Have a Hip-Hopping Happy Easter!

Oh, those chocolate bunnies! They come in so many scrumptious flavors it's hard to choose. Let's see...there's milk chocolate, dark chocolate, cookies and cream. There's white chocolate, raspberry chocolate, and peanut butter. Each one is more scrumptious than the next. I remember carefully selecting an assortment of my most favorite luscious chocolates to put in my children's Easter baskets. Those baskets literally overflowed with sugary delights.

Which reminds me, have you ever filched Easter candy from your kids? I believe it's legal to do so as long as you practice the utmost fairness. Never take a peanut butter cup from one basket without taking one from the other, too. Just to even things up, you know.

You're welcome, kids! 

Alas, the only ones ineligible for treats from the Easter basket are the four-legged family members. Chocolate is toxic to pets. Keep those baskets out of critter reach, because they'll raid it faster than a sneaky parent ever could. But don't feel bad...a quick trip to the dog bakery for pet-friendly Easter treats is the perfect solution to keep everyone healthy and happy.

From us to you, have a safe and happy Easter holiday!

Happy President's Day 2013

Nearly every president brought some type of pet to the White House...and not all of them have been dogs. No matter your political beliefs, the connection between presidents and their pets is a fascinating one. From domestic to farm to exotic, I think just about every type of critter has been a White House resident.

Are you off work today? Well, there's no better time than President's Day to visit the Presidential Pet Museum. Not to worry. If you can't make it to the museum's Annapolis, Maryland location in person, check it out online here.

Meanwhile, Critter Alley will be on hiatus this week. I'll be traveling to Albuquerque tomorrow on a work-related trip. This is a first-time visit for me and I'm really looking forward to it. If anyone has suggestions on "must-see" places in Albuquerque, please let me know.

See you soon!

You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.


                                       ----Harry S. Truman
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Fourth of July Blues

Dear Neighbors:

I love the Fourth of July as much as anyone. It's wonderful to celebrate our country and the freedoms we enjoy. But do we really need to do it via explosions that have rocked the street pretty much non-stop since, say, about July 1 and continue (so far) through last night?

It's not only loud, but a little scary, too, since the grass and plants are dry as tinder. I have my hose hooked up and read to go just in case anything gets out of control, but still...

We love you all, but please, please, pack up the bombs until next year so our house can get back to normal. Bogey keeps glaring at the door with his tail poofed bigger than a feather duster and I'm not sure how much longer Indy can wait for a potty break. He could totally have his own explosion any minute.

Thanks for understanding,

Pat

Happy Earth Day

Earth Day 2012 website

In 1970, the very first Earth Day occurred. Senator Gaylord Nelson  from Wisconsin, horrified by a terrible oil spill, had the idea of galvanizing students and communities to recognize the fact that we needed to do something about the pollution of our air and water. Inspired by the anti-war movement, he figured that Earth Day could become a similar teachable moment.

If you want to get a message out, who better to choose for that task than students? They're energetic, passionate, and idealistic...and always ready to protest any injustice. Images of the first Earth Day filled newscasts and print media.

I was in high school for the first Earth Day (yes, I'm that old) and vividly remember making posters and participating in a peaceable "sit-in" outside the school building. At the end of the day we felt good about what we'd done, but never dreamed that Earth Day would grow and spread and become the true movement it has become.

The word did get out. People really do care about the treatment of our precious planet. That meant politicians began to see environmental issues as something they needed to address (or else), and is now a platform for study, debate, and legislation.

Isn't it amazing what a simple idea that speaks to the heart can accomplish?
 
Here's a request for your inner student. On this Earth Day, give the world a message. Choose one new habit to reduce, reuse, or recycle. Power to the people...
 
AND (I dare not forget to say) power to the pets. Hey, it's their world, too!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Happy Howl-oween 2011!

It's that time of year where humans all over the world like to add a little extra fun to the day of their dog, cat, horse, bunny...well just about any critter except a fish.

Okay, so maybe people are adding extra fun to their own day. Most pets are not enthusiastic about dressing up. You can see it in their faces. Anything from a trace of disgrace to a hullaballo of humiliation. Yet they tolerate the foolishness of their people with reasonably good humor. That's why I usually limit use of costumes to the length of time it takes for a few pictures.

When I dragged out Indy's much-used outfit, he went right into character by making a beeline in the opposite direction. His often shaky memory suddenly became sharp as a tack. A minor tussle later, he resigned himself into striking a pose.

A game with Green Dog cheered the little guy up in no time.

Bogey, however, is not so cooperative. I thought he'd enjoy bringing out his inner cool cat self.

But...not so much.

When the photographer became too sweaty to continue, the camera went into its case. All ruffled fur smoothed as costumes returned to the closet. Indy and Bogey got extra treats and pronounced the photo shoot sufficiently profitable. I drank a cup of tea and wondered if Ansel Adams works with such reluctant subjects.

But never mind all that. Today's the day for barking at doorbells and hissing at goblins.

How do your critters feel about Halloween?

The Problem with Observant Pets

"Bogey, I watched a show yesterday where a doctor said keeping active is important. He says if you don't, things will happen to bring bad con-se-kwenses to you. I've seen Cops enough times to know I don't want any bad con-se-kwenses."

"Good idea. And no worries. I've seen Mom practice the same routine a million times. I know exactly how to do it."

 "Okay, then, let's...Bogey, wait a minute. Where are you going?"

"It works like this, my friend. First you study the treadmill. Next you go to the kitchen for a snack. Then you whine and growl around a bit before grabbing a good place to sit on the couch."

"I can only hope the Exercise Police don't find out about this."

It's Cold and Flu Season...Again

Sniff. Achoo! Snuffle. Cough! Sigh...

For the last week, our house has sounded a whole lot like the waiting room of a doctor's office. Both Hubby and I have been held hostage to the clutches of some Exceptionally Obnoxious Cold that doesn't want to let go.

Only yesterday, a glimmer of light appeared for me. I felt much better. Didn't need to blow my nose half as much. Not a single sneeze jolted me. Then today...kapow! I'm not sure if it's the same bug that's returned just for the heck of it, or if a new one has arrived because it's so much fun to hang out with me. I hear that news travels fast among microbes. Isn't that what coined the term, "going viral"?

Anyway, I can always depend upon my good pals, Indy and Bogey, to help me once I retreat to the bed. Indy plasters himself to my backside, morphing into a furry hot water bottle. Bogey pushes his face so close to mine that his whiskers tickle my nose more than a persistent housefly. This, of course, does wonders to clear up a clogged sinus passage. Oh, the delights of cold and flu season.

But tomorrow is another day. And if I'm lucky, I'll soon be able to breathe without the assistance of Vicks Vaporub.

Marketing 101

Before....

After.....

Indy visited the grooming salon over the weekend, which I discovered is now under new ownership.  In a very nice introductory gesture, we were given a refrigerator magnet that features our handsome young man all spit and polished, along with the name, address and phone number of the groomer.

That's a darn smart marketing idea. Who's going to throw away an adorable picture of their pet? So now featured prominently on the refrigerator is Indy's newly shaved mug and free advertising for the groomer.

Take note, all ye who have pet products or services to sell. We proud parents just love to look at pictures of our pets!

Name Game-One Day Late

We're late to the Name Game party due to being out of town, but decided to participate anyway.

Thanks to Frankie for the suggestion!

Indy's growing lots of gray hair now, but when he came to live with us he was black as India ink and into just about everything. I thought about naming him India for his black-as-night coat, but my husband had a better suggestion.  For such an adventurous pup, what better name than Mr. Indiana Bones? Perfect!

This one was a no-brainer. A cool cat requires a cool namesake. Could there have been a more laid back, cool, collected actor than Humphrey Bogart? Not that I can think of, anyway. Thus our bad-boy cool cat became Bogey, without the signature cigarette.

Some names come easy, some require a lot of contemplation.  Yet we all reach the same conclusion.

The perfect name for our furred, finned, or feathered friends!

P.S. Remember the Six Word Story contest!

Show Us the Money

In these days of shrinking government budgets, people are feeling the pinch. So are animals.

Two local animal control agencies are currently having serious problems. The mayor of the City of St. Louis announced yesterday that operations at the city shelter would be closed later this year. A deteriorating building and lack of funds means the agency can no longer care humanely for animals. The city plans to contract services with local nonprofit agencies for strays and surrenders.

Likewise, animal control in neighboring Jefferson County is under fire for inadequate conditions and high euthanasia rates. Though staff is trying to bring the shelter up to par, there is a real possiblity that they may face closing as well.

I believe both agencies have tried to do the best they can with very limited budgets. What is the answer? A short term solution is to use nonprofit shelters. Unfortunately, they, too, are stretched to the max.

We need a long term solution. This lies in funding for better facilities, increased adoption outreach, and a concerted effort to get pets spayed and neutered. Of course, these programs require more money.

Which puts us right back where this blog began.

Decisions and Desires

Brady begs. Indy waits.

Over the weekend, our son stopped by for a visit and brought along his dog, Brady. Brady has been on a pretty strict diet ever since he became a part of our son's household. Or so I thought.

He'd been losing pounds and looking good, but I hadn't seen him in several weeks. Now it appears that Brady has mysteriously managed to recover some of his previously lost pounds. When I commented on his weight, our son was surprised. He hadn't noticed.

Just goes to show that people can be as oblivious about weight gain in their pets as they can about their own bodies.

An article I read recently indicated that pet obesity is becoming a "big" problem in the United States.

Does this sound familiar? Our pets are so much a part of the family that they do what we do...eat and lounge around in front of the television set. So it's not only people who are getting heavier these days.

Why?

We eat too much.

"Here, Rover. A treat for you and a treat for me. Good stuff, huh, boy? Now let's see what's on Animal Planet."

We don't exercise.

"Let's stay in. It's too (insert word: hot, rainy, cold, windy, etc.) to go outside."

An all too familiar pattern with predictable results.

After we further discussed Brady's weight, our son acknowledged that he had been handing out a lot of "people food" treats from the table. (And Brady begs like a champ in the most persistent way to prove it.) The previous long walks had also decreased.

There you go. It's the same recipe that gleefully glues additional pounds on me.

A solution?

Wouldn't it be great if each of us put down the remote or shut off the computer or closed that book for just 30 minutes each day? And in that 30 minutes Rover and his person could go for a long, long walk outside. (Added bonus: 30 minutes of no snacking.)

We're on a roll now!

Bottom line: you can sit or move. Eat when hungry or eat all the time. Pick healthy foods or junk. It's really all about choices.

And because they do what we do, our pets will travel the same path right along with us.

No matter which direction we choose.

Food for Thought

Cookie, anyone? (Image from funnypetphotos)

There's been a lot of conversation lately among my friends about diets. You know, the ones we're on, the ones we've tried, and the ones we plan to do. Seems like we just can't stop talking about food.

Take my office for instance. I guarantee you that on any given day, the first conversation of the morning sounds something like:

"Where are we going for lunch?"

When did we become so obsessed with food? It's true we can't live without it, but it seems food has become the center of our lives. Could that be contributing to our country's weight problem?

My critters love to eat, there's no doubt about it. Get out the food dishes or treats and they're beside themselves with joy. But do they obsess about it?

I don't think so. Animals live in the moment. They are all about enjoying what's happening right now, whether it's an activity, snuggle time, nap time, or chow time.

Perhaps living more like them might be the best "diet" of all.

Flying the Friendly Skies

The mark of a successful entrepreneur is one who sees a need and fills it. When Alysa Binder and Dan Wiesel decided they didn't want their beloved Jack Russell terrier traveling in the dark and dangerous baggage compartment of a regular airline, they decided the time had come for change. Thus was born Pet Airways, the first airline dedicated solely to transporting pets.

Up to 50 animals can travel comfortably on the airline. They receive regular and frequent well-being checks, food, water, and even potty breaks...and the cost is similar to that charged by regular airlines. For pet owners, the security of knowing that their animal is safe and well cared for is worth every penny. The company started in 2005 and appears to be growing successfully. They plan to expand beyond the current five major cities that are served. Goes to show that even in a crumby economy if you can come up with a great idea, you will succeed.

Critter Alley awards purrs and tail-wags to Pet Airways!

Happy Weekend!

Photo by Jasdevi711


On Monday, it seems a million years away. But on we toil at a snail's pace, through Tuesday, past Wednesday, a bit more hopeful on Thursday, until...Ta da!!! It's Friday!

The weekend! The fastest moving two days of the week. It's funny how even Indy and Bogey seem to know it's coming. They love the somewhat slower pace and more lively interaction with their "pack".

Truth be told, so do I.

Hope you enjoy your weekend, too!

Ick...a Tick!

On Saturday we went to a party at a friend's home. Their place is lovely and private, nestled in a heavily wooded area. Although rain rolled in later, it wasn't enough to dampen anyone's fun.

Something else, however, did. I felt a strange tickle on my neck and instinctively reached to touch the area. Eek! It was a tick that (fortunately) was still looking for the right place to bite. I was able to quickly snatch it off. However, it gave me the creepy crawlies for the rest of the day. Indy went along with us, so he got a thorough check. Ticks love dogs even more than people. If you have a critter, and live in an area that ticks frequent, I'm sure you've dealt with this type of unpleasant discovery, too.

Hard to remove an attached tick, isn't it? That's because when its already attached to feed, the tick secretes a cement-like substance that keeps the arachnid (yep, spider family) firmly in place. Then when it finishes feeding, the tick releases a "solvent" for the substance to release its hold. If you're removing an imbedded tick, you don't want to leave anything behind. Ticks are known carriers of many serious diseases.

The name of the game is prevention. Before going into wooded areas, be sure to wear protective clothing treated with an approved tick repellent. Wear a hat. And talk to your vet about a program to keep ticks from using your pet for lunch.

I know ticks serve a purpose as food for birds and other wildlife, but I'm not willing to thank them for their part in the food chain.

Because I love spring. But I hate ticks.

Dear Uncle Sam

Thanks to my handy-dandy computer tax program (how did I ever do taxes without it?), my tax returns are completed and electronically filed. Happily, (assuming our state and federal governments remain solvent) I will be getting a refund x 2. In these tough economic times, I count that as a blessing.

In any event, during the listing of my "deductible expenses", I thought about proposed tax reform and realized there's one item no one has mentioned. Where's our deduction for pet care expenses? After all, they are members of the family, and goodness knows between bills for food, grooming, toys (gotta have 'em), leashes, collars, vaccinations, licenses, vet bills, boarding fees, and miscellaneous expenses, they might as well be a dependent!

So let's write to Congress. All in favor of a pet friendly tax break, raise your paw, oops, I mean hand!

Back to Work

After the lovely extended weekend, hearing the alarm go off this morning was, to put it mildly, a jolt. I stumbled out of bed and back into my hurry-up-and-get-ready-for-the-work-day routine. Indy and Bogey always provide a helping paw by circling and weaving back and forth around my feet as I try to walk. This makes it necessary to pay close attention to what I'm doing, as their combined effort provides a somewhat treacherous path. Once fed, however, both my critters are relaxed and ready to play while I get dressed. There's no time left, but I throw the ball a few times anyway.

It doesn't hurt to be a few minutes late, does it?

Remember Your PALentine

It's almost Valentine's Day, so don't forget your furred, finned, or feathered friend. What does your critter like? Once you identify that, shopping should be a snap. On my list is a catnip toy for Bogey and a heart-shaped dog bakery treat for Indy. Of course they're always delighted with anything I give them.

Wouldn't it be nice if shopping for people was so easy?

Let's Go to the Movies

Marley and Me, the movie.


As "Hollywood Week" draws to a close, I thought I'd mention some recent films that received the American Humane Association's (AHA) highest rating for treatment of animals...Outstanding. Note that EVERY critter used in a film, from insects to elephants, falls under their careful watch.

Hotel for Dogs-Orphans use an abandoned hotel to take in stray dogs and care for them.

The Unborn-A girl's dead twin may be contacting her from beyond.

Beethoven's Big Break-A St. Bernard becomes a canine movie star.

Revolutionary Road-Can a young couple overcome obstacles to build a life together?

The Spirit-A deceased cop returns as a spirit hero to battle evil forces.

Marly and Me-(My personal favorite. I loved the book!)-A rambunctious new puppy teaches a family about compassion, loyalty, and unconditional love.

If you make it to the movies this weekend, save some popcorn for me!

Brrrrrrr!

Today is a bitterly cold January day. In fact, we're told that this is the coldest day we've experienced in a decade. We won't get out of single digits so the wind chill is well below zero. On a day like this it sounds good just to snuggle under the covers in a warm house. Then I look at my critters and realize how lucky we all are.

Some pets live their lives outdoors. It's hard to imagine how they survive severely cold temperatures with little in the way of shelter, frozen water, and food that may or may not be provided to supply the extra calories burned producing body heat. Our local newscasters are good about mentioning what should be obvious. Please be kind...bring your pets inside!

We all stay a bit warmer with company. Just ask Indy!