November 2008 Archives

San Pedro Pet Pals Inc., the new nonprofit group that supports the new shelter in San Pedro, is holding a "Shop and Adopt" event where vendors will be selling holiday pet items and people will have the opportunity to adopt a pet.

The event takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30 at the Harbor Animal Shelter, 957 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro.
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Learn how to care for your pets during an emergency or natural disaster at a workshop Dec. 2.

The Westside Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) has invited a representative from the SPCA-LA to discuss aspects of emergency preparedness that involve animal care.

The free talk runs from 7 to 9 p.m. at Los Angeles fire Station No. 5, 8900 S. Emerson Ave., Westchester.

It is part of a series of public meetings sponsored by volunteers with the Los Angeles Fire Department.

In a successful bid to attract customers, a restaurant in Japan has hired an army of monkeys to wait on tables.

The plan, albeit disgusting, is being met with enthusiam from customers. The simians only work two-hour shifts, which is more than some of the monkeys I got working for me here.

Be sure to check out the video. And pay no attention to the fact that the person who wrote the headline has absolutely no idea what an apostrophe is.

And the service couldn't be any worse than what I got the other day at the drive thru.

Jerk...

SUSSEX, Va. (AP)--Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty Tuesday to a state dogfighting charge, a move that could make him eligible to leave prison early and potentially speed up a return to pro football.

Vick, 28, arrived wearing wrist and ankle shackles with his gray suit, but the restraints were removed by the time he entered his plea. The one-time Atlanta Falcons star also pleaded not guilty to a count of cruelty to animals, but that charge was dropped under his plea deal.

He received a three-year suspended sentence--far less than the maximum of 10 years he could have faced.

"I want to apologize to the court, my family, and to all the kids who looked up to me as a role model," Vick told the judge.

A moment of zen:

Round up those critters. Santa's coming to town -- and several local malls and shopping  centers are setting aside times for pet photos with Santa. (Check out    our earlier post about one of the malls.)

So Hark! Here's the scoop:                  

• South Bay Galleria at 1815 Hawthorne Blvd. (at Artesia) in Redondo Beach: 7 to 8 p.m. Mondays, Nov. 24, Dec. 1, Dec. 8; 8-9 p.m. Dec. 15. (310-371-7546)
• Del Amo Fashion Center at Hawthorne Boulevard and Carson Street: 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 14 (a Sunday). Bring your dog or cat through the Mall 11 entrance just outside the security office. (310-542-8525)
• South Bay Pavilion at 20700 Avalon Blvd., Carson: 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays, Dec. 1, 8 and 15 (dogs and cats only). (310-366-6636)
• Manhattan Village at 3200 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 28 (the Friday after Thanksgiving); near the center court. (310-426-6313)

Your dog may not thank you. Neither will Santa.

But you'll enjoy watching it all happen. 

Photo: Santa tries to put a puppy at ease at a Friends of Feral event recently in Alabama

A moment of zen:

This is one of those e-mail things that go around. I got it from my sister, the crazy dog lady with the barky puppy.

Just thought i'd share it in case it hasn't turned up in your inbox yet.

The following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door.

Dear Dogs and Cats: The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

(1) They live here. You don't. (2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it 'fur'-niture. (3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people. (4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they (1) eat less, (2) don't ask for money all the time, (3) are easier to train, (4) normally come when called, (5) never ask to drive the car, (6) don't hang out with drug-using people; (7) don't smoke or drink, (8) don't want to wear your clothes, (9) don't have to buy the latest fashions, (10) don't need a gazillion dollars for college and (11) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children ..

One of the most sureal moments of my life occurred about a dozen years ago during a series of fires that swept through Malibu.

Pacific Coast Highway was closed to all traffic except for emergency crews and people like me who had press credentials.

I was racing along the normally busy PCH without a single car in front of me or behind me. The sky was that weird orange color it turns when there is smoke in the air.

Suddenly, a horse appeared in front of me. It ran past my car at a full gallop and  I watched it as is disappeaered in my rearview mirror. It was like something from a dream sequence in a bad movie.

The potential for a similar experience is present here. On the Palos Verdes Peninsula, there are plenty of horses and lots of open space that can catch fire without notice.

To help prepare people, Empty Saddle 'Club is holding a talk on how to prepare for emergencies when there are horses involved.

The event is at 7 p.m. Thursday night Nov. 20 and is presented by veterianarian Ruth Sobeck.

This is from an e-mail I got:

 (If you have horses in the area)... you should attend the November PVPHA meeting to see what Dr. >Ruth Sobeck has to offer. After learning what to do perhaps you  wont feel so stressed because you will know how to make your horse more comfortable and help with the problem whether its an illness or an accident.

Dr. Sobeck will discuss:

1. Simple procedures that EVERY horse owner can do in case of an emergency

2. What items you should have in your tack room in preparation for those
>unforeseen events.

3. Dos and Donts of various emergencies.

4.New first aid items that are a must.

This should be a most informative evening and we will leave time for questions and discussion.

Also, we are going to put together a basic emergency kit to Dr. Sobeck's specifications to be raffled off at the meeting. Tickets will be sold at the door.

Come one, come all!

The Empty Saddle Club is located at 39 Empty Saddle Road, in Rolling Hills Estates

Find out with a visit to Santa Claus!

I'm not sure how the guy playing Santa feels about all this, but there are special times set aside this year at the South Bay Galleria (1815 Hawthorne Blvd., at Artesia, in Redondo Beach) where you can bring your pets to have their pictures taken with Santa.

Santa will be available for your pets from 7 to 8 p.m. every Monday between now and Christmas (Nov. 24, and Dec. 1 and 8; hours are 8 to 9 p.m. Dec. 15).

Let's see, I think Tess just wants her broken toe to be all better by Christmas so she can play fetch again.

And Cowboy? Well, he pretty much has everything he wants -- which is Tess. He loves Tess. I mean he really loves her. A lot. So maybe Santa Claus can persuade Cowboy to stop humping Tess so much at the dog park. I think Cowboy would be sufficiently scared of Santa Claus to listen, that is if I could ever drag him that close to the big bearded guy in the red suit (highly unlikely).

So what do your pets want this year? Do you buy holiday gifts for your dogs or cats? How about for your friends' dogs or cats? (I always send over cat gifts to Shirley, my good "cat person" friend from the old neighborhood, and she gives presents to my dogs.)

I know our reader San Pedro Dogs is busy this time of year with her holiday baking. In case you don't know about her, she's got a hometown biz making specialized biscuits and treats for dogs, all done out of her home. And they're all homemade and healthy.

Check it out online (www.sanpedrodogs.com).

The pampering. The pageantry. All those reporters to bite.

First Dog Barney prepares to say goodbye to it all in his farewell video.

I've taken care of this wonderful dog many times over the past couple of years--class act all the way. However, current living conditions (in a P.O. Box) do not allow me from accepting Milo, which I would've done in a heartbeat, which means that if there are no takers, Milo goes to the pound like hundreds of his fellow dogs and loyal-opposition cats have done recently due to the mortgage mess.

There is only one real problem with Milo, as evidenced by the picture above: he's a Great Dane. Everyone is either freaked out by his size or mesmerized, but the only challenge his size brings is cleaning up after him--carry a shovel. But look at his face--Milo is as timid and shy in real life as the picture shows...He's potty-trained, good in an apartment setting, and needs love, long walks, and someone willing to play with him after said walks for about half-an-hour. Otherwise, Milo just sleeps the rest of the day.

Boston Celtics public relations director Heather Walker said Friday that Barney bit her wrist and drew blood as she tried to pat the Scottish terrier in September after a White House ceremony honoring the team's 17th NBA championship.

"It was very strange. I didn't expect him to bite me," Walker told The Associated Press.

Last week, Barney bit Reuters reporter Jon Decker's index finger when he reached down to pet the seemingly docile dog. Sally McDonough, a spokeswoman for first lady Laura Bush, said jokingly then of Barney: "I think it was his way of saying he was done with the paparazzi."

No such thing, says cranky vet. What will the Obamas do now? The nation is watching.

Nothing cuter than a kitten. You'll get no argument from me on that.

So for all you kitten lovers, here's a video. This is how someone who bought the DVD describes it:

I saw this DVD on the internet and promptly freaked out and ordered a case of them in the hopes that you all would love it as much as I did. It is 45 minutes of non-stop kittens doing kitten things to wonderfully charming music by Brian Dewan.

The DVD is produced by a company called Bright Red Rocket. Maybe I should sue for tradmark infringment.

This link comes courtesy of my co-worker Megan Lasswell, who is a spelling bee champion, which is sort of animal related.

I was skimming through the Apple iPhone app store last night and came across this one. I dowloaded it  for two reasons: It was free. The dog in the cartoon resembles my dog. And I own an iPhone.

Wait, that's three reasons.

Anyway, I'm not sure what the point of it is. You walk a dog by tapping your thumbs to the touchscreen. When you do this, the dog trots along. But the dog seems to trot along even if you don't do anything.

Here's the official description:

Stuck at work? Feel like getting out for a stroll? Now you can... and you can Walk the Dog!

Hit the trail, wander through the English countryside and take in the scenery.

Your Pet Dog is ready to go -- tap the paws faster and he'll start sprinting ! Ease off and you can enjoy a gentle ramble with your pet - without getting wet !

Walk the Dog anytime -- at home, at the office, watching TV -- best of all it's free !

I know a couple of good apps for people who walk real dogs, but I'll get to those another time. If anybody has any suggestions or knows of any good apps, we'd love to hear from you.

"Janis was found one dark night in the middle of a street in San Pedro. She was very hungry and there was a large fox only 100 yards from her.

"It turns out that Janis is blind and deaf due to medically untreated hypertension. Imagine, her living on the streets with no food or a way to defend herself .. she is amazing! She is a sweet, loving and very brave cat. She was named Janis Joplyn because of her raspy sounding voice."

 Janis is about 7 years old and loves to cuddle, Ellen tells us. She's a tan and black tabby and     the hypertension is now being controlled with medication.

"She needs a stable, loving home with people who will take time to play and love her daily.   She has a great appetite and loves catnip and boxes.

Janice will have some extra medical expenses; one daily medication for hypertension given each morning and supplements. She (also) should see an eye veterinarian at least once."

If you can help, call Ellen at 1-800-611-6659 or email her at  CatsInNeedNow@yahoo.com. (Janis, by the way, would be best as an only cat at first since she is a bit stressed; she should be OK with other cats once she settles into a new home.)

Ellen also wants to get the word out about the problem of people abandoning their cats. (She has others that currently need homes, as well, including a tuxedo cat named Vestor).

"I personally think that it would be smart to have a program at apartment complexes which requires all tenants to have their pets micro-chipped, (wear) tag ids, and have photos (to be left with the leasing party)."

That way, she said, tenants could be held responsible for any pet left behind if they move.

Reporter Andrea Woodhouse has a story in today's paper about a kennel in El Segundo that is hoping to expand its operations. They want to triple the number of dogs that can stay there at any one time.

The El Segundo City Council is set to discuss the matter tonight.

Owners of an El Segundo kennel already caught once with too many dogs on site are hoping the city will allow them to triple the number of pooches during the day and increase the overnight guests eightfold.

City planners tonight could retroactively approve expansion efforts of Grateful Dogs, which several years ago almost doubled the size of its facility and canine clientele, but never sought an adjustment to its city operating permit, said owner Deb Axler.

"It would make everything we do right now legitimate," she said. "We didn't know we needed a new permit."

About two years ago, Axler said, city inspectors discovered the recently expanded kennel was caring for almost 90 dogs during the day, when its operating permit allowed for just 35.

Since then, the Illinois Street kennel has been working with the city of El Segundo to get its operations fully permitted, Axler said.

City planning officials did not return telephone messages seeking comment Wednesday.

In operation at its Smoky Hollow location for about 10 years, Grateful Dogs received a building permit to expand into a warehouse next door in 2003, but apparently never requested approval to up the number of pups or use outdoor areas.

 

 

As some of you know, I've been trying to get a picture of my dog and cat together since I brought the dog home a year and a half ago.

If they're doing something cute, I don't have a camera handy. Or if my camera is there, my cat is somewhere down the street digging holes. Or one of them moves suddenly or turns his butt to the camera. They have an endless supply of ways to screw things up.

Well, I finally snagged one. Humans 1, animals 0.

Purrfect Partners , a nonprofit cat rescue and adoption group, is holding a yard sale fundraiser to help pay for spay and neuter programs.

It will take place at 4716 W. Bulova St. in Torrance from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Proceeds go to neuter and spay programs.

I have no beef with Peru, but their national dog isn't really much of a dog.

It's called a Pervian Hairless dog. It's something of a national canine and dates back 3,000 years. It's even depicted in pre-Hispanic ceramics. It also happens to be toothless.

So far, so good if you go for that sort of thing. But the little rat is hypoallergenic, which makes it a candidate for residence in the White House.

LIMA (Reuters) - Peruvians crazy about their national dog, a bald and often toothless breed popular among Incan kings, offered Monday to send a hypoallergenic puppy to the Obama family.

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has promised daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, a new pet for the White House. But Malia is allergic to most breeds, he said Friday as speculation swirled about the dog the family would choose.

Owners of the Peruvian Hairless Dog, a breed dating back 3,000 years and depicted in pre-Hispanic ceramics, say it is perfect for kids who are sensitive to dogs.

"They do not cause any type of allergy and are very friendly and sweet," said Claudia Galvez, 38, director of the Friends of the Peruvian Hairless Dog Association.

"We want to give a male puppy to Obama's daughters, so they get to experience all the joys of having a dog but without any allergies."

Um, no. This is where I put my foot down. What's wrong with an all-American dog? Like say a coonhound. Or better yet, MY coonhound!

I can see it now: Rocket escapes from the White House and runs down the streets of Washington while being chased by a team of frantic Secret Service agents.

A moment of zen to start the day:

In case you missed it in the Daily Breeze this weekend, here's a column by John Bogert on the new, yet-to-be-chosen First Dog and how dogs can so deeply touch our lives through their "silliness and undying fathfulness."

I got this e-mail from local dog lover Diane Bassett. And yes, that's her real last name. I've met her.

She has a rescue dog that she things would make a perfect pet for the Obama family.

Since Diane works in public relations, she knows how to write a press release:

Palos Verdes dog trainer Diane Bassett has contacted Barak Obama to encourage him to adopt a local puppy named Marcy rescued by the Redondo Beach nonprofit Rover Rescue.

Upon hearing that the first family is intending to adopt a puppy in need of a home, Bassett immediately thought of a puppy she had been fostering for the past several weeks.

"She is a 10-month-old terrier mix who is affectionate, and adorable, and she doesn't shed." she explained. "She has her own blog with videos, photos, and training updates She's crate-trained, her basic obedience is coming along very well and I offered them free training support for her entire life. Bassett didn't feel that the dog's location in the south bay should be an issue for the family. "They have to take the whole country into account, not just Illinois.  Why should candidate dogs in California be excluded?"

Marcy's Web page can be viewed here.

"We have not heard back from him yet," she said, "but given the state of the economy he's inheriting, we've offered him a special Presidential discount on her adoption fee. He's going to need all the help he can get."

President Bush's dog Barney was in no mood for reporters this week. He is a Republican-owned dog, after all.

So the feisty Scottish terrier took his election week frustrations out on Reuters reporter Jon Decker who reached out to pat the pup.

According to the Associated Press story (with "attack" video on the link):

Sally McDonough, a spokeswoman for first lady Laura Bush, said of Barney: "I think it was his way of saying he was done with the paparazzi."

Mrs. Bush asked McDonough to call Decker and make sure he was fine. She reports that Decker "is being a good sport about it all."

The White House doctor bandaged up the reporter's grazed finger. He's also on antibiotics for a while.

Tension between reporters and the GOP White House have been legendary, of course. And that led one political blogger to crack about Barney: "Years of training finally paid off."

President-elect Barack Obama gave his first press conference today.

In his usual style, he was calm, thoughtful and exuded a preturnatural sense of confidence.

But among the pressing questions about the faltering economy and the threat from Iran, Obama was asked what is no doubt the most important issue his kids have to deal with: The dog he promised them.

Here's the exchange he had with reporters via CNN:

Obama told a group of reporters in Chicago on Friday that since his 10-year-old daughter, Malia, is allergic, the Obama family is looking for a hypoallergenic breed. But Obama also said the family wants to adopt one from a shelter.

"There are a number of breeds that are hypoallergenic, but on the other hand our preference is to get a shelter dog, but obviously, a lot of the shelter dogs are mutts like me," Obama said. "So, whether we are going to be able to balance those two things I think is a pressing issue on the Obama household."

Obama is of mixed racial heritage: His mother was Caucasian and his father was African.

Obama announced in his victory speech on Election Day that his daughters had "earned" a puppy. Obama joked that this is a "major issue" and said that since Election Day, the family's dog choice has created more interest than any other topic.

As well it should.

I wonder what ever happened to Socks the cat.

Tess' brand new red splint on Monday

Tess's splint on Friday

Tess wins.

Some names are strictly for humans -- Allan, Steve, Vivian, for instance. Sure, people will give their pets names like that to be funny or ironic, but they're really human names.

Some names are strictly for animals -- Spot, Mittens and Snowflake are examples that come to mind.

And then there are names that work for both. There are countless examples of that, but here is a list of people I work with who fit in that category:

Sandy

Jack

Walter

Chuck

Gazelle

Leo

Sam

Max

The Le PAWS Dog Talent Agency and Hollywood K-9 agent Addison K. Witt are hosting the first Hollywoof K-9 Carnival in Torrance on Saturday Nov. 9 to benefit the Westside German Shepherd Rescue of Los Angeles, which helps dogs displaced by the mortgage crisis.

The event will feature three dog contests - Best Singer, Best Dressed and Best Trick - plus raffles, food, auctions, a fashion show, cash and prizes. Hours will be noon to 6 p.m.
Winning dogs will receive gift baskets and gift cards. Human attendees will be eligible for monetary door prizes each hour.

Other highlights include dog demonstrations, agility tricks, TV reality stars, celebrity dogs and dog adoptions.

There is a $20 entrance/donation fee and tickets are limited. The event is at 438 Amapola Ave., Suite 115, Torrance.

Those wanting to enter their dogs in one of the contests should be at the event no later than 12:30 p.m. Call 310-782-6573, Ext. 2227.

The public can also make additional donations of dog food, blankets, collars, treats, etc., to the rescue group.

My dog has very short hair,which is good for me when it comes time to vacuum the house, but terrible for him when it gets cold outside. He'll burrow under blankets, climb into warm laundry and do just about anything he can to stay warm.

So with that in mind, I'm going to give this lady a pass.

Spring Hill, Florida -- Deputies say they caught a woman trying to steal two dog sweaters and seven makeup items from a Wal-Mart in Spring Hill.

The store's loss prevention officer says Christina Malicoate, 44, put all the items in a brown purse and then tried to leave the store without paying for them.

The items include eyeshadow, blush, concealer, skin cream and two dog sweaters.

Maybe she stole the dog sweaters because her dog needed them. As for stealing all that make-up, well, she clearly needed that too.

The new (red!) splint (#5? #6? I'm losing count now).

But she looks ready for Christmas.

We know you're weary of politics after what has been a very long campaign season.

But here are a couple more pet-related tidbits you might like to know about.

The American Kennel Club earlier had conducted a public poll on this topic (the poodle won). But now that Barack Obama is officially our president-elect, PetPlace.com is launching a new new poll on the best dog breed for the Obamas. 

Partial poll results have the Labrador retriever in the lead so far. So be sure to cast your vote. (The family has announced, by the way, that the dog they choose will be a rescue.)

Meanwhile, the PetPlace web site posted results from its dog and cat (owner) vote for president and, after a thorough analysis, poses this provocative question: Are cats more liberal than dogs?

The results were surprisingly and substantially different between cats and dogs ... The dogs election was close throughout the 9,200 votes with McCain and Palin ahead by only 1 to 2 percentage points, then pulling ahead at the last minute and winning by 5 percent.

However, the cats voted for Obama ... with a margin of 16 percent.

This brings up the question -- why the difference between cats and dogs? Are cat owners more liberal? Are dog owners more conservative? 

Read more about it at Pet Place.

Previously: Political dog news; campaign silliness abounds; partisan dogs; the fun never stops;   red dog, blue dog; red bowl, blue bowl; campaign going to the dogs?

Barack Obama is giving his speech right now. It's an amazing moment.

But perhaps the best part of all is he just said he was going to buy his daughters a puppy!

For the winners of the candidate-dog look-alike contest.

And here they are:

Winning the Obama look-alike was Amore Francine, a 52-pound boxer prone to tilting her head. She hails from Mt. Clemens, MI.

Winning the McCain look-alike was Ginny Doll of Rochester Hills, MI, a 7-pound Maltese with well-groomed white hair and what contest organizers called a "relatable, friendly face."

You can find more details at Rover411. The dogs were chosen from 10 finalists in an online contest. More than 4,000 votes were received.

I had a very nice chat the other day with a man named Jeremy Mooney, who works for a company that is producing a show for Animal Planet.

" Housecat Housecall"  is similar to "The Dog Whisperer," but it features bad cats. I told him that my cat pooped in my shoe last week and he said that's exactly the kind of feline they're looking to feature on their show.

I'm not eager to introduce Riff to a national audience, but they are holding auditions for other bad kitties. If you have a pussycat with behavioral issues, keep reading. It might become as famous as Joe the Plumber.

This is from the e-mail he sent me:

We are seeking families with a cat (or two or three) behavioral issues (e.g., sleeping in unusual places; always trying to escape to the outdoors; overpampered and in need of an attitude adjustment; one cat not getting along with another cat or a dog) or relationship situation (stress of moving with a cat; cat separation anxiety, perhaps with someone in the miltary; advice on caring for a special needs kitty - blind, 3-legged, etc..).

On the show we will meet the cat and the family and hear about their needed assistance from us, send in our team, led by Dr. Katrina Warren, make suggestions, give advice and then come back and see how it all has evolved.

We would like interested cats and their family to tell us a little about their unique feline by emailing us at HousecatHousecallTV@gmail.com.

The show's consulting veterinarian and medical director is Dr. Stacy Fuchino of Redondo Beach.

The other day, Donna posted an item about an iPhone app that helps you take pictures of your pets.

Not a bad idea. I may have to shell out the money and buy it.

In the nearly two years I've had my dog, I've tried and tried and tried to tried to take a picture of him and the cat at the same time.

It never works. One of them always runs away or turns his head at the last second or just won't sit still.

This is my most successful effort, which as you can see, wasn't terribly successful. The ghostly image on the left is my cat. The brown blob on the right is my dog. If you squint, you can almost make out their ears.