December 31, 2007Walkabout kittiesTonight, I and several million of my closest friends will resolve to stop eating so much, get more exercise and end 2008 in better shape than we ended 2007. To keep this vow, I could plan on walking my neighborhood with my dogs. Many people stroll through my suburb with pooch in tow. The problem is my dogs bore easily on walks and would much prefer to play in the park or run hot laps in our backyard and then snooze on the couch. Besides, they are in great shape and don’t need a new exercise regime. So why not walk the cat? My cat Thai is about as agreeable as any kitty I have ever met but he would not tolerate a leash. He may, however, enjoy the scenic view from a stroller. 
The Kittywalk Double Decker Pet Stoller SUV will allow me to keep my feline under control as I cruise up and down the hilly streets of my neighborhood. The stylish stroller has two “privacy parlors” that hold up to 25 lbs. each, so more than one pet can ride without having to share a seat. It looks like a carrier on wheels, so if you travel with your pets, this may be a good option. I ordered one today. I will let you know how it works out. If you have plans to workout with your four-leggers this year, post a comment December 28, 2007What's in a name?It always seems like this is the time of year for making lists: the best of this, the worst of that, what we will do better in the New Year, etc. Dogster, the social network for dogs I wrote about in my very first entry on this blog, has published a list of the 100 most popular dog names, based on home pages on the Web site. Top names for boys include Buddy, Max, Jake and Charlie. Top names for girls include Lucy, Daisy, Molly, and Bella. Bailey was number 5 on the boy's list and number 10 in the girl's list. My boy dog's name, Dexter, appears somewhere near the middle of the list. Coral, my little girl pooch, apparently has a unique name: hers did not make the list at all. Of course, those are the names they had when we adopted them, so we get no credit for creativity of lack thereof. How did you decide on your dog's name? December 27, 2007Micro chip clinicImagine being lost, far from home, no familiar sights or faces. Worst of all, you have no identification on you, and you can’t communicate with anyone, even the people trying to help you. All you want to do is go home, but you end up in a cage, with little hope to see your family again. 
That happens to millions of pets each year. One in three pets will be lost at one time in their lives, and only 30 percent of dogs and less than 5 percent of cats will be reunited with their owners. The best way to make sure your pet can find his or her way home is with a microchip. The Roanoke Valley SPCA will hold a microchip clinic on Saturday, Jan. 12 from 10 a.m. until noon. Inserting the chip is a minor procedure similar to getting a shot. The chip contains the owner’s name and address, so when it is scanned at a shelter, a vet’s office or by animal control, you can be contacted to collect your pooch or kitty. The cost is $25 per pet; bring proof you adopted your best buddy from the RVSPCA and the cost is only $15. December 26, 2007Have a Yappy New YearSix Wags Dog Park in Salem will be having regular Yappy Hours throughout the holiday season. This could be a good opportunity to let you and your pooch work off holiday stress, and calories, with some fresh air and exercise. The doggy social time is free to members and $5 for non-members. Yappy Hours are from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Saturdays. December 24, 2007Merry Christmas to all!I am taking today and tomorrow off from blogging. Just wanted to wish all Happy Wag readers (and the wagging tails in your families) a very merry Christmas. May you all have a safe and happy holiday! December 21, 2007Got you coveredThere are two universal truths I have learned about greyhounds: they run fast and they cannot resist soft furniture. So two things happen every day at our house; our two dogs will do hot laps around the backyard and when they come in from the backyard, they will head straight for the love seats, couches or our bed. While they are not prolific shedders, they are still dogs, so they do deposit hair on the upholstery and on our dry-clean-only comforter. I may have found a solution to satisfy the two- and four-leggers in my home. 
The Three Dog Night Duvet Cover from from pet-friendly vendor Orvis promises "to protect your valuable down comforter from liquids (slobber, drool or worse, I guess) dirt, hair, and sharp claws with a waterproof, breathable cover." My only concerns about this product are the limited color choices (only green or blue) and the mixed reviews on the Web site. One reviewer raved about it; one said it was not so great. They are not cheap, prices ranging from $139 for a twin size up to $179 for a king, but if they extend the life of a comforter, it may be worth the investment. I am usually satisfied with Orvis products and with their return policy, so I am considering it. This item is not available in the Roanoke Orvis stores, so you have to order it online. If anyone has tried this or a similar product, post a comment and let us know what you think. December 20, 2007Dickens of a Christmas tomorrow nightRemember tomorrow is the highlight of the doggie holiday season: the Dickens of a Christmas costume contest. Good luck to all of the costumed participants. Have fun and stay warm! Oh you sexy beast!With only a few days left until the big gift exchange, I was trolling the Internet for something new and different for the pet stockings. And what to my wandering mouse clicks did appear? Perfume for dogs. With a quick spritz, I can turn my sweet little pups into "sexy beasts." 
Sexy Beast is a fragrance created especially for dogs. The product description on Amazon says it is a blend of "bergamot and vanilla-infused musk combined with natural patchouli, mandarin and nutmeg oils." Sounds delicious, except for the patchouli, which always reminds me of Grateful Dead concerts and lava lamps. The fragrance comes in a distinctive black, bone-shaped bottle, and it is touted as hypo-allergenic with a low-alcohol formula made specifically for a dog's sensitive skin and sophisticated sense of smell. My dogs sniff butts. Not really sophisticated
When our pooches get a little smelly, we usually just give them a bath. Then they have the aroma of a fresh-cut fruit salad with undertones of vanilla ice cream and wet dog. What will Santa slide into your pets' stocking this year? December 19, 2007The poisonous poinsettia?Have you ever heard that poinsettias, the favorite flower of the holidays, are poisonous to pets and children? I heard that years ago and banished the live plants to my desk at work, where they usually died long before the merry season ended. At home, I had a kid and pets, so I had fake poinsettias. And I hate fake plants. Very bad feng shui. 
But according to the American Society to Prevent Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Web site, I suffered those dusty imposters for nothing. So the only the live poinsettias were in danger of death in my home. Who knew? We brought home a live poinsettia a few days ago. Most of the family zoo ignored the festive foliage, but Dexter lifted a leg on it. For those keeping score, Dexter has now peed on the PetsMart Santa and a poinsettia. I think my beloved dog may be a Scrooge.
December 18, 2007Winner of the photo contestIt was hard to make a choice with so many cute pooches all dressed up in Yuletide garb, but the judges have decided the winner of the first annual Happy Wag photo contest is...
This sweet little face is sure to melt Santa's heart. This year her stocking will include Funagle, a board game for people and pups. Congratulations to Plumm! Since it was such a tough competition, I feel compelled to award a few runners-up and honorable mentions with some nice dog-related books: Boomer (who one judge noted was the only dog to look happy in his Santa hat); Ms. Pebbles (who looked so unhappy she made us laugh); Harry (who looked very stately in his formal wear); and the trio of poodles, Andy, Abby and Angie (Triple A as I have come to call them, who had many friends post comments about what special dogs they are.) Each dog will get a book this Christmas that their pet parents can read. Triple A may be able to read the book themselves, I don't know. They type and spell perfectly. Thanks to everyone who sent in a photo. I hope Santa is very to good to all of you. December 17, 2007Woods are not safe this time of yearCara and Dennis McClane thought nothing of letting their dog Roxie, wander the woods near their Franklin County home. Cara McClane said her chocolate lab liked to splash in the nearby creek. And she always came home. That is, until Dec. 3, when Roxie did not show up for supper. 
It took two days of searching, but the McClanes finally found Roxie, shot in the neck, barely alive and badly infected. McClane said Roxie’s collar, with her name and address, had been removed. Her injured body was hidden under sheet metal and a tire to conceal the results of some idiot’s reckless mistake or sick idea of fun. When McClane told me this story, she said she was under the impression that hunters in this area think nothing of shooting dogs. I asked Roanoke Times outdoor editor and avid hunter, Mark Taylor, if hunters he knew had such an attitude, and he assured me they did not. Mark wrote an excellent column in Sunday’s newspaper about this and other examples of bad behavior of hooligans who should not be confused with real sportsmen and hunters. McClane told me she wished they had not let Roxie wander, but she was in an area the family thought was safe, where Roxie could play and just be a dog. But in retrospect, letting a pet loose in the woods during hunting season is probably not a good choice. Honest mistakes can happen. It’s no excuse for the vicious and cowardly act that claimed Roxie’s life, but maybe this story will save another pet from tragedy. Keep your dog on a leash or in a fenced yard, folks. It’s really the best way to keep them safe. Last but not leastThis is Stinky, who staked out the best place in the house to wait for Santa. Stinky was the last entry in the holiday photo contest. A winner will be announced tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who sent in photos! 
December 13, 2007For the pooch on the goAccording to dogcars.com, a Web site dedicated to people who seldom leave home without their favorite canine, the best car for dog owners is....drum roll please...the 2007 Honda Element. 
The Web site has awarded its first ever "DogCar" of the Year award to the boxy SUV, giving it five out of five paws for it’s usefulness to pet families. Dr. Marty Becker and PetConnection.com blogger Gina Spadafori are the creators of the site, which is filled with content relevant to pooches and the people who chauffeur them. "Love or hate the look, no matter: The Element is as good a DogCar as could possibly be imagined." the authors posted. "From its versatile interior to its anti-nose print windows, everything about the Honda Element has dog-lovers howling with happiness. The easy-to-clean Element is a near-perfect DogCar with just the right canine chemistry." Other vehicles that got puppy props include Suzuki Forenza, the Dodge Caravan, and the Land Rover Range Rover (insert dog name joke here.) For those who want to reduce their carbon paw-print, the Ford Escape Hybrid is listed as a good choice. According to Becker and Spadafori, the essential features in pup-friendly vehicles include seats that fold flat or are easily removable, lots of usable cargo space, and locks that prevent dogs from unlocking a door or rolling down a window. We considered cargo room and the ease of loading an unloading our dogs when we choose my husband's Pontiac Torrent this summer. I drive a compact car, and we needed at least one vehicle that could tote our pups. Anti-nose print windows? Had we known that, we may have looked more closely at the Element. Did you use the Fido factor when you chose your vehicle? What canine-related features did you consider when you finally bought your doggy taxi? December 12, 2007The gift of a lifetimeAre thinking about sharing the love of a companion animal with someone special on your Christmas list this year? Many kids beg parents for a new puppy or kitten, and would be thrilled to find a cute little four-legger waiting for them under the Christmas tree. You may be tempted to surprise your sweetie with something furry and cuddly and tied with a bright red bow. With so many pets in shelters, giving a dog or a cat a forever home for the holidays does sound like a great way to celebrate the season. 
But as good as your intentions are, it’s just not a good idea to surprise someone with a new pet for Christmas. If you know someone who is yearning for a kitty, or if your kids have promised you by blood oath that they will really help care for a puppy, consider giving a gift certificate from the Roanoke Valley SPCA. The gift certificate covers the adoption cost of a dog, cat, puppy or kitten. This allows the recipient to take as much time as needed to meet the available pets and wait to find just the right match. This also lets the entire family be part of the decision-making process in choosing the new pet. Tuck the gift certificate inside a book on housetraining a new puppy, or wrap it up with a catnip mouse, and you will give the best gift possible to a prospective pet parent. December 11, 2007Aw, Mom! Do I have to wear this stuff???It doesn't look like Ms. Pebbles is too pleased with her Santa-style ruff and hat. 
Her pet mom, Michelle, wrote that she was laughing so hard when she took this photo that poor Ms. Pebbles must have thought her mom had lost her mind. Bailey and the bellBailey, a maltese/terrier mix, is described by his pet mom, Kelly, as "loveable and fun." This picture is just beautiful. 
And the cuties just keep coming...I am having a lot of fun with this photo contest, so I hope all you readers are as well. Here's Tucker and Rocky posing for their first Christmas picture. These West Highland terrier pups are 7 months old brothers and their pet mom describes them as "full of energy." 
Rosco's dressed for the occasionRosco is a 9-year-old pomerainian and poodle mix, a pomma-poo, who would count the days until Santa brings him new toys. But dogs can't count. So he will have to rely on his pet mom, Theresa, to do that for him. 
Naughty or nice?This is Daisy, a bearded collie, and I think she really belongs on the nice list, despite evidence to the contrary in this photo. 
Daisy's pet mom, Lori, wrote "I took this picture 3 years ago when she was a puppy. Daisy was into everything back then so we wanted to introduce her to our card recipients as a possible troublemaker, taking my daughter's slipper instead of retrieving it for her." December 10, 2007Had a holly jolly weekendWe took our two dogs, Dexter and Coral, and our cat, Thai, to the Valley View PetsMart on Saturday to have their pictures taken with Santa. We only had to wait a few minutes, and we let our two greyhounds pose with Santa first. 
Everything was going really well until Dexter decided he needed to mark Santa's bench. We told him the surest way to make it to the naughty list was to lift a leg on Santa, but he just can't seem to help himself. He makes the "Dexter was here" statement every time we go to PetsMart. It's like pee is his personal graffiti. After apologizing and helping the good folks of Star City Greyhound Adoptions, the non-profit group manning the Santa station for the weekend, clean up after our bad boy, both dogs posed very nicely for Santa. Thai's turn was next, and I was a little worried that when my cat emerged from his carrier, he was going to cause some excitement among the beagles and rottweilers that were waiting in line behind us. I had images in my head of a wild, movie-style chase scene with toys and treats strewn all over the disrupted displays of the store. 
Not to worry. None of the dogs cared about Thai, and our cat had a happy visit with St. Nick. He struck some fierce poses for the camera, and even gave Santa kisses. Way to suck up, kitty! I took some pictures with my camera over the photographer’s shoulder so I could have digital images. Guess who’s gonna be on next year’s Christmas cards?! You still have time for your pet to bark or purr all their Christmas wishes to Santa. For $9.95 ($8.95 with your Pets Perks card) you get a nice digital color print with a cute holiday frame. Pictures will be taken next weekend from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and $5 of each sale benefits a local animal welfare organization. December 9, 2007Santa BoomerBoomer looks happy and satisfied. I think there might not be any cookies left on the plate for Santa. 
Jackson's ready for ChristmasJackson' pet parents wrote that this photo was taken a couple of days after Thanksgiving, so this fellow got in the Christmas spirit as soon as the tree went up. 
December 7, 2007Family affair"Abby, Andy and Angie are 4 year old toy poodle litter siblings sporting their holiday attire," wrote their pet mom, Kathy. "They would like to wish all their family and friends a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!" 
I have no idea how she got them to sit that still, look that pretty, and pose for such great pictures. I am guessing bribery in the form of doggie cookies was involved, but maybe they just like having their pictures taken.
 Open house and a visit with SantaThe Pulaski County Animal Shelter is having an open house on Thursday, Dec.20. Santa Claus will pose for pictures with pets, refreshments will be served and you can pay a holiday visit to the animals at the shelter. 
If you are thinking about a new pet for Christmas, this is a great way to get an idea who might be the right match for your family. The event is from 6 to 8 p.m. Call 540-674-0089 or visit the Web site for more details. Moose or elf?According to Plumm's pet mom, the 2-year-old Boston terrier could not decide if she wanted to be an elf or a moose this Christmas.
So she dressed up as one of Santa's helpers, then she tried to look like one of his reindeer.
 Personally, I think she should just be a sweet little dog. I'll bet she is very good at that. Roscoe and TeakwoodThis is Roscoe, a 4-year-old, 130 lb. St. Bernard mix, and at the other end of the photo, and size spectrum, is Teakwood, an 8 lb. Chihuahua mix who will celebrate her first birthday at Christmas. 
These two pups are good friends, but their pet mom says little Teakwood is definetly the boss. Alex in his Santa hatThis is Alex, taken Christmas 2005. 
Alex's pet mom, Deborah, wrote:"My best friend was Alex. He was 13 and went to the Rainbow Bridge on July 22, 2006. He was celebrating before his last Christmas in 2005. I was so happy to get these pictures. I will always love him...he was my pride and joy for so many years. I have a new puppy but to put a hat or something on her now...well let's just say the hat would be eaten within seconds. She's a sweetie....but still young! (She likes to try to eat everything...including the furniture!)" We lost a dog this year, and I treasure the pictures we have of her. I know it may seem silly to some people to take photos of pets but, at least in our case, the pooches and kitties become such a big part of the family, those pictures are priceless. Merry Christmas to you, Deborah. I hope you enjoy your new puppy (she'll stop chewing soon) and enjoy your memories of Alex. December 6, 2007Smile for todayI enjoyed this story, and thought you might as well. It also may have solved my “nibbling cats vs. ravenous greyhounds” food dilemma. All the pretty paperVinnie, a 9-year-old dachshund, loves to open presents. His pet parents say he always knows which ones are his, but I'll bet he wouldn't mind helping other people open theirs, too. 
Vinnie's pet dad says he is "such a ham (bratwurst?)..." 
December 5, 2007Baby's first ChristmasHere is Sparkles, another contestant in our holiday photo contest. She is a 9-month-old dachshund, who is celebrating her very first Christmas with her pet family this year. 
I just want to know if she got to eat that candy cane after the photo was taken. Ready for the runway?Here’s a little tidbit I found on the BARk blog, one of my favorite national dog-related news sites: Dog groomers of America need to sharpen their shears and get in touch with their inner-diva. Apparently the cable television network Animal Planet is taking a page from Bravo and is currently casting its own competition reality show. According to ads on realitywanted.com and craigslist, the AP show will feature dog stylists competing for instant fame, cold hard cash and, of course, the title of Top Dog [Groomer.] It looks like the working title for the show is “Project Pooch.”
The designer who got "auf'd" made a really boring dress for the model, but the outfit for the dog was very cute. I think she got the short end of the leash, since one guy didn't even make an outfit for an almost naked, and obviously chilly, little Chinese Crested. Did I mention I was a big fan? Anyway, if this show is half as much fun as "Project Runway," it should be a howl. December 4, 2007Deck the pets out with cute costumes, fa la la la la...Get your pets ready for a Dickens of a Christmas pet costume contest on Friday, Dec. 21. 
Bring your pet, all decked out in his or her finest winter wear, to Wachovia Plaza at 6:30. There is no entry fee and you can pre-register at Downtown Roanoke's Web site.There is no entry fee. Prizes will be awarded for the most original, the cutest and the crowd favorite. So bring your cheering section and enjoy the holiday festivities. And if you take any great photos, e-mail them to me and we will post them here on the blog. December 3, 2007Open houseThe Humane Society of Montgomery County is hosting its annual open house this Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. The shelter is located at 1183 Flanagan Drive in Christiansburg. Surfing around the shelter's Web site, I found a touching story about Joey, a 12-year-old dog who has been at the shelter since 2004. Three years and still waiting for a home. I am sure he must think of the shelter as his home now. 
But wouldn't it be great if this little guy could find a family for Christmas? If you or someone you know would be able to care for and love a mature dog like Joey, stop in for a visit on Saturday.
December 1, 2007Remember, pics with Santa todayTake your pooch or kitty to PetsMart today or tomorrow between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. for a digitial photo with Santa. PetsMart will donate $5 of each paid photo this weekend to the Roanoke Valley SPCA. I believe next weekend's photos will benefit Star City Greyhound Adoptions, but I will confirm that and let you know for sure. And if you have a photo you want to enter in our holiday pet photo contest, e-mail it as an attachement to nona.nelson@roanoke.com. Have a great weekend! |
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