Dogs

It is easy to become incensed at the light punishments given to people who are convicted of committing even the cruelest acts of animal torture and death. Too often they are just given suspended sentences and community service. And e...
It is easy to become incensed at the light punishments given to people who are convicted of committing even the cruelest acts of animal torture and death. Too often they are just given suspended sentences and community service. And even worse, there is nothing to prevent them from acquiring another animal to abuse, even if they are ordered not to have a pet for a period of time. People who abuse innocent, helpless animals are wired wrong. They are cowardly sadists. Maybe they can change, I have a hard time believing it. But prisons are full of people who pose a real and present threat to the public. Giving long sentences to animal abusers doesn’t seem to be the answer. For that reason building a database of animal abusers that would be available online seems to offer several possibilities.   The registry would be available to shelters, rescues, breeders, as well as the general public. Like the registry of sex offenders, it identifies the people convicted of the crime without accusing them of any future wrongdoing. It lets the public know who and where they are. The main intent is not to shun or shame the abuser, but to protect the animals. Just as the Megan’s Law registry is designed to prevent convicted sex offenders from being hired as child care workers or trusted as friendly neighbors to children, the animal abusers registry is designed to protect animals from being owned by convicted animal abusers. The Michigan legislature is considering setting up a registry, the first in the country. A $10,000 grant is available from an animal charity for a start up. A district attorney Animal Crimes Unit has agreed to host the database. Any costs in keeping the database up-to-date and online could be paid for from fines levied on the abuser.   So why is Wayne Pacelle, the CEO of America’s wealthiest organization for animal welfare, using his resources to defeat the idea of a registry? No real surprise. Nathan Winograd outlines in full detail the misguided reasoning and hypocrisy through the years of Wayne Pacelle in “Putting Abusers Before Animals Is Business as Usual at the HSUS.” Winograd chronicles how Pacelle has consistently put abusive people before abused animals, including the high profile Michael Vick case. According to his evil henchmen, Michael Vick enjoyed torturing and killing dogs in the cruelest ways possible. Pacelle solicited money from the public for the HSUS to take care of the Vick dogs, while using his influence to have them all killed. He maintained that none of the dogs could be rehabilitated. He was wrong.     Then he struck a deal with the abuser. Taking the “Wayne and Mike Show” on the road, he devoted much of his time and energy to rehabilitating the image of Vick. Vick was allowed back into the NFL with a multi-million $$ contract.   Has Vick reformed? He will probably never again torture a dog for fun, but then O.J. Simpson will probably never kill his wife again.
about 5 hours ago
We all have our favorite places to visit (perhaps a bucket list for you and the dog?) … if we were traveling this Memorial Day weekend, there are a few favorite places to visit easily from Monterey County… Half Moon Bay, Bodega Bay, Napa...
We all have our favorite places to visit (perhaps a bucket list for you and the dog?) … if we were traveling this Memorial Day weekend, there are a few favorite places to visit easily from Monterey County… Half Moon Bay, Bodega Bay, Napa, Sebastopol, Healdsburg, Mendocino … We love them all… Still, here is a trip we are longing to explore again in a heartbeat…  beaches, wine and cheese and chocolate and redwood trees… who could ask for anything more? Wine countries Our favorite pet friendly wineries… Larson Family Winery  23355 Millerick Road Sonoma, CA 707-938-3031 Larson Family Winery Navarro Vineyards 5601 Highway 128, Philo; (800) 537-9463; www.navarrowine. com. Doggie heaven. There are always treats and a bowl of water in the tasting room. Picnic tables are around the grounds, and there’s a fenced-in dog exercise area. Toulouse Vineyards 8001 Highway 128, Philo. (707) 895-2828; toulousevineyards.com. Dogs are free to roam the big warehouse of a tasting room or outside on the loading dock. (Contact me for a free list of pet friendly wineries in California) Mendocino Pet Friendly Avenue of the Giants from Willits to Garberville is about 1 to 2 hours (twisty and windy) and then to Orick another 2-3 hours….very twisty and windy from Oregon to Crescent city (just beyond Orick)   Orick is north of eureka and arcata and Trinidad is just before Orick, or south of Orick on the way to Eureka and Klamath is just north of Orick a few miles if you take the 5 rather than the 101 north, you wind up in Medford, Oregon… Ruffing it in the redwoods If your dog has a certain affinity for trees – and what dog doesn’t? – they’ll certainly enjoy a fragrant stroll among the tallest in the world. Humboldt County has some of the few places where you can let your dog scamper among redwoods. And while other regions boast of having a single off-leash dog beach, Humboldt has six of them – one of which awaits at the end of a scenic 5-mile coastal trail. http://www.redwoods.info/showrecord.asp?id=2685 Beaches Several County Beaches allow dogs to run without a leash on the wave slope within voice command: Clam Beach  Big Lagoon Moonstone Luffenholtz Mad River County Park Samoa Dunes Recreation Area Leash only Trinidad State Beach,  Little River, and Dry Lagoon.  http://www.friendsofthedunes.org/resources/dog/ http://www.treesofmystery.net/trails.php Pet Friendly lodging Motel Trees across from Trees of Mystery http://www.treesofmystery.net/motetree.htm $60 + per night Humboldt Gables Motel Rio Dell Clean, comfortable, AAA approved, & just a few minutes from the Wild and Scenic Eel River. RATES STARTING AT $60 707-923-2721 Sherwood Forest Motel Urban luxuries in a northcoast motel located in the center of a beautiful redwood forest. http://www.sherwoodforestmotel.com/  Travel Inn Clean and comfortable stay at a reasonable price. Close to the redwoods. Travel packages for groups. Econo Lodge Downtown Humboldt County’s best in the budget segment. Close to Old Town. Indoor pool. Bode Suites & Rentals Perfect choice for a 30 day+ stay. Comfortable, convenient and affordable in the Eureka area.   53/day (30 day minimum). stay far far far away from the eureka motel 6 worst place ever   http://redwoods.info/capsule.asp?seeall=yes&category1=Lodging&searchtype=&petswelcome=yes&orderby=&searchphrase= http://www.redcrestresort.com/rates.html visit to the Humboldt Redwoods State Park Visitor Center in Weott, 6 miles south. The friendly staff will be happy to answer all your questions. Then it’s time to go! Hiking, biking are literally at your doorstep and golfing is just a short drive away. Fishing, swimming, kayaking and rafting are possible on one of our six spectacular rivers. Search for shells and agates on one of the many redwood coast beaches. Traveling North from Redcrest Visit the Victorian Village of Ferndale which is listed on the Historic Register. See the many turn of the century homes and shops
about 5 hours ago
Estately recently released it's "17 Best Cities for Dogs" list, with Portland, OR, coming out on top. If you don't live in Portland, YOU LOSE! THANKS FOR PLAYING. Granted, these sorts of lists, patched together by disparate statistics ...
Estately recently released it's "17 Best Cities for Dogs" list, with Portland, OR, coming out on top. If you don't live in Portland, YOU LOSE! THANKS FOR PLAYING. Granted, these sorts of lists, patched together by disparate statistics and hearsay, are typically best at not naming the best cities for dogs but rather riling up readers and commenters. They're used to draw page-views. They're used to generate controversy. They're used to get otherwise well-intentioned dog owners to say weird things like, "You want to step outside, Estately?" We thought we'd play along, obviously. Dogster is based in San Francisco, so we're batting for the home team, and we have to wonder what Estately is smoking. San Franciso should be first -- and second. Whatever particular city you live in should be ranked third. (And fourth? Sure!) Then Estately can have its Portland. Share this image Dogs in S.F. by Shutterstock.'> Dogs in S.F. by Shutterstock.'> Dogs in S.F. by Shutterstock. function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) Okay, we'll stop. We've had our fun. We really don't mind the list all too much. Estately put S.F. at No. 5 because of our 27 dog parks, our dog-friendly restaurants and gyms, a dog newspaper, and this dog who hangs out in a cab. What it didn't mention is the shocking lack of decent backyards, thank God. Portland, however, has 33 dog parks. So, you know, whoopee for Portland! To be honest, the list is a pretty good way to get a bead on some great dog things in the different cities. Did you know Austin has a food truck for dogs? That Tucson hosts an annual Pitbulooza in honor of National Pit Bull Awareness Day? That dogs are welcome at the local Ghost Town Wild West Museum in Colorado Springs? (Um, yay?) We also learned that some Vegas casinos allows dogs, that Portland is considering a $150 fine for people who don’t scoop their dogs' poop, that San Diego is the dog surfing capital, and that Kramer the Famous Rock Dog is famous for fishing for rocks in Austin's rivers and lakes. The list also made sure to mention that Seattle-based REI sells more than 150 dog-related outdoor adventure products online, so, you know, move to Seattle? Here's the full list, and we encourage you to click on the story to read about each city. You're also welcome to be outraged in the comments. Your call. Portland San Diego Seattle Austin San Francisco (really? Are you serious? Fifth? Not first? What's above first? Shouldn't we be that?) Albuquerque Tuscon Boston Phoenix Minneapolis Colorado Springs Chicago Las Vegas Miami Washington Denver Cleveland Share this image Dog on a beach in San Francisco by Shutterstock.'> Dog on a beach in San Francisco by Shutterstock.'> Dog on a beach in San Francisco by Shutterstock. function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width())
about 6 hours ago
*Note: I choose to give my dog the minimum amount of heartworm prevention medication I believe is necessary to keep him reasonably safe from heartworm disease. My personal decision should not necessarily be your decision. Does my dog nee...
*Note: I choose to give my dog the minimum amount of heartworm prevention medication I believe is necessary to keep him reasonably safe from heartworm disease. My personal decision should not necessarily be your decision. Does my dog need heartworm prevention year round? To determine whether or not to give your dog a monthly heartworm prevention tablet, I recommend you weigh the risks of the toxic prevention tablet vs. the risk of your dog developing heartworm disease. For 2013, I have decided to give my dog fewer doses of heartworm prevention medication than I have in the past. In previous years, I gave Ace monthly heartworm prevention in the six warmest months of the year, typically May through October. I’ve never believed year-round treatments are necessary for Midwestern dogs, because heartworm disease is transferred by mosquitoes and those Suckers are dead around here by November. I live in one of the coldest places on earth. In Fargo, N.D., it’s completely normal for the temperature to remain below zero for days. We are unfazed when the temperature dips below -30. While I tend to be a worrier when it comes to my dog, I’ve never worried about the possibility of Ace getting infected by heartworms in the winter … While the vets in our area generally recommend monthly heartworm prevention year round, they don’t seem to mind if dog owners choose to treat for just six months as long as they do an annual heartworm test. (This is not a scientific survey, it’s just my observation.) Before we get to some of the reasons why I believe this is still too aggressive, I’ll go over some brief details about heartworm disease. What is heartworm disease? Heartworm disease is transmitted by infected mosquitoes carrying immature heartworm larvae, according to “Dogs Naturally Magazine.” When one of these mosquitoes bites a dog, she could inject the larvae into the dog’s body where they could eventually travel to the dog’s heart. There, the larvae could develop into adult heartworms capable of creating new larvae which could circulate in the dog’s blood. If a mosquito bites the infected dog, she could transfer the larvae to other dogs. Symptoms of heartworm disease include a loss of appetite and weight loss, coughing, gagging, shortness of breath and a lack of energy, according to “Dog’s Naturally.” Fear is an effective marketing tool While heartworm disease can be very serious and deadly, your dog may not face a high risk of contacting the disease in the first place. Let’s remember that fear is an effective and profitable marketing tool. Is the cost of heartworm prevention a factor? Heartworm prevention through a monthly medication such as Heartgard is affordable, starting at around $6 per tablet. This is not going to break the bank for most of us. In addition, a heartworm test is around $40 in my area. Obviously if you have to treat your dog for heartworm disease, the cost will be much more than it would have been to prevent the disease. So what’s the problem? Why don’t I just spend $100 or so on heartworm prevention and call it good? Because heartworm prevention tablets are toxic chemicals Heartworm prevention drugs are parasiticides – neurotoxins designed to kill any larvae that your dog may be harboring, wrote Ted Kerasote (author of “Merle’s Door”) in the book “Pukka’s Promise: The Quest for Longer-Lived Dogs.” Just as some veterinarians continue to give dogs unnecessary vaccines every year, some vets also insist on giving dogs a monthly dose of toxic heartworm prevention. Vets profit from promoting excessive heartworm prevention Vets are taking advice directly from the American Heartworm Society, a group that studies the disease and recommends year-round chemical preventative treatments for all dogs, regardless of where they live, according to Dr. Karen Becker in the article “Why Hav
about 8 hours ago
Share this image function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent()...
Share this image function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) Teddy and Harley are two Chihuahuas who were rescued from separate puppy mills, but their stories are all too familiar. Confined to wire cages with hardly enough food and water to survive, the two Chihuahuas endured lives of misery. They were used to breed litter after litter, without a single concern for their physical or emotional well-beings. Finally, at the age of seven, Teddy was rescued by the National Mill Dog Rescue and transferred to Lily's Haven in Colorado, from which he was adopted into a loving home. Teddy's former puppy-mill days manifest themselves in the dog's missing teeth, uneven hips, and torn ears, but his spirit is intact. Share this image You can see where Teddy's ears are all torn up, probably as a result of cage fights. function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) Share this image Teddy is ready to help stop puppy mills, so no other dog has to suffer like he did. function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) Harley, however, fared worse. The older dog was given three months to live after being pulled from a puppy mill by Because of You Chihuahua Rescue. He is missing an eye and had to have most of his teeth removed as a result of them going bad from negligence, his tail is broken, and his heart is bad. His spirit, however, remains undaunted. Share this image If Harley had two eyes, he'd be TOO adorable. function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) Share this image Harley is pint-sized with a BIG heart. function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) Not only have Teddy and Harley recovered, they are now leading a charge against puppy mills. Instead of wallowing in the injustices of their past lives, the two little survivors have become the spokesdogs for National Mill Dog Rescue, and they are heading a campaign called Harley to the Rescue to raise funds to send the organization on another puppy-mill rescue. Share this image Use this on Facebook to show your support! function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) For many, the effort of survival consum
about 10 hours ago
Read and heed! It’s getting to be that time of year again. Seems like every summer I read about a dog left in a car too long who passes on from the heat. Such a stupid way to die. Until next time, Good day, and good dog!
Read and heed! It’s getting to be that time of year again. Seems like every summer I read about a dog left in a car too long who passes on from the heat. Such a stupid way to die. Until next time, Good day, and good dog!
about 11 hours ago
Marine Sgt. Ross Gundlach, while serving in Afghanistan, made a promise to Casey, the explosive-detecting yellow Lab who worked alongside him. “I promised her if we made it out of alive, I’d do whatever it took to find her,&#...
Marine Sgt. Ross Gundlach, while serving in Afghanistan, made a promise to Casey, the explosive-detecting yellow Lab who worked alongside him. “I promised her if we made it out of alive, I’d do whatever it took to find her,” Gundlach said. Gundlach, after completing his military service and enrolling at the University of Wisconsin, managed to find out [...]
about 12 hours ago
A dog left tied to train tracks in California last month has found a new home. Unlike that day last month, when he was secured to the tracks in the path of an oncoming train, he had many options to choose from. Officials at Riverside Cou...
A dog left tied to train tracks in California last month has found a new home. Unlike that day last month, when he was secured to the tracks in the path of an oncoming train, he had many options to choose from. Officials at Riverside County’s Department of Animal Services said they received more than [...]
about 12 hours ago
A Dachshund called Captain Morgan (so named because he has only one eye, like a pirate -- arrgh) was headed to a bad place fast. He was stuck in a high-kill shelter in Selma, AL, and his number was nearly up. He slept on a cold concrete ...
A Dachshund called Captain Morgan (so named because he has only one eye, like a pirate -- arrgh) was headed to a bad place fast. He was stuck in a high-kill shelter in Selma, AL, and his number was nearly up. He slept on a cold concrete floor. During bath time, staff sprayed him with a hose. He had heartworm, which was untreated. It looked like it wasn't going to end well. But Sara Cross, founder of Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue, and Eva Armstrong, one of the group's rescuers, didn't want to see that happen. The rescue works with Alabama's Wannabe Rescued to help bail dogs out of the Selma pound. The two groups do so because dogs don't stand a chance at that place. Once local foster parents in Alabama are fully tapped, Badass Brooklyn steps in to bring the dogs up north to place them in foster homes. Badass has saved more than 800 dogs from high-kill pounds in the South. Share this image At one of Badass Brooklyn's apoption events. Photo by Hilary Benas via Badass Brooklyn's Facebook. function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) "We really want people to understand the urgency here," Cross told the New York Daily News. "You either take the dog or the dog gets killed the next day. There's no other option." Captain Morgan got his ticket out in March alongside 30 other dogs that day. In New York, the group typically fosters out the dogs, but Captain Morgan was a special case -- he had heartworm. He needed treatment. Armstrong let the one-eyed dog stay with her while he got healthy, and Cappy (short for Captain Morgan) jumped right in. Bonding, as they say, took place. Cappy slept in Armstrong's bed. They watched TV. They took walks. The dog learned how to be a happy puppy to a loving caretaker, and Armstrong's kindness made a big impression on the little dog. After he was adopted to a couple in Park Slope, Brooklyn, Cappy didn't forget his rescuer. When the two were reunited earlier this month at one of Badass Brooklyn's block parties, Cappy spotted Armstrong from a distance, ran over, and leapt into her arms. Photographer Hilary Benas caught the embrace at the perfect time. The photo went viral. You can see why: Share this image Photo by Hilary Benas via Badass Brooklyn's Facebook. function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) "It's great that he found a home right here in Park Slope," Armstrong said. "When he sees me, he goes nuts." Cross told the told the Huffington Post that she see this a lot: "Whenever any of us run into dogs that we have fostered or rescued, they always recognize us and are so excited to see us. Dogs remember the person who saved their life and helped them on their way to a forever home." If you would like to help facilitate more happy reunions like this one, you can donate to Badass Brooklyn via its Facebook page and website. "Cappy would not be alive were it not for a small group of dedicated volunteers in Selma, Alabama," Cross told the Daily Mail. "We would not even know these dogs exist, let alone be able to rescue them, if it were not for amazing volunteers."
about 12 hours ago
Hey, it's me, Sam.  I drew the short bone so I get to make the announcement. *Yes, Buddy, drawing the short bone does too make me the winner!  If you want to argue about it, I'm the biggest and heaviest, so I'll be happy to sit on you...
Hey, it's me, Sam.  I drew the short bone so I get to make the announcement. *Yes, Buddy, drawing the short bone does too make me the winner!  If you want to argue about it, I'm the biggest and heaviest, so I'll be happy to sit on you until I'm finished posting. You already had a recent turn anyway.* As I was trying to say, last Monday we all posted on Seasonal Allergies and a Giveaway.
about 14 hours ago