Dog Blog

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

!PET FOOD SAFETY ALERT!


I just received this alert about salmonella-tainted dog treats called Lamb Crunchies.  If you have them stocked in your pup pantry, discard them immediately.  I wouldn't return them to the seller, either, because if you saw the report on TV about pet stores like Pet Smart, who after years of pet poisonings have finally gotten the message about the chicken jerky treats, they claim they will stop selling them by December.  However, they are discounted on their shelves, which means a lot of dogs will still be poisoned or die between now and the end of the year.  What can they be thinking?

Clearly, with this store and other retailers who continue to sell these poisoned treats, profit trumps pet safety.  What is disturbing is that these treats are made of lamb, and other treats that have caused illness are made of sweet potato, which you wouldn't ordinarily think are unsafe.  Is there anything left that is safe to eat, for us and our pets? What, if anything, is the USDA doing to ensure that our food sources are safe for human or animal consumption? This problem has been going on for a long time now, and many pets have been sickened or have died.  My own pets were sickened by Waggin' Train Chicken Jerky we used to buy from Costco.  Fortunately, I put 2 + 2 together and stopped feeding the treats before any damage was done. We don't live in a third world country, or do we?  I don't feel like I should have to research every product on a food safety hit list before I feed it to my pets or to my family. 

A FAVORITE MAYA ANGELOU QUOTE


This morning, I was very sad to learn of Maya Angelou's death.  She was 86, the same age as my dad when he died.  She was such a strong, beautiful woman and an eloquent truth teller, even when some didn't want to hear the truth.  The spirit of the beautiful bird has finally flown from out the cage and taken wing. This weary, old world will miss her presence.

Maya wrote so many brilliant, memorable lines, but here's one of my favorites:

"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back." 

Thursday, May 15, 2014

HAPPY TAILS NEEDS VOLUNTEERS


I'm sharing this request from Happy Tails:


Kitten Season is here and Happy Tails needs your help!
We are reaching out to all of our volunteers and supporters
looking for anyone interested in joining the Foster Team.
We have requests coming in daily for abandoned and
orphaned kittens. Happy Tails provides all medical care,
food, litter and training. You provide a safe, loving home
and the TLC they need to thrive.

In addition, some of our special needs and older cats are 
still seeking permanent foster homes. If you, or anyone 
you know, may be interested in providing even a temporary 
foster home to a cat or kitten or in becoming a permanent 
 foster to a special needs/older cat, please contact Jessica at happytails.centermanager@gmail.com.

Wednesday, May 07, 2014

PETS & THEIR PEOPLE COLUMN, MAY 2014


                                          "Mandy Naps"

Here's my pastel painting that inspired me to write the May column for Inside Publications, "Best Seat in the House." I was very happy with how this painting turned out because I hadn't been painting in the medium that long when I did it. Unfortunately, the art didn't accompany the article because apparently the resolution wasn't quite right for printing in the magazine. Chihuahua fanciers will love the graphic that was used, instead. 

The original painting is with Mandy's owner in Texas. Mandy is napping peacefully in Heaven now, but she looks like she's already there in this painting. Bassets are absolutely the best sofa and chair warmers, and they always have had the best seat in our house.