Denise Flaim Article about Katrina Dogs
There was a recent article in Newsday about the dogs that were rescued from Hurricane Katrina's aftermath. This is a sad reality. There is so much controversy here. I can see where the owner would definitely want to reclaim their dog but then the adopters side is that some of these dogs really were sick and not well cared for at all. These adopters took on the responsibility to rescue this dog, pay for these medical bills and help to make the dog healthy again, and now the original owners want to take back their dogs. Maybe we could chock some of it up to ignorance. Not all dog owners are very bright. Some are just loving people but again, not too smart. So they may very well buy a dog or adopt a dog from a shelter and then not realize that they have to take care of the dog with regular medication and physicals each year. We all could be a little more tolerant of each other but also encourage each other to do the right thing. If there were government assistance programs that would allow people some coverage for their pet care should they need it, like a grant that would help people who have lost their jobs or had a death in the family to keep their dog's care costs at a reasonable level, we might have something good to work with. There are free clinics though. There are vets that are so kind and so generous you wonder why medical doctors were not more like them. (I'll tell you why, medical doctors have to deal with malpractice every day. Whereas, I'm not really sure exactly how many lawsuits arise that are related to veterinary malpractice.) But anyhow, I do feel for both parties involved. I won't take a stand on this issue because I believe that each case is different and perhaps it should be decided by a judge if it comes down to it. Yes, it is important to have the finances to be able to care for your pet properly but do we not honor that story about "Tiny Tim?" (Is that totally off the wall as a reference?) Love is worth so very much but well, food is important, heartworm pills are important and being humane is very important. Not every rich guy or family is loving and caring and will provide the attention to a dog. Not every poor or lower middle class family is either. It's a hard decision. I'd hate to be the judge for these types of cases. How can you sleep at night?


Spam has a totally different meaning now

My love for Wikkipedia grows each day. Last night, I had the pleasure of looking up the term "Spam" because I was accused of spamming a dog forum. Ugh. I actually WAS and didn't even know it. I do apologize to all those folks out there who do know and hate SPAM. I even found this interesting site that explains the evil of what I had done. Now I understand the difference and what they mean by the evil "Spam." But I didn't think that mentioning that I had started my business was such a bad thing. I wasn't advertising, I was just saying. It's strange. There are so many rules now and I guess we all have to do the right thing and educate each other huh? I didn't really appreciate that email saying, "WE WILL BAN YOU FROM THIS FORUM IF YOU DON'T STOP SPAMMING!" (What they really wanted to say was, "STOP YOUR &^^%$$&@@! SPAMMING YOU STUPID SPAMMER!" I think that admin people have to consider the fact that if one is a "puppy" to a site and new at this, you don't have to smack them on the nose with a newspaper. Cesar Millan would agree on that, I'm sure. Anyhow, I've learned my lesson. I was bad so I'm off to the corner to sit and think about my bad behavior.
http://spam.abuse.net/marketerhelp/

I always thought of Spam as that funky pink squishy loaf of mystery meat from Hawaii. I grew up on Spam. We had Spam sandwiches, fried Spam for breakfast, Spam and cheese, Spam on toast, Spam and rice, the list goes on...I am a Spam expert. Of course, I don't eat it much anymore if at all because I just cannot handle the salt but I hear they make low sodium Spam now so maybe my childhood memories can be rekindled.

Oh yeah, would be wrong of me not to lead you to the site that so kindly educated me on the various definitions of SPAM.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam
I love Wikkipedia...I love it;) I read it almost every day and learn something new every day.

Treats and timing of eating
I was watching a morning news show recently, I think it was NBC's Today show and they were standing around cooking something very delicious, fish I think. It was about 9AM and the lady commentator was saying, "I'd love to try some but I just can't eat right now." This made me think about all those people out there who bring their dogs over to try our treats at parties and then when the dog doesn't want to try it, they say, "OH! HE/SHE DOESN'T LIKE IT!" Yeah...Lumberg would agree. Yeah, no. See, it's the same concept. I don't eat a cheeseburger at 5AM because I just don't feel like it. I love cheeseburgers. I would be hard pressed to refuse one if offered to me at say, LUNCHTIME or DINNER. I speak in caps and it's annoying me too so I'll stop...but truly, I've learned to tell people to perhaps consider taking the treat home with them, give it to their dog when their dog is relaxed and perhaps, hungry? I dunno...I mean it might be a good way of eating, "Eat when you are hungry." Snacks also. "Snack when you are hungry." Eat in moderation. If your dog is not eating, he's just not hungry. Dogs eat a lot but they also know when they aren't hungry. Well, most dogs know when they are not hungry. Some dogs, like some people, eat until they're sick. They often say after a huge, gi-normous meal, "ohhhhh...I'm sick!" As if this surprises them that they ate 3 lbs of chicken breast on a salad and now they are sick? "But I ATE a SALAD!" Yeah, a mega salad that could feed a town maybe?! I am just ranting now. It's too early for ranting. My point, bring the treat home if your buddy is not interested because you might see them eating it and enjoying it in the peace of their own home. It's like eating while standing up. Nobody WANTS to eat at a counter but we are forced to eat that way because of time constraints, crowds, whatever...it's not the ideal eating setting at all is what I say.

I love a good puppy photo

I came across this in my email and I love it! Check out this one, the huskie is just so sweet and adorable you just want to cuddle him all day.

http://pets.aol.com/galleries/puppies

Day 4 of frozen pupcake log...doing well. They are still looking good, yummy and Katie is going to get one today. She's sleeping now. I'll treat her later.

Don't forget to vote for the best book for the Quill Awards

You know I picked Marley and Me by John Grogan.

http://www.nbc4.com/thequills/index.html

I never thought I'd see something like this. Again, a Wikkipedia magical tidbit of trivial wonder. I love useless pieces of information to clutter up the mind but did you know that the guy that created E.T. is the same guy that write the "Walter the Farting Dog" series of books? Amazing.

Check out my little Wikki link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Kotzwinkle

I scour the web for treat jars that might be cool in someone's kitchen and I found this cool site.
They have Betty Boop jars, Beatles Jars, jars that are shaped like a chef or like cars, it's unique and interesting stuff. I like that.

http://cookiejarcollectibles.com/dalmation_cookie_jar.htm