of plant operations, said if all the fans were working, they would still be only half of what is needed for proper ventilation.

So, for fifteen years the animals most in need in this county have been suffering even more neglect when they go to the very shelter that should be giving them relief. I don't know about you folks, but it's one thing to be hot outside in Florida and another to be suffering inside. I would much rather be outside where I can sit under a shade tree and catch a cool breeze, then be stuck inside a stifling building. Add to that, the smell of hot animals, urine and feces and you have an unbearable situation. If animals are to be housed inside, adequate ventilation is a must. I sympathize with the staff and volunteers at HCAS who must work in that atmosphere. I have no doubt that there were many complaints that fell on deaf ears before Connie Johnson appeared on the scene. We're at a time when government is facing severe budget cuts, so an allocation of funds needed to alleviate the air circulation problem at the county kennels is not likely to happen anytime soon. But, I strongly suggest that before the county spends a drop of money on such a thing as a new sports complex in east Hillsborough, they show some sensitivity for the creatures who are suffering under their care. And if they really have a heart, they'll shoot for air conditioning instead of fans.

*Information for this post was taken from an article in the Trib written by Mike Salinero, an excellent investigative reporter. I'm taking a moment to honor all newspaper writers who are facing extinction.

Leona's Loot and Deceptive Commentary

2008-07-23T06:32:00.000-07:00

In last Sunday's commentary section of the Trib, there was an article by David Martosko titled "Let Leona's Loot Go To The Dogs." The story starts off by refreshing our memory about hotelier Leona Helmsley's Maltese who inherited $12 million when Ms. Helmsley died, then announces that $8 billion from the hotel magnate's estate has been earmarked for programs that aid dogs. Martosko makes some valid points about the enormous sum of money Americans spend on their pets and yet, animal shelters throughout the nation are overflowing with unwanted pets. He continues by stating that what we need are more no-kill shelters, spay neuter programs, and "more effective ways to promote the moral imperative of rescuing unwanted dogs from a lonesome existence that is often far too short." Who's to argue with that? But next, Martosko bewails the lack of a national umbrella group that oversees the shelters and organizations who work to end animal abuse, neglect and homelessness. This lack, he claims, destroys the possibility that Ms. Helmsley's billions will ever be used effectively to help needy dogs. In fact, he says, two groups who are already making claims on the loot; PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) are not worthy of receiving it.

Ah ha, now we get down to Mr. Marktosko's true intention for this article. He proceeds to villianize the two groups, claiming they waste more money than they use effectively and are actually responsible for killing more animals than they save. So, just who is this person bent on smearing the reputation of PETA and HSUS? The credit at the end of the article reads "David Martosko is a national expert on the politics of the animal protection movement, and is research director at the center for Consumer Freedom, a nonprofit activist watchdog group based in Washington, D.C." According to the website Consumer Deception.com, the Center for Consumer Freedom is a tool of lobbyist Richard Berman who funnels large sums of corporate money into non profits that he's set up, then uses them to launch campaigns against groups whose viewpoints impact the profit of his clients. Who are his clients, you ask? Big tobacco, alcohol and many in the food industry. He has taken on PETA and other agencies due to their victories over the inhumane treatment of farm animals, which has affected the fast food industry's pockets.

While Martosko did raise an interesting issue about who would be best suited to wisely disseminate a sum of $8 billion, I am disappointed that any newspaper wasted space on an article that serves to promote a tainted agenda. At the end of his article, Martosko tries to get back on the subject of America's dogs in need. He quips, if the people responsible for allocating Ms. Helmsley's estate will make sure that the money goes to the worthiest candidates, then they may be lucky enough to return as cows in India in their next life. Which tells me all I need to know about how aware this man is about animal rights' issues throughout the world. The cows in India are dying from eating plastic garbage bags because they're expected to fend for themselves and are starving.

Florida Poodle Rescue

2008-07-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

Florida Poodle Rescue came to life in 1994 thanks to the efforts of two women, Patricia Bonati and Martha Harrington. They were dog rescuers with enough energy and heart to attract others to their cause and since FPR's inception, they have helped find homes for over 6000 standard, miniature and toy poodles. FPR's mission is to place unwanted, abandoned and abused poodles in loving homes where they will be cherished family members for the rest of their lives. They also strive to educate the public about a breed they describe as loyal, with a great sense of humor and a personality that greets each day with delight.

Each dog fostered is neutered or spayed, examined by a veterinarian and updated on vaccinations. Some dogs have urgent needs for more in depth medical care. FPR has provided facial reconstructions, hip surgery, cataract surgery and treatment for heartworms. While in foster care, they are evaluated for special needs. FPR keeps a data base of adopter's requests for dogs of preferred sex, size and color. If you are interested in adopting a poodle, visit the FPR website, where you will find an application form and details about the adoption process. Adoption fees are $150 for dogs over four years, and $200 for dogs under that age.

There are no pictures of adoptable dogs on FPR's website. Like other rescue organizations, they are run by dedicated volunteers and at this time they do not have people who can keep the website updated with current adoption candidates. So, here's a shout out to techies with a couple hours of spare time each month and a soft heart for poodles in need! FPR is also looking for foster home candidates and transporters. Of course, money is always welcome. Contact FPR and help out a good cause. Be sure to click on the link "Where Do Donations go?" on the FPR site. The recovery story of Samson is a tribute to the work that this fine rescue group does. * The beautiful photo up top was taken by photographer Carrie Peterson, who is herself a dedicated volunteer for FPR and the canine mother to a rescued standard poodle.

Another of FPR's hard working volunteers is Julie who sent me the story of some of her rescue successes:

"I have been fortunate enough over the years to adopt 6 dogs (1 standard poodle, 2 miniature poodles, 2 toy poodles and even a collie) from Florida Poodle Rescue, as well as volunteer and be a part of this great organization. They have given me my "children". Some were older souls that needed a home and have since passed on, but I have cherished each and every one and have been saddened by what they have had to endure before Florida Poodle Rescue came to their aid. "Spencer" was turned into animal control over on the other coast of Florida, I was just supposed to transport this middle aged poodle that Florida Poodle Rescue had agreed to take in. When I got there they said, "we didn't want to tell you over the phone but he is about 20 years old and his family had to move and turned him in to be euthanized, will you still take him?" Looking at this poor old soul, how could I say no? I immediately fell in love with him. It was so rewarding to see this sad little poodle blossom into a sophisticated senior that was still so full of himself. Sadly, I only had Spencer for about 2 years before he passed on, but he knew he was loved and went over the rainbow bridge quietly in my arms, not at a shelter which was his destiny before Florida Poodle Rescue stepped in. Lewis, Clark & Baby Ruth have something in common- they were all confiscated by animal control from puppy mill raids. Lewis & Clark were both from a raid right here in the Tampa Bay area, where a breeder had over 400 dogs. They were some of the original dogs taken as evidence to build a case against this breeder and unfortunately had to live in animal control for almost a year before being released. Baby Ruth was from a puppy mill raid in Melbourne, Florida. ( That's Baby Ruth in the before and after photos on the right) Not only was she a matted mess, but she was so sick I really didn't think she would survive. Fortunately, she is a fighter and is stronger than ever. Every dog has a different story or reason that they have somehow ended up in Florida Poodle Rescue but each and every one is so grateful. I know my family wouldn't be the same without my dogs and I am so thankful that Florida Poodle Rescue saved them and matched them up to me!

All Things Dog - July 21

2008-07-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

On National Public Radio's Fresh Air program last Thursday, I listened to a charming story about Bill Berloni, who adopts shelter animals and turns them into movie stars. He stumbled upon this career accidentally when as a young man he had the opportunity to search for the first dog to be used as Sandy in the stage production of Annie. Although, his goal was to become an actor himself, he was fated to be an animal trainer. How he became one is a fascinating tale.

According to the Trib, an 8 month old chocolate lab named Justice was found wandering at a Walmart, last week in New Port Richey and turned in to Suncoast SPCA. He was severely neglected and weighed 19 pounds, under half of what his normal weight should be. The shelter is seeking donations to help with the pup's rehabilitation. To contribute, call (727)849-1048, email at info@SPCAsuncoast.org or go online at http://www.spcasuncoast.org/. You can also visit their facility at 7734 Congress St., New Port Richey.

Pet Friendly Florida Politicians is an article compiled by Patricia Collier of Florida Pets.net. It's a good time to be studying who's worthy of your vote, with election time coming.

Megan Hendricks from ACT sent the following information :
The UAN is offering a Crisis Relief Grant to people being displaced due to the housing crunch. The grant is for temporary boarding of pets, airline fees to transport them, etc. One can apply for the grant by going to http://www.uan.org/.

Megan, is also a member of the Hillsborough County Animal Advisory Committee. One thing they focus on is disaster planning. The county is in desperate need of people to help with animals at pet friendly shelters during evacuations. They held a workshop for volunteers last month and very few people showed up. If you're interested, contact CHAART.

In the Trib this week, a police dog in Mulberry died after being left in it's handler's car for three hours. The air conditioning in the car was on, but apparently malfunctioned. This incident has caused the agency to implement new policies requiring officers to check on dogs in cars every 30 minutes and cars will be outfitted with heat alarms. You can read more at tbo.com. Also, this week's Dear Abby featured letters about dogs being left in hot cars. A couple readers gave helpful tips and the final letter will make you smile.

Due to a technicality, 60 of the 121 neglected dogs that were seized in April from a breeder in Tarpon Springs, may be returned to the owner. It seems the agent from Suncoast Animal League who rescued the dogs failed to gain approval from the county commission before seizing them, so a judge has voided the League's petition to take custody of the animals. More than $100,000 has been spent in veterinary care for the dogs to date. The owner, Teresita Hughes has said she only wants 60 dogs back and can care for no more. The judge, Myra Scott McNary did recommend that a representative from one of the county's humane societies should make weekly visits to Hughes' home once the animals are returned to ensure they are getting proper care. For more on this story see tbo.com.

A Bad Dog Day

2008-07-17T04:00:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday and Wednesday were bad dog days. Due to the rainy evenings, Scott had been unable to take the dogs to the park or walk Hobbit around the neighborhood. Ella handles this with grace. Not Hobbit. Tuesday morning he woke up with trouble on his mind. We followed our normal routine of Hobbit proofing the house, so we could have a relatively peaceful breakfast. (That's Hobbit at right, taking a coaster off the game table. He's eaten eight coasters, may they rest in peace, leaving us with two badly chewed ones.) I put the nubby plastic rug runner on the bed, to prevent him from jumping on it. He does that purely to see what's on the bedside tables that might interest him. I shut the closet doors where the delectable bedroom slippers are. I make sure the TV room door is shut, where my husband, the nightowl hangs out and is sure to leave things scattered. I push the chairs tightly under the dining room table, so that I can safely set my cereal bowl, newspaper and glasses on there. Then, I sit down to eat. Hobbit has had his breakfast and been out to do his business, but it's clear he wants something. When I fail to pay attention to him, he hops on the chair behind a quietly sleeping Ella. He pounces on her back and begins pestering her to play. She tells him no, but he believes in his powers of persuasion and accelerates the attack. Finally, she gets out of the chair and now they are seriously arguing. I break them up, but this scenario is replayed multiple times over the course of an hour.

Hobbit's next victim was a pen, one of his favorite munchies. He eats a pen a week, minimum. This is usually my fault for forgetting to push the office chair far enough away from the computer table to keep him from standing on the chair to elevate himself to the appropriate height to do a desktop search. This particular morning, I tried cajoling Hobbit out of the pen. No way. I picked him up which sometimes causes him to drop what's in his mouth. We long ago gave up on other methods that had been suggested. When he has something of value in that Jack Russell jaw, he will not surrender. And that day, Hobbit was set on eating this pen. I tried taking a firm grip on it and that's when he got snarly. He snapped at me and I lost my temper. I yelled no and closed him in the office so we both could cool off.

Later that day, I was able to reflect on the situation. I was discouraged at how quickly Hobbit reverts to old behaviors when he isn't getting the type of exercise and attention he needs. I also knew that I could have handled the morning better. I've grown used to the more manageable dog that Hobbit's become the past few months. But when I look back, I see the huge strides he's made. For the first 9 months, a normal day with Hobbit required my attention every minute. He never relaxed, never stopped looking for things to chew up, and was a blink away from reacting with a bite. He is also the hardest dog I've ever tried to housebreak. (Yes, I am still trying) So, when I put things in perspective, last week wasn't too bad. Victims were limited to two pens, two pencils, one sock, some wood paneling and a springy door bumper that never fails to amuse him. There was only one accident on the floor to clean up and we only had one bad fence encounter with the Boston Terrier next door. Ella didn't enjoy his snarly mood much, but she's a very forgiving girl. And in her day, Miss Ella destroyed two couch covers, three pairs of pajamas, a legion of socks, and every strip of bedding we put in her crate. She was, thankfully only attracted to cloth and that period had a short duration. Cheers to all of you who are dealing with newly adopted young rescue dogs! Keep the faith, love and good training pay off in the end. As a matter of fact, last week inspired me to work with Hobbit to teach him to give up the pens, so that problem will go away sooner. I'll let you know how many pens it takes to accomplish this feat!

Vezzie Needs A Home

2008-07-16T04:05:00.000-07:00

*Update on Vezzie; a mother and son are in the process of adopting her. Let's hope Vezzie has found her forever home!

The pup in the picture staring at you needs a forever loving home… please read her story.
My name is Nancy Latimer, and I volunteer for Hillsborough County Animal Services. She is one of my “Search and Rescue” success stories…meaning that after 9 weeks of tracking this missing pup, her owner was found. My pet project as a volunteer is helping reunite lost owners with their pups. It has become a passion. Usually when reuniting separated dog/human families, it’s a happy ending.
However, in Vezzie's case, happiness still eludes her. Vezzie's owners made a decision to surrender her for reasons that I still don’t understand and probably never will. Their reasons are theirs alone but I believe it had nothing to do with this sweet faced pup.
Vezzie seemed to have someone interested in adopting her but for reasons unknown they apparently changed their mind. They never returned to the shelter after Vezzie became available. Another “missed” happy ending.
This pup refused to leave my mind since the first time I saw her advertised as ‘lost’.
I know she cherishes a soft bedspread to lie on. She will put her nose through the kennel gate so you can pet it.
Her real name is Zveszda, which is Russian for “Star” Her birthday is 4/11/01. That makes her about 7 years old. She gets along with small dogs and large dogs. Cats are not high on her ‘be nice to’ priority list. J Taking long walks is a joy to her, and she LOVES squeaky toys. The louder the better. The ones from the dollar store were her favorites. Eating is easy for Vezzie; she especially loves steamed veggies and sushi. (ugh)
Playing is something she enjoys. “Hide the Shoe” is her favorite game. She will take a shoe,…. hide it on a couch, a bed, or outside..etc. She never chews on them…they are much too valuable to her. And, when she is all worn out from playing with them, she takes them to lie alongside of her when she sleeps.
By the way ….she LOVES kids, and is housebroken.
If you look into the eyes of this pup and see something ‘speaking’ to you through your heart please take action.
Call 612-5388 or 625-2611.
You can also send an email to carrm@hillsboroughcounty.org or disalvot@hillsboroughcounty.org

As a final note, I ask that anyone interested in providing Vezzie with a permanent or foster home, please do not wait.
Sometimes wonderful treasures are found in plain brown packaging
Vezzie’s identification number is A1057052. Please refer to that number when calling for information on her.

All Things Dog - July 15

2008-07-15T06:48:00.001-07:00

The SPCA shelter in Largo has taken in 64 dogs from a breeder in North Florida who died of cancer and was unable to relocate her dogs before she died. Most of these dogs were breeders, so they are used to life in a cage and will need special homes. They are Australian Shepherds and Aussie mixes, Border Collies and Pomeranians. You can read more and see a photos in the Trib. To contact the Largo shelter, call SPCA Tampa Bay at (727)586-3591.

Gulfside Regional Hospice is hosting a Pet Loss Support Group every other Wednesday from 10 to 11:30 at Trinity Funeral Home, 12609 Memorial Dr. in New Port Richey. The group is open to anyone mourning the loss of a pet. The next meeting is July 23. Contact is Nancy Terkeurst at 727-845-5707 ext.1035 this tidbit was gleaned from our local edition of Community News Publications. You can see their pet page at CnewsPubs.com/news .

At tbo.com there is a photo story of "Baby" the dog, who was rescued by Hillsborough County Animal Services last month.

In the Hernando Today edition of The Trib is another article dealing with the abandoned pets due to foreclosure issue in Brooksville.

You can see photos of some of the animals rescued from the puppy mill in Tennessee last month at the tbo.com photo site.

Are We Prepared?

2008-07-11T11:51:00.000-07:00

*The photos for this article were sent by blog reader, Jackie. They've traveled alot on the great email highway and at some point were attributed to a rescue attempt in Kansas after a tornado. In fact, they are photos taken by a woman named Dana, during her animal rescue efforts after Hurricane Katrina. You can see the original photos along with many others that were taken by Dana at her flickr site. Her site is worth the visit.

I wrote at the end of last month about considering our pets when preparing for the hurricane season. A New York Times article in the Tampa Tribune states that the loss from Hurricane Katrina alerted us to our lack when it comes to dealing with a catastrophe of that magnitude. It was estimated that almost 200,000 animals were displaced in that storm. Lives were risked and lost because of people not wanting to abandon their pets. The recent floods in Cedar Rapids, Iowa displaced thousands, involving around 4200 homes. The local animal shelter flooded and moved their animals to Kirkwood Community College. As the situation worsened, calls came into the school to allow more animals. Within days they had almost 1000 animals. Volunteers were quick to donate supplies and offer help, including veterinarians, technicians, groomers, even flood victims themselves. Diane Webber, director of the Humane Society of the United States says that what we learned from Katrina is that animals are a valuable part of people's lives and must be considered when planning for disasters.

It's estimated that 52% of Florida households have pets. CHAART, Community of Hillsborough Animal and Agricultural Response Team, is working to assure that this county has a plan in effect to take care of the animal population should a disaster occur. CHAART estimates that Hillsborough has over 500,000 cats and dogs. One of their immediate concerns is the lack of personnel to man shelters. There are only two designated pet friendly shelters in the county, one in the east part of the county at Burnett Middle School in Seffner, and one in the northwest at Sickles High School in Citrus Park. Would they hold all the people with pets who need to evacuate flood zones when a hurricane comes within reach? I don't know, but it's obvious that two shelters could easily be overwhelmed if Tampa had a direct hit from a monster storm.

Until the time that the shelter situation for pets improves, it is up to us, to do what we can to be prepared to take our pets elsewhere, should the shelters be full. CHAART offers a pet owner's evacuation checklist, recommendations for contingency bus transportation and for shelters that are not listed as pet friendly. For information on what is happening on the state level to help deal with pet
evacuation, see SART (State Agricultural Response Team.) I'm ashamed to say, I don't have a plan. And yet, I know I wouldn't leave my dogs. I don't live in a flood zone and I've been lolled by the fact that I've lived this long in my home state and never faced evacuation. But, I visited Homestead after Andrew hit in 1992 and I saw firsthand the devastation. My relatives in Homestead are also lifelong Floridians and they never expected to be living in a travel trailer for almost a year, while their solid concrete block home was rebuilt. So, this week, I will do my research and this weekend when Scott and I have time to talk, we'll form a plan. The storms they are a brewing out there in those waters that surround our dear state. Last year, our esteemed Governor, Charlie Crist proclaimed July 31, Florida Animal Disaster Preparedness Day. Seems like a good day to look fondly at our animals, and know we're prepared to take care of them, should we have to leave our homes.

Foreclosures Affect Animals, Too

2008-07-10T05:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, on National Public Radio's Fresh Air program, Terri Gross interviewed a spokesperson for the Humane Society of the United States about the pet abandonment crisis brought on by the large rate of foreclosure in the nation. We know from the stories we're reading, that this is affecting us locally. It sickened me to hear stories of people who had deserted their pets, leaving them behind in empty houses. Some of those pets suffered horrible deaths, as they tried frantically to escape, then survived on drywall and whatever else they could fill their stomachs with until death brought relief.

That story made me wonder what we can be doing to help. Shelters and rescue groups are crying out for volunteers to help with the overwhelming number of abandoned pets. But is there something we can be doing to prevent the pets from becoming homeless? Talking to individiuals we know who are in financial distress, offering help with petfood and care, whatever else they may need to ease the burden. The Humane Society gives free pet food to people who can't afford it. There are lowcost vaccination programs like ACT. My husband suggested we check abandoned houses for pets who may have been left behind. At the very least, we could help find shelter for pets before they are deserted. People who feel desperate may not have the energy to see that their pets have a safe home. Before this economic downturn is over, I'm sure we'll see rising numbers of people and animals in need. Existing programs are already overwhelmed, trying to aid those who are suffering. It's time for us all to step up and offer what help we can.

Picture Stories

2008-07-07T23:30:00.000-07:00

You've heard that a picture's worth a thousand words. I love hearing the stories people tell about their lives with dogs, but it takes a bit of time to write. Believe me, I know! So, this is a call for your dog stories in pictures. I'll be the first to do one, in case my readers are shy. Please don't send more than four or five photos. This blog format doesn't allow creative set ups with photos and text and I am not skilled enought to revise the html.

Today, I'll tell the story of Ella because you've seen plenty of Hobbit. (The reason for that is Ella's camera shy and Hobbit's a ham.) When we first got Ella, in April 2006, she was so shut down, she hid in house and yard. As you can see, she was practiced at camouflage. She was about 7 months old in the picture above.

She had no idea what dog toys were, so we had great fun teaching her to play.

She was very proud of her graduation certificate from basic obedience class, even though she spent half the class hiding under our chairs.

Last year in July, we adopted Hobbit. Here, Ella age 22 months, is learning to tolerate her new brother.

Ella will be 3 years old in October. We've discovered she is at her happiest when she is running. She runs for the pure joy of it, all by herself. She is a sweet, gentle creature. Our time with her has taught us so much about the needs of dogs with fear and about dogs who somehow avoided human contact. We are honored to have her in our lives.

All Things Dog

2008-07-07T10:56:00.000-07:00

*All Things Dog is the title I've finally settled on for this blog feature, the recap of dog news for the week.

In the Getaway section of yesterday's Trib, was an article about the growing population of animals at local rescue shelters due to the economic downturn. Every week, there's a notice somewhere, announcing the need of shelters for more foster homes, supplies and volunteers. Some of those in last week's paper are: St. Francis Animal Rescue who needs people with experience in grant writing, public relations and marketing; Hillsborough County Animal Services needs reserve part time animal control officers, as well as volunteers to help with animals; the Humane Society of Pinellas County and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay have need for all financial and volunteer support. Those two agencies also offer temporary help to people who are having trouble feeding their animals and HSPC offers temporary shelter for animals of people who are suffering hardship.

Also in yesterday's paper was an article by the Los Angeles Times that may or may not pertain to Floridians, but I couldn't resist pointing it out. It referred to an organization called Potcake Place, which takes in homeless puppies in the Caribbean islands, gets them veterinary care and tries to arrange transportation to the Americas. The dogs are called potcakes because they are fed by locals from the caked remains in the bottom of pots. The pups are described as medium sized shepherd mixes, hardy and good natured with a perpetual grin on their faces. The article does point out the growing problem of homeless pets in the U.S and questions the wisdom of adding to it with potcakes, but don't look to me to deny a potcake's need.

And this tidbit comes from an encounter my husband had at the dogpark. A fellow dog lover told him about an online dating service called Date My Pet. It allows you to set up play dates for your pet or human dates with pet lovers. Please, do not email me if you use this site and the relationship ends in human or dog divorce!

Today a shelter dog made the front page of the Tribune. Remy, a lab mix was adopted several months ago from the Manatee Humane Society by the Steele family. Natalee Steele has a debilitating disease and Remy has become the child's guardian, which has resulted in an improvement in Natalee's health. The Steele's have witnessed firsthand the uncanny sensitivity of canines and the positive affect they have on us emotionally and physically.

MSNBC ran a story about some of Michael Vick's dogs and their rehabilitation story.

Marion County Animal Center will euthanize 80 dogs due to an outbreak of distemper and parvo. The shelter will be shut down temporarily, so drop offs and adoptions have been halted until further notice.

The Firework Battle

2008-07-05T05:42:00.000-07:00

The big night of booms is over. We're still dealing with "children" who are playing with leftover explosive toys, but they will run out eventually. We did our sofa routine last night, watched a good movie with the canine bookends. Ella won't venture out during the bangs and pops, so she's been in hiding for much of the week. She's the third noise sensitive dog we've had in the last twenty years. The first thing we did this morning was look for the remains of fireworks in our yard. In years past, we've found exploded cardboard, plastic and paper, along with slim metal rods that stick up out of the dirt and are potential hazards. As I scan the Lost and Found today, I wonder how many pets bolted during the Fourth of July celebration. How many animals ran out into traffic, how many dogs busted through windows or doors to escape the noise? Wildlife displaced? Horses and cows panicked? People with eye and hand injuries?

I mentioned in a previous post that I hope to someday use this blog to help in the campaign to ban the personal use of fireworks. This issue has been tumbling in my brain for years. I think it will take a substantial effort to create a force effective enough to be successful. I'm not ready to deal with a project of that magnitude, but I'm gathering information. If you know of groups who are interested in this cause, please email me or post a reply. I want to make as many connections as possible, before approaching this project in full. I read that Prevent Blindness America is seeking a ban on fireworks. Animals lovers from all walks are potential supporters. The pet and livestock industries are not to be sneezed at. Physicians who see injuries and veterinarians are another possibility. Eventually, I will contact the groups from the list I have compiled. Along with the connections, I need to know what work others in Florida have already done towards this effort. Is there a petition in circulation? Has someone worked on creating legislation that would truly ban the sale of fireworks to the public? What prevented the recent Statewide taskforce and past efforts from working? Are there other states who have effective bans and how did they accomplish that?

I'm not looking forward to this battle. I don't like confrontation and I like to keep my home life serene. This is a topic that has the potential to cause eruptive feelings and public backlash. But how long can we hide from that? The safety and well being of people and animals are more important than entertainment, no matter how sentimental the issue or how far back the tradition of personal fireworks in American goes. I believe Floridians who choose to, can enjoy firework displays put on by professionals, leaving those who don't the option of a quiet night at home.

Not Free To Celebrate

2008-07-02T05:38:00.000-07:00

I dread the two times a year those roadside stands go up filled with pyrotechnics. New Years and the Fourth Of July are not times of celebration around our house. We stay home to comfort dogs who are terrified of the explosions. We close ourselves in, turn the t.v or radio up, and settle down on the sofa. Hobbit reacts to every firework by jumping up and barking. Ella digs in, burying her head behind our backs. She's traumatized. She came to us in April of 2006, a fear filled dog with little human experience. For the first two months, she hid whenever we let her outside. Then, she gained some confidence and started to play a little in the yard. She delighted us with her running and jumping, hunting lizards that she never caught. That all changed in July, when someone threw fireworks at her over our chainlink fence. I found her cowering in a secluded corner of the yard. I had to carry her in the house. It took her months to regain her confidence outdoors and to this day, she's afraid of loud noises and flashing lights.

Ella is a hyper vigilant dog with extreme reactions to situations that are scary to her. But I know we're not alone when it comes to having animals that are affected by fireworks. Every year pets are displaced when they escape from houses and yards, running from noises they don't understand. Inevitably, the Lost and Found section of the newspaper lists pleas for help finding those pets. Most of the time, we're happy to see our neighbors, but in January and July, it becomes us against them. The people creating the havoc pitted against the people being negatively affected by it. I'm not unsympathetic to the sentiment that fireworks and apple pie go hand in hand. I grew up watching a display in the park on Independence Day and coming home to dance with sparklers on the lawn. But those were my childhood days, when I was unaware of the harm that was caused by those light shows.

Florida is benefiting monetarily from the sale of fireworks and has yet to stifle the powerful lobbying that keeps a moratorium on control over the sale of fireworks intact. A recent Statewide task force that was addressing the issue, failed to have an affect. I believe pet owners in this state are a powerful enough force to confront this issue and see changes made. One day, if this blog ever gets big enough to be a part of that effort, I'll post a call to rally. In the meantime, hunker down my friends. Offer what comfort you can to creatures great and small and be on the look out for those who are running in panic.

Pedigree or No Pedigree: A Dog Park Survey

2008-06-30T05:39:00.000-07:00

I was curious to find out how many Lutz dogpark users had rescued dogs, so my husband being the good sport he is, agreed to be the poll taker. He's the official escort for our dogs at the park, because I work at home and spend my days with them. At the end of the day and on weekends he finds the dogpark experience the perfect way to unwind while spending quality time with the dogs. So, for his last two trips there, he visited at peak hours and asked dog owners where they got their dogs. The results were interesting.

Out of twenty owners questioned, nine dogs had come from petshops or breeders, one picked from a box of free puppies at Winn Dixie, two rescued from neglectful or abusive neighbors, one rescued from a neglectful pet store, four adopted from local rescue groups and three adopted from shelters. One person who owns a dog from a breeder, is now involved with a rescue group and will be fostering a dog. Another pedigreed owner had previously had a rescue and one had two rescued dogs at home.

It's a little discouraging to find that almost half of the people surveyed still value buying dogs from breeders or petshops. Some of them may never have given a thought to researching the shelter and rescue pets that are up for adoption. But it is encouraging to note that a few of the people who had purchased their dogs from dealers, were considering adopting a rescue in the future. I don't fault people for wanting purebred dogs, nor for wanting puppies from a specific breed. But if I ruled the world, everyone would adopt shelter or rescue animals. There are still people who aren't aware of the purebred puppies available for adoption, so there is work to be done, getting the word out. My friends who don't have rescued dogs are surely sick of hearing me preach about it. They're so tired of it, they may actually adopt a stray just to shut me up!

This experiment was done on a whim and in no way intends to accurately portray the percentage of rescue dog owners at dogparks. My husband will probably continue to ask people where they got their dogs when he visits the park, because he's persistent. It would be interesting to hear what others may find at their local parks, asking the same question.

Doggy Briefs

2008-06-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

I'm catching up, so some of this is last week's news. The Orlando Sentinel reported on a dachshund who fell down a gopher hole into a 16 foot network of tunnels. Who knew turtles were that industrious? The dog survived several days underground, while her frantic owners tried to find her. It's an incredible story with a happy ending. Read more at the Sentinel online.

A couples weeks ago I wrote about the "Meet Your Match" program sponsored by the ASPCA. This year they are encouraging the adoption of pit bulls by entering each new pit bull adopter in a contest. Four times throughout this year, a winning match will be announced with the shelter getting a $4000 grant and the dog owner getting a prize package. The winners will be entered in a "Vote For Your Favorite Match" contest. The grand prizes awarded in April will be a trip to New York for the shelter plus a $5000 grant, and a photo shoot with a professional photographer for the pet and owner. For details, see www.aspca.org/adoptabull.

I got an email a couple weeks ago from a blog reader who belongs to Nature Coast Beekeeper's Society. They not only tend to God's wee creatures, but on their website you will find a page featuring animals who are awaiting loving homes at Citrus County Animal Control. You have to love beekeepers with a heart.

The Parade section of the Sunday paper, June 22, featured a section on lifesaving tips for pets. The article gave advice on poisoning, car accidents, bleeding, choking and loss of consciousness. They also offered suggestions for stocking a first aid kit. See more at http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2008/edition_06-22-2008/3Save_Pet_Life.

The Tampa Tribune reports that the SPCA shelter in Largo has taken in over 80 dogs and 28 cats from a puppy mill in Tennessee. They are part of a group of almost 700 animals rescued last Thursday from Pine Bluff Kennels by the Humane Society of the United States. They were found to be severely neglected. Some of the puppies have never been socialized. The animals will not be available for adoption until they've been evaluated. For further details, visit http://www.spcatampabay.org/. In other Pinellas SPCA news, two puppies were found in a Clearwater parking lot. One puppy was dead from a head injury. The other, a female is healthy and will probably be up for adoption in a week.

To add to my list of good summer reads of the canine persuasion, tbo.com published their own list of pet themed literature.

Update on Desperate Lab

2008-06-25T15:36:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have noticed that yesterday, a post appeared and disappeared. The story of the lab that was scheduled to be euthanized today is a sad one. I was sent the plea to help save this dog early yesterday morning from a reliable source. It was sent to her from a reliable source. Both women volunteer at Hillsborough County Animal Services and both had interactions with this dog. Unfortunately, when the heart is involved, the truth can be hard to find. In this case, the dog was represented in the email I posted, as a friendly, fun loving pal. In fact, the dog was deemed aggressive by people who had the qualifications to know. I apologize for posting a misrepresentation of this dog and his situation. I'll be tightening my screening process after this incident.

What I learned from this is, there are many kind and generous people in our little corner of the world. People who care about animals and reach deep into their hearts to help them. People who will make calls, send emails, open their homes to foster, even travel to Animal Services to investigate this dog's situation. People who stopped what they were doing yesterday to try to save one canine's life. The sad truth is, not every dog can be saved. Rescue groups and shelters are inundated right now. Aggressive dogs are not candidates for adoption and there are very few places that are willing to attempt rehabilitating them.

So, today I mourn the loss of the lab. But I celebrate the knowledge that good people are just an email away.

A Best Friend To Animals

2008-06-23T04:41:00.000-07:00

I am honored and excited to bring you the following interview with one of Tampa's shining stars. Jackie Seal not only spends her vacation and free time volunteering with rescue shelters, she put considerable time and thought into answering my emailed questions and she did it so eloquently.

DameDog: Who are your personal pets and how did you come to have them?

Jackie: At the moment we have one dog and one cat. Our dog, Marcus, was rescued only in the sense that if we hadn’t taken him as a puppy, who knows what would have happened to him. His Mom had already produced a couple of litters before this one, and her owner just wanted to get rid of all the puppies at $25 each, although my husband bartered some carpentry work - a big wooden kennel for Mom - in return for the puppy. Marcus is a Magnificent Mutt –he has the body of a dingo, the face of a Belgian Malinois and the ears of a mule deer. He’s 18 months old at this point and still has a lot of puppy power, but he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body and kisses everyone he meets, including all his buddies at the dog park.
Our cat, Princess, is 10 years old and her nose has been out of joint for some time now at our having allowed the aforementioned mutt to reside in the same house. Princess showed up out of the blue when she was about 10 weeks old and promptly made herself at home on the verandah railing of our house. We were happy to add her to our larger menagerie at that time. Princess has since told me her name is a misnomer. “Empress” would be far more appropriate. She’s everything a cat should be.

DD: What is your volunteer work here in Hillsborough County and what inspired you to volunteer?

J: Volunteerism is something everyone should do, I think. I started back in the Seventies with the Buddy Dog Humane Society in Sudbury, Massachusetts, which was probably one of the very first no-kill shelters in the country. And though I have done other volunteer work with human organizations, I decided when I semi-retired that I wanted to do something with animals, and it had to be “hands-on,” so I volunteer a few hours a week as an animal companion at the

Humane Society of Tampa Bay, and occasionally with their mobile adoption unit and at other special events. With a couple of other women who are always there at the same time, we make sure all the dogs are taken out of their kennels to walk, run, play and socialize. I have fallen in love with so many of those animals, and it’s gratifying to know that sooner or later everyone finds a home, and that we help make their stay at the shelter a little less stressful and a lot more fun. Many people have asked me how I could volunteer at an animal shelter and not get upset, but I tell those people that the shelter staff are always very busy, so without us volunteers the dogs wouldn’t have all the “fun” times we are able to give them, and it’s incredibly rewarding.

DD: I understand you spend your vacation time in an interesting way. How did you learn about Best Friends Animal Sanctuary?

J: I have volunteered at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in southern Utah four times (so far!), the first time being a month after Hurricane Katrina. Many of their staff were in New Orleans rescuing animals, or at the St. Francis Animal Sanctuary in Tylertown, Mississippi, where the animals were then taken to be cared for. Originally my name must have gotten onto the Best Friends mailing list from other animal charities and I had been receiving their brochures for a few years and always thought visiting the sanctuary might be nice some time if ever I was in that area. But when I read an article online in the Seattle Times written by someone who had volunteered there, I promptly decided it was what I wanted to do, and a few months later I went with a friend. It’s the kind of place you just want to keep going back to.

DD: How did the sanctuary get started ? How do you spend your days there and what is that experience like?

J: A group of best friends, many of English origin, started a shelter in Arizona to take in animals that were going to be euthanized. As the number of animals increased they decided to look for a larger place, and in 1984 found Angel Canyon just outside Kanab in southern Utah. It was slow going and a lot of hard work at first, but their collective commitment to helping animals and an enormous amount of hard work paid off, and the Best Friends Animal Society has become an incredibly well-organized and well-respected animal rescue group. Among their many outstanding accomplishments is taking in 22 of Michael Vick’s fighting dogs a few months ago. They pushed for all of his dogs to be rescued and rehabilitated rather than euthanized, and some went to other rescue groups. The pits at Best Friends are doing wonderfully (see photo of Curly to the right, taken by Best Friend's photographer, Sarah Ause) – I ask you, is that a vicious fighting dog?!!.
The Best Friends Sanctuary facilities are spread out over their huge 3,000 acre property, so a car is necessary to get around. There are two separate areas for dogs - Dogtown and Dogtown Heights, also Cat World, Feathered Friends for birds, Bunny House for rabbits, all of which have wonderful indoor/outdoor communal living areas rather than separate kennels or cages. There are also various pastures and enclosures for horses, donkeys, mules, pigs, goats and sheep. The sanctuary offers free 1-1/2 hour tours for visitors; volunteers always take the tour and can decide where they want to work and what schedule suits them, whether it’s one day, one week, or one month.
I usually spend one or two days volunteering with dogs, the other days with cats. With the dogs a volunteer usually walks them in the mornings, which is a huge pleasure because the paths wind through juniper and sagebrush with wonderful views of the vermilion cliffs. There’s also “housework” involved, such as sweeping their indoor rooms, feeding them, washing their dishes, scooping their poop, brushing them, and then generally socializing with them. With cats it’s cleaning out the kitty litter boxes, sweeping and mopping floors, cleaning all the sleeping areas, brushing their blankets etc. but it’s always a pleasure doing that kind of housework. And then there’s the reward of socializing with them and boy, most of the cats just lap that up!

DD: Do you have a favorite animal there?

J: It’s hard to say, because the sanctuary has about an 80% adoption rate I think, and a dog I may have fallen in love with one year may not be there the next. My favorite of all was Churchill, a mostly black pitbull who we took on a “sleepover” with us at the motel one night last year; he was one of the sweetest, most loving dogs I’d ever met (I’m a sucker for pitbulls anyway). Others obviously felt the same, as he has since been adopted. I love the older and special-needs animals most of all, and try to make a point of volunteering in those areas.

DD: What have you learned from your time spent volunteering with animals in different places?

J: I have learned that animals who’ve been through any kind of trauma (even just the trauma of being given up by their owners) and wind up in a shelter are definitely grateful for any sort of kindness shown them. And that more and more people are realizing that animals are sentient beings who are as worthy of love, respect, care and kindness as humans are (sometimes more so!) I think the Michael Vick dog-fighting case, the atrocity of puppy mills and disasters such as Katrina and their attendant publicity have taught us that no matter the calamity, there is always a silver lining to them in that the plight of these animals is brought to light, and that gets people thinking and talking and acting positively. I think education plays a huge role. Everyone needs to understand that spaying and neutering their pets is not only beneficial to both the pets and humans, but the only way the euthanization numbers are going to be reduced. We still have a long way to go, even though there are many low-cost spay/neuter programs available. And if we can not only teach, but practice, kindness-towards-animals to youngsters, they will grow up knowing we are all the animals’ caretakers.

DD: Do you know of any places in Florida that are like the sanctuary?

J: Not really, because the sanctuary in Utah is a physically huge operation, with close to 400 employees, and well over 12,000 volunteers a year (probably more since the “Dogtown” series appeared on the National Geographic Channel earlier this year – Best Friends has been inundated with offers of volunteerism) and the scope of its work is enormous, especially domestically, and is growing internationally. But the number of shelters and rescue groups in Florida amazes me and basically they are all working towards the same goal – no more homeless pets. So big or small, it’s the dedication of the staff and volunteers at the shelters and rescue groups that really makes a difference, and the animals benefit, which is what it’s all about.

Too Late For Bandi

2008-06-19T09:53:00.000-07:00

For some dogs, rescue comes too late. That is the case for Bandi, an 11 year old mixed breed unfortunate enough to be owned by a man like Thomas Crowe. You can see the photos of just how much Crowe cared for his dog on tbo.com. Bandi has heartworms and is emaciated. Sgt. Pam Perry of Hillsborough County Animal Servives says the dog will most likely be euthanized. A dog in this condition probably wouldn't survive heartworm treatment, which can be hard on an animal, even one in otherwise good health. Bandi was picked up by HCAS Tuesday and Crowe is now in jail, charged with animal cruelty. I have no idea what Crowe's circumstances
are, but I will never understand this kind of neglect.

Dogs Invade Workplace

2008-06-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is "Take Your Dog To Work Day". I'm trying hard to picture my two in an office environment, and what I'm seeing is total disruption. So, they aren't candidates for this event, but maybe your dog is. Created by Petsitter's International ten years ago, the idea is meant to introduce dogless coworkers to the benefits of canine ownership. I imagine this day of dog visitors really livens up most work places, softens some attitudes and brings a smile to many faces. Of course, there will always be those who don't appreciate dog slobber on their freshly printed copies or pethair on their designer clothes. This is fair warning to people with pet allergies and fastidious personalities. Get Ye behind your office door and stay there, because dogs will rule on Friday June 20!

To read more on this subject, check out the article on tbo.com. Petsitters International even has a zany, interactive website about the event at takeyourdogtowork.

An Interesting View On Canine Reproduction

2008-06-17T07:29:00.000-07:00

My husband was listening to NPR this morning and heard a story about some Americans in Iraq trying to get a stray dog they adopted, neutered. The Iraqi translator and his countrymen who were working with the Americans were horrified at the thought. Nevertheless, they did find a veterinarian who agreed, against his better judgement to perform the operation. In Iraq, it seems, reproduction is highly valued in people as well as animals. After the surgery was done, the Iraqi's felt bad for the dog and thought it would be best to deport it to America because it would no longer fit in among its own kind in their country. For more on this story go to NPR.

Dogfather Part I

2008-06-16T06:07:00.000-07:00

This was Hobbit's first chance to celebrate Father's Day with his human dad. He was determined to show his love, as only a juvenile Jack Russell can. First he helped Scott get his body up and energized for the day.

Next, he took dad to the dogpark, so he could visit with the other guys. No idea what they get out of standing around making noise with their mouths, but hey, to each his own. Back home, he spent some quality time with Scott, reading the newspaper over his shoulder. Then, the job of helping with dinner. Ahhh, grill time. He guarded that grill and was quick to pick up any stray stuff that fell on the ground. Dad's are great at dropping food.

After dinner, was a movie on the futon. Hobbit and Ella help put dad to sleep. Now, that's dog love.

In The News

2008-06-16T04:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's Tampa Tribune had a nice spread on dog friendly beaches in Florida with lots of fun pictures. They listed parks in all parts of the state including Jacksonville, Port Orange, Dunedin and Key West. In the Tampa Bay area they featured Honeymoon Island's Pet Beach. For more info on dog friendly beaches, check out "The Complete Florida Beach Guide" by Mary and Bill Burnham. This is the perfect time of year to get wet with your dogs.

And, if you are one of the few who can still afford gas for a trip, in yesterday's paper was a blurb about a traveling exhibit called Pets In America. The Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee will host this collection of old artifacts, from collars and vintage food packages to antique medical equipment. Included will be photos of famous historical figures with their pets. Sounds like fun. If you go, bring back some souvenirs and give us a blog report.

And last of all is a "feel good" kind of story that was on the front page of the Trib's Metro section today. A Pitbull Terrier pup had been adopted by a couple through the Hernando County Pitbull Terrier Rescue group. Two days later, they're house was broken into and the dog stolen. Apparently the three month old puppy was too much for the thief who dumped him out on Twelve Oaks Blvd. in Tampa. The Pitbull rescue group sprang into action, printing up flyers about the lost dog and going door to door to help find it. Saturday, through anonymous tips, it was located and returned to the couple. Now, the curious thing about this article is that there are two photos of the dog playing with family members after it's return home. One shows the puppy laying down with a long white tipped tail. The other shows the same puppy with what looks like a docked tail. Maybe that picture is deceiving and it only looks like a docked tail. The other photos posted at tbo.com don't show the tail. But if that is a docked tail, then my question is, did the thief dock the tail, did someone else who had the dog in the last week dock the tail, or did the new owners do it as a home coming present. I'm going on record here to say that I consider tail docking and ear trimming to be mutilation. But that's an issue for a whole other blog article, so I'll stop right here.

Humane Society of Tampa Bay Making Good Matches

2008-06-12T04:06:00.000-07:00

According to an article in this week's Tampa Tribune, Hillsborough County Animal Services euthanized almost 2000 animals in April of this year. More cats than dogs are brought into the shelter and more dogs are adopted, so cats are the majority of the animals being euthanized. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, through their program Mission Orange is working in Tampa Bay to lower the number of animals euthanized because of homelessness. As a part of that effort, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay has been transporting animals from HCAS to its facility at 3607 Armenia Ave. in Tampa. HCAS took in almost 90 strays a day in April, which has the capacity for only 325 dogs and 344 cats. The Humane Society has space for 200 animals and executive director, Sherry Silk, says she doesn't want to have empty cages when they are euthanizing animals down the street.

The SPCA has developed a personality test called Meet Your Match that helps partner potential pet owners with animals that are compatible. Humane Society clients are asked to fill out a 16 question form which helps determine what kind of pet they are most suited to. The animals are labeled in categories like Love Bug, Goofball and Couch Potato. Silk says the match making has helped prevent the return of pets after adoption. She feels if the pet stays in the new home for 30 days, then the bond is likely to stick. Last year the Humane Society placed 3,181 animals. This year adoptions have already increased by 125 for January and 208 for February, which is a good sign that Mission Orange is making a difference.

Volunteers also help to make a difference in this effort. Like my friend, Rohana who spends several hours a month in the Humane Society's cat area. Rohana has the sensitivity and gentleness to work with frightened animals. She looks for the cats and kittens who seem the most needy, then brings them out to the play area and spends time with them, helping them socialize. Baby Girl was a sad, withdrawn little kitten. Rohana brings treats and toys, but some cats, like Baby Girl are too shutdown to play. So, she sits with them and gradually draws them out of their shells. Each time Rohana went, she found Baby Girl a little less timid, but still she was a long way from being social. Rohana knew it would take a very special person to care for this kitten. Last week, Baby Girl was adopted after months of waiting. With the care being given to match people and animals, Baby Girl has a better chance of staying with her new owner for the rest of her life. Rohana has moved on to her next candidate, Quincy, who is a shy white cat, with eyes that remind her alot of Baby Girl. People like Rohana are a vital part of the solution to the homeless pet problem. The ASPCA working together with the Humane Society and Animal Services to make good matches, is another.

Summer Calls For Volunteers

2008-06-11T03:45:00.000-07:00

So, it's that time of year when the youth of the world sleep late, daydream about the fun they will have the rest of the summer, and celebrate no school work for two months. Then what? How about devoting some of that time doing something fun and beneficial? Hillsborough County Animal Services is holding volunteer orientation sessions tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 28 at 10 a.m. Volunteer duties involve dog walking, bathing, socializing and more. Minimum age requirement is 16 years and parents must accompany minors under 18 to orientation. For more information, see HCAS website. Other places to consider offering your youthful assistance are Humane Society of Tampa Bay, rescue groups and shelters, and your local veterinary clinic.

Summer Reads and Flicks

2008-06-09T05:25:00.000-07:00

We've got a long summer ahead, with the kind of hot days that make you want to sit on a shady porch, kick your feet up and sit down with a good book and an icy cold drink. Whether you're a fiction or non fiction reader, there's a steady stream of new dog themed books on the market in every genre. The Bark Magazine features book reviews in every issue. Their latest selections include autobiography "Timmy's in the Well: The Jon Provost Story" co-authored with Provost's wife, Laurie Jacobson. Provost was profoundly affected by his years co-starring with collie, "Lassie" in the 1950's t.v. show. Also reviewed were "Puppy Chow is Better Than Prozac" by Bruce Goldstein about a Bipolar man who finds puppy love to be therapeutic, and "The Art Of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein. Old dog, Enzo is the narrator of this book. He reflects on his life with his human, race car driver, Denny Swift. Bark's non fiction picks were "Positive Perspective 2: Know Your Dog, Train Your Dog" by respected dog trainer and prolific author, Pat Miller, "Crate Games for Self-Control and Motivation" by Susan Garrett, and "Perfect Paws in 5 Days" by another expert in the dog behavior field, Jean Donaldson.

Dogwise is a fabulous site to search for dog books. They serve up mostly non fiction, educational type reads, but have recently added some good fiction material. Last week, they spotlighted "The Ethical Trainer" by Jim Barry and "Canine Behavior: A Photo Illustrated Handbook" by Barbara Handelman.

The last dog themed book I read was "Shaggy Muses" by Maureen Adams. It's an interesting exploration into the lives of historical women authors and how they were affected by their canine companions. After searching the local weekend movie section, I could find no summer movies involving dogs. Not even one cute snout poking through the human legs on those movie posters. But, I did look up the progress report on "Marley and Me". Most dog lovers have read the story of the yellow lab written by owner, John Grogan. The movie version is in production and release date is December 25 of this year. It stars Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson and a bunch of adorable labs who will play Marley and be the real stars of the show.

Any readers out there who want to share their favorite dog books and movies, please publish them in responses. Or use the "Email Me" link (under my profile, upper left hand corner of the blog) and I'll post them.

Hurray For Art And Rescues

2008-06-09T05:08:00.000-07:00

Florida Boxer Rescue held a fund raising art auction last month called "The Art Of Rescue". It was highly successful, raising over $15,000. Thanks go out to all the artists who donated work, the generous people who purchased the works, and the hard working volunteers who are necessary to pull off such an event. Florida's homeless Boxers thank you from the bottom of their canine hearts.

Ella, Hobbit And Friend, Last Weekend's Dogpark Pics

2008-06-04T05:19:00.000-07:00

ACT Now

2008-06-02T05:48:00.001-07:00

Hillsborough County is fortunate to be the home of the Animal Coalition of Tampa. ACT, located at 1719 W. Lemon Street, is a low cost spay/neuter clinic that also offers vaccinations, microchip and exams for dogs and cats. Low income residents can apply for a voucher that allows them to have up to four cats and four dogs spayed or neutered every year for just $10. That fee includes a rabies shot and county tag. ACT opened its doors in March of 2006 and with a mostly volunteer staff, performs surgeries on over 7000 animals a year. Be sure to check out their excellent website at ACT. They even have their very own blog. To make an appointment, you can call 813-250-3900. I'll be posting their monthly specials here. This month, it's called "Who's Your Daddy" in honor of Father's Day. This is a cat special, but it's such a worthy cause, that I got my dogs' permission to post it. ACT will neuter male cats for $20 every Tuesday in June. What a treasure this clinic is to the people of Hillsborough County.

It's Baaack

2008-05-28T04:41:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year again. The time most Floridians take in stride, but quietly prepare for. Hurricane season. Storms like Andrew and Katrina taught us alot about how unprepared we really were. Many people who endured Katrina abandoned their pets to the ravages of the storm. Some stayed in their homes because they wouldn't leave their pets, which emphasized the need for pet friendly evacuation shelters. Do you know which shelters in your area would welcome you and your pets? Florida Pets. Net keeps an up to date description of shelter information along with a list of shelters in Florida. They also provide an excellent Hurricane Check List. Hillsborough County only has two pet friendly shelters. They are Sickles High School and Burnett Middle School. County Commissioner Rose Ferlita and the Community of Hillsborough Animal and Agricultural Response Team CHAART, are working to provide more shelters to accommodate the estimated 500,000 pets in Hillsborough County.

So, while you're stocking your pantry with emergency supplies, checking your first aid kits, and dragging out the storm shutters, be sure to keep your pets in mind. They count on you to think ahead for them.

May Musings

2008-05-27T05:21:00.000-07:00

Good morning. Hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day weekend. We aren't big on events, so this household doesn't do parades or ceremonies, but that doesn't mean we didn't spend time remembering those who have fallen and are still falling in wars. And while the focus is on humans, there have also been animals who have sacrificed their lives in service for their countries. There is even a United States War Dogs Association with their own website. I have read heart wrenching stories of dogs who repeatedly ran into enemy territory under heavy fire. Dogs who risked their lives for handlers and handlers who put their life on the line for their canine partners. War is a horrible tragedy, and though its necessity is beyond the understanding of this writer, I am grateful to those courageous souls who have fought and are still fighting to protect the good in this world. I am also thankful to be living in a land where I was free to spend a peaceful weekend at home, with my loved ones, including two rescued dogs who don't have to go to war.

A Tribute to Good People And A Sad Farewell To Gus

2008-05-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I posted an article about Gus, a Beagle found wandering in Seminole Heights by my friend, Ginny. She rescued him from a negligent owner, who was only too eager to abandon the dog after learning he was sick. Ginny contacted

Tampa Bay Beagle Rescue and they stepped in to help. A thorough vet check revealed that Gus was suffering the ill affects of an advanced stage of heartworms. Still there was hope that treatment would help him live a somewhat restricted, but happy life. He was treated for the heartworms and sent to a TBBR foster home, where his new "Mom", Sylvia treated him as one of her own. She had four other canines and Gus happily settled into their household. There were many touch and go moments for Sylvia and Gus, when he would have respiratory attacks that required vet stays. He did manage to get well enough to appear with the other Beagles looking for homes at Al Lopez Park. But that special person, the one who would give Gus a forever home, never appeared on his horizon. This week, Gus suffered what would be his final respiratory attack. His heart and lungs were just too damaged to go on.

My heart cries for Gus and the life of neglect he lived, but I am so grateful to Sylvia, Ginny and TBBR for scooping him up out of his awful environment and what would have been a painful death, endured without love or care. We often sing the praises of the work rescue groups do to find new homes for dogs. But the story of Gus proves they do so much more. My hat is off to you, Sylvia for taking a sick dog into your home, and treating him with love and kindness. Thank you TBBR for all the work you do to help Beagles, even the ones who may not have long to live. Lastly, thank you Ginny for having the courage to confront Gus' previous owner and save Gus from a horrible end.

Scrappy, A Much Loved Stray

2008-05-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

This story was written by Nancy Latimer, who has sheltered her share of critters and spends her spare time volunteering at Hillsborough County Animal Services. She wrote this touching tale a couple years ago, but it is well worth printing. Her daughter held on to her photos of Scrappy and dug this one up for this blog article.

On the verge of getting a new puppy, I have been thinking a lot about the "puppy loves" I have had and lost on the way to this new time and new love in my life. About 15 years ago, after a divorce and the death of my parents, my kids found a small wire-haired mutt whom they promptly named "Scrappy". He was an adorable little fellow, young, mid-sized, just a lovely, kind little pup. We put an ad in the paper, but after a week or so, no claimers. I couldn't believe that someone wasn't missing this adorable little guy. My kids of course were ecstatic. But due to many situations, financially and otherwise, I told them that we would have to find "Scrappy" a home. We already had a few dogs, a couple of cats and a rat. At that time in my life I just couldn't take in any more.

We placed an ad in the Tribune to start screening potential families. Early on we got lucky. A wonderful family came out, a mom and her two young kids. Although I don't recall her name, I remember the family well. Her husband was an exterminator, and she was freaking out 'cause we had a rat for a pet. ( I might take this time to add that the rat had a house the size of a Chevrolet Cavalier in our living room. He was the love of my daughter's life.) Anyhoo...the family loved Scrappy, we loved the family, so basically, off they went. We kept in touch for a couple of months. It seemed as though everything was going fine, so we parted ways and allowed Scrappy to merge into his new life. We were informed that Scrappy's name has changed to Rocky, much to my daughters dismay. But, oh well.

Over the years, my daughter and I would just remember "Scrappy", or run a cross a picture of him, and she would always say "Mom, we made a mistake, we should have should have kept that one". And, to be honest...I always wondered if maybe she was right. He was indeed a special little dog. I must have heard my daughter say this 100 times over the years...and, she said it again a week or so before the phone call that I am about to tell you about, came in. A few months ago on a Saturday morning, I was taking a nap when the phone rang. I screened it, too lazy to actually get up and answer it. I couldn't hear everything from the start, but I did hear a woman say "if you have had this phone number for 14 years, then this call is for you". At that, I bounded to the phone and picked it up. It certainly drew my interest.

The woman introduced herself and said she was cleaning out some drawers and came across an ad that read something to the effect of, "little wire-haired mutt, young male", and I immediately said " You are "Scrappy's " mom!" She said, yes, she was indeed Rocky's mom". Apparently she was doing some housecleaning, and came across the ad that I had placed 14 years ago in the Tampa Tribune. She had since moved to another County, but had never lost the ad. She went on to say that her family had recently lost Rocky. I knew what she meant by lost, although I didn't ask her specifically how. She told me that for 14 years they had loved that dog with all their hearts. She took great pride in telling me that Rocky was never kenneled, if there were any trips to be taken, he went or he stayed with family. There were also stories about them bringing another pup into their lives, a pup that wasn't too keen on Rocky. She would stand over the both of them at dinnertime with a flyswatter, and lightly smack the "ogre" of a pup that disliked Rocky, so he could eat his dinner quietly as he grew older and couldn't quite fend for himself as well as he once had. I could just hear the love in her voice as she talked about Rocky...my heart ached for her. She told me that she had just wanted me to know that Rocky had been loved immensely. And she told me that if I had another one just like him, she would be over in a minute to grab him. I could tell she was grieving. And I knew, all to well, the hurt she was feeling.
As the conversation continued, I shared with her the fact that over the years my daughter continued to give me grief because we were not able to keep "Scrappy". And I told her of the favorite line that was used...."Mom, I think we made a mistake......" As we shared some tears toward the end of the conversation, I told her that I finally had an answer for myself wondering if indeed, maybe I had made a mistake concerning not keeping "Scrappy". And, the answer was ..I had not. "Scrappy" was EXACTLY where he was supposed to be. He was loved forever by EXACTLY WHO was supposed to love him. There had been no mistake made. "Scrappy" had lived his life exactly WHERE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. I felt bad when the conversation ended. The woman and I had bonded after a 15-minute conversation that covered 14 years, and a few shared, but short memories. Our families were raised...life was going on, but for a few minutes, we were both brought together again in joy, thanks to a "little wire-haired mutt".

After calling my daughter and sharing the tears with her, I sat back and replayed the part of the conversation that was left on my recorder before I got up to answer the phone. In fact, I replayed it several times. I sat in wonderment of a pup that had 2 families love him for all of his life. The great little pup who provoked a woman to pick up a phone after 14 years, just to call and say thank you for giving her family a pup to love.
Rest in peace, Scrappy...you were indeed loved…and certainly missed.......