So where does your dog breed place on the new list of top breeds released by the American Kennel Club?

Border collies rank #52, but have been coming up in popularity over the past few years.

The bulldog is reportedly the top breed in the city of Los Angeles (although I thought earlier reports put it at Chihuahuas).

Sketch from the AKC Web site 

An unusual place for a dog park.

Thoughts?

Anyone who knows Justin Rudd - and who in Belmont Shore doesn't? - knew his "girl," Rosie the bulldog.

The community activist pulled his brindle-coated friend in a red Radio Flyer wagon to his myriad animal-related events - dog costume parades, pet blessings and bulldog beauty contests among them.

Rudd and Rosie were a familiar sight on Second Street, as well as the avenues that bisect it, and passers-by would often stop and ask to meet the English bulldog they knew from newspapers and TV. Standing on four short legs, Rosie would crane her turtle-like neck to solicit pats and give sloppy kisses that were like running your face through a car wash.

Rosie died Sunday morning of old age. She was 12, a couple of years beyond the typical life expectancy for her breed, but not old enough for Long Beach's best-known animal advocate.

"I've never cried as much over anything," Rudd, 40, said a few hours before Rosie was cremated Monday in Huntington Beach.

Rudd sounded deeply bereft, his normally cheerful Southern drawl turned flat by a cold and by grief. Rosie was not only the wrinkled mascot for his nonprofit Community Action Team, and all of the charitable work it does, but his closest animal companion.

"She was the inspiration for it all," Rudd said, citing the dog beach he won city approval for at the foot of Granada Avenue as one example of how Rosie influenced his activism.

The men who rescued the dog today from the river in Vernon talk about their adventure.

What a bunch of great guys.

Rain? Dogs love rain. Water, mud, it all makes for one, big wonderful game with lots of romping, chasing -- and splashing. 

Star, a friend and morning regular at the San Pedro Dog Park sent me this video Thursday. It was taken earlier this week of the dogs having a grand time in all the standing puddles at the park.

Watching the antics of Abigail and Stevie and Max and Tundra and Pepper  and P@loniy -- and all the rest of the gang (sadly for them but not for the interior of my car, Cowboy & Tess missed it) -- it's impossible not to smile (or just plain laugh). Dogs are great mood-lifters.

Enjoy.

We were watching this live on TV a few minutes ago and it was amazing. A dog was trapped in in rising waters in a Vernon storm drain. It was frantically trying to climb out, but the concrete walls were too steep.

Then, a helicopter appeared and a firefirefighter was lowered into the dirty brown water. He grabbed the dog. Panicking, the dog struggled and bit the firefighter several times before the man managed to get a harnass on the animal and raise it to safety.

Channel 5 has a video of it on their Web site. Here's a picture that I grabbed from them.

The spcaLA are good friends of ours here at pet central. So when they send out an alert like this, we need to post it. It's true, that humans are suffering across the globe. And people here locally are struggling financially.

But pets are a responsibility that we need to tend to. And the spcaLa helps care for pets that have been abandoned by owners or that are found roaming the streets.

So while it's important for those of us who aren't wanting for much to help other people, a few pennies set aside for animals isn't such a bad idea.

Here's the press release we just received.

For the first time in decades, the pet food reserves at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA) are dwindling at an alarming rate.  spcaLA is appealing to the community for pet food donations which can be dropped off at any spcaLA location.  Monetary donations for pet food can be made at www.spcaLA.com. 

In the past, spcaLA has been fortunate enough to receive food donations from pet food companies, big-box stores and corporations.  Due to the economy, those supply chains have trickled.   Food donations are less than 10% of what they were prior to the recession. The drop in donations is exacerbated by an increase of animals coming into the shelters.  spcaLA's greatest need is dog food, both wet and dry, but are also in need of cat and kitten food as well as puppy food. 

"When we've been flush, spcaLA has shared supplies with other rescue organizations and food banks.  Now we are in need and are looking to our neighbors and community to help the spca that serves them," said Madeline Bernstein, President spcaLA. 

Donations can be dropped off at any spcaLA location: 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach 90815 (562) 570-7722; 12910 Yukon Ave., Hawthorne 90250 (310) 676-1149; 5026 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles 90016 (323) 730-5300 during business hours.  Please call ahead for hours or go to www.spcaLA.com.

There are more than 30,000 stray dogs in Moscow that have caught the attention of biologist and wolf specialist Andrei Poyarkov.

His work, which dates back to 1979, suggests that the strays have adapted backward, from domestication to a more wolf-like state.

From a story in Monday's Financial Times written by Susanne Sternthal:

You see them everywhere. They lie around in the courtyards of apartment complexes, wander near markets and kiosks, and sleep inside metro stations and pedestrian passageways. You can hear them barking and howling at night. And the strays on Moscow's streets do not look anything like the purebreds preferred by status-conscious Muscovites. They look like a breed apart.

....

They also acted differently. Every so often, you would see one waiting on a metro platform. When the train pulled up, the dog would step in, scramble up to lie on a seat or sit on the floor .... then exit a few stops later.

Read the article for some interesting background -- you can also find out more at www.metrodog.ru.

HT: ohmidog! 

Mike Fleischer of Hermosa Beach does.

Daily Breeze photographer Brad Graverson took this shot of Mike with his dogs Oliver, left, and Obi Wan Kenobi walking along Hermosa Avenue this morning as a series of storms began rolling into the South Bay.

(Read more about the coming storms in the Daily Breeze.)

So how about you and your dogs? Does the rain keep you in?

Are you a dog person?

Or a cat person?

A story posted at CNN today reports that a new study has come up with some distinctions:

 

 

 

From the story:

 

About 4,500 participants answered questions that measured their personality inclinations in five areas: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism.

These five dimensions have been shown in previous research to encompass most personality traits. They also indicated whether they considered themselves cat people, dog people, both or either.

It turns out that the "dog people" -- based on how people identified themselves, not on what animals they actually own -- tend to be more social and outgoing, whereas "cat people" tend to be more neurotic but "open," which means creative, philosophical or nontraditional ...

Read the story and tell us what you think. Do they get it right?

While I consider myself officially still a "dog" person (and personality type), I do like cats, too. That's one of my 2 dogs, Tess, and her cat, Border Kitty Annie, in the photos above.

Here's someone who's got a pretty good excuse for getting out of jury duty.

That's because Sal Esposito is a cat. But such a minor detail didn't stop the courts in Boston from calling him into serve. Or from giving him a hard time getting out of it.

Somehow, Sal was placed on a list of potential jurors and his owners in Boston are having trouble getting him out of it. They tried mailing in an exemption form stating Sal doesn't speak English.

... Exemption denied ...

A letter from Sal's vet apparently worked, however.

He's supposed to be really, really nice, "very loving" -- about 4 years old, neutered, indoor-outdoor.

His name is Tabby and I'm told he'd be OK with dogs "once he gets to know them." (He's lived with a dog before and apparently both have survived well enough.)

Email me (donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com) if you can help this guy.

This footage from a security camera at the Eureka Times-Standard on Saturday when that earthquake strikes.

See who notices something's amiss first? An employee's dog by the name of Sophie.

Denver dermatologist Leslie Capin figured Dr. Papadies was a paw-in to win the All American Pet Brands' cutest Dog Competition.

So she entered the Chihuahua in the contest not to become rich, but to donate the winnings to charity.

Her dog prevailed, despite 60,000 entries. From MSNBC's story:

When word came in November that Dr. Papidies had won the competition, Capin was overtaken by emotion. "I didn't grow up with a lot of money -- I had to work for everything I had -- and then here I am close to the age of 56, in the position to give away a million."

After toasting the win with family and friends, Capin took the steps to set up a charitable trust to protect the funds. "There's an addendum that basically says should something happen to me, the trust will continue to give $33,000 a year for the next 29 years to the shelters I've chosen to help," she says. "Even if I change my mind in 10 years, I can't get that money!"

As for Dr. Papidies? "I don't think he has a clue," Capin laughs. "But I wanted the two of us to make a difference in our community. To give away a million dollars... it doesn't get much better than that."

Photo Ray Ng

Here it is a new year already. And y'all know what that means.

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is just around the corner. Thirty-seven days away, to be exact. 

The 134th Westminster event will be held Feb. 15-16 in New York and is one of the most watched dog shows in the nation.

Extra presenter Mario Lopez will join veteran commentator David Frei as co-host of this year's show.

"I've been doing my research and checking out some of the world's top dog shows so I'm well prepared on show day," Lopez told USA Today. "I can't wait to be a part of the Super Bowl for canines."

Check out the Web site for who's competing and what three new breeds will be featured in the 2010 show.

Any South Bay residents out there participating in this year's show? We'd love to hear from you for a story.

Annie the cat has taken to hanging out on one of the dog beds.

I think she kind of likes pretending to be a dog, especially with Tess the border collie lying on the next dog bed over -- and always appearing a bit unnerved as Annie lies down right next to her, one dog bed over.

Maybe Annie saw this poll that says Americans like dogs better than cats.

But as a friend of mine pointed out, cats don't really care if you like them or not, so unlike politicans, polls don't affect them very much.

After all that holiday food in December, I'm afraid I know how this little guy feels.

An AP story reports that three bomb-sniffing dogs may be sent into remedial classes:

PHILADELPHIA - Three bomb-sniffing dogs assigned to inspect cargo at Philadelphia International Airport failed recent recertification tests and federal officials should immediately replace them, a Pennsylvania congressman said.

U.S. Rep. Robert Brady, D-Pa., said he was briefed on the failures by airport and Transportation Security Administration officials.

"This is totally ridiculous," Brady said.

Looks like the dogs will have to go back for more training.

This is an incredible tale about a golden retriever appropriately named Angel.

On Jan. 2, 11-year-old Austin Forman was outside his British Columbia, Canada, home gathering some wood with Angel when he saw something coming at him.

"I was really scared. At first, I didn't know it was a cougar. I thought it was another dog," Austin said. "As soon as it went underneath the light, I saw that it was a cougar. I knew at that moment, I had to go inside."

Before the big cat reached Austin, Angel took action, charging the cougar and giving the boy a chance to get away.

His parents could hear Angel whimpering in pain -- the cougar had the dog under the family's front steps with Angel's head in its mouth -- and so they called 911. Within a minute, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Const. Chad Garvelle arrived to find the cougar mauling the dog.

He shot and killed the cougar and the dog was released from the cat's mouth.

Amazingly, Angel, who is 18 months old, had only minor injuries and is expected to fully recover.

A CTVNews account notes that Angel -- called "loyal, faithful and courageous" -- is "one tough dog.

And Austin says the canine has become "more than a best friend" to him.

(RCMP handout)

Angel, a golden retriever credited with saving an 11-year-old boy from a cougar attack, underwent surgery Monday for wounds inflicted by the cougar. Jan. 4, 2010. (CTV)  

We've posted about Tripod  before -- the three-legged dog rescued as a pup by Herb and Arlene Zimmer of San Pedro.

I heard from Arlene today explaining that they were surprised to see Lilla, who belongs to their good friends in Sydney, Australia, and was featured as the "South Bay Pet of the Week" on the Daily Breeze's South Bay Pet Talk page a few weeks back (with a special mention of Tripod in the article, by the way).

The Zimmers, of course, showed the article about their friends' 11-year-old West Highland Terrier to Tripod:

 "Tripod really enjoyed seeing Lilla's picture, but she had a hard time reading the article, even after we enlarged it for her," Arlene wrote. "Dad (that would be Herb) had to read it to her."

You can meet the charming Tripod in person by stopping by Priority One Printing, 350 W. Fifth St., San Pedro, where she accompanies Priority owner Herb to work every day and has long been the shop mascot.

And check out the Pet Talk page that runs each Tuesday on the back of the A section in the Daily Breeze. You can submit photos and a short blurb of your pet to be selected as Pet of the Week. Mail it to the Daily Breeze, South Bay Tower, Attn. South Bay Pet Talk, 21250 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 170, Torrance, CA 90503 -- or simply email it to phillip.lawrence@dailybreeze.com.

You can also sign up (see page link below) to receive periodic email updates, including coupons, that are of interest to South Bay pet owners, as well as sign up for feeds to the South Bay Pets blog so you don't miss any of our posts.

The page is available for viewing online at www.southbaypettalk.com

We posted last month about how the spca-LA assisted an elderly woman in the San Fernando Valley who had become overwhelmed with nearly 100 cats she'd taken in.

The animals were in good condition and now it turns out that several of them are up for adoption with a local rescue group in Hawthorne, A Cat's Tale (310-973-9353).

I spoke with Darla Schultz of A Cat's Tale last week (they work with the SPCA's Hawthorne shelter where many of the confiscated felines were taken) and she has several of the cats that she says would make excellent companions. They are a bit shy, she said, but would come around in time. Several would be good with older people.

"We put out a massive email asking people to help," Darla said, but so far few have stepped forward. She's hoping perhaps some other South Bay rescue groups can lend a hand.

Here are some of the cats they have from the incident:

We received this today from Maureen Megowan, who along with her husband, Bruce, has been trying to establish a fenced-in, off-leash dog park somewhere on the Palos Verdes Peninsula:

Tomorrow evening, Tuesday January 5th, the Parks and Activities Commission of the City of Rolling Hills Estates will be holding their regular meeting at which my husband and I will be speaking regarding our proposal for a dog park at the former Palos Verdes Landfill site.  The meeting begins at 7:30 pm at the Rolling Hills City Hall at 4045 PALOS VERDES DRIVE NORTH  (just west of Crenshaw Boulevard ) , and this item is first on their agenda.

It would be very helpful if we could have as many dog park supporters as possible at this meeting, particularly Rolling Hills Estates residents.  Even if you do not live in Rolling Hills Estates, your participation at this meeting would be very helpful.  If you  would like to speak to this matter, please fill out a speakers request form when you arrive at the meeting. I woould encourage you to speak up and let the commission know of the support in the community for an off leash dog park.

Questions? Maureen can be reached at 310-541-6416.

See this Daily Breeze story for background.

Or, in this puppy's case, a first look at himself.

This really stinks.

The banner over at the Peter Zippi Fund for Animals in front of the VCA Coast Animal Hospital 1560, Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Beach,.was stolen -- twice -- over the past 30 days. The banners cost $300 each and it sounds like they replaced the first one but that the replacement also was stolen, too. 

So if you see one of these signs floating around somewhere, call them at (310) 379-1264.

By the way, the group will sponsor an adoption from 1-3 p.m. Thursday (1/7) at the clinic if you're looking for a cute new kitten or an adult cat for 2010.  

On Sunday, it will have been 3 months since I brought a cat (Annie Oakley, aka Border Kitty) into the mix with my 2 border collies, Cowboy and Tess.

We took the introductions very slowly and gradually. And now, it looks like it's all paid off.

I knew we'd made progress last night when I walked into the living room and saw them all, either sleeping/resting and/or hanging out together, within relatively close proximity to each other.