November 2009 Archives

*** (12/1/090: The puppy, we're told, has been found and returned to his owner.

From our colleague Larry Altman over at the Crimes and Courts blog:

An Inglewood woman is pleading for someone to help her find her dog, which she reported stolen Sunday from her car in a shopping center parking lot.

The dog was in her car parked outside the Superior market at Crenshaw Boulevard and Imperial Highway. Someone broke into it, she said.

Her dog is a Maltese named "Prince."

"My entire family is heartbroken over this," Sanford said in an e-mail sent to the media. "My daughter can't stop crying and she can't sleep at night. We love our dog and we won't stop until we get him back."

The dog is a white male (not neutered) Maltese, about 7 pounds.
 
Anyone with information is asked to call the Inglewood Police Department at 310-412-5210.

 

Be sure to also check out our earlier post today on a lost cat named Flashdance in the Torrance area.

Here's a weird story -- an unidentified dog steals someone's frozen turkey. Caught on tape here:

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=16872940

Over the weekend we received an email from the owner of a cat who was lost in the vicinity of Lorna and Henrietta streets in Torrance. She was last seen on the morning of Nov. 23.

Flashdance is a 5-year-old Siamese mix. She's beige with brown fur and has blue eyes. She was wearing a skulls & bones collar with a black and pink heart-shaped tag and she is microchipped (#492C56464E).

There is a reward. Call Marcie at 310-874-9772 or 213-537-7849; email missing@thinknix.com.

You can view the flier below or at http://thinknix.com/fd.pdf 

You're probably pretty bored with turkey sandwiches by now.

So here's the good news if you still have left-overs: You can turn them into dog treats!

Check out this recipe for Turkey Dog Treats.

Your dog will love you.

Yeah, I know. We should have posted this yesterday.

But did you know there were dogs aboard the Mayflower? (Why is the associated smell the first thought that comes to my mind?)

I got to thinking about the Mayflower dogs this week since I've been reading Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community and War in which author Nathaniel Philbrick mentions the dogs early on. 

From the opening pages of the book:

     For 65 days, the Mayflower had blundered her way through   storms and headwinds, her bottom a shaggy pelt of seaweed and barnacles, her leaky decks spewing salt water onto her passengers' devoted heads. There were 102 of them -- 104 if you counted the two dogs: a spaniel and a giant, slobbery mastiff.

According to an article at ancestry.com (thanks to Horst Hoefinger over at Dogster for the link) there are records of at least two dogs that participated in the settling of Plymouth Colony:

(Edward Winslow, writing in 1622) tells us a mastiff and a spaniel were involved in the first explorations of discovery on Cape Cod and activities of homebuilding during the first winter ashore. Although there may have been other pets aboard Mayflower during her historic voyage, they are not mentioned. ...

So there you go. It's belated, but we hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

A Scottish terrier named Sadie took Best in Show on Thursday at the National Dog Show that was broadcast on NBC right after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

"She is only the third Scottish terrier to win in the Kennel Club of Philadelphia's 130-year history," the web site states. "In February, 2009, Sadie won the Terrier Group at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and has dominated the sport ever since." 

Our Daily Breeze colleague Sandy Gerety, who has owned Scotties in the past but now has chihuahuas, was very happy about the Scotty's big win. "It's about time," she said.

Don't miss reporter Melissa Pamer's story today in the Daily Breeze about Bruce and Maureen Megowan's efforts to establish a dog park on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Their inspiration? Pepper, who spun in circles when Melissa arrived to interview them at their home:

 

 

From the article:

Knock on the door of the Palos Verdes Estates home of Bruce and Maureen Megowan and you will be greeted with nonstop wiggling, whining, jumping and rolling over.

This irrepressible display of enthusiasm comes from Pepper, the couple's 4-year-old miniature Australian shepherd, who cannot be calmed by soothing entreaties from the Megowans or even by a visitor's embrace.

"You can see why we need a dog park. She has a lot of nervous energy," said Bruce Megown.

 

Read the rest of the story on the Daily Breeze Web site.

Photo by Steve McCrank/Daily Breeze staff photographer.

Read our earlier posts on the topic.

Here's also an interesting map by DB staff artist Paul Penzella on where local dog parks exist (the park at the bottom of Knoll Hill is temporary only; while there are no immediate plans to close it, the park is small -- under 1 acre -- and there has yet to be a permanent alternative location established in San Pedro ):

Today officially kicks off the holiday shopping season, with sales and special deals being 

offered at malls and stores everywhere.

And it looks like the local pet stores are no exception.

Centinela Pet Store at The Terraces in Rancho Palos Verdes is offering 20 percent off everything all day today, with other specials running through the weekend.

I've also received emails and seen fliers from Petco, Petsmart and several of the online pet supply companies, all offering discounts and sale prices today and this weekend as the holiday buying season begins. 

So go shop. 

And let us know if you're finding any exceptional deals out there on pet items that we can pass on to our readers.

This is "Chloe," spotlighted in this week's Pet of the Week feature in the Daily Breeze. But so far, we hear she hasn't been adopted yet.

She only weighs about 4 pounds, is 3 years old and is available at the Carson shelter. She looks rather sad to me, but I'm sure a new home for the holidays would fix all that. Ticket #A4056151.

The shelter is at 216 W. Victoria, Gardena, CA 90248; (310) 523-9566:

Whether your pet's been naughty or nice, a photo with Santa Claus can mark the season with a unique -- and often times humorous -- memento to share with friends and family.

Three of the South Bay's malls are offering professional pet photos with Santa this year:

• South Bay Galleria at 1815 Hawthorne Blvd. (at Artesia) in Redondo Beach: 7 to 8 p.m. Nov. 30; 7 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7; 8 to 9 p.m. Dec. 14. (310-371-7546)

• Del Amo Fashion Center at Hawthorne Boulevard and Carson Street: 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 2 (bring your dog or cat through the Mall 11 entrance just outside the security office). (310-542-8525)

• Manhattan Village at 3200 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach: 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 4. (310-426-6313)

Petco stores also will host a pet-photo-with-Santa event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 5 (PALS club members get a free photo with any purchase while supplies last); and also from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 12 (when photos will be $8.95 plus tax, with $5 from each photo going to help pets in need).

Local Petco stores are at:

• 852 N. Western Ave., San Pedro (in the Park Plaza shopping center)
• 24413 Crenshaw Blvd., Suite 8, Torrance (in the Crossroads center)
• 51-A Peninsula Center, Rolling Hills Estates
• 537 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach
• 3901 Inglewood Ave., Suite G, Redondo Beach
• 8801 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Westchester

Centinela Feed & Pet Supplies in Rancho Palos Verdes (at The Terraces, 28901 Western Ave.) will offer holiday-themed props and backgrounds for professional photo sessions (but with no actual Santa available) from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Dec. 1. ($14.95)

 (And this cute little kitten above -- Lexus -- is actually available for adoption this holiday season from the Peter Zippi Fund for Animals in Hermosa Beach. And there's more on their web site.)

Despite the recession, we live in the land of plenty.

If you ever doubt this, take a look at the statistics about how many pet owners nowadays buy Christmas gifts for their critters (OK, so the gifts are really for us in a psychological sense).

So since you're going to buy something anyway, read about  some useful -- and funny -- pet toys and products you can pick up for your favorite furry friends this year.

There are dog and cat beds, organic treats and laser lights to drive them up the wall (literally). And be sure to check out the Crazy Cat Lady board game  from Archie McPhee for cat lovers on your list. There's also (yes, really) the Crazy Cat Lady Action Figure.

Santa holds Pug Fuch at the Robinson Town Center PetSmart in Robinson Township, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar,File) (GENE J. PUSKAR):

Help out a homeless pet this season by donating an item to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Los Angeles.

The annual holiday toy drive is asking people to donate items to help make life in the shelter a little easier for the dogs and cats awaiting permanent homes.

Among the items needed:

• Clay (non-scoopable) cat litter
• New, durable dog and cat toys
• New (or gently used clean towels and bedding
• Dog sweaters and coats.

The full list includes other things as well.

The drive continues through Dec. 31 and items can be dropped in a donation box at the South Bay SPCA shelter, 12910 Yukon Ave., Hawthorne.

Daily Breeze newsroom office manager Virginia Paresa recently returned from a trip to Europe where she snapped this photo of a cat enjoying an afternoon nap in the sun on the Greek island of Mykonos.

There are a couple high-profile dog shows coming up, one that is televised on Thanksgiving Day every year, and the return to Long Beach in December of the American Kennel Club/Eukanuba National Championships.

John O'Hurley and David Frei will host the NBC Thanksgiving Day special "The National Dog Show Presented by Purina,"  naming one of America's show dogs as its 2009 champion. It's on from noon to 2 p.m. following the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC. The actual show was taped and took place earlier this month in Philadelphia.

The broadcast gets something like 20 million viewers every year, however, although I've usually only caught part of it as I'm on my way out of town for Thanksgiving dinner with family. More than 160 breeds vie for "Best in Show," including three new breeds: the Irish Red and White Setter, the Norwegian Buhund and the Pyrenean Shepherd.

Closer to home, the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship invitational  returns to the Long Beach Convention Center on Dec. 12 and 13. Included will be conformation, agility and obedience trials and competition.

Tickets are $20 (Saturday or Sunday daytime) and $15 (Saturday or Sunday evening) with special prices for seniors, military and youth.

Throw away your tired old dogs and cats.

Time to get a pet otter! Or maybe not. But boy is this cute or what?

Check out the Humane Society's video about feral cats being rescued from San Nicolas Island off the coast of Los Angeles.

The organization DoGreatGood.com made the project possible.

You can read more about it at this Humane Society page  -- they have more pics also.

 H/T:

Critter News 

For those of you following the debate about allowing leashed dogs  in municipal parks in Redondo Beach, the Los Angeles Times published a story today.

The Daily Breeze story on the same issue ran Thursday.

She reports that the original 14 bison were brought to the island in 1924 by a film crew working on a silent movie. The footage with the animals wound up on the cutting room floor, but decades later the bison's offspring still roam on Catalina. They once reached about 600 in number.

The conservancy is trying to reduce the annual growth of the herd from nearly 10 percent to 4 percent -- about equal to the mortality rate -- and has embarked on a birth control program that uses a vaccine for the females. That could avert having to ship excess animals off the island by stabilizing the numbers.

Read more about it in today's story headlined "Reining in the herd".

(And be sure to check out the accompanying online photo gallery.)

Photo above: The Catalina Island Conservancy is introducing a contraception plan for its female bison with a vaccine that will control the buffalo population. A male bison waits in a holding pen before the vets and scientists put it through a series of pens to draw DNA. (Scott Varley/Staff Photographer)

Here it is, that time of year again. Already. 

The first of several pets-with-santa photo sessions takes place this Saturday (Nov. 21) to benefit the Peter Zippi Fund for Animals.

It all happens at the VCA Coast Animal Hospital, 1560 Pacific Coast Highway, in Hermosa Beach. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bring your pets to pose for a professional photo session with Santa. Photos can be loaded onto CDs or used to make unique, one-of-a-kind holiday greeting cards.

The $15 donation supports the Peter Zippi Fund's work with homeless animals.

I don't know who will be playing Santa. But good luck to you, sir.

(Photo from Dogster )

The donation to GRACE Animal Rescue Inc. will help the nonprofit manage the population of 200 felines that has developed from household pets abandoned on the Chevron property.

"In today's economy, when it's actually cheaper to kill, they chose life," said Vanessa Bell, executive director of GRACE. "It made me rethink everything I used to think about oil companies."

I don't know how they do it over there, but Long Beach is getting its fifth off-leash dog park. Opening festivities are set for 10 a.m. Saturday.

From Justin Rudd's latest newsletter:

new opening of the Uptown Dog Park in Long Beach
located at the western end of Scherer Park, 4600 Long Beach Blvd., this Saturday, Nov. 21 at 10 a.m.

And from our sister paper, the Long Beach Press-Telegram:

The Uptown Dog Park will provide separate areas for small and large dogs to play off leash. The fenced area is near picnic areas and a parking lot. Uptown Dog Park will be open from 5 a.m. to dusk; Scherer Park hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information about the opening of the Uptown Dog Park, call 562-570-6685.

Here's a map.

The (9/20/09) comic strip "Off The Mark" by Mark Parisi

It's true.

Apparently "a growing number" of U.S. businesses are giving their most valued employees the option of getting health care for their pets. Google, Disney, AOL, HSBC, Home Depot and eBay are among them.

"We know that pets can be an important and valued part of our employees' lives and we want them to have the option to enroll in this benefit," said Google spkesman Jordan Newman.

.....

Following the lead of the British market, the sale of veterinary insurance for animals has grown exponentially in the United States over the last decade, with more than a million U.S. policy holders in 2009, double the figure in 2002 ...

Check out the rest of the story.  

Thanks to our friends at Dogster for posting this poem (author unknown). It carries an important message about our roles as stewards of creation -- and the benefits of adopting unwanted pets from your local shelter or rescue groups.

It's called I Adopted Your Dog Today:

I adopted your dog today

The one you left at the pound

The one you had for seven years

and no longer wanted around.

I adopted your dog today

Do you know he's lost weight?

Do you know he's scared and depressed

and has lost all faith?

I adopted your dog today

He had fleas and a cold

But don't worry none

You've unburdened your load.

I adopted your dog today

Were you having a baby or moving away?

Did you suddenly develop allergies?

Or another reason he couldn't stay?

I adopted your dog today

He doesn't play or eat much

He's very depressed

But he will learn again to trust

I adopted your dog today

And here he will stay

He's found his forever home

And a warm bed on which to lay.

I adopted your dog today

And I will give him all that he could need -

Patience, love, security and understanding.

Hopefully he will forget your selfish deed.

- Author Unknown

So here's some update info on last night's trio of meetings regarding dog- and park-related issues in the South Bay:

• Redondo Beach: Dog owners probably face an uphill battle to get the City Council there to overturn or relax a longtime ban on canines in that city's parks, according to a post this morning on the Daily Breeze Pipeline blog by Kristin Agostoni, our reporter who covered the meeting. Discussion was in response to two petitions calling for a change to the 1979 city ordinance that forbids dogs (leashed or otherwise) in municipal parks other than the designated off-leash dog park on Flagler & 190th. Councilman Bill Brand and Mayor Mike Gin raised the matter which now goes to the the city's Parks and Recreation Commission after a 4-1 vote moving it forward for more study last night. Commissioners will consider changing the rule for Czuleger Park only for now, perhaps as a pilot? But opposition remains strong to changing the citywide law, with Councilman Steve Aspel saying this: "Someone's leaving a thousand turds a day on top of the Esplanade. Ask our public works department." And there was this from Councilman Pat Aust, who cast the only dissenting vote:  "Parks are for people and kids. Zoos are for animals." **********(Read Kristin's follow-up story in Thursday's Daily Breeze.)
• Manhattan Beach: Council members there voted 4-1 to approve (with changes to the original proposal) an $18,200 off-leash dog run at Polliwog Park. It would be the city's third such spot, following similar set-ups at Live Oak and Marine Avenue parks.
• Rancho Palos Verdes: Bruce and Maureen Megowan report a generally positive response to proposals for dog parks at Lower Hesse Park and/or Grandview Park at last night's RPV City Council meeting. (See the full report and recap on Maureen Megowan's blog.) Council members authorized spending $50,000 to hire a designer to flesh out the proposed park designs (which  include other elements besides a dog park), but they stressed that this was only a "first step" and not a commitment to impelment the designs. The Megowans also raised questions about the proposed size of the dog parks (relatively small as drawn, I gather), adding that research shows the most successful (and safest) parks include at least 3 acres -- 2 acres for large dogs and 1 acre for a separate small dog space. There are still homeowner objections to address, however, and none of this will probably be a slam dunk. But other cities on The Hill reportedly are  entertaining proposals to establish a dog park as well, according to the Megowans. (Two suggested dog park sites were turned down by Rolling Hills Estates at a meeting this week, though, I'm told. But discussions continue on the possibility of using part of the PV Landfill area in that city.)

Email mmegowan@cox.net for more information.  

So, nothing firm on any of these proposals yet, but stay tuned.

The city of Los Angeles' Harbor Animal Care Center  will hold a pet adoption event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 21) in the upper picnic area at Hesse Park, 29301 Hawthorne Blvd, Rancho Palos Verdes.

The shelter will have dogs, cats and rabbits available for adoption. Available animals can be seen by clicking on the shelter's Web site above.

Another pet adoption event will be planned for Dec. 12 at the park.

Thanks to Daily Breeze crime reporter Larry Altman for alerting us to the news that a 24-hour tip line to report dog fighting has been launched in Los Angeles County.

The program will pay tipsters up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest or conviction of individuals involved in dog fighting. From the press release:

Beginning today, residents can call 1-877-NO2FITE and provide information about a dog fighting ring, an upcoming dog fight or an individual who is involved in dog fighting.

If someone is aware of a fight in progress, they should call 911 immediately, said District Attorney Steve Cooley.

"Our goal is to encourage citizens to help law enforcement root out a brutal crime that often goes unreported and occurs in the shadows," Cooley said during a press conference.

The Humane Society of the United States is co-sponsoring the program. 

Calls will be answered by a person 24 hours a day.

The Humane Society estimates that dog fighting is widespread in L.A. County. And dog fighting, Cooley said, often leads to busting people of other crimes, including drug dealing and weapons possession.

"We expect that these tips will be a starting point for major criminal investigations," he said.

I still remember talking with a young boy, probably about 10, at the Long Beach dog park one afternoon maybe 15 years ago. He was walking home and stopped by just to visit the dog park with a friend. He mentioned to me that someone in his neighborhood was involved in dog fighting and that the kids sometimes went to watch. I was horrified and urged him never to watch such a thing, that it was both immoral and illegal, and that someone really should report it. But ever since I was sorry I didn't try to get more information out of him about who and where so I could have reported it to the authorities myself.

Animal control and police officers I've spoken to since acknowledge dog fighting goes on in our local communities. But because it operates in such an underground world, they have a very hard time getting enough details in a timely manner to make arrests.

Maybe this hotline and the monetary rewards will help.  

My friend Deborah Harpur of Harbor City posted this rather bizarre photo on her Facebook page today showing her dogs who have clearly taken over a hotel room in Scottsdale, Ariz. (they travel a lot for agility trials). "They all look a little possessed," she writes. She declined to say which hotel this is.

In the back from left are Thor and Chili Dog; in front, Hobo, PJpupp, Burns, Magi, Gigi and Rickie Roo.

As reported in the Daily Breeze (shameless plug, you really should get a subscription if you don't already have one), three meetings tonight could give dogs more park space in our local cities:

• Redondo Beach City Council, in response to a citizens' petition, will start talks about allowing leashed dogs in Czulegar Park. City codes currently prohibit canines (leashed or otherwise) in all RB parks, with the exception of the designated off-leash dog park adjacent to Dominguez Park. If the council agrees, the issue would likely go to the Parks and Recreation Commission for review. Tonight's meeting is at 6 p.m. at 415 Diamond St. (Streaming video of the meeting is available from the city's Web site.)
• Manhattan Beach leaders will consider an off-leash dog run for sprawling Polliwog Park. If approved, the $18,200 run would be the city's third such spot, following similar set-ups at Live Oak and Marine Avenue parks. Tonight's meeting is at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall, 1400 Highland Ave. (Go to the city's Web site for information on how to view the meeting via cable or computer.)
• Rancho Palos Verdes City Council will weigh plans for improvements at Grandview Park and Lower Hesse Park, with both proposals including a possible fenced-in, off-leash dog park. (See our separate post below  for more details.) Mayor Larry Clark also will give a presentation on the need for a dog park on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The meeting is at 7 p.m. at Fred Hesse Community Park, 29301 Hawthorne Blvd. (You can also view a broadcast of the meeting on the city's Web site.)

If you live in these areas and care about the issue, you might want to attend one of the meetings in person to lend your voice to the discussion in public comment. And let us know if you attended any of the sessions. We'll have follows on the outcome of the meetings in the Daily Breeze.

Supporters of an effort to establish a fenced-in, off-leash dog park are being asked to attend Tuesday night's (Nov. 17) Rancho Palos Verdes City Council meeting -- 7 p.m. at Fred Hesse Community Park, 29301 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes.

We've been following this campaign for the past year now (click here to read our previous posts on the issue).

Up to now, there has been a focus on using a portion of the Palos Verdes Landfill area on Hawthorne Boulevard just north of Palos Verdes Drive North, which is county land in Rolling Hills Estates.

But while that's still being pursued, the city of Rancho Palos Verdes on its own has been actively courting the idea of putting a dog park at one of its existing parks as well with support from the Megowans and others. This now appears to be on a faster track with backing from the city's mayor who is slated to give an oral presentation on the concept of a dog park as part of the Tuesday night agenda.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, the RPV City Council will review a 30-page staff report outlining proposed improvements recommended for both Grandview Park and lower Hesse Park.

A dog park has been included for both as a possibility along with other uses -- such as tennis and basketball courts, picnic facilities and trails -- that I gather would co-exist at one or both sites in any variety of mixes. 

Grandview takes in 18 acres of land on Montemalaga Drive near Hawthorne Boulevard; Lower Hesse (29301 Hawthorne Blvd.) also offers 18 acres.

But a dog park in either location won't be easy. Homeowners near both parks already have expressed concerns if not outright opposition.

From the Grandview Park Homeowners' Association: "If you put in a dog park, it will deter the natural wildlife."

The homeowners' association near Lower Hesse is recommending against a dog park there, saying that "people will come from all over the South Bay to use it." Another quote from the group: "The doggie park has a really high potential to create a noise, traffic, parking and visual nuisance in our neighborhood."

Bruce and Maureen Megowan, who launched the Peninsula dog park effort last year, are asking supporters to attend the RPV meeting. (There's another meeting at the same time on Tuesday night in RHE where a dog park is slated for discussion as well. But in their latest email the Megowans are are urging people to attend the RPV City Council meeting instead.)

From the Megowans' latest letter:

Mayor Larry Clark, in support of our previous presentations to the city council for a dog park on the Peninsula, has been instrumental in proposing a dog park at these two locations and has requested that as many dog park supporters as possible attend this meeting to show community support for the dog park component of these plans

Questions? Call the Megowans at 310-541-2980 or email them at either mmegowan@cox.net or bmegowan@cox.net.

Cats are very strange creatures, a fact I'm beginning to appreciate since I've come to own one a little over a month ago (if one ever does truly "own" a cat).

Here's a story and video from the BBC about Casper, a black-and-white tom cat in the UK, who takes a bus ride every day, curling up -- for free -- on one of the front seats. The bus drivers look after him, dropping him off near home after he makes his rounds.

I don't know what the attraction is but he loves big vehicles like lorries and buses Owner Susan Finden

I've been seeing those lists  that go around every so often about the smartest dogs (think most obedient). Check out the story in the San Francisco Chronicle. The border collie, of course, comes in first:

1. Border Collie
2. Poodle
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Doberman Pinscher
6. Shetland Sheepdog
7. Labrador Retriever
8. Papillon
9. Rottweiler
10. Australian Cattle Dog

And proving the Border Collie's intelligence is this video of Paige, a dog who can even load laundry (and the family cat) into your dryer. The family cat has a couple bit parts in this (be sure to listen to the music), but doesn't really do much. Check out this page for more info on the breeds. 

(Oh, and the not-so-swift breeds? Afghan Hound, Basenji, Bulldog, Chow Chow, Borzoi, Bloodhound, Pekingese, Mastiff, Beagle and Basset Hound.)  There's actually a Doggie IQ test you can do to see how your own dog ranks.

.

A story moved today about Sabi, a "sniffer" dog that went missing in action after a battle in Afghanistan 14 months ago.

The black Labrador has been found alive and well in the desert:

Sabi was with a joint Australian-Afghan army patrol when it was ambushed by Taliban militants in September 2008. Nine soldiers were wounded in the ensuing gun battle, which earned one Australian SAS trooper the country's highest bravery award. But there was no sign of the bomb-sniffing dog after the battle in a remote area of Uruzgan province.

Soldiers searched for the 4-year-old dog for nine months, but never found her. Then, last week, a U.S. serviceman spotten a dog with an Afghan man at an isolated patrol base.

The military-trained animal was handed over and she was returned to her unit at the Australians' base.

"Having Sabi back gives some closure for the handler and the rest of us that served with her in 2008," said Mark Donaldson, the SAS trooper awarded the Victoria Cross for rescuing a cwounded interpreter during the battle. "It's a fantastic morale-booster for the guys."

Sabi''s handler recounted the moments when he was reunited with the dog: "I nudged a tennis ball to her with my foot and she took it straight away. It's a game we used to play over and over during her training. it's amazing, just incredible, to have her back."

I spotted a reference on another pet blog -- Ohmidog! -- the other day to a post from Jennifer Ginsberg at momlogic titled "Your Dog Grosses Me Out."

It reminds us that not everyone is enamored by the four-footed ones in our midst. Some people find our dogs, well, downright annoying. Her post recounts her attendance at a birthday party of a family friend:

I knew that I would have to deal with Shlomo, their big, stinky dog. Before you burn me at the stake for admitting that dogs gross me out, let me make myself clear. I respect animals. I do not wish them any harm. I have been practically vegan for years because I cannot stand the thought of animals getting tortured.

But if I wanted to cohabit with them, I would live on a big farm out in the country -- not in a single family home in West Los Angeles. And I even hold the highly controversial belief that dogs are not equivalent to human beings and do not deserve the same rights and privileges that people do.

  There is nothing that disgusts me more than walking into someone's house and having Fido run up to me and hump my leg and slobber all over me. And dogs always seem to sense that I am not a "dog person," so they work extra hard to win me over with super-aggressive humping and double-wet and sticky licking.

....Even worse was the other couple who brought their dog Fifi to the party, who wouldn't stop yapping the entire time. The nonstop barking made it nearly impossible to have any adult conversation ... The owners of the yappy dog seemed to think their wretched little beast was cute and went so far as to rationalize her obnoxious behavior by telling the guests, "Forgive her barking -- she's blind. ... "Ohhh..." was the collective murmur heard around the room. Nothing can bring a crowd to near tears faster than talking about your dog's illness or disability.

She goes on. But you get the idea. And some of it, I have to say, is pretty funny.

Now as much as I love dogs, I also will say that I sympathize somewhat. I think she makes some valid points and criticisms. Dog owners should always be sensitive to those who may not love their dogs, especially when they are guests in their home. I agree with her that the value of a dog's life is not equal to a human's, despite the cultural trend that (I think) too often improperly blurs those lines. But I do take issue with her suggestion the dog lovers opt for a relationship with a pet rather than people to meet their "emotional requirements."

It's an unfair stereotype I've heard more and more in recent years and one that doesn't fit 99% of the animal lovers I know. OK, maybe 98%.

But that aside, check out the entire post and tell us what you think. How do you handle your animals when guests are coming over? Should dog owners be doing more to improve relationships with their anti-dog-owning friends and relatives?

The recession is taking its toll on shelter animals, according to an Associated press story that ran in the Daily Breeze today. From the article:

Animal rescues and shelters have suffered during the recession, particularly in states like California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona where the real estate boom busted the loudest, said Stephen L. Zawistowski of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

So it's good to hear about how some groups are finding creative ways to make their dollars stretch.

Border Collies in Need, a group founded by Suzanne Strauss of San Pedro, has joined the "Double Your Impact Challenge" fund-raising drive, which is being sponsored by the Best Friends Animal Society. Donations made from Nov. 9 through Dec. 4 will be doubled by Best Friends, helping the rescue groups of your choice. I'm sure other local groups have signed up as well.

Under a new Best Friends  program called Network Charities, the campaign promotes collaboration among nonprofit shelters and rescue groups working to solve the problem of homeless pets.

Check out the Border Collies in Need page with Best Friends. 

Border Collies In Need (BCIN) also will attend the Best Friends Adoption Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Sunday (Nov. 15) at the La Brea Tar Pits, 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.

Here are 3 of the dogs currently available for adoption from the BCIN (you can contact them at bcrescue@cox.net or download an application from their web site):

This is "Cash."

Cash is beautiful, but on the thin side. He gets along well with small and older dogs and has a really nice disposition ... Cash is about 11-months-old and grew up on a 50,000 acre ranch in Northeastern Oregon chasing cows and everything else that moved! He fell as a puppy and dislocated his hip which had to be surgically replaced. He tends to favor his left rear leg every once in a while but has no pain. ... Cash NEEDS room to run!

And here's Shayna.

Shayna is a 1 year old purebred Border Collie. A traditionally marked black & white semi rough coated girl, she has one blue eye. Shayna is of very athletic build and we are working on adding a few pounds. ... Shayna is medium to high drive, thus we do not recommend her for the first time BC owner. She will need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to keep her engaged. A bored BC is not a good thing!

And Glynn.

Glynn is an 18 month old male Border Collie with a high drive. He is a gorgeous traditional black & white with semi rough coat. Glynn was found stray after being struck by a vehicle. Lucky for him there were no fractures. 

Caryn Klein lives in the South Bay and has three dogs and tree cats -- "all rescues," she points out.

And now she's launched Lifesapet, a new web site and blog focusing on helping shelter and rescue pets find permanent homes.

"I am a passionate animal advocate, shelter volunteer, website designer and a technician's assistant in a local animal hospital," she writes. "I live and work in the Los Angeles area and I am owned by three chihuahuas and three cats."

About the new site: "We network animals from local shelters and rescue groups in Los Angeles using social media sites, email rescue groups and the internet so these animals have a better chance at getting rescued."

They advocate adoption and spaying and neutering pets to reduce the number of homeless animals.

Among the stories featured currently on www.lifesapet.com is a disabled mom cat and her kitten (pictured below) that are in need of a special home and now staying at Redondo Veterinary Medical Center, 541 N. Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach (310-376-6056).

The site also lists stories about other pets that are in need of homes soon. Among them are "Dinah," a 6-pound chihuahua from a South Los Angeles shelter; a 15-year-old chihuahua dumped at the Pasadena shelter; and "Cutie Pie," a small chihuahua at the Carson shelter.

You can follow Caryn on Twitter: www.twitter.com/lifesapet

and also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lifesapet

Why not? Guinea pigs are very popular pets. So meet Nibbles (that's Nibbles with owner Nirvana, a dog park friend, on the left).

I don't know much about guinea pigs. I've never had one, but I was able to find quite a bit of information on the little pets online.

Commonly called a "Cavy," the guinea pig is a type of rodent (no, they're not pigs) that originated from the Andes. According to Wikipedia, they play an important role in the folk culture of South America and have become a popular household pet here since European traders introduced them in the 16th century.

"Their docile nature, their responsiveness to handling and feeding, and the relative ease of caring for them continue to make the guinea pig a popular pet," the Wikipedia article states.

Nirvana's mom, Rosie, decided to get Nibbles after the family lost their beloved dog Pepsi about 3 months ago. They weren't quite ready for another dog yet, but missed having a furry something around to care for.

  There are even a couple blogs devoted to guinea pigs that I found:

• Furry Pal
• Guinea Pig Connection and
• Guinea Pig Fun

We miss Rosie and Nirvana at the dog park. A guinea pig would create all kinds of havoc there, we all realize. But in the meantime, it looks like Nibbles has a great home and is very well loved.

After our final dog obedience class Saturday with trainer Barbara Millman, a couple of the pups in the class decided it was finally time to play:

We were thrilled, of course, since Cowboy is so laid-back and never really got into the spirit of the class. Third-place (the orange ribbon at left) was really quite good, he seemed to perk up during the final exam.

Last weekend, I finished the same class with Tess who got the first-place ribbon.

Both Cowboy & Tess did very well. Barbara takes a break over the next couple months but will start with a new beginning class on the second Saturday of January. And when you take your dog through her class once, you can return for free at any time to brush up and review. Barbara's a seasoned and very knowledgable trainer and it's well worth the time & fee (cost is around $60 for 7 weeks).

Contact:  Kritter Korral, 1724 Palos Verdes Dr North, Harbor City, CA 90710-3641

We received an update from Maureen and Bruce Megowan recently about their ongoing efforts to establish an off-leash dog park in one of the four cities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

The couple will attend the PVE City Council meeting this week -- at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 10) -- to discuss the petition drive and ask the city council to put the issue of supporting a dog park on the Hill on their next agenda.

From the letter we received:

The members of the City Council have made it clear that there is no where within the city limits of Palos Verdes Estates that they believe would be acceptable to locate a dog park, but (they) are willing to work with the other cities on the Peninsula to build a dog park somewhere on the Peninsula. My husband Bruce and I will be speaking at the very beginning of the meeting when the public can speak on anything not on the agenda.

And perhaps even most encouraging:

They spoke at the Rolling Hills Estates City Council meeting in October and Maureen reports that the council there "was very supportive of the concept of a dog park in their city limits. The parks and recreation committee of the city will be holding a meeting at City Hall on Tuesday night 11/17 to discuss potential sites within their city for a dog park. Bruce will be attending this meeting."

Anyone interested in attending either of these meetings to lend some moral support is welcome.

Meanwhile, the city of Rancho Palos Verdes also continues to review potential sites within that city for a possible dog park.

So it looks like some real progress is being made.

For more, go to the Megowans' web site.

You can also email them at mmegowan@cox.net or bmegowan@cox.net or call them at 310-541-2980. If you'd like regular updates, you can subscribe to their email service.

Read earlier posts about efforts to develop a dog park on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

BUT ... I figure the organization will have other trials and some of you might be interested in pursuing the activity with your dog. Looks like there are regular classes in Long Beach.

The classes and trial competitions are sponsored by K9 Nose Work as a way to develop and hone your dog's natural scent tracking abilities. It's practical but is also a fun activity you can do with your dog if agility or herding or other things aren't your style. I'm guessing the hound breeds like Rocket would especially excell at this.

 From the press release:

"Have you ever wondered how good your dog's nose really is? Are you amazed when your dog can locate an item that has been missing for years? Awed by the fact that some dogs can detect cancer? This might be an acitivity for you and your four-legged companion.

"K9 Nose Work is the specific sport created and sanctioned by the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW). This sport was inspired by the training methodology of detection K9s and borrows elements of that training for recreation. The terms nose work, fun nose work, scent work, search work are all commonly used references to describe any activity where the dog is using its nose to locate a target scent or odor. ... Trials may be held for the purpose of competition, titling, or both."

Again, my apologies for not getting this posted in a more timely fashion. My bad.

You can call the organization at 323-656-1200, Ext. 3.

PetSmart is voluntarily recalling two Dentley's Beef Hoof products for potential salmonella contamination. The products were manufactured by Pet Carousel Inc. in Sanger, CA.

The recalled products include only the following types of Dentley's Beef Hooves purchased between Oct. 2, 2009, and Nov. 3, 2009:

• Dentley's Bulk Cattle Hoof UPC #73725703323
• Dentley's 10 Pack Beef Hooves UPC #73725736055

Customers who purchased the recall products should discontinue use immediately and return the product to any PetSmart store for a refund or exchange. For more information, visit www.petsmartfacts.com, www.petsmart.com, www.fda.gov -- or contact PetSmart Customer Service at 1-888-839-9638.

Here's the update on Annie the Cat vs. The Collar (See my post from a couple days ago for the backstory).

The good news is I managed to collar her Thursday morning (here she is watching for birds last night in the living room window, her favorite perch).

When she bounced up onto my bed this morning to wake me up, however, her collar was gone. I found it unhooked and lying on her blanket on the bed in the spare room where she mostly sleeps. (She really should have thought to hide it from me in the closet.)

So I put it back on this morning -- I'm persistent -- but if she continues to get it off I'll let the issue drop. I don't want to make her miserable if she really does hate it. After all, one blog reader on the earlier post already has called me "mean."

It seems that Covenant Presbyterian Church in Westchester (at 6323 W. 80th St., at the corner of Sepulveda Boulevard and 80th) is the most recent congregation to offer a monthly worship service where people can bring their dogs. It's called "Canines at Covenant."

Read more in the Associated Press story.

There's even a YouTube video:

We'll post more about this as the broadcast approaches, but one of my favorite dog rescue groups -- BorderColliesInNeed.org (my dogs Cowboy & Tess were both adopted from BC's In Need) -- is among the many sponsors of the National Pet Fostering Program insipired by a book and a Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie that will air on Nov. 29.

"A Dog Named Christmas" will be shown on CBS and will direct viewers to Petfinder.com to find shelters and rescue groups in their areas that are participating in "Foster a Lonely Pet" program.

The film, based on the best-selling book by Greg Kincaid, is about Todd McCray, a developmentally challenged young man living on his parents' Kansas farm. When he hears that a local animal shelter seeks temporary homes for its dogs during the holidays leading up to Christmas, Todd asks his parents for a dog that he names Christmas.

From there, Todd uses his gifts of persuasion to encourage his hometown to participate in the "Adopt a Dog for Christmas," with lessons in kindness and goodwill flowing abundantly from there.

If you're interested in participating in this program, and can welcome a dog into your home for two months during the holidays, check with BorderColliesInNeed (email them at Rescue@BorderColliesInNeed.org).

And stay tuned for more information about the project as we get it. Maybe we can even feature some of you who decide to bring a shelter or rescue dog home for the holidays.

We carried an earlier post that linked to the Daily Breeze story regarding Mr. Burns, a dog (thought to be an Akita-chow mix) whose life was spared when he was trapped in an auto shop

fire. The shop owner's wife committed suicide by setting herself on fire -- and Mr. Burns, as he was dubbed at Affordable Animal Hospital, was an innocent victim, suffering third-degree burns covering over 60-70 percent of his body before he was pulled to safety by firefighters.

He responded well to treatment and was transferred back to the county animal shelter in Carson where he reportedly had a list of would-be owners wishing to adopt him.

I'm not sure what happened, but somehow he never got taken home with anyone. So now Mr. Burns is with a group called PAL Rescue & Adoption in El Segundo (see him on their Web page) and he may be included in the organization's regular adoption event from 4 to 7 p.m. today (Thursday) at the Petsmart store at Plaza El Segundo, 730 S. Sepulveda Blvd. But since he had to be treated Wednesday for a minor toenail issue, he most likely won't be there until Friday's adoption (same time and place). Volunteers with the group can arrange for you to meet with the dog if you're interested in adopting him.  

You can also email them for an application at info@palrescue.org.

My co-workers are teasing me about how cats now seem to dominate my posts -- ever since I got a cat of my own.

So when Doug Epperhart of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council sent me another shot of one of his cats in a weird spot (see our earlier post about Doug's cat Bojangles), I had to print it, of course (nice looking cat, too!).

Doug's wife Andrea was taking some recycling items out to the bin in their driveway the other day and found Tia, one of the couple's two calicos, resting in the yard clippings:

A Los Angeles City Council committee on Monday called for an ordinance that would outlaw the declawing of cats.

L.A. is one of several cities considering the move before a Jan. 1, 2010, deadline when a state law goes into effect forbidding cities and counties from regulating the practice of veterinary medicine.

"It is not like clipping nails -- it is an amputation," said Councilman Paul Koretz who has a cat and sponsors weekly feline adoptions at the council chambers.

The City Attorney will prepare a draft ordinance for consideration by the full council before the end of the year.

Read more in the Daily Breeze today. 

Given time, this could develop into an epic standoff -- getting a collar and ID tag (seen on the right end of the table) onto Annie Oakley, the new cat (seen on the left end of the table).

So far, cat = 3, human = 0. 

"Cats don't like collars," one friend explained to me. "You might as well try putting a bra on her," he said.

A colleague at the Breeze, however, tells me it's all quite do-able -- and necessary, she says (and I agree), for cats who will be venturing outdoors (which Annie will do once she figures out the doggie door the dogs are using all the time). 

My colleague's strategy for collaring the cat: "You just have to pin her down."

Easier said than done, I suspect.

I've failed at my first three attempts to put it on her so far. So the collar (a special and safe break- away cat collar) sits, ready and waiting, for the next go-around.

Until then, AnnieO remains (temporarily) victorious -- and smugly collarless.

Read more about Annie the Cat 

I confess that one of my worries about getting a cat was the whole scratching thing.

I've been through some destructive dogs in my time and the canines I have now are the easiest I've ever had when it comes to furniture. They have almost no interest in even lying on the sofa, let alone destroying it.

So after I dumped the last sofa -- which, through the years, had been meticulously destroyed by my crazy Austalian shepherd Pilgrim (now deceased) -- I bought a new sofa this past January. Not to sound too materialistic here, but I really do love this sofa. Really. It's the nicest sofa I've ever had.

So far, Annie Oakley the cat has stayed mostly on her scratching posts, although a couple times I've stopped her from clawing on the furniture. The color literally drains from my face when I catch her doing this. The sofa is now heavily covered in protective blankets, throws and more throws.

Too bad reporters don't make more money. If we did, I might be able to buy her some of this new cat-scratch furniture.

It comes from The Company of Pets. The pieces shown below were designed by Jeanne Byers and Rochelle Klein, partners in an advertising agency.

But for now, the cheap-o, ugly scratching posts will have to do around my place.

Since AnnieO has two of her own dogs, I suspect the "neo-pop" canine scratcher at the right might be her favorite style. If her owner could afford it. it costs a mere $1,200. The modernist French chair? $575. (This cat in the photos even looks a bit like my Annie Oakley. But clearly way more spoiled.)  

 HT: Paws 'n Claws

Not long before his death, Harry and I headed out for a walk that proved eventful. He was nearly 13, old for a big dog. Walks were no longer the slap-happy Iditarods of his youth, frenzies of purposeless pulling in which we would cast madly off in all directions, fighting for command. Nor were they the exuberant archaeological expeditions of his middle years, when every other tree or hydrant or blade of grass held tantalizing secrets about his neighbors. In his old age, Harry had transformed his walk into a simple process of elimination--a dutiful, utilitarian, head-down trudge. 

So it's come to this.

Now there's the Potty Patch, billed as a "revolutionary indoor bathroom for dogs."

Yikes.

I suppose this makes sense for those who live in climates where going outdoors can be a snowy, icy nightmare during some months of the year. Or maybe for those little purse dogs.

But really, I don't honestly want my border collies "going" in the house. I'm already concerned about bringing in a Christmas tree this year. Besides, the new cat's litter box is quite enough indoor bathroom going for me, thank you very much.

But the Potty Patch, if you're intested, is endorsed by the American Kennel Club and is useful also for puppy training. And it's now available at PetCo stores.

The patch consists of three tiers "perfect for patios and indoor use." From the press release:

The top portion is made out of a soft artificial grass specifically designed to let liquid flow through. The collection tray holds up to a gallon of liquid allowing multiple uses. The Potty Patch feels natural because of the synthetic grass and is a great solution when there is inclement weather or as emergency backup for dogs.