June 2008 Archives
They're small, cute and throw poop -- the difference between baby monkeys and baby humans is pretty tiny.
But monkeys don't grow up and join gangs, go to college, pierce their noses, get tribal tattoos or other obnoxious things humans do these days.
I was sitting here at work just now when a commercial came on for a show called "The Outsiders. "It's going to be on at 10 p.m. Tuesday. That's pretty much all I know about it, but the premise of it seems to be that a lady realized that monkeys are less trouble than humans, so she adopted a monkey.
The monkey eats at the table, drinks out of a glass, goes to the playground and wears dresses (which I suppose makes it a girl monkey.)
This is the best link I could find and I don't know how long it's going to last. It's for the Primetime series. If you poke around, you'll find a video called "substitute children." That's the one about the lady who is raising a monkey.
I figure that I've walked at least 10,000 miles with various dogs over the years. Probably more.
And one thing I've learned is that people are very trusting of you when they see you have a dog with you.
You can be walking down the street at 2 a.m., but if you have your pet with you, people will smile and wave if they happen to see you.
But if you're by yourself, it'll only be a matter of seconds before they call the cops.
That's the lesson this guy should have learned. When police stopped him, he claimed he was out walking his dog. Problem is he didn't have a dog with him.
A car break-in suspect's alibi that he was just out walking his dog at 4 a.m. Friday when police stopped him might have worked better if he'd had a dog.
But Scott St. Peter's story fell apart when he told officers that he'd left the dog at home so he could scout out the street first to see if it was safe to bring out his pet, court records state.
There's probably a pun in there about police collaring the guy, but I try to avoid such things.
"Dogs would make totally incompetent criminals. If you could somehow get a group of dogs to understand the concept of the Kennedy assassination, they would all immediately confess to it. Whereas you'll never see a cat display any kind of guilty behavior, despite the fact that several cats were seen in Dallas on the grassy knoll area, not that I wish to start rumors." -- Dave Barry, humor columnist
Given the human suffering that occurs, it seems almost embarrassing to write about animals that are victims of natural disasters, like the recent earthquake in China.
But disasters can strike anywhere, and if something like that happened to me -- I'd be comforted to know that my pets -- even the stupid cat -- were safe and sound.
In China, where stray dogs are being shot because of the scope of the problem, one woman has taken it upon herself to rescue homeless dogs, whose owners may have died or been displaced because of the quake.
For 11 years, the 60-year-old Chen has been rescuing strays off the streets. She now cares for about 900 dogs and 100 cats in her shelter built among rice paddies on the southern outskirts of Chengdu, the provincial capital.
"I think that dogs and humans have the same right to live. They're equals," she told The Associated Press as a brown brindle hound missing a front leg jumped up on her and snuggled his snout in her lap.
It's a bittersweet story. But it's nice to know that there are people like Chen.
Here's an AP photo that accompanies the story.
As if they didn't have enough problems in the flood-ravaged midwest. After volunteers worked so valiantly hold back the overflowing Mississippi River, it failed on Friday. And all because of a muskrat.
WINFIELD, Mo. - A heroic effort by hundreds of townspeople, volunteers and National Guardsmen to hold back the Mississippi River failed Friday -- undone by a burrowing muskrat.
The furry rodent dug a hole through the earthen levee in this eastern Missouri community, allowing water to penetrate the floodwall, which failed shortly before dawn.
I must admit to not knowing exactly what a muskrat was. It turns out they look like beavers.
Thumper, Ocho, Gigi and Jake.
They're all rescued pets who found a place in artist Nancy Webber's collage now on permanent display at San Pedro's new animal shelter.
Webber, a longtime San Pedro resident and Harbor College faculty member who was awarded the $55,000 arts grant from the city, took animal-themed paintings and incorporated images of real pets from snapshots mailed in to her.
Reporter Jim Farber writes about the project in today's Daily Breeze. "I wanted to do something for the animal shelter that would combine the history of animals in art," Webber told Farber.
************** Also in today's Daily Breeze is an update on efforts to get a water mister system installed at the shelter at 597 N. Gaffey St. Seems the city process could take months. Volunteer Theresa Sardisco is working to do it all on private money, confident the misters could be in place within weeks. The city is still hoping to find the funds, though, and is consulting with a firm that set up a similar system at one of the shelters in the San Fernando Valley.
Theresa will be at the shelter from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday collecting donations should those still be needed for the project. You can also call her at 310-386-7932 or call the shelter at 888-452-7381, Ext. 143.
I just got this e-mail from Katie Casey from Formula, a pr agency in El Segundo. She offers some very smart and common sense tips for helping your pets get through the stressfull Fourth of July holiday from the World Wide Pet Industry Association.
I copy and paste her letter because she makes the point as clearly as I could...
While the nation celebrates this holiday with fireworks and other festivities, the Fourth of July can cause extreme stress on your pets.
The loud noises from fireworks, bright flashes of light and smells of sulfur can create an environment that is unfamiliar and hostile to pets. The World Wide Pet Industry Association (WWPIA), the oldest non-profit association dedicated to promoting responsible pet care, offers a list of expert tips on how to reduce your pet's anxiety this Fourth of July.
- Bring all pets inside - Pets are animals; they can become easily spooked by loud noises and bright lights. Even a well-behaved and extensively trained pet will try to escape if they feel they are in danger.
- Create a "Safe Room" - Choose a room in your home that is secluded from outside noises. Be sure that the room is well ventilated and cool, as anxious pets will pant heavily. Close the blinds and play music, which will help block outside noises. Be sure to keep food and water in the room.
- Offer comfort items - Surrounding your pet with their favorite toys, blankets or treats will help to provide some distraction.
- Keep your doors closed - Constant foot traffic in and out of the room where your pets are staying increases the chances that they will escape. Only have one person who is in charge or periodically checking on the pets.
- Properly ID your pets - As a responsible pet owner, your pets should have ID tags and be micro-chipped. This will help recover your pet should they escape.
- Accidents happen - Don't punish your pet if an accident occurs in the home during this time. The stress and fear produced from loud noises can often cause house trained pets to urinate in the home. Instead, plan ahead. Cover the floor with newspaper and remove any expensive rugs that could be damaged.
For more information and news regarding pet safety, please visit PetSource.org.
Yahoo has introduced a new domain name for e-mails. Technically, it's an old domain name, but it's been inactive for 10 years.
It's called rocketmail and it's available for free to anybody with an Internet connection.
Since they named it after my dog, I thought it was only fair that he got his own e-mail address.
So if you're so inclined, feel free to drop him a line. He's available at badrocket@rocketmail.com. Maybe he'll take time out of his busy schedule of barking, napping and running away to respond. But don't hold your breath.
As soon as they start a service called riffmail, I'll get one for my stupid cat.
Brushing their teeth.
Well, maybe not. But this dog seems to be enjoying it. But I'm sure the other dogs in the neighborhood laugh at him behind his back.
Look what they've gone and done to the humble doghouse.
This special NeoClassic dog retreat home will do a whole lot more than just shelter your dog or cat, of course. The seller says it will actually bring your pet "peace of mind."
These dog and cat houses are one of those gifts from the universe where all things lined up easily and effortlessly to make this creation possible. So you know that your precious little darling will be surrounded by great energy.
It also comes in an "Old Ruins" design. All for just $675 (although for the upgraded $825 model you'll get a tree planted in your name in the Costa Rica rainforest).
Go to Leifers.com to reserve yours for delivery before Sept. 3. You're on your own for the plant, though.
I don't think my dogs would go for something like this, even if I could afford it. This dog model -- whose name (seriously) is Bunker Waffle Penso Vera -- appears to be more zen-like than Tess and Cowboy. My dogs aren't really into the whole "inner peace" thing. Or outer peace, for that matter.
There's simply too much fun to be had digging holes in the yard, stealing shoes, playing fetch, trumbling and running with the little dogs at the dog park. harrassing the mail carrier ..... etc., etc., etc.
MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's parliament voiced its support on Wednesday for the rights of great apes to life and freedom in what will apparently be the first time any national legislature has called for such rights for non-humans.
Parliament's environmental committee approved resolutions urging Spain to comply with the Great Apes Project, devised by scientists and philosophers who say our closest genetic relatives deserve rights hitherto limited to human
This almost seems more like a "Josh" kinda post, but there is a connection to my previous Pennies and More item about the rise in the cost of pet food.
So here's the story: An animal lover on welfare in Japan decides to don a dog mask, brandish a knife and rob some convenience stores so he can keep feeding his two dogs, five cats, five turtles, two snakes and an aquarium of tropical fish.
Takaharu Kawata appeared on store videos and was arrested in March. He is awaiting a court appearance and his animals were handed over to a pet shop, according to Tokyo police.
The mask? That was never recovered by authorities. His beagle, he told police, chewed it up.
And for good cause, I'd say.
First gas, now pet food.
For the past three months, consumer watchdogs -- not to mention pet owners -- have seen pet food costs rise. According to the U.S. bureau of Labor's Consumer Price Index, pet food prices are up by between 8 and 9.5 percent over the same time last year and represents the largest pet food increase in years.
A story this week in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette cites several factors contributing to the spike, including the higher cost of ingredients such as grains and meats that manufacturers are having to pay.
And, yes, there's also a gas pump link -- delivery costs, way up.
High gas prices and other rising expenses are also hitting animal shelters hard, according to
the Orlando Sentinel.
Soaring fuel costs are biting into the budgets of Central Florida's animal shelters. ... And taxpayers are bearing the brunt of it as the price for everything from dog kibble and flea dip to gasoline and medicine keeps going up.
Meanwhile, there's also new demand for help at pet food banks and discount vets, according to this MSNBC story.
After sitting through last Saturday's sweltering grand opening for San Pedro's new animal shelter, city officials and community activists all agreed: Misters.
Discussions are underway to get a water "mister" system installed to help keep the animals cool on hot days. Linda Marinkovich of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council was among those who e-mailed L.A. Animal Services GM Ed Boks on Monday. He replied in an e-mail to her that the city is seeing what it can do to "make it happen."
In today's Daily Breeze story (accompanied by these photos by Breeze photographers Sean Hiller - above - and Brad Graverson - below), shelter volunteer Theresa Sardisco is pledging to get the job done, city money or no city money.
There have been conflicting stories about why there were no misters put in at the shelter at 957 N. Gaffey St. The most recent explanation was that the misters were in the original shelter plans, but got scrapped as construction costs began to rise and the city had to meet its budget for the facility. Because San Pedro is considered to be in a "coastal" zone, downtown architects figured the misters wouldn't be missed
We hope to have an update on this later in the week. But if you want to find out how you can help, give Theresa a call at 310-386-7932. Or stop by the business she owns,Dominic's Pizza House at 28360 S. Western Ave. in San Pedro (that's in the Smart n' Final shopping center, near Westmont Drive).
Last week, I wrote about how my dog wiggled under the chain link fence and escaped at 5 a.m. I was alerted to this fact only because one of my nice neighbors knocked on my door.
I don't know why he decided to take a powder in the middle of the night, but quick action was required. He spent the day at the kennel while went to Home Depot in search of a fix.
I bought a bunch of spikes and drove them into the ground about every six inches of the perimeter of the yard.
Problem solved. Or so I thought. Yesterday morning my phone rang. This time the call came at 3 a.m.
"Your dog is running back and forth in front of our house," came the annoyed voice on the other end of the phone. I ran out in my pajamas and there he was running around like a spaz and having the best time of his life.
My reputation in the neighborhood grows stronger.
My dog is not a small dog. His head is the size of a watermelon. But I guess dogs are like octopuses. They can fit through pretty much anything. Well, I drove more spikes into the ground and then placed cinderblocks around the edges. It may not work, but at least it's very attractive.
Here's a video I took of his latest escape:
We're quickly running out of Daily Breeze pets to write about. Oh sure, there are other dog and cat owners, but they sniff at the idea of posting pictures of their pets.
One of my colleagues -- who shall remain nameless -- mocked me for having a photo of my dog on my cell phone. But guess what? She recently got a kitten couldn't resist snapping a few pictures on HER phone.
That's OK, we only like cool animals here. Take, for instance, Charlot. Charlot belongs to Mike Carroll, the Breeze's editorial page editor. Charlot enjoys lounging, getting into it with the cat across the street, and apparently not much else. I like that in a cat.
Here's what Mike has to say about about his kitty:
Charlot (French for "Charlie" and pronounced "Sharl-OH has been a member of the Carroll family since he was just a kitten who slept in a straw basket. Now 7 years old, the black and tan, long-furred tabby enjoys stalking birds, lounging on furniture and an occasional brawl with his arch enemy across the street.
Charlot recovered from an accident in his youth that required a midnight emergency room visit and an $800 hip operation, but he's healthy now, although his sitting posture is somewhat unbalanced. Visitors have remarked, after seeing the cat stretched out on a piano bench for hours on end, that, "Your cat seems lethargic." To which my wife, Eugenie, responds, "And your point is?"
Naturally, our three daughters love the cat and often make him the center of attention, although they concede that he's only slightly more animated than a Pet Rock. His favorite lounge spot during meal preparation time is smack in the kitchen's center, where he can gain maximum attention to his own hunger with minimal effort. For unknown reasons, Charlot is popular with the veterinarian's staff members, who usually remark when he emerges from his traveling box, "Oh, you're a handsome cat, aren't you? Yes, you are ..."
To date, we've yet to identify a strong, socially redeeming reason for Charlot's existence, other than my wife's observation that, "Well, at least his colors and markings go with the furniture."
It's almost the Fourth of July. Really. It's next week already.
So be honest, isn't your dog just panting to express his inner patriot? Why not indulge him a bit. Here's a "Boat Dog Bed With Anchor Toy". How cute is that?
And only $269.00 from www.muttropolis.com.
Sadly, the sailor hat's not included.
How is your pooch going to celebrate the 4th?
As some blog readers know -- along with every single one of my neighbors -- I have the most obnoxious, loud, stupid, stubborn, cat harassing, unmanageable dog in the South Bay.
There are plenty of days when I want to send him to the pound, drive him out to the country and leave him there or just plain strangle him.
But Rocket is also as sweet and good natured as any dog ever was. He's likes hang out, flirt with girls and rassle with other dogs for hours at a time.
Rocket is a coonhound, something of a rarity here in these parts, but quite common in the South. Not a week goes by when some old man will stop and tell me how he had a coon dawg when hewere a boy growing back home.
Coon dogs are also featured in the book "Where the Red Fern Grows," something else strangers are always talking to me about.
Different people are attracted to different breeds. Who knows why? But coonhounds seem to have an especially loyal following. Coonhounds even have a special place to go when they die. And no, I don't mean that spiritually.
There's actually a coonhound cemetery in Alabama.
It's called the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Cemetery.
Other breeds may have their own cemetery, but I've never heard of it.
A man named Key Underwood started it in the late 30s when his beloved coon hound died. Other hunters followed and today there are dozens of coon dogs buried there.
This is from their Web site:
Some of the burial ground's headstones are crafted of wood, some of sheet metal. Others are not unlike the stones found in a "normal" cemetery
But, of course, the names of the deceased are different and so are the epitaphs.
For example, listed among the dead are Patches, Preacher, Smoky, Bean Blossom Bomma and Night Ranger. And etched along with these names are tributes such as, "A joy to hunt with" and "He wasn't the best, but he was the best I ever had."
I honestly can't say Rocket is the best I ever had -- that honor goes to another coon dog named Buck, who lived to be 17! But he's better than all the others. And someday -- but not for a really long time -- maybe I'll drive him down there. Or next week if he doesn't shape up!
San Pedro's new animal shelter had its grand opening Saturday (Capt. Daniel Pantoja, left, joins other staffers in applauding remarks by L.A. Animal Services General Manager Ed Boks and Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn).
Four Girl Scout troops (Go, Girl Scouts!) were on hand to help greet and escort visitors through the new facility at 957 N. Gaffey St.
Many animal welfare groups were on hand as well to mark the opening, including Kaye Zigrang of Torrance from the Roar Foundation/Shambala Preserve.
There also were representatives from San Pedro's Neighborhood Council. One of them, LInda Marinkovich from Coastal, already is spearheading a drive to collect old newspapers for the shelter.
But what about that heat?? For those of you who were there, you know how HOT it was -- that part of Pedro can get pretty toasty during the summer. So what happened to the water "misters" that were supposed to be installed to help cool down the animals? We'll be following up on that issue this week in the Daily Breeze.
If you want to see some more pictures from the opening (after looking at the shots I took, it became very clear why I never would have been hired as a photorgrapher), check out Daily Breeze photographer Sean Hiller's slide show.
Climbing on the furniture!
A life without predators, good medical attention and a healthy diet are causing zoo animals to live longer, according to this AP story.
I feel their pain
The Golden Years have arrived at the nation's zoos and aquariums, and that is taking veterinarians and keepers, along with their animals, into a zone of unknowns. Do female gorillas, now frequently living in to their 40s and 50s, experience menopause? Can an aging lemur suffer from dementia? How do you weigh the most difficult choice -- between prolonging pain and ending life -- when the patient is a venerable jaguar who's been around so long she's come to feel like a member of the family?
All of those questions hang on a larger one that, until recent years, has been left to educated guesswork based on limited evidence.
"How old is geriatric? How old do animals really live?" says Sharon Dewar, a spokeswoman for the Lincoln Park Zoo, whose keepers have adjusted to Rollie's toothlessness by serving him a diet of soft-cooked veggies. "That's the million-dollar question."
Taking a nap after a hard day at the office.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Live Oak Park - Dorsey Field
1901 Valley Drive
Rain date: Sunday, October 12, 2008
Booth Application Information
Rest of the info after the jump
My cross-town colleague, Simone Schramm Trimm of the Valley of the Dogs blog has posted an item about how Petco is helping families that are losing their homes and having to give up their pets.
Simone writes that she was too hot to write her own article, so she cut and pasted the company's press release. Yeah, me too. So all I'm going to do is link to Simone's post.
Blogs are funny that way.
Finally.
San Pedro's new animal shelter will be formally unveiled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 21. The shelter is at 957 N. Gaffey St., (near Miraflores where the old Big C hardware store was located). See the story in today's Daily Breeze..
This is a HUGE improvement over the the dark and industrial decor of the cramped, 57-year-old former facility on Battery Street. Whenever I'd go there looking for a dog, it was literally impossible to concentrate as the dogs on either side (several in each kennel) jumped and barked.
The new shelter (which, counting the purchase of the property, cost $18.7 million) not only has triple the number of kennels (79) compared to the old one, but the 2-acre site offers its own medical clinic and grooming facility.
That's a welcome addition. I haven't adopted an animal from LA in a while, but maybe 10 years ago I took an Australian shepherd out of the South Central shelter for a rescue group. I had to personally take him in my car to the off-site clinic for neutering and the poor animal was absolutely filthy. I remember thinking, "Can't they at least wash the animals when they're adopted??"
What a difference from just a couple years before that when I adopted my shaggy dog Ellie from the Long Beach shelter. Before I picked her up, they'd bathed and groomed her, sending her home smelling great and with a bright red bandana around her neck.
But the L.A.'s Animal Services Department has been catching up and changing over the last decade. These new, state-of-the-art shelters, which are much more people- and pet-friendly, are a big part of the new mindset.
So stop by on Saturday to join in the celebration. There will be music and tours. And they always need volunteers and donations. See if you can help contribute your time -- or bring along some donations tomorrow to help with the shelter's wish list
Better yet, check out the shelter's available animals and take one home! .
Garfield is one of those comics -- like "Family Circus" and "Scampy" -- that has never actually been funny.
Although wildly popular, Garfield is more of a merchandizing success than a comedic one.
Bill the Cat in "Opus" and other Berkeley Breathed titles is a clear send-up of Garfield's insipdness.
But he somehow trudges on. The strip turns 30 today, which I guess is worthy of a mention. I wonder how many Garfield birthday cards have been printed?
If you think it's hot, just try walking around in a fur coat.
Animals are built to survive warm weather, but humans can make it difficult by doing stupid things like putting them in the car with the windows rolled up.
Here are some tips for keeping your pets healthy during heat waves.
Here are some more.
I wasn't going to blog about this. I figure it's not really that interesting to read about other people's dogs.
But then I realized that this is MY dog. And what's more interesting than that?
And anyway, when your neighbor bangs on your door at 5 a.m. because your dog is making trouble, I figure it's blog worthy.
![2[3].jpg](http://www.insidesocal.com/pets/2%5B3%5D.jpg)
The sun is just starting to poke through at that hour and the world is a pretty quiet place. Like most reasonable dogs, mine was sound asleep.
Or so I thought. But that's when the banging started.
I looked through the peep hole." Yes?"
"Your dog is running loose," came the voice on the other side.
"That's impossible," I said. "My dog is sleeping."
But then I looked around and noticed that there was in fact no dog in my house.
I ran outside. I looked right. I looked left. No dog.
Finally, about a block away, I saw him running. I hopped in my car and gave chase.
He was happy to see me, but as soon as I told him to get in the car (my language wasn't as delicate as that), he turned around and ran off again. All those months I spent teaching him to stay out of the street were for nothing. All it took was two minutes of freedom for him to forget everything he's ever learned. Or maybe he never learned it in the first place. Frankly, he's not the brightest dog in the kennel.
I finally cornered him in somebody's yard and dragged his sorry rear back home.
But how did he get out? I've had him for a year and he's never done this before.
I spied on him through the kitchen window and saw him in action. He figured out that he can roll on his side and wiggle his way under the fence. He'd probably been planning his escape for months.
So now not only do I have the loudest dog in the South Bay. I also have the sneakiest.
Friday is Take Your Dog to Work Day!
And it's not optional. Take Your Dog to Work Day was a law mandated by Congress and signed by President Bush, so if you have a dog, you're legally obligated to take it to the office with you.
And if you manage an office and you don't allow dogs, you could go to jail for the rest of your life!
Well, maybe I'm stretching things a tad. This is from an article that appears in a Baltimore Sun pet blog. (There are lots of articles about it, but I chose this one because fellow dog owner, reporter Kristin Agostoni is from there)
Wear your drool-friendly slacks, watch where you step around the office and put your sack lunch up somewhere high -- "Take Your Dog to Work Day" returns Friday.
For the second straight year, Pet Sitters International is sponsoring the day, aimed at calling attention to the joys and benefits dogs bring to life, and to the fact that there are many that need homes.
Pet Sitters International is the world's largest educational association for professional pet sitters, representing nearly 8,000 independent professional pet-sitting businesses in the United States, Canada and abroad.
People bringing their pups should always be respectful of the idiots who don't like dogs. And make sure they get lots of activity before the work day begins.
As faithful readers of this blog know, Saturday is the unnoficial Take Your Dog To Work Day here at the Daily Breeze. That's when I sneak my dog into the office. The screws don't know about this, so if you happen to see one of my bosses whacking at golf balls at the country club, don't tell them you read this.
Cats have to stay home. Ha ha ha!
Rolling on the carpet!
So how long has it been since you took your dog to an Italian restaurant?
Trastevere Ristorante Italiano on the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica is the place to be Monday (June 23) night for the "Dog's Night Out," an event co-sponsored by Three Dog Bakery to raise funds for Much Love Animal Rescue.
Dog's Night Out is a social time where dogs go to see and be seen, sniff and be sniffed, nibble and be nibbled.
There will be "yappetizers," AND a special canine dessert.
Even so, dogs must be kept on a 4-foot (or shorter) leash next to your table (none of those retractable jobs, they'll trip all the waiters). Seating is limited to the restaurant's patio area only.
Tickets are $25. Call 310-260-9604 for reservations. The restaurant is at 1360 3rd St., Santa Monica.
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Really, life can be so hard these days. Tired of actually having to toss those treats to your dog? Buy the Treat Tosser!
This handy device allows you to "load" in the treats and fire away.
It's one of 10 pet gadgets that may have you wondering: Is this pet industry stuff going too far?
(And if that's not strange enough, check out the aerosol "Poop Freeze" -- Just spray to harden for a mess-free "frost & toss" experience.)
I ran this last week, but a timely reminder can't hurt...
The Society for the Prevention to Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles, in partnership with KLOS radio personalities Mark and Brian, will be hosting a pet adoption on Saturday, June 21 in Long Beach.
The event features a silent auction (for an autographed Bon Jovi guitar!), agility demonstration and pet experts.
People adopting animals will receive gift bags, with the first 100 people receiving deluxe pet carriers.
It will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village and Education Center, 7700 E. Spring St.
For more information, visit the spcaLA Web site.
Researchers in Japan have discovered that pigeons have better cognitive abilities than a 3-year-old human.
Japanese scientists from Keio University have found that pigeons have self-cognitive abilities higher than 3-year-old humans. They have 'trained pigeons to discriminate real-time self-image using mirrors as well as videotaped self-image, and proved that pigeons can recognize video images that reflect their movements as self-image.' Until recently, it was widely admitted that only humans and primates such as chimpanzees could recognize images of themselves. Now, researchers have found that dolphins or elephants also could do it. But these Japanese scientists have proven that pigeons also were able to do it -- and even discriminate paintings of Van Gogh from Chagall.
I work with a lot of dogs here at the Daily Breeze.
No, that's not right. I work with a lot of people who HAVE dogs.
Take Catherine Cheney. Catherine is our early summer intern. Catherine comes to us from Yale. Pretty fancy, huh?
Her dog is named Marley. Marley comes to us from Texas. She looks like the kind of dog who's always ready for a little trouble. My kind of dog.
Judging by what Catherine says about him, I'm right...
Marley Bexar is always one step ahead of the game. Get tennis shoes out of the closet, and she launches for her leash. Head to the fridge for a drink, and she whines for an ice cube. Born in Bexar County, Texas (hence, the name), this black lab won the hearts of a Palos Verdes family that drove her to her new home, where she loves going to the beach, sleeping on the couch, meeting new people, and getting into mischief. She turns 1 this summer, and will likely celebrate by playing with her toys, attempting to hold all four at once.
Do you have a golden retriever? Golden owners are "generally laid back, good people who love the outdoors." Most devote some of their free time to volunteer work and they donate to charities. They can, however, be "a little too trusting."
If you have a chihuahua, you can be "fun, serious, a homebody or a partier." You are "generally very neat and meticulous" and you take great care of your homes and posessions. But you can be misunderstood and thought of as "prickly or aloof." And some of you can be "hot-tempered."
Find out what your dog breed says about you in this article posted by www.petplace.com.
And cat owners? They've got you analyzed, too.
The Humane Society of the United States has sent a disaster relief team to help rescue
animals displaced by the massive flooding in Iowa and to provide logistical support and supplies.
The flooding has forced thousands of residents from their homes.
"Animals are intertwined in our daily lives -- this is most apparent during times of disaster. It is during these times that they need our help the most," said Scotlund Haisley, HSUS senior director of Emergency Services. "When disaster strikes it is our first priority to get our specially trained animal rescue team on site to save the lives of animals and provide comfort to their distraught families."
The HSUS is working in partnership with the Animal Rescue League of Iowa based in Des Moines.
The Humane society also offers tips on preparedness plans that include your pets.
Drinking out of the fountain.
Reporter Andrea Woodhouse takes a look at the dying art of pigeon racing in today's Daily Breeze.
Once upon a time, when the South Bay was still fairly rural -- and it wasn't that long ago --
pigeon racing was quite a popular sport. Because of their amazing homing abilities, pigeons
can easily find their way home from just about anywhere. So people used to drive their birds to faraway places and see which one got home first.
According to Andrea's fascinating story, pigeons can fly as fast as 50 miles per hour. They often actually get home before their human owners.
But with suburban sprawl taking over the area, people don't have much room to raise birds anymore. And with soaring gas prices, driving pigeons around can be rather expensive.
But thanks to a group of old-time pigeon racers and a group of young 4-H Club members, the sport could live on for another generation of aviarians. The youngsters are learning how to raise pigeons and how to teach them to fly home.
And now, because when will I ever get a chance to show these video again, here's Dastardly and Muttly singing a pigeon song followed by Tom Lehrer singing his pigeon song.
Dueling coonhounds!
Who says vets don't know how to have a good time?
When I had Tess in for her checkup earlier this week, the conversation in the office at one point turned to the weird things dogs can eat.
Well, turns out that there are these in-house contests veterinarians like to hold to see who can report the strangest things ingested by a pet. Submitting X-ray entries, they all gather together and vote for the winners. Two of this year's standouts:
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The boa constrictor and the frozen rabbit: The owner of a boa constrictor was thawing out a frozen, dead rabbit for his "pet's" dinner. When he returned, everything was gone. An X-ray shows the side profile of a crouching rabbit -- sitting on a heating pad complete with wires still attached -- all perfectly intact inside the happy snake's stomach.
- But here's my favorite: The Best Hiding Place: A family dog, a golden retriever I think they said, was experiencing repeated ear infections. No one could figure out why the flare-ups kept returning and were so persistent -- until the family vet peered deep within and discovered, smiling from way inside the dog's ear, one of these:
The family's preschooler had apparently found the perfect hiding spot for her tiny Mighty Mite doll. And it worked. Her little brother never did find it. Problem is, she forgot where she'd hidden it, too -- until she gasped in surprise when the vet told the family what she'd found. So: Mystery solved, ear infection = gone..
It's SATURDAY. Time to get out there and Play Ball!
(More great pictures at the link above - as if you would need any more inspiration than this!).
You know those cute little robot machines that scoot around and clean your floor?
The Wall Street Journal has posted a video about how dogs get along with the contraptions. (they don't -- even though this model is named a "Dirt Dog." )
i Robot Corporation offers some advice on their web site for pet owners getting one of their vacuums. And they add this note: "We love reading stories and receiving photos from pet owners." Send them to info@irobot.com.
Dog park friend Sanam (aka Indi's mom) emailed us with this warning about Xylitol, an ingredient in sugarless gum that can be harmful to dogs.
Apparently one of those emails is making its way around again that warns of the artificial sweetner. So to check it out, Sanam went to www.snopes.com -- a very handy site that helps us sort out truth from fiction in the Internet age.
While the e-mail is new, the danger it decries isn't: for a number of years, Xylitol has been known to be toxic to dogs. ..... Just three grams of Xylitol (eight to 10 sticks of gum) can kill a 65-pound canine, but a smaller dog could easily die after ingesting far less (perhaps as few as two sticks of gum).
And the artificial sweetner also can be found in other products, such as candy, baked goods, some chewable vitamins, throat lozenges and even toothpaste.
Read more on the American Veterinary Medical Association web site.
Thanks Sanam (and Indi).
Think your dog has star potential?
Dogster.com gives us the low-down about the Hollywood Animals agency that specializes in getting your special pet the attention he or she deserves.
Unfortunately, the site currently says they are not accepting any new submissions.
But Dogster says there is a call out for rescue dogs and their "loving families" in the New York area for a new reality "makeover" show.
And that's not all.
The producers of Supernanny are searching for "misbehaved dogs" in the United Kingdom. Yeah, like those will be hard to find.
Here's their pitch:
"If you're the owner of one (or more) out-of-control dogs, or you have a pooch that's an obedience school drop-out, we want you!"
***** For news on a doggie-based reality show that's closer to home, check out Josh's prior post on the upcoming CBS show "Greatest American Dog" that debuts at 8 p.m. July 10 on Channel 2.
You've seen "Survivor" and "Amazing Race," (a show my nephew participated in and came in third!)
Well, this sounds like it could be the best reality show yet: One for dogs! It will be debut at 8 p.m. on July 10 on CBS.
This from their Web site. You can ignore the stupid puns.
Roll over, "Big Brother!" CBS is again throwing reality show contestants under one woof, um, roof rather, in a fierce competition for $250,000, but this time it's 12 quirky dog owners and their precious pooches being challenged. How will the two- and four-legged contestants get along with each other while competing for all those bones? Find out on July 10 at 8 p.m. when "Greatest American Dog," debuts on CBS 2.
Today's entry comes from my colleague Sandy Gerety. Sandy owns two dogs that together weigh less than a real dog's foot.
Just kidding. Carmen and Desi are real dogs, albeit tiny ones. And like other owners of small dogs, Sandy likes to dress them up in fancy clothes, although in this picture, they're dressed casually in T-shirts.
That's Carmen on the right.
Here's what Sandy has to say about it:
Desilu is 2 1/2 and still very puppy-like in her behavior. Carmen is an older, wiser 4-year-old.
Desi only understands words that describe food, e.g., snack, treat, cookie, dinner. Everything else - like sit or stay - she more or less plays dumb. Carmen is a little diva who likes to sit in your lap and is a shameless flirt when around men.
Sometimes Desi wants Carmen to play, but Carmen wants to watch Clean House reruns, so Desi has come up with a little trick that works every time. She goes over to the toy box, retrieves one of their favorite toys and then parades back and forth in front of her until she engages her in a tug of war over the toy. This tells me one thing - I guess she's not as dumb as she would like me to think she is.
Attention all you cat-owning shutterbugs:
In case you didn't know, June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month for the SPCA. And to promote what is surely a wonderful cause, the SPCA is sponsoring .... .. A cat photo contest!
So get your camera out, be very, very quiet, tip-toe up -- and snap away.
Deadline for entries is June 30. Contest rules include no posing. Like cats would do that anyway. .
And visit your local shelter. Adopt a cat this month.
In an effort to raise awareness for the need to spay and neuter pets, an animal rights group unveiled a billboard campaign in support of a state bill that would require most cats and dogs to be spayed or neutered.
The California Healthy Pets Act would require cats and dogs ages 6 months or older to be fixed.
This is the rest of the story from City News Service
Pet owners who fail to have their animals spayed or neutered could be fined $500.
To euthanize those 500,000 pets costs taxpayers in the state of California $250 million, at a time when here the state is virtually on its knees as far as the economy is concerned," said retired game show host Bob Barker, a longtime animal rights activist.
Animals that are used to compete, work with law enforcement agencies or herd livestock would be exempt from the proposed state law.Earlier this year, the city of Los Angeles enacted an ordinance that requires most dogs and cats to be fixed by the time they are 4 months old.
Not really pet-related per se, but this photo that posted on CNN.com is a vivid reminder that pets are caught up in the nation's most recent natural disasters, too.
Flooding is forcing the evacuation of nearly 4,000 homes in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Offiicals estimate more than 100 blocks are underwater after the banks of the Cedar River overflowed.
The Humane Society and the SPCA both offer ways to donate for animal disaster relief.
There also are kits and advice to help pet owners prepare for a disaster.
But if they don't have a pool, Urban Pets passes on some helpful ideas from a summer pet safety article at the msnbc web site to make sure your dogs stay healthy, safe and comfortable in the summer months ahead.
Things like adjusting exercise schedules for early mornings and evenings; making sure your pet always has enough water; using a wet bandanna to cool your dog off on a walk; and, of course, never, ever leave your dog in the car.
The Society for the Prevention to Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles, in partnership with KLOS radio personalities Mark and Brian, will be hosting a pet adoption on Saturday, June 21 in Long Beach.
The event features a silent auction (for an autographed Bon Jovi guitar!), agility demonstration and pet experts.
People adopting animals will receive gift bags, with the first 100 people receiving deluxe pet carriers.
It will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village and Education Center, 7700 E. Spring St.
For more information, visit the spcaLA Web site.
the event
A sad post at Mutts, the blog at The Baltimore Sun, reminding us all that there are risks associated with dog parks.
Sophie, a Maltese/poodle mix puppy, died at a veterinary emergency hospital after she was knocked out of her owner's arms and attacked by a standard poodle on June 7. It all took place at Bow Wow Beach, a dog park in Ohio.
The larger dog grabbed the 4-1/2-month-old pup and bit her on the neck, inflicting what was a fatal injury.
As a result, the park will now have a separate entrance to the small-dog area.
The park has a separate area for small dogs, but owners need to pass through the large dog section to access it.
"I don't want this to ever happen to another poor puppy ever again," owner Jane Gsellman told Mutts in an email. "I want people to know how vitally important it is that a separate entrance be installed at all dog parks for small dog owners."
My South Bay Pets co-blogger Josh Grossberg posted about the dangers of small dogs mixing with large dogs at dog parks last month. The article he linked at the Star Tribune offers some good advice about dog park safety, including tips on dog body language that can tell us when trouble is about to break out.
This is from the Los Angeles Time pet blog. We're looking into the matter, but this is all we know so far.
Federal authorities are investigating the deaths of two sea lions found in Seal Beach with what appeared to be shotgun wounds.
City lifeguards discovered the two adult sea lions north of the Seal Beach pier Wednesday morning, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service sent an agent to investigate, said agency spokesman Jim Milbury. The sea lions probably died about two weeks ago but just recently washed onto the beach, he said.
The animal's bodies were being taken to the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro.
CNN posts a cool video about Harley, a German shepherd who rescued a swimmer in distress in the family pool.
Harley's never been to obedience school or had formal rescue training. He "rescues" out of pure instinct, his family says -- whether they need rescuing or not.
"He loves the kids and he's very protective of them," said Harley's owner. "His herding instinct is to gather us all up."
Fellow bloggers at L.A. Unleashed posted yesterday about two sea lions that were apparently shot to death and found in Seal Beach.
The bodies were taken to San Pedro's Marine Mammal Care Center where a necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
The sea lions probably died about two weeks ago, according to authorities, but just washed ashore recently onto the beach. Authorities found what appeared to be gunshot wounds in the animals.
If the deaths were caused by humans, the culprits could face penalties for killing the federally protected species (up to $200,000 per animal and one year in jail). .
In a previous post about the discovery of unicorns, I briefly mentioned that I once interviewed a man who had some interesting theories about Bigfoot.
The man's name is Erik Beckjord and he's a bona fide cryptozoologist, which I used to think was something related to Superman's dog, but it turns out to be the study of strange animals like Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster.
Beckjord, who used to live in nearby Venice, had a theory that these animals could jump from dimension to dimension to avoid detection. He also showed me a picture of what he said was the ghost of O.J. Simpson's murdered wife. If I can find that photo, I'll post it. It's pretty wild. He ran a Bigfoot museum in his house for a while.
Anyway, after the jump is a story I wrote about Mr. Beckjord back in 1995.
Since it's skunk season, here's a handy reference from Urban Pets Dog Blog on what to do if your dog is nailed.
Among the tips: Hold the tomatoes (they don't work), and look for something that will work with your pet's particular coat -- long, short, wire. Included here are some new, non-toxic commercial products that are now on the market.
Personally, I've had the best result with this formula that I found online. It's a concoction of Hydrogen Peroxide, baking soda, a little bit of liquid soap -- but be sure to follow the exact recipe.
The idea is to actually neutralize the offending odor, not just cover it up.
And if your dog does get sprayed, count it as a badge of honor. I once read that a dog isn't a REAL dog until he gets hit with a good dose of skunk spray.
While my dog Tess was hospitalized last week, I stoped by the Animal Emergency Referral Center in Torrance after work one day to see if I could visit her.
Purrfect Partners, a nonprofit cat rescue and adoption group, is holding a yard sale fundraiser. Items for sale include sewing machines, clothing, and DVD movies.
The event takes place at 4716 W. Bulova St., Torrance. from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Jun 13.
Proceeds go toward neuter and spay programs.
What's next, a chupicabra?
I never imagined I'd be blogging about mythical creatures, but here you go. Somebody went and took a picture of a unicorn. Don't know where the picture was taken -- probably Fairy Gumdrop Land.
A deer with a single horn in the center of its head -- much like the fabled, mythical unicorn -- has been spotted in a nature preserve in Italy, park officials said Wednesday.
"This is fantasy becoming reality," Gilberto Tozzi, director of the Center of Natural Sciences in Prato, told The Associated Press. "The unicorn has always been a mythological animal."
The 1-year-old Roe Deer -- nicknamed "Unicorn" -- was born in captivity in the research center's park in the Tuscan town of Prato, near Florence, Tozzi said.
I once interviewed a man -- a cryptozoologist who claimed to have seen Bigfoot. It turned out that Bigfoot could actually hop from one dimention to another to avoid human contact.
And he had the pictures to prove it.
Our family once adopted what now would be called a "feral" cat when I was a kid. Tom seemed to come with the house we'd moved into when I was in the fourth grade.
He was big and gray -- and he bore more than a few battle scars from his life outdoors. He wouldn't set one paw inside our house for at least a year, despite our daily provision of food and milk near the back porch -- not to mention our many kind words as we tried to win his trust. He'd only stare warily at us from a distance.
But with much patience, we finally managed to cultivate Tom into a pet, of sorts, although for years he never seemed all that comfortable in the role. He'd venture just a few feet inside the open back door in the beginning, fleeing in panic at the slightest noise or movement.
Sometimes, he'd disappear for days. He'd eventually straggle back "home," usually scratched up and looking several pounds thinner.
Eventually, Tom came around. He began to spend more and more of his days and nights indoors with us (even with the back door closed). He eventually died of old age, after he'd been long content to spend most of his time lounging peacefully on our furniture. Tom was always special to us, probably because it took so much effort on our part to woo him.
So. All this is to say that I really can sympathize with blogger David Bruno in his post titled Scrub's gone missing - Scrub was adopted by the Bruno family after he fell from a house rooftop at only 6 weeks old. That was a while ago and now Scrub has been missing for four days:
Scrub was affectionate. Unfortunately, he was not socially competent. Like many cats
who leave their family of origin before it is time, he had dysfunctions. ... He never quite learned to cozy up and purr. As soon as you reached out to him, he'd drive you away with his incessant kneading and drooling and mewing. That made it hard to get close to Scrub.
I suppose, though, that we never completely understand how close we are to other living beings until circumstances remove us from each other. Turns out we all miss Scrub a lot and hope he makes his way back home.
We do, too.
Experts haven't figured out why some pets are extremely sensitive to fireworks, but some believe the smell of gunpowder may add to jitters caused by loud explosions.
"Fireworks have many stimulus qualities that are inherently aversive to pets," said Mary Lee Nitschke, an animal behaviourist and psychology professor at Linfield College. "The volume and suddenness of a firecracker elicits a startle reaction in most species."I've no doubt we'll be writing more on this in the weeks to come, but remember to keep your dogs in a quiet place where they can freak out in peace.
First off, a heartfelt thanks to all of you who were so kind as to write comments online, send personal emails and call me to express your concern about my dog Tess following my post on June 3 about having to rush Tess to the ER over the weekend.
After three days of intensive care at Animal Emergency and Referral Center (AERC) in Torrance, Tess came home to recuperate from her bout with pancreatitis. She appears to be doing fine, but more about that on the jump. (She's shown above resting after we came home, but now -- believe it or not -- is back to her ball-fetching, very sweet self, only a few days later.)
But first, the pictorial aftermath:
The medications (with a cute little take-home bag from AERC) and, below, (OUCH) the final itemized bill (don't even ask):
This isn't me and my dog. But it comes pretty darn close.
Rover Rescue of Redondo Beach is offering vouchers to qualified low-income households in the South Bay for surgeries to spay or neuter their dogs.
The dog rescue group recently received $7,500 in grant money from the Handsel Foundation and Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation to help provide the surgeries.
The program helps reduce pet over-population and also assists pet owners in complying with strict new spay and neuter laws taking affect in several Los Angeles County cities.
Go to www.roverrescue.com or call 310-379-0154 for information and voucher applications.
Is putting things on them, usually when they're sleeping. You know, old socks across the head, funny hats, glasses Spider-man costumes. The sillier the better.
Here's a site devoted to it for dogs.
And here's one for cats.
This dog has longer ears than my dog!
But then, this dog is the world's record holder for the longest ears
Tigger, a bloodhound, has ears that are nearly 14 inches long.
But my dog is cuter.
Another low-cost dog vaccination clinic, this time in Gardena:
It's from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday (June 10) at Arthur Johnson Park, 1200 W. 170th St., Gardena. That's bertween Normandie and Vermont avenues.
All dogs must be on a leash. Sponsored by the Gardena Police Department in cooperation with the County of Los Angeles/Department of Animal Care.
The above creation is the work of one Sandy Hartness, a dog groomer who comes up with all sorts of wacky designs for animals. Click on the link to see a slideshow of some of her work.
Sandy, 36, has also turned her poodle Cindy and a friend's pet into a dragon, a camel and an alien in a UFO. But some say she's done them all up like dog's dinners . . .
Posting pictures of your co-workers' pets is a great way to become the most popular guy in the office -- with pet owners anyway. Everybody else still hates my guts.
Today's entry comes courtesy of reporter Kristin Agostoni. Her dog is named Pembleton, a name she explains in her dog's bio below. In the picture, Pembleton -- or Pemby as he's affectionatey called -- is the one with the big smile on his face. The mopey looking dog is a freind of his.
Pembleton Agostoni shops with his best beagle buddy, Strummer Noel Clarke, at the Petco in El Segundo.
Pembleton is a plucky 4-year-old Boston terrier rescue. Named for crack Detective Frank Pembleton (Andre Braugher) on the former TV series, "Homicide: Life on the Street," he has a nose for venison treats and an eye for spotting squirrels. When he's not out on walks around Marina del Rey, Pembleton prefers the dog parks at Playa Vista and El Segundo. And he can always be spotted in a red collar, because his mom thinks that works best with his black and white tux.
Hey, dogs aren't the only ones you get to hang out with at a dog park.
I got to know Nirvana -- one of the kid "regulars" at the San Pedro Dog Park, along with her mom and their family dog Pepsi -- after she asked me one day if she could throw the tennis ball for my Australian shepherd, Pilgrim.
Pilgrim LOVED Nirvana. Whenever we'd show up and Nirvana was there, Pilgrim would attach himself readily to his new best friend. I still remember how sad it was after Pilgrim died last September and Nirvana, seeing me at the park with just my one dog, Ellie, asked me where Pilgrim was. "Pilgrim died?" she said in disbelief.
Tess and Cowboy, my new dogs shown in this picture, clearly like Nirvana a lot, too. Her mom, Rosie, tells me Nirvana, who turns 10 in a couple weeks, wants to (maybe) be a veterinarian when she grows up.
Whatever she chooses to do, Nirvana has definite dog "whisperer" potential.
L.A. Now, a blog of the Los Angeles Times, has a post about a baby horse being born on Catalina Island.
What's so special about that? It's the first time in 17 years a horse has been born on the island.
Mother and daughter appear to be doing fine, judging by this picture from Socal So Cool.
Pet owners are invited to bring their buddies to an animal blessing in Redondo Beach on Saturday.
The event takes place at 3 p.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living, 907 Knob Hill Ave.
According to the e-mail I got, the blessing will be performed by the Rev. Moira. All animals are welcome, but must be leashed, caged or in a fish bowl.
Well behaved animals will receive a bag of treats.
It's the "well behaved" part that will keep me and my stupid pets at home.
I heard from a friend of mine who needs to find a new place to live for her and her pets.
She has a house in San Pedro, but is putting it up for sale and is looking for a pet-friendly place, hopefully in the same area.
The German shepherd is Xena, who is 7. The Shepherd mix is Annie, who is 5. And the pussy cat is 8-year-old Albee.
They're all middle aged and way past the trouble-making stage. And they're all friendly. Here's what my friend said about them:
All good. Dogs are friendly - all my neighbors love them. Xena is a great watchdog, but neither of the dogs are excessive barkers. I keep the yard clean all the time... I like to keep a nice yard and love to garden.
Things like this are happening all over now. With the housing crisis and hard economy, people are finding themselves having to move. But it's tough with pets. If anybody can help my friend out, or know about rentals, let me know and I'll forward the info to her. You can leave a comment on the blog or e-mail me at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.
My friend has a nice job and would make a fine addition to any neighborhood.
How many balls can your dog fit into its mouth? Two? Three tops?
Meet Augie, a dog that can squeeze five tennis balls into his maw at the same time. That makes Augie a world record holder, according to the Guinness World Record people.
Purrfect Partners, a South Bay-based cat rescue and adoption group, will hold a yard sale from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. June 13 at 4716 W. Bulova St. in Torrance.
Proceeds go toward spay and neuter programs.
The city of Lawndale will sponsor its annual Health and Safety Fiesta and Pet Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at Jane Addams Park, 14115 Firmona Ave.
For the kids: Live entertainment, BMX Bike Show, a petting zoo, and a raffle.
And for pets? Vaccinations and licenses.
Yikes, call this one the Kid Fun Fair and Pet Torture Fiesta.
Contact the Community Services Department for more details at (310) 973-3270.
Low-cost vaccinations for dogs and cats will be available from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, in Carson.
Included are:
- rabies (dogs and cats 4 months and older), $6;
- 6-in-1 (for dogs 8 weeks and older) $14;
- bortadella (dogs 8 weeks and older), $11;
- 4-in-1 (cats 8 weeks and older) $14; and
- microchipping free.
The event will be held in the parking lot at Carson City Hall, 701 E. Carson St. Carson. Call the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Control at 562-256-1364.
It looks like a space alien. Or maybe a potato bug.
Actually, it's some kind of horrible hairless cat. But it looks like it's having a good time.
This is what Riff looks like under all that fur? Off to the pound he goes!
Today is a twofer.
Today's entry of Animals I Work With comes from court reporter Denise Nix (who has her own, very popular blog, which she writes with crime reporter Larry Altman). She has two cats. One is named Ally and the other is Zowie (although it's pronounced "zooey")
Here's what Denise says about her two kitties (Ally is the one lying down; Zowie is sitting):
I came to meet Ally and Zowie at my mom's house. My mom's friend had a cat who had a litter of four, and I was going over to choose one. A few months before I had adopted a kitty from the pound, but she came with a terminal illness and, despite my efforts to nurse her back to health, had to be put down. My mom told me that the quadruplets were so cute together, I had to take two. Despite living in a one-bedroom apartment, I agreed.
They started as typical kittens: needing a lot of attention, playful and very cuddly. Somehow, though, despite being indoor cats, they became very skittish of strangers. I eventually met my husband, moved into a bigger apartment, then into a house and introduced two rambunctious boys to our world. Zowie never got over her skittish ways and remains quirky about things like refusing to use a covered litter box or refusing to come out from under the bed when the kids are awake, or we have guests, or it's daylight. She will, however, spend the entire night maneuvering to sleep as close to my face as possible. Ally, though, got over it - realizing if she was going to get attention, she would need to start coming around. She's very social, and is quite vocal and forceful in demanding that her face be scratched RIGHT NOW. She even puts up with our toddler's not-so-gentle loving ... to a point.
I
The last days for me have been a bumpy ride after my 18-month-old dog Tess suddenly became seriously ill Saturday night.
I'd played fetch with her earlier on Saturday afternoon and there wasn't a hint that something later might go wrong.
She was every bit her perky, usual self, racing like the wind to retrieve her favorite orange-and-blue ball. After we came inside, my neighbor Ellen called to ask if I wanted to go out to dinner, she was curious to try a Cuban restaurant she'd heard about in the South Bay.
So off we went. After coming back home a couple hours later, I was on the computer for perhaps 15 or 20 minutes before I suddenly wondered, "Where's Tess?" -- the dog who was constantly dive-bombing my face with kisses and demands for my undivided attention whenever I tried to work on my laptop while sitting on the couch.
That was our first sign of trouble.
I found her uncharacteristically curled up in her crate in the bedroom. When she came out, I could tell something was amiss.
Grazing goats = cleaner air.
In just a few days, a few hundred goats cleared several acres of thick brush and grass at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge in California. Refuge managers typically remove brush and small limbs using manpower and heavy equipment. Goats, however, are less expensive, they don't burn fossil fuels and reduce the carbon footprint.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services goes on to say that goats are now being considered for other refuges."
San Pedro used a herd of munching goats a few times to clear the brush out at Peck Park Canyon.
But alas, the city of L.A. found it all too hard to draw up contracts for the goats. Eventually, the city's mind-boggling red tape killed the innovative pilot program, despite enthusiastic support from local residents, the neighborhood council, and Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn.
News release is on the jump.
Do microchips cause cancer? Dr. Jon Rappaport, founder of the pet info web site Pet Place, takes up the topic in brief article that concludes (drum roll) -- we don't know yet.
There has been one reported case that they suspect the microchip could have been a problem but the dog was also vaccinated for rabies and a definite cause could not be determined. Are there more cases that have not yet been diagnosed? I don't know.
He still "absolutely" recommends microchippping your dog as the best way to permanently identify your pet.
Microchips are similar to bar codes and are implanted just under the skin (an embedded microchip in a cat is shown here, courtesy of Wikipedia.org).
A decade-old study found that microchip implants increased the risk of cancer in laboratory mice and rates. Veterinary societies, however, continue to support the procedure as reasonably safe for cats and dogs, pointing out that rats of serious complications are extremely rare.
We can vouch for this: The cost to spay or neuter a dog can be a struggle for many families.
But Rover Rescue of Redondo Beach can help.
The group recently received $7,500 in grant money from the Handsel Foundation and Build-A-Bear to assist low-income households in the South Bay through a voucher program.
Rover Rescue has contracted with several local veterinary hospitals to provide the surgeries. To learn more about the program or to apply, contact Rover Rescue at 310-379-0154.
Not only are there huge medical benefits for spaying or netuering our pets. It "prevents generations of suffering and euthanasia," said Cathy Rubin, president and founder of Rover Rescue.
And it's also fast becoming the law. Many new city regulations require dogs over the age of 4 months be spayed or neutered, with pet owners subject to fines if they don't comply.
OK, enough with the monkeys. I'm tired of them. No more Monday Monkeys from me. If I find a good video, I'll post it, but I can't handle this kind of responsibility.
For our final episode we offer a dog and a monkey duking it out. Guess who wins?
Actually, this just kinda looks like a normal night at my house.
Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(