December 2011 Archives
Tillman, the bulldog who surfs, will be among seven "surfing" dogs featured on what will be one of the stand-out floats in Monday's annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.Named "Surf's Up," the entry by Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods is reportedly the longest and heaviest float to ever be in a Rose Parade.
Daily News colleague Barbara Jones writes:
It's as long as a tennis court, weighs as much as 10 African elephants and carries a tropical paradise where seven dogs surfboard on 65-foot-long waves.Read the rest of the story at the Daily News website.
And be sure to watch for the float.
On second thought, you probably won't be able to miss it.
Update 1/10/12: Harmony has been found. The The Lovejoy Foundation, the rescue group that had Harmony before she was adopted just before Christmas, is mobilizing this weekend to pass out fliers and they need all the volunteers they can get.
Here's their update from the group's Facebook page:
iLoveDogs has a good piece with reminders on how to make sure the night doesn't end badly for your pets. Among the tips: keeping animals indoors, leaving music on to mask the sounds of fireworks and, if needed and approved by your veterinarian, using a safe anti-anxiety medication.
One of my dogs, Cowboy, is very sensitive to fireworks. So I'll be closing off the doggie door at my house during the latter part of the evening and keeping it closed through the night (as usual) so both dogs and my cat are kept safely indoors.
Be on the look out for Harmony, a recently adopted boxer/American bulldog mix 3-1/2 months old, who was stolen sometime between 10:50 and 11:15 a.m. Tuesday (12/27).
Thieves pried the car door open and also stole an iPad, cash and gift cards. But it is the dog the family cares the most about. The owner was taking the dog in for her final round of vaccinations when she made a quick stop at the mall. She was gone for under 30 minutes.The dog was adopted just last Friday by a Hermosa Beach family who had previously adopted dogs from the rescue group, the The Lovejoy Foundation of Hermosa Beach. Harmony already had been given some special training and she is on medications. She weighs about 15 pounds but was not yet microchipped.
Manhattan Beach police have dusted for prints, but the mall has no security cameras in its parking lot.
A reward is being offered with "no questions asked."
Call Tabitha Modzelewski at 310-350-4124. The full Daily Breeze story is now on the DB website and it will appear in the newspaper tomorrow (Thursday). .
You can find more information on The Lovejoy Foundation's Facebook page.
Here are Cowboy and Tess -- these aren't exactly new dog beds. But they were recently mended after they chewed into them.
And the cat, Annie, figured she'd co-opt one of the other big-dog beds. Seemed to fit her j-u-st right. 
What do my two dogs and cat really want for Christmas?
Food, of course.
Annie, the cat, would love a live lizard or mouse.
One of my presents to my dogs will be a day at the groomer's. But I'm not sure they'll really like that very much.
We have received several pet gift pitches here at the newspaper.
There's the Dog-E-Glow, a site that offers something that looks pretty practical, especially if you walk your dog at night: collars and leashes illuminated by LED light technology. The company says the products are "light-weight and safe; weather resistant; and visible up to 1,000 feet in the dark."
I don't think my dogs would care very much. But they look like pretty nice gifts for the dog(s) on your list. And if you walk at night (or are afraid you dog might get out of the yard sometime), they would be practical.You can personalize a dog toy, Christmas ornament, pet blanket or overnight bag through this Personalized Gifts company.
If dog and owner are the active, outdoorsy sorts, check out REI's pet department. They have dog carry packs, winter "boots" and overcoats, and heavy-duty harnesses. 
If you're thinking of treats, try to stay healthy. First: Don't buy any of those chicken jerky treats. They're also marketed as jerky strips or tenders and of special concern are those products that come from China. The FDA has issued a warning that reports of dogs becoming ill from the treats have increased over the past 12 months.
On another note, be aware of potential dangers to your dogs and cats this time of year.
Our friends at iLoveDogs, a Torrance-based company, have a full article on their website about the dangers of electrical cords, ornaments and ribbon.
For me, it's back to trying to figure out what to get my dogs and cat .... Time is running short.
Update: Here's a thought also from our friends at Dogster.
Animals Rule
You can see the animals they have available for adoption on their website.
Among them:
Dodger dog (Golden Retriever)
and Faye (Patterdale-terrier mix)
Here's a story out of Wisconsin about how Daniel, a cat with 26 toes, has been a godsend to a local rescue organization. (In case you were wondering, most cats have 18 toes.)
GREENDALE, Wis. -- In a reversal of fortunes, a once-unwanted cat has
come to the rescue of an animal shelter in need of a new home.
However, this orange-and-white tabby named Daniel is no typical cat. He has a near-record 26 toes, a phenomenon that is helping the nonprofit Milwaukee Animal Rescue Center raise money to relocate to a new building.
About the Bloggers
Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
E-mail Donna at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(Video: Rocket the Dog) and is the least popular person on his block. He spends his free time in dog parks, pet shops and always has an extra plastic bag in his pocket just in case. He also has a cat.
E-mail Josh at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.