Here's a sweet article that I thought I would pass along... –Kim

Roadie........."Who Rescued Who?"
By Don Hill
August 30, 2011

I was in Augusta, Georgia where I had been for several weeks cleaning out my mother's home, following her recent death as a result numerous health issues and complications. On Sunday, my final day there, I was just about an hour from leaving to return to the foothills of the Northeast Georgia Mountains and my five rescue dogs, almost 4 hours away.

As I walked out into the front yard to take one last look at the home of my parents, I saw in the front yard what appeared to be a very old dog that was in obvious distress. He would walk in a semi circle, then fall to the ground then struggle back to his feet and do it again. I saw him do this same thing at least 3 times as I walked over to him. This was to be, by far, my easiest rescue, because this poor old boy was in no shape to run from me, but also the most heartbreaking.

This poor old un-neutered male was in just the worst shape I had ever seen of any dog in my many years in animal rescue. He was emaciated, dehydrated, and his right eye was swollen shut, draining pus. Both ears were severely infected and draining, and his body was covered with open sores. He was infested with fleas, and his front nails were almost four inches long. All his teeth were worn down level with his gums (I assume from years of chewing at a cable or chain used to confine him), and the pads on his feet were extremely worn and cut.

As I got close to him, he didn't appear to hear me approaching. But when he saw my shadow, he flinched and fell to the ground as if he were about to be beaten, and he cowered. I sat on the grass with him and stroked him and talked softly to him until he stopped cowering, trying to assure him that no one was ever going to hurt him again and that his suffering was going to end. I wanted to show him that he had nothing to fear from me.

I estimated his age at 10-plus. The vet that treated him later determined he was close to 15. I picked him up in my arms and carried him into the carport, where I had a small utility trailer packed with things from my mother's house that I was taking with me. There was some dry dog food and some stainless steel dog bowls in one of the boxes, as well as some old blankets and towels. So, I made him a bed then put him on it as I mixed some of the dry food with water to soften it, knowing he would have a hard time eating it otherwise with his teeth in the condition in which they were.

For several hours, I gave him food and water in small quantities, due to his condition. I didn't want him to eat or drink too much or too fast, but I was trying to build his strength some and get him home. There I could take him to my vet the following morning and end his suffering humanely. Leaving him was never an option, after I had found him.

I made him a bed on the front seat of my Jeep and picked him up and laid him on it. I hitched up the utility trailer and began the drive home, wondering if this now soundly sleeping old boy would make it back to the farm. Just a few miles down the road, he lifted his head and looked at me with the one big brown eye he could open as if to say, "Thank you." He then laid that head across my right thigh, where it stayed the entire ride home, and he went back to sleep.

Well, he made it back to the farm with me where I bedded him down comfortably in an empty stall in the barn. I wanted to keep him isolated from the other dogs there, until I could take him to the vet's office first thing the next morning.

I carried him into the vet's office and laid him on the examination room table, fully expecting to allow the vet to send this poor sweet old man on to a better place. He opened his one good eye and reached out and touched me with his paw, and I knew right then and there that this poor old boy was going to break my heart. My vet examined him, and when he was done, he told me that the ear infections were the worst he had ever seen. He was almost positive this old guy was totally deaf as a result.

We discussed all the heath issues and he asked me what I wanted to do. He told me that, right now, he couldn't see anything wrong that couldn't be treated. He felt the dog could fully recover without too much stress or pain and have a good quality of life. But he warned me that, because of his advanced age, even if we decided to treat all his issues, this old boy may only have 6 months or maybe a year left and it was up to me.

He saw me hesitate as I looked down on this poor old man I had found. Then, he said, "Let's test him for heart worms. He's way too old to go through treatment. Let's see if he's positive or not, and then you can decide." I said, "OK."

I had named this old man "Roadie," because the day I found him, it was obvious he had been on the road a while. As I waited for the results of the heart worm test, I was trying to figure out where I was going to get the money to treat all his other problems, even if he was heart worm negative.

I picked up my cell phone and called a close friend of mine (who wishes to remain anonymous), who had founded a disaster response animal rescue group in the wake of Hurricane Katrina called Kat 5 Animal Rescue. I told him everything about Roadie, and he said he would help me with the expenses to treat him if the vet and I determined he could be restored to a good quality of life.

My vet came back in and said, "Roadie has a lot of problems right now, but heart worm isn't one of them." He obviously knew I was concerned about the costs involved, and he told me if I wanted to treat this sweet old man, he would give me every possible discount.

I asked him to leave me alone with Roadie for a few minutes, so I could try to make the right decision. As I stood there stroking Roadie's matted dirty coat, I realized that he had been put in my path for a reason. And if it were only 6 months or maybe a year, I was going to do everything in my power to show this old man who had suffered a lifetime of neglect and abuse that somebody loved him and cared about him before he left this world. And I full well knew that when that time came, I would be crushed with grief.

So, Roadie was going to be treated. He stayed at the vet's office for 5 days where he was put on I.V. fluids and antibiotics. His flea infestation was dealt with, his draining infected ears were cleaned, and he was given a medicated bath. All of his issues were addressed. It took almost two months, but he recovered fully.

Roadie lived on the farm with me and my other dogs and the horses for 7 months, happy and full of life. He played with his favorite ball and slept in my bed every night until that morning I had been dreading came.

I awoke that Friday to take Roadie and the other kids out, but he couldn't get up and stand on his feet. I thought, "Well, he is just having a bad day," so I helped to his feet and outside to do his business. I continued to do so over the weekend, but by Monday his legs couldn't support his weight, even with my assistance.

So, just as I had 7 months earlier, I carried him into my vet's office. He told me it was time. I held him in my arms and cried as Roadie left this world. But as he looked at me, just before the lights went out behind those big beautiful brown eyes, I knew in my heart that Roadie knew I loved him as I knew he loved me.

I took Roadie back to the farm and my friend who had helped with the vet bills for Roadie then helped me bury him on the farm with his favorite ball. I went to the house and sat with my other dogs for comfort and cried for days, just as I am now while telling his story. I can honestly say knowing everything I know now that I would do it all over again.

You see, just weeks before I found Roadie, I had lost my mother. And without me even knowing it at the time, Roadie had helped me through some of the darkest days of my life, focusing on him and not the recent loss of my mom. I will never forget him or the special gift he gave me. And rarely a day goes by that I don't think of him playing with his ball or my other dogs, and walking as fast as he could to try to keep up with them, that I don't smile or sometimes still shed a tear.

I have a magnet on my Jeep that looks like a dog's paw print. It says: "Who Rescued Who?" I'll let you decide.

Source: http://animalrescuechase.com/rescue_showcase/story.php?id=336
© 2010 Great Animal Rescue Chase

Here's a sweet article that I thought I would pass on... –Kim

Here's the fascinating story of one of Hollywood's most memorable dogs: Terry, aka "Toto" –Kim

Toto, the Story of a Dog
By Allan Ellenberger

Judy Garland and Terry, aka "Toto"

The most indulged of all the spoiled lovelies of Hollywood during the Golden Age were the canine actors who worked in films. They had their own hotel – The Hollywood Dog Training School – where at one time, seventy-five of the best known dogs of the screen lived in tranquil comfort.

The school was set on a pleasant ten-acre site, covered with oaks and willows, near Laurel Canyon Boulevard five miles north of Hollywood. Three hundred feet back from the road stood a cream colored frame house and back of it were two kennels, each 150 feet long. It featured southern exposure, long runs to each kennel, a large grass playground, showers in each section, and several porcelain bathtubs with hot and cold water, an electric drier and a special kitchen where, every day, a tempting cauldron full of vegetable and beef bone soup was cooked for dinners of the distinguished boarders.

Carl Spitz and some canine friends

The dogs, like all other actors, employed a manager – the amiable Carl Spitz – who drove as hard a bargain for his clients as any other agent in Hollywood. The German-born Spitz first took up the work of schooling dogs in Heidelberg, where his father and grandfather were dog trainers. Spitz trained dogs for military and police service in World War days. He saw Red Cross dogs search for dying men in no man's land – and he devoted his life to educating man's best friend.

Leaving Germany, Spitz arrived in New York in 1926, moved briefly to Chicago and soon found himself in Los Angeles, where, the following year he opened his first dog training school at 12239 Ventura Boulevard. Sometime around 1935, he moved the facilities one mile north to a ten-acre spot at 12350 Riverside Drive, where he remained for almost twenty years. "This is a school, where dogs go to classes just like children," Spitz said. "We have grammar school, high school and college."

At first, his services were for the public, but soon, the movies came calling. The transition to sound films required Spitz to drop his verbal commands and develop a series of soundless visual hand signals.

His first sound film was Big Boy (1930) starring Al Jolson in which he trained two Great Danes. This one was followed by the John Barrymore classic, Moby Dick (1930). It was too expensive for studios to create their own specially trained dogs, so Spitz suddenly found himself in big demand.

Canine stars soon began to emerge, such as Prince Carl, the Great Dane appearing in Wuthering Heights (1939). The first big dog star to appear from Spitz's stable was Buck the Saint Bernard who co-starred with Clark Gable and Loretta Young in Call of the Wild (1935). Others included Musty (Swiss Family Robinson), Mr. Binkie (The Lights that Failed) and Promise (The Biscuit Eater). However, probably the best known dog star to emerge from the Spitz kennel that is known today is arguably Toto from The Wizard of Oz (1939).

Clark Gable with Buck in Call of the Wild (1935)

Toto, a purebred Cairn Terrier, was born in 1933 in Alta Dena, California. She soon was taken in by a married couple without children in nearby Pasadena – they named her Terry. It soon became apparent that Terry had a problem with wetting the rug, and her new owners had very little patience with her. It wasn't long before they sought the services of Carl Spitz's dog training school in the nearby San Fernando Valley. Spitz put her through the usual training and in a few weeks she was no longer watering the carpet.

However, by the time her training was completed, Terry's owners were late on the kennel board. Spitz attempted to contact them, but their telephone had been disconnected. With nothing else to do, Carl's wife suggested that they keep her.

Terry sort of became the family pet, until one day, Clark Gable and Hedda Hopper stopped by the kennel for some publicity on Gable's new film, Call of the Wild. One of Carl's dogs, Buck the St. Bernard, had a large role in the film and Hedda wanted some photos of him with Gable. That day, Terry made himself known to the Hollywood people and Carl took note, and the next day, took her to Fox Studios to audition for a part in the new Shirley Temple film, Bright Eyes (1934).

Jane Withers and Shirley Temple with Terry in Bright Eyes (1934)

Spitz put her through her paces – playing dead, leaping over a leash, barking on command – for the executives and was then presented to Shirley for the final say. Terry was placed next to a Pomeranian named Ching-Ching, who wasn't part of the film but was Shirley's own dog. Terry stood there for a moment, while Ching-Ching looked at her. Finally, Terry rolled over, was sniffed and both dogs began running around Shirley's dressing room. At last, Shirley picked up Terry and handed her to Spitz, grabbed her dog and skipped to the door. "She's hired," Shirley giggled as she left the room. Bright Eyes, which co-starred Jane Withers, would be Terry's first film.

That same year, Terry made another film, Ready for Love (1934) at Paramount. Next, she appeared in The Dark Angel (1935) with Fredric March and Merle Oberon. Other films followed, including Fury (1936) with Spencer Tracy; The Buccaneer (1938) for director Cecil B. DeMille and an uncredited part in Stablemates (1938) with Wallace Beery and Mickey Rooney.

Franciska Gaal with Terry in Cecil B. DeMille's The Buccaneer (1938)

One day, it was announced that MGM was going to produce L. Frank Baum's children classic, "The Wizard of Oz." Spitz knew that Terry was a mirror-image for Dorothy's dog, Toto, based on sketches throughout the book. So he began teaching her all the tricks from the book, and sure enough, in two months, he received a call from MGM for an audition.

Spitz and Terry met with the producer, Mervyn LeRoy who had been inspecting an average of 100 dogs daily for the past week. "Here's your dog, all up in the part," Spitz said to LeRoy when he submitted Terry for scrutiny. Terry could already fight, chase a witch, sit up, speak, catch an apple thrown from a tree, and took an immediate liking to Judy Garland. Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley and the rest of the cast were accepted on first acquaintance with the dog. On November 1, 1938, Terry won the role of "Toto" without a test.

Judy Garland singing "Over the Rainbow" to Toto in The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Terry received a weekly salary of $125, which was more than the studio paid the Munchkins. Before filming began, Terry spent two weeks living with Judy Garland, who fell in love with her and tried to buy her from Spitz. Of course, he refused. Judy's daughter, Lorna Luft, once said that her mother told them that the dog had the worst breath in the world. "It all made us laugh," Luft said, "because the dog was constantly put in her face [with its] silly panting, and she did everything but wince, because poor little Toto needed an Altoid."

Terry did everything required of her, although she hesitated at being put in a basket and standing in front of the giant wind fans, simulating a tornado. One day, they were filming on the Witches Castle set with dozens of costumed "Winkies" when one of them stepped on Terry's paw. When she squealed, everyone came running, including Judy, who called the front office and told them that Terry needed a rest. Until Terry returned a few days later, they utilized a stand-in for her.

The remainder of filming went smoothly for Terry, and even though she appeared in approximately fifteen films, The Wizard of Oz was ultimately her best known. When the film was released, Terry appeared along with the cast at the premiere held at Grauman's Chinese Theater. She became so famous that her paw print brought top prices among autograph seekers. Soon, she began making public appearances and became so popular, that Spitz officially changed her name to Toto.

Terry, now billed as Toto with Virginia Weidler in Bad Little Angel (1939)

That year was a busy one for Toto. Besides The Wizard of Oz, Toto also made a cameo appearance in MGM's The Women (1939) starring Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford, and had a larger role in Bad Little Angel with Virginia Weidler. The next few years had her appearing in Calling Philo Vance (1940), Twin Beds (1942), and Tortilla Flat (1942), again with Spencer Tracy and Hedy Lamarr and John Garfield. Her final film was George Washington Slept Here (1942) starring Jack Benny and Ann Sheridan. That year Toto retired to Spitz's huge facility on Riverside Drive, until she died sometime in 1944. Even though several of Spitz's dogs were interred at the Camarillo Pet Cemetery in Ventura, he chose to bury Toto on the school property.

Carl Spitz continued to train dogs. In 1938, he wrote a handbook, "Training your Dog," which contained a foreword by Clark Gable. As far back as 1930, Spitz tried to get the Army to let him train dogs for war use. But, nothing came of it. Finally, in the summer of 1941, they took him up, in a limited way. Spitz agreed to furnish the Army fifty trained sentry dogs – at no cost. He delivered six, had twelve more under training, and already spent $1500 of his own money in the process.

Spitz trained the first platoon of war dogs installed in the continental United States, just prior to World War II. He was an expert adviser to the War Department in Washington DC and helped formulate the now famous K-9 Corps for both the US Army and Marine Corps. He became prominent nationally as a dog obedience judge at dog shows. Carl Spitz died on September 15, 1976 and is buried at Forest Lawn in Glendale.

Around 1958, the Ventura Freeway was being built through the San Fernando Valley and the route went through Spitz's school, forcing him to relocate. Today, the Hollywood Dog Training School is still in existence at 10805 Van Owen Street.

Sadly, not only did the freeway erase the school, but it also obliterated Toto's grave.

It's appropriate that Toto's Memorial Marker is installed at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Many of the people that worked with Toto are interred there including Victor Fleming, Harold Rosson (The Wizard of Oz, Tortilla Flat); Cecil B. DeMille, Maude Fealy (The Buccaneer); Erville Anderson, Carl Stockdale, Franz Waxman (Fury); Arthur C. Miller (Bright Eyes); Sidney Franklin, Gregg Toldand (The Dark Angel); Ann Sheridan (George Washington Slept Here). She is in good company.

Allan R. Ellenberger is the author of several books on Hollywood.

Here are some good housetraining tips that I thought I would pass on. –Kim

House training a puppy or adult dog is such an essential issue for his owner that even a single exclusive tip turns out to be extremely helpful.

 
Irrespective of breeds, house training a puppy is considered to be one of the biggest challenges by dog owners. If you think house training your puppy simply involves a steady supply of old newspapers or puppy pads, then think again.
 

Deaf Dog Adopted by Deaf Kids after Learning Sign Language
By Kevin Murphy
Feb 8, 2011

• Hearing-impaired Dogs Find Second Chance
• Puppies for Parole
• PfP Information Flyer (PDF)
• Tough Sheriff is Kind to Critters
• Puppies for Parole Videos ... MORE Videos here
• AVAILABLE DOGS from Puppies for Parole
• List of No-kill Shelters

Here's some great advice that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it informative! –Kim

10 Thoughts on Vaccines
by Dr. Andrew Jones

Here's a what a large pet information website has to say about vaccines:

"One of the most important things you can do for your four-legged friend is to stay up to date with his vaccinations. Vaccinations protect our pets from a number of potentially deadly infectious diseases and ensure they stay healthy for years to come"

Really?

Here is what the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has to say:

"Vaccination is a potent medical procedure with both risks and benefits. While there is evidence that some vaccines provide immunity beyond one year, re-vaccination of patients with sufficient immunity does not necessarily add to their disease protection and may increase the potential risk of post-vaccination adverse events."

Adverse events may be associated with the antigen, adjuvant, carrier, preservative or a combination, thereof.

Possible adverse events include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• failure to immunize
• anaphylaxis
• immuno-suppression
• autoimmune disorders
• transient infections
• long-term infected carrier states
• and local development of tumors

My suggestions

DISCLAIMER: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own Veterinarian. Dr Andrew Jones resigned from the College of Veterinarians of B.C., effective December 1, 2010, meaning he cannot answer specific questions about your pet's medical issues or make specific medical recommendations for your pet.

http://www.theinternetpetvet.com
Copyright © 2011 Four Paws Online Ltd

• DANGERS of Pet Vaccines!
• Vaccines May Not be Necessary
• Veterinary Secrets Revealed
  

Here are a couple of really cute videos that I thought I would pass on... –Kim

Puppy Fakes Her Own Death while Playing
Wow, what an actress!

Which is the Guilty Dog?
This is just too cute!

Here's a really cute pic that I thought I would pass on...how true to life! –Kim

I guess I'll just sleep over here, then...

Source: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2MZUb4/www.helloadorable.com/blogs/helloadorable/i-guess-ill-just-sleep-over-here-then-552

Paco to the Rescue!!!
By David Edwards
July 18, 2011

A small neighborhood dog proved to be too tough for a couple of armed robbers in Altadena, California.

When the gun-toting men burst into Erik Knight's tobacco store, the normally laid back 'Paco the Chihuahua' sprang to his defense, nipping at the robbers' legs and eventually chasing them across the street.

"He was rescued, so I suggest everybody rescue a dog from the pound," Knight told KABC. "You never know when you're going to need him."

Watch this video from ABC's Good Morning America, broadcast July 18, 2011.

Source: http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/07/paco-the-chihuahua-chases-away-armed-robbers/
Copyright 2011 Raw Story Media, Inc.

Here are two great videos that I thought I would pass on...hope you find 'em interesting! –Kim

Little Corgi Herds 100 Cattle

Bevy may be the runt of the litter, but don't tell her that. This little Corgi can herd a hundred cattle with the best of them. And to boot, she's also a sweet pet.

The Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) or Australian Shepherd is a breed of herding dog originally developed in Australia for droving cattle over long distances across rough terrain.

Border collies work hard and play hard. They also herd sheep, cows – even a 2,000 lb. bull. Originally bred in Scotland, these dogs make great pets.

How to Easily Train Your Dog...
Like a Pro

How To Bond With Your Dog
Building a bond with your dog is the first and the most crucial step involved in training him successfully. As soon as you bring your dog home, you must first try to develop a caring and loving relationship with him in order to win his trust and confidence.

• Spend quality time together;
• Take him out in the world and experience life together;
• Establish and promote a level of mutual respect; and
• Develop a way of communicating to understand each other's needs.

• Your dog succeeds!!! (Trumpets please!)
• In case your dog fails, re-examine the situation. Review and/or change your training. Then, try testing again.

• Never scold your dog if he fails. It's not his fault. You have failed as a trainer!
• You must be patient and persistent for your efforts to show rewards.
• Appreciate and praise your dog when he does it right! A little encouragement will work wonders for your dog.
• Dog Training is easy when you do it right.

Here are some great safety tips that I thought I would pass on... –Kim

Top 10 July 4th Holistic Pet Safety Tips
by Dr. Andrew Jones
July 4, 2011

1. KEEP YOUR PETS AT HOME. It is always safer to leave them at home, in a quiet, closed in familiar place…your house! Our pets have hearing 10 times our own, so any loud noise is ESPECIALLY disturbing to them. I leave my own pets with a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter.

2. THE SOUNDS OF MUSIC. Turn up the tunes to drown out some of the impending loud noises. This will screen out some of the loud sounds, lowering anxiety levels. Music with a slow even beat, such as classical, will work best.

3. FLOWER ESSENCES. Bach Rescue Remedies or other natural calming aids are a very safe alternative medication that may calm your anxious pet. Place 4 drops on your pet’s gums prior to leaving. (Follow the directions on the label.)

4. SOOTHING FINGERS. A type of therapeutic touch, called Tellington Touch has helped many pets with noise anxiety. The most effective area is the ear. Gently hold the ear flap between your thumb and forefinger. Gently stroke from the base of the ear to the ear tip; repeat the motion several times covering different sections of the ear. Use the same fingers to draw tiny circles at the base of the ear. Try both of the techniques on your dog when he is calm. If he reacts well, then try it the next time a storm approaches.

5. PET ID. Every Holiday involving Fireworks causes scared animals who run away and get lost. Ensure your pets have identification at all times. Also, check out medical info tags and GPS tracking devices.

6. KEEP YOUR PETS OUT OF HOT CARS. A puppy just died recently in Vancouver after being left for 3 hours in a parked car, with the sunroof open. The inside of the vehicle was over 100° F. Once again, LEAVE your pets at home.

7. SAFE TOPICALS FOR PETS. Read the labels to make sure the sunscreen or insect repellent can be used on your pet.

8. TOXIC GLOW JEWELRY – AVOID IT. Your pet may look cute glowing in the dark, but the glowing substance is orally and intestinally toxic.

9. FIREWORKS AND PETS ARE A BAD IDEA. The noise is likely to severely frighten your pet. Then there is the risks of severe burns. The fireworks themselves have caustic substances, such as potassium nitrate and arsenic.

10. BE PREPARED. You should have a basic pet First Aid kit, plus know where your closest emergency veterinarian is. You can also make your own First Aid kit.

All in all, use common sense, and keep you and your pet safe.

Best wishes and have a Happy Holiday!
Dr. Andrew Jones

Source: http://www.theinternetpetvet.com/top-10-july-4th-holistic-pet-safety-tips/
Copyright © Four Paws Online Ltd. 2011

• Keeping Your Pets Safe & Happy During Fireworks
• Is Your Dog Scared of Thunder?
• Product Review: Silver Lining Herbs

Here are some more great videos by trainer Heather & the amazing Jesse! –Kim

How to Teach your Dog to Catch a Frisbee^®

• Just Jesse Blog
• Amazing Dog Tricks

Pet Pantry Aims to Fill a Need
By Mike Nolan
Jun 13, 2011

Orland Township Supervisor Paul O'Grady points out some of the items in the township's Pet Pantry in Orland Park, Illinois

On a door in a hallway at Orland Township's offices is a sign that reads "Crashy's Closet."

Inside are the ingredients township officials hope will help pet-owning families who are struggling to pay their bills.

Stocked with dog and cat food, the pet pantry is the township's response to a growing dilemma for pet owners who are having a hard enough time feeding themselves and their families, let alone a beloved dog or cat.

"We had heard some anecdotal stories about seniors on fixed incomes who were having to decide whether to feed themselves or their pets," Orland Township Supervisor Paul O'Grady said.

Township officials also had heard about shelters around the country being overwhelmed with pets whose owners, pinched by the recession, could no longer afford to keep them, he said.

"Let's try to keep the pets with the families," he said.

The pet pantry is something of an outgrowth of the township's food pantry, which today serves hundreds more people than before the recession began.

"But we had to start out small, to see if there was a demand (for the pet food)," O'Grady said.

"Crashy's Closet" got its name from an abused and abandoned cat O'Grady's wife, Debbie, found several years ago. It was found off Wolf Road, near a stable where the family also kept a horse that had been abused, Paul O'Grady said. The black cat didn't have eyes – the O'Gradys took it to a vet to have its eyelids sewn closed – and was given the name "Crash."

"He managed to find his way around," O'Grady said of the cat that lived with the family for seven years.

To fill the pet pantry, the township has appealed to residents and corporate donors for food and money. For example, schoolkids collected aluminum cans that were sold to a recycler, with the money supporting the pantry.

Stepping things up a notch was Kathy Passafiume, the township's clinical director of youth and family services.

She got in touch with major retailers and pet food companies, and recently scored a donation of 30,000 pounds of dog and cat food from Iams, packaged in 8-ounce bags, as well as a pallet of Fresh Step cat litter. Another pet food company, Natural Balance, also wants to become a regular contributor, O'Grady said.

The township hopes to be able to offer other pet items, including collars, leashes and food bowls, he said.

On Saturday, the township will hold its first "Pet-Palooza" to raise funds for, and awareness of, the pantry.

There will be vendors selling pet-related products and contests for pets, along with a pet parade. Pet-related vendors will have products for sale, and food and beverages will be available.

Like it has had to with the food pantry, the township has had to be tactful in getting the word out about the pet pantry, O'Grady said.

"It's hard to communicate, to get the word out," he said of advertising the pantry's offerings to the public. "Like the food pantry, we made a commitment that we don't want to embarrass anybody."

http://couriernews.suntimes.com/news/5554059-417/pet-pantry-aims-to-fill-a-need.html
Copyright © 2011 – Sun-Times Media, LLC

Here's a cute cartoon that I thought I would pass on...so true to life! –Kim

Stop Yelling!

© 2011 Calvin & Hobbs

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it interesting! –Kim

The reason one should groom his/her dog is simple – your dog's physical state influences the way he feels and the way you look at your dog. Extreme cases, where lack of proper care, cleaning and grooming can directly affect the behavior of your dog, are not rare.

Proper grooming not only infuses a healthy glow to your dog's appearance, but also helps develop his self-esteem; while it makes you a very proud parent, when you show off your dog to others.

The first step involved in dog grooming is: Brushing!
 
Brushing has been universally acknowledged by expert dog groomers as the single most important step in grooming.
 
The benefits of brushing are many. To name a few:

• Better blood circulation
• Shinier and healthier coat
• Better bonding

Even if you know how crucial brushing is for your dog's health and well-being, we all know that there is a right way and a wrong way of doing anything. And without doubt, you would like to do everything the RIGHT way when it comes to your dog.

Yes, there's a method to follow while brushing your dog.

Here are FIVE steps to successfully brushing your dog that will prove to be extremely useful:

• Brush against the growth of the hair first with a slicker brush and then with a medium or wide-toothed comb.
• The slicker brush removes all the loose hair and the comb takes care of the tangles.
• Brush your dog along the hair growth and make sure you reach the skin as you brush his way.
• Then use a flea comb over the coat to get the fleas and remove any remaining tangles. Part the coat and start from the root and then comb through.
• If your dog's paw pads are hairy, then clip them using electric clippers. Do not clip the hair in between the pads. Clip only the excess hair.

Brush your dog's hairs to prevent it from matting. Matting can be a very painful experience.

Regular brushing untangles the matted hairs on your dog's coat. Since this is a risky job to do, the best way out is to prevent them from forming in the first place. And doing this is simple: just brush and comb your dog regularly. If and when you see any mats or tangles, use a detangle solution and a medium-toothed comb.

Don't wait until your dog is dirty or matted to introduce him to grooming. That would make him associate the experience with unpleasantness. Moreover, many dogs learn to see their routine brushing as an alternate form of petting, i.e. another source of affection and attention.

Subscribe to this FREE dog grooming mini course and start grooming your dog all by yourself right from the comfort of your home, today.

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Here's a group of videos that should make us re-think our law enforcement policies and procedures! –Kim

SWAT Team Kills Mayor's Dogs in Botched, No Knock Raid

• Trigger-happy Cops on Dog-shooting Spree
• Cops Kill Dog, Handcuff Kids in Wrong-house Raid
• Colorado Senators to Introduce Bill to Require Cops Take Dog Training

Here are some great pix! –Kim

Pet BabySitter Photos... PRICELESS!!!

Source: http://go.funpic.hu