Archive | May, 2010

In Memoriam

31 May

Today is another human holiday known as Memorial Day. First celebrated after the American Civil War, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for fallen soldiers. While most humans spend the day reflecting on their two-legged counterparts, there have also been active four-legged soldiers who deserve to be remembered as well.

Even though dogs have been used for military purposes for centuries, it wasn’t until after the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II that an official branch of the military was made for dog soldiers. Sometime after the attack, the American Kennel Club joined together with a volunteer group called “Dogs for Defense” to issue a request for dogs to be donated to the Army.  The “K-9 Corps” was started on March 13, 1942 by the Quartermaster Corps. Since then, military dogs, most often being German Shepards, have been used in the Korean War, Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf, Bosnia and Kosovo, and are still being used today in Afghanistan, Korea, Kuwait and Iraq. A military dog’s duties can range from scouting, sentry duty, tracking, and to help detect traps, land mines, and tunnels. Service dogs are also trained to assist at border crossings and places of transportation (specifically airports).

In Hartsdale, New York there resides a pet cemetery where most military and service dogs are buried once they travel across the Rainbow Bridge. There is also a memorial, erected in 1923, to honor the memory of all fallen four-legged soldiers.

(photo source)

The inscription reads: “Dedicated to the memory of the war dog erected by public contribution by dog lovers. To man’s most faithful friend for the valiant services rendered in the World War. 1914-1918.” Each Memorial Day, a ceremony is held at the foot of the statue to honor all pets of service whether they be military, seeing-eye, rescue, or police.

So today, please join me and my mom in a little moment of silence for all the brave women, men and canine soldiers that have help serve our country.

Happy tail wags.

Sources: South Coast Today, Military Working Dog Foundation, INC, Hartsdale Pet Cemetery

Oops!

29 May

It seems I completely forgot to post in the last couple of days! Or more like my mom’s been too much of a busy human to help me type. Really makes me wish my paws weren’t so clumsy on the keyboard. I do promise with all of my little puppy heart that next week I will be back to my regular weekday postings. And to make up for the heartache you must be feeling for not having seen me in all of two days, here are some adorable pictures of me to make you smile again!

Happy tail wags!

Wordless Wednesday

26 May

Black Dog Syndrome

25 May

Yesterday in my post about the Humane Society of Knox County’s newest arrivals, I mentioned “black dog syndrome.” I thought it deserved some clarification as not everyone knows what black dog syndrome is. In fact, neither mom nor I really knew about it until mom started volunteering at the HSKC.

Black dog syndrome is described on the Black Dog Rescue Project site as “a phenomenon that is well known to shelter workers and rescue organizations across the nation. Black dogs are much more difficult to find homes for. They are the last dogs to find homes and often among the first to be euthanized.” There aren’t a lot of statistics to back up this strange occurrence, but there are plenty of eye witness accounts from shelter and rescue workers and volunteers. There are also no solid facts as to why people overlook black dogs (and cats too), but there are a few theories.

  • Superstition: Affects mostly black cats but could have some impact on black dogs. There is also a superstition that black dogs are more aggressive or have a mean temperament.
  • Pop culture: There are a lot of times when black dogs are featured as evil ( think Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban). Depression is also sometimes referred to as “the black dog.”
  • First Impressions: Shelters are often ill lit and full of shadows that can hide a black dog. Potential adopters could walk right by a kennel and not even realize a dog is in there. Black dogs can also be seen as old due to grey or white facial hair.
  • Photographs: With the popularity of sites like Petfinder, more and more pets are being adopted through first looking at a photograph. Black dogs can be incredibly hard to photograph.


Some shelters are hard at work trying to dispel black dog syndrome. Some are offering discounts on their black dogs, others make sure their black dogs stand out by adding colorful blankets, toys, or even bows on the dogs’ collars.

If you’re thinking about adopting a dog or cat, don’t overlook the black ones that deserve loving homes too.

Happy tail wags!

Sources: Black Dog Rescue Project, MSNBC

Bienvenido Chihuahuas!

24 May

This weekend the Humane Society of Knox County, one of our local shelters, held their annual spring cleanup and cookout event. Being a dog and not so handy pulling weeds or using a paint brush, I had to stay home and hang out with the kitties while my mom and Angelica had all the fun. You see, not only was it a day to give the shelter a fresh look, it was also a semi celebration for the shelter’s new arrivals; a dozen chihuahuas from Los Angeles, California. Each month in LA over 300 chihuahuas are taken in by area shelters. It has caused these shelters to become over populated and in need of help. Deemed the “Paris Hilton Syndrome,” chihuahuas have now eclipsed the pit bull as being the most common breed in LA shelters. In December, the actress Katherine Heigl and the Jason Heigl Foundation rescued chihuahuas in danger of euthanasia and flew them to a shelter in New Hampshire. This time, with the help of LA Animal Services, the HSKC, Global Packing and Shipping, and Pennsylvania residence Marge and Janet Fithian, the dozen chihuahuas were flown from the LA Animal Services facility to Logan Airport in Boston, MA where they were met by shelter volunteers. Even though they only just arrived on the 20th, all but three had been adopted by Saturday! Angelica and my mom spent some time with one of the pups yet to find his forever home. His name is Ricardo (but Angelica likes to refer to him as Ricky). Shy at first, Ricardo spent sometime snuggling with Angelica and mom (something I discovered later after doing a thorough smell check of mom’s clothes). Pretty soon his curly tail was wagging and his curiosity took over. Angelica said he really enjoyed watching a pair of kitties who were in an outside enclosure. Hopefully Ricardo won’t fall victim to black dog syndrome (black dogs have been shown to be the least likely to be adopted) and will find his forever home soon.

Happy tail wags!

Source: The Herald Gazette, The LA Times

The Maine POM Project

21 May

Fire is a very scary thing. When a home is on fire it’s not only the flames one has to worry about, but also the smoke. Many times pets that survive the flames will become sick from inhaling all the toxic fumes. One way to save an animal from smoke inhalation is the use of a pet oxygen mask or POM.

A POM, originally used by veterinarians, is a cone-shaped mask that goes over the nose and mouth of a cat or dog. POMs have also been used on other smaller pets like guinea pigs and ferrets. Because the masks are made to go over the snout of an animal, they are far more productive than the previous method of using the regular human air masks.

An organization in my home state of Maine is trying to outfit all Maine rescue organizations (like fire trucks and ambulances) with POMs. It is called The Maine POM Project and was started in 2009 by a human named Bobby Silcott. Bobby is on the board of the Harvest Hills Animal Shelter and his local animal control officer. His first goal was to provide the 19 towns that Harvest Hills serves with the POMs. After becoming Red Cross certified to teach pet first aid and CPR, Bobby was able to outfit the 19 towns with POMs with the help of the owner of Bea’s Restaurant in Conway, NH who purchased all the necessary POMs. The Maine POM Project is now offering their services to the rest of the state to help other towns that currently do not have POMs.

Check with your local rescue organizations to see if they currently have access to POMs. If they do not, please stress their importance. Pets are part of families too.

Happy tail wags!

Source MSNBC, The Maine POM Project

Ice is Delicious

19 May

I have a confession to make; I love ice. I know it all started when I was a puppy, but I don’t quite remember the first time I had a piece. I do know that every time I hear the freezer door open or the familiar sound of the ice tray cracking, I come a-running! Other dogs laugh at me (as do the kitties) saying that it’s no more than frozen water. I don’t care what they say! I love to crunch it between my teeth, throw it across the room, and leave bits on the couch so when nanny sits down she has a cold surprise.

On my birthday, I received a package from The Honest Kitchen. In it was a can of their treat mix called Ice Pups.

(photo source)

Under full disclosure to my readers, I am an Honest Kitchen Ally known as a Web Hound. That means I am a fan of the company (I eat their food!) and don’t mind talking about them every once and a while on my blog. It also entitles me to potential freebies (like the Ice Pups), coupons, and taste-testing of new products.

Ice Pups is a powder mixture made from ingredients like dehydrated chicken, dandelion, turkey, whey, and asparagus. Mom said it kind of smelled like chicken soup, especially when mixed with warm water. To begin the process of making an Ice Pup all you humans have to do is add warm water and stir. It can then be served warm, like a puppy tea (it’s good for kitties too!), or put into an ice tray and frozen for a cold treat. The latter option is what my mom did.

Ice Pups fulfills my craving for crunchy ice with added tastiness and good-for-me nutrients. I actually enjoy them so much, I didn’t leave any on the couch for nanny to find. Mom is thinking about adding the warm, liquid version of the Ice Pups to Harry and Gracie Lynn’s diet as well. When mom made her first batch, Gracie decided to taste test the powder and wound up with it all over her nose! Harry has has some problems with urinary tract infections in the past and the key is to up his fluid intake. Ice Pups can be beneficial in that way. It’s also great for pets who have been through surgery and aren’t eating or drinking as much as they should.

If you would like more information or to purchase a can of Ice Pups (they now have a new 10 ounce tin!) check out The Honest Kitchen site here.

Happy tail wags!

P.S. If you would like me to review a product, please e-mail me at dear(dot)pru(dot)1(at)gmail(dot)com. I’m always game for new things.

My Wishes are for Fishes!

18 May

Remember the post about my switch to The Honest Kitchen’s Keen and how I mentioned that Honest Kitchen had a new fish treat called Wishes? Well, the wonderful people at Honest Kitchen sent little ole me a sample bag of their new snack!

Here’s where I say under full disclosure that I am an Honest Kitchen Allie known as a Web Hound. That means every so often I will chat about the company here and on my Twitter or facebook and will occasionally receive free samples, discounts, or products to taste test. If you are a fan of Honest Kitchen, you too can become and Allie (they have tons of different programs). Check the program out here for more information.

Now that that’s done with, it’s on to the good stuff! Wishes are dried pieces of Icelandic haddock and it can be enjoyed by both dogs and cats. The fish is caught using a line and hook as not to negatively impact the rising haddock population in Iceland. Wishes are grain-free and are a great snack for pets that have allergies or cannot eat certain things like specific meats.

(photo source)

Mom was a little bit worried that these treats wouldn’t send me swimming upstream. I had tried a fish based treat a long time ago that I did not enjoy. Her worries were for naught though! The second the smell of fish hit my little, wet nose, my butt would not stop wiggling. Nanny was not impressed with the smell as it is quite strong, but she gets bothered by lots of things (like when I chew on the couch pillows). Mom didn’t mind it as she enjoys eating dried fish so she is use to it.

Wishes are definitely one of my new favorite treats! Mom has been using them as training treats and has noticed I seem to come to attention much faster.Gracie Lynn even enjoys them much to my displeasure (I hate sharing). She has tried to run off with the bag a couple of times and has chewed up a corner of it trying to break it open. Harry is very uninterested, but he’s picky. He only really like a nice piece of chicken as a snack.

So if you’re on the lookout for a new treat to try for either your cat, dog, or both, give Wishes a try! You can order them online here or check with your local independent pet supply store. Oh and check back tomorrow to see another product I was sent.

Happy tail wags!

P.S. If you would like to send me a dog related product to review, please e-mail me, Prudence, at dear(dot)pru(dot)1(at)gmail(dot)com

Heartworming

17 May

A week and a half ago I had to go for a visit to see Dr. S, my pet doctor. I had to have something called a test. I vaguely remember having one last year so I knew it wasn’t the human type of test that involves studying. Instead, Dr. S pricked my with a needle and drew some of my blood. I tried to tell her I needed that, but it came out as a whine (which I don’t think neither my mom or Dr. S understood). Mom later explained to me that the blood was to be examined to see if I have something called “heartworms.”

Real heartworms are far scarier than their plushy counterparts

(photo source)

After some research I found out that heartworms are a parasite named Dirofilaria immitis (that must be a really hard name to call to dinner). They are spread by mosquitoes that carry the heartworm larvae. The larvae enter the mosquito bite and travel through the body until they reach the heart and lungs, a process that usually takes up to 6 months. As they grow and multiply, the parasite blocks the heart and major blood vessels that go to other vital organs. Once grown (up to 12 inches) the adult heartworm sends out mini heartworms, called microfilariae, into the blood stream. Those can be spread to other animals by more mosquitoes who suck the infected blood. No wonder I hate mosquitoes so much.

Symptoms of heartworm usually present itself in the advanced stages of the disease. A dog that is infested with heartworms first develops a cough. This is usually in stage one. As the diseases progresses, the coughing increases as well as an aversion to exercise (could you imagine not wanting to go for walkies?!). Eventually the infected may experience anemia, right-sided heart failure,  a rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, labored breathing and fainting spells. It usually all ends in death if not treated.

Treatment is very expensive (usually upwards of $1000) and hard on the pup as it usually involves hospitalization and sometimes surgery. This is why prevention is pushed by so many vets. I take Heartgard, a meaty flavored treat, once a month. It not only protects me from heartworms but also roundworms and hookworms. I don’t take it during the winter, with the okay from Dr. S, as all the mosquitoes are dead during the snow season (which is why I always have a heartworm test come spring). Make sure you talk to your pups vet if you live in an area where the mosquitoes die out during a certain time of the year. Most vets suggest year-round protection. If Heartgard doesn’t interest you, there are also other prevention methods you can talk to your vet about.

Web MD has a good list of heartworm FAQs that can provide further information.

Oh, and my test came out negative! So no heartworms for me.

Happy tail wags!

Source: PetMD, Web MD, and Heartgard

All For Me!

13 May

I’m greedy and I am completely okay with admitting it. That’s why holidays (and yes, I consider my birthday a very important holiday) are my favorite days because usually they involve presents of some sort. Yesterday was no exception!

My birthday started with lots and lots of happy birthday wishes on Twitter, my facebook, and here on the blog! I was so happy, my butt almost broke from wiggling so much. I had some brunch (mom had an early morning meeting so I missed breakfast) consisting mostly of these really amazing liver cookies made by my not-related Aunt Angelica. They are so very delicious. Maybe I can convince her to give me the recipe to share!

Anyway, I put on my birthday dress (the one in yesterday’s photo and made for me by my mom) and headed to The Loyal Biscuit to pick out my birthday present. I was told I could pick out any toy I wanted. I really wanted some treats, especially these yummy pizza treats packaged all pretty like, but mom told me I already had too many. I thought that was kind of rude, seeing as it was my birthday and all. I figure that means I’ll just have to scarf down the treats I have now so I can get some new ones, so I guess it’s not too bad.

I finally decided on this really fun toy from Knight Pet called a Bot-A-Mal. You see, I am a water bottle chewer from way back in my puppy days. But the thing is, water bottles can be dangerous because they crack and splinter. Plus there’s the whole thing about plastic not being so good to chew. Bot-A-Mals are stuffed animals that you can put a water bottle in so it has all the crunchy fun without the danger! Fenway, the Biscuit store dog, suggested I get one because she has one too.

My Bot-A-Mal is the best!

When leaving The Loyal Biscuit, mom and I literally ran into Angelica and Leo who were on their weekly shopping outing. It was a great birthday surprise, even though I made Leo very anxious because I was so hyper. Aunt Angelica bought me a big cow trachea AND had an adorable hoodie for me! It has ruffles! I love ruffles! They are so girly and cute. Everyone has been calling them my butt ruffles. And the hood lining features these really cute Scottie dogs. I’ve never met a Scottie dog before, but if they are as cute as the ones in my hoodie, I really want to meet one!

For dinner, my mom made me a yummy steak with some garlic. It wasn’t my first taste of steak, but it definitely was the first time anyone ever made a steak just for me! I sat in the kitchen drooling while my mom prepared it for me. I was a little nervous  because it was my mom’s first time making a steak (she doesn’t cook much) but it was all for nothing because it was delicious. Steak, roasted carrots and sweet potato make for a very delicious birthday dinner.

Happy tail wags!

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