April 2008 Archives

Heheh! I try to quote George Carlin at any chance I get. In this case I'm punning his "could be meat, could be cake" phrase from his incredibly hilarious Icebox Man routine. At the moment I can't find an actual audio file but those of you who know George Carlin's work know what I'm talking about.

ok...what am I getting at here? According to a new study, specifically being a dog or cat person doesn't necessarily mean you're suited for every individual dog or cat.

The article says...

The study of 266 pet owners found that a majority of cat owners see themselves as having cat-like personality traits, such as being independent and being at the center of attention, while most dog owners believe they have the characteristics of canines, such as being friendly and social.

Let's see now...the hubby is predominantly a cat person (though I'm slowly swaying him to the other side with various dogs that I know) but he's very friendly for the most part...jk and for the past 12 years I've become a total cat freak after getting Marcie and Cleo yet I don't portray all of the characteristics of a cat except for the fact that I'm fiercely independent. I've had dogs most of my life and am very friendly (I hope...lol) but I'm not always a social butterfly unless I really get to know people.

There is a truth to the article though. Not all cats and dogs are alike. For instance...Marcie is extremely loving to us...especially me. We have an extraordinary bond yet she's uber shy when guests come and she will not come out from under the bed or the closet until every last person is gone. But on the other hand Hershey is fairly social and will come out and greet people despite displaying her usual "cattitude" at times (you know...you can look but you can't touch type of thing). But then there's the extreme opposite with Shiloh, my in-laws cat. He is just as friendly as the friendliest dog you've ever known (in this case it's my Sasha). So yeah, don't judge a dog/cat by its cover!

So if you sway one way in the pet persuasion and are looking for another pet, don't be so narrow minded because you might just find a dog that acts like a cat and a cat that acts like a dog. You might just find yourself swaying the other way. OMG! FACEPALM!

The only reason I don't have a dog at the moment is because of the two divas I've got at home. Plus I like big dogs best and that wouldn't work in my small apartment. But that doesn't mean I won't consider getting a small dog when I do get another one (heck I've known some small dogs that act big and big dogs that act small).

If you currently have a dog you can rate his/her personality to see if it fits yours.

And just for the fun of it I found this random survey: Are you more cat or dog?

Here's my answer:

You Are: 30% Dog, 70% Cat

You and cats have a lot in common. You're both smart and in charge - with a good amount of attitude. However, you do have a very playful side that occasionally comes out!

I guess having cats for 12 years has rubbed off on me but I'm sure that WHEN I get another dog my personality will change to fit that dog.

Simba al-Tikriti, the one who basically started the rescue mission if Iraqi cats, mugs for the camera in Tikrit, Iraq. (AP Photo/HO)

After nearly being wiped out by a roadside bomb while heading toward the border of Kuwait, Sima hid under tarps in the back of a truck. But after arriving in England and waiting in quarantine for six months, Simba finally has a good life according to this article.

"Two of my cats -- Googles and George -- have Ocicat markings," Louise said, referring to a highly prized spotted breed that originated by interbreeding Abyssinian, Siamese and American Shorthair cats. The theory goes that few in Iraq, other than Saddam, would have had such a cat.

Whew! glad they got out of that situation.

You know it's so funny that news of this came out recently because I wondered about Iraqi cats and other animals after reading the story of the Iraqi dogs coming to America.

Check out her website here. Sadly the organization does not send to the United States. But then again we have more than our share of cats that need homes right in our very own back yard.

Ewwww...if you stare at this photo long enough you'll want to puke. I found another close up photo of the pile of horse dung Bruno the puppy boxer chomped into but you might be eating as you're reading this. But I have a career idea for this dog! If he likes horse poop so much he could help local horse owners in a very big way. I'm sure his services would save owners and stables lots and lots of money because he probably wouldn't ask for much...except maybe a tummy rub or a bone. It's just a thought.

In all seriousness, I certainly hope that owners, stables and the city can come to an easy solution. I'd hate to see horses given up for such "crappy" reasons (pun intended).

Not the best quality video but a decent training tool for those of you with super hyper dogs with enough energy to light Las Vegas. If I ever get a border collie or similar dog I'd definitely look into this!

If you've got a dog that loves to catch Frisbees or if you've been wanting know more about giving your lively pooch a fun hobby that redirects his/her energy go visit California Canine Discmasters. By joining you can receive benefits and discounts on training camps and competions for all kinds of dog sports events.

Here's another cool demo. Excuse my lack of camera expertise. I'm not very good at filming fast-moving dogs trying to catch flying objects...LOL!!

I'm happy to say that, according to Heidi Beuch, a spokesperson for Best Friends Animal Society - Los Angeles, approximately 325 animals were adopted out into new homes as a result of the event. It is estimated that approximately 5,000 people attended the event. The event usually attracts between 6,000 and 10,000 people. Heat was definitely a factor. The event normally adopts out about 350 to 450 animals.

But STILL! That's 325 animals that will live out their lives in happy homes and not be euthanized.

This is Bamboo, he is a 12-year-old Siamese cat that was given up to the shelter by his owners because he "soiled" everything...whatever that means. I'm happy to know that he was adopted by a nice family. By the end of the day all the L.A. City Shelter cats were adopted or placed. The Lang Foundation agreed to take all cats that weren't adopted. So yeah...no euthanization there!

At this moment there is no information on the shelter dogs that weren't adopted but if Best Friends has anything to do with it, these dogs should somehow be placed rather than be returned to the shelters.

On another happy note, a spokesperson for the West L.A. City shelter said they brought nine senior dogs, six of which were were adopted. She was very happy about this since it can be heart breaking when people bring older pets to the shelter.

This is Salsa. He is about seven years old. In his seven years of life he has been in and out of six homes because people don't realize that parrots are difficult to care for.

Parrots First is an avian adoption agency that rescues parrots from owners that can't handle them and shelters that acquire them. "We adopt out parrots and we educate people that are going to adopt on the proper care," said Rose Levine, director of Parrots First. "They can be destructive and time consuming and they can be very loud," said Levine.

Parrots First has been around for about seven years. Since its inception the organization has taken in about 250 birds. "It's growing," said Levine. "The shelters are starting to see them and the need is really growing."

The next event for Parrots First will occur on May 24 at the Pet Orphans of SoCal 1st Annual Pet Care Fair at Woodley Park in Van Nuys. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you're looking into adopting a bird or would like to know more about taking care of birds, the group holds Bird care classes on the third Saturday of every month at the Glendale Humane Society. For more information on directions and times email Rose here.

I laughed my head off at the sight of these two dogs. Christina McClean of North Hollywood put on these fun tees to really draw attention to these two canines. A client of her's works for Blue Cross Pet Hosptial in North Hollywood and she gave them the dogs. At blogging time (heheh...my version of press time) they live at the Bow Wow Bungalow in Burbank. That, of course is unless they got adopted (together). Who wouldn't adopt these two!

It was a hot, balmy day in North Hollywood at the Best Friends Pet Adoption Festival. But of course it was a good day for lots of homeless pets including Chanel, a black German Shepherd. Not only did she get adopted but she has the distinction of being the first adoption of the day. Yudy Machado of Los Angeles didn’t plan on adopting but her friend coaxed her into going since she's been dogless for awhile. The moment she saw Chanel it was love at first sight. “She’s going to be spoiled because I treat my dogs like people,” said Yudy. “She’s lucky! I used to have three dogs but they all died. Somehow I just said to myself that I’m getting this dog.” Looks like you'll have an awesome life Chanel. Congrats on your new home Chanel!

more posts to come as I can't seem to format pictures right today. Hey I'm still learning!!

Colleagues at our sister paper the Daily Breeze posted about cloned drug sniffing dogs in Korea. The blogger's opinion says it all. I could rant for days and weeks about the idea of cloning in general I'll just shut up now.

The department I work for receives a plethora of books to write about. Topics range from health to lifestyle to cooking. And those of you that work in the Woodland Hills office know all too well just how many cooking books we had for sale recently (proceeds are going to charity). Pet books don't seem to have much of a place in the print edition (at least for the moment) but they certainly do here. It seems like everyone around me has begun to put just about everything that's pet related on my desk and I'm loving every minute of it.

So from time to time you'll see some spotlights on books that pet lovers would be interested in. I can't guarantee that you'll like the books but it'll give you an idea of what's currently out there as far as reading material for the animal lovers in your life.

Here's the perfect book for families who are thinking about getting a dog. It is designed to teach kids about the rewards of adopting a dog from a shelter or a rescue organization. Written by 15-year-old Emma Jackson, the book is a true account of an abandoned puppy named Dixie who finds a loving home with Emma and her family. The book includes loads of pictures and chronicles Dixie's life from the beginning as a very sick, orphaned puppy to the very happy, healthy dog dog she is now. It also tells the story of Emma, who has searched like crazy to find just the right dog. Should her parents buy from a breeder or adopt? Her answer came when visiting Aunt Mary's Doghouse, a non-profit organization that rescues dogs from overcrowded shelters through fostering and placement of adoptable canines that might otherwise be euthanised. Created just for children ages 4 to 8, the book is filled with colorful photographs and written in big lettering that makes it easy for kids to read. Proceeds from the sale of the book ($16.99) benefit Petfinder.com and Aunt Mary's Doghouse. Now I'm not so sure my cats heed all of the sayings in this book but I guess if you take every single feline in this world and bunch all of their personalities together then yeah, the messages can hold true. hmmm...I think I need to make Hershey read that particular one about 100 times. She gives plenty of love but not a day goes by without her marching to the kitchen with me first thing in the morning to beg DEMAND that I give her Feline Greenies treats. Someone gave those to the kitties as a Christmas gift and Hershey and Marcie have been hooked ever since. And the sucker in me keeps giving into their whiny demands...LOL! But whether your cat follows the sayings or not, this book is chock full of whimsical proverbs that your cat can (hopefully) teach you including: The book is written by Cat Humorist Allia Zobel Nolan, best known for her book 101 Reasons Why a Cat Is Better Than a Man. Each saying is accompanied by a whimsical watercolor depiction painted by Artist Erika Oller, whose artwork can be seen on calendars, greeting cards and children's books, including The Cabbage Soup Solution and The Dog Who Sang at the Opera. The book sells for $16.95. For more information on this book click here.

And of course you can visit online bookstores or visit your local bookstore.

Why should we celebrate pets for only one week? Pets deserve to be celebrated every day!! But I guess we can use National Pet Week to pamper our pets even more than usual. In case you haven't clicked the link, National Pet Week takes place Friday May 4 to May 10, 2008.

Anyway...I got an email from the fine folks at DogCat TV, which is really dogcatradio.com and just happens to host videos related to...what else? dogs and cats. At this very moment you can check out a hilarious Shrek 2 bit with Puss in Boots, Donkey and Shrek. And while you're at it go ahead and listen to dogcatradio. From what I'm listening to right now, it seems to play a variety of adult contemporary music that should be (according to them anyway) soothing to your pet. Heheh! I can just see pet owners leaving their computers on dogcatradio all day to keep their pets company while they're away at work.

How Dogs enhance our lives...

To celebrate National Pet Week, DogCat TV will kick off a weeklong series on the top five reasons why having a dog can be good for your health. The series which will premier on the website on May 5th is hosted by Jane Harris, who will demonstrate different ways the family dog can put humans on the path to a healthier and happier life.

De-stressing: Research has proven that petting a dog can help lower your high blood pressure and high stress levels. The program will show pet lovers how to unwind at home the fun way with the help of their pet.

Getting in shape: Walking your dog daily can help shed the extra pounds, strengthen your bones and muscles, keep fit and even lower cholesterol levels. The show should help pet parents learn simple and fun exercise techniques they can do while walking their four-legged friend.

Eating right: You wouldn't feed your dog something you wouldn't eat, right? Cooking healthy for them can mean cooking healthy for you. Learn how to cook up a few delicious and nutritious recipes that both you and your pet can enjoy.

Being happy: Your dog can help you make new friends. A local dog park is the new hip place to meet other pet parents. If crowds are not your thing, however, the show can help you discover different things to do with your dog such as window shopping, a picnic for two at the park, simple backyard makeovers and much more.

Live longer: Many baby boomers say spending the day with their dog is what they look forward to each and every day. Explore fun ideas from other pet owners who will share what they do with their four-legged friends to stay young at heart.

So yeah...this is one of the many things you can do to celebrate National Pet Week. And if you don't have a dog of course you can play a little bit longer with your cat and give them an extra hug, talk to your bird just a little more than you usually do, or go out and buy some extra special presents and treats for them. They'll appreciate it more than you know!

Remember yesterday's post about eco-friendly pet toys? Well lo and behold! My manager, Daily News Features Editor Sharyn Betz gave me a package of eco-friendly pet toys from West Paw Design to write about here. It's a coincidence that I just happened to find the info about them on the web. I wrote about the Catnip Turtle although the complimentary package they sent us featured Catnip Fish and the Dog Eco Bone.

Of course I took the toys home to try on my cats Hershey and Marcie. Let's just say that they are very popular...at least with my cats. Talk about potent catnip!!

Hershey loves her fish. She played with this thing non-stop for at least 20 minutes or so before settling down.

Despite the fact that hershey's scent was all over this thing, Marcie decided that she loves it too!

I'm meeting up with some friends who own a Cardigan Corgie mix named Courage, or, Couragio as he's lovingly called. I'll definitely let you know what he thinks!

Man I wish we could have cute doggie interns!!

Check out all 49 pictures. Cutest thing ever. I'd love to work with the guide dogs of America but I'm a sucker who would get too attached to the dogs. Giving them away would be very hard. But of course it's for a great cause and I admire people that can do that.

I was surfing the net for funny pet things! Holy Moly!! It's a big black koosh ball!!

the photo was found on the Funny Dog Blog

Go read the latest entry to daily news' green spirited blog. Blogger and eco-friendly chick extaordinaire Stacy Long writes about the latest in safe, eco-friendly dog toys. Plus it's a real funny read. I met her dog Pie, the pug and I must say she is a character.

Here's some more eco-friendly products for the other critters in our lives. West Paw Design sells this organic Catnip Turtle toy for $8. Made of

The SmartyKat Birdboing electronic Sound Toy
Chirps in response to a cat's movements and makes them go birserk with fluttery feathers that are made with all-natural undyed feathers. And of course the stem is made of Fiberfill spun from recycled plastic. Fill the pouch with SmartyKat Certified Organic Catnip and you've got yourself one happy kitty.

For that feathered friend of yours try theses all-natural Avian Treats for $10.99 from naturespaws.com. These are just a few ways that you and your animal companion can start to make a change in the world. It's a small step but it's better than nothing at all.

Photo taken by Simone Schramm Trimm
Shiloh, my in-laws cat loves to sit on the shelf near lots and lots of books. And not a day goes by with out him sitting on reading material.

A while back someone sent me a link to the Library cats around the world website. It's intriguing to know that there's a way that you could find out about library cats near you. Of course that's if the content is up-to-date. According to the library cat's map, content has not been updated since September 2007. The mascot cats could have died, new cats probably adopted unmentioned libraries and so on...

So now I'm really curious to find out if some of the currently living cats are just that...currently living and residing in their respective libraries. For instance there's Kiki who supposedly resides at the Moorpark Library, and Elvis and Michael Jackson who live at the Simi Valley Library. Unfortunately there's no San Fernando Valley cats living on the list but I'm sure they're out there.

According to the website, the map lists information on nearly 600 library cats around the world. And the Weslayan College library website, which so lovingly wrote a farewell tribute to their resident cat of 23 years Squeakers, claims that 697 cats have been recorded worldwide as official library cats. There are 573 on record in the U.S. and 383 have passed away. Thirty-two are permanent cats-in-residence, 22 have been immortalized as statues, five are virtual eCats (whatever that means...tried to wikipedia it...can someone explain that to me?), four are stuffed mascots, and one haunts a reference room as a ghost. And they all can be reached by email.

It reminds me of a mascot cat I got to know and love at an old job in Northridge. She was a beautiful black moggy (British slang for stray cat...and yes! Moggy was her name) who used to roam our wearhouse (the company I worked for sold unique learning materials to teachers and parents) and it was a real treat (and sometimes a stress reliever) when she'd come and greet everyone at their desks. The wearhouse manager decided to adopt her. He'd bring her home on weekends, then bring her back during the week to patrol the wearhouse and keep everyone company. I miss that. We need some kind of mascot at the Daily News! I'd bring my cats in but they certainly would not appreciate it.

So you bet I'll be calling and emailing people to investigate this. And if any of you know of any library cats, bookstore cats and other mascots around the area, let me know or contact Gary Roma of Iron Productions via the contact information on the library cats website. And while I'm at it I may as well ask him when his Puss in Books: Adventures of the Library Cat documentary will be released on DVD. I hear that the filming of this documentary inspired him to create these world-wide library cat statistics.

In the mean time you can enjoy Browers the Library cat perusing the bookshelves of the Pine River Minnesota library (I couldn't find a local cat). Actually I think he's trying to figure out a way down....LOL!

This updated of the dog/sheep love story needs no heading as the headline in the article speaks for itself.

While I'm happy that the owners claimed them I'm still surprised as to why it took them so long. They had to have been the ones that called the shelter on Monday without leaving a phone number. Guess they'll need to get a lock for the gate...eh?

Stay safe Daisy and Maggie!! :)

photo taken by Tom Gapen

Daily News Assistant News Editor Tom Gapen and his wife Linda are total cat people according to a conversation we had the other day. " We love all animals but dogs are higher maintenance so we have kitties," said Tom. Hmmmm...where have I heard that before? Chris and I only have cats at the moment because of that very reason. But that's not to say that we'll never ever get a dog.

Anyway...back to Tom! According to the bio on his photo-heavy Visual Kaos blog, the moon is his planet and (aside from kitties) he loves rain, good, strong coffee and the sound of a Gibson ES-335. And I know from the pure coincidence of randomly bumping into him at a Pearl Jam concert, that he is indeed a fan of really good music (you can see by the awesome photo of Shirley Manson) at the top. Read his blog! It's an entertaining read to say the least.

But of course this is all about Tom's cats. Check out lots of photos his kitties here at Tom's website tresgatos.net.

There you'll see Joey the big black cat. He's a healthy 24 pounds...WOWEE!! :). Then there's Iggy the little calico and Spooky the big maine coon who, as you can tell, loves to stick his nose in cameras (not sure how much he weighs though).

Tom inherited Joey and Iggy from his wife. They were both strays. Joey jumped onto the roof of her car at the beach while she found Iggy was running around in her yard. Tom adopted Spooky from the East Valley Animal Shelter.

To see more of Tom's photography visit his flickr page here. Right now he's got some phenomenal pictures of California poppies. And if you click further you'll come across a beautiful house finch and a close-up of a coyote!!

This is the first post in a series of profiles on Daily News staffers and their pets. One of the best ways to get to know about a person is through their pets...wouldn't you say?

So contact me if you want your critter (I say that in a loving way) to be spotlighted.

Remember yesterday's Dennis McCarthy story about the dog and sheep love story?

Well I'm pleased to say that there is a plethora of animal lovers out there willing to adopt the two. I just got done reading the latest entry of the South Bay Pets blog from reporters Donna Littlejohn and Josh Grossberg, both who work at our sister paper the Daily Breeze in Torrance (check them out especially if you live down there).

Here's a follow up!

"It's a good animal story and so many people have opened up their hearts," said Dennis. There's allot of people around here with big homes and big yards to accomodate them. And yes they will stay together!!

Can't wait to hear about who gets them. Apparently it looks like the owners don't want them. Why would someone call the shelter about a dog and a sheep without leaving a phone number and then not respond to a story as big as this in the valley?

Here's a video from ABC Channel 7

If people would just practice more common sense we wouldn't have to contemplate a pet restraint law. But that's what they're doing. If Assembly Bill 2233 passes drivers caught driving with live animals in their lap will be fined $35. You know.. they should take that even further and fine people for allowing their dogs to hang half of their bodies out the window while they're driving. We always make sure that we're restrained but many people (not all) don't seem to care about pet safety in the event of a car accident. I'm not sure about charging a fine but I do believe that people should get a warning. And if they're pulled over again for the same violation then they should be fined. It's a sad state of affairs when people have to be told something that's fairly logical.

what do you think of this pending bill?

Reading today's Dennis McCarthy column sort of rekindled my faith in the unconditional love one species can have for another. I've seen it with cats and bears, dogs milking squirrels and so and and so on, and it never ceases to amaze me how they can just put their differences aside to befriend or help another species. Most humans can learn from this for sure.

But let's not forget the heroic efforts of John Caruso. Many people would have just passed the buck to let someone else stop what they were doing to save these two animals but he took the time to get these animal BFFs to safety (for those of you not familiar with "net" lingo, BFF stands for Best Friends Forever). Apparently someone owns both the sheep and the dog since the shelter did recieve an anonymous phone call about it. However it's a puzzlment as to why they did not leave a phone number.

If this is your dog and sheep you can pick them up at the West Valley Animal Shelter located at 20655 Plummer Street in Chatsworth. The phone number is (888) 452-7381.

The Hogan Family Foundation has announced the creation of its Lifeline 4 Paws Award program that will recognize and thank some of its many neighbors in Southern California who have demonstrated extraordinary acts of kindness toward dogs during the year.

Christine Hogan, executive vice president of The Hogan Family Foundation, explains, “The Lifeline 4 Paws Award will be granted to individuals based on their commitment, compassion, and courage in going above and beyond in lifesaving or other difficult circumstances to help dogs throughout the area.”

All applications for the Lifeline 4 Paws Award will be reviewed by a select panel, including Foundation executives and Ranger Kevin Smith of the Conejo Recreation & Park District, Denis Rosen, director of the Agoura Animal Shelter, and Beth Baden from the City of Thousand Oaks Planning Department.

The award will consist of a commemorative plaque acknowledging the recipient and a $500 donation given to the animal related charity of the winner’s choice. Lifeline 4 Paws awards will be given throughout the year, as determined by the panel. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year, with a final deadline of Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2008.

Apply online here or print a form from the website and mail it to The Hogan Family Foundation, 2834 Borchard Road, Newbury Park, CA 91320-3810.

  This is me and my wonderful cat Marcie whom I've enjoyed living with for a little over 12 years (it will be 13 in October). I rescued both her and her sister Cleo (who sadly passed away in 2005) from a neighbor who rescued them off the streets. Before adopting them I had never had a cat before but I quickly came to realize that adopting them was the best split decision I have ever made!

When I got married my husband had our (I still sometimes say his cat but she is our cat now) cat Hershey and we had the awesomely fun task of merging cats. Let's just say that it was "interesting" and it still is. I'm just glad to say that although they will never be the best of friends they do tolerate each other despite the lovely cat arguments we encounter on a daily basis.

I've always had dogs and someday I'd love to adopt another one. So far I have been owned by Nike the funnest golden retriever one could ever have. He passed away in 2003 but he gave us almost 10 years of non-stop love. Then there was my white teddy bear Sasha. He gave us nothing but love for nearly 14 years and he was the first puppy I've ever had. Talk about a new experience! And last but not least here's a photo of my first ever dog, a beautiful German Shepherd/Husky mix named Silver. Our family got her when I was three years old. One thing about Silver: We called her the most traveled dog on the planet. She moved all over the country with us. Trust me! Through this blog you will learn allot about traveling with your dog. She got so used to traveling that when neighbors opened their car doors she'd immediately hop in as if she was going with them.

Although this blog is called Valley of the Dogs it is about all kinds of pets...mainly pets that live in the San Fernando Valley. Want to know about the latest pet products and fun gagets? Come right here! Want to read about pets in the news? Come right here! Want to know about local rescue groups? Come right here! And last but certainly not least...if you are looking to adopt a pet, come right here because I plan to spotlight plenty of four-legged, feathered, and scaly friends that are desperately looking for a loving home.

It's all about the animals! :)