DDF PSA ~ Dog Food Recall

Today is supposed to be a Black Dog Featured Rescue day but I thought I'd pass on this information first. I'll post a black dog another day this week instead. There is a Dog Food Recall in the USA as of December 18th. For those of you in the USA, please read the below info about the brands affected!




On December 18th, 2010, Kroger issued an official recall of many of its pet food products

Featured Rescue ~ Julius the Bouvier

I've devised a new way to look at petfinder/petango/etc advertisements. It is a scoring system that analyses different aspects of an advertisement. It's important when you are advertising an animal to highlight specific information about it. In fact, a lack of information can actually deter potential adopters. (Let's face it, there are 169,420 dogs out there available for adoption on Petfinder

DDF PSA ~ Pets as Gifts

Every year, many organizations publish the message about not giving pets as gifts. Just run a quick Google News Search and you will find thousands of posts about it. I try to ensure I have a post about it. This message is posted time and time again but the unfortunate reality is that the people who give pets as presents aren't necessarily the ones reading it. I have heard of shelters and rescues

Featured Rescue ~ Dublin the Greyhound

Long ago, I started running Featured Rescues every three days but lately I've been lucky to post three per month. That doesn't mean that there are any less dogs out there for adoption ... just that I've been slacking in the posting. I will try to re-start my black dog postings for Mondays and another Featured Rescue sometime throughout the week ...



Today's Featured Rescue is Dublin the

Pupdate and upcoming posts

This weekend I will be getting back on track with posting to this blog. I haven't been posting due to a "series of unfortunate events" that happened over the last month. This series of unfortunate events begins with a vacation that shouldn't have happened and goes from there.



The vacation was supposed to be my husband and I with one of our nephews. The three of us. As each month passed in our

Pony Up, Asshat

Alright - this just makes me mad. Sometimes I just want to tell people to pony up ... I was at a shelter last week and saw something that made me furious ...



A couple drove up. Maybe husband and wife. Maybe just friends with benefits. I don't know and I don't really care. Either way they had a dog and a baby in the car with them. Can you figure out where I'm going with this?? They had come to

PSA ~ HeLP - check it out and spread the word!

While we all make a concerted effort to provide the best care possible to our pets, sometimes they get lost. There are many resources you can use to help you reconnect with your loved ones. Please read on for one of these resources!




I received a link to the Helping Lost Pets (HeLP) website this week and I would love to share it with all of you. This is a site which provides a database of all

A Tired Dog - Hide and Seek

I've said before that A Tired Dog is a Good Dog. It is my mantra. I've also stated that mental stimulation is more exhausting than physical. In fact, some of the saddest dogs I've known have had all sorts of physical stimulation and no mental.



I met a Border Collie recently who was so depressed. He moped around everywhere. So sad to see. The owner didn't know there was anything wrong. She was

OT ~ Entrecard Drops and Ads

Sorry to get off topic from dogs ... but I should post something about Entrecard here since it brings me a fair amount of traffic. If nothing else, it has increased my readership as well as increased the amount of Followers to my blog by spreading the word about it.




Here are this month's Entrecard Top Droppers from my Blog. Thank you to you all:

Sparkle


The Ad Master

Slightly Sarcastic

Happy Tails Books Rescue of the Year Competition

Check it out! Kyla is having a Happy Tails Books Rescue of the Year Competition which means that she is asking everyone to vote for their favorite rescue and then she will send them $500 worth of product! What are you waiting for?? Here's a way you could help out a rescue!



VOTE ... come on ... give in to the pressure ... VOTE then come back here and tell me whether or not you voted!!

DDF Mail Bag ~ Something to think about

I received this in my email and want to know what you think. It was written about deaf dogs but you could say the same about specific breeds, amputees, those with physical disabilities/disorders/diseases, or any other characteristic you want. Please take some time to read this and think about it. Post in the comment section what you think.



A number of times I have seen people post with

DDF PSA ~ Project Pet Slim Down

I have to apologize to everyone who has emailed me stories, products and PSA's they would like published on my blog - I've been busy and haven't had time to properly research your ideas. I'm going to try to get through the pile I've got in my inbox in the next little while but it takes time. I won't just copy and paste something without reviewing it and I refuse to promote a product without first

News Reel ~ The Importanct of a Solid Recall

Here is another reason why it is so CRUCIAL to have a solid recall! Your dog should come back to you when you call. Simple. Easy peasy. So why don't people teach their dogs to come back?!?



Check it out ... Car hits Minnesota man chasing his dog on I-94



 
 
My first question ... why doesn't your dog come back when called?
My second question ... why did you allow your dog to run away near

Featured Rescue - Nana the Labrador Retriever

Today's featured rescue is Nana. She is a senior lady who needs someone to give her that super-special home where she can live out her life. Nana has a bunch of tricks in her "routine" including sit, shake a paw, lay down and roll over.




Unfortunately she does not seem to enjoy the company of other dogs which means that the shelter is looking for someone with no other dogs to adopt her.

DDF ~ Love Life and Live

Today my dogs served me a reminder that I should stop focusing on all the things I cannot change and take pleasure in the world around me. How did they do this?? Well, of course I will tell you ... you thought perhaps I'd not bother to rant? Pah. It may be TGIF but the sky is still blue and hell hath not frozen yet!



Today there was snow. Around 3 inches of it stayed on the ground after falling

Training Rant ~ Housesoiling

Funny thing that I want to share ... about a year ago, I started offering dog training to people and the most common thing I get called in about is HouseSoiling (followed closely by Aggression and then Separation Anxiety). If they are bringing me in for housesoiling, it almost always turns out that the dog has other issues as well that they would like to work on (but didn't bother to tell me

News Reel ~ Asshat Kicks Dog; Police Dispatcher Finds Stolen Dog

Check out this news article! Sick Thug Filmed Booting His Dog. You can't tell me that the reporter who wrote this article isn't an animal lover.


It is thought the footage was taken on October 1 and was filmed in Knee Hill Park in Woolwich, South London



How I'd like to put the boot to that guy ... like a piñata ... Instead, I am hoping that the RSPCA will be able to find this asshat and send

OffTopic ~ National Feral Cat Day

This is a little off topic but I thought I would share anyway! Today is National Feral Cat Day! Help spread the word! Below post is crossposted from my other blog, Drowning In Cats. Feel free to crosspost this information. Education about Feral Cats is the key.



Happy National Feral Cat Day!




October 16 is National Feral Cat Day. Take a few minutes today to help spread the word about Feral

Featured Rescue - Fofee the Australian Shepherd mix

I went looking around to find a Red Merle Aussie to feature as today's rescue (spurred by Sweep's story) but when I ran across Fofee, I decided to feature him instead and turn this into a discussion ... I want your opinion.


I'm sure you're saying to yourself "Why would she post an 8 week old puppy? It's easy for them to get adopted" and you're right. However, I wanted to use this as an

Pupdates ... Stolen Dog ~ Found ... Red Visit Today

Well today is a day of good news!



First off, I received this email today about Sweep the Red Merle Aussie ...



---------- message ----------
From: chantal



Date: Wed, Oct 13, 2010 at 4:36 AM


Subject: Re: [Comment] STOLEN: My aussie SWEEP





Sweep was found! The police found her in Toronto. The thief even dyed her fur a different colour. The person is being charged..and my dog is

Stolen Dog ~ Sweep

Hope everyone had a great long weekend!



I received this in my email inbox on Sunday and want to spread the word. If I were in Chantal's shoes, I would want everyone to know in the hopes that I would be able to get my dog back. If anyone knows anything about this dog, PLEASE don't hesitate to contact the owner!




On Monday October 4th, while I was at work, someone broke into my home, entered

News Reel ~ Burned Dogs Available for Adoption

Back in March 2010, two dogs were set on fire by their owner. 36 year-old Katherine Brotherton faces two felony counts of animal cruelty. Investigators said she doused her family’s two pet dogs with gasoline and set them on fire. Brotherton allegedly claimed the dogs bit her and setting them on fire was the only reasonable thing to do. May Brotherton says her daughter has exhibited schizophrenic

Foster and Rehoming Tips 3 ~ Don't Trust The Dog

Way back when ago, I started a series of posts that were Tips for Foster Homes or people who wanted to become Foster Homes ... then I realized that the same tips could be used for people who were bringing a new dog or puppy home! Anyone who is rehoming a dog can use these same tips. (See "Foster Tips" label)



It's been a long time since I posted the last Foster Tips but I have one today for you

Pupdates - Red and Blue

Been preoccupied lately with some of the goings-on around here. Thought I'd share a bit of what has been keeping me from my blogging ...




Red Dog is still with us, looking for a home. I'm now looking into some less conventional ways to find her a home since she is a non-conventional kind of dog. I am trying to pull some heart-strings ... We are going away in November and after a lengthy

Featured Rescue Followups September

Today's Featured Rescue Followup will be for September. There's some good news for some of the dogs that have been looking for a home. While I do hope that all the dogs I list are adopted, there are many (many, many, many) more out there that I haven't listed that need a home just as badly.



If you can open your heart and your home to one dog, you can change the course of his/her life forever.

DDF PSA ~ Just a Dog

Someone emailed this to me this morning and I enjoyed it so much I thought I'd share it with you. It makes me think of a conversation the other day that I had with a coworker who insists that spay/neuter surgeries should be done off the back of a pickup truck in her farm yard. *sigh* I wish I could reach the people who think like that but I wonder if I ever could?






JUST A DOG - Author

Pictures Say a Thousand Words ...

Hey everyone ... It's Monday ... I went to Tim Horton's for my coffee and the Tim's Card machine was broken ... Been "one of those days" and it isn't even lunch time yet!! So let's have a little fun for today ... I LOVE reading everyone's captions for pictures so here's one for you ...







If a picture says a thousand words, what does this picture say?

Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinic - Kansas

I am posting a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! For a complete list of the states/provinces, see the contents page here.



KANSAS


Pawprints on the Heartland

Pittsburg KS
1-877-887-7729
Mobile s/n clinic that visits outlying area in the community.

Featured Rescue - Samwise the Beagle

It's been a while since I posted a Beagle as the featured rescue so when I ran across this guy's description, I thought that I must have been holding out for a guy like him!



Samwise is at the Guelph Humane Society along with at least four other Beagles. He came in as a stray so the shelter has no history on the little guy. He is reportedly loving and gentle but, unfortunately like so many

Dogs In Strollers - Part 2

I love the response I received from my dogs in strollers post yesterday! Great responses! I love it. Keep it coming. I won't retract my statement because it is what I believe, however, I will clarify a little. I will agree that some people buy these strollers for their dogs who have physical disabilities. Most people who buy them, however, do not have dogs with disabilities and most are not old.

DDF ~ Dogs In Strollers

I can not believe how many people are jumping on the doggie-band-wagon and buying a stroller for their dogs! How rediculous is that? It makes me so sad to see people so lonely that they overcompensate with their dogs. I understand why they do it, but it is very sad to see because they could put so much of that energy into something more healthy.




Anyway, I heard this on the radio last week

News Reel - Windsor man Jailed

I had thought that I posted this news article when the dog was brought in but after searching through my blog's archives, I suppose I simply read it on emails. It is yet another story about asshat owners who abuse their dogs without realizing the damage they cause. Another person who should NEVER be allowed to own an animal again. The latest news article is here but I will warn you ... the

Featured Rescue - Big Red the Doberman Pinscher

I was driving to work the other day and saw a red Doberman Pinscher running along the side of the road with a 2"x10"x2' in his mouth! It made my day. He was SO proud of himself! Showing off to all the cars what he had. Thanks to him, I thought I'd post a dog similar to him for today's Featured Rescue. I LOVE Doberman Pinschers; I used to think that the only dogs I would ever have "when I grew up"

Book Review - Canine Sports and Games

I bought this book a few months ago and finally have finished reading it. I don't know how I found time to read it ... a few minutes here ... clean up after dogs ... a couple pages there ... work/sleep/eat ... a paragraph or two ... Anyway, somehow I did it. I read a book! I'd like to start including some book reviews since there are SO many books about dogs out there and it's hard to tell which

PupDate - Foster Dog, Hypoglycemia in Dogs, Pictures!

Things are progressing with our foster dog, Red. *Knock on wood* we haven't had a bad incident with her for almost two weeks now. Rather than attacking the dogs, she now tries to play with them. We have been taking her to meet other dogs in a fenced yard and have noticed some great success. We have noticed that she tries to head the other dogs off if they are running around (using her body and

Featured Rescue - Einstein the American Bulldog

Today's Featured Rescue is Einstein the American Bulldog. I went looking for a dog who looked similar to the dog in yesterday's news reel, but then I found this guy and HAD to post him! The SPCA Serving Allegany County states that he looks like Petey from the Little Rascals and that was the deal-maker right there. I LOVED the Little Rascals ... it used to be one of my favourite TV shows; and

News Reel - Re-Homed Dog Attacks New Owners

The following news article has created quite a stir on one of the email lists I'm on. Dog savages boys in frenzied attack as they lie sleeping. As always, I have to ask myself why people do such idiotic things??



Why was the dog not crated? Why would you allow a dog (who probably outweighs your children) to be unsupervised by an adult?What happened earlier in the day - could it have triggered

Babies, Dogs and Full Time Work ... Oh My

I ran into an unfortunate situation yesterday. It's one that happens so often and it really bothers me. I would like to spread the word about something that is very important to many people ...



You Do Not Have To Give Up Your Dog If You Or Someone In Your House Has A Baby



Believe it or not, people have been having babies for centuries! And guess what?! They didn't get rid of their dogs

Featured Rescue Followups August

Today's Featured Rescue Followup will be for August. There's some good news for some of the dogs that have been looking for a home. While I do hope that all the dogs I list are adopted, there are many (many, many, many) more out there that I haven't listed that need a home just as badly.



If you can open your heart and your home to one dog, you can change the course of his/her life forever.

News Reel - Boy Sentenced After Killing Family Dog with Hammer

Yeah, you read that headline right ... Boy Sentenced After Killing Family Dog with Hammer ... The article reads



A 15-year-old boy who broke into a home in Grand Rapids, Mich., and killed a family's dog with a hammer has been sentenced to spend up to 20 years in prison.



He could get out of prison in as little as 3 years. Turns out this kid broke into the house for some loot in May; was

Featured Rescue - Toby Taco Bell the Chihuahua

The Chihuahua ... if ever there was a breed that is misunderstood, it is you. In the midst of the "he's so kyoot" and the "oh look - he's so little" people tend to forget the most obvious one ... "He's a Dog". People get these super cute little guys and don't bother to do ANY training. Come on ... how many of you know of a Chihuahua who does Agility? Or Flyball? Or Rally-O??



Because of their

Picture Say a Thousand Words ... Captions!

Hey everyone ... sometimes I have pictures I want to share with you but I haven't got a topic to post about them or haven't got a caption for them. Have you ever seen "Caption Contests" in magazines?? I thought for those pictures I haven't got a caption for, I'd ask you guys what you think it should say? So ... please take a look at the picture and answer me this question ...



If a picture

Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic - Iowa

I am posting a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! For a complete list of the states/provinces, see the contents page here.



IOWA


Quad City Animal Welfare Center

724 West 2nd Avenue
Milan, IL 61264
309-787-6830
Serving surrounding areas in Iowa and

Featured Rescue or Guess The Breed? - Tux the Red Mix

Tux is listed on Petango as a "Lancashire Heeler / Mix" however after running a quick Google search on this breed, I just DON'T see the resemblance! Perhaps they know something about the owner?? Or perhaps there is a Lancashire Heeler enthusiast that volunteers at the Orangeville SPCA. Tux is listed as a medium sized, stray. He is reportedly very nervous.


Here's a picture ... what do you think

Pupdate - ACD Foster ... Red-dog

Well it's been an interesting adventure with our foster dog, Red (which is what we tend to call her). As I mentioned in an earlier post, she is a 2 year old, deaf Australian Cattle Dog. I have to say that it's been an adventure. Working with a deaf dog is new to me so it's been a great challenge.




When Red first came home, she spent hours trying to attack the dogs. She tried to eat the cats.

Featured Rescue - Adonis the American Bulldog

I thought I'd start today's Featured Rescue with a little lesson ...



Adonis was the young lover of Aphrodite. He was gored by a wild boar in the hunt and died in the arms of Aphrodite, who came to him when she heard his groans ... He has had multiple roles, and there has been much scholarship over the centuries concerning his meaning and purpose in Greek religious beliefs. He is an

PSA ~ Help Me ... Take Me To The Clinic!

Roberta @ Silverwalk posted a comment and a link in one of my blog entries so, naturally I went and visited it (as I do with every link people send me). The link I went to was the blog for a newspaper called Southeast Missourian. When I went there, I found the video below and thought I really should post it. Crossposting helps get the information out there and in my opinion ... anything that will

News Reel ~ Charges Dropped!

I read this on Monday and was so angry that I haven't been able to post about it until now. Monday morning the press releases started ... the Crown has dropped all 46 charges against Tim Trow and other "higher-ups" of the Toronto Humane Society. From what I've read, the OSPCA's warrant had some big issues which allowed all evidence gathered to be thrown out. Check out the articles below for

DDF Contest Results!

Yes everyone ... the results for the DDF Contest to Celebrate 200 Followers is in! Thank you to everyone who participated.



I wrote out all the entrants on Post-it Notes.


Then we put into a container and I asked my nephew to pull out the winners. I numbered them as they came out so we remember who's entry was pulled at what time.



Congratulations to the winners! The order they came out

DDF PSA ~ Adopt A Pet Q&A

Jeff from Adopt-A-Pet.com asked that I share some questions and answers about Pet Adoption with my readers. It is quite different from most of the Q&A's that are published about Pet Adoption because it is written as an interview would be conducted. It is not your normal questions either ... I found it interesting to read and I hope you do too. I have highlighted sentences that I found to be

Featured Rescue Friday ~ Penny the Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie)

Happy Friday everyone! I thought I'd post a Featured Rescue today ... There have been a lot of controversy about rescues buying old breeders from puppy mills and whether or not this perpetuates the problem ... I'm not getting into that today or poor Penny would never be Featured!




Penny spent her first 4 years in a wire cage "working" for a puppy mill. When she arrived in rescue she

We're All in This Together ... Right? WRONG!

Before you read on, please note that I'm not trying to say anything bad about one organization vs. another ... I am simply stating things the way I see them. If you have different opinions, please feel free to post them ... but please back up your statements with facts - not feelings.


I feel that every dog should have a good home but that's not going to change anything because it is simply a

Featured Rescue FollowUps - June and July

Today's Featured Rescue Followup will be for June and July. I haven't posted many Featured Rescue posts this summer ... without further ado, here are the Followups.





Codi the blind Welsh Corgi

Status: Not Adopted

Featured on May 10, 2009







Eubie the Border Collie

Status: Not Adopted

Featured on May 13, 2009







Jack A Roo the deaf Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler

Status: Not

News Reel - External Investigation into Ringworm Outbreak

I know many of you remember the Ringworm Outbreak at the York Region Branch OSPCA (in Newmarket, Ontario). I have blogged about it previously (here as a Featured Rescue and here as a News Reel). Many people were outraged that the OSPCA would decide to euthanize healthy animals simply because they share a building/shelter with infected ones. It is not a popular decision and it is not one that I

News Reel - Couple's Dogs Killed in Repeat Crime

Here's today's Asshat Article ... Henious Headline ... Cruelty Case ... Kruel Killers ... Overconfident Owners ... and so on. Couple's dogs killed in repeat crime.



Apparently, this couple's "basset hound Annie and Belgian shepherd Rio were shot last year; police believe someone poisoned [basset hound] Ellie May and [German Shepherd] Schultz this week."




Alright, what's the first thing that

Adopt-A-Pet website ... a new way of listing shelter dogs

I received an email from a representative of "Adopt-A-Pet.com" recently. I'm sure other bloggers received the same email. The rep requested that I publish a post about the website. After spending some time checking out the site, I agreed. (See below for more info) This will be similar to a Post Exchange.




From what I can tell about this site, it is similar to both Petango.com and

News Reel - Scientists Discover World's Oldest Dog Bone

Ok, this is just neat. In Tuebingen University, scientists have identified a bone that has been sitting around in storage since it was found in Switzerland in 1873. (Read the entire article here - Scientists discover world's oldest dog bone )



The bone has been identified as a canine jaw bone that is between 14,000 and 14,600 years old! Scientists have confirmed that it is a dog bone, not a

Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic - Indiana

I am posting a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! For a complete list of the states/provinces, see the contents page here.



INDIANA


Spay/Neuter Assistance Program
Fort Wayne, IN
219-427-1244
Spay/neuter assistance for pets of low income residents of

Thank you, Entrecard Advertisers

Thank you to this week's Entrecard advertisers. I appreciate your support. Indirectly (through the use of your EC's) I am able to further spread the word about pet ownership, education and rescue efforts.


Believe it or not, you really do make a difference when you advertise on this blog.

To show my appreciation for your support, here is a little link love for this week's Entrecard

Featured Rescue - Bandit the Jack Russell Terrier

Today's Featured Rescue is Bandit, the Jack Russell Terrier (JRT). Although it seems that the Grey Bruce Animal Shelter (where he is residing) doesn't have a lot to say about him except that "he is bright and high energy and is not suitable for a family with small children" ... In such a small sentence, they say A LOT. They are looking for a home with previous JRT experience.





I have found

News Reel - Delta police first in Canada to hire therapy dog

Further to my previous post about Therapy dogs, I found this great article about a therapy dog who just started working for the police department in Delta, BC.



If you wish to read the entire article, the link is Delta police first in Canada to hire therapy dog



Quite frankly, I'm surprised that this is only the first dog to be employed by the PD in such a fashion and I hope he is not the

DDF ~ Pics of Dogs in Cuba

I promised I'd post some pictures of dogs in Cuba. I found that while every dog I saw was intact, there weren't as many dogs around as I would have expected. Turns out that this is because the population of street dogs is "controlled". From what I was told after asking questions from various locals, when the population of street dogs gets too high the authorities "step in"



There is a picture

Pupdates ... New Foster ~ Roxy

I brought a new foster dog home on Friday. Funny how when it rains, it pours ... Shortly after I made arrangements to go pick up this dog, I mentioned it to another volunteer from the Humane Society who told me about a Dalmation that I should foster (I know you're probably reading this) ... then, the next day I receive a call from a veterinarian in the area about a Border Collie mix at

Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics - Illinois

I am posting a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! For a complete list of the states/provinces, see the contents page here.



ILLINOIS




PrairieLand Anticruelty
Champaign IL
Quincy Humane Society
Quincy IL
217-228-1422



Knox County Humane Society

Reminder - 200 Follower Contest still Open for Entries.

This is a reminder post that the 200 Follower Contest is still open for entries.



PLEASE NOTE ** IF YOU DO NOT WANT THE FOLLOWING ADGITIZE or CREDITS, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO HAVE A DOG OR CAT TOY PURCHASED AND SHIPPED TO YOUR MAILING ADDRESS **


First prize will be a 14 day ad on Adgitize
Second prize will be a 7 day ad on Adgitize
Third prize will be 1000 EntreCard Credits



The rules are going

Featured Rescue - 15 Newmarket OSPCA Animals Available

As you may or may not recall, a few months ago the Newmarket/North York OSPCA had an outbreak of Ringworm and rather than treating it, decided to euthanize all the animals (infected or not) in the shelter. The OSPCA Branch closed its doors to adoptions and volunteers. Officials would not release any of the animals regardless of where the offers were coming from.



Today I received this email and

DDF PSA - Camping with your Pets

Hey, I could have PSA's on my blog too, no? I got this in my email with permission to crosspost and thought I should share. Part of the reason for this blog is to educate owners. Ultimately this is meant to allow them to train their pets to a degree where they can afford them freedom. In the case of today's PSA, that 'freedom' is the ability to take your dog camping with you and to have no

News Reel - Pet Food Recall

Sorry to be a bit late posting this. I had meant to publish it last week and it slipped my mind ... so many things lately slip out of there ... maybe there's a hole somewhere?



The following was emailed to me from Abby and Nancy (yes, I received it twice) at Fucini Productions, Inc.




"IMPORTANT Pet Product Recall News"




As fellow pet lovers, we want to let you know about two recalls

News Reel/Asshat Award - 44 Dogs Seized

I have said it before and will say it again ... if you aren't taking care of the animals in your home then you ARE NOT SAVING THEM! You are prolonging their suffering!! Here's today's headline for discussion: Manitoba seizes 44 dogs from `Good Samaritans'.



I've asked this before but there are so many new readers that I'm going to pose the question again ... how many dogs is too many for one

15 Amazing Facts About Therapy Dogs

Thought I'd share this with everyone. I have always been fascinated with Therapy Dogs and one day I would really like to set my Flat-Coated Retriever to do some Therapy Dog work. Most Therapy Dog programs require only a few hours of your time every month (for St. John's Ambulance, the requirement is 2 hours of community service time and one meeting per month of 2 hours = 4 hours per month ... not

New Barn Cat and Imminent Foster

Today's post is a crosspost from my other blog, Drowning In Cats. After over a month of emails and failed appointments, I brought home a new barn cat yesterday evening. She was supposed to be a semi-feral Maine Coon ... after bringing her home, I feel it is safe to say that there is not an ounce of Maine Coon in her! Check out my post here on Drowning In Cats to read more and see a picture!

DDF Contest to Celebrate 200 Followers

Well, I'm back from my trip. What an interesting place Cuba is. A little too hot in July for my liking, but we were there to participate in a destination wedding so what can you do, eh? I have a few pictures of some dogs I saw in my travels that I am going to share with you as soon as I have converted them from RAW to JPEG format. It will take me a few days to get back into the swing of things so

Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics - Idaho

I am posting a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! For a complete list of the states/provinces, see the contents page here.


IDAHO




PAWS for Life Inc
Boise ID
208-343-0317
For pets of local residents with financial need.



Bonneville Humane Society

Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics - Hawaii

I am posting a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! For a complete list of the states/provinces, see the contents page here.



HAWAII




Hawaiian Humane Society
2700 Waialae Avenue
Honolulu HI 96826
808-946-2187
FAX 955-6034
http://www.hawaiianhumane.org/

Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics - Georgia

I am posting a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! For a complete list of the states/provinces, see the contents page here.


GEORGIA





Atlanta Humane Society
981 Howell Mill Road, NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
404-875-2600


Spay and Neuter Team of Atlanta

Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics - Florida

I am posting a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! For a complete list of the states/provinces, see the contents page here.




FLORIDA



Low cost or free spay/neuter info and programs: ARRANGED BY AREA CODE:



Lee County Animal Services
Fort Myers FL

Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics - Delaware

I am posting a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! For a complete list of the states/provinces, see the contents page here.



DELAWARE




Delaware Humane Association
701 A Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-571-0111
Low cost spay/neuter for all. Plus the

Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics - Connecticut

I am posting a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! For a complete list of the states/provinces, see the contents page here.



CONNECTICUT




T.E.A.M. (Tait's Every Animal Matters)
Westbrook CT
888-FOR-TEAM
http://www.everyanimalmatters.com/
Mobile van

Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics - Colorado

I am posting a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! For a complete list of the states/provinces, see the contents page here.



COLORADO




Planned Pethood Plus
Denver CO
303-433-3291



Humane Society of Boulder Valley
2323 55th Street
Boulder, CO
303-442

Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics - California

I am posting a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! For a complete list of the states/provinces, see the contents page here.


CALIFORNIA


Low cost or free spay/neuter info and programs: ARRANGED BY AREA CODE:



Eastern Madera SPCA
Oakhurst, CA
209-683

Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics - Arkansas

I am posting a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! For a complete list of the states/provinces, see the contents page here.




ARKANSAS



Ouachita Humane Association, Inc.
PO Box 195 Mena, AR 71953
As long as the humane association has funds available,

DDF Update ... Donation, Droppers, Publishing Posts, etc

Happy Friday everyone!

Just wanted to update you on a few things ...



First, I won't be around next week (I will be returning on July 10th) so I am presetting some posts for lists of Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics that I've been working on compiling. I do think it is important to get that information out there so I am going to try and get it up. I haven't forgotten about my list of High Kill

How Much WAS that Doggie in the Window?

How Much Was That Doggie In The Window

By Luan Egan June 2010


How much is that doggie in the window, the one with the waggedy tail

How much is that doggie in the window I do hope that doggie's for sale



But where did that doggie really come from, before the shop had it for sale?

Was it shipped from a Mill, are the parents there still, worn out breeding pups, till they're killed.



And

Guess The Breed #18

Now for the LONG AWAITED post ... Guess The Breed #18.



Here is today's GUESS THE BREED! What do you think this one is?? Here's hoping this one makes you think!



Ready? Set? GO!



Remember the rules for these posts ...
1. No bashing other peoples' opinions.
2. Post your opinion. Don't be shy.
3. Have fun!


First prize is always bragging rights and LINK LOVE.


The winner from the last

News Reel - Killing Our Pets with Kindness

Finally the papers are publishing articles about pet health that's more than just an advertisement from the highest bidder! In the article, Killing our pets with kindness, published in the Toronto Star on Friday, columnist Barbara Turnbull investigates the problem with obesity in our pets. It's true, we are killing them with kindness - and food!



Current estimates suggest that 40-50% of canines

News Reel - Take Your Dog to Work Day

Happy Take Your Dog to Work Day!
 

Take Your Dog to Work Day was first celebrated in 1999. It was created to promote pet adoption from shelters, humane societies and rescues. Pet Sitters International has this to say about Take Your Dog to Work Day:



On Friday June 25, 2010, businesses, animal shelters and pet-care professionals from around the world will work together to better the lives of

Featured Rescue - Teddy the Chow Chow

All right, well I'm still waiting for my new hard drive to arrive from Purolator so today's post is going to be a Featured Rescue while I "borrow" a computer. Today's feature is Teddy, a Chow Chow located at the Mississauga Humane Society. 

Teddy is around 10 years old and is 60 lbs. So sad when the seniors need to find new homes! Here's what his foster home says about him:

Teddy is a very

A Series of Unfortunate Events

I think I'm having the WORST week ever. My husband and I are sick with some chest cold thing that has us up all night - we haven't slept in over a week.



It feels like a "Series of Unfortunate Events" around here. First, I lost my keys and was almost 2 hours late for work. Great. That went over well, let me tell you.



Then, our septic backed up (AGAIN) so we had to have someone come out and

News Reel -- Dog Food Recall: Natural Balance

I don't know how many people out there feed Natural Balance but I'd rather get the information out there and be safe than sorry. There is a voluntary recall that was announced on June 18, 2010.



Apparently there is a possibility that the food has been contaminated with Salmonella. Specifically, it is the Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food (5 lb and 28 lb bags) with best before

Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics - Arizona

I am posting a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! I'm going to post them by state/province and have a contents page here. I'm impressed at how many clinics there are in Arizona! Very good to see.



ARIZONA



Discount Spay/Neuter
Gilbert, AZ
480-545-7729

Thank you Entrecard Advertisers

Thank you to this week's Entrecard advertisers. I appreciate your support:



Space In Pictures

My Little Black Pot

Anna's Adornments

Laane Loves

Hoalian

Fact of the Day

Tip Tail

Drowning In Cats

Featured Rescue - Zuggy the Lhasa Apso

When I first read this adoptable on Petfinder, I thought the person who entered the information must have made a typo! This little guy's name is Zuggy. He arrived at the shelter 5/26/09. At 10-years old, Zuggy is considered a "senior". According to the write up: He spent his whole life in a cage, and is ready retire in a warm, loving forever home.


Zuggy is currently in the care of The Humane

News Reel - The Animal-Cruelty Syndrome

I know, two news reels in a row ... well, almost. Sorry about that but I can't help when things are published. While this is not new news and studies have been ongoing for years about this topic, I am glad that newspapers are still printing it. The more people who know about the link between Animal Cruelty and "other criminal behaviours" (usually you find articles that point this link to domestic

DogsDeserveFreedom - Blog Updates

Just a quick note to let you all know that I've been working on updating this blog a lot lately. I haven't liked the way it looks for some time and I've finally taken action! Now I can focus on blogging again rather than being distracted by aesthetics.



You may have noticed that the background is totally different. Some other changes include:



Removal of "Recent Comments"
Removal of "

News Reel - Parents with dogs need to train the kids too

Why don't kids come with an owners manual? I have often wondered that ... I think many parents/dog-owners would do well with a bit more instruction but I suppose the eternal question is whether or not they would accept it and apply it??




Yvette Van Veen answers a parent's question about preventing their new puppy from jumping all over the child in the following article: Owners’ Manual:

Black Dog Rescue - Dude the Kelpie mix

A lot of the shelters have begun using a colour system to make it easier for potential adopters to identify dogs (and for the shelter workers to put them all into their convenient little boxes). I think it is a good idea because let's face it - most dogs won't show their "true colours" in the viewing area.




Today's Featured rescue is Dude the Kelpie mix (I'm not a fan of the name, but when

RANT - WoofStock 2010 Toronto

I went to Woofstock this weekend. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. My head almost exploded with all the crap I saw. I don't even know where to start! I start thinking about something I saw and I can't even type it out fast enough. After careful deliberation, I believe the best place to start is this ...

I can't begin to tell you how much of this I saw. Do you think that people

Thank You, Entrecard Advertisers for this Week

I want to give a little link-love as a thank you for this week's Entrecard advertisers ... they are:


Tom's Cats

Da Dude's BBQ Thought

elai's haven

Leomar's Den

Sisko's House

First Door on the Left

Denford Magora's Zimbabwe Blog

Drowning In Cats

Maitri's Heart



Entrecard is a free service that allows you to put a widgit on your blog to sell advertising space for "Entrecard Credits" or

Friday Feature - Fads, Social Contagion and Dog Breed Popularity

Do you remember when I wrote a post about how when dogs are in the media, people rush out to buy them? Then within a year or two the shelters/rescues are generally overwhelmed with that breed?? That was last June. One year ago. My blog entry was a Featured Rescue post in response to the Disney movie, Beverly Hills Chihuahua.



Since I started actively monitoring the numbers of dogs/breeds in

News Reel - Rescues are Overwhelmed

This was emailed to me and I thought I would share. Not that it's new news, but the more publicity we can get about pet over-population, spay/neuter necessities, adoptions and euthanasia the better.



MEDIA ADVISORY


Pet Rescues in Southern Ontario are overwhelmed


(Markham, ON - June 8, 2010): Homeless pets urgently need the assistance of

the public to avert a disaster created in part by

Asshat Award - Congratulations! I hear you're expecting

CraigsList ... I don't even know where to start. I think it is a great idea because it offers people a place where they can have a chance to re-home their pets without them going to the shelters ... you KNOW how much space we don't have in our shelters! The more that are rehomed without walking through that door, the better in my opinion. Unfortunately, CL also opens the door for BYBers, dumping,

Adgitize Summer Promotion

I'm sure you all know that I have advertising space on my blog but for those of you who have only recently joined us, you may not be aware that all the money I earn from advertising (above and beyond my costs) goes towards the animals. I donate this money to a dog related rescue (please remember that readers are always welcome to comment and make a suggestion regarding who this money is

Featured Rescue Followups March, April and May

Today's Featured Rescue Followup will be March, April and May. It will be a relatively long list but LUCKILY, I have figured out how to clip my posts so you can click the "READ MORE" button to see the entire post! Cool, eh? Ok, so I am super-excited about it anyway.


Here goes nothing!








Rafe and Redman the Rhodesian Ridgebacks

Status: Redman - Adoption Pending. Rafe - Not adopted; now

OffTopic ... EntreCard Top Droppers and Advertisers

Sorry to get off topic from dogs ... but I think I should post something about Entrecard here since it brings me so much traffic on a regular basis. It has increased my readership as well as increased the amount of Followers to my blog.




I have gone into Entrecard and written a review as well as rated each of this month's Entrecard Top Droppers from my Blog. I end up visiting each of your

DDF ~ A Rescuers Answering Machine

I can't remember if I've posted this already or not but since I can't find it when I search through my posts, that leads me to believe that I have not. I did not write it but I am crossposting it so we can all enjoy. Please click "Read More" to read the entire post.



A RESCUERS ANSWERING MACHINE



Hello: You have reached ___-____, Tender Hearts Rescue. Due to the

high volume of calls we have

Featured Rescue - Maximus the Beauceron

Today's Featured Rescue is Maximus the Beauceron. Maximus ... what a great name. I love it! Unfortunately, he's 6 years old and looking for a new home. He's black and big. I wish him all the luck in the world because he's going to need it.




I didn't know if this guy really was a Beauceron or not but after checking the pictures of this guy, you can see the double dewclaw on his back feet. He

Guess The Breed #17

Check out this one! What do you think she is? First prize, as always, is a little link love ...


Ready? Set? GO!









Remember the rules for these posts ...



1. No bashing other peoples' opinions.




2. Post your opinion. Don't be shy.



3. Have fun!

Phew, it's HOT!

Today the weather is supposed to break. It has been a balmy 33 degrees celcius (91 degrees farenheit) for most of this week. It's supposed to be a high of 25 degrees today (77 degrees farenheit). Since it's been so hot, herding classes were cancelled and our ACD is GOING CRAZY! She doesn't do well in the heat - was vomiting on Monday from heat exhaustion and we didn't even do anything physical.

Featured Rescue - Teddy the Australian Shepherd mix

Teddy is a cute little guy. He's listed as an Australian Shepherd mix. He's had some rotten luck ... I'm not sure how he arrived in rescue but he's been in for a good couple of months (since January).



Unfortunately, the worst case scenario happened for poor Teddy! He was hit by a truck while out for a walk with his foster home. The truck broke his pelvis. If you would like to contribute to

DogsDeserveFreedom - A Dogs Purpose

I read this and loved it. I thought you might like it too! I don't know who the author is ... if anyone knows, let me know and I will add their names for credit sake.
A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year-old)Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker,

News Reel - Rambo's Update

Here's another twist in the Rambo and Brittany saga. For those of you who don't know the story behind this, check out my earlier posts (part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4) that explain the details.



The latest news article is from May 20, 2010 (sorry - I didn't see it until today). Reading the headline I'm sure you will see why I have decided to blog about it:




Dog’s ribs broken in shelter:

Platform Beds vs. Fold Away Beds

I've always wanted one of those beds that fold away into the wall. You know, like the one from the 5th Element movie (where Korban hides Vito Corniellious, the priest). The contemporary platform beds remind me of them. Granted - they look much more comfortable than the one from the movie and I don't think they actually fold into the wall but that's the first thought I had when I looked at the

Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics - Alaska

I have decided to post a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! I'm going to post them by state/province and have a contents page Here



ALASKA



Anchorage Animal Hospital
Anchorage, AK
907-563-2395




Alaska SPCA Spay/Neuter Clinic
549 West International

Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics - Alabama

I have decided to post a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! I'm going to post them by state/province. For a complete list of the states/provinces, see the contents page here.



ALABAMA


Feral Cat Coalition
Fairhope AL
251-510-8585
For feral and stray

Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics

I have decided to post a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! I'm going to post them by state/province and am going to have this as the contents page. As I create posts, I will come back and Update this page.


Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Roped into it ...

I think I must be crazy



I have one heck of a soft spot and people seem to know just how to use it. I get a call yesterday morning asking if I do petsitting. My first answer SHOULD have been a resounding NO but I didn't even get that far because the person who asked me wouldn't stop talking.




She was calling from a local Vet Clinic and said the reason she is asking is because one of their

Featured Rescue - Katy the Brussels Griffon

I had a conversation with a lady today who said she has a Brussels Griffon that reminds her of Oscar the Grouch. Thanks to this conversation, I decided to Feature a BG for today's Featured Rescue!




This is Katy. I don't think she looks much like Oscar the Grouch, but maybe if you turn your head to the left ... Anyway, Katy is around 4 years old and is currently cared for by the American

News Reel - Ringworm Outbreak at Newmarket OSPCA

This was some really disappointing news when it hit last week but let me start from the beginning. Of course, I have an opinion on this -- how couldn't I?




Last week on Monday, the OSPCA announced that they would be euthanizing 350 animals at their Newmarket, Ontario shelter due to an outbreak of ringworm. Reports stated that approximately 60 of the animals were dogs, the rest were cats,

SOBCR needs foster homes

Getting back from a much-needed-hiatus, I have hundreds of emails in my inbox and tons of things I would like to say!! I just got back from a trip to BC and am ready to take on the world again. So ... here we go! One post at a time ...



I got this email in my inbox last week and thought I'd put it out there to see if anyone can help out this organization. I took the liberty of finding pictures

Featured Rescue - Dozer the Boxer

Today's Featured Rescue is inspired by the recent events in Brampton. Dozer is a handsome 3 year old Boxer. Dozer is going to be a challenge to anyone who adopts him but he will probably turn out to be a great dog. He's aloof to the animals he lives with which means he either doesn't like them or doesn't have much use for them (my bet would be that he doesn't like them! Believe it or not, your

News Reel - Rambo and Brittany NOT Pitbulls

For everyone who was out there holding their breath in anticipation here it is ... Rambo and Brittany are NOT Pitbulls! Go figure, eh? Check out the entire article here:




Dogs freed, ruled not pitbulls


The gist of the article is that the independent veterinarian deemed the dogs not to be Pitbulls and after 97 days in the pound, the two dogs get to go home (FINALLY!). Branco has spent more

News Reel - Bandit Euthanized; Rambo and Brittany update

In 2003, a dog named Bandit mauled a young boy. The boy was the grandson of Bandit's owner. He went to live at Toronto Humane Society along with many other animals. Bandit has been the source of many controversial discussions in recent years since a Judge ordered him destroyed after the 2003 mauling that left the young boy requiring 250 stitches. On Wednesday, Bandit was euthanized. If you are

Featured Rescue - Babe the Black Labrador

It's Black Dog Monday -- yahoo! Today's Featured Rescue is Babe, the Black Labrador Retriever. Babe was hit by a car and required surgery to repair her injuries. She had a broken pelvis in at least 3 places, a cracked femur , and severe bruising on her lungs. She also tested positive for heartworm and is taking meds to combat them. Poor gal hasn't had the best time yet.
Babe is currently being

CL Ads - Why Would you Post That?

All I can say is ... Why Would you Post That? Here are a couple of interesting ads I found today while perusing CL. I thought I'd share them with you!



Ad # 1 "Best Pit Ever!!!"
I actually think it is from a rescue but they don't put that info in there so it's really hard to tell. It's a cute dog with a nice write up ... however I have to admit that I would never consider putting something like

Herding Clinic This Weekend

There is a beginner herding clinic this weekend and I am going with the ACD. I don't think we know enough but our trainer seems to feel that we're doing quite well. Seems to me that I get the "NO!" and "You're too LATE/EARLY" way too much to participate in a clinic but she says that this is all about learning and progressing. So ... I agreed to go. Yikes!



I have found that since working on

Pupdates - Lady goes home

Yahoo!! Our foster dog was adopted this weekend; she went to her new home on Sunday. We always hold our breath for the first few days - just in case - but again it was not necessary. Lady's new owners love her dearly. They are looking forward to taking her on camping trips and hiking with her. We are pleased to have found the right home - especially considering her mannerisms when she first

Featured Rescue - Nala the Border Collie / GSD mix

Well I left that last post up for a while - wanted to make sure as many readers saw it and read it as possible. I went through their animal listings but can't see which dog might have been left on March 22 ... therefore, I have decided to feature their black dog!



Nala is a Border Collie / German Shepherd Dog mix. Doesn't this picture just make you want to take her home?? Now THAT'S what I'm

Awards - Hey You ...

Saw this when perusing different shelter websites and thought I'd pass it on ... This is why I think every shelter should have cameras that take a snapshot when motion activated. I am so glad that the Grey Bruce Animal Shelter posted this. They aren't close to me but I thought I'd pass on the info anyway.






Hey you.....





Sorry we missed you last night (March 22) when you came after dark.

News Reel - Dumpster Dog One Year Later

I don't think I blogged about this when the story first hit the papers last year ... in a nutshell, there was a 4 month old Shih Tzu puppy that was put in a cardboard box, its lid taped shut, and thrown into a dumpster in Toronto. The pup was found and the newspapers took the story and ran with it. Big news. Not that this sort of thing doesn't happen often but sometimes a poster-child is needed

One of those weekends ... ARGH

Again my weekend was too busy to blog. ARGH. This is becoming habit. For that, I'm sorry ... now I'm going to whine about it. I sometimes wonder what I did to deserve some of this? What did I do? Did I do some really terrible things in my past life or something?




This weekend something got in with our laying hens. Killed the whole flock but one and she is pretty beat up - can't get within 10

News Reel - From calm to crazy, and back again

I love this article. It's about the zoomies ... you know ... those wild-crazy I-Love-Life-Yaaaaaaa-Watch-Out-Run-Run-Run-Run-Run-Yahoo moments that your dog has. It is hard to remember as a dog person that not everyone is familiar with this behaviour and it may seem weird or bad. Here is one columnists' opinion about the zoomies:



From calm to crazy, and back again



I have found that my guys

News Reel - Seized pit bulls stuck in legal limbo

I read this article Seized pit bulls stuck in legal limbo and the first thing I thought was "Great! Another dog fighting ring closed." Then I re-read the article and the next thing I thought was not as upbeat. I hope when you read articles like this you read between the lines ... Here are a few quotes from the article; the ones that stood out to me ... hopefully this will explain what I see when

Featured Rescue - Jag the Australian Silky Terrier

Last week's GTB was a Silky Terrier; because of this, I have found a Silky that is available for adoption. His name is Jag.


Here's something weird ... the Forsyth Humane Society lists him as "claustrophobic" because he "gets sick" in small crates (I assume that means he vomits). Have any of you ever heard of this? I haven't. I wonder if he has anxiety issues and gets himself so worked up that

News Reel - Eighth Senior Employee at THS Charged

Thought I'd post a quick update to the happenings at Toronto Humane Society. Former THS supervisor Vijay Kumar was arrested on Saturday afternoon. This is the Eighth senior employee at THS who has been charged according to Globe and Mail report on March 15, 2010. Read the entire article here, Another official charged from humane society.



According to the article "23 staff members have been

Black Dog Monday - Nemo the Bernese Mix

Today's black dog is Nemo. He is listed as a Bernese Mountain Dog/Shepherd mix. He is guessed to be 3 years old and has been looking for his forever home for sometime. Nemo is picky about his people and will require an experienced dog home so finding the right family for him is required.


I have never heard of the rescue listing Nemo ... anyone know about them? Francisvale Home for Smaller

Featured Rescue - Lady the Beagle

I am always amazed at how many Beagles are out there waiting for homes in the rescue world. Wow. The numbers are in the thousands (over 8000 on Petfinder alone). Today's Featured Rescue is Lady, a 2 year old S/F beagle. Not sure how she came to be in rescue but she's there now and that's really all that matters. She is currently living with another dog and some children; she has reportedly

Guess the Breed #16

Apparently as a finalist of the TrainPetDog.com 2010 Dog Blog Award I get 10 free subscriptions to their "Elite Dog Club". I have no idea what that means or what it entitles you to but I'm going to make that the first prize for the next 10 Guess The Breed entries (and yes, this means MORE Guess The Breed so be sure to check back often).









This one might be super easy, but I hope not. What

Pupdate - Herding Lessons

Well, I've taken the plunge ... I've booked in for Herding Lessons starting next week. Yikes! This is totally new territory for me ... we have had sheep before and one of my first dogs was a BC/Heeler mix who worked them, but I was not part of the training for her, nor was I the one who was up at 5 AM to tend the sheep ... I was the lucky duck who got to bottle feed the lambs and shovel the "end

Fun Stuff - When Irish Dogs Are Smiling

Well this is cute When Irish Dogs Are Smiling: 12 Fun St. Patrick's Day Dog Costumes ...





Dressing up your dogs ... it makes many people shake their heads in disgust. Some will disregard the people who do this as silly without much between their ears. Perhaps it's true, but not always. Sometimes people who spend time teaching their dogs to allow them to put on costumes have taken time to

Featured Rescue Followups Dec, Jan, Feb

Well this will be interesting ... I haven't run a Rescue Followup since December! It will be quite a list. Here goes ...



Rafe and Redman the Rhodesian Ridgebacks
Status: Redman - Adoption Pending. Rafe - Not adopted.
Featured on January 12, 2009



Codi the Welsh Corgi
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on May 10, 2009



Eubie the Border Collie
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on May 13, 2009



Jack A

Black Dog Monday - Copper the Manchester Terrier

These guys are cute - and often mis-identified. Many shelters ID the Manchester Terrier as a Min Pin. Check out Copper. He is 1.5 years old and is looking for a new home. Unfortunately for him, the rescue that has him (Happy Tails K9 & Feline Rescue in MI) will only accept "Local adoptions". I hate it when rescues do this because it really limits the dog's chances of finding that perfect home.

Beautiful Blogger award from Lilligirl

I got an award from LilliGirl at It's a Great Life... Thank you LilliGirl!



Here are the rules of this award:A. Thank the person who gave you this award. Thank you LilliGirlB. Share 7 things about yourself. 1~I have a big mouth
2~It gets me into trouble
3~Sometimes I say what I'm thinking
4~That's not always a good thing
5~People piss me off most days
6~I don't have patience for idiots or

Featured Rescue - Sally the Cocker Spaniel

My inlaws have Cockers and I think they are cute dogs - not the right breed for me (the fur is somewhat inappropriate for a farm environment) but cute dogs all the same. Unfortunately, like many small breed cute dogs, they are often the target for Puppy Mills.



Meet Sally, a 2.5 year old female Cocker who came out of a Mill. She had cherry eye in both eyes and has had surgery but it didn't

TrainPetDog Finalist

Holy Jumpin'! So I totally had forgotten that I had entered this blog as a contestant for the TrainPetDog.com 2010 Dog Blog Award. Lo and Behold! Yesterday when I logged in to read my emails, I received an email that this blog is one of the 20 Finalists! Check it out!


2010 Dog Blog
Award




Thank you to all of you loyal readers who voted for my blog. Now the rest of the voting is up to the

Training Rant - Grey Matter

Ok, I've read trainers who preach both sides of some arguments and it drives me crazy. On the Furniture. Off the Furniture. Feed rawhide. Don't feed rawhide. Do this. Don't do that.



I really dislike it when it is all or none ... black or white ... good or bad. It bothers me. Why? Probably because it is misleading and it's not real life. Correct me if I'm wrong, but in my experiece, real life

News Reel - Coyote Attack In Pickering

I've blogged about Coyotes before but I thought I would post this anyway since it is recent. Check it out ...




Police warning public of coyote threat after puppy snatched in Pickering
March 3, 2010




The owner was walking her two dogs and one of them was snatched away by a Coyote! Granted, they are small dogs (Pomeranians) but that doesn't mean we shouldn't beware. The important thing is not

Featured Rescue - Jessie the Bluetick Coonhound

Ok, so I'm a bit cynical today. Been a rough week and I'm running out of patience for stupidity.



Today's Featured Rescue is a Bluetick Coonhound. Jessie is due to have puppies in 3 weeks. Her ad says that "She is really shy at first but warms up quickly". Jessie is at the Auglaize County Humane Society in Wapakoneta, OH. This ad makes me angry ... and of course I'm going to tell you why!

Asshat Rant - Some People Shouldn't

You know, I strongly believe that some people just shouldn't own dogs. No, let me re-word that statement, I believe many people shouldn't own dogs. Owning a dog is not a right; it is a privilege.

Check out this ad on CL this week from Toronto ... the OP's words are blue, mine are red.

Border Collie puppy needs a new home (Toronto/Whitby)


He is not neutered. Of course he's not. Why would you

Black Dog Monday

After a brief hiatus from the Blogsphere, I am returning to my daily posts. Sorry all.








Today's Black Dog is Leo. I saw his picture and thought he'd make a perfect featured rescue. Leo has been in rescue for over a year. Leo is 8 years old! He has been diagnosed with Perianal Fistulas which is like a human with chrohns disease but it doesn't seem to bother him much. Leo is available for

Black Dog Monday - Feather

It's Black Dog Monday and you know what that means ...



Today's Black Dog is named Feather. She is 11 weeks old and is listed as a Black Labrador Retriever, Border Collie [Mix]. She seems to be getting along with both the dogs and cats in her foster home. Feather is located in Rochester, NY with Pitty Love Rescue.

Featured Rescue - Frank the Beagle

I had a dog named Frank when I was small so I have a soft spot for any dogs in shelters by that name. Hence today's featured rescue - Frank. The first thing I noticed on this guy was his hound-ears. I love them; so soft and floppy. The second thing I noticed is his pink collar. I wonder if potential adopters will notice? I wonder if that is the sort of thing that would speed up or slow down an

Fun Stuff - A Rose by Any Other Name ...

Here's a fun challenge for you. It is designed to make you think about your dog and his/her personality traits. It is not supposed to be easy - it is supposed to make you think.




If there was a song or a set of lyrics in a song that best describes your dog, what would it be?



For my Australian Cattle Dog, her set of lyrics are the chorus from "I'm So Excited" by Pointer Sisters. She was

Product Review - Saved Rescued Animals and the Lives They Transform

I recently had the opportunity to review a book called Saved Rescued Animals and the Lives They Transform by Karin Winegar. I said I would write a review and I am doing so today. "Saved is a beautifully illustrated tribute to rescued animals who have deeply affected the people who saved them"




If you enjoy a happy ending story, then you should read this book; it falls along the same lines as

News Reel - Update on Brittany and Rambo

Things are heating up in Brampton as the battle rages on over the lives of Brittany and Rambo, two dogs who were seized in January for being born after Ontario's Dog Owners’ Liability Act, 2005 was instated. Read Part 1 and Part 2.







On February 12, 2010 Brampton's Commissioner, Jamie Lowery, took out a full page in the Brampton Guardian to write a letter addressing this issue. If you take

Featured Rescue - the American Water Spaniel

Today's Featured Rescue is inspired by our Guess The Breed post on Friday. For those of you who were interested, the answer was the American Water Spaniel. Do you know how long it took me to find a picture of one of these guys that was NOT either a puppy picture or a hunting picture with either a gun or dead duck? WOW.







Anyway, this is Suzy. She is an American Water Spaniel around 1 - 2

Guess the Breed #15

Wow ... I haven't posted a GTB since December! Good grief, you guys should have mentioned something about that earlier. I get sidetracked sometimes ...




Anyway ... Check out this one! What do you think she is? First prize, as always, is a little link love ... Ready? Set? GO!





What would a contest be without rules?

1. No bashing other peoples' opinions.

2. Post your opinion. Don't be shy.

Featured Rescue - Dante the Shiba Inu

I realize today that my choice of words for the title of yesterday's post was poor. It should have been Don't Judge a Dog BY its Breed ... not "ON". Whoops. Ah well - we can't all be perfect. But no one corrected me which is odd ...









Anyway, today's Featured Rescue is a Shiba Inu. Dante is 3 years old and already looking for another home. The rescue describes Dante as "king of his castle

Asshat Rant - Don't Judge a Dog on its Breed

Ok, this topic has been covered from so many angles it's getting to the point where people just roll their eyes when it comes up. I'm not going to preach about it. I should hope that if you are reading this blog, you would know that you should NEVER judge a dog based on its breed. Something happened on the weekend and I want to pass it on. Considering all the crap going on in Brampton right now (

Black Dog Monday ... er ... Tuesday

I didn't post our Black Dog yesterday because of that news reel ... here it is:



Today's Black Dog is Xena (click for Petfinder link). She is 5 1/2 months old and is listed as an Australian Kelpie / German Shepherd Dog mix with Buffalo Humane. What a cutie! She is beginning to nip at the feet of people when she gets excited and will need a home who is willing to take her to Obedience Classes.

News Reel - Protest at Brampton Animal Services

The Ontario battle rages on ... see Part 1 here.



Saturday morning there was a protest at Brampton Animal Services. In attendance were approximately 100 people, and NDP MPP Cheri Di Novo (who is trying to garner support for her Bill 222 which will repeal the breed-specific portion of the law).



The dogs are being cared for by staff at Brampton Animal Services until a decision has been made

Featured Rescue - Amber the Boxer/American Bulldog

In light of the situation in Brampton (please check the link if you don't know what's going on), I have decided to feature a Boxer/American Bulldog mix today. Her name is Amber. She is located at Camp LotsaDogs which is in Ontario ... I heard about this place last March - so far haven't heard much about them through the rescue network. If anyone has experience with them, please pass it on!




PS

Asshat Rant - Repetition

I happened across a situation the other day that made me shudder ... this is the second time I've run into this and it kills me every time.




Nothing bothers me more than idiot dog owners. You know, the ones who shout 25-100 times for their dog to "Sit" in a high pitched, shrill voice that makes you want to cut off your ears? Oh my. I could only imagine how the poor dog feels.



*headdesk

News Reel - Rambo and Brittany on death row

I know this is sort of old news for those who have been following this story and I wasn't going to blog about it since it is so well covered by many other dog blogs ... but I can't help myself. I have to blog something. If nothing else, to show my support AGAINST Breed Specific Legislation.



On January 13 Brampton Animal Services seized two dogs, siblings, for violating the province's pit bull

News Reel Rants - Dog Bites Family and Biting Dog

Sunday was the first time I've picked up a newspaper in months (aside from our local community news - I always check up on the Humane Society's column). I don't usually like the dog training columns in the paper because they don't generally give advice that I agree with. The unfortunate thing is that other people will read the article and then apply whatever advice given to their own dog(s).

Black Dog Monday

Today's Black Dog is named Corey. He is a big ol' Black and Tan Coonhound (with more black than tan as you can see). He is 5 years old and is reportedly good with other dogs. He looks gorgeous ... I love hounds; with their "froppy-ears" and "a-roo-roo-roo" ... my heart melts.
He is located at Sanilac County Animal Shelter which does euthanize due to space constraints. They have 14 dog kennels

Mail Bag - The Old Man and the Dog

I got this in my email and thought I'd share. It was a good read. It's been in circulation for a while so if you've already read it, I apologize. I can't seem to find the original source location for it so if anyone knows, please pass that on so we can ensure credit is given where it is due. It is a story with religious references so hopefully no one is offended.

The Old Man and the Dog by

Blog Updates - Blogroll Added

Just thought I'd let you all know that I have decided to open up a blogroll for non-animal related blogs. Previously, I had limited my blogroll to animal related blogs only but that's somewhat limiting.




If you would like me to add your blog to this list, please leave a comment and let me know. I do ask that you post a reciprocal link back from your blog (that means you put a link to my blog

News Reel - 29 new dog parks

Dogs and their owners from Toronto are happy this week. Check out this headline published in the Toronto Star earlier this week ... City approves 29 new dog parks. There are still 24 others that dog owners would like to see designated off leash (including High Park), but that is a great start! I would love to see dogs off leash everywhere, but you and I know that most dog owners don't teach their

Featured Rescue - Jester the Yorkshire Terrier / Papillion mix

Today’s Featured Rescue is a really cool looking dog! Check out Jester. He’s around 1 year old and is assumed to be a Yorkshire Terrier/Papillion mix. Isn’t he the coolest looking dog?



I love the write ups that Ann and Petes Foster Home for Animal Alliance does, but I really hate trying to figure out what it all means. I wish they would include a small checklist that includes something like

Stop talking and listen to what your dog isn't saying

Many people I know talk a lot to their dog. Most of these have full conversations with their dog without even realizing it. They ask questions and opinions of the dog. They tell them what they are going to do, they discuss crossword puzzles, what tv show to watch.










I have found that when they are so busy talking to their dog, they miss many opportunities to communicate. Sometimes we just

TrainPetDog - 2010 Dog Blog Award

I tried something new today. I have registered this blog for the TrainPetDog.com 2010 Dog Blog Award.



My readers can vote by coming to http://www.trainpetdog.com/ and entering the voting code in the voting box and clicking on the Submit button.



The Voting code for Dogs Deserve Freedom is 3U744.



In order for this blog to make it to round two, it MUST have at least 50 votes before

Featured Rescue - Black Dog Monday

I've blogged in the past about Black Dog Syndrome; in a nutshell, some people decided to do some research to prove that black dogs aren't adopted very often and in a shelter/rescue environment are euthanized more often than any other colour of dog (though anyone who works or volunteers regularly at a shelter could tell you that).



Because of this, I have been toying with the idea of making a

Foster Update

Ok, so I'm the worst person for posting pictures. I just can't seem to get my act together when it comes to this sort of thing. This is why today I have focused on posting pictures of our current foster dog. This is Lady. She was described as a Border Collie mix (which was why we went down to see her). As you can see from the photos, while she may have some BC in there, it certainly is not her

Study: Dogs Also Suffer From Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Here's a really interesting article. Study: Dogs Also Suffer From Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. If you want to read all the crazy science mumbojumbo, click here to see the study which was published in Molecular Psychiatry. Below are some interesting highlights:



"Scientists have identified a gene in Dobermans that makes the dog suseptible to obsessive compulsive disorder." While this may not

Featured Rescue - Dixie the Bluetick Coonhound

I've always had a soft spot for Blueticks and Redbones ... I blame this on being forced to read "Where the Red Fern Grows" when I was in school. It was a great book, but a heartbreaker for the dog-lover. I also had a friend whose father hunted - he always had 4 Redbones on hand (this may have also contributed). Generally, 3 were trained at all times and the fourth was his up and coming pup. The

Product Review - K9 KlearUp

Ok, so about 6 months ago the dog blog world was inundated with posts about K9 KlearUp. Like many other bloggers out there, I received a free sample. I was asked to write a review about the product and potentially sell it through my blog and receive "affiliate" fees. I told the marketing guy that I would test it extensively before posting about this product and that my review may go either way,

News Reeel - Update on Aussie Breeder

Here's a bit of news for you; an update about the Australian Shepherd breeder I featured on Friday ... following is the link to the article Mason-area breeder guilty in animal cruelty case below are some excerpts.



The jury found Joan Skillman, 73, of Aurelius Township "guilty of 6 (out of 11) misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty or abandonment ... She faces up to 93 days in jail, fines and up

Featured Rescue - the Australian Shepherd

In honour of all those poor dogs who were living in squalor (the ones mentioned in Friday's News Reel), I decided to post an Australian Shepherd today for the Featured Rescue. This is Sherlock. He is an adult male Aussie. He likes other dogs but doesn't get along so well with cats. Not sure where the name came from ... the shelter didn't list that in the Petfinder ad. Sherlock is located in

News Reel - Animal Cruelty Case goes to Jury

Sorry for posting two news reels in a row, but I want to share this one. To read the entire article, click here, Animal cruelty case goes to jury. Ok, if the jury doesn't decide this lady is guilty and put her in jail I'm going to throw a fit.



This lady is 73 years old and had 70 dogs!! That's just stupidity. They were, of course, all covered with mud, urine and feces after having lived 9

News Reel - Born to be a Hero

This news article is a little late in posting but I thought I'd share it anyway. There's an 18 month old Golden Retriever who protected his young owner (11 year old boy, Austin) from being attacked by a cougar.



(I'm talking about the four legged, furry kind with pointy teeth ... not the two legged, scantily clad kind in stilettos.)



Born to be a hero: Why Angel saved the day



Check out the

Featured Rescue - Abby the Basset Hound

I have a soft spot for hound dogs. Not sure why. Possibly because when I was younger I was given a Beagle mix? What a good dog ...



I know a lot of people who actually can't stand hounds, which to me is a real shame. They are quite trainable if you alter your training style to accomodate the hound's instictual drives. I have found that many trainers don't do this. It sets the dog and owner up

Pets as Gifts ... After the Dust Settles

You will find time and time again that rescues and SPCA's are always publishing the same message about not giving pets out as gifts. Sometimes you even find blog entries like this one about it (or this one, or this one). This message is published time and time again but the unfortunate reality is that the people who give pets as presents aren't necessarily the ones reading it. I have heard of

The Shelter Pet Project - PSA 2

So now that I know how to embed video into my blog, I'm all over that! So much fun when you find something new. Check this one out ... it's pretty neat to watch. I like how they designed these PSA's ... wish there were more. It's not your usual where they use pictures of neglected and abused animals. I love the different take on it!

Puppy Mill Information - Mill Dog Manifesto

We all know that Puppy Mills are bad for a multitude of reasons (which I'm not getting into today) ... but what happens to those dogs when a Mill is shut down? Where do all those dogs go? I always shudder when I see a Newspaper article that says something along the lines of "100 starving sled dogs have been seized" or "800 small dogs seized from filthy Arizona home". Who is going to take that

Featured Rescue - Ben the Border Collie mix

Ok, ok ... Today's Featured Rescue is a bit different and I'll explain why. Someone asked how come I never feature Canadian dogs because a lot of the dogs I post are from the USA. You know what? This is a GREAT question. I'm sorry she deleted the comment. It is very true and there are a few reasons to my answer.



First, I run a search on Petfinder based on breed and I usually try to find a dog

CL ~ A Letter from an Animal Control Officer

Below is a Letter from an Animal Control Officer. A good read. It is the other side of the Kill Shelter / Control Officer topic.


I am your animal control officer. I am not the dreaded "dogcatcher” or the “murderer” I’ve been called.



It is not I who allows your pet to roam the streets, to contact diseases from other free-roaming animals, to be hit by passing motorist or poisoned by rotting

Featured Rescue - Sophia the Dalmation

Today is the first Featured Rescue post of the New Year! Yikes! I would like to post more of these this year ...



Today's feature is a 12 year old female Dalmation named Sophia. It makes me sad when I see these older animals looking for new homes ... I always wonder how they ended up there? Anyway, Sophia sounds like a nice lady who is starting to show her age. She reportedly gets along well

Top Entrecard Droppers

Find below my list for the top entrecard droppers in the last 31 days. Thank you to everyone who drops by and special thanks go out to those who comment! I'm playing with some of the widget you can add to see if I can put something on there about commenting ...




Cornymans Money-Blog, everything about financial independence
CAP News
The Way I See It
vanillaseven.com
Frelia's Random Thoughts

Press Release - Hartz donates food and toys to shelters

I got this in my email and thought I would share. Sometimes good things happen out of the blue for shelters. Hartz really picked a great time to do this.




HARTZ SHELTER DONATION PROGRAM PLEDGE OF $3,000,000FULLFILLED

HARTZ RECEIVES $1,000,000 WORTH OF SHELTER NOMINATIONSIN TEN DAYS

SECAUCUS, N.J., December 23, 2010 - - Entering the holiday season, The Hartz Mountain Corporation, the leading

Returning from Hiatus

Happy New Year everyone!






After taking a much-needed break from everything computer related, I am ready to get rolling again with blogging. Where to begin?? Hmmm ... I have pictures to share with you all but they are still on the camera. I will be taking them off tonight. I do have some pics from December that I have posted. I will post some of my fosters in the next few days.







I am