August 26, 2008Pooches at the ballpark
Nearly 150 dogs and their owners cheered on the Cardinals from a special "pooch" section of the stadium. (AP Photo/Purina, Tom Gannam) August 5, 2008Top shelf kittiesHere's a link to the Botetourt View blog, which features a great picture of two kitties getting a nice view. It's been a while since we've had a photo-of-the-week because there has been a drought in the reader-submitted photos lately. E-mail your photos to pets@roanoke.com. June 30, 2008Light reading on a sunny afternoon
This is Gracie. She likes to spend quiet afternoons in a sunny room reading The Roanoke Times' comics printed on an umbrella. Gracie enjoys the edgy humor of "Get Fuzzy," but feels Bucky Katt is misunderstood. She is undeniably attracted to "Garfield," and wishes her Aunt Lindsey would make her some lasagna. Gracie, making her second appearance as a photo-of-the-week kitty, shares her home with loyal blog reader Kim. Gracie's aunt is blogger Lindsey Nair of "Fridge Magnet" fame. June 16, 2008Volunteers help stop littering
Click this link to read a wonderful story by reporter Jeff Sturgeon about Alley Cat Angels, a volunteer group that spays and neuters hundreds of feral cats in Roanoke. In this photo, Barbara Phipps of Galax holds a recovering feral cat as the kitty's anesthesia wears off. The sterilization clinic is offered through Angels of Assisi. The cats are returned to their neighborhoods after the procedure and a health check are completed. The clinic has sterilized 962 felines since March of 2007. That likely prevented the potential birth of hundreds of thousands of unwanted, homeless cats in the Roanoke Valley. For more information about the clinic, contact Alley Cat Angels at feralcat@angelsofassisi.org or 344-8707, ext. 111. For more information about the cause, go online at www.alleycat.org.
June 9, 2008The puppy daddy
Doris writes: "This is the dad of a litter of 11 golden retrievers. He wasn't sure what to make of all those little things running around. At first he was afraid of them but as you can see he is beginning to warm up and do the things dads do, as in the one where he is standing guard while mom feeds." So here's a shout out to all the fathers, no matter the species. June 2, 2008Let sleeping cats lieThis photo of a snoozing kitty named Spike was sent in by Cary and Sue of Vinton. 
"Sleeping on the job might cost Spike a meal!" Sue wrote.
Oh, and for all you ornithologists out there, I have no idea what kind of bird that is; I was just making a very weak alliteration. But if you can identify it from this small photo, by all means, post a comment. May 26, 2008My hounds are stars!
Every other month, I get BarK, a national dog magazine, in the mail. And the first thing I do is open to a regular feature titled "Smiling Dogs," a two-page layout of dogs who are grinning for the camera. Well, in the May-June issue of BarK, in the bottom right hand corner of page 27, there are my babies! I submitted the photo in February and got an e-mail in April alerting me that my dogs with their cheesy grins had been chosen for the next issue. I will get a complimentary renewal of my subscription, my pooches will get national recognition for their sweet smiles. What a deal! The issue hits newsstands last week. If you enjoy reading about dogs, and since you are here I guess you do, then you will like this magazine. I read it cover to cover, and would even if I didn't write this blog. If you have a great picture of your pup showing off his or her pearly whites, e-mail it to smiling@bark.com. And e-mail it to me at pets@roanoke.com. If I can collect enough pictures, the newspaper may run a photo story of happy pooches during the dog days of summer. May 19, 2008Smudge makes a friendGeorgia Chapman of Bedford sent this photo of her kitty.  Georgia writes "Our indoor cat, Smudge, gazes longingly at her outdoor neighborhood friend." Ah, a closed door is the sworn enemy of every cat. I am sure both kitties wish they were on the other side. Until they get there. Then they want to be on the other side, and so on. It's one of the things you have to love about a cat: They want it all, right now. Send in your pix of your little sweeties to pets@roanoke.com. May 12, 2008All aboard Buddy
Hurley Ward of Roanoke sent this snapshot of her horse Buddy and three passengers: Elizabeth (front), Emily (back) and Yuppie, the beagle in the middle. Hurley writes that trainer George Morris says "my horses are spoiled and lady broke, but that I do a lovely job in their education." Great picture, Hurley. Send you photos to pets@roanoke.com if you do the e-mail thing. If you prefer snail mail like Hurley, mail them to 201 West Campbell Ave., Roanoke VA 24011, attention Nona Nelson. If you want the print returned, please let me know. May 5, 2008Special Kitty
This week's photo comes from Ellen of Rural Retreat. You may remember Ellen's shot of Bella, the Lab who kindly allows kitties to nap on top of her while she catches a sunny snooze. About this photo, Ellen writes: "The cyber cat is named Special Kitty. My daughter rescued her from under our deck as a kitten. We had to give her breaths (blew into her mouth) and look at her now. She IS on the web often- usually sits near the mouse (HAHAHA). The screensaver is one of my Bison dogs (have 2- that one is fluffy)." Ellen, you have a home full of beautiful pets. If you have a great shot of your beloved pet, e-mail it to pets@roanoke.com. Please include your name, the pet's name, and your hometown. You could be the Photo of the Week here at the Wag. April 28, 2008Callie in the spotlight
This is Callie, a 10-year-old poodle whose pet parent Patty White said was a little jealous of a new great-grand baby in the family. Understandable, since poodles are pretty smart and she knew she commanded a lot of attention. But I am also sure she will share the affection with the new baby, and maybe a toy or two. Maybe. April 21, 2008Nap time in the sunshine
Hope those felines didn't leave tan lines. April 14, 2008Beautiful Sabra
Sabra and her other feline friends seem happy together in the Cattery, but I know they would rather have a home and a family. If you are looking for a sweet and social kitty, stop by the League for Animal Protection in Fincastle. April 7, 2008State of GracieThe pet photo of the week honor is split between a dog and a cat who share a name: Gracie. First, there is Gracie the dog: 
And next we have Gracie the cat, with pictures from long-time blog reader and devoted pet parent Kim. 
Kim writes:"After a string of dog pictures I thought it was time for the kitties to have some exposure! Attached are two pictures of my youngest cat, Gracie, going through her nighttime routine. 
March 31, 2008Nod in motionThis spectacular shot was sent in by Hope Shultz of Roanoke. Hope shares her home a few retired racing greyhounds.  Hope writes: "Nod, the baby of the bunch, will be 3 years old in a couple of weeks. He is quite the ball player too! Love this photo, the joy and anticipation in Nod's expression says it all!" March 24, 2008Meet Gizmo and Paris HiltonThese are two of the photos that arrived in the pets@roanoke.com mailbox last week. I had to reach out to pet mom Carlissa to confirm that the leather-clad pug's name is Gizmo and the sweet little Shih Tzu's name is Paris Hilton. Carlissa responded: "Yeah !!!!! You love my babies..............Yes, Gizmo is the chubby fawn pug and Paris Hilton is the fluffy white Shih Tzu a.k.a.(Angel/Devil/Clown/Rabbit/Soccer Player and so on). Will they make it to the big time? I promised them that they would be famous someday something like American Idol for dogs." 
Well, I can't promise worldwide adulation on the scale of American Idol, but I can promise blog readers will love these cute pics. Thanks, Carlissa. March 17, 2008Pretty BettyBlog reader Mary wrote, "My sister Patty, of Roanoke, has the cutest 3 yr old pug. Her name is Betty and she just loves her little pink bed!" 
March 14, 2008New address for photosI love opening my e-mail box at work and seeing a new photo from blog reader. However, I hate opening my e-mail box and seeing a message from my system administrator that tells me my e-mail account is over the size limit. Frankly, my e-mail account is starting to develop image issues from constantly being told it's too big. So, if you would like to send me a photo of you pet, and I sure hope you will, please send them to pets@roanoke.com. With no annoying work-related messages to get in the way, there should be plenty of room for pet photos. And check out the Happy Wag Flickr account, where I will post photos of the week and some snapshots of my critters, too. March 13, 2008Love at first sight with HollyYou will notice my lack of restraint in posting a "photo of the week." I should post just one a week and space them out, but I just can't help myself. So, here's round two of this week's edition of Photo of the Week, sent in by loyal blog reader and devoted pet parent Deborah. 
March 10, 2008Sandy on a snowy dayBlog reader Scott shared these lovely photos of his pooch in winter: "Here are a couple shots of my 11-year-old Chow-Retriever mix, Sandy. I took these Back in, what? January? -- whenever we got that snow. Taken at the equestrian course at Green Hill Park in Roanoke County." 
March 5, 2008Frankly my dear
Meet Rhett, named after the Southern gentleman in the book and the movie, and looking very dapper in his winter sweater. Rhett is the pride and joy of reader Ashley Nicole, who writes, "He is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi who is 4 months old. He is a complete mess, but an adorable one. As I type he is fighting a Starbucks paper bag. Rhett - 1; Bag - 0" Good job, Rhett. You show that bag who is boss! March 4, 2008How do you like your Ribeye?
I know I should probably save this one for next week, but this pup is so handsome I have to share it now. Readers Maria and David Lemons sent this" ... picture of our sweet boy "Ribeye." He is a 5 year old Jack Russell who is so spoiled that he really doesn't even know he's a dog!!" He is really cute, and you gotta love that name! March 3, 2008Sleeping dogRegular blog reader and commenter Ed. S. sent us this great picture. 
Ed wrote, "I enjoy reading your blog. I've attached a photo of our lovable pooch, Bauer. He's a Golden Retriever/"Sneaky neighbor Lab" mix. Young and spunky, this is one of his quiet times. While he loves wrestling, going outdoors to chew on sticks, and finding any loose shoes or other "nibblables", he also enjoys comfort. Here I found him snoozing on the bed. My wife and I love the photo, so I used a photo manipulation program (The Gimp, similar to Photoshop) to take out most of the color. I like how the light on his face and the soft blue in the quilt bring out the peacefulness in his slumber." February 28, 2008Pet photo of the weekHappy Wag blog reader Kim sent me this picture of her pooch, Cali. 
"Here, she is anxiously awaiting the treat I had in my hand to get her to sit still long enough to have her picture taken! She is a 4-year old mixed breed we adopted from Mexico. As you can see, her cute little face is what makes my sister Lindsey melt whenever she visits!!" Aunt Lindsey Nair, a fellow Roanoke Times blogger, said of Cali: "She's a sweet baby. One of only two dogs I know right now that I would gladly dognap." Send me those photos of your cuddly critters. I will try to feature at least one a week. |
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