Today's Arthur

C P&F

2009-11-10T09:07:00.000-08:00

I've always liked Centinela Pet and Feed because they don't sell animals of any kind. Not dogs, not cats, not rabbits, not guinea pigs. They do carry good brands of dog food, and, as I discovered this weekend, super awesome toys, like these boiled wool masterpieces for your dog to chew on. I've seen this line, or one that looks like it, at a fancy online boutique.

Just in time for Christmas.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

2009-11-02T08:09:00.001-08:00

The new steps off the kitchen aren't finished yet, and Arthur feels a bit put out.

He wants a red carpet.

Captured On Film

2009-10-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

Hahahahaha! This has to be one of my all-time favorite dog photos. It was taken by a Dutch/Brazilian photographer named Isabella Rozendaal, as part of a series for her book On Loving Animals, and it could not be more awesome. The look on that dog's face! And that puppy chomp! Oh, man.

While the book as a whole documents the way the Dutch people, like many people, treat their animals in the name of love, this particular photo is pure slapstick hilarity.

So great.

Isabella Rozendaal

(note: Some of the photos from the book on Rozendaal's Web site might be disturbing for cat lovers.)

Maybe If It Was Plush and Had a Squeaker

2009-10-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

Arthur generally doesn't pick up anything in the backyard to chew on aside from the occasional avocado or fig. He's just not that interested. So don't get the wrong idea from this picture of him with a trophy log: I had to throw that damn thing around for five minutes before he would even look at it. I think he chewed on it for approximately 5.6423 seconds before getting bored and trotting off.

At first I was chalking it up to ADD, but now I think he just has good taste. Would you want to chew on a dirty old stick?

I think not.

Rescuing From the Heart

2009-10-03T10:57:00.000-07:00

It's so nice when people with scads of money rescue homeless dogs. It takes so much more humanity, generosity, and imagination, frankly, to rescue a stinky mutt from the pound instead of going to a breeder and be told which dog is "the best." Or worse, going to some sketchy, albeit very expensive, pet store on Madison Avenue and be told by some dollar-driven pseudo specialist which dog has sought-after pedigree. Gross.

Check out this New York Times slideshow of a filthy rich antiques dealer who discovered love with a pack of misfits. It's so nice.

One in 8 Million: Stefanie Rinza

photograph by Todd Heisler

Circle of Friends - Ignacio

2009-09-27T18:26:00.000-07:00

Arthur is very fickle about who his friends are. VERY fickle. When a new person comes to the house, most times he just runs away or stands at a distance, wagging but cautious. Even with people he knows, he will often duck their hands and run for the dining room table.

However, there are a few people — lucky or unlucky depending on how they feel about dogs — with whom he turns into a big, slobbery whore. Grins like an idiot and gazes at them adoringly. Can't leave them alone. I've only seen it happen a few times, and it's kind of embarassing in a don't-mind-him sort of way, but also mystifying. Why that particular person? You can never tell who it's going to be.

Well, my mom and her good friend Ignacio came to the house yesterday, and the game was ON. Arthur loved loved loved Ignacio, who, yes, is a dog lover; and yes, probably smells like his own dog, but good lord. Arthur sat at Ignacio's feet all through lunch, and not because he had cheese on his plate. I was sitting right next door with beaucoup de fromage and I didn't get as much as a glance. We were lucky Ignacio doesn't mind having a fuzzy muzzle in his lap while he's eating.

All those years of cotillion down the tubes.

Today's Arthur - Now Advertising For Google

2009-09-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know — this is nothing new. But it never fails to annoy me.

From the blogger (Google) Terms of Service:

...you grant Google a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce, adapt, distribute and publish such Content for the purpose of displaying, distributing and promoting Google services

I guess you never truly get something for nothing.

Toy Envy

2009-09-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

Oh, why couldn't this be a dog toy? (It's a plush brain cell.) Also available are the plush common cold virus and the plush sperm cell.

Brain-cell plush at MCA Chicago

Saussie Strikes Again

2009-09-05T16:29:00.001-07:00

Camping with dogs! Doesn't get much better than that.

Check out the blog post and pics from the always amazing Sarah Ause.

Saussie

As Good a Time As Any

2009-09-03T10:09:00.000-07:00

When the mood strikes, go with it.

Animals Evacuated - Shelter Needs Help!

2009-08-31T13:53:00.000-07:00

The fire in Angeles National Forest rages on (only 5% contained as of this morning with 6,600 homes under mandatory evacuation)! I read this morning that the Pasadena Humane Society is the only licensed wildlife center within a 30-mile radius of the fire, and that they're taking in injured wild animals as well as domestic pets that had to be and are still being evacuated. Apparently, they've already taken in more than 200 animals.

The shelter currently needs towels, blankets, potty-training pads and animal food and, of course, more funds! If you have any of these supplies, they can be dropped off at:

Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA
361 S. Raymond Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91105
626.792.7151

Google map

If you prefer to give money, you can donate online directly to the shelter here.

photo: Dan Steinberg/Associated Press
graphic: boston.com

App Aid

2009-08-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

In case you don't already suffer from iPhone application syndrome, here's one to consider: pet first aid! This one comes from Jive Media, and although I'm too cheap to shell out the $3.99 until I hear more about it, it looks interesting.

All the application's advice comes from Pet Tech, a national pet-first-aid training center for dog owners in Vacaville, CA that offers classes (CPR, injury/wellness assessment) and other useful information. (Have you ever tried to contact the Red Cross about pet-first-aid classes? I did, and they were NO HELP AT ALL.) I'd never heard of them before, but they seem to be the real deal.

As for the iPhone app, I'm a little puzzled as to why the first two categories under the "Fundamentals" section are "Muzzling" and "Restraint", although I don't know much about pet first aid and maybe these topics come up in medical situations? Don't know. I do like how you can keep your pet's medical information on hand for easy access.

The only other comparable applications available for the iPhone are a couple from PetMD that have received pretty bad reviews on iTunes, so for the time being, this one's it. Not for long, I bet.

Jive Media - Pet First Aid

Pet Tech

Don't Let My Staring Bother You

2009-08-26T20:37:00.000-07:00

Arthur is bored, bored, bored. Everybody's working on stuff and don't have time to chase him around the backyard until he rips a dew claw.

Sorry, bicycle-seat head. We'll all be done soon.

Ridiculous

2009-08-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

(This is what Arthur is reduced to when I'm working on a project.)

Arthur and the Tubes

2009-08-14T10:13:00.001-07:00

Had another DIY moment yesterday and made Arthur a toilet-paper tube toy. What it lacks in beauty, it makes up for in chompability.

Hedgehog paled in comparison.

Husky On the Lawn

2009-08-12T13:06:00.001-07:00

My neighbor's senior husky Katya taking a break on the grass.

She's such a sweet girl.

Fuzzy Ears

2009-08-10T17:16:00.001-07:00

Yee Haw

2009-08-04T13:36:00.001-07:00

It's a barn raising! Okay – there aren't really any Amish involved, but walls are going up and it's going to be awesome. Bad Rap, the Bay Area-based, pit-bull-saving nonprofit is trying to raise $100,000 to build a safe house of sorts for rescued pit bulls. The facility (which would include a converted horse barn and a large exercise area) would temporarily house dogs they pull from abusive or inhumane situations to rest and recover before entering foster care. Sounds pretty FAN-tastic.

The people at Bad Rap are the real deal, and I've admired them from afar for a long time. I can't think of many organizations I'd rather give my dog-saving dollars to.

Bad Rap Barn Raising

And while you're at it, buy a tote bag.

Photo Geekery

2009-08-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

Filter-y pics via a 99-cent iPhone camera application!

That's my kind of technology.

Where Fun Goes To Die

2009-07-31T18:44:00.000-07:00

Dogs abound on Catalina Island, but not at THIS park.

New Door

2009-07-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

Arthur's dog door to the world finally fell apart and had to be replaced over the weekend. The rubbery flap had ripped right off its hinges. (Plus, it was uncleanably grimy.) I wanted to install a hi-larious porthole, but was voted down. He had to be able to get outside, after all.

The new, slightly wider casing required my sister to saw a bigger hole in the door, but aside from the NOISE! and the SAWDUST!, Arthur was unperturbed by all the activity. He seemed interested, actually.

And now with an extra inch-and-a-half, his big butt is going to sail through that opening like a dolphin through a hoop.

hahahahahahahaha

As It Should Be

2009-07-15T22:15:00.001-07:00

For many months, Arthur's favorite napping spot under one of the side windows was occupied by a plastic drum kit. No longer! The kit was moved, the dog is now back in position.

Disaster averted.

Yesterday's Arthur

2009-07-10T09:40:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure when this photo of Arthur and my mom was taken, but I'm guessing it was 2001, shortly after he'd been adopted. It looks like she grabbed him as he was trying to flee.

If They Flap Hard Enough, Maybe They'll Fly Away

2009-07-08T14:14:00.000-07:00

There's something about people suspended in midair that makes me laugh; dogs suspended mid-jump is even better. It's all about the ears.

(Thanks, Reed!)

Most Hated Holiday

2009-07-06T09:46:00.000-07:00

The view from my lap on Saturday afternoon.

(Although he doesn't climb the walls like he did as a puppy, Arthur still hates the Fourth of July.)