February 2011 Archives

If you wondered how judges made their selections at the 2011 Westminster Kennel Club dog show, come to this Thursday's meeting of the South Bay Kennel Club.

Pam Woods, secretary of the club, and Roy Prado, a member of the board of directors, will give their expert opinions about the judging that took place this year at Westminster. They'll also take questions from the audience.

Both have judged shows in the past and have attended Westminster in previous years. They'll explain what goes into making the breed, group and Best in Show selections.

The meeting is at 8 p.m. Thursday (March 3) at the Nakaoka Community  Center, 1678 W. 162nd St., Gardena.

Admission is free.

For information, contact the club via email at SoBayKC@aol.com or by calling 310-324-3549.

Mimi was the only cat not adopted at a Best Friends adoption event. From the post at Carson Cats:

Meet Sweet Mimi (A4241195). She was an owner surrender (no reason why) and they had named her Jack even though she is a girl!  

Mimi is a volunteer favorite at the Carson Shelter and as such she was selected to go to the Best Friends ACATAMY AWARDS adoption event this past weekend.  Well, Mimi did not get adopted (there was a lot of competition) and she had to go back to the shelter with 3 others that also were not adopted.  Those 3 were since rescued/adopted and that leaves poor Mimi.  To make things even worse, she got an Upper Respiratory after her spay for the adoption event so now she is on even more borrowed time.   

Mimi is friendly and likes other cats...She also has a Bombay like face.  She is approximately  5 years old. 

If you can help foster this sweet thing, please email me at cdzacko@gmail.com 

I suppose this is part of the downside of allowing pets in pet stores.

Apparently a customer slipped on some, uh, dog poop in a Petsmart store in Newport News, Virginia, in January 2009.

Petsmart said this week that the store has reached a settlement with the victim who filed a $1 million negligence lawsuit. The victim, Robbert Holloway, said he "badly injured his back, struck his head and knocked out four teeth when he slipped on dog poop."

*****Update 2/23: I received this email just a little while ago from Curly's owner:

Curly has been found! She was dropped off at the Downey Animal
Shelter by an anonymous Good Samaritan! We are very glad and grateful
to have her back. She's a bit traumatized but happy to be back home.


Please keep your eye out for Curly, a dog who is nearly 20 years old, deaf and has very poor vision. She walks with an "odd gait," the owner said, because she's had a stroke.

Her owners live in the 100 block of South Prospect Avenue in Redondo Beach and she's been missing since last night (Monday, Feb. 21). Fliers have been posted around the neighborhood.

From the owner:

She does not have her collar but is microchipped. She was last seen
on South Prospect Ave. about 1/2 block north of Torrance Blvd. Her
vet is Dr. Christina Hutson at Animal Hospital of Redondo Beach.

Let's get this baby home!

Call Carla at 310-849-3295.

Did you see today's Daily Breeze story on the Coast & Canyon Wildlife Rehabilitation group?

Based in Malibu, Coast & Canyon founder Marcia Rybak now has a network of trained assistants throughout the South Bay. That's good news for those of you who wonder where to take an injured or abandoned baby opossum or squirrel. 

There's a contact list on the group's website (scroll down for the South Bay people & phone numbers).

Meanwhile, enjoy watching this live video cam of three baby squirrels currently being cared for by the organization. But I'll warn you. It's addicting. (And I'm told that there will be audio added to tonight's 5 p.m. feeding.)

And about the coin .... A quarter was placed in the nest initially to give viewers a perspective on the size of the babies. Now, the wildlife group is getting coins sent to them from around the world so they'll be featuring some of those in the coming days. Tomorrow look for a coin and flag either from Ireland or Poland (today's U.S. flag is in honor of Presidents Day). 

If you'd like to post comments live on the video along with other viewers, go to:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/squirrelwatcher

Here's another helpful link that lists all licensed wildlife rehabbers for each state.

Online TV Shows by Ustream

Carson Cats posted a notice today about a "friendly" feral tabby cat, Jeremy (1 year old), who needs to be placed.

Rescued from the Carson shelter where he was labeled a feral, the cat turned out to be a "total sweetheart ... SOOOO not feral!," according to Cyndi Zacko:

We need a rescue or foster to take this sweet guy ... If you can help foster, even temporarily, contact cdzacko@gmail.com (310-721-5802).

PENELOPE - ID#A1177070 My name is Penelope and I am a spayed female, black brindle and brown Pit Bull Terrier. The shelter thinks I am about 10 months old. I weigh approximately 48 pounds. I have been at the shelter since Dec 22, 2010

 She's at the Harbor Area shelter in San Pedro and is set to be euthanized today. 
Call  310-548-2632

It happens every year after the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. The winner of the Best in Show -- especially if it is an unfamiliar or new breed to the public -- is suddenly all the rage.

Hickory, the 85-pound winner who's now officially dubbed the nation's Top Dog for 2011, enjoys chasing deer and rabbits on a 50-acre farm in Virginia, according to an Associated Press story by Ben Walker.

By dog world standards, it was an upset. OK, maybe not quite as big as the Hickory Huskers winning the Indiana high school state basketball championship in the film "Hoosiers," but quite a surprise nonetheless.

.... The 135th Westminster was considered a wide-open field from the start. A smooth fox terrier that was the No. 1 show dog of 2010 recently retired and an Australian shepherd that won the big AKC/Eukanuba event (in Long Beach last December) did not enter.

Hickory's handler, 31-year-old Angela Lloyd, said the dog was not used to all the lights, cameras and noises. But she (yes, Hickory is a "she") obviously learned to cope quite well.





The Scottish deerhound was among the breeds entered in the one of the first Westminster shows more than 100 years ago. But it's the first time the breed has won Best in Show.

But before you race out to get one, check out this site that gives some of the pros and cons of the breed. (Pros: elegant, powerful, athletic, graceful, dignified, doesn't bark much; Cons: needs a BIG enclosed area to gallop, timidity, emotional sensitivity and independent -- and they can be "slow to housebreak," which could be a deal breaker right there for many of you).

But isn't the deerhound a magnificent animal? Hickory was rewarded with a steak at Sardi's Wednesday and will be making the rounds on the television circuit in the next several days.

You can see videos from the show and read about all the winning finalists at the Westminster website.

Wow, This was a surprise -- the first time this breed has won Best in Show. A magnificent looking animal (and he was my #2 preference behind the bearded collie). 

Judging in the first of three groups has finished at tonight's Westminster AKC Dog Sow, with a black cocker spaniel taking top honors in the sporting group. Runners up were an Irish Setter in second place, a wirehaired pointing griffon in third and an irish water spaniel placing fourth.

Still to come are the working and terrier groups, then Best in Show. West Coast viewing is from 8-11 p.m. on the USA channel.

Here's a a video of the group winners from Monday night. And here's an AP story recapping the first day's festivities.

The groups judged Monday were hound, toy, non-sporting and herding (winners below).

Winners from three more groupings -- sporting, working and terrier -- will join them tonight in the highly-anticipated Best in Show ring. In the end, it will come down to seven very different breeds of dogs competing to see which dog best meets its own breed standard.

Terriers tend to win these shows a lot, so keep your eye on them. And you can be sure that whoever wins that honor will then be making the morning TV show rounds for the rest of the week.


Winners from last night:

Hound: Scottish Deerhound (GCH Foxcliffe Hickory Wind)
Toy: Pekingese (GCH Palacegarden Malacy)
Non-Sporting: Chinese Shar-Pei (GCH Vaje's Miss Jayne Hathaway)
Herding: Bearded Collie (GCH Tolkien Raintree Mister Baggins)


Photos of the winning breeds (though not the specific winning dogs) that will compete with tonight's still-to-be-selected three additional group winners in the final Best in Show event (USA, 8-11 p.m. tonight):


Scottish Deerhound:



















Pekingese:




















Chinese Shar-Pei: :

















Bearded Collie: :




 

So do your dogs enjoy watching the show? My border collie Tess paused several times in front of the television last night. 

For many of us, watching Westminster on television was our introduction to the amazing world of dog shows.

It was probably 15 years ago that a co-worker mentioned the show to me. I was still a relatively new dog owner (of only a few years), so I tuned in. I was hooked.

The televised portion of the 135th annual show kicks off tonight at Madison Square Garden with judging in the hound, toy, non-sporting and herding groups. You can see it on the USA Network (from 8-9 p.m.) and CNBC (8-11 p.m.).

Tuesday night (8-11 p.m. on USA Network only) features the sporting, working and terrier groups -- culminating with the much-anticipated Best in Show contest.

(It's all delayed for us viewers on the west coast -- by the time you're watching the show, the winners will have been picked. But if you don't check the AKC's website or other news stories online in advance, you'll still enjoy watching the drama unfold.)

Breed judging highlight videos also will be available at the Westminster website.

You can read up on the show and see some great photos from the first day at boston.com.

And here's the Boston Globe's handy primer on the event if you're new to what is one of the most prestigious happenings in the dog world every year.


Here's some other information on dog shows in general.

So which group/breed or dog will you be rooting for? Predictions? Tell us!

Admittedly I have a bias for those herding breeds -- and it was an Australian shepherd that won the Eukanuba/AKC national championship show in December in Long Beach, so just maybe they're on a roll.

Then again, there's hardly anything cuter than watching those scruffy terriers in the ring.

And really, the entire parade of dogs is so impressive every year.

So enjoy the show -- send in your comments and your own personal favorites -- and may the best dog(s) win.

(A Las Vegas odds maker, by the way, has already predicted that a smooth fox terrier will win this year's Best in Show. He's apparently been right for the past five years in a row.) 

**Update: Good news, I just learned that the dog made it home. Remember everyone, tags & microchips. 






I spotted these fliers near Averill Park as I was walking my dogs yesterday.

Toby was last seen on Feb. 11 near 18th and Leland streets in San Pedro. His "person," a 2-year-old girl, "really wants her best friend back."

New to us, anyway. 

The pet industry has all kinds of fun gifts  you can get for your pets to celebrate Valentine's Day. 

People and Cats Together, a South Bay rescue group, will hold its regular adoption from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 12) at the PetCo at 537 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach.

The adoptions are held weekly. Cats and kittens are available.

The adoption fee of $90 includes spay and neutering.

That would be Chaser, who has been trained by her owner to understand more than 1,000 words,

along with simple sentences.

From the story at ABC news:

"She was born to live in the Scottish mountains and herd sheep," said (owner John) Piley, who is retired from a teaching career at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C.

Eventually, they amassed a collection of 1,022 objects: 800 stuffed animals, 116 balls, 26 "Frisbees" and other assorted items, each given a distinct name ....

Here's another story (which includes a video) on what could be the world's smartest dog.

The 6-year-old border collie and her 82-year-old owner will be featured on Nova scienceNow on PBS tonight.


 

Sometimes my cat acts more like a dog than my dogs do.

Every day she's there on the front steps to greet me, meowing loudly, when I drive up to the curb or into the driveway. My dogs are happy to see me -- they're always waiting for me inside.

But Annie's vocally much more expressive. My neighbor says she actually starts meowing when I turn down the street and am still several houses away. (More photos on the jump.)

Here's a list from the folks at the VPI pet insurance company listing the top 10 toxins that are most dangerous to dogs and cats. Some may surprise you:

Dogs:

1. Chocolate
2. Insect bait stations
3. Rodenticides (mouse and rat poison)
4. Fertilizers
5. Xylitol-containing products (such as sugar-free gums and candies)
6. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin in brand name or generic form)
7. Acetaminophen (Tylenol in brand name or generic form)
8. Silica gel packs
9. Amphetamines (such as ADD/ADHD drugs)
10. Household cleaners
    

Cats:

1. Lilies
2. Canine permethrin insecticides (topical flea and tick medicine for dogs)
3. Household cleaners
4. Rodenticides (mouse and rat poison)
5. Paints and varnishes
6. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (veterinary medications such as meloxicam, Rimadyl and Deramaxx)
7. Glow sticks/glow jewelry
8. Amphetamines (such as ADD/ADHD drugs)
9. Acetaminophen (Tylenol in brand name or generic form)
10. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin in brand name or generic form)
    

This was a strange story that caught my eye on CNN's website tonight. They had a live video stream of the rescue for a while, but I guess it got too dark.

ABC has a short update on the rescue attempt.




 

This 3-year-old male Samoyed was found wandering the streets of Los Angeles. The foster home has taken him in for all his shots and a microchip.

If someone out there is missing him, call Lucy at 562-928-0107 or (cell) 310-351-0726. If an owner isn't found an adoptive home will be needed.

The dog is tan and white and is "beautiful, docile and loving," according to the foster.

Every so often my colleague Stephanie Walton, who does the "Ask Us" feature for the Daily Breeze, get a question about pet bereavement groups.

I'm not aware of any groups that meet in the South Bay around this concern (if anyone knows of group meetings, send us the information and we can post it). But there are some online sites that can provide solace for owners who are missing their best friends.

This story by the Associated Press on the Daily Breeze website highlights a few of them such as Doggy Heaven and Immortal Pets. 

(AP Photo/Amy Sancet)

From the story:

The (online) obituaries -- accompanied by photo montages, poems, and notes of condolence from friends and fellow pet owners -- are a part therapy and part memorial, a way to grieve and a way to immortalize. ...

"It's a reflection of the social fabrice, says Samantha Gowen, who writes the Orange County Register's Pet Tales blog which regularly includes obituaries sent in by readers.

..... Online obituaries offer pet owners a way to tap into that network, find support and channel the pain of losing a pet.

Doggy Heaven began about two years ago and now has a database of more than 1,200 dog obituaries. The site is free and allows owners to post photos and information, with an option also for visitors to add messages.

Immortal Pets has about 2,000 pet obituaries for dogs, cats, birds and even rats. There is a section for free obituaries.

I've noticed that Facebook provides another outlet. And here at South Bay Pets we're always glad to take submissions from readers who would like to tell the world about their special pet.

The Daily Breeze also has memorial ads (Daily Breeze/Pet Memories) you can purchase (prices range from $49 to $97, depending on the size) that will be published in the paper as well as online at South Bay Pet Talk. Contact Christina Haidet at 310-540-5511, Ext. 6399 or e-mail her at christina.haidet@dailybreeze.com.