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I learned my lesson a while ago that posting You Tube videos on my blog can have some undesirable consequences. A rather innocent video about kitty cats having an imaginary conversation had another link attached to it where the same kitties were having a rather foul-mouthed rant.

While it didn't offend my rather tawdry sensibilities, I also didn't think it belonged on a family newspaper's Web site and so I took that one down right away.

But some videos are worth the risk. So, click this link right here for a rather amusing video of a smart dog whose ingenious pet dad had a little too much time on his hands.  Warning: a crass word appears in the corner of the video, in case you are sensitive.

And then reader Linda Smith sent me a link to this video of Gin, the dancing dog, a contestant on the original British show that inspired "America's Got Talent." Nothing at all controversial here, but always beware of the other links lurking below. I did not check them out.

I posted Gin's dance routine to the blog several months ago, but those links were lost when we switched blog software a while ago. I think the performance will make you smile, as it did the normally surly judges Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan, and get you in the mood for the upcoming season of "American Idol," if you dig that sort of thing.

Enjoy.

Remember Geronimo, the itty bitty kitty who took a big plunge off the Memorial Bridge in Radford last May? Click here to read how the orange tabby has adjusted to a grounded life with his adoptive family. It's a happy tail.

Speaking of pet tails, I did not have a chance to go see the movie "Marley and Me", but apparently millions of other people did as it was the number one box office draw over over the long holiday weekend.

I loved the book and, as most of you who love to read can attest, the movie is seldom as good as the book. I think that has more to do with the experience of reading, where you see the story in your mind, verses seeing that same story through someone else's imagination.  But I am hoping to get to the theater and see it some night this week.

In a surprising move, the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals actually gave the movie two paws up. That's surprising because PETA normally objects to amy project that involves animals for human entertainment. The group released a statement that the movie presents the right message that pets are a lifetime commitment, no matter how they behave.

(If you are not familiar with the story, Marley is a hyperactive and ill-mannered pooch that caused his family endless household turmoil, but provided his pet dad endless bad-dog fodder for his newspaper column.)

Of course, PETA also approved that, in the film version, Marley is adopted from a rescue group. Those who read the book know that the real Marley was purchased from a breeder.

If you saw the movie, post a comment. Did you love it? Hate it? Eh, not much emotion either way? Did it compare well to the book? Not even close?

The reviews have been mixed so I would love to hear what pet lovers think of it.

At the risk of starting the whole pit bull debate again, I want to share a nice photo gallery from Sports Illustrated of families that adopted dogs rescued from Michael Vick's dog fighting ring.

The dogs in these photos were placed first with pit bull rescue groups and then into homes.

About half of the dogs that were saved from Vick and his cronies are now living at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. Many of those dogs will likely spend the rest of their lives there.

Vick, on the other hand, will be released from prison in a few months and could be in an NFL uniform for the 2009 season. Hopefully not for the Colts, Bears or Titans, because then I will have to trash some memorabilia.

This is my column  that ran in Monday's Extra section. On Christmas Eve last year we had to take Coral to the Emergency Vet Services to have a nasty wound stitched up. As much as I really enjoyed meeting all the folks who worked there, I hope we don't make that visit a holiday tradition.

But it is a great comfort to know that if we need them, they are there.

I am including a couple of photos that did not run in the newspaper. One is of the clinic cat, Nim, and the other was a patient at EVS when I was interviewing the vets. In the small world that is Roanoke, the three-legged kitten mentioned in the beginning of the article belongs to Morgan Jones who works in the Sales and Service department here at the paper. She sent me a photo of Abra and said he is doing much better now and weighs almost 2 pounds.

Please have a safe and happy holiday!

After-hours vet is a gift to pet owners

By Nona Nelson

Those were just three of the five animals needing treatment at Emergency Veterinary Service of Roanoke on a recent Saturday night. They also had a three-legged kitten with severe diarrhea and a tiny Chihuahua, the loser in a battle with a bigger dog, ripped open from one shoulder to the other.

And they called it a slow night.

Just like in an emergency room for humans, the furry patients were triaged and treated according to the most urgent need by the veterinarians on duty, which on this evening included Tanya Woloshin, Myshelle Van Ore and Maureen Noftsinger, the clinic's medical director.

The Chihuahua required surgery. The spaniel needed an oxygen chamber. The kitten was kept for observation; the puppy and the collie mix were treated and released.

After that, the staff waited for the next worried pet parent to come through the door during the graveyard shift of veterinary medicine.

"Everyone who works here is very passionate about animals and emergency and critical care medicine," Noftsinger said. "We get accused of being all about the money, but that's not why I am here away from my family on holidays. It's really all about the animals."

Emergency Vet Services, founded and owned by Roanoke-area veterinarians, is at 4902 Frontage Road, off Peters Creek Road near Interstate 581, and is open during the hours a typical vet's office is closed: 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday through Thursday; 6 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. on Monday (Saturday morning walk-ins are limited to referrals from other vets).

The clinic is open Christmas Eve and all day and night on Christmas.

"We are very busy on the holidays," Noftsinger said. "We usually have a wait [to be seen] on the holidays. Christmas is typically a very heavy time for us."

After-hours vet care can be expensive; the emergency fee is $70 in addition to charges for any treatment administered.

"We aren't subsidized by anyone, and I think a lot of people think that we are," she said. "Unfortunately, in order for us to be able to be here, we have to charge for our services."

We found that out last Christmas Eve, when my husband and I took Coral, one of our greyhounds, to EVS to be treated for a deep, ragged gash in her side. We didn't think it could wait until our vet's office opened more than 36 hours later.

A year after Noftsinger put nine stitches in Coral's side, she has only a small, Harry Potter-like scar to show for her injury.

The five veterinarians employed at the clinic work 12-hour shifts on nights, weekends and holidays, 365 days a year.

"It's a hard job because of the hours and the clients that can be difficult," Noftsinger said. And by clients, she means the humans who bring in the patients.

"I had an 80-year-old man try to punch me," she said. Due to the late hours the clinic keeps, Noftsinger said they also deal with pet owners who are inebriated as well as agitated.

Noftsinger said the staff members know they are dealing with pet owners under the worst circumstances, when they are worried about their sick animal and the unexpected cost of the care. That anxiety can be exacerbated by the general stress of the holidays.

"We do as much counseling with the owners as we do taking care of the animals," she said. "We are dealing with delicate issues, sometimes euthanasia, and that can be very traumatic. There are definitely times when we have all broken down in a room with a client."

By contrast, Noftsinger said most canine and feline patients are cooperative with the care they receive.

"I really think they know we are here to help them," she said.

Sometimes counseling can be as simple as a visit from Nim, a calico tabby who has been the clinic's resident cat for the past three years. Noftsinger said the friendly feline can be a comfort to forlorn clients.

"She seems to know when people are upset," Noftsinger said. "She just comes by and struts her stuff. Sometimes when people are checking out, she will just sit on the counter and talk to them. She's a perfect clinic cat."

But even when tensions are high and emotions are raw, Noftsinger said helping people deal with their pets' problems is rewarding.

"We are trying to help the animals and the people that love them. It's cool to see the relationship that people have with their pets," she said. "They are members of the family."

The staff tries to assess an animal's needs over the phone with the owner, but Noftsinger said it is nearly impossible to properly diagnose a problem that way.

"Basically, our philosophy here is that if you are concerned, bring [the pet] in," she said. Calling ahead, however, is a good idea so they can be prepared, especially in trauma cases.

Noftsinger said they most often treat animals for bite wounds, injuries from being struck by vehicles, and stomach illness.

"Vomiting and diarrhea is absolutely the most common thing we see here," she said. "We see a lot of it, every single day."

What steps can owners take to minimize the chances of having to make a late-night trip to the animal ER?

"Vaccination is big. Using a leash is big, and [don't] feed pets what they are not supposed to [eat]," Noftsinger advised.

NOTE: The Dec. 8 Happy Wag column included a recipe for peanut butter dog biscuits. A reader pointed out a typographical error in that recipe. It should call for a teaspoon of baking powder, not a tablespoon.

This is Misty, a 7-year-old former shelter kitty, who is making herself right at home on Santa's lap. Misty's pet parents are June and Gary Tegenkamp of Roanoke.

Here are the photos that ran with my column in yesterday's Extra section, and one more that was e-mailed yesterday:

This is Tamber and Colin, a pair of 4-yesr-old cairn terriers and according to their pet parents, Byron, Karen and Shelby Dillard of Roanoke, they are good pups even when they aren't waiting for Santa.

This is Little Guy, a retired therapy dog who is the apple of his pet mom's eye. Linda Smith of Troutville said Little Guy would be happy to when she told him that his picture would be in the newspaper. "I know he knows what I talk about by the expressions on his face," Linda wrote to me in an e-mail. "Even though people think they don't understand, they do." I agree, Linda.

 And here is Katie, a 2-year-old cocker spaniel who appears to be winking for the camera as she poses under the Christmas tree. Katie is the pride and joy of pet parents Barbara and Bobby Robertson of Craig County. This picture really made me smile because sweet Katie looks a lot like the first love of my life with dogs, an English springer spaniel Sparky.

Thanks to all of you who sent in holiday photos. I hope you have a merry season.

Here are a few safety reminders for the holidays, courtesy of the Paw Prints e-newsletter from the Roanoke Valley SPCA, [with a few notes from me]: 

1. Avoid Christmas tree disasters.  Christmas trees are a wonderful tradition, but they can lead to problems if you have a curious critter. 


a. Prevent the tree from tipping.  Anchor it to the ceiling or wall.  . [We attached a big old piece of plywood to the base of one of our trees. Makes the tree very sturdy.]

b. Hang non-breakable ornaments near the bottom of the tree
 

c. Tinsel can be deadly when eaten. It can twist in your dog or cat's intestines and cause serious problems.  Just don't put it on your tree. [Tinsel cost a friend of mine big $$ in a vet bill.]
 

d. Don't let your pets drink the tree's water. It often contains chemicals to help the tree last longer; these chemicals can cause severe indigestion. 
 

e. Pine needles can cause health problems. If ingested, they can puncture holes in your pet's intestines. Regularly sweep up fallen pine needles to avoid a trip to the emergency clinic.

 
2. Mistletoe, poinsettias and amaryllis are toxic.  Be aware of these poisonous holiday plants and keep your pets away from them. [I have heard that poinsettias are poisonous and I've heard they are not. Why take a chance? We have some really nice fake ones we got at Michael's, and we reuse them every year.]


3. Keep "blowing" snow in the globe.  Many snow globes contain antifreeze, which is extremely toxic to dogs-so it's best to keep snow globes and all antifreeze out of the reach of a happy, tail-wagging dog.  If there is an antifreeze spill of any kind, send your dog out of the room while you clean up the liquid.  Dilute the spot with water and floor cleaner to make sure your dog does not lick these harmful chemicals later. 


4. Holiday sweets are not pet treats.  Candy, cookies, cakes, peppermints and especially chocolate can trigger life-threatening illnesses in dogs and upset tummies in cats. [Pork is bad for dogs too, so avoid the ham.]


5.  Make no bones about it.  Cooked turkey and chicken bones are not for dogs or cats as they can easily break and cause choking, and bone shards can get stuck in your pet's gums.  Stick with "bones" and other treats specifically designed for dogs and cats to chew.  Ask your local veterinarian for suggestions. [If you have to give a human food treat, white meat is usually a safe bet.]


6. A relaxed dog is a good dog.  Most dogs are excitable when guests arrive.  Exercise your dog prior to the arrival of guests.  After 30 minutes of walking or playing, most dogs will be more relaxed or ready to take a nap.  As a general rule, it's best not to allow the family dog to greet unfamiliar guests.  Commotion and unusual circumstances can cause stress for dogs [not to mention your guests!]  Give your dog a break in a quiet room with a familiar doggie bed or blanket.  Allow your canine companion to join the festivities after the initial commotion of arrival has subsided. 


7. Keep the liquids flowing! When pets are stressed by unfamiliar circumstances, they typically pant more, so keep fresh water readily available for them to drink. 


8. Beware of cold and snowy weather. While it might be convenient to put your pets outside when guests arrive for holiday festivities, falling temperatures and snow can be dangerous to them.  In addition, never let your pet roam freely, as icy roads can make it hard for cars to stop if your dog or cat wanders into the street. 


9. Do not give pets as surprise gifts! A cute and cuddly new pet might seem the perfect gift choice, but many of these holiday presents end up at animal shelters.  A pet takes a real commitment of time, and adoptive owners must be ready to participate in training and managing the responsibility of their new family member.  The RVSPCA has gift certificates available so the animal lover on your list can find his new best friend when the time if right. 


10. Add your pet to your gift list. Help your pets stay occupied and out of the holiday decorations by giving them their own gifts.  The Kong™ or any other solid rubber toy that are nearly indestructible, will distract your dog for long periods of time.  This is the season for all things merry and that includes our furry friends.  Following these simple tips will help make the festivities safe and happy for our canine companions, too. 


Information compiled from SPCA International

This does not affect products sold in Virginia, but I know we have a few readers from other parts of the country, so here's the information:

Voluntary Product Withdrawal - Turkey Canned FoodDecember 15, 2008

Solid Gold Voluntary Product Withdrawal - Turkey, Ocean Fish, Carrot, & Sweet Potatoes Formula

Turkey, Ocean Fish, Carrot, & Sweet Potatoes Formula Canned Dog Food
13.2 oz
Cans – POP-TOP CANS ONLY WITH A 'USE BY DATE 01/02/2010' located on the bottom of can

A limited production of this Turkey canned food was made with the POP-TOP, and none of the product was distributed in any of the following states:
Arizona, California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Hawaii, or Alaska.

Solid Gold has received several complaints regarding mold found in a batch of 13.2 oz canned Turkey, Ocean Fish, Carrot, & Sweet Potatoes Formula, with Pop-Tops. As a precautionary measure, they ask that you return any of this product with the 'Use By Date 01/02/2010'; you will find these numbers on the bottom of the cans.

* 13.2 oz Turkey and Ocean Fish Canned Dog Food.
* Purple label with a POP –TOP (Pull top) only..
* Date on bottom of can 01/02/2010
* Turkey and Ocean Fish cans without a Pop-Top are not affected.