Animal House

Thumbs Down For Verizon

2008-07-22T18:29:39Z

Can you hear me now? Hopefully, Verizon is heeding the tsunami of complaints generated by its unfortunate commercials depicting two raging pitbulls lunging at a man trying to retrieve his LG Dare phone. The Humane Society of the United States has also stepped in to ask the phone company to pull the 30-second spots -- so far, to no avail.

Thumbs Up For Gin

2008-07-22T18:18:55Z

Now here's a way to channel that prodigious border-collie energy: Gin, one of those relentless herders, performs with her human Kate on the second season of "Britain's Got Talent." Who says Simon Cowell is congenitally cantankerous?

Afghan hound rescue

2008-07-21T20:34:07Z

Read it . And watch it. And weep. Last week, authorities in San Miguel, New Mexico, removed 67 Afghan hounds from a hoarder's home. The Afghan Hound Club of America pitched in with a countrywide rescue effort to find a home for the dozens of dogs, which were living in years' worth of filth and decay. Unfortunately, 10 of the dogs have already died, some of parvovirus. Three of the female dogs are also reportedly pregnant. Seven of these exotic Middle Eastern hounds have found their way to Long Island, where they await foster homes. Rescuers have named the traumatized and matted dogs after literary figures: Whitman, Frost, Edgar Afghan Poe, Cyrano, Dante, Charlotte Bronte and Jane Eyre. Donations and additional foster homes are urgently needed.

Christian the Lion

2008-07-17T15:37:37Z

It's been bonking around the Internet for a while, but if you haven't caught the 30-something-year-old video of Christian the lion, bought by two Australian guys from a cage in, of all places, Harrod's, click here. It shows the footage of their reunion with him in the wild, and a better case for anthropomorphism you will never find. Beware, however, the snarky YouTube version that intersperses video of a lion attack with the Christian footage. Some people.

Papal cat out of the bag

2008-07-16T16:04:55Z

You've heard of Catholic guilt, but this is stretching things some ... Apparently, pets are a no-no in the Vatican, a tradition that no one has really explained adequately. Now come press reports that Pope Benedict XVI -- an avowed cat lover who fed strays before he was elevated to pontiff -- was loaned a gray kitty on his current Australian trip to help pass the time in the bush. The pope's spokespeople have refused to confirm the story, and in the past have taken pains to point out that the only cats in the pontiff's Vatican apartment are made of ceramic. But some press reports express curiosity about whether he has spirited some cats therein. The pope was the subject of a kitty tell-all, "Joseph and Chico: The Life of Pope Benedict XVI As Told By A Cat," an authorized biography of the Pope for young people approved by the Vatican.

Vrroooming for rescue

2008-07-16T14:31:24Z

Those Rescue Link guys have their motors runnin'. The world's most tattooed -- and softest-hearted -- animal rescuers are sponsoring a Ruff Riders Rally on Sunday to benefit Save-a-Pet Animal Rescue in Port Jefferson Station. Registration is $20. The ride starts at the Brookhaven Amphitheater at Bald Hill, tours along Suffolk's South Shore, and ends at Mulcahy's Pub in Centereach. For more info, visit saveapetli.net or rescueink.org (click on "Events"), or call 631-473-6333.

Obama pup, take 2

2008-07-14T21:16:56Z

Here’s the latest salvo in the presidential pet debate: Irked that the American Kennel Club has suggested five potential breeds for the currently dog-less Obama family (see presidentialpup.com), Best Friends Animal Society has launched the rival obamafamilydog.com to encourage the candidate to adopt a shelter dog. “For a candidate focused on ‘hope’ and ‘change,’ adopting a homeless pet is the right choice for the Obamas,” said a Best Friends spokesperson.

Feed me!

2008-07-14T15:26:55Z

You know about freerice.com, the site that donates grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. Now here comes freekibble.com, created by Mimi Ausland, a 12-year-old from Bend, Oregon, who wanted to help feed the dogs at her local animal shelter. Every day that visitors play a trivia game ("What are the two varieties of the Collie breed?"), 20 pieces of free kibble are donated by the site's sponsors. (It doesn't matter if you get the right answer, which, by the way, is "rough and smooth.") Close to 3 million pieces of kibble have been donated since April. Go, Mimi, go!

Obama gets dog suggestions from AKC

2008-07-07T18:15:22Z

I'm baaaaack ... Moving right on to current events: Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has reportedly told his two daughters that the family will get a new pooch after November -- no matter the electoral outcome. (His rival John McCain already has a bustling menagerie, including English Springer Spaniel Sam, Yorkshire Terriers Lucy and Desi, mixed breed Coco, Oreo the cat, two turtles named Cuff and Link, a ferret, three parakeets and a tankful of saltwater fish.) The American Kennel Club, in turn, has countered with five prospective breeds -- all of them with relatively hypoallergenic coats, in a nod to allergy concerns: the Bichon Frise (good luck housebreaking one); the Chinese Crested (the hairless versions are shoo-ins at Ugly Dog contests when they hit senior-citizen status); the Poodle (despite the nice size of the standard version, most men have an aversion to the "pouf factor"); the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier (aka Terrier Lite); and the Miniature Schnauzer (the "huh?" member of the Terrier Group). You can vote at www.presidentialpup.com on or before Aug. 19. As for your pooch, he can give a candidate endorsement at PetsVote.com. So far, it's Obama, paws down.

Keep the condo; I want the cocker.

2008-05-14T19:54:04Z

Tomorrow's column talks about pups in the crossfire, caught in the push-me-pull-you of divorce. Who gets to keep the dog? Or who wants to use Fido as emotional ammo? Keep the condo; I want the cocker.

Move over, greyhounds. Here come the Chihuahuas!

2008-05-02T20:36:36Z

I have now seen everything: Chihuahua races! If you're thinking of competing yourself, The PETCO Unleashed Chihuahua Races come back to New York this Saturday. On hand to defend her title in the 35-yard race is the reigning 2007 champ -- Maddie of Manhattan. A limited number of spots are available on the day of the race. Preregister by clicking here.

Prep Your Puppy for the Outside World

2008-04-30T20:48:10Z

If you're one of those people who gets terror-struck at bringing a young puppy over your threshold into the real world, for fear that he will be struck down with some malady, read this recent column. It talks about how early socialization -- before the 12- to 14-week mark, not after -- is absolutely crucial for a well-adjusted puppy. And the greater risk, say experts, is in under-socializing -- not under-vaccinating.

Rescue Ink -- don't judge a book by its cover

2008-04-28T16:43:17Z

"Shock and awwww" was the headline for the story I did on tattooed animal lovers Rescue Ink, and ain't it the truth. This band of tough-talking, soft-hearted rescuers say they gets dozens of e-mails about Vivi the missing whippet, even today. Read it and weep -- for joy.

Meet Emma

2008-04-18T21:33:03Z

I was about to shut off the computer here at the paragraph factory and go outside into the unseasonably warm day (or what's left of it) when I got this email. Emma's story made me stop. Maybe you will, too. CONTACT: DIANE -HOPE4DOGS@OPTONLINE.NET ~PLEASE CROSSPOST ~ SEE PIX ! ALL SHE HAS KNOWN IS PAIN AND TORTURE LOOKING AT HER PICTURES, IT IS HARD TO FATHOM THAT SHE WAS USED AS A BAIT DOG. EMMA IS A PRETTY PITTIE MIX ABOUT 4 YEARS OLD WITH PERFECT BLACK AND WHITE MARKINGS ( MUCH LIKE A BOSTON TERRIER'S). SHE HAS A BEAUTIFUL SOUL, BUT HER LIFE HAS BEEN A BRUTAL AND UGLY ONE. SHE WAS FORCED TO BREED AND ALSO TURNED INTO A BAIT DOG *SHE ARRIVED AT THE SHELTER WITH MULTIPLE BITE WOUNDS* *HER TEETH HAVE BEEN FILED OFF !* 25 % OF HER TONGUE IS MISSING :-( SHE IS SO FRIGHTENED SHE DOES NOT *WALK* IN THE PRESENCE OF PEOPLE; BUT RATHER, SHE DOES A VERY TIMID COWERING CRAWL. (NO- WE ARE NOT EXAGGERATING, THE DOG WILL NOT WALK OUT OF FEAR) WHEN SHE SEES A DOG- ANY DOG- SHE GOES BELLY UP IN AN AUTOMATIC ACT OF SUBMISSION. EMMA IS SCARED OUT OF HER MIND AND YET DESPITE IT ALL? SHE HAS SHOWN A GENTLE, LITTLE GIRL SIDE TO HER ADVOCATE; OFTEN CRAWLING AGAINST HER AND UNDERNEATH HER, FOR PROTECTION. THE MONSTER(S) THAT HAD EMMA TOOK EVERYTHING THEY COULD FROM HER,USING & ABUSING HER, FOR THEIR GAIN. BUT THE ONE THING THEY DID NOT TAKE- -THOUGH THEY MAY HAVE BROKEN IT- IS HER SOUL. EMMA STILL HAS A LOT OF SOUL IN HER, AND IN THE RIGHT HANDS WE DESPERATELY WANT TO SEE HER GENTLE SPIRIT COME BACK TO LIFE. WE KNOW, THAT ONCE UPON A TIME EMMA WAS PROBABLY A NORMAL, HAPPY AND GENTLE GIRL, THAT PLAYED WITH OTHER DOGS AND WAS EAGER TO PLEASE HUMANS. (TRAGICALLY THIS STUNNING, GORGEOUSLY MARKED GIRL, GOT INTO THE WRONG HANDS AND THOSE BEAUTIFUL TRAITS IN HER PERSONALITY, ARE THE SAME TRAITS THAT MADE HER A PERFECT, DEFENSELESS BAIT DOG.) :-( EMMA IS HURTING FROM THE TREMENDOUS TRAUMA OF WHAT SHE HAS BEEN THROUGH- BUT DESPITE THIS? SHE SHOWS NOT ONE MEAN BONE IN HER BODY AND ZERO AGGRESSION. IT WILL TAKE SOMEONE WITH A LOT OF PATIENCE AND A BIG HEART TO TAKE THE TIME TO HELP HER OVERCOME HER HORRIFIC PAST. EMMA NEEDS LOTS OF LOVE AND REHAB TO LEARN TO BE A REAL DOG AGAIN. TO LEARN NOT TO THINK THAT EACH PERSON OR DOG SHE MEETS, SPELLS THE PAIN AND TORTURE OF A BAIT SESSION. EMMA'S LIFE IS IN DANGER RIGHT NOW. SHE IS IN A VERY FULL, HIGH KILL SHELTER. AFTER LIVING IN HELL FOR SO LONG, SHOULDN'T SHE GET A CHANCE TO KNOW THAT LIFE CAN BE GOOD & THAT THERE ARE KIND HUMANS AND FRIENDLY CANINES IN THIS WORLD? WE THINK SHE IS WORTH IT- BUT HER TIME IS RUNNING OUT. ALL IT TAKES IS FOR THERE TO BE NO CAGE SPACE AT ALL AND EMMA, LIKE SO MANY DOGS WHERE SHE IS, COULD BE DESTROYED. PLEASE HELP US SAVE HER FROM DEATH AND PLEASE HELP US HEAL HER SPIRIT. EMMA KNOWS A LOT ABOUT PAIN AND SUFFERING, AND NOTHING ABOUT LOVE AND KINDNESS. DON'T LET EMMA EXPERIENCE ANY MORE HUMAN BETRAYAL, WE ARE IMPLORING ALL RESCUE PEOPLE AND ORGS FOR HELP WITH THIS GIRL. WE DON'T WANT HER LAST EXPERIENCE ON EARTH, TO BE THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL: A SHELTER NEEDLE IN HER FOREARM. IF YOU CAN HELP EMMA IN ANYWAY- PLEASE CONTACT HER ADVOCATE DIANE IMMEDIATELY AT THIS EMAIL ADDRESS: HOPE4DOGS@OPTONLINE.NET *PLEASE GIVE DIANE A CHANCE TO GET BACK TO YOU AS SHE FIELDS A LOT OF EMAILS FOR RESCUE*

The spay-neuter debate

2008-04-16T16:57:36Z

If you own a companion dog, the question is not if to spay or neuter, but rather when. Instead of reflexively following the "six month rule," or buying into draconian legislation that would have you snipping your Samoyed at three months old, how about looking at the medical evidence? That's exactly the subject of last week's column, which we hear has even made the rounds to vet students via the AVMA's online newsletter.