New Book--Great Read

I just finished reading the recently published book, "Last Dog on the Hill" by Steve Duno. If you love dogs and have a heart beating inside your chest, you can't help but enjoy this book. I usually shy away from books about animals, but as a dog owner who has loved and lost a couple of really great canine friends, I decided to go for it. This book is a memoir of Mr. Duno's life with his beloved Lou the feral dog he found on a hill in California. Lou seems almost like a superhero; way too smart to believe, but even if some of the stories about Steve and this great dog are a little embellished, it is still a really good book. There is a lot of humor and a lot of sadness in the book.   Mr. Duno is a great storyteller, and it felt like we were just sitting around listening to his adventures with this amazing dog that changed his life and helped change the lives of countless dogs who were slated to be euthanized. I finished the book in tears, but I had the satisfaction of knowing that I am not alone in my utter fascination and infatuation with my  furry companions. Even though Lou seems almost too extraordinary to be true, the relationship between him and his master is enviable. We all need a friend as loyal and brave as Lou!

GoD and DoG; Enjoy

I think this says it all. Please enjoy.

Free to Choose--Even a Dog!

The last time I checked, I was living in the United States of America. Right? We are the land of the free and home of the brave, but it seems recently so many groups have been acting as though we are not a free people that I just have to scratch my head. The thing is this: we should be able to pick out a dog or any other pet from whomever, wherever we choose. The President of the United States should also be allowed to pick his family pet--the one that best fits with his family--from a breeder or a shelter. Why should this be such a big deal? Of course finding that one miserable, scrappy little creature who is on the list to be euthanized; who is, at the last minute picked as the pet for a loving family would be the animal rescue people's choice. What a great, heartwarming story to have had the First Family swoop in and rescue a needy dog! Sure, I agree. I am all for rescuing dogs. I have a dog (a purebred, by the way) who was given up by 5 different families who couldn't handle her--and that was all before she even turned 6 months old--s0, all you animal rescue people--I get it. What I don't get is how pushy you sound when you whine about the President getting a purebred dog from a breeder. Sometimes there isn't a rescue dog that is appropriate for the family. I had a terrible time finding a dog when we were looking. We were told that the dogs we were interested in were either already being considered by another family, or that small dogs weren't appropriate for small children (I had a three year old at the time), or that the dog had behavior problems--all sorts of obstacles were in our way. I ended up adopting a dog from a foster pet group and we have had our little Parson Russell Terrier for five years now. So, I am for shelter dogs. I wanted a shelter dog, but it just didn't work out. I ended up with an unwanted purebred--is that so unlike the Obama family? The President would surely have been criticized if he and his family had chosen a shelter dog just to appease the folks who are rescue advocates, and then had to return the dog because it wasn't right for the family. Apparently, the dog they picked had been returned to the breeder because it wasn't a good addition to that particular family. I would think that any dog or cat or bird or hamster who is purchased, adopted or otherwise obtained; who is given a chance at a decent, comfortable life would be the goal of all animal lovers. Does it really matter where the dog started it's life? This is America and all of us, including the President, should be able to get a family pet without fear of being criticized for their choice. It's a personal choice, not an outside committee decision. Good grief!

So Ugly Its Cute?

Yesterday, news broke that the country of Peru has offered the Obama girls a special kind of dog from their country; a Peruvian Hairless Dog. They were offered a four month old puppy named Ears. The little fellow is pretty cute, but sort of ugly. I did a search for other pictures of Peruvian Hairless, also known as Peruvian Orchid or, Pero Sin Pelo de Peru. Apparently, the dogs are an ancient breed valued by the Inca. The adult dogs look quite substantial; muscular and perhaps a little regal. They look like they would need sunscreen rubbed on them when they are out in the sun, and if one was living in Washington, D.C., I would bet it would need to wear a coat or sweater during the winter months when it goes outside. Anyway, it was a nice gesture for the people of Peru to offer their unusual dog. Hopefully, if the girls decide not to take them up on the puppy offered, the people of Peru won't be too offended. I am a dog lover, so pretty much any dog is attractive to me, but this fellow is pretty weird looking. Maybe this kind of dog is so ugly, it is cute.*

*This is one of many pictures of a Peruvian Hairless dog, this is NOT the actual dog offered to the Obamas.

I'm Ready for the Westminster Dog Show!

My mistress has stepped out to get the mail, so I thought I would take this opportunity to put a plug in for the Westminster Dog Show that starts today. All those snooty dogs! I'm just at pretty and smart as they are! As a matter of fact, I was just admiring myself in the window last night. I am looking better than ever! Who cares that my favorite thing to do is roll around in all that great smelling stuff the deer leave behind in my mistress's yard? I can't wait to see all those fancy pants dogs strutting around. I know I could do all that and more. I bet they can't wave, or sing or dance or play the piano like I can! Oh well, I can dream can't I? I know my family loves me no matter what. Here is a picture of me. I'm pretty cute even if I'm not Westminster Dog Show material!