Adopt or foster Honey the pit bull

Columbus County Humane Society I found this pit bull running along the highway. She is very sweet [like Honey so that is what I have called her]. She is beautiful. She is spayed and has all her first shots. She is 100% healthy. I can't keep her. I already have 3 and my one females plays with Honey then attacks her randomly. I need a safe foster home for her. Any Pit Rescues out there Near Whiteville/Wilmington NC? Call Kim 910.616.1190

Adopt Shiloh the chow shepherd Mix

Please we need a home for this little guy, he was adopted when a baby and now owners can't keep and we are all full and have no foster home. They have said they will take to pound if no home is found. He needs to go into a home with no children and needs a fenced yd. Read below what the owner have to say about him. Please help save him. We have had our puppy (part chow/part shepard) since he was a baby. He is now 1 1/2 years old. He is a lot of fun and has a great personality. He loves to catch objects but needs work on giving them back. He has a little pool and loves to go swimming. He is very playful and likes to be chased, ran, and walked. He is a very loyal companion and sleeps right outside our bedroom door. The problem is that he is very posessive. He does not do well with meeting strangers, which will make it hard to find him a new home. This is a perfect opportunity for dog trainers or pet lovers to get a great dog that has one serious flaw. The reason we are getting rid of him is because we have a new baby that will be leaving the NICU soon, and cannot take any chances there. We will give this dog and all accessories free to a good home. He needs a fenced yard where he can have plenty of room to run around, and gets plenty of attention. He is a beautiful dog , has been neutered and is current with all shots and heartworm free. With the dog we will give his pool, igloo, and house crate for free. Please help to keep this great dog alive. If interested, please contact: lambertpat54@yahoo.com I did forget to mention that he had somehow torn the ligament in his front left leg. This is completely managed by taking 2 Dasuquin pills every day. He likes the taste of them so giving them to him is not a problem. He does like men and women- and gets along with everyone once he gets to know them. He also unfortunately, likes to be dirty-- buries all of his bones and sometimes even rolls around in dirt. Sometimes he grabs a shoe or magazine- something laying around- puts it in his mouth and runs. This is not because he will start eating the object-- he is being playful, and wants you to chase him for it. He has been a joy to us, and can be for someone else as well. Editors Note: This is not a mix for the novice dog owner. I emailed Pat Lambert and here is what she had to say: "Margot, the dogs name is Shiloh and he was adopted as a baby and now they are wanting him gone, he is very protective over them and so he might need to go into a home without children and they have a newborn that is coming home (after a mth.) from the hospital. Please pst him and help me find a place for him. Would be nice for him to have a fenced yd. and he does get along with other dogs, he does need to get by himself (a little food aggresive, I have a dog like that). He is up to date on all shots, neutered and heartworm free. I really don't know about the other dog, could you send me a copy of the post?" In a nutshell, this is not a dog for a home with young children. Whereas I am of the Cesar Milan viewpoint of never say never, this dog clearly needs some work and supervision. Sounds like he could be a very good companion for a more experienced dog owner and he is as cute as a button! Shelter is Columbus County Animal Shelter located at 288 Legion Dr Whiteville, NC 28433. Phone #910-641-3945. Adoption fee is $25. These guys need to all be out by 5 pm on Thurs 9/24. Petfinder is updated, here is the link: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC467.html.

Urine levels and Liver Disease

I love stat counter. I can see just what you are looking for when you encounter my site. One seeker asked (paraphrasing) "My dog is urinating less, does that mean he/she is getting better? Liver disease does cause a lot of water consumption and frequent urination. Unfortunately that is one of the last signs to leave the dog and is hard to measure, especially if the dog is up in years, it's hot or you have a multiple dog family. But, in general, it is a good sign! Focus on appetite first, jaundice signs second stool and urine color third and general demeanor fourth. Meaning: the dog should have an appetite for food without steroid intervention like prednisone. The appetite should be the same as it was before. Ravenous eating can signify a problem. The dog should have pink gums and clear eyes, this is the first sign the dog is recovering (dogs who are in the grips of liver disease develop yellow in the whites of their eyes and their gums turn a whitish brown color. In advanced cases they develop blue cataracts that are easily seen when the light is in their eyes.) Stools should be well formed and brown in color and urine should be some shade of yellow. If the stools are white or white tinged or the urine is brown, you need to contact your vet. This requires extra vigilance for those who keep their dogs in a yard. If you are home cooking, the stools should be easy to locate. But you need to walk the yard twice daily to see. Finally have they perked up or are they lackluster and depressed. Keep in mind that this is something you will always have to deal with. Dogs will have their good days and their bad days. These four traits will tell you more than all the blood tests in the world. Do keep watch on water consumption and urine levels though. That can be an early sign that something is amiss. That being said, resign yourself to the fact that you need to take your dog in for blood tests four times a year. I never appreciated how crucial the liver is in the entire well being of the system, until I had a dog with liver disease. A malfunctioning liver can lead to all sorts of problems including kidney failure. That is not as easy to see without regular blood tests and urinalysis. Stay strong, find a vet that will work with you on a holistic approach, ask questions and keep me posted. This is hell to go through, trust me I know. When I got Macy's prognosis I cried for three hours, debated if battling the disease was fair for her, was I being selfish, vain or irresponsible? Stayed up a fair few nights over that. But she had pluck and the will to live, so I gave her everything I had. Macy is not over the disease, she never will be, but is living well with the disease. She has clean blood tests and has the vim and vigor I always expected. She eats well and is the dog I always knew and loved, rather than some shell of a dog waiting for the end. I was told three to six months and she is close to superseding the last. She is happy, healthy and full of piss and vinegar. She went from a gaunt 54lbs to her normal 72 pounds. As long as she is up for the battle, I am determined to be by her side! Stay strong, research and talk to others that have the same issue. Think of it as group therapy for those that have dogs with critical illness. I still cry everytime I think of that phone call. But being in touch with all of you makes a difference. I hope I do the same for you!

It's been two years now and Vick has served his time. I should be happy, but I am not. First, he is scooped by Philadelphia, second I don't feel contrition. Don't know how I feel about that. Can't imagine the Tate family taking Charles Manson's pleas any better. But hey, we have a quarterback, a name and the ability to sell a lot of jerseys! We need to get past out love of sports and respect our gut feeling of what is right and wrong. Never will forget finding Sydney. I was asked what I would do if the owner showed up to claim the dog. I told the person that posed the question "I hope he/she does so I can kick their ass." I don't negate Michael a second chance. Only one not so publicly followed and revered!

Strut your mutt in Asheville

As if you needed an excuse to drive to the mountains, the Asheville Humane Society is hosting it's annual Mutt Strut on October 10th at Carrier Park. Information is on line at the following link, and registration is available here. Get yourself a hound and make that doggie proud, cause that's what it's all a bow, wow wout!

Dogs need homes in Whiteville,NC

Hi guys here is what is at the shelter Monday. A lot of strays whose time is now up and coming up today. We really need help getting them out, foster homes are full here. Please spread the word and help these guys. If you post, please make sure you give the address, getting a lot of complaints that they don't know where the shelter is. Shelter is Columbus County Animal Shelter located at 288 Legion Dr Whiteville, NC 28433. Phone #910-641-3945. Adoption fee is $25. These guys need to all be out by 5 pm on Thurs 9/24. Petfinder is updated, here is the link: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC467.html.

Natural Flea and tick control

The thing I was most afraid of has happened...fleas!!! We were doing really well until I agreed to watch a friends dog for the weekend. Now all three are infested. As most of you know, who follow this blog, I have a dog with liver disease. That means any form of chemical control, either applied to the dogs, the house or the yard is not recommended. So what do you do when fleas invade your home and how do you prevent it from happening? Well, I hope I can address both! If you want to address all natural flea prevention, here are a few tips that were working quite well for us until the introduction of a dog riddled with the little pests. Fleas and mosquitoes hate a clean blood stream. Immunity support is crucial if you go with a non chemical approach. The best dog food your money can buy is crucial. Look for good protein and no grain dog foods. Never assume a dog food is good before reading the label. For more about selecting a good dog food, read here. Vitamins and herbs are necessary for this approach. See previous posts for amounts but all get a multi B/C blend, vitamin E and a garlic/ brewers yeast powder. All have tremendous effects on the heart and blood stream and allow the natural defenses against fleas, ticks and heartworm to do their best. In addition, I do the following. In their drinking water a put a capful of Black Walnut Tincture and a few drops of Wormwood Tincture (available at any health food store.) Both are essential for cleansing the blood and the dogs love it! If fleas are already an issue, bathe the dogs in Dawn. Start at the head and work your way down. Leave them soaped up for 5 to 10 minutes. I tie a leash to my soap stand so they can't evacuate. Rinse them and spray them with 2 1/2 cups of water mixed with oil of lavender and oil of cedarwood. Shake well to mix. Same spray can be used on rugs furniture and bedding. Flea combs are helpful too for day to day maintenance, but I can't even imagine using it on a thick or long coated dog. Very tight teeth and I have a hard enough time with my short coated dogs. At any rate, we have the fleas under control, but the dogs' skin are so aggravated, that we need to calm the bites. Hearing liquid aloe vera is good for this, so I will keep you posted!

Foster Homes Needed in Eastern North Carolina

The Columbus County Humane Society is seeking foster homes for their dogs. Columbus county is located in the southeast corner of North Carolina, near Wilmington. You do not need to live in Columbus County to foster an animal until it is adopted. Interested parties may contact Pat Lambert at (910)317-1606 or email her at lambertpat54@yahoo.com. Please open your home to a pet that needs your love.

Dawn: it's not just for wildlife anymore!

Who would have thought that Dawn Dishwashing Liquid makes an excellent shampoo for flea control.

The oils in it will suffocate the fleas, keeps the eggs from sticking to the hair follicles, and also keeps your dog’s skin/fur from drying out. When using it, just make sure to soap up the dog’s neck first and this has to be done quickly, otherwise the fleas will swarm to the dog’s face and crawl in theirs ears, and nose to hide. You will notice many fleas crawling around their eyes when you bathe them if your dog is heavily infested with fleas. The trick is to completely soap them up, and then keep them saturated for at least 5 minutes. Rinse well, and most of them will be gone, or go away soon. You may have to follow up in a week or so to get rid of any remaining stragglers.

Dawn does little to prevent fleas from coming back however. To stick with a non chemical approach Mix 2 drops of oil of lavender and two drops of oil of cedarwood, easily found in natural health stores, to 600ML (roughly 2 1/2 cups of warm water) shake and spray down your dog being cautious to avoid the eyes. I usually spray a small amount in my hand to treat the face and rub it in carefully. For more about flea and tick control check this site.

Carbohydrate and fat choices in a liver disease diet

Dogs on a low protein diet need carbohydrates and fats for energy. But many grain choices can be problematic and caution is recommended. Grains, do break down into sugars and can result in yeast overgrowth. Grains are also high in glucose and bombard the liver, the very thing you want to avoid in a dog with liver disease. Grains, as well as dairy based products, are mucus forming (toxic fungal growth) and may contribute to health problems such as allergies, ear infections, skin problems, bloating, joint problems, malabsorption and digestive disorders. For this reason, grains are not recommended for regular use in your dogs diet. Then only organic, freshly cooked grains that have not been refrigerated for more than one day. Potatoes and sweet potatoes are very good for dogs, despite previous beliefs that they were toxic. They also contain healing powers. Potatoes are a cancer preventative and maintain blood pressure. Sweet potatoes prevent cancer and heart disease and assist in cleansing the blood. Wash well and cook with the peel on. I do mine in the microwave for 4 to 6 minutes. Potatoes can be stored in the refrigerator for three days in a air tight food container. Barley is one of the few grains that has nutritional benefits. It prevents cancer reduces blood clots and improves digestion. Always use organic and refrigerate left overs for no more than one day. Pasta can also be used and is a good choice in the early stages when the diet needs to be as bland as possible. Cook to direction and refrigerate no more than three days. Note: When refrigerating grains or carbs, always refrigerate them separately, never mixed with other vegetables or meats. High levels of fat are discouraged in the diet of a dog with liver disease, but some fat is essential to their health. Seeds and nuts are a good source of protein and fat and are best digested fresh, raw and unsalted.They add needed fat that is hard to get on a soy based diet. Sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds or flax seed are all good choices. Oils are another good choice for the needed fat in a diet. Extra virgin olive oil, soy oil, flax seed oil or safflower oil are all good choices. Oils must be cold pressed. Final Note: Although I have only one dog with liver disease, I avoid grain diets in all three of my dogs. Besides the reasons outlined above, most commercial dog foods use low quality grains that are often the end result of the milling process. They do this because it keeps cost down, but there is absolutely no nutritional value to the grain. It is merely a filler. The sad truth is the FDA has few regulatory standards for the quality of grains used or how the grains should be stored while awaiting shipment. Some of you may remember the Diamond Pet Food scare in 2006. Dogs were dying of liver failure at an alarming rate. The reason was the corn used in the food had gotten wet while in storage and had fermented. Customers were feeding their dog the kibble equivalent of grain alcohol. Higher end pet food companies, tend to use whole grains but always read the label!

Flea and Tick control for dogs with liver disease

Well it has been almost a year since my precious girl was diagnosed. She is doing beautifully. Switched her back to kibble. I am using Blue Buffalo or Dick Van Patton's white fish and sweet potato. She did show some kidney problems on the last blood test, but her urinalysis was clean. However, she finally got fleas. My fault! I agreed to watch a dog for the weekend and all the dog have fleas now. Here are some tricks to use. Sentry makes an organic flea spray and powder that you can use on the dog and the home. Available at Petsmart. It is called Natural Chemistry. Smells great and the active ingredients are cinnamon,clove and cedar oil. Bathe the dog on a weekly basis and keep them wet for 15 to 20 minutes...drowns the fleas. Wash all dog bedding on a weekly basis and spray all uphpolstered furniture and rugs. If you vaccuum, the bag must be pitched. Royal pain in the you know what, but if you love your dog enough to home cook it is doable. One step at a time is what I tell myself. Almost past flea season now, but some of us never get past it. Cider or white vinegar helps the skin. Brewers yeast and garlic, pill form, keeps the fleas off...mosquitos too. Oil of lavender will keep the bugs from infesting your furniture and rugs..smells nice too! Few tips to help you out. Now I must go and wash the dogs.

Adopt Dixie the gorgeous lab mix. Columbus County, NC

My name is Dixie and I so thankful for being alive, you see I was ran over and had to be taken to the animal hospital and had surgery on my leg. Now I do have a limp and I sometimes get tired from walking so much but I do love to sit on my foster moms lap and be given attention. I was never given any attention until I got ran over and now I have so many people loving on me, one person that I would love to thank is my first foster mom and her name is Heather and she wks. at Cape Fear spay/neuter. She was always raising money to take care of my medical needs and she gave me so much love and I do love her dearly. Now I'm in another foster home and she loves me also and she has a little boy and I love the both of them. I'm a little bit on the shy side at first but after getting to know you I perk right up. I would love to have a fence yd. to be able to exercise in and I'm very sure that I would like to take trips to the beach and play in the sand and water. I'm still a young puppy and I'm so very close to being a pure breed lab. My adoption includes all shots, worming and spay and I'm housetrained and yes I know that there is someone that will take me even if I do limp, just because I limp doesn't mean that I can't return the love that you might could give me. If interested please contact: lambertpat54@yahoo.com

Dogs to be adopted in Eastern North Carolina

These dogs are at Animal Control in Columbus County. Click on the following link. http://www.columbusco.org/DotNetNuke_2/Default.aspx?alias=www.columbusco.org/dotnetnuke_2/animalcontrol

Diet and nutritional support for dogs with liver disease, continued.

Well it has been over a month since Macy has been on the diet described in my previous post. Her blood panels came back completely clean. The only elevated panel was the amount of bile in her blood. This panel should be between 0 and 2. At the height of Macy's illness, this panel was 18. It has dropped to 6. I have tweaked the diet a bit. Her primary carb source is now yams. Yams have tremendous effects on the blood and are high in vitamin A, vitamin C and trace minerals. I am trying to steer clear of any grains whatsoever, a reason which will be explained in my next post. I am only using organic vegetables and meats, free of pesticides, hormones and steroids. The reason for this is any chemical weakens the system and you never want to introduce chemicals into the system of a dog with liver disease. Vegetables are primarily steamed carrots, kelp, artichoke hearts, spinach or green beans, again organic. I am keeping her on tofu and white fish until her blood panels are completely clear. As for immunity support, I have taken her off Heartworm and will not put her on any flea and tick medications. These weaken the dog's immunity over time and and place tremendous strain on the heart, kidney and liver. Interestingly enough, there are no known instances of wolves or wild canids with heartworm disease. It is believed by a growing number of vets that heartworm is a man made disease caused by over vaccination, poor nutrition and ingestion of chemicals, pesticides, steroids and growth hormones. These chemicals compromise the dogs natural defense system that would kill parasites in the blood before reaching the heart. Nutritional support has been adjusted as well. She still gets the vitamins listed in the previous post...these are essential. To find a natural supplement that would assist her in cleansing her blood, boosting her immune system and killing intestinal parasites I have put her on ActiPet Wormwood Therapy. Another good formula is Parasite Doctor.. I have also purchased a black walnut tincture. It is important that there is either no alcohol in the tincture or that the alcohol is taken out. See this link. Many of the supplements, or similar ones can be found in a good health food store, such as Garners. I have also looked into natural flea and tick support and the best I have seen is Flea Free. It is extremely important in a multi dog household, that a dog with liver disease not be around dogs with commercial flea and tick applications or collars. All dogs need to be on a natural, non chemical approach. You must also be terribly careful about fertilizers, pesticides and lawn treatments in any outdoor area they inhabit. Finally vaccinations need to be addressed. A puppy or adolescent dog needs to have vaccinations, but not as frequently as most veterinarians suggest. For example, the rabies vaccine lasts two years even though most states require yearly vaccines. There is growing awareness within the veterinary community about the problem of over vaccinating. Titer tests, which determine the dog's built in immunity to disease such as rabies, distemper or parvo are available. Often once a dog matures, it has developed an immunity to many of these diseases. Ask your vet for a titer test prior to vaccinations. If he or she balks, find a vet that will work with you. More information on vaccinations. Links: http://www.preciouspets.org/articles/natural-heartworm-prevention.htm http://www.cupofdog.com/2008/03/19/heartworm-prevention-naturally/ Best of luck and as always, feel free to comment with any questions.

Nutrition and diet for a dog with liver disease

God knows I googled this again and again, hoping I would find some answers. My internist told me to limit her protein, but I have found that not always to be true. I found a great book, "Hope for healing liver disease in your dog," which is a must have if you have a dog stricken by this disease. Generally, your vet will put your dog on vitamin K, denamarin or denosyl and antibiotics. Initially, the antibiotics are helpful for inflammation and infection, but I would ween your dog off it as soon as possible. Here is a rough time capsule of Macy's illness. Jan 15th, 2009: My sister told me Macy had been refusing to eat and seeming despondent. She thought she was missing me, at the time Macy was staying with her until I could find a dog friendly apartment. I took her that night and she hardly seemed glad to see me. Needless to say she didn't eat. I took her to the vet the following morning who discovered she was jaundiced. I admit I am embarrassed I didn't notice, but it was late and I was tired from refinishing floors all day. He took blood tests and x-rays and suggested we go to the specialty clinic here in the upstate. They gave her an ultrasound and determined that based on her blood tests and ultrasound results, it could be Leptospirosis. They kept her for a day and a half to keep her quarantined and give her IV's of antibiotics and fluids. She was released with prescriptions of Denamarin and Ampicillan. In the meantime, she was still showing little to no interest in food, although she seemed hungry. The Lepto tests came back negative, so the hospital recommended a biopsy. The results of the biopsy came back a week later with canine hepatitis as the result. In the meantime, Macy barely ate and when she tried, she would drop her food and open her mouth as if she was gagging. It had been close to 4 weeks and she was terribly gaunt. I told the doctor this and was written a prescription for Prednisone (appetite enhancer with multiple side effects), Metoclopram (anti nausial ) and Tramodol for pain. I only gave her the Prednisone and the Metoclopram once. I was home cooking for her and the ampicillan had cleared up some of her distress so she started to eat like a house on fire. As long as she was eating, I refused to give her the Metocloram and the Prednisone. I continued with the Ampicillan. Macy started to gain some weight. In the meantime, I wanted to make sure I was giving her a balanced diet and the right food. I called the internist, who gave me a protein to fat to carb ratio, but I still felt I was missing something. I continued to search on the computer until I found this book. Would strongly recommend buying this book but here is what i am doing. Macy is on a home cooked diet. The rough percentage ratio is a third protein, a third vegetable and a third carbohydrate. Macy is normally a 70lb dog, although she lost close to 20 lbs with all this. Here is her diet for the next two or three weeks: Protein: Tofu, non fat yogurt or non fat cottage cheese Vegetables: Spinach, green beans, carrots, broccoli, squash, celery, peas, beets or kelp Seeds/Oil: Flax or pumpkin seeds, fish or extra virgin olive oil. Carbs: Potatoes or yams, brown rice, kidney beans, barley, oatmeal or brown rice Fruits: Banana, berries and pineapple (in small amounts because of the citric acid) If your dog is experiencing severe signs, bloating, jaundice, white stools, spasms etc, consider distilled water for the first few weeks as drinking water Macy's meal: (this she just loves and does really well with) Tofu: three thin slices cubed and sauteed in a tablespoon of olive oil and a bit of garlic powder until browned Veggies: Pick two to three of the list and steam gently Carbs: Prepare as directed. If you are using potato, keep the skin on and bake in the microwave. Combine the three and shake some flax seeds on the top. Mix in a tablespoon or two of nonfat yogurt. you can add a bit of fruit if you like or save that for treats. Prunes and figs are good too and great pill hiders. Meds: Denosyl/Denamarin and Vitamin K (50 mg): In the morning 1 hour before breakfast. Mix with a food hider...no salt peanut butter or cream cheese. Milk thistle extra with dandelion, fennel and licorice (240mg) 2 to 3 times a day. I put it in her food. B complex with C (make sure it includes the daily recommended supply of B12) and a 200 IU vitamin E softgel. Mix in food. Try this for the first two weeks. Also, if your dog is not eating, try some salt free beef or chicken broth, a bit of white fish (cod, whitefish, flounder poached) or a small bit of skinless chicken boiled with no seasoning. Break meals down in to small portions fed 2 to 3 times a day. Finally, keep an eye on their behavior. If they are lethargic, stool eating or ravenous, the dog may need a bit more protein and more frequent, smaller meals. If the dog seems nauseous or depressed, lower the amount of protein and also break the meal portions into multiple times during the day with less food. Also keep an eye on the stools. Are they brown and well formed, runny, white? Your probably feeling terribly overwhelmed at this point. I know I was, but don't. Your dog will tell you how they feel. The recipe above has Macy looking and feeling good. You may have to play around with it a bit to find the right mix for your dog. But it's not that hard. I bulk cook and freeze what I don't need for three days or so. Get frozen veggies and frozen fish which saves time and waste. The other good news is in the week that Macy has been on this diet, the jaundice is almost completely gone. Haven't taken her in for her blood retest, but the physical signs leave me no doubt her panels will be much better. By the way, my internist told me the jaundice would likely be permanent....HA! Stay upbeat, stay positive and stay in touch.

Living with hepatitis

Hi all, It's been a damn long time since I have posted on this site. My apologies, but between my family and my eldest dog, things have been a bit crazy, Macy Gray was diagnosed with hepatitis. An earth shattering revelation for someone who just made a major move and has yet to find full time work. God bless my parents who have helped me financially to keep her alive. If tears were dollars, I would be very wealthy by now. Macy is doing well, I have been given a 4 to 6 month prognosis for her, but she continues to not only persevere but continue with vim and vigor. I purchased a book in my process to understand this disease better, which encourages nutritional support. The book is called, "Hope for healing liver disease in your dog" by Cyndi Smasal. The book encourages nutritional and vitamin support, rather than pharmaceutical support. Having owned a dog with severe dermatitis, whose kidneys were burned out by cortisone, I am very open to this option. In two days, I am already seeing improvement. So I will keep you posted and dedicate this site to dealing with liver disease. I will keep you posted.

Moved!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do to the illness of my mother, I have decided to move back to my childhood home...Greenville, South Carolina. Thanks to all that have frequented the site. This year has been tough but I plan to get back into blogging on a regular basis. Hope to achieve the same goals I had in Chicago. To provide a format for people to find their lost pets, to provide daily updates on pet health, training and nutrition and to be a site where devoted dog or pet owners can brag about their special someone, post an event or debate an issue. All are welcome as long as the debate is issue oriented, intelligent and devoid of those words that need not be posted on the internet. Welcome to Foothills Dog!!!!

How bizarre!!!

My thanks to Tom at the Bench for sharing this link. The newest invention out of Sweden is a doggie urinal for lampposts. Not quibbling with the issue at hand, but how does one train their male to hit the target. I am lucky if I can keep an unneutered male from peeing on my shoe!!!! A doggy urinal is being touted as the answer to prematurely corroded lampposts in Sweden. It consists of a rubber cup attached to the post and a hose to pipe the urine into the gutter. Full story here:

Talking Dogs

HILAROUS!!!!

Disaster preparedness: Do you have a plan for your pet?

A truck containing volatile chemicals overturns less than a mile from your house, your house catches fire, your home floods or you have to escape tornadic activity. We tend to watch the current California firestorm or the wreckage of Katrina with the assumption that this could never happen to us. The truth is that there is a long list of events that could force us to have to evacuate quickly and may prevent us returning home for some time. The ASPCA has compiled a list of things every pet owner should do to be prepared for any such emergency. Many things you may have never considered. Here are a few suggestions of my own: Have a prepared kit that is packed and ready to go or stored in the trunk of your car. This kit should include a collapsible crate or kennel, 7 days of food and water (if dry the food must be rotated every two months or per manufacturer recommendations), an emergency medical pet kit and guide book, bowls, leashes, extra collar or harness, tie out lead, a blanket and a muzzle (fear or injury can often panic even the best natured pet), one to two weeks of any medicines the pet requires, toys, litter and basic supplies, photocopies of your pet records and recent photos of your pet (for posters if lost.) Have your pet micro chipped!!! This is the best way to insure you will get your pet back if separated. Also have an ID tag on the collar that includes the pets name, your phone number and your vet's phone number. If you do not own a car, have a transportation plan in place. Even though many cabs in urban areas are pet friendly, the cab may not be able to get to you. Identify a few neighbors or friends, who would be willing to help you with transport in an emergency. Have a list of those phone numbers in addition to pet friendly cabs, your vet's phone number and your cities Office of Emergency Management number (in case alternate transport is not available.) Maintain a land phone at your home and a white page listing. Reverse 911 calls are commonly used to alert citizens who must evacuate. Cell numbers will not be contacted. If you have an unlisted number or refuse to maintain a land line, develop a call network with your neighbors, but keep in mind they may be scrambling too and forget to call. Block Clubs or neighborhood watch groups can be a very effective tool to maintain a phone database for emergencies. On October 6th, 2006, The Pet's Act was signed by President Bush. The Pets Act, Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act, requires local and state emergency preparedness authorities to include in their evacuation plans how they will accommodate household pets and service animals in the event of a major disaster. Read more about the PETS ACT here. This is encouraging legislation, but it would be a mistake to assume that most cities, shelters and disaster teams are fully prepared for the volume of family pets they would have to deal with in a full scale disaster. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Have a plan in place.