The Return of Simon's Cat!

That's right, Simon Tofield has created another cartoon featuring that cat we've grown to love. I'm not sure what more I can say about this except watch it. And, if you haven't seen the first two, you can find them in previous posts on this site!



(Video courtesy of Youtube.com)

Meet My Pets

I figured it was about time to introduce you to all of my pets. They all have unique personalities and they were the inspiration for this blog.

My dog: Amber is the first dog I've ever had. My family has had her since I was in sixth grade. We adopted her from the Denver Dumb Friends League. She's an Australian Shepherd/English Springer Spaniel mix. Amber is very intelligent and learned how to play dead in ten minutes.

My cats: We have two cats, Fluffy and Cali. Fluffy is a black domestic long hair and Cali is a black and white cow spotted domestic short hair. Fluffy lives at my parents' house while Cali lives with me. I got Cali a year ago from the Table Mountain Animal Center and she's acted like a crazy kitten ever since. As for Fluffy, my parents got her because my family has a tradition of getting a black DLH cat and naming her Fluffy. This Fluffy is Fluffy five for the whole family.

My guinea pigs: Right now, my family has seven guinea pigs. We adopt guinea pigs that can't seem to find homes. Once a guinea pig has been at a shelter for several months, we pick them up and we nurse them back to health, which is needed with some of the guinea pigs we adopt from shelters. We adopted Pumpkin, Truffle, Holly, Hazelnut, Fred and George from numerous shelters across Colorado. Cheyenne, the guinea pig who lives at my apartment, was adopted from Petco.

These are all of my wonderful pets and my family will always adopt a pet in need.

Summer Reading To Get Your Paws On

As the weather begins to hint at the warmer weather of summer and the prospect of more time to relax, now is the time to look for some books to fill your newly found spare time. Lucky for us, there are plenty of great books that would make for some light reading over any vacation.

• Your Cat Interpreter by David Alderton: I just picked this book up today for a bargain price. It's about all the little things you want to know about your cat. I have read a portion of this book and so far it has been great. All the information has been divided up into easy to read chunks. This book is great if you're looking for a book that's easy to pick up and put down.


• Mutt Book by David Alderton: This book is by the same author and I took a look through it. The premise is interesting. It's all about decoding your dog's heritage with the help of pictures to identify your dog's features. I was tempted to pick this one up as well and I think this would be a fun project to do with some friends.


• Marley and Me by John Grogan: I've heard great reviews about this book and it's on my reading list. It follows the story of a couple who gets a Labrador Retriever puppy to practice for children only to find that the dog causes more problems than most kids ever would. This would be a great beach read.


• Fire Bringer by David Clement-Davies: This is one of my favorite books. I decided to throw this one in here since it is a unique piece of fiction. It is from the point of view of a red deer. It follows his tale as he ventures across Scotland in an attempt to save his herd from its evil leader. This is a little longer than the others and will take up more time this summer.

Hopefully, one of these will strike your interest and offer some entertainment this summer.

(Picture courtesy of barnesandnoble.com)

Who Knew?

Are you the kind of person who likes to be different? If a dog or a cat is too tame for you, there are some options for pets that come from the wild side.

Potbellied Pigs: These pigs grow between 90 and 150 pounds as opposed to typical hogs that can weigh as much as 600 pounds. They are easier to train than dogs and can make great pets for the right people. These pigs can be trained to do special tricks and I have seen them do everything from play the piano to throw away trash. These are great pets for people who want something easy to train without the extreme amounts of energy of a puppy.

Sugar Gliders: These little marsupials are cute and very playful. They are native to Australia and are nocturnal. They have a membrane between their legs that allows them to glide, hence their names. so they need a large enough cage to climb and glide as they desire. They work well for someone who wants something small and unique.

Bengal Cats: Ever wanted a tiger without the risk of being...eaten? Well, this cat is for you. These cats are a hybrid of Asian Leopard Cat with a domestic cat. They have markings that make them look wild, but a much more manageable temperament. The problem is that they are illegal in some parts of the US. If these cats are legal where you live, they would be perfect if you're looking for a wild look in a domestic package.

Skunks: That's right, they make great pets. Skunks can be de-skunked to avoid having a house that smells like a dead skunk in the middle of the road. They are supposed to be very intelligent and just a little shy. Skunks would make great pets if you're looking for something that's just all around different.

There are many more options if you're looking for a pet to fit unusual needs or tastes, but I think these are some of the best of the most unique.

(Picture courtesy of hoothollow.com)

More Fun Than You Can Shake a Stick At

My last post was about the new activities that pets can participate in. So, to continue with this theme of innovation, I would like to talk about some interesting new pet gadgets that will certainly spark your interest.

Switched.com had a list of 12 pet innovations that are worth a look. There were a couple from that list that caught my attention.

• Pet Chime Doggy Doorbell: This invention was made to prevent pets from barking or scratching when they want to go out. To get your attention, they push the paw shaped button and a chime is emitted from a wireless transmitter.


• POOP-FREEZE Spray: This product reminds me of the movie "Envy" in which the main character invents a spray that makes doggy droppings disappear. While this product doesn't do that, it does freeze the droppings to make them easy to clean up.


• Modern Cat Furniture: The Refined Feline website sells cat furniture that is made to look modern and stylish. Their slogan, "Eyesore no more," describes how their furniture is made to fit with your decor rather than look like a sore thumb in your living room.

These were just a few of my favorites. Go take a look for yourself and I'm sure you'll be amazed at what people have come up with for our pets.

(Picture courtesy of switched.com)

Ever Heard Of Doga?

Our world is full of new fads and animals are no exception to our need to update and be modern.

In the past few years, several new creations have emerged to help our furry friends feel better. Some are a little out there, some bring us closer to our pets and others really seem to make a difference.

There are three new players on the health and wellness scene that have really caught my attention, so I decided to do some more research:

• Doga: So, what exactly is Doga? It's doggy yoga! As reported in the Post-Gazette article, many owners say they see a difference in their dog's ability to relax, just as seen in humans. The scientific benefit hasn't been proven, however. This fad started in New York and has been moving throughout the country. Cats also have their version of kitty yoga so they too can feel the benefits. Pet yoga involves teaching your animals to put themselves into positions that better breathing, blood flow and relaxation.


• Acupuncture: Most people are familiar with the interesting process of putting needles in the body to release pressure and increase wellness. Now, animals can receive this treatment to ease their pain. In addition to acupuncture, pets can use other Chinese forms of healing such as herbs. Animal hospitals now offer these services. Deer Creek Animal Hospital in Littleton, CO even has two vets specially trained to focus in these areas of treatment.


• Pet Psychics: Psychics are always the targets of some skepticism as their trade is one that relies on things unseen. However, being able to talk to someone without a voice, like the dead or, say, a pet, has become quite desirable. We were first introduced to Sonya Fitzpatrick, a pet psychic, on her Animal Planet show. She would speak to pets and let owners know what they were thinking and what they wanted their humans to know. While not a huge craze, it has caught on for some.

Who knows what craze we love will become something we can share with our pets next.

(Picture courtesy of Dogadog.com)

Sit, Stay, Enjoy

Looking for some fur-filled movies to enjoy this weekend? I have some suggestions.

I wanted to list out some great animal movies that I've enjoyed since I was young, but I realized I need to limit myself to just dog movies this time since there are so many choices for animal movies.

• Milo and Otis: Obviously this movie wasn't done with a huge budget but it's endearing none the less. Dudley Moore narrates the entire movie and does all the voices. The story follows an adventurous kitten named Milo who finds himself drifting down a river with only his Pug puppy friend, Otis, to find him. Four out of five bones.
  
• Fluke: Kind of a strange premise for this movie. A man dies in a car accident and is reincarnated as a Golden Retriever puppy. He then goes on a mission to find his family and, once he does, tries to think of a way to tell them who he is. Three and a half out of five bones.


• Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey: Probably a movie we all watched as kids. This story follows an older Golden Retriever, an American Bulldog, and a Himalayan cat as they trek through the mountains to get home after mistakenly thinking their owners have forgotten them. Four out of five bones.
  
• 101 Dalmatians: A Disney classic that can't be beat. Pongo and Perdita go in search of their puppies after they're stolen by the evil Cruella De Vil. This movie has been done in both an animated version and a live-action remake in 1996. Four and a half out of five bones.
  
• I Am Legend: Something a little newer for the list. Not only is this movie an awesome sci-fi thrill ride, there is also a touching friendship between Robert Neville and Sam, a German Shepherd. This bond proves that dogs are man's best friend. Five out of five bones.

Enjoy a dog-filled weekend!

(Picture courtesy of pugs.nl)

Shake Your Tailfeathers...If You've Got Them

Oscar is a cockatoo. Oscar is naked. Oscar dances.

I first came across the story of Oscar while watching The Soup on E! Oscar lives at the Broward County Humane Society in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She came to the humane society about 12 years at which point she was diagnosed with only six months to live.

Oscar has beak and feather disease. This disease is a virus that is easily spread to other birds. They lose their feathers and are susceptible to infection which often leads to death in affected birds.

This sounds sad, but when you see Oscar, despite looking like roasted chicken, you see how happy she is with her family at the humane society. She talks, sings and even does a Mick Jagger impression. Take a look at this youtube.com video:

For Your Viewing Pleasure

When Animal Planet was first offered without an additional subscription in our cable package, I did nothing but watch the newly acquired channel. I loved "Emergency Vets," "Animal Face-Off" and "K-9 to 5," just to name a few.

Then, the programming seemed to shift focus to documentary-type shows. It was a while before I ever watched that channel again. Recently, however, I happened across Animal Planet again only to discover that they have several new shows that are quite enjoyable.

• It's Me or The Dog: Dog trainer Victoria Stilwell visits homes where dog owners have sent out an S.O.S. She helps them learn why their dogs are misbehaving and then helps them retrain their pet into a picture of perfection.


• Groomer Has It: Hosted by Jai Rodriguez from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, this show is a competition between groomers to test their knowledge and aptitude for the profession.


• Petfinder: This show is focused on finding the right pet for the different needs of potential owners. The families get "Teachers' Pets" so they can, in a sense, test drive what it would be like own the pet they think they want. This show is based off of Petfinder.com.

These are just a few of the new options that Animal Planet is offering now as new programming. Hopefully, if you're looking for some fur-themed shows, you can find something to entertain you. Enjoy!

(Picture courtesy of wikipedia.com)

"For Your Cast of Characters"

I love it when commercials make me laugh. I love it even more when the ad involves cats.

Tidy Cats has recently created a collection of commercials that pretty much made my night last night (Yes, my night was THAT boring). But, my lack of social engagements aside, I think they did a great job on these commercials.

The whole collection cat be found on the "Tidy Cats Presents" portion of the website. I'd recommend clicking through all of the available videos and enjoying the quirkiness of each one. My favorite, however, would have to be "Outfits."

"Charades" was the one that got me interested in pursuing these commercials. After searching youtube.com, I realized that Tidy Cats has a history of clever commercials involving talking cats. In comparison, I'd say the newer ones are better since the ad I saw last night caught my attention and stuck in my head.

I hope you enjoy these commercials as much as I did. As for me, I need to run to the store...to buy some litter...Tidy Cats litter...

(Picture courtesy of TidyCats.com)

Lesson Learned

Two nights ago, I tried to plug my phone in to charge it. No go...

Upon closer inspection, I found that my cat had chewed through the wire. I tried to reconnect the wire, but only got blue sparks.

So, I went to the mall and went to the T-Mobile store. I explained my problem to the clerk and he pulled out his own phone. He showed me where his cat had chewed his phone. The back was covered in teeth marks.

This made me wonder cats chew. Everyone knows that dogs chew things, but you expect cats to just eat your plants not to do serious damage.

On WIKIhow.com, I found that cords seem to be a cat's number one choice for things to chew on. A piece of wire to a cat is an extremely desirable toy.

A useful resource for cheap and easy ways to kitty proof your cords, check out stretcher.com.

Finally, I found information that went beyond cord chewing to other chewing problems with cats at about. com.

Hopefully, if you're having problems with your cat chewing, some of these resources will offer some advice.

(Picture courtesy of jupiterimages.com)

Roll Over...With Laughter

For those of us who watch America's Funniest Home Videos just to see the funny clips of pets and who read "Garfield" religiously for cat humor, we now have a new source of entertainment.

Purina is holding a Pet Comedy Challenge where commedians base their entire repertoire of jokes on pets. To view the videos of the final eight in the competition, visit the Pet Comedy Challenge's website.

The winner will get $10,000 and will be determined from votes cast online at the website I mentioned above. Two of the current finalists are from Denver, so perhaps our fellow Coloradans need some support.

Here is a brief overview of the competition I found on Youtube.com:

Can't Adopt? Get Involved!

My last post highlighted some ways you can find animals in search of homes in Colorado. I've decided to continue talking about the Larimer County Humane Society, specifically their upcoming funraiser.

On Saturday, May 10th, the Larimer County Humane Society will be holding it's 18th Annual Fire Hydrant 5. It's $25 a person to enter the 5K race or the 3K walk/fun run. Your pooch is also welcome to participate for another $5. All the money raised goes to the Humane Society. There are prizes available for those who win races and for the people who raise the most money by collecting donations.

As part of the Fire Hydrant 5, there will be a Pet Fair. The Pet Fair is a fun way for the family to have fun with their dogs. There will be Fido Photos, paw painting, a flyball demonstration, and more.

If you don't want to participate but would still like to help, volunteers are needed for the event for a number of positions. The Coloradoan did a quick run-down of what the Humane Society is looking for as far as volunteers.

For more information about this event or to register, visit the Larimer County Humane Society website.

(Photo courtesy of LarimerHumane.org)

Pet Seeks Owner

As you may know from one of my previous posts, I believe that rescuing a pet is pretty much the only way to go. I decided to expand on that topic today and talk about some of the options you have if you're interested in adopting a new pet.

• Since I'm writing this blog in Fort Collins, Colo., I think it is only fitting to start out with our local animal shelter. The Larimer County Humane Society always has a plethorea of amazing cats and dogs available for adoption. They also have some small animals like rodents, birds, and the occasional iguana or duck.


• March is adopt a guinea pig month so, as a shout-out to one of my favorite animals, I would like to mention Cavy Care Inc., an all-guinea pig rescue in Aurora. I have adopted guinea pigs from here before and they do a wonderful job running this out of a private residence. They really know their stuff.
  
• If you're looking for a pet in Denver, the Denver Dumb Friends League is a great shelter with several locations around Denver. They always have a large selection of wonderful pets looking for homes.


• To find other shelters across Colorado, Muttcats.com offers a list of the shelters in Colorado and what they specialize in. You are also able to search other states.


• Finally, one of the easiest way to search for the right pet for you is through Petfinder.com. They list all animals that match your needs in a search that orders pets starting with those that are closest to you. This site also has a lot of literature to get you ready for your new pet.

(Picture courtesy of flickr.com)

I Can Haz Lolcats?

Since the start of this blog, I have had a topic in mind that brings me great joy that I would like to share. I feel that now is a good time to present it.

As silly as it sounds, when I'm feeling down, my day is brightened by Lolcats.

What, you may ask, are Lolcats? Simply, they are pictures of cats that make you lol. More specifically, they are pictures of cats in dubious situations with witty captions added on to enhance your lol.

Here is an example:

You can find an extensive collection of other amusing pictures at Icanhascheezburger.com. Icanhascheezburger.com is the website that started the craze when it went up in early 2007, according to Wikipedia.org.

Lolcats isn't limited to just cats. Pictures of rodents, birds, and other random animals pop up every so often. Ihasahotdog.com was created after the popularity of the lolcats to give loldogs a home.

As I mentioned before, all of these pictures are captioned, whether they be kitty, dog, or another variety. However, the lolcats have a language all their own. It's best described as poorly spelled, shortened English (as seen in the picture above). To help you brush up on your lolspeak at the Definitive Lolcats Glossary website.

Let me know how you like these sites!

(Picture courtesy of Icanhascheezburger.com)

Beauty is in the Eye of the Rat

I've always felt that the love of a pet is something that makes people feel wealthy. But how often do pets actually make you some money?

In the case of Tony Blair, a Norwegian rat, he has made his owner, Helena Seget, a profit off of his "works of art." His art includes pictures of half-eaten avocados, gnawed power cords and ceramic tiles with his paw prints. He has even branched into the food business by selling "Tony Blair Noodles."

Everything that Tony has done has been through the help of Seget. Her website shows her work and his work is displayed under 'projects.'

Tony's work first gained attention when Seget posted pictures of his work on The Saatchi Gallery website. His picture received several hundred online votes during a contest that the gallery held.

Once Tony's career took off, Seget started a blog for Tony. It can be found at Tony Blair-Artist Rat. After reading a few of the entries, I found his entries endearing and the photos are very cute. My favorite has to be a picture of his tail sticking out from under a comforter.

According to CNN.com, some of Tony's work goes for as much as 1,800 pounds. Sounds impressive in pounds and even more so in dollars: that's $3,500. I wouldn't complain about cleaning up after a rat with that much capital.

By the way, I would recommend watching the video at CNN.com because it's very cute...especially at the end where Tony slips off the table. I laughed...does that make me a bad person?

(Picture courtesy of helenaseget.com)

Spring Break '08...For Pets

For the past few days, I have been packing to prepare for my Spring Break trip to Mexico. So far, things have been going smoothly...except for the fact that Cali, my cat, has named my suitcase her new bed. I won't be taking her, but I will have enough cat hair in my suitcase that I'll be able to build a new cat.

I am sure, however, that I am not the first pet owner to experience a pet's dismay when you pack to leave. Most pets just become extremely affectionate but some pets suffer from separation anxiety.

Luckily for pet owners, pets have more options than just staying at home or going to a kennel. Now pets can stay at their very own hotels.

PetSmart has created the PetSmart PetHotel which offers kennels that aren't just metal and concrete. Dogs have a play area and cats have a plethora of feather toys to entertain them.

If your pet needs a more luxurious stay, hotels like The Barkley Pet Hotel & Day Spa offer accommodations that humans would be jealous of. There is a park area with private kennels or the executive kennels located poolside (shown at left). Cats have Kitty City where they can watch tropical fish and birds from their rooms.

Another convenience is hotels located near the airport to allow pet owners to drop their pets off at a stylish pet hotel without missing their flight or going out of their way. USAToday.com has reported on these hotels, explaining that only a few cities have pet hotels near airport but cities like Denver are looking to build their own.

So, before you leave for Spring Break, check for a pet hotel near you so your pet can enjoy the relaxation that you're enjoying.

(Photo courtesy of thebarkleypethotel.com)

More Cat-toons

You may recall that several posts ago, I posted a cartoon made by Simon Tofield. Well, much to my excitement, Tofield has created another video that commiserates with cat owners.

This time, the cartoon centers around that time of the day when your cat decides that he or she wants to come in after exploring the great backyard. However, I have seen few cat owners that have a built in kitty-door. As a result, we have one impatient cat trying to get in.

After watching these cartoons, I really feel that Tofield has a good grasp on what it is to own a cat. I hope one day to see a picture of the cat that these cartoons are based on.

Enjoy:

(Video hosted by YouTube.com)

Relief for Pained Pets

Living in Colorado, I rarely feel like I am surrounded by cutting edge research or in a center of high fashion. Today is one of those rare times where I feel that Colorado is at the fore-front of something good.

I came across an article on USAToday.com that tells the story of a German shepherd from Littleton named Maggie. Maggie showed signs of being arthritic even as a pup. By the time she was 11, she could barely move and it was evident that every step was a struggle.

Maggie's owner, Francine Hammer, wanted to do something to help her, so she did her research and came across a vet in Colorado Springs that practices a treatment involving stem cells.

For this treatment, a sample of stem cells is taken from the animal’s fat and is then sent to the Vet-Stem lab. The lab then returns the isolated stem cells in a syringe which are injected into the animal's joints and the healing process begins. The treatment costs about $2,000 to $2,500.

There have been mixed feelings about this treatment. Naturally, people are concerned due to the huge debate already occurring about stem cell use in humans. On the other hand, the potential to help ailing pets has owners interested. So far, the results have been quite positive as it seems most pets experience some improvement.

According to the article, 25 states don't have any vets trained for this procedure. I personally am happy to know that Colorado is among the half of the states that offer access to this treatment. I feel that it is beneficial and being able to help pets in pain is worth it.

(Picture courtesy of Vet-Stem.com)

Crafty Cages

If you have ever owned a guinea pig or a rabbit, you know that a decent-sized cage to house your pet could cost anywhere from $60-$100.

However, if you know of the latest and greatest way to make your own cage, you'll only end up paying $35 or $40. These customizable cages are called cubes and coroplast cages (c&c cages). They are even easy to assemble.

All you need to make your own c&c cage are...cubes and coroplast. The cubes I keep referring to are wire cubes that can be snapped together with plastic connectors that are most often assembled to make shelving. You can find these cubes at Wal-Mart. To get the coroplast, you can head to a sign store like Fastsigns to buy a sheet. Finally, you'll need cable ties, glue and scissors.

When you put the cage together, you can make it look however you want. Need it to fit in a corner? Want it to have multiple levels with ramps? You can make your cage fit your needs:

I've used this style of cage for my guinea pigs in the past and I love it. I would imagine that this style of cage would work for rabbits, chinchillas, and hedgehogs. I wouldn't recommend it for ferrets, though, since they tend to be sneaky and would probably figure out a way to get out.

Probably the best site I've seen about c&c cages is at CavyCages.com. All the information you need to make a c&c cage is here in addition to some great photos of these cages.

Gone are the days of pet store cages that are too small. Now, our small pets will have comfortable homes.

(Picture courtesy of CavyCages.com)

L.A. Helps Control The Pet Population...

Bob Barker, who is best known for his years as the host of "The Price is Right," always ended the show with his famous phrase: "Help control the pet population, have your pet spayed or neutered."

Now, this line can end with, "because it's the law in Los Angeles." Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed this law on Tuesday. It will require residents to have their pet sterilized by the time the animal is four months old.

Of course, there will be exceptions. The most obvious of these exceptions are animals owned by breeders and that compete in shows. Also included will be police and guide dogs.

CNN.com lists the penalties of not complying in its story about the law. As a first warning, those who do not sterilize their pet will receive information about the law. If still no action is taken, the owner will be fined $100 and then $500 with up to 40 hours of community service added to the fines.

In my opinion, this is a great law to have in place. So many animals end up in pounds and are never adopted due to the competition in place by pet stores where puppies and kittens frolic in such a tempting way that few seem to resist. People let their pets reproduce so they can enjoy the adorable result, but even the cutest puppy grows up into a not-so-cute dog. The dog is replaced with a puppy and the cycle continues.

If that's not motivating enough to sterilize pets to keep them from being surrendered to pounds, watch this commercial from Pedigree. The look on Echo's face speaks volumes:

Dashing Through the Snow...

This week, I am going to move away from your typical pet news and look at an animal that's a little more...exotic.

Reindeer, one of the best animals in my book, seem to fit more into the same family as cows when they're domesticated. In fact, this story has to do with reindeer as they relate to cows or, more specifically, bulls.

In the tradition of the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, a running of the reindeer was recently held in Anchorage, Alaska. People dressed up as carrots and lichen, which is like catnip for reindeer, and some taped bull's-eyes to their backs and lined up to run through the city.

According to MercuryNews.com, in order to prepare the reindeer to run, they were taken through the course a few times and were given apple slices as a reward.

When it came time to run, no one expected the reindeer to run with such gusto. As soon as the crowd took off, the reindeer followed in hot pursuit hoping to find treats amidst the runners. The reindeer easily overtook the runners by the midpoint of the race. To see the run for yourself, you can watch a clip on MSN Video.

The best irony, of course, was the fact that, while the reindeer where running, they were running past vendors selling reindeer hotdogs and other reindeer dishes. Strangely enough, the event increased the sales for these vendors.

(Picture courtesy of KATU.com)

Mornings With a Cat

If you're blessed, as I am, to wait paw and...paw on a cat, I'd bet that your mornings start out much like mine do.

Every day, I wake up around nine a.m. Or, that's when I set my alarm for. I usually get a different wake-up call around eight a.m. My cat has decided that an hour before I actually want to be awake is the perfect time to have breakfast. The only problem for her is that "the help" has yet to get out of bed.

If I make any sort of sound or movement that betrays any sign of life in my room, my cat takes to meowing incessantly.

If this sounds like your morning, you'll most likely get as much of a kick out of this cartoon as I did. It was made by an English cartoonist named Simon Tofield. "Cat Man Do" and more of his work can be found on the Tandem Films website.

CSI: Pets

Most people have seen at least one episode of what has become one of the most popular shows on TV. "CSI", which has branched into other series such as "CSI: Miami," follows a group of crime scene investigators as they pick apart every gruesome detail surrounding a crime.

But what does this have to do with pets? Now cats and dogs have their own crime scene investigator.

According to the article published by CNN.com, Melinda Merck is the country's only animal CSI specialist. She started out as a veterinarian but then decided to focus on investigating crime scenes involving animals. While most crime scene investigators could make assumptions about the death of an animal at the scene of a crime, Merck knows how animals behave. This knowledge gives her more insight into what might have happened.

She investigates about two cases a month. Since last year, she has been working on the case involving Michael Vick and his involvement in dog fighting. Her job has been to exhume and examine the bodies of 12 dogs involved with the case.

Now, this new field of veterinary forensics has opened up many opportunities for people interested in helping animals. While Merck is the only person practicing veterinary forensics right now, more people will probably join the field soon as this sort of work is needed in animal cruelty cases.

I never considered that examining a crime scene involving animals could be so different from one involving only humans. However, after reading about this new profession, I am happy to know that it is an expanding field so animals can have justice as well.

To read more about Merck or veterinary forensics, you can visit this site.

(Picture courtesy of Encyclopedia Britannica)

Beagle Makes History

Over this past week, I have to wonder if I am the only person who was disappointed in the headlines regarding the 132nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. If you haven't seen any of them yet they all read: "Blah blah blah Numero Uno."

I cannot say for sure who first used this headline for this story, but good for that person. It works well. So well, in fact, that every other reporter who covered this story decided to use it as well. Shame on those writers who should know that part of reporting is a fresh, catchy headline.

But enough about that issue. The real story here is that Uno, a loveable looking Beagle, won Best in Show at the WKC Dog Show. He is the first Beagle in the history of this dog show to win Best in Show.

Uno was competing against a Standard Poodle, an Akita, a Weimaraner, an Australian Shepherd, a Sealyham Terrier, and a Toy Poodle for the title. If you know anything about me, you would know that I was partial to the Australian Shepherd. To each their own, though.

Still, when it comes down to it, any of these dogs could melt your heart regardless of the winner. After Uno was announced the winner, he began jumping up and baying happily. I have never seen a dog celebrate, but I'm pretty sure that's the closest thing I'll ever see.

(Picture courtesy of Reuters)

Doggy Boutiques Offer Furry Fashion

After my last post about this year's fashionable pooches, I think it is only fitting to take a look at another fashion in the pet-owning world: doggy boutiques.

I first heard about this trend when the Three Dog Bakery opened. The bakery was started to offer an alternative to Milk-Bones and rawhides for our dogs. The bakery uses all-natural ingredients and the treats are made in the healthiest way possible.

Now, the fashion has expanded to include shops dedicated entirely to our four-legged friends. These boutiques go beyond traditional pet stores to offer brand name clothes, collars, dishes and decor for both dogs and cats.

Here in Fort Collins, we have Wagz of Colorado, a boutique full of pet products located a half of a block north of Mountain Avenue on the east side of College.

I've visited this boutique a few times and have always enjoyed shopping there. They have a plethora of cute dog beds and unique toys. I was even surprised to see cat products. I'm always looking for things my cat needs...or rather gifts I want to shower her with when she probably couldn't care less...and seeing how much they offer for cats made me reach for my wallet.

While you do have to pay the boutique prices for these items, you're guaranteed to find whatever you need to properly pamper your pet. If you are in Old Town, this stop is a must for every dog or cat owner if only to see what a pet store should look like.

Top Dogs of 2007

As 2008 begins, maybe you have considered purchasing this year's trendy dog. But, would you believe that the year's fetching fashion is the Bulldog?

The American Kennel Club (AKC) just announced the list of the top ten most popular breeds as based on registration of newly adopted dogs from last year. While the Bulldog just barely made the top ten list in the tenth spot, this is a big improvement from previous years. The last time the Bulldog made the top ten was in 1935.

While Bulldogs seem awkward and squat, one of the biggest selling points of the breed is obvious when you see a Bulldog puppy. In addition, Bulldogs make great family pets as they tend to be laid back and loveable.

The other dogs on the list show that small breeds like the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dachshund make the perfect companion and, for some people, the perfect accessory. Who's top dog on this list? That spot goes to the Labrador Retriever for the 17th year in a row.

Here's the full list of dogs as posted on USAToday.com:
1. Labrador Retriever
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Beagle
6. Boxer
7. Dachshund
8. Poodle
9. Shih Tzu
10. Bulldog

So, print out this list and perhaps take it into consideration next time you look at your local pet store. However, my pick for up-and-coming dogs has yet to be declared a breed by the AKC. I look forward to the day that I see Augi's on the top ten list. An Augi is an Australian Shepherd, Welsh Corgi mix and boasts the cute face of the Aussie and the tiny legs of the Corgi. Check it out on dogbreedinfo.com.

(Photo courtesy of Veer.com)

Powder Puff Puppies

Today, people across the United States will park themselves in front of their television sets to enjoy an afternoon of punts, Pilsner and...puppies?

For the fourth year running, Animal Planet will be showing its annual Puppy Bowl. The show is perfect to fill the timeslot. It airs during the Super Bowl and probably costs next-to-nothing for the station to produce.

If you have never stumbled across the show before, it's three fur-filled hours of puppies playing on a mini football field to the tune of elevator music. There are plenty of camera angles to capture the action such as the "bowl cam:" a camera filming below the water dishes in each of the end zones. A human referee makes an appearance if any of the canine competitors leaves a 'penalty' on the field. The Puppy Bowl even has a half-time show presented by Bissell featuring some playful kittens.

Petfinder.com helps Animal Planet find all of the puppies at shelters, all of which are available for adoption. For more information about this, an interview with the Vice President of Production for Animal Planet can be found on the Washington Post website.

After having watched a portion of the show two years ago, I would say this show is worth a peek if you're looking to kill some time before the main event. I give the show five out of five paws for the cute factor but one out of five paws for entertainment value.

The Puppy Bowl is scheduled for today from 3-6 pm ET/PT on Animal Planet. Clips from Puppy Bowls of years past can be found on YouTube.com.

(Picture courtesy of Discovery Channel.)

Where There's A Will...

Someone once said, "Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this." Being in the presence of most cats, even for five minutes, offers proof to these words.

However, living with a cat tends to yield opportunities that people who are deprived of the joys of owning a cat never get to experience. Some cat owners have managed to "train" their cats to acquire some semblance of a repertoire of "tricks."

The best example of this can be found at cat agility shows. That's right...someone, somewhere, decided it would be a good idea to throw a cat on an agility course usually reserved for dogs and watch the fur fly.

According to the article published by USA Today, some cats ran the course in as little as 14.5 seconds while some, in true cat form, stopped for a bath mid-course.

There are no restrictions for using a feather toy to entice a feline through the obstacles, as seen on showcatsonline.com. This is common practice and the cats seem to enjoy that this form of play employs two things every cat loves: running like they've seen death and feathers.

After reading this story, the temptation to set up a course for my cat is building. I have a feeling my cat would be less than amused but then again...feathers could change that.

(Picture courtesy of USAToday.com.)