tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220980862010-01-05T01:18:52.315-05:00Pet people are a special breed. This blog is for anyone who can't get enough news about the animals in our lives.Suzanne Levinsonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger366125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1162386093156115152006-11-01T07:54:00.000-05:002006-11-01T14:15:30.270-05:00

I can't believe I did this. If you've visited here in the past few days and noticed that nothing has been updated, here's why: We switched to a new format - TypePad - instead of the current, which is Blogger. The wonderful Suzanne, Herald blog godmother, walked me through posting to the new format, which I've been merrily doing since last Thursday. But one small detail: I forgot to tell her I was

ellienoreply@blogger.com74tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1161876945907012752006-10-26T11:29:00.000-04:002006-10-26T11:35:45.970-04:00

This is so sad: Jesse, a 13-year-old Labrador retriever/German shepherd mix, who'd been the service dog and best friend of a Wisconsin amputee, died in the house fire from which she saved her mistress. But Jesse went back to the house to try to save one of Jamie Hanson's cats. They both died of smoke inhalation. Needless to say, Hanson is griefstricken.Click here to read the story from the

ellienoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1161815548546995122006-10-25T18:19:00.000-04:002006-10-25T18:32:29.500-04:00

This story makes me absolutely want to retch. The Tacoma News Tribune reported the arrest of a true degenerate under Washington's new cruelty law criminalizing beastiality (it took them THIS long?) Pierce County prosecutors say that the wife of Micahel Patrick McPhail, 26, snapped pictures on her camera phone of her charming husband having sexual intercourse with Sara, their pit bull ON THE FRONT

ellienoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1161725100785940812006-10-24T17:19:00.000-04:002006-10-24T17:25:00.816-04:00

Vets are fighting to save the life of a Michigan Labrador named Buck, barely out of puppyhood, who had an arrow shot through his chest. Another of the distraught family's dogs is missing. What a nightmare, especially given the circumstances under which Buck came into their lives. Click here to read the story.

ellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1161716837465220452006-10-24T15:03:00.000-04:002006-10-24T15:07:23.706-04:00

Trick or Treat at the Humane Society of Greater Miami-Adopt a Pet, a Halloween party for our furry friends.When: October 29th, Sunday, 1pm-4pmWhere: Soffer and Fine Adoption Center, 16101 W Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach.Phone: 305-749-1820Website: humanesocietymiami.org

ellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1161713547062128562006-10-24T13:31:00.000-04:002006-10-24T14:15:02.143-04:00

Just in case you're stumped for a Halloween dog costume, JAKKS Doggie Disguises sent these, with the assurance that "any pup is sure to win a costume contest dressed up in JAKKS licensed and non-licensed Halloween gear." Available at all Target stores.

ellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1161622264346378662006-10-23T12:41:00.000-04:002006-10-23T12:51:04.366-04:00

Y'know, when you live in SoFla and it's 90 degrees in mid-October, you tend to forget that it isn't 90 degrees everywhere else. I'd settle for 70. Brrrr. It's breezy here. I've even seen some teeny-tiny dogs in fashionable fall knitwear.From the NY Times a couple days ago: this story by my one-time Miami Herald colleague Cara Buckley, about training dogs to sniff out the weapons of terrorism.

ellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1161376981096169182006-10-20T16:37:00.000-04:002006-10-20T16:43:01.136-04:00

I saw them that day: hard-working heros who stopped at nothing to help with the search-and-rescue effort, and all too soon, the recovery of the dead.The dogs who worked the huge, smouldering debris pile suffered burns, cut paws, exhaustion and dehyration, but according to a new study, not the respiratory ills that afflicted many human search-and-rescuers. A lot of dog handlers dispute the

ellienoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1161376199712495192006-10-20T16:12:00.000-04:002006-10-20T16:30:12.070-04:00

Miami-Dade Animal Services has several openings for kennel staff. This is direct care: feeding the cats and dogs and cleaning the cages. It's not glamorous work, but it provides crucial contact between humans and animals. The paycheck is $11.17 per hour (plus benefits, even for part-timers). The payoff is knowing you provided badly-needed attention - a pat, a scratch, a kiss - to a lonely and

ellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1161365930132230622006-10-20T13:24:00.000-04:002006-10-20T13:38:51.273-04:00

If you're an American female of a certain age - that would be "middle" - you might recall an early '80s joke book called Cucumbers are Better Than Men Beacuse....This was considered fairly risque at the time, and was a hot item at bachelorette parties and the like. Not much imagination is required to list the reasons why a cucumber might be preferable to an actual male human being.So now comes

ellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1161287077835141242006-10-19T15:36:00.000-04:002006-10-19T15:44:37.963-04:00

There's a nasty situation in Texas concerning what is supposed to be an animal sanctuary but, according to PETA and a court-appointed caregiver, sounds more like a torture chamber for 800 critters, including retired research chimps.PETA sued after observing horrendous conditions - filth, isolation, lack of shelter - at Primarily Primates in San Antonio. On its website, PETA calls the facility's

ellienoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1161282651561882312006-10-19T14:23:00.000-04:002006-10-19T14:30:51.613-04:00

Her name was Precious, perfect for a dog who was a man named Joe's greatest treasure. Homeless in our nation's capital - a street preacher who has travelled the country pushing prayer as a cure for violence - Joe hung out with Precious in and around Dupont Circle.On Sept. 11, Precious was shot and killed by a park police officer, devastating Joe and enraging many animal lovers.Click here to read

ellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1161190209793393762006-10-18T12:39:00.000-04:002006-10-18T12:50:10.746-04:00

This guy needs a home ASAP. Not good with small children; big ones and adults are fine. Call Robbie at 305-799-1567.

ellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1161189413151446542006-10-18T12:25:00.000-04:002006-10-18T13:00:11.366-04:00

Few things are more amusing than pets dressed up in silly costumes. I have to believe that most of them actually enjoy it. And I know they enjoy sweets, although candy should be off limits (for health reasons). Here's a comprehensive list of do's/don'ts for the upcoming night of spooking and snarfing, from Brenda Beck, president of Pets & Animals in Distress.TOP 10 HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS FOR PET

ellienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1161102794358903862006-10-17T12:05:00.001-04:002006-10-17T12:33:17.790-04:00

Not the kind who push your kid around on the playground: Pit Bulls. It'll be downtown West Palm Beach, according to Melody Owens of Ethical Bull Breed Rescue & Referral "to help with the growing problem of BSL (breed-specific legislation) against bullies." She urges everyone to bring their bullies.Time: Oct. 28, 10 a.m. Where: Meet behind the West Palm Beach Library, 100 Clematis Street.More info

ellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1161031869266008752006-10-16T12:08:00.000-04:002006-10-16T16:57:30.126-04:00

I'm happy to report that the Herald has added a $1.99 surcharge to pets-for-sale ads on the website: MiamiHerald.com. It's one way of discouraging scammers claiming to have animals for sale or free, who take your money and never deliver a critter.We've gotten e-mail from several people who've fallen victim to this fraud, which I call "Son of Nigerian Bank Scam." You know that one: someone

ellienoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1161014886488984712006-10-16T11:57:00.000-04:002006-10-16T12:08:06.523-04:00

From Celina in Cutler Ridge, south Miami-Dade County:"I lost my two purebred Miniature Doberman Pinschers on Friday, Oct. 13. They left my house about 11 a.m. and were spotted walking east on Friday evening. Their names are Coco Chanel (female) and Tiny (male). Coco is unable to walk on her left hind leg and suffers from severe pain if she does not recieve her medication. Neither one is wearing

ellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1160866263597813172006-10-14T18:42:00.000-04:002006-10-14T18:51:03.670-04:00

A Washington state feline is the focus of some un-neighborly behavior. Seems that Turbo was doing what cats do: Wandering around. Acting in what she believed was in line with the law, a neighbor - believing Turbo had killed 16 of her quail - trapped him and turned him in at the pound. Needless to say, this didn't sit well with Turbo's family. Click here to read the story.

ellienoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1160773691747768082006-10-13T16:33:00.000-04:002006-10-13T17:08:11.786-04:00

This is a beautiful story from the Boca Raton News about a therapy dog who greets mourners at a cemetery. What a great idea! When my mom died in July, I had a transcendant encounter with a therapy dog in the hospital hallway (see July 9 posting) and I can tell you she gave me a moment of such tenderness at the worst time of my life. What makes this story even more touching is that Raffi, a golden

ellienoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1160763046564737642006-10-13T14:02:00.000-04:002006-10-13T14:10:46.706-04:00

You will NOT believe what you're seeing in these videos of a Texas ranch dog named Skidboot. I'm thrilled when mine actually sit/stay on command, so I'm in complete awe of this critter and his human.The first link is to a clip that's eight minutes long; the second is less than two minutes. He has a website, skidboot.com, where you can order videos. Enjoy!

ellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1160688216831488172006-10-12T17:15:00.000-04:002006-10-12T17:23:36.833-04:00

Cindy Hewitt, executive director of Miami's Cat Network, sends this along:The Cat Network, Inc., is promoting National Feral Cat Day with a “Spay a Stray for $10” special, Oct. 16 – 31. The event is one of many planned nationwide. NFCD was created by Alley Cat Allies, a national feral cat resource. The goal of Miami’s Cat Network is to inform the public about free-roaming cats and

ellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1160685188489144382006-10-12T16:21:00.000-04:002006-10-12T17:13:44.496-04:00

Sunday's dog/car wash in Davie raised nearly $4,000 for George Stein, who works at Extra Care Animal Hospital. He's battling lung cancer and has no insurance.Here's an e-mail he sent out to his co-workers after the event:Well, I have to tell you when I went into the hospital the first time in September and stayed eight days because they could not figure out excactly what was wrong. I woke up the

ellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1160684300185093682006-10-12T15:48:00.000-04:002006-10-12T16:19:40.100-04:00

Frida, a 4-year-old Rottweiler, is Miami-Dade Animal Services' pet of the week, Id# 752674. She's spayed and microchipped, and has all her shots.She's described as "a large, friendly, loyal and intelligent dog. As a guard dog and family companion, her breed excels. If you want a dog who is calm, steady-tempered, confident, and courageous, then she may be right for you!"If you're interested,

ellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1160682337273512952006-10-12T15:33:00.000-04:002006-10-12T15:46:57.323-04:00

The Miami Beach beachwalk, between 14th and 21st streets, is now permanently dog-friendly, thanks to the WOOF Patrol, intrepid dog lovers who convinced the City Commission that pooches and people could easily co-exist on the beachwalk.They did this by pushing a clean-up operation that includes poop-bag dispensers. The reward, as articulate by one commissioner:Because of the hard work of the Woof

ellienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098086.post-1160604928776181952006-10-11T18:07:00.000-04:002006-10-11T18:15:28.873-04:00

Scroll down to the posting of Sept. 26, announcing the Furr Ball, a fundraising gala for the Pet Project, a wonderful charity that enables seriously ill and disabled people to keep their critters.Just found out that Nadia Turner, South Florida's own (almost) American Idol, will entertain. She was the eighth-place finisher in Season 4. Also just found out that the food will be provided by a bunch

ellienoreply@blogger.com0