Hot Topic, the ASPCA Failure of Oreo

Two weeks ago, I was mowing my little patch of yard when Marley, a Standard Poodle rescue I placed with my neighbor walked by with a woman I didn't know. Always happy to see Marley, a dog who had lived a feral life for 18 months before being captured, he is now quite happily domesticated and well-loved. The woman introduced heself as Lisa and said she was visiting Marley and his owner. The talk turned to dog rescue and she asked me what I thought of Peta and ASPCA. Well you know I gave her an earfull about Peta. I hesitated about ASPCA, this year I have been very concerned about their approach to animal welfare and so I have withheld sending them any funds....then Lisa told me that she is in the advertising/marketing industry and just landed a really fat advertising account with the ASPCA. She was worried about the 'karma' of such an account. I told her to trust her own judgement but in my state, they have been doing things that make them appear to be an appendage of Peta. For example, they raided a local puppy mill, gave it lots of publicity, got locals to donate to the welfare of those poor dogs, but THEN only allowed a tiny handful to be adopted by locals, claiming that we didn't have enough prospective homes and said they were taking the rest of the rescued pups to New York...let me tell you something folks, that sounds like a flat out LIE. Nashville is FULL of millionaires, more per capita than anywhere else in the U. S. and Nashvillians love their dogs. We have a whopping 75% dog ownership population, far more than the average U. S. city. So it does sound like the ASPCA lied . The rumor is that the dogs were taken somewhere in Manhatten and euthanized.
After reading the story of Oreo, the dog who was thrown from a roof, and had her broken body repaired only to be euthanized by the ASPCA, I have to really wonder if those rumors about the puppy mill pups are true.
Read this post about the ASPCA Failure of Oreo and let me know what you think, she was offered sanctuary by another rescue group who was turned down by the ASPCA in favor of killing her.http://petsalive.com/blog/2009/11/14/failing-oreo/

Finally ! Functional Fashion for the Big Dog

With dog show exhibitors, a common term tossed around is 'form follows function'....that term doesn't usually apply to dog products. A lovely or fun product often is shown to be impracticable when we actually use it.

Karen Friesecke has tackled head on the beaded and decorative dog collar industry and developed beautiful, functional and strong dog collars for big dogs! I urge each and every one of you to visit her website as it not only has fab collars but a DIY section for everyone...you know we like DIY stuff! So whether you have a large dog or a small one, you can gain a lot by paying her a visit.http://www.doggiestylish.com/store/

Save Money on Rescue Remedy

Everyone knows that I am adamant that we all need Bachs' Rescue Remedy at close hand for our canine companions...well now you have no excuse not to buy some, click here for 2 dollar off coupons at Mambo Sprouts http://coupons.mambosprouts.com/online_coupons/offer/FN39DL

and if you haven't already, read my post from way back on my Canine Emergency Kit. http://dogsdollarssense.blogspot.com/2008/01/my-canine-emergency-kit.html

Halloween Pupcakes and Pumpkin Biscuits!

Wearing his Halloween Pirate Hat Puff looks like he fears being attacked by the cup cake offered to him by one of the gals from My Best Furry Friend Bakery!!


I suspect that his sad expression is because he has been taught not to take food from strangers and he is bummed that he has to refuse this delectable treat.


To his happy surprise,when we got home, he learned that I had purchased these cute little Halloween pupcakes that were just his size from the bakery and he LOVED them.

Here is their web site http://www.bfftreatsonline.org/ and I highly recommend them. Their home-baked doggie delectable treats are first quality. They are taking orders now for the Holidays. I enjoy baking dog treats but could never ever make pupcakes like they do!

I do however, plan on making this pumpkin biscuit recipe I found at Tails Magazine
http://www.tailsinc.com/index.php?action=getArticle&aid=472&domain=tailsinc.com
I will be forgoing the cinnamon and ginger and adding garlic powder instead as dogs love peanut butter and garlic together, I can't imagine why!

Pumpkin Pie Biscuits
Yields 30 biscuits
Ingredients:1 ½ cup unbleached flour
1 cup rolled oats
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
2 tablespoons canola oil
½ cup pumpkin puree
¼ cup natural unsalted peanut butter
¼ cup filtered water

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2. Measure the flour, rolled oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and ginger into a mixing bowl. Whisk until combined.
3. Make a well in the flour and add the canola oil. Mix on medium speed using a paddle attachment until crumbly. Add the pumpkin and peanut butter, and stir until combined.
4. Add the water all at once and mix until dough forms and all the ingredients are combined.
5. Turn the dough out onto a slightly floured surface and gently knead until dough is smooth and soft. Roll the dough ¼-inch thick and cut the biscuits into desired shapes with cookie cutters.
6. Place the biscuits on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake 12–15 minutes until they are dry and firm to the touch. Turn the oven off and leave the biscuits in another 20–30 minutes. Remove them from the oven, cool them on a baking rack, and store them in a cookie tin.

I don't know why I get excited over dog treats, I can't eat them...or maybe I could.
I know we will all have our dogs dressed in their Halloween costumes to greet kids at the door, but remember to keep the candy away from the dogs and watch for sensory overload...sometimes there is just too much going on and dogs can get stressed out. That being said, here's hoping you and yours have a Happy Halloween.

An Eco- Friendly Way to Do Pet Clean-Up

One thing I have learned in the dog world is that there is never just one answer to any problem, be it health,behavioral, grooming or housekeeping.
Recently I had the opportunity to try several of Sea Yu's 'Clean + Green 'products made to clean up the messes our pets create.

The products were, Clean + Green Furniture Refresher,Clean + Green Wood and Tile, and Clean + Green Carpet and Upholstery .
Being an antique freak, I was especially drawn to the Furniture Refresher. I can't use Febreze because I suffer from an environmental illness, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.
Febreze makes me ill, and even if it didn't, I would be reluctant to use it as a veterinarian once told me it was suspect in the deaths of pet birds. And when you have antiques and buy lots of 100 year old fabrics, a safe furniture refresher that actually works would be incredible!

I first tried it on a damask dog bed that the dog and cat share. I don't wash it as much as I should because it is difficult to dry...I sprayed, waited, took a deep breath and was disappointed that I didn't smell anything. Then I realized that no smell was the point!!!! It is fragrance free and works on contact. I have sprayed it all over the place and just love it.

Now it was on to the Wood and Tile odor eliminator and stain remover.
Before our neighborhood association began neutering feral cats, they made it a point to spray my front door. And in our heat and humidity, you really know it.
Could this product eliminate years of feral cat spray from my front door? Yes, it seems it has. Give me a week of 100 degree temps and I might have to respray but for now the odor is gone.
The third product I wanted to try was the Carpet and Upholstery Odor Eliminator and Stain remover.
The only problem was...I had nothing to clean. I have never had housebreaking issues with my pets, ever. Not even thrown up hairballs on carpet or furniture.
Then I got a text message from a friend who said ugly things about her large dog who had just
eliminated in her van! It seems she let the dog ride in the van on a short trip ( I never leave a pet loose in a vehicle) and the dog peed and pooped all over the van when the owner got out...even in the vans' cup holders!!!And this is an older dog and you know that makes the odor much worse!
Most of the damage was on the upholstery, the passengers side door and the carpet in the rear of the van. Clean + Green took care of all of this and there has been no recurring odor so far.
I think this is pretty amazing. Also amazing is the fact that this is a VOC free product and NON TOXIC.
I wish more pet product manufacturers would pay attention to the chemicals they expose us to.
These products can be used in other ways as well. Your clothes closet, even your HVAC unit can benefit from their remarkable odor capturing ability.
They have a whole slew of products available for any pet clean-up situation so I encourage you to go to their website.http://www.sea-yu.com/

Chemicals can cripple and it really is important that we use SAFE and EFFECTIVE products around our families and our pets.
Clean + Green may not be the only answer in pet clean-up, but I firmly believe it is the BEST answer....

Realtors Rally to Help Abandoned Pets

For years I have cared for a cat whose owner passed away from cancer. The new home buyers threw him out on the street after she died...I know how traumatized he was to lose his loving owner and his home. This video focuses on a great group of people working to help pets suffering from the home foreclosure crisis.

If You Want to be Green, Get Rid of Your Dog

Give up your dog or your Audi? Give up your dog AND your Audi?

I read this article from CNET News and didn't know whether to laugh or cry...so I thought I would share it with you...http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10382695-71.html