Oldest Living Dog?

Bella, a Labrador mix from the UK, is said to be at least an amazing 29 years old, if not pushing three decades! Her owners, David and Daisy Richardson, say that they brought the tenacious pooch home from an animal shelter 26 years ago when she was "at least" three. But due to missing records, Bella can't be verified by the Guinness Book of World Records as top dog.

Understandably, Bella's age of 200 in doggie years would slow anyone down, but she still manages to get around. During a brief scare when the Richardsons thought they would have to finally put Bella to rest, David took her to the vet to be checked out:

"I decided to take her to the vet to be checked and she said Bella was very fit for her age apart from a bit of arthritis in her legs. Her heart is strong and she can still potter around the garden so she might have a good few years left."

As shocking as her age seems, Bella is not the only pup to stand the test of time. To see who else has been honored by Guinness, read more.

Two other dogs have been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records: Butch from the US, who celebrated 28 doggie b-days, and Bluey from Australia, who rang in 29 years and five months as the longest living dog ever.

Make It A Double, Please....

Gin, the dancing dog is back! Here's a new clip of Gin doing her thing on the semi-finals of Britain's got talent.

Hmmmm..... Maybe Little Edie Could Be A Super Station Master...

A Japanese train company that had been losing money has found a novel way to increase business - a pet cat called Tama.

All the 9-year-old female cat does is sit by the entrance of Kishi Station in western Japan, wearing a black uniform cap and posing for photos for the tourists - who are now flocking to the station in droves from across the nation.

Tama has been doing such a good job of raising revenue for the troubled Kishikawa train line that she was recently promoted to 'super-station-master.'

'
She never complains, even though passengers touch her all over the place. She is an amazing cat. She has patience and charisma,' Wakayama Electric Railway Co. spokeswoman Yoshiko Yamaki said.

'She is the perfect station master.'

Appointing a cat to turn around fortunes makes cultural sense in Japan, where cats are considered good luck and are believed to bring in business.

People are snatching up novelty goods - postcards, erasers, notebooks and pins - decorated with Tama's photos. There's even a special 1,365 yen (£6.65) book of photos of Tama, called 'Diary of Tama, the Station Master.'

Tama had been on the brink of losing her place to live, with the nearby store where she was raised being torn down. Now, the station is home.

Kishi Station started running without any workers in April 2006 as part of cost cuts. The Kishikawa line had been losing 500million yen (£2.4million) a year as passenger numbers fell steadily to as low as about 5,000 a day, or some 1.9million a year.

After Tama's appointment last year passengers have been gradually returning, recently rising 10 percent to about 2.1million a year.

In December Tama was rewarded with bonus pay - all in cat food.

My Milkshake Brings All The Boys To The Yard

Here's Ginger sporting her halter top and daisy dukes at her Memorial Day BBQ.

Peete was there too and he was such a good boy. His ears are healing really well, don't you think?

And this is Peaches. Peaches is an adorable one year old cockapoo. She belongs to our friend Victoria.

And.....finally......no party would be complete without Little Edie. Here's a video of Peaches, Ginger and Little Edie having fun.....

Another Victory Against Puppy Mills

The U.S. Senate followed the lead of the House of Representatives and overrode President Bush’s veto of the Farm Bill, ushering in key new protections for animals. The final bill -- which is now considered law, except for one section excluded due to a technical glitch -- bans the import of puppies from foreign puppy mills for commercial sale in the U.S. The law spares young, unweaned, and unvaccinated pups from harsh, long-distance transport -- during which they are exposed to extreme temperatures and often die in cargo holds -- and will keep foreign breeders from adding to the tragic overpopulation of pets in this country.

The Farm bill also adds a provision to federal law to make almost any form of animal fighting a federal felony. It’s also now a federal crime to knowingly possess or train animals for fighting, and the maximum prison time for a single violation of any section of the law goes from three years to five years. It is hard to overstate what a blow this is to dogfighters and cockfighters, and it brings us one step closer to eradicating these criminal industries.

The law also authorizes an increase in potential fines -- quadrupled from $2,500 to $10,000 -- for violations of the Animal Welfare Act, fines that haven’t been upgraded in more than 20 years. Such penalties will more effectively deter abuses at puppy mills, laboratories, circuses, and other facilities that use animals.

Happy Memorial Day!!

Here's a new "What If" to ponder.....

Canada's Next Top Dog

Yesterday we had a major breakthrough! Little Edie is one step closer to international superstardom. She had her first big AUDITION!!!! Edie and I went for a super long walk. It's a holiday weekend so it was the perfect day to be out and about. It had rained the night before and into the morning so as soon as it cleared we headed out...... with our hoodies on, of course!

We walked through her favorite park and ended up in Beverly Hills. Little Edie loves walking around Beverly Hills. She struts her stuff and everyone stops to pet her. "What kind of dog is she?" they always ask. I jokingly say "She's half fox and half coyote" and for a moment most people believe me. The tourists take her picture and kids and adults melt into a smile as she walks by.

Since the streets are so busy with people and cars I make Edie sit at every corner before we cross the street. The urge to run in every direction is very high and I need to keep her focused. As we practiced our ritual on one busy corner I noticed two men with big cameras across the street eying us. "They must be tourists and they think she is cute" I thought to myself.

As we crossed the street they stopped me and told me they were filming a show about Beverly Hills for Canada and could they film Edie!! I didn't even hesitate. "Of course!" I said. I gave Edie a look as if to say "THIS IS IT!!" and she sat at perfect attention waiting for her instruction. They asked me to do what I had been doing across the street, which was asking Edie to sit and then I'd give her a treat. One guy got down on the ground and filmed her at eye level as she sat on command in her black hoodie with her paw up to receive her treat. Then he asked me to put some treats on the ground and let her eat them.

Suddenly a crowd gathered around us. "Who were we? Why were we being filmed? This little dog in the hoodie is so cute. What's her name? Can I get her picture" There were tourists and shoppers and people waiting to be seated at a crowded restaurant. In a flash all the attention was on Edie. As we finished I was mid conversation with the two men and a little girl who wanted to pet Edie. I remember telling the men that Edie had a blog and before I could ask them where the show would air and was there any way I could see it they thanked me and moved on. I was left in the crowd while Edie basked in the glory of her moment.

So someday, somewhere in Canada my little girl will be on TV. The epitome of life in Beverly Hills. The superstar dog in her black hoodie and pink collar. Her namesake would be so proud.....I know I am.

Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend

Hurry!! Juicy Couture is having a sale on this adorable "Princess Necklace". Ok, so it's not really diamonds but what do you expect for $53.00?? It's made of silver cyrstal and has silver-tone heart shaped beads and a dangle heart charm in the center. One size fits most. There still in stock so hurry, while supplies last!

http://www.juicycouture.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod4190003&parentId=cat13001&masterId=cat117&cmCat=cat000000cat134&index=0&tid=P9

Cancer Sniffing Dog To Be Cloned

A Japanese center which says it has trained a dog to sniff out human cancer cells is cloning the animal in South Korea, a Seoul-based biotechnology company and the dog's owner said Wednesday.

Cloned fetuses from the black labrador retriever named Marine were last month implanted into a surrogate mother dog, said Ra Jeong-Chan, president of RNL Bio."We are going to see the clones around the end of this month," Ra said.

Marine, who is six and half years old, lost her ability to reproduce when she had her womb removed because of disease. She is owned by Yuji Satoh, a head trainer at St. Sugar Cancer Sniffing Dog Training Center, located at Shirahama in Chiba prefecture.

Satoh said experts from Seoul National University, which created the world's first cloned dog in 2005, had taken some skin samples from Marine and brought them back to South Korea for the project.

"We are making clones of Marine. She is touted as having a world top cancer-sniffing ability. By making her clones, we want to promote studies into cancer-sniffing dogs," Satoh said. "It's the world's first cloning of a cancer-sniffing dog."

He and the Korean firm, which is coordinating the project, have agreed to produce two clones and train them at Satoh's center. One will then be brought back to South Korea for study at the university and the other will stay at the centre. If the project for two pups succeeds, they plan to produce more.

"We want to make more clones of Marine for worldwide distribution" for studies into canine detection of cancer, Satoh said. Researchers in several countries are investigating whether dogs have the ability to detect lung, breast, prostate and skin cancer at an early and treatable stage. They believe cancer cells create a scent not present in healthy cells, which can theoretically be picked up by dogs in breath or urine samples.

RNL Bio's last such project was an order for the world's first commercial cloning of a pet dog -- a request from a U.S. woman to re-create her beloved former pit bull. The firm said in February it planned to charge 150,000 dollars to clone the pit bull for the California woman, using tissue from her dead pet named Booger.

A Seoul National University team created the world's first cloned dog in 2005, an Afghan hound named Snuppy. Team leader Lee Byeong-Chun said last week that Snuppy was expected to become a father this month following the first breeding of cloned canines.

Lee's team also produced seven clones of drug-sniffing dogs last year at the request of the Korea Customs Service. They are said to be easier to train than ordinary canines.

A Day In The Life of Little Edie.....

"Do I play with the rubber kong toy, the I Love You purse (old and new versions), the squeaky dog, the ropey thing or my blanket? Or do I just sit here with my legs crossed looking cute?"

Hello, My Name Is......

When Yosuke the parrot flew out of his cage and got lost, he did exactly what he had been taught -- recite his name and address to a stranger willing to help.

Police rescued the African grey parrot two weeks ago from a neighbor's roof in the city of Nagareyama, near Tokyo. After spending a night at the station, he was transferred to a nearby veterinary hospital while police searched for clues, local policeman Shinjiro Uemura said. He kept mum with the cops, but began chatting after a few days with the vet.

"I'm Mr. Yosuke Nakamura," the bird told the veterinarian, according to Uemura. The parrot also provided his full home address, down to the street number, and even entertained the hospital staff by singing songs.

"We checked the address, and what do you know, a Nakamura family really lived there. So we told them we've found Yosuke," Uemura said.

The Nakamura family told police they had been teaching the bird its name and address for about two years. But Yosuke apparently wasn't keen on opening up to police officials. "I tried to be friendly and talked to him, but he completely ignored me," Uemura said.

I'm Moving to Japan.....

Cult cartoon character Hello Kitty has been named a goodwill tourism ambassador for Japan.

It is the first time a cartoon character has taken on the normally human role. The feline character has become a global phenomenon, with more than 50,000 different products on sale in 60 countries.

The cat is one of mascot-obsessed Japan's biggest hits as a toy character - is often seen on lunch boxes, jewellery and many other accessories. She will be used to promote Japan in China and Hong Kong.

Japan's national tourism ministry made the announcement at a press conference yesterday. The ministry, which has so far appointed 11 people as goodwill tourism ambassadors, said the global icon was "qualified" for the job due to its popularity among Chinese people.

Shintaro Tsuji, president of Sanrio Co, the company which created the toy cat, called Hello Kitty's new appointment "an honour" and pledged the feline would "work hard to attract many visitors."The new role for Hello Kitty is part of the Japanese government's Visit Japan Campaign, which aims to attract 10 million tourists a year.

A Hello Kitty blog will start around late June on the Chinese language page of the campaign website to introduce tourist attractions in Japan, including historic and popular sites, Kyodo said.

In March, the foreign ministry appointed another cartoon cat, robo-cat Doraemon, as a charm ambassador in a bid to promote the nation's culture and win the hearts of future world leaders.

Mama's Got A Brand New Bag...

We haven't been shopping in a while so I thought I'd venture out into the virtual world to see what's new out there.....

Louis Vuitton has a new dog carrier. The Baxter. It comes in two sizes and features a washable rug, roll up side so your pooch can check out the view and a side pocket for carrying the matching leash and collar........ of course.

This new bag will set you back $1,410 or $1,570 and will accommodate a dog up to 20 lbs.

http://www.louisvuitton.com/web/flash/index.jsp;jsessionid=BD1F1KMMEXBAWCRBXUXFAHYKEG4RAUPU?buy=1&langue=en_US&direct1=home_entry_us

Say Cheese!!

This is one of the cutest things I think I've ever seen.......

Cat Fact or Cat Fiction???

Humans have always found felines somewhat of a mystery. Therefore, it only goes to reason that cats have endured many (and oftentimes preposterous) myths about them for centuries. Many of these tales have been absolutely absurd, while many others are believed by a fairly large number of people.

Of course, since a myth is a type of story or legend, many other people wonder if these kitty chronicles are absolutely true, partially true or completely false. Below are just a few of the many myths – complete with the truths and/or falsehoods shadowing them – behind the mysterious creature known as the cat.

MYTH: Cats only purr when they are happy.
FACT: While it is a well-known fact that cats do indeed purr when they're happy, this isn’t always the case. Oftentimes, they will purr when they are in pain and, believe it or not, even when they are dying. Also, cats have been known to purr when they are giving birth – which is an extremely distressing, laborious and excruciating experience. Unbeknownst to most humans, a feline’s purr is more an expression of emotion than an expression only of happiness.

MYTH: All Tortoiseshell cats are females.
FACT: While the immense majority of Tortie cats are indeed female, an occasional male, although extremely rare, will show up in a litter of kittens. However, the vast majority of these multi-colored males are sterile and cannot reproduce.

MYTH: Cats will “suck the breath” out of a newborn if it gets in the infant’s crib.
FACT: This myth simply is not true and is an old wive’s tale. The reason people have believed this legend is much simpler than a cat “sucking the life” out of a baby. Although infants have been found deceased while a cat is in its crib, the truth of the matter is that kitty was only cuddling with its little pal and accidentally smothered the little one by stretching out and covering the infant’s mouth and nose. In no way is this an intentional act. To keep this from happening, however, parents should NEVER leave the family cat (or dog) unsupervised around their child.

MYTH: Black cats bring bad luck and have long been associated with witchcraft.
FACT: For a long time in Europe pagan religions – such as witchcraft – were the dominant belief and all cats, but especially black ones, were supposedly the witches’ comrades. During the rise of the Christian religion in Europe, the church decided that witchcraft was evil. And since the church attributed cats to witches, cats were thereby deemed evil by proxy. Also, since felines are primarily nocturnal and are unbelievable stalkers – allowing them to sneak around during the night – made humans extremely paranoid. So, being associated with the darkness of night, unfortunately didn't help their image since the color “black” has always been associated with evil – due to our ancestor's misinterpreted fear of the night.

MYTH: Red/orange cats are almost always male.
FACT: While the statistics are high that a red/orange tabby is usually male, the female gene sometimes sneaks in and creates a somewhat unusual red/orange female – although it seems most cat owners have had at least one of these supposedly “uncommon” cats in their lifetime. Perhaps their uncommonness is becoming more common.

MYTH: Cats always land on their feet – no matter how far they fall.
FACT: It is true that cats can twist their bodies around while in the air if falling from a great distance and, most times, will land on their feet (which probably doesn’t feel too good on their precious paws). However, broken bones are a concern from a fall from a balcony in someone’s apartment. Owners must NEVER allow their cats out on a balcony unless there is some kind of screening in place and there is no chance for kitty to escape. Because the worst accidents usually occur from city high-rise buildings, this phenomenon has been termed “High Rise Syndrome” by veterinarians. Cats who fall from shorter distances, however, may become seriously injured because they do not have enough time to twist their bodies around and “right” themselves, thus they may not land on their feet.

For Peete's Sake....

I know you've all been dying for an update on Peete. Yes. P-E-E-T-E. The spelling of his name has been changed. He's special and his name needs to have special spelling. Here's a picture of Peete chillin at the Coffee Bean. Peete went in for a little nip/tuck last week hence the bandages on his ears. He's being a very good boy and sitting still for his nanny Wanda to clean his ears every day. Every week he goes in to get checked and get new tape. Once he's done he will have perfect Doberman ears to go with his perfect Doberman tail. I wonder if his ears will be like Frank's and the tips will touch.......

Peete and Ginger are doing very well together. We had another trainer come to the house and everyone is following his advice. As long as we are all on the same page and the training is consistent it will help Peete and Ginger learn how to co-exist. Ginger is being very good with her new brother. She still has her snippy moments but we know how to correct the behavior now.

Little Edie has also met her new cousin Peete and they really love each other. Peete is so lucky. He has two little girls to play with and to watch over. He's the new leader of the pack. Here's a video of them all after a long bonding pack walk. Peete is all legs and big heavy paws. I'm trying to teach him to play gentle with the little girls.....

Does This Dress Make Me Look Fat????

Here's Agnes modeling one of her cousin Little Edie's summer dresses.

I Have Positive "Chi" huahua

Pet parents are practicing good Feng Shui—whether they know it or not!

“Pets themselves are Feng Shui,” according to expert, Yvonne Phillips, author of the book Feng Shui ABC. "Pets emit a strong, positive form of energy in your home because they are constantly in motion. There is no better Feng Shui for your home than having an animal run around spreading positive chi."

Feng Shui (pronounced fung shwey) is an ancient Chinese practice dating back some 3,000 to 5,000 years. The words translate literally to “wind-water” in English and the practice is based upon the belief that careful study and use of the laws of astronomy and geography will result in positive Qi, or “Chi,” improving one’s life. Chi (pronounced “chee”) literally means “air” but in feng shui, it means ‘flow of energy.’

Critics consider it a pseudoscience, but followers are convinced of its powerful effect on achieving Chi. In the United States, Feng Shui has gained popularity as a thoughtful practice of arranging objects in our homes (such as furniture) to achieve harmony with our environment.

“Pets already possess upbeat, positive energy,” she explains. “And best of all, they generally want to be in the same room you’re in, which generates ‘good energy’ around you whenever you’re at home.”

Feng Shui is often referred to as a form of therapy, because of it’s believed ability to enhance our spirit and wellbeing when practiced correctly. Phillips assures that feng Shui can be effective for pets too.

“Look at the area where your pet likes to hang out,” encourages Phillips. “Our animals are drawn to the best energy in a room or a home.”

She goes on to explain that if you generate positive energy in your home, you can enhance your pet’s overall health and happiness—without having to rearrange or redecorate your home.

Though the study and practice of Feng Shui can seem complex for beginners, Phillips suggests that pet parents simply arm themselves with careful observation and common sense to create good Chi for our pets.

Edamame is Next.....

A dog breeder in Alhambra, Calif., is mystified after his golden retriever gave birth to a green puppy. The green puppy, named Wasabi, was one of four puppies born five days ago. The dog is healthy and green, according to the report.

Skeptics said the dog had to be dyed green but the owner said the puppy was born green. Veterinarians said it is possible for a newborn puppy's fur to be green because the placenta, which is green, rubs off at birth.

In The Drivers Seat.....

A California lawmaker wants to ban motorists from holding pets on their laps while driving and getting caught can net a $35 fine. The bill passed the Assembly on a 44-11 vote last week, and heads to the Senate.

Assemblyman Bill Maze says his legislation has nothing to do with pet-loving celebrities who are photographed driving around Los Angeles with their small dogs.

Maze says he introduced the bill after seeing a woman driving with three dogs on her lap. He says pets are a distraction that put motorists and their passengers at risk.

Little Edie has her big plush dog seat which we use for long trips but I must admit, on short trips she LOVES to sit in my lap. Sorry, Little Edie, we're going to have to be a little more careful :)

Happy Mothers Day!!!!

To all the moms out there.......have a fabulous day :)

Chee-Wow-Whaaaaatttt????

The trailer is finally here for Beverly Hills Chihuahua. You know, the movie they made without Little Edie. Emphasis on the "wow" cause wow, did they really get ripped off. Edie can dance like that. She can sing. She can talk. She just learned how to swim on her vacation. She totally moves within the inner circles of the most powerful people on the planet and I'm sure she can beat a drum if you put one in front of her. She's like one of those triple threat celebrities. The ones that can sing, dance and act. She's the complete package. She'll get her big audition one day. You just wait.

Oh and get a load of the voice of Edward James Olmos in the beginning "My name is Papi"???? Gee......how original. Papi. Does he fall in love with Mami??

The plot of this movie still escapes me but I'm sure it will be up for an Oscar nom so I'm going to go online now and see if I can order my advance tickets.

You're Not Welcome Here Anymore......

Posh Puppy is a store in Beverly Hills that sells little teacup designer dogs. Ever since they opened recently I have noticed protests outside the store and today I saw a For Lease sign on the window which prompted me to wonder if they were finally run out of business. I found the following article online. Looks like all the attention on puppy mills has paid off with this one small victory.......

Posh Puppy in Beverly Hills Closes Following "Puppy Mill" Scandal
By Kelly Hartog Editor, BHCNP

It has taken almost five months of active campaigning by animal rights organizations, but on May 7, the doors of the Posh Puppy pet store in Beverly Hills were shuttered and a 'For Lease' sign was placed in the window.The brouhaha began back on December 22, 2007, when the Humane Society of the United States, The Best Friends for Animals and the Last Chance for Animals organizations, spearheaded by local actress, writer and animal activist Carole Raphaelle Davis, held a protest outside the Posh Puppy store at 9699 Wilshire Blvd., to make passersby aware that pet stores, including Posh Puppy are merely fronts for puppy mills, that keep their dogs caged in inhumane conditions and breed them until they die."

We chose Posh Puppy for its location and visibility," Davis, who has been a spokesperson for Last Chance for Animals for 19 years, told BHCNP. "This is the place where people buy teacup puppies and we chose December 22, because it was the Saturday before Christmas, which is the biggest puppy-buying day of the year."That protest turned into a weekly sustained movement, where locals, activists and celebrities turned out to make people aware of the shocking treatment dogs undergo in puppy mill kennels.

The protests were also designed to encourage people to adopt dogs from shelters. "At least 25% of dogs in shelters are purebred animals, and many of those---particularly the teacup dogs--- are those who were originally from puppy mills," said Davis. The boon in teacup puppies that can go for up to $4,500 each, has inadvertently been bolstered by the likes of celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears."I think that [these three girls] alone have done more harm to dogs than anyone else in recent history," Davis said. "These dogs are not fashion accessories, but millions of little girls want to emulate these celebrities."

While the protests went on weekly outside Posh Puppy, Davis along with other animal activist organizations was deeply entrenched in an undercover investigation seeking out the puppy mills that supply stores such as Posh Puppy. That investigation uncovered that one of Posh Puppy's suppliers was World Kennels USA in Littlerock, CA. Authorities raided the kennels on May 2 and removed 302 breeding dogs being kept in severe inhumane conditions.

One of those dogs was Millie ---a 10-year-old Maltese, who is now being fostered by Davis at her home. Millie was so- named by Davis because she was a puppy 'mill' dog. This is the first time Millie has ever been outside of a cage in her entire life. She is scrawny, emaciated, has a urinary tract infection and eye infections. She curls up on Davis's lap and is constantly craving human comfort."It's taken five days for her to trust me," says Davis. "When we rescued her she was shaking, trembling and terrified. Her vocal chords were cut in the kennels so she couldn't bark." Millie's story is not uncommon. She's just one of the hundreds of female dogs who have been kept for eight to ten years in a cage, and have been bred twice a year. "

People should know, that the cute little puppies they buy in these pet stores have mothers who have been kept in horrific conditions for years," said Davis. "It costs only $67 to adopt a puppy from a shelter," she points out.BHCNP's interview with Davis took place on the morning of May 7. During our interview, Davis received an email that revealed Posh Puppy's doors were closed and the For Lease sign was posted outside. Davis let out a squeal and shouted 'We did it!' before high-fiving this reporter.

Altercations between the protesters and Posh Puppy's store owners John and Michelle Yoon have been common over the last few months. The Yoon's have protested throughout they were running a legitimate business and purchasing their puppies from reputable sources only. However, as of May 7, Posh Puppy's doors in Beverly Hills have been closed, mail is piling up outside the door (including a vet bill from Brent Air Veterinarians) and the store's phone remains unanswered).Posh Puppy has a second store in Tarzana.

Calls to that store by BHCNP also remained unanswered.Davis says while many pet store owners, managers and employees are fully aware of the conditions of the dogs that breed the puppies they purchase, there are also plenty who have no idea of the cruelty and horror the dogs go through. "They don't visit the kennels, they don't ask questions and they trust the organizations that have beautiful Web sites showing dogs being well taken care of. Nothing could be further from the truth," she scoffs. "Which is why," she adds, "it's so important for us to educate the public and make sure they adopt dogs from shelters."

In the meantime, Davis's enthusiasm at the closure of Posh Puppy and the raid on World Kennels USA is a little guarded. "This is bittersweet for us," she said. "We're overjoyed at the newfound freedom of these [302 rescued dogs], but that's just one kennel and one store. There are hundreds of thousands of dogs suffering in terrible breeding facilities, and our hearts bleed for them."BHCNP is continuing its investigation into the puppy mill phenomenon with a series of articles. Please check back shortly for more in-depth reporting on this issue.

Your Pet's Carbon Pawprint

I've been doing my best to reduce my carbon footprint. Recycling, using compact fluorescent bulbs, unplugging unused appliances. But what about Jake and Little Edie? What can they do to help?? Here's 11 tips on how to help your pet reduce their carbon pawprint:

1-If you have a choice (if your pet doesn’t require prescription foods), buy pet foods produced closer to home. Though manufacturer’s labels often tell only part of the story, foods packaged nearby tend to require less fuel.

2-Use clay or sand litters for your cats. It takes less petroleum to bring these products to market. Even better, use shredded newspaper to save on shipping. For exotics, buy the recycled, biodegradable shavings instead of the cedar or cypress chips (they weigh less, too, so shipping's cheaper).

3-Cook for your pets or supplement their commercial diets with locally grown meats and produce. (Easier said than done, I know.)

4-Feed dry over canned foods, if possible. Less packaging material is required and the shipping differences are dramatic. With today’s high quality kibble, you need not fear your pets are losing out, health-wise (as long as you select wisely).

5-Compost your pets’ leftover foods instead of trashing them—and don’t ignore the fertilizer potential of some of our less traditional pets’ droppings. My goats, for example, produce excellent plant power via poop.

6-Don’t excessively warm or chill your home for your pets while you’re out. They mostly don’t mind the difference and they’ll find the warm and cool spots in your home easily if you set the thermostat at a balmy 80-85 in the summer and a snug 60-65 in the winter (if it's cold where you live).

7-Use stainless steel forever-bowls for your pets. You’ll never need to replace them.

8-Brush your pets daily to reduce your vacuum energy needs (and make her coat shine, while you’re at it). Consider storing her fur to have it spun it into yarn for your next knitting project (you can find online sources for this service).

9-Turn off the lights and the TV while you’re away. They see better in the dim light than we do. If your pets require soothing sound therapy, use a simple CD player or radio.

10-Recycled cardboard scratching posts are excellent and re-recyclable. Give them a go instead of the standard carpet-coated kind.

11-Never buy exotics sourced from the wilds and get your pets locally; there are are enough throwaways and rescues around to last us all through 2020.

What If?

Little Edie's First Vacation

Little Edie and I were invited to spend a fun and relaxing weekend in the desert with Polly & Duane and Edie's pet cousins Percy and Agnes. We packed up the car and off we went! The weather was divine. Around 85 in the day and a warm 65-70 at night.

This was a real test for Little Edie. Would she behave in the car? Would she behave in the house? Would she not pee and poop inside? Would all the girls get along for 3 1/2 days? Would I be able to relax or would I be on constant Edie watch?

I'm happy to report that we had a BLAST! Little Edie was SO good! We lounged around by the pool, we laid around the house, we walked along the golf course and we ate. A lot. We had the BEST food! Edie had so much fun with her cousins. I think they had a lot of fun with her too. Percy is slowly warming up to her. Agnes secretly loves her she just doesn't want to share her treats.

Here's Little Edie lounging in the sun after our morning walk......

Wow....this is the life. Here's Percy, Agnes and Little Edie just chilling outside.......

Of all the cute and funny things the girls did, Little Edie being confused and intrigued by a totem pole on the golf course was one of my favorites moments. Funny enough, Agnes did the same thing I just didn't catch her on film. Lesson - BEWARE OF RANDOM TOTEM!!

Special thanks to our gracious hosts, Polly & Duane for a wonderful weekend!

Starving Dog Exhibit Reported As A Hoax

The story of a dog being starved to death as part of an art exhibition appears to have been falsely reported by Costa Rican newspaper The Nation, according to new sources. I reported the appalling story here last week among global outrage about the exhibit and a reported invitation to repeat the work elsewhere.

It has now emerged, however, that artist Guillermo Habacuc Vargas intended the work to be a stunt to show how a starving dog suddenly becomes the center of attention when it is in a gallery, but not when it is on the street. The work was intended to expose people for what they really are - "hyprocritical sheep". He said that in order for the work to be valid, he and the gallery had to give the impression that the dog was genuinely starving to death and that it died.

Juanita Bermúdez, director of the Codex Gallery, stated that she would not have allowed the dog to be mistreated, that it ate and drank regularly, and that it was allowed to escape back to the streets from where it was taken at the end of the exhibit. "It is conceptual art and a work that leaves a social message", she said.

The stunt provoked massive outrage on a global scale, and over a million people have signed an online petition to try and prevent another dog being starved to death in a repeat of the exhibit. Unconfirmed reports say that the artist even received death threats.

Bon Voyage....

Little Edie and I are headed out for our first weekend getaway together. We'll be back Tuesday morning with lots of fun pictures and videos.

Have a great weekend everybody!!