For all of you dog-lovers out there who humanize your dog, this is the book for you.

I know most of us have “voices” for our dogs, and we’ve all given them little personality traits and thoughts from time to time. (For example, at our house we frequently discuss with our Golden Retriever, Benson whatever happens to be worrying him that day; he is a little worry-wart dog as made evident by the look in his eyes and his little cone-head look. Oftentimes we have conversations with him about what is worrying him - with one of us obviously being the dog’s voice. I know, we’re totally nuts).

Anyways, back to the book. Dog Park Diary: the Social Round of Goody Beagle is all about Goody’s life at the dog park. It’s a diary he kept of one of his more rousing weeks at his favorite place: the dog park.

I must say, this book is HILARIOUS. I was laughing out loud on the second page. It so poignantly brings to life what we all think and say and do for our dogs every day. We humanize them.

Goody teaches us all about proper dog park etiquette, namely about “sniff-butt,” every dog’s favorite activity. He tells us stories about the other dogs, some his friends, some not his friends. He teaches us all about Beagles, too.

There are so many things we humans don’t know our dogs are thinking: Goody will tell you all of them.

So if you’re looking for a FUN read and a belly laugh, pick up a copy of Dog Park Diary: the Social Round of Goody Beagle. It has some GREAT photography to accompany the story as well.

Tomorrow, Friday, June 20 is National Take Your Dog to Work Day! Hooray! Can’t wait to participate in this one.

I’m bringing along Henry (aka Peanut) the sassy Bassett Hound I have referred to in previous posts. Hopefully he will refrain from his vocal antics for the day. He loves to moan, whine, bay and howl at things - especially other dogs. We’ll see how it goes…

For those of you taking part in the festivities (or not I guess), send this cute pet eCard to other revelers:

The ASPCA recently put up some helpful information on their site. Click to read Top 10 Office Etiquette Tips for Dogs.

Here is a picture of Henry - I entered him in a pet photo contest for my work so I hope he wins! All day tomorrow Henry will see what its like to be a professional Interactive Copywriter for the day!

It is so sad.

The shelter I volunteer at locally has seen a HUGE increase (over 30%) in surrenders this year (over last year at this time). Be it foreclosure, vet bills, or whatever… people just don’t have the money to pay for their pets’ care anymore because the economy is so bad.

I can see right through people’s usual excuses when they drop off their lifelong pet for adoption. Most are just too lazy to care for them or think they aren’t as cute anymore once their adults (and not “cute” puppies and kittens).

But people lately have legitimate, bona fide reasons for surrendering their cats and dogs.

Let’s see… fix Fido’s hips or fill up the gas tank so I can get to work. Essentially: fix Fido or get fired.

Hmmmn.

It’s absolutely heartbreaking.

I just found this story on MSNBC.com talking about other areas hard hit by foreclosures and the economy and the effect that it’s having on pet owners. Have a look…

FRANKLIN, Mass. - Diana Bardsley wiped tears from her eyes as she recalled taking food off her plate to feed her beloved spaniel Hunter and two Siamese cats.

Her greatest fear: that she could be forced to surrender the animals as she struggled to stretch her food stamps and Social Security income to meet the escalating cost of living.

Some hope was restored after she visited a local food pantry, which has started offering free pet food to help owners keep their animals out of shelters.

“I know a lot of people will probably say, ‘Well, if you don’t have enough money to be able to feed your animals, that you shouldn’t have pets,”’ said Bardsley, 53, of Franklin, as Hunter played in the living room with three of her grandchildren.

But, “Just because financially you may go downhill a little or a lot, doesn’t necessarily mean you have to give up the part of your family that you love,” she said.

For some pet owners, though, there is little choice.”

Check out the rest of the article here.  ** WARNING: You will probably need Kleenex.**

Did you know that this month is the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal’s Adopt a Shelter Cat Month?

The group has all sorts of cool activities on its website and they’re all about kitties. All month. There is a photo contest, a fun cat quiz (well it’s actually a survey but it’s still fun), a Cat Care Guide, and all kinds of other neat stuff.

Do you know someone who is interested in getting a little furball for themselves? Send them to an ASPCA shelter in their area for a rescue pet! Whatever you do, DON’T let them go to a breeder!

Thanks to the United States Humane Society and Mary O’Connor Shaver from Columbus Top Dogs for this information. 

The U.S. Senate at the end of last week followed the lead of the House of Representatives and overrode President Bush’s veto of the Farm Bill, ushering in key new protections for animals.

The final bill (which is now considered law) - except for one section excluded due to a technical glitch - bans the import of puppies from foreign puppy mills for commercial sale in the U.S. The law spares young, unweaned and unvaccinated pups from harsh, long-distance transport during which they are exposted to extreme temperatures and often die in cargo holds — and will keep foreigh breeders from the tragic overpopulation of pets in this country.

The Farm Bill also adds a provision to federal law to make almost any form of animal fighting a federal felody. It’s also now a federal crime to knowingly possess or train animals for fighting, and the maximum prison time for a single violation of any section of the law varies from 3 to 5 years.

It’s hard to overstate what a blow this is to dogfighters and cockfighters and it brings us one step closer to eradicating these criminal industries!

The law also authorizes an increase in potential fines - quadrupuled from $2,500 to $10,000 - for violations of the Animal Welfare Act, fines that haven’t been increased in more than 20 years. Such penalties will more effectively deter abuses at puppy mills, laboratories, circuses and other facilities that use animals.

This is a HUGE victory for animals!

So you want to go on vacation but don’t want to leave poor Fido in doggie-daycare and poor Fluffy at the kitty-inn… And who could blame you? Pets are part of the family so why shouldn’t they get to come on vacation, too?Whether you’re looking to take your pet on “vacay” or you’re moving and need to travel with pets, there are plenty of options out there for pet-friendly travel, transportation and pet-friendly hotels.

** First and foremost, before you leave make sure your pet is healthy enough to travel. Sometimes your vet may recommend he/she is not fit for travel based on age, temperament, health conditions, etc. Also be sure your pet has been properly vaccinated and is up-to-date on all other shots.**

For air travel
Check out the airlines’ pet travel policies before you book tickets. Most major airlines allow small animals to travel in the cabin with you but 8 weeks advance notice (for permission) is required. There is a cap on how many animals can be in the cabin so its first come, first serve. Also, you must check in at the ticket counter and are not permitted to take your pet out of its carrier if it’s in the cabin with you.

For car travel
Dogs:
Most people will tell you that unless you have a leash run and dog seatbelt in the backseat of your car or truck, your dog should be kept in a carrier when traveling in the car. We, however, drove from California to Ohio with two 85-lb Golden Retrievers comfortably napping in the extended cab of a Cadillac Escalade. They were very well-behaved. They had plenty of water and blankets and were able to stick their heads out the window if they wanted. If your dog is somewhat hyper I do not recommend this. After reading PetTravelCenter I do not think I would do this again.

Cats:
We also had three cats roaming free in a separate car. They were sedated however so they slept the whole time. We provided water and a litter box for them (they chose to use the litter box only when we were stopped). Although we read that its better to contain your cats, our cats become extremely tense and anxious when they are put in carriers and the vet said that based on that, we could let them roam free while mildly sedated.

So aside from my experience, PetTravelCenter offers all kinds of travel tips, such as the following:
“You should safely secure your pet while traveling. An unrestrained pet can become a deadly projectile in the event of a sudden stop or crash, causing serious injury (even death) to passengers. For example, an unsecured, 25-pound dog in a 40 mph crash becomes a 1,000-pound mass (half a ton) flying uncontrollably inside the vehicle.”

Click here for more helpful tips from them.

Pet Friendly Hotels
The best place to find pet-friendly hotels is through the American Automobile Association (AAA). If you are not an AAA member, you can find pet friendly hotels online. www.PetsWelcome.com has the most extensive list online of pet-friendly hotels and they are organized by state for easy navigating. You can also check out www.doginmysuitcase.com. All you do is pop in your travel information by city and they present you with an extensive list of hotels and motels of all sizes.

Happy Travels!

This week, May 4-10 is the American Humane Association’s Be Kind to Animals Week! The group created this celebratory week in 1915 to celebrate the unique bond between humans and animals.

Though we all love our fur-babies, there are some special things we can do this week to work towards a better future for all animals, everywhere.

So how can you be kind to animals this week? The AHA recommends the following:

Speak out for animals. Get active in local animal welfare policies and legislation.

Report animal abuse. While acts of violence against animals are tragic in their own right, they are also a red flag for other violent behavior, including domestic abuse and violent crime.

Appreciate wildlife. Create an inviting space in your yard or garden for butterflies and birds. Feed the local birds, ducks, bunnies, deer, etc. (Some people might disagree with this one, but oh well. This is my feeling on the subject of starving wild animals).

Make a donation to a local animal shelter. A donation can be monetary, but you can also volunteer or offer up some other service in-kind like contributing to the shelter’s marketing efforts, etc.

Adopt a pet from a shelter or a breed-specific rescue. Approximately 8 to 12 million animals enter our nation’s shelters every year, and more than half of these pets will have to be euthanized because of a lack of homes. Local shelters are the best place to find companion animals, even purebreds — 1 of every 4 dogs in a shelter is a purebred.

Educate others. Share information about animal welfare issues with friends, family and co-workers. Research an issue close to heart, i.e. puppy mills, factory farming, breed-specific legislation, and do something about it! Write letters, call legislators, and get involved with animal welfare advocacy groups!

Spay and neuter. Help solve the problem of euthanasia of adoptable animals by not contributing to it. Make sure your cats and dogs are spayed and neutered.

Seems like a simple enough question, right? Wrong. The science behind a cat’s purr has long been disputed.

Common knowledge tells us that purring is one of several methods of non-verbal communication cats use to convey their moods and needs. Most experienced “cat people” know that cats don’t purr only when they are content and happy. They also purr during traumatic experiences, i.e. when they’re injured. Purring under stress has been described as a cat’s mantra, i.e., a self-soothing, self-healing, relaxing, vibrating sound. The cat is telling himself to calm down and everything will be okay.

And that may be a part of the answer to the question, why do cats purr? It is soothing to the animal, and makes the cat (and others around her) feel good.

Thanks to Doctors Foster and Smith for this information…

A cat’s purr signals contentment, comfort and security. For many pet owners, the humming purr of a cat is the unmistakable sign that their cat is happy and healthy.In many ways this is true: behaviorists believe the original function of purring was to enable a kitten to tell his mother that “all is well down here.” This often occurs during nursing. A kitten can’t meow and nurse at the same time, but it can purr and nurse without any problem. The mother often purrs back, reassuring the kitten.This is why your cat purrs when petted, instinctively giving the signal “all is well,” a message you can both feel and hear.

But this isn’t the only message purring may signal…Although we assume that a cat’s purr is an expression of pleasure or is a means of communication, perhaps the reasons for purring can be deciphered from the more stressful moments in a cat’s life. Older cats purr when they play or approach other cats, signaling they are friendly and want to come closer. Cats also purr when they are distressed or afraid. Sick and injured cats, and those in veterinary offices often purr, thus, not all purring cats appear to be content or pleased with their current circumstances. Like expressed above, it is thought that this is the cat’s way of reassuring and calming herself.

(This catch-22 has lead researchers to investigate how cats purr, which is still under debate.)

According to an article in Scientific American, over the course of evolution, purring has probably offered some advantage to cats. Most felid species produce a “purr-like” vocalization.

Scientific American also says that scientists have demonstrated that cats produce the purr through signaling of the laryngeal and diaphragmatic muscles. Cats purr during both inhalation and exhalation with a consistent pattern and frequency between 25 and 150 Hertz. Various investigators have shown that sound frequencies in this range can improve bone density and promote healing (even in humans)!

This association between the frequencies of cats’ purrs and improved healing of bones and muscles may provide a third answer to the question, why do cats purr. Because cats have adapted to conserve energy via long periods of rest and sleep, it is possible that purring is a low energy mechanism that stimulates muscles and bones without a lot of energy! Sound vibrations, in the same frequency range as a cat purr, can actually act as a healing aid, reduce pain, and promote tissue growth.

So it seems that there are three reasons that answer the question, why do cats purr: they are content, they are making others (kittens, other cats, other animals and humans) feel comfortable using this special form of communication, and finally, purring is a potential source of self-healing and a built-in survival mechanism.

Who knew?

Hello everyone,

I got an interesting reader question last week and I am hoping that some of you might have some input to answer this gentleman’s question. I do not have much experience with dog breeders.

Here’s the question and I hope to get some input from you guys! Thanks.

My problem with breeders is more on the light side. Say you want a dog. I’ve had Cairn terriers, Goldens, and I’m presently looking for an English Setter. I think it’s easy enough to look around, talk to a handful of breeders, and select a decent breeder. I believe that I’ve been fortunate enough to talk to a good number of caring, knowledgable, responsible breeders. The problem for me comes about when I want any kind of commitment from the breeder about my “place in line” and my ability to select a pup from an upcoming litter.

Most of the breeders I settle on here in WI only have one to three litters a year. I think this is good because we’re talking about responsible breeders who care about what they do and act responsibly in the breeding area. But when I ask if any pups will be available from the next litter I start getting the runaround: “I hate to tell you that you will get a dog because you may be very disappointed if this doesn’t actually happen so I’ll just tell you you’re on the list and maybe you will get a dog”.

What becomes clear over time is that a web of intrigue exists involving the breeder’s needs for future dogs, the stud dog owner’s pay-off (usually one pup from the litter), the needs of any breeder friends the litter owner is hoping to satisfy, ya-da, ya-da, ya-da.

Bottom line: if I’m just Joe average asking a good breeder to sell me a dog, I won’t get a straight answer about where I stand in line in the puppy selection process. I fully understand that litter sizes can be erratic. But if I’m willing to pay for a dog ahead of time, or place a substantial deposit, why can’t I be told that I will get, say, #2 choice or #3 choice or…?

It seems that the deck is strongly stacked against the family pet buyer or, in my case, the family pet buyer who entertains at least a thought of breeding his animal. Good, responsible, talented breeders don’t have too many litters per year and they keep most of the best dogs or sell them to breeder friends. A guy like me is going to get a decent dog, well cared for, well socialized, and with parents who have passed xray tests, etc., but is not going to get much of a pick of the litter and is not likely to get an animal worth breeding. Add to this the fact that the last two purebreds I bought in the last 10 years came with a contract I had to sign promising that I wouldn’t breed the dog (must be spayed/neutered to get AKC registry; what’s the point).

I like the idea that I’m getting a dog with parents certified against physical problems. I like talking to good breeders and getting insight into the breed. I like the care responsible breeders provide their pups.

I dislike the idea that I can’t seem to purchase a good breeding dog. I also strongly dislike the buying process, in which the breeder typically fibs to me about what’s going on. What’s going on is that I’m at the bottom of the food chain. I’m considered a “pet owner” and their’s no way a breeder is likely to give me desireable dog from the litter no matter how much I pay or how long I’m willing to wait.

I love dogs. I want to purchase an animal with the best chances of good health. I would like the possibility of breeding my dog. I only see this last possibility as feasible if the breeder will help out, as I know I don’t have the necessary knowledge to do this.

What do I have to do to get a first rate dog? Most breeders seem to have arranged for the sale of the most desirable pups and will only sell “pet” quality dogs to the general public.

Any thoughts?

John K.

Did you know that April is designated Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)? The month is designated to increasing awareness and prevention of cruelty to all types of animals.

Last week we celebrated ASPCA Day (April 10) by wearing orange. This week, I’m announcing some ideas of things you can do all year round in support of the prevention of animal cruelty.

Make a donation

Donations to the ASPCA will help to alleviate the needless fear, pain and suffering in animals’ lives. There are a variety of giving options available on the ASPCA website. If you don’t donate to the organization, why not donate to a local shelter? You don’t even need to offer financial assistance. Most shelters welcome donations of pet food, cat litter, dog toys, towels and other supplies.

Volunteer at a shelter

Volunteer at any shelter, in any town across the country. Whether it be a local no-kill shelter or a county Humane Society, give in-kind by offering your time or any other assistance the shelter may need.

Foster animals

If you have the space and the time, fostering animals is a great way to help out. Contact your local animal shelter or a local chapter of a specific breed rescue to see if you can help.

Contact Your Legislators

Write letters to your Congressman and local officials to urge them to vote for harsher penalties for animal abusers. Research your state’s laws in the House and/or Senate at this time. Laws range from regulations to punishments for issues like puppy mills, horse slaughter, breed-specific legislation and dog fighting.