Sled Dogs
It was sled dogs that kept the Inuit alive by giving them the mobility to hunt across vast expanses of the Arctic. It was sled dogs that kept stranded hunters…
Half a ton of pet food
Day 27 of the US government shutdown. Food banks are helping feed furloughed federal employees. Animal shelters are helping feed their pets. This is short-term desperate need. These are people…
They shouldn’t have pets
You may hear people say “people who need help from food banks shouldn’t have pets.” If you can’t afford to feed your animal/your kids/yourself you can’t afford a pet. Easy…
Redemption: Shelter Plan B
My impression after reading about Nathan Winograd is that it’s animal shelters that need redemption. He is Director of the No Kill Advocacy Center in the US and is giving…
Pet Heirs
Preparing a will isn’t what most people consider a fun thing to do. And even for those who do, it still takes a lot of time and thought to get…
Westminster Dogs
“Crategate” exploded in Mitt Romney’s campaign for the US Republican leadership, just as his Irish Setter Seamus’ bowels did when he was strapped in a crate on the roof of…
Home for the Holidays
Don’t give a dog as a Christmas present. At least not as a spur of the moment gift. But if you are planning to get a dog anyway, why not?…
Water for Elephants
(from 2011*) In the past week, I’ve been sent two Facebook requests to boycott the film Water for Elephants. ADI (Animal Defenders International) says that Have Trunk Will Travel, trainers…
Rodeo Kings
From St. Thomas Dog Blog July 8, 2011. Sadly in this year's Stampede, 2 horses died in chuckwagon race crashes. William and Kate opened the Calgary Stampede and attended the…
Hot Cars, Hot Dogs
My brother and I conducted an experiment recently on heat build-up in cars. We didn’t plan to, but what happened while he was waiting for me in a parking lot…
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Dogs, Cats, and Everyday Heroes at a Country Animal Shelter (1998) is a wonderful book. Elizabeth Hess, a New York City arts journalist and author of Nim…
Iditarod Murder: Review
A 1991 mystery novel by Sue Henry, the first in her Alaska Mystery series. Murder on the Iditarod Trail is good (title for Amazon). Several murders. At first I thought…
The Wolf in the Parlor
It took me a few months to read The Wolf in the Parlor: How the dog came to share your brain by Jon Franklin. It was my ‘morning coffee’ book.…
Santa Bunny
The cosmetics sections of stores have beautiful Christmas displays. Toiletries, creams and bath oils are lovely and easy gifts to give almost anyone. You can do it in one stop…
Merry Solstice
Whatever the name of the event you’re celebrating, Happy It. The one thing that all the festivities happening at the time of the winter solstice have in common is that…
In Memoriam: Mya
Last night a friend called. She and her husband had to put their lovely young dog to sleep. Mya, a beautiful Doberman Pinscher. On Saturday, she was ill and her…
Circus Cirque
We went to see Cirque du Soleil at London's John Labatt Centre recently. The show, Quidam, was fabulous. Also the first circus I’ve been to at the JLC with no…
A Dog’s “Night before Christmas”
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes…
Coronation Street Scene of the Week (Dec. 19/10)
Trash Kittens Tuesday at the Rovers, Trev says, “Hey guess what I found today? Two little kittens in a wheelie bin.” Janice says, "aah, really? Where are they now?” In…
Dog blankets, beds & coats needed! (Dec. 8/10)
All Breed Canine Rescue needs beds for foster dogs. If you have washable dog beds, fluffy blankets or towels to give them would you please contact allbreedcaninerescue@sympatico.ca. ABCR is being…
Click Fatigue
Every day I gave .6 bowl of kibble to shelter animals and 10 pieces of kibble to other shelter dogs and 10 pieces to cats. I had 2 foster dogs…
Commodity Dogs
Dogs and cats have always been a part of my life - an important part. Most of them, from my childhood and adulthood, have just come along and stayed. An…
Horse: Free to a good home
A few years ago, I got involved in finding a home for two Standardbred ex-racehorses whose owner had died. Neither were broke for saddle, they were getting up in years…
Animals
Animals Post Excerpts Checkers (June 2/25) When Qatar gave Donald Trump a jet, I started thinking about past gifts to politicians. Checkers came to mind. A Cocker Spaniel pup and…