10. The way they play with each other (hopping around like bunnies, tackling each other like puppies and chomping their jaws together – hilarious!)

9. Their loyalty

8. The way they snort when they get really excited and have toys in their mouths

7. The way their bodies “waggle” back and forth when they see me walk in the door

6. The way they absolutely have to sniff people up and down

5. Their lack of modesty (the way they go belly-up at night on the couches, mouths open with their legs spread apart and their front paws in the air

4. Their intelligence and awareness of a daily routine

3. Their lack of intelligence (or perhaps its just selective hearing…)

2. Their cuddly nature

1. Their ability to forgive and unconditionally love us imperfect humans

For the sake of keeping us all together and makin g new friends in the pet blogosphere I have started talking about my favorite pet blogs once a week.

This week’s winner is Rusty! His dog blog, Chasing Squirrels with Rusty is all about his adventures in life, namely trying to keep the yard a “squirrel-free zone!”

Rusty is a 20-pound Yorkshire Terrier. He says his Mom refers to him as a Great Yorkie because of his size. Here is his bio:

I am a great little dog who lives with his human mom and dad in Texas. My job is to keep the backyard a squirrel free zone. That’s a hard job, they just won’t listen to me. I want to talk about my life and make friends.

I’ve been with mom and dad for one year now. I was adopted in November of 2006! I  live with mom and dad, Bear (dad’s dog) and three cats. I like Bear unless mom is patting her. I only like one of the cats, Dallas. The other cats are too hisssssie and prickly. My favorite things are chasing squirrels, looking for squirrels up in the pecan trees, keeping squirrels out of our yard, getting a nice back scratch, playing with Bear, running up and down the fence with the dogs in the yard behind us, keeping an eye out for squirrels, and sleeping with mom and dad.”

Rusty is an excellent writer and he is very funny, too. He posts the most adorable pictures of himself and has very entertaining, conversational dog blog posts. Rusty writes with wit and flair and has lots of friends in the pet (namely dog) community.

If you’re looking for a laugh or to make a new friend (or if you’re looking for the cutest Yorkie ever), visit this cute pet blog,  Chasing Squirrels with Rusty.

The United States Marine Corp last week issued a press release in response to an ASPCA request to release findings of an investigation into a video of a marine flinging a puppy off of a cliff. I refuse to post the video here but you can watch the horrible video on YouTube if you’d like. This image is of the Marine moments before he threw the puppy.

     According to an ASPCA News Alert, the video caused public outcry, and was featured on television news programs and covered by major news agencies, including the Associated Press

The USMC press release reads as follows:

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Oahu — Marine Corps Base Hawaii continues to investigate a video of a Marine mistreating a puppy that gained widespread attention on the internet Monday. The content of the video is deplorable and contrary to the high standards we expect of every Marine at home and abroad.MCBH learned of the video Monday morning and immediately began an investigation to confirm the authenticity of the video and the persons responsible for the video. The investigation will be thorough and will examine each person involved. Upon completion of the investigation, it will be reviewed by each Marine’s commander who will determine the appropriate action to take in each case.No charges have been filed at this time. In the event that any Marine is charged with an offense, he will be afforded the constitutional and due process protections guaranteed by the Uniform Code of Military Justice.The vast majority of Marines conduct their duties in an honorable and compassionate manner that brings great credit upon the Marine Corps and the United States. There have been numerous stories of Marines adopting pets and bringing them home from Iraq or helping to arrange life-saving medical care for Iraqi children. Those are the stories that exemplify what we stand for and how most Marines behave.If you have a comment regarding this incident we encourage you to visit our Web site and leave a comment or concern at www.mcbh.usmc.mil and click on the mcbh.pao.fct@nmci.usmc.mil e-mail link. Incoming statements and comments will be compiled in a database for use in this situation.

What do you think about the video and the USMC response? More importantly, what do you think about the mental state of this unsavory and seriously demented Marine? I don’t care what this guy has seen during the war…its not enough to convince me that it’s a good excuse for his violence and complete lack of humanity.

Obviously you know my opinion, so what’s yours?

Dogster’s For the Love of Dog Blog has a great dog story up about pit bulls setting an example of good doggie citizenship!

Program turns notorious dogs into good citizens
Pit bull owners steered away from dogfighting
By Gerry Smith | Tribune reporter
10:22 PM CDT, March 22, 2008

On the streets of Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, Sean Moore and his 8-month-old pit bull, Jigga, are setting an example.

 ”The pit bulls you normally see, they’re pulling, they’re not listening, they’re wild, they’re barking at people,” said Moore, 38. “When [other owners] see us with the same dogs, they ask, ‘How do y’all do that? And how much does it cost?’”

For the full dog story, visit Dogster’s…

I love this picture. The kitty is standing up like a squirrel and he looks like he has a mustache!

To see more pictures of this cute kitty, click here.

Thanks to MSNBC.com for this heart-warming story.

Gabrielle Ford was 20 years old and hiding in her room, driven there by the abuse of vicious bullying she had suffered in school because of a degenerative neuromuscular disease. She asked her mother if she could have a dog, because she desperately needed a friend.

Ford not only got a faithful companion, she also got an entirely new and wonderful life.

Because of Izzy, the coonhound she got, Ford has become a highly sought-after speaker who travels the country in her wheelchair, talking to school assemblies and classes about ways to stop bullying.”

Read the rest of the story here.

This is dedicated to the most gentle and loving Golden Retriever, Marvin White and his human, Gary.

Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water, sunshine so our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill or old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy except for one small thing…they miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent, his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group , flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted. And when you and your special friend finally meet you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.”

-Author Unknown

We love you Marvin. You are a special dog who taught us about love, life, laughter and patience. And its because of God’s gracious creatures like you, as this blog’s sub-head says, that All Pets Go to Heaven.

Love, Jaime.

Thanks to Dogster’s For the Love of Dog Blog for this information:

“KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER RELIEF - PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST

3/18/08: Animal Control (& Entire Town) Underwater! Piedmont, Missouri

Kinship Circle has just learned tonight (3/18) that the town of Piedmont, in rural Missouri, has evacuated due to severe flash flooding. We are posting as much information as we have at this time and will follow-up with more verified facts as they become available.

We know, but have not yet confirmed:

The town’s animal control is underwater, animals evacuated. Some died in floodwaters. Stray Rescue St. Louis (active in Katrina rescue) appears to be headed to Piedmont. It has been raining nonstop 48+ hours and other Missouri/Illinois shelters may need help.”

================================
1. Piedmont Animal Control Underwater - Emergency
=========================================

ALERT FROM / REPLY TO:
CONTACT: Susan Rhoades, suerhoades@gmail.com

PLEA FOR HELP FROM PIEDMONT, MO:
3/18/08, From Susan Rhoades, suerhoades@gmail.com

PIEDMONT ANIMAL CONTROL UNDERWATER — EMERGENCY:
Piedmont has been evacuated. Cibele got out what she could, but many of her babies have drowned. Please, if you can, post, cross post, anything you can do to help her. Not only are Piedmont AC’s animals in danger, but the town’s animals are in danger as well.

Stray Rescue’s disaster team is gearing up to go there — Jan Siener from Act Now! Will be going there tomorrow. We will need fosters, transport, etc.

TO HELP, CONTACT:
suerhoades@gmail.com

Piedmont Animal Control Shelter
115 W Green Street; Piedmont, MO 63957
573-223-4020; Cibele: cibelebr@care2.com

Stray Rescue of St Louis
1463 S 18th St; St Louis, MO 63104
314-771-6121

Jan Siener, ACT Now! Rescue
P.O. Box 510321; St. Louis, Missouri 63151
info@actnowrescue.org

This is what a “whole kitten-caboodle” really means…

Photo courtesy Judy M Thornsberry (she’s one of my favorite animal photographers). View Judy’s full album here.

Seems that PETA is coming down on the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary for recuperating the Michael Vick dogs, the brutalized victims of his dogfighting ring. These people (at PETA) never cease to amaze me. If anything, they are jealous because of the money and recognition tied to these dogs that they didn’t get. 

Anyways, read this great article in the New York Times that their Sports Writer, William C. Rhoden, wrote about the differences between PETA and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary:

Vick Case Exposes Rift Among Animal Rights Advocates

Many people have become anti-PETA recently becuase of the group’s unsavory behavior and political agenda. Furthermore, read this anti-PETA article about the group’s mass killing of pets it was supposed to rehabilitate and adopt out.