November 30, 2007Christmas trees and poop patrolsOur newest greyhound, Coral, has been a very well-behaved girl since she came to live with us a couple of weeks ago. She's still pretty new to living in a house verses living in a kennel at a dog track, so she's still getting used to things like furniture, carpet, stairs. Everything has been going smoothly. That is, until yesterday morning when she decided to steal ornaments off the Christmas tree. 
Nothing says lovin' like something from the ovenHere's another pooch-friendly cookie recipe. Both my pups love homemade treats, and I feel better about giving them doggie cookies made with natural ingredients. 
I found this recipe on the RVSPCA e-newsletter, Paw Prints. When I am baking holiday cookies for people this weekend, I might as well make up a batch of biscuits for the pooches, too. 1 1/2 cups wheat flour yet another contestantHere's the lovely Sasha trying to step into Santa's sleigh. She's an almost 2-year-old poodle/chihuahua mix. So would that be a Poohua or a Choodle? Anyway, she's awfully cute. 
November 29, 2007Paw-tisian dog collars?For the politically active dog on your Christmas list, may we suggest a collar that shows your pooch's party loyalty? 
The New Hampshire Historical Society is selling needlepoint dog collars with your choice of a Democratic donkey or a Republican elephant and the state motto "Live Free or Die." For all you independent voters, or Teddy Roosevelt fans, they also offer one with a moose that simply celebrates New Hampshire, a state that has shown dogged determination to preserve it's first-in-the-nation presidential primary tradition. The collars come in four sizes and, according the Web site, were hand stitched by an Armenian women's co-op with leather work from a long-standing New Hampshire company. I noticed they do not come in the traditional blue-for-Democrats, red-for-Republicans color scheme.
Now, if my dogs could chose the next chief executive, they would want a president who could promise them unlimited ear rubbings and tummy scratchings. In that case, my husband would be the next leader of the free world. What do you think? Would you want your pooch to make a political statement? November 28, 2007First photo for contestHere's the first entry for the Christmas photo contest. This is Samson, a 3-year-old miniature schnauzer, who is pretty adorable as he waits for Santa Paws. 
If you tried to e-mail me your photo and got a "bounce back" message, it's because my e-mail box was full of work-related messages and attachments! Bah humbug! I quickly deleted all that stuff so now I can receive lots of pictures of cute pets celebrating the holidays. We are all about setting the right priorities here at The Happy Wag. Keep 'em coming. November 26, 2007A visit with SantaIf you missed taking your pet to the malls to get a picture with Santa earlier this month, have no fear. There will be a half dozen more photo opportunity with the jolly old elf at the Valley View PetsMart. 
A flyer tucked neatly into my bag on Sunday says that St. Nick will be posing for digital photos with pets on Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 1-2, 8-9, and 15-16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Price is $9.95, but you can save a dollar with your PetPerks card; $5 of each paid photo will be donated to local adoption partners, including shelters and rescue groups. A decorative holiday frame is included. The flyer also says this package is a photo of you and your pet. I don't know if this point is negotiable for all you camera-shy folks (like me.) When we had our pets' pictures taken there two years ago, we did have to be in the photo, too. November 21, 2007Hold the gravy!Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and that means a hearty feast for most families. And since we consider the four-leggers part of the family, they should feast, too. Right? 
Well, actually, the favorite foods of most Thanksgiving tables are not very good for your pets. Too much high-fat foods, like turkey skin basted in oil or butter, can cause pancreatitis, a painful illness that can lead to chronic digestive problems. Too much of any food can cause excess gas, which can cause bloat, a potentially life-threatening condition. Chocolate is poisonous. And brittle bird bones pose a risk of choking or tearing the intestines. All of these problems can and cause a scary, not to mention expensive, trip to the emergency vet hospital, effectively ruining your family’s holiday. Okay, enough already. You get it, don’t give in to those pleading puppy-dog eyes and hand over the table scraps. Easier said than done, I know. Do I practice what I preach? Not always. I have been known to give in and slip a little turkey or pie crust to my hound. But if you want to play it ultra-safe and make sure your dog does not suffer any harm this holiday, enlist the help of all your dinner guests. If you all work together, your pooch may be the only one who eats sensibly on Thursday. During the daylong cooking process, keep the dog occupied and out of the kitchen— ask the kids to take Rover out to the backyard for a game of Frisbee or fetch, or have someone take him out for a couple of long walks. When dinner rolls around, make sure everyone knows that feeding Fido is a no-no. If everyone gives your canine just a little something from their plate, she could end up overfed and crying from a tummy ache before the dishes are clear. Once the meal is over and the leftovers are put away, make sure to tie up the garbage and keep it far out your dog’s reach. Snooping snouts can smell right through those plastic bags, and even the most well behaved pooch may not be able to resist the temptation to tear open the Hefty and dive right in. Then you have a potentially sick dog AND a huge mess to clean. If you simply can't resist, white turkey meat is probably the safest bet. If it's mixed in with their normal dinner, you can control the total amount of food your pet eats. The big thing to avoid is constant, all-day snacking, which is probably good advice for everyone. Remember, perhaps even more than food, dogs crave attention and affection. Treat them to lots of praise and a good scratching and they will have a happy holiday. Happy Thanksgiving! November 20, 2007Saturday in the parkBy Saturday morning, you should be out of your turkey-induced coma, done with the malls and ready for a little fresh air. What better way to work off extra calories and shopping stress than taking your favorite pooch to the park? Six Wags Dog Park in Salem is offering a free Yappy Hour from 8 a.m. to noon this Saturday. 
According Katie Halsted, a park partner and Roanoke's own Pooch Professor, all dog washes will be $10 this Saturday, no matter what size your puppy happens to be. So get out there, let your pup get as dirty as he or she likes in the park, and then clean up before you leave. What a deal! And the winner is...Asia, the jalapeno-licking, furniture-chewing pug, brings home the prize in the first Happy Wag comment contest. Here's the story: We got our middle pug, Asia, about eight years ago. She was the runt of her little and subsequently, the breeders gave us a weight gainer formula that made her teeth razor sharp. Well...she was biting into the furniture with abandon. The breeder recommended that we get jalapeno peppers and squeeze the juice onto the legs of our beautiful coffee table as a deterrent to biting. We went to a Mexican specialty store that sold us their highest potency peppers. The juice had an opposite effect on Asia. She sniffed it, licked it, and chewed all the more!! So much for best laid plans! The image of the ravenous little pug made me laugh. Hey Asia, I love peppers too, but I never used them to season furniture. Here's hoping your pet mom, Laura K., does not have to use the book "Dog Days" to prop up a table with a chewed-off leg. Thank you to everyone who posted a comment. They were all great stories and it was a tough choice. To Cali, Bogie, Beethoven, Ned, Zoe and especially poor little Boo Boo, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and don't eat too many table scraps! And to Katie, I am so sorry for the loss of Tawsky. I am sure he was a wonderful dog and I know you miss him. We lost a dog suddenly in August, too.I will be thankful this year for the memories we have of Missy as I am sure you will be of Tawsky. November 19, 2007Introducing Miss CoralExperts say when you are adding a pet to your family, you should "adopt with your head, not your heart."
Those experts have never met Coral. I saw her picture on Petfinder through Star City Greyhound Adoptions, the non-profit group from Salem that introduced me to Dexter. I thought Coral was not only beautiful, but she seemed to have a gentle, almost ladylike quality about her. I met her at a meet-and-greet on Saturday, and she had me at hello. My husband drove out to the store, spent a few minutes with her, and he agreed she was a sweet dog. She came home with us that afternoon. She hit it off right away with Dexter. They played in the backyard and he is sharing his pillows and toys with her almost without complaint. Even our cat, Thai, seems to accept her, a much smoother transition than he did when we first brought Dexter home. Even though the decision to bring home Coral was largely based on emotion, we did use our best judgment. We have room for another dog, we can afford to take care of her, and we knew what to expect when we brought her home. We are familiar with greyhounds and we know how to help as Coral figures out her racing career is over and now she can enjoy her retirement. There is always an adjustment period when a new pet enters a home, and while this weekend with Coral went very well, we know we will likely have issues to deal with as she settles in as a member of our family. If you have a story about those initial growing pains when you first bring a new dog into your pack, post a comment. November 16, 2007Kennel time approaches...Next week is Thanksgiving, and we will be off to visit family in Indiana. The only thing I dread about holiday travel is leaving my pets. My in-laws’ home is not pet-friendly, so the four-leggers have stay behind. While we have a neighbor who can take care of the cats for us, Dexter has to go to a kennel. We've had good experiences at About Pets Center in Salem. We call it our “doggy spa.” We have left Dexter there a couple of times and he always seems happy and content when we pick him up. The facility is clean and comfortable, the play yard is spacious, and they give us a report card that lets us know how he spent his days, who was his best buddy, etc. They are also aware of breed behavior and match him with other sight hounds when they can.
November 15, 2007Giving some love to the kittiesDogs seem to dominate my blog topics, mostly because dogs are very public pets. Let's face it: there are no cat parks, fenced or otherwise. You won't see cat owners walking their felines in costumes through downtown Roanoke, although the mental image I get thinking about that amuses me. But I do love my kitty, every bit as much as I love my dog. Thai is a wonderful cat, and I feel privileged that he chose me to be his human. As a newly-homeless, six-month-old kitten, he just darted through our front door one night about five years ago, and made himself at home. By morning I was smitten with this gentle kitten, and he's been my little shadow ever since. 
My daughter Laura's cat, India, crawled into Laura's life when she found the sick, tiny, two-week-old abandoned feral kitten crying on our doorstep. India bonded immediately with Laura, and I really believe India sees Laura as the mother cat in her private colony. India is proof that some feral cats can make good pets. 
As I wrote this entry, Thai was curled up asleep in the big soft chair next to my desk in my office at home. He likes to be alone with me. And that makes me feel like I must be a good person, since my cat is selective to whom he honors with his presence. Post a comment about what makes you the special human in your kitty's life. November 14, 2007Roanoke service dog foundation is accreditedCongratulations to St. Francis of Assisi Service Dog Foundation. This week they became the first accredited organization in Virginia by Assistance Dogs International, a coalition of non-profit organizations that train and place service dogs. The Roanoke-based foundation places assistance dogs with adults and children with ambulatory and emotional disabilities. 
"To be recognized and accredited by an international organization like ADI is a tremendous validation of our work," Executive Director Cabell Youell said in a statement. "We look forward to expanding our services and continuing to serve those in need by providing highly skilled service dogs free of charge." Service dogs are specially trained to perform a multitude of tasks, like opening and closing doors, retrieving dropped objects, even pulling wheelchairs. A service dog can make independent living possible for many people. Post a comment, win this bookShare a funny or touching story about your pet here at The Happy Wag and you could win a copy of "Dog Days," a beautiful photo essay book by Gandee Vasan featuring dogs expressing some very human emotions. 
Wrap it upI dearly love to wrap Christmas presents. I look forward to spending at least one quiet evening during the holiday season when I get out the paper, ribbons and tags and wrap up all the goodies I am giving to family and friends. And I even enjoy watching the destruction of all my wrapping efforts on Christmas morning, when my carefully decorated packages end up in a mound of paper that my cat gleefully plays in. This year, my joy with the boxes-and-bows can be complemented with the knowledge I helped homeless pets if I buy my wrapping paper at PetsMart. The national retailer, in partnership with Pedigree pet food, is selling cat- and dog-themed wrapping paper in their stores, now and throughout the holiday season, for the unbelievably low price of $1. All the proceeds will go to PetsMart Charities, benefactor of animal welfare programs across the U.S. and Canada. And the gift wrap even comes with coupons for Pedigree and Whiskas products. Pretty good deal. 
Byron Wentworth, store manager of the Valley View PetsMart, said the store has the wrapping paper now and will also have a "wish tree" in the next few weeks covered with paper ornaments in $1, $5, $10 and $20 denominations. Customers take an ornament off the tree, pay at the register, and 100 percent of the proceeds go to about a dozen local animal shelters and rescues, including the RVSPCA, Angels of Assisi, Star City Greyhound Adoptions, the Bedford Humane Society and FERAL.
November 13, 2007Update on the Hillsville puppiesThe Elliston-based Dalmatian Rescue of Southwest Virginia took in 31of the little sweeties from Horton's Pups, the mill in Hillsville that made headlines last week. 
According to their Web site, however, all these adorable puppies have been spoken for, pending approval of the adoption applications. However, if you need an "awwww" moment today and want to see the sweet little faces, click here. If you click on the pictures, the little babies come to life. Click on several at a time for the full wiggle effect. Warning: you will crave a cuddle after viewing. And at the risk of sounding like a nag, if you really want to add a new set of paws to your family, look at the dogs and cats available for adoption through local shelters. Spirits in transitionHolistic veterinarian Ella Bittel will present a weekend seminar on hospice care for companion animals at UVa in Charlottesville. The seminar, Spirits in Transition, starts Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. and ending Sunday Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. Bittel said her seminar is open to anyone who cares for animals, in a home or in a clinical setting. She said the program teaches caregivers to provide comfort and support to a pet that is at the end of life, and also helps the caregiver deal with the grief and guilt associated with losing a beloved pet. "I have seen people grieve for years for an animal, falling into depression," Bittle said in a phone interview on Monday. She added that learning to deal with loss and grief is not just a benefit for those who care for elderly and sick pets. "This seminar also helps people be prepared to lose people," she said. Cost of the weekend program is $365. Bittel also has audio discs on caring for dying animals and dealing with loss for $12.
November 12, 2007Share a story, win a prizeMy dog can tell time. As each weekday fades into evening, he knows its time for his family to make their journeys home. He keeps watch in our front window, peers at the driveway, and waits for the cars to pull in. He frantically runs between the kitchen door and the front window until we emerge from the garage, and then he does his happy dance. It happens every day, and it never fails to make me smile. Nothing can make a lousy day fade into memory like coming home to family. Share a story about your pet and win a hardbound copy of "Dog Days," a book by photographer Gandee Vasan. The book is "...a collection of pooch portraits showcasing a spectrum of emotions that every dog lover will recognize and enjoy." Post a comment by Friday and let us know what your dog or cat does to make you laugh, cry, smile or even scream. Hey, you know they are not always angels, but sometimes the "arrggggghhh" moments turn into treasured memories. And you can't stay mad at someone that sweet, now can you? Best story wins this beautiful book.
Pictures with Santa!What better way to start the holiday season than to take your pooch or kitty (or in my case, both) to have his or her picture taken with Santa! 
Pets can pose with Santa this Sunday, Nov. 18, starting at 6 p.m. at Valley View Mall. Tanglewood offers pet photos with the Jolly Old Elf on Sunday, Nov. 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. Can't make it to the malls in the next two weeks? Not to worry. 
PetsMart at Valley View will have St. Nick available for photos the first three weekends in Decemeber. The store representative said exact times and other details have not been finalized, but as soon as I have more information I will be sure to pass it along. November 9, 2007Hillsville rescued dogsVirginia is for lovers, and apparently for puppy mills. A press release this week from the Humane Society of the United States alleges that there are over 900 commercial puppy dealers in our commonwealth, and the overwhelming majority are not licensed and thus not subject to any oversight or inspection to ensure the dogs are treated being properly. As you are likely aware, hundreds of puppies and dogs were confiscated from Horton's Pups in Hillsville. The puppy mill had mostly small breed dogs. This is a bleak story, folks. I know this state, and particularly this area, is home to many compassionate people who really love pets. And I know many of you are wondering what you can do to help. Keep in mind that nursing moms and young pups may not be able to be adopted for months, so the dogs that can be adopted right away are likely to be adult dogs. I called the list of shelters in our area that the USHS said would be taking in some of these dogs. The Danville Humane Society is on the list, and a statement on their Web site said they planned to pick up some dogs today, but when I called there this morning they said that plan had fallen through and they do not have any of the rescued dogs at their facility. The message on the Richmond SPCA voice mail said the dogs they received are not ready for adoption yet. The voicemail message also said they will be contacting people who have visited the shelter in the past and are on their wish list for a small dog first. There was no answer at Small Animal Rescue, 276-386-2796. The SPCA of Martinsville and Henry County said they took in 25 adult dogs. All the dogs are being evaluated and they hope to have them all checked in, photographed and on their Web site by midnight tonight. The very helpful lady who answered the phone, Lena, said they hope to be able to start showing the dogs to perspective pet parents by Monday. Applications to adopt the dogs can be found on the shelter's Web site and can faxed in on Monday, 276-638-0490 She said that none of the dogs will be ready to leave the shelter until they have been spayed or neutered and she said some of the dogs could have other health problems that will need to be addressed, like hair loss and teeth problems. The fee for adopting a dog will depend on the medical care the dog needs before they leave, probably around $150. November 8, 2007No place like a hotel for the holidays!
Howard Johnson Express Inn; 992-1234; no large dogs; $15.00 flat fee
November 7, 2007The coolest gift EVER!Today I got a completely unexpected gift: and inscribed and autographed original drawing from Jef Mallett, the creator and artist of the comic strip, Frazz. Mallett is an award-winning artist based out of Lansing, Mich., whose family included Schuyler, a rescued greyhound. Part of my job as the newsroom manager for The Roanoke Times is to meet with sales people from media syndicates, the companies that sell us features and comic strips. Last week in a meeting with United Media representative Jim Toler, a Roanoke native and all-around nice person, he said that he has a greyhound and that Mallett, the artist of one of UM’s most popular strips, also has a greyhound. Toler mentioned that Mallett’s hound had recently passed away. Of course I chimed in that a rescued hound lives in my home, too. I don’t think I added that we also lost a young greyhound this summer to cancer. That grief is still pretty raw for me. I opened a UPS package today, and inside was the beautiful black-and-white drawing you see here: a scene with two strip characters and a greyhound mentally musing and gazing at the horizon. The inscription brought tears to my eyes. It read: "To Nona — who can see the world through a greyhound's eyes."
 A note enclosed with the art reads “Hi, Nona- Jim Toler told me you you’re a fellow greyhound lover —you’re my kind of person! Hope a Frazz original says so even louder!”
Thanks, Jim and Jef, for this gift and for sharing our common love of hounds with me in such a wonderful way. November 6, 2007Voting and counting and stuff like thatHey, everybody. My name is Dexter, the spokesdog for The Happy Wag. I sure hope this bark-recognition software works. 
My pet mom said today is Election Day, and that everyone should vote. She said the newspaper’s Web site can help people know where to go to vote. Sort of like the cat who lives here with me. He’s always telling me where to go. Bossy cat. Anyway, my pet mom also said she would be home really late because the people at the newspaper where she works will be updating the Web site with voting stuff. I hate it when she comes home late, so I thought maybe you should all go out and vote real early so my pet mom can come home early. The know-it-all cat says it doesn’t work like that. He said after you all vote, other people count the votes, and roanoke.com will have all the counting stuff on the Web site all night. Stupid cat. 
Anyway, go vote, and then check out roanoke.com to see the counting. And come home real soon, Mom. I miss you. And so does the cat, I guess. Dumb old cat. November 5, 2007Mmmm...cookiesI made the Parmesan pleasers Sunday and bow-wow; these doggie cookies did live up to the name. Dexter loved them! Making the dough was a little bit of a challenge since I somehow misplaced my rolling pin (how do I lose things like that?!?!) This big mass of dough doesn't look very appetizing; but these little baked bits left my hound begging for more. 
FYI- I took a nibble and thought it was pretty awful (hey, they were made with ingredients from my for-people pantry and 'fridge. Don't hate. If you really want to read about people consuming stuff not fit for man nor beast, click here.) If you have a recipe for homemade goodies that make your Fidos howl or felines purr, share 'em here with a comment. November 2, 2007Pet loss support groupThe Pet Loss Support Group is starting regular meetings on the first Sunday each the month at Six Wags Dog Park in Salem. This meeting is an opportunity to share feelings in a compassionate environment with people who understand the loss a beloved pet. The meeting is from 4 to 5 p.m this Sunday. Weekend project: homemade dog foodOne of the plans I have for this weekend is to whip up some homemade dog food and treats for Dexter. I love to cook and bake, and I want to try my hand at snacks suitable for my four-leggers. 
The first treat I plan to try is the first recipe in the book "Real Food for Dogs" by Arden Moore. The snack is called "Parmesan pleaser," which should be a winner with my pooch. Dexter loves cheese. I think he would eat a door handle if I could cover it in enough cheese.
Parmesan Pleaser: 2 cups whole wheat flour Preheat oven to 350 degrees I will let you know how it turns out. If you have a house specialty that delights your pups and kitties, feel free to post it here.
November 1, 2007Yappy Happy Hour is canceledThe party's over before it even began. I got a note from Katie Halsted this morning that the Yappy Happy Hour planned for this Saturday at Six Wags Dog Park has been canceled. I will let you know if I hear the event has been rescheduled. Fencing in FishburnI am still getting caught up on my local news from the week I was on vacation, and I just came across this article from The Roanoke Times dated Oct. 24. Fencing in Fishburn Park is the only way the off-the-leash dog area will be useful to most dogs. I have a greyhound, so there is no way I can let my very fast dog, hard-coded in his DNA to chase moving objects, off the leash in an unfenced area, especially one that close to the busy traffic of Brambleton Avenue. No way, uh-uh, not gonna happen. The group NewVa Connects is trying to raise money to add the fence and other necessities like water fountains and trash receptacles. This is a wonderful idea and an good example of community involvement and they should be commended and supported. The group of dog-loving young professionals has also suggested charging users a fee to help offset maintenance costs, an idea The Roanoke Times editorial board finds unappealing. As a pooch parent, I would be happy to pay a small fee to offset the maintenance for a fenced dog park. I would also be happy to bring my own poop baggie and forego the fee. I just want place to let Dexter run off the leash in fresh scenery. I’d also like to have a dog park on my side of northern Roanoke County, but let’s build one fence at a time. Post a comment and share your thoughts about the fences, fundraising, user fees and the need for more than one off-the-leash dog parks. |
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