Pat from the Old Orchard Beach Dog Park has asked me to post a blog asking readers if they know of an alternative to grass. Presently OOB is experiencing difficulty in adequately caring for the lawn.
They are interested in both the positives and negatives of alternative footing, for an upcoming town meeting discussion.

Thanks to Katie for letting me know that Channel 7 in Boston covered the dog poison story at the Golden Stairs Park.

Check out my old neighborhood.

A special hello to Trinket!

In today's Boston Herald there is a second article concerning the dog poison investigation and a possible link to notes that dog owners in Jeffries Point have been getting on their front door stating "your dog is a problem".

Yesterday I explained that most neighbors like the dogs walking through the parks at all hours and that the dog walkers help to keep crime down, but of course there are those who prefer dogs to be banned from the small city parks entirely. I have attended scores of neighborhood meetings over the years where dogs, dog poop, dog noise and the possible banning of the dogs was discussed. The dog people always prevailed.

Now we all know that Portland is a great place to have a dog, but I would like to give my old neighbors a plug. To have a dog in the city means you are out walking that dog at least 3-4 times a day. It means your dog is constantly socialized and exposed to all manner of people and other animals and that you have to be a very committed owner and find creative ways to exercise your dog. For many that means not always adhering to leash laws, and when I lived there, I was guilty of allowing my dogs off leash play. Given a choice I would rather a dog live in the city than a dog in the country who never leaves their own back yard. Dogs need mental and physical stimulation.

Living in a largely populated area comes with an assorted mix of crazies and I can think of a few probable suspects myself.

Look what is going on in my old neighborhood in East Boston.

Police are hunting a pet-hating coward who mixed a toxic snack of rodent killer and meat and stashed cups filled with the lethal chow around an East Boston park frequented by dog walkers - poisoning a chocolate Labrador retriever puppy.

When we lived in East Boston I went to that park everyday with my dogs for ten years. Usually several times a day.

The entire neighborhood of Jeffries Point has undergone a HUGE facelift, and the park now sits behind apartments that are selling for over a million dollars each. For nearly all of my years as a resident, that same building was vacant and home to raccoons. All we know is that the raccoons didn't do it.

The park is lovely, and has incredible views of Boston Harbor. It is maintained not by the city, but by the neighbors. They plant flowers, mow the lawn and prune the Cherry tree. Most people appreciate that the dogs walk through there at all hours, because it tends to keep drinking and drugs out of the area, and the dog people help to keep it clean.

In 2003 a similar thing happened at a dog park in Portland Oregon, where at least 12 dogs died.

I still have a lot of friends living on Jeffries Point, both human and canine, and I want this case solved.

When I wrote 'No Vaccines for us this year' , I did not realize the tidal wave that it would cause. I alienated myself from Vets, and was misunderstood by lot of people.

Here is my message-
Be an educated consumer. This goes for yourself and your family and it also goes for your pets.

I DID NOT SAY-
Don't ever vaccinate, nor did I encourage the use of Nosodes, or that we know more than our vets. I did not say that I diagnosed my dead dog Dina as having died from adverse reactions due to vaccines.

What I did say was that I made several mistakes in Dina's care, to include over vaccinating her and it is something that I have to live with. I will always wonder if I didn't contribute to her death. What I didn't mention is that I worked at a Pet store and got many of her yearly vaccines in the "pack" which is known to include many vaccines that my dog didn't need. Plus I vaccinated her every year for rabies for 3 years at my Vets insistence.
If CIS (consumer information sheets) had been in effect, I probably would have made different choices in Dina's care. To read more about CIS, click here for an informative Newsday article.

The purpose of my vaccine article and this blog is to make people think! I will be the first to admit that when I go to the Pediatrician and I sign waivers for my kids vaccines, that I do not usually read them. BUT I have already researched ahead of time exactly what it is that I am doing to my children. With my children I weigh the pro's and con's ahead of time and as consumers I think we have the right to do the same when we take our pets to the Veterinarian. I also think CIS would open a line of communication with our Vets that is not currently available to all patients.

Related:

Dog Vaccines May not be Necessary, From the University of Wisconsin

Have you seen the article
Deadly Immunity in Rolling Stone by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. concerning preservatives in our children's vaccines? The debate over the cause of autism has been raging since the 1940's and this is a very interesting read.

These images are the property of Bird Brain Creations and the Pet Advocates.
Their designs may be used on your pet advocacy related web site or in FREE pet publications in exchange for a link to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PetAdvocate101/

I received so much mail from people telling me that they love sweet stories with happy endings that I had to pass this web site on to all of you. It comes from my cousin Cyndi who runs Golden Retriever Rescue of South Florida.

People who rescue animals love to get updates from adopters, and this update about Jasmine the senior golden is really something.

Here is an excerpt:

One Saturday night at 3:00 AM I was sleeping in my second floor bedroom and Jazz was sleeping next to my bed. She started growling. I had never heard her growl but I did not wake totally up. I was asking her to quiet down and then before I knew it a man stepped into my sliding glass door (he had been pulling it up to unlock it) when she was growling. As he stepped in she went for his throat and I mean his jugular. She got him a few times, and I did not know until later he stabbed her a few times.

Click here to read the update in it's entirety. There is a happy ending for Jazz and her owner, but the intruder did not fair quite as well...

Do you think your dog would protect you from intruders in your home?

Of course the fact that they blogged Heidi's story had nothing to do with my plug.
:)))

It is a great site and a great magazine.

Canyon a 1 year old Great Pyrenees

This dog is being placed by his family and is listed on Petfinder.com as a courtesy listing through Dogs Deserve Better. A donation to Dogs Deserve Better is required to adopt Canyon.

To learn more about Canyon click here.

Breed info for Great Pyrenees from Dogbreedinfo.com

The Great Pyrenees is a capable and imposing guardian, devoted to its family, and somewhat wary of strangers - human or canine. They are often used to guard livestock. When not provoked, it is calm, well- mannered, and somewhat serious. Courageous, very loyal and obedient. Gentle and affectionate with those he loves. Devoted to family even if self-sacrifice is required. It is very gentle with its family and children. It does best with children when it is raised with them from puppyhood. It has an independent, somewhat stubborn nature, and may try to dominate a less secure owner. A serious worker, but very independent. Be patient when training the Great Pyrenees, as it may be slightly difficult. It is important to socialize and train this breed properly to insure good citizenship. Male dogs can be aggressive with other animals. The Great Pyrenees is good with non-canine animals, and usually loves cats. These dogs do not reach maturity until they are about 2 years old. Some are not good off the leash and may wander away. The Great Pyrenees tends to bark a lot and some tend to drool and slobber.

Disclaimer: this is a courtesy listing. I have not met or evaluated this dog!

A Dog's Life will feature local dogs in need from time to time. If you have a dog that you would like to see featured on A Dog's Life, please email Goododgz1@aol.com

Joey-lost seen near Peirce St. in Westbrook

Here we go again people!

My very good friend Janna, who just had her second child is visiting with her Mom in Alaska.
The house sitters left the slider door open while they were grilling on the deck and both cats (but not the dog) got out. One cat returned the next day, but Joey who is strictly an indoor cat, has been missing since July 14th.
Understandably she is very distraught that she is not here to physically search for Joey.

Here is what Janna has to say:

I am so devastated about the loss of Joey. He was my first baby. I
cannot begin to explain the bond I have with this little furry
creature. I am trying not to imagine the worst, but it is quite
difficult. I am going to continue to pray and hope that my husband is
looking for him in the manner that I would look for him.

Joey disappeared from Wilson Subdivision on Wilson Drive Westbrook, just off Route 25, not far from Portland.

Joey is shy and he is wearing a blue collar with ID tags.

He has possibly been spotted near Pierce street.

Contact info:
Dan's cell phone number is (207)332-9705. or email @
janndan@yahoo.com

This is a story with a happy ending, and who doesn't love a story with a happy ending? It is the story of Heidi, a deaf Cattle dog mix who was lost 3,0000 miles away from the people she loved.
It is also the story of how one dog touched thousands of people over the Internet. What began as a simple plea on Craig's list and the Deaf Dog Yahoo site, became an orchestrated exchange of information, passed on at lightning speeds. Dog people are notoriously wonderful at forwarding information,and within hours of the dog being lost, pleas for Heidi's return were popping up in email boxes everywhere.

This is the story of how powerful a tool the Internet can be when people use it to reach out and try to help each other.

I am proud to say that I am part of her story, all because I blogged it on Maine Today.com. By detailing her plight, A Dog's Life became the place for people to check for updates and to find out what they could do to help find Heidi. Many people of Portland printed and posted flyers, sent email alerts, made great suggestions to the family, notified nearby work places, left Heidi food, and physically went out and looked for her, while people in California and around the Internet hung their hopes on every word. Dogs lists everywhere pointed people to my blog where many were checking in several times a day awaiting any news of sightings and to learn more about how they could help. It was a place of support and hope.

Basically the story goes like this:
July 7th, Heidi was shipped to Maine in anticipation of her families move from the bay area, to the East coast.
Unfortunately she panicked when she was being picked up, and she slipped her collar and bolted. She was struck by a car, and according to the driver, rolled three times and then got up and fled. Many people tried to find her (including me!) , and she was spotted only a couple of times in nearly two weeks. Her owner Paul, who by all accounts has a tremendous bond with the dog came east to find her, but was unsuccessful and had to return to the bay area and finish up his personal business on the west coast before moving. During this week, Heidi sightings were few.

Back in California, Heidi's family was distraught not only for loosing the dog they loved, but because they felt that the dog must have felt they had abandoned her. For the people who loved her, this was nearly too much to bear. Her owners told me that her deafness had never really been an issue until this happened. It wasn't an issue when they adopted her, or when they trained her. Her deafness was just the way things were. But for the first time in the four years they had her, they wished more than anything that she could hear, so she could hear their calls.

There were no reported sightings of the dog from Wednesday the 13th, until Sunday the 17th. On Sunday the 17th Paul returned to Portland and on that day she was spotted back at the Portland Jetport. I remember when I got that update from Linden in California, I got goose bumps and thought to myself, how can this be? Heidi returning to the Airport, to me was the most incredible part of the story. The dog had been hiding in the woods for nearly two weeks and came back to the airport on the day that Paul flew back. That night Paul camped in the woods at a location where Heidi had been sighted in hopes that Heidi would find him, but the family was gravely discouraged when she was not seen.
But for the first time in nearly two weeks, I was hopeful.
When we take children places we tell them "if we get separated stay where you are and I will come and find you", but how can we communicate this to our dogs? It makes you think that this dog, this special dog had a connection that is inexplicable. She just knew.

Monday night the 18th, Paul was back camping at the Jetport, the last place Heidi had been spotted. Early Tuesday she came to him, after being gone nearly two weeks.
Heidi smelled rancid, she was covered in ticks and she had lost 3 pounds, but other than that, she was in great shape.
Many people have written to me wanting to know more about how Paul and Heidi are doing now, and I will tell you all after this weekend when I meet them in person. Can't wait.

A Dog's Life Heidi blogs
Lost Dog Alert
Update for Heidi the Lost Dog
Desperatley Seeking Heidi
Heidi has been found!
Be sure to click the picture link in the comment section of Paul and Heidi. Great shot!

Most dog bites occur when the family dog bites a young child between ages 2 and 5. The reason for this is twofold: First, the little ones are right in the dogs face, and second, many dogs do not have proper respect for small children, and see them as low-standing members of the pack. Please teach your children how to be safe around dogs and to be respectful with all animals. Most dog bites can be prevented. Adults need to take the time to instruct their children as well as supervise closely interactions between children and dogs.
One of my pet peeves, are families that allow their kids to hang all over the dog, pull it’s hair, and even ride it! These are the same people that come to me, and brag about how good Fluffy is with the children, and how their kids can do anything to her. Not true! Fluffy is getting older, the weather is getting hotter, and Fluffy may have an undiagnosed medical problem that could make him react to pain, by biting. Please, if you allow this behavior, stop now!
Recently, I had weekend guests who had a 2 year old boy. Within minutes of being in my home “Johnny” was sock-surfing across my hard wood floor while holding on to my dog’s tail. While you can and should train your dog to tolerate children, you cannot allow children to engage in this type of behavior. We put the dog in a safe place for the remainder of the visit. She was either crated, leashed at my side, in the yard, or locked in a bedroom.
Had my dog bitten him, I was liable. A dog bite to a child can be a death sentence for a dog, and a preventable trauma for the child and family.
I begin when they are babies. I teach them to the little ones to “make nice” by taking their hand and patting a dog gently, all the while telling them to “make nice” and “be gentle”.

-Teach your kids to stop and stand likes a tree or statue if they are being chased. Dogs have strong prey and chase drives. They can get very excited at the sight of children running and screaming.
- Teach children to stand still and quiet, hands by their side. If the dog continues to come at them, teach them to roll in a ball, like a turtle, with their head tucked under their hands. We do this with the neighborhood kids, and it works! Not only do the dogs calm right down, but the kids remind each other how to behave, before things get out of hand.
-Teach your children never to approach dogs in a neighbor’s yard, even if they know them. Teach them about Invisible electric fences as well. Children should not be going in a yard with a dog, even if the dog is known to them without an adult. A word of caution here, dogs that are tied out and never included in day-to-day activities can become dangerous, especially dogs bred for protection work. These are the dogs that see the world go by just out of their reach.
-Teach your kids to tell a grown up when they see loose dogs and not approach them by themselves.
-Teach them never to pat a dog without asking first, let sleeping dogs lie, and to leave them alone when they have food or special toys.
-Dogs have a fight or flight instinct. If they cannot get away, they will defend themselves. Please teach your kids not to tease animals, and never to corner them, especially under furniture where they cannot get away.
-Teach them never to get between two dogs when they first meet or are playing. Many bites occur to kids who got in the way of two dogs just being dogs.
-Teach your children not to hug dogs. Dogs do not understand hugs and can view it as an attempt to be dominant.
-Teach your children to ask before they pet a dog, and never to pat a dog through a fence, or car window.
-Remove the dog from under the kitchen table. Dogs often view anything that falls as theirs.
-Never allow children under 5 to interact with a dog unsupervised and keep a watchful eye on the older kids.

Despite all these warning, kids and dogs CAN be great playmates and it’s alot of fun to see them together. It CAN happen and it is up to you!

Portions of this article previously printed in the Casco Bay Weekly. Used with permission.

Charlee and I will be at the Children's Museum today at 1:00 and again on August 18th for a fun, and interactive dog safety demonstration.

This is my handout that all the kids will be bringing home to their parents.
Safety demos are available at no charge for qualifying groups.

Heidi found Paul last night near the Jetport Hilton. At first she skirted in the shadows, but once she realized it was him she went right to him.

She got a much needed bath and will visit the vet first thing this morning.

Don't you love a happy ending!!!

Have you seen Heidi?
She is a deaf Cattle dog mix missing since July 7th from the Portland Jetport.

I have heard from both of Heidi's owners that of all the places in the world to loose a dog, Portland has got to the be the best. Why is that?
It is the people. We have got to be the dog friendliest town around.
A simple web log has been a valuable source of hope for people 3,000 miles away, and for so many others who are following her story closely.

Her owners have thanked me over and over for listing Heidi on my blog. As they say in Spanish "da nada" or "for nothing!" My thanks will be when the dog is safely back with her family.

Latest update:
Paul returned back to Portland on Sunday and is camping in the area in hopes the dog will follow his scent back to camp.

If they need more help I will most certainly post it, and I will continue to update any new information and sightings.

She had not been sighted since Weds. but on Sunday evening a woman driving in her car called police to report that she had spotted Heidi east of 95.
This morning she has been sighted at the Jetport near the Hilton.

Please continue to spread the word about this sweet lost dog.
The best chance they have of finding her is if you call Paul's cell right away if you spot her!
Paul's cell: 408.644.9084

Join the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland this Saturday, July 23rd from 8am-4pm at the American Legion in Westbrook for their 5th Annual Rummage and Bake Sale.

All proceeds benefit the programs of the Animal Refuge League.


They will be accepting donated items for the sale on Friday, 7/22 at the American Legion in Westbrook from 3:00-8:00 Pm.

For more info:
http://www.arlgp.org/events/images/rummage.pdf

The morning article in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle regarding pets and hazardous lawn chemicals reminded me of a phone conversation I had this spring. Upon hearing of this phone call, all my friends exclaimed, "You've got to blog it! Poor guy, did he get the wrong house!"

Me "Hello"

Them "Good morning Mrs Smith, I am calling from the 'Name intentionally left out chemical company' and I have a special offer for your household today."

Me "Sorry but we don't put toxins on our lawn."

Them "If I could just have a minute of your time, I would like to tell you about some of our chemicals that are less toxic and mostly organic."

Me (I pause, not really sure I heard what I just heard)

Them "Mrs Smith..."

Me "Less toxic and MOSTLY organic? Isn't that like being a little pregnant!!! Sorry but we are not interested. What is it about Americans that they need to have uniformed little green pieces of grass that all match. It's unnatural. Maybe I like weeds! Weeds are good for the eco system, and water from my yard empties into Capisic pond, and then out to sea. I love my 3 kids and my dog and I will not risk their health for an unnatural lawn that is not found anywhere in nature. What is wrong with you people? Aren't you concerned about your own health spraying toxins all day? Have you seen the studies about bladder cancers in Scottish Terriers from the University of Perdue?
Hello? You still there?"

For more info try these links:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4797699/
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?2476&printview

This blog is dedicated to Shelby, a Lab/Aussie mix who died from cancer.

Yesterdays blog made light of prey animals co-existing peacefully with what would normally be prey.
Today's news that the family Husky killed a 6 day old infant in Rhode Island shows us just how real this danger can be. What a horrible tragedy and my heart goes out to the family.

It is believed that the Husky experienced what is known as predatory drift. In this very sad case it was the baby who was most likely perceived as prey when it made a noise. In the case of predatory drift, dogs loose control and act on pure instinct. You may have seen it yourself when a small dog cries out and is in turn attacked. Sometimes predatory drift can even occur between two dogs that are known to each other.
While I made light of "not eating family members", I feel my timing was off and I apologize for making light of such a potentially serious situation. When it comes to babies and kids and dogs you can never be too cautious.
Boston.com has a very well written article concerning this incident, but you must go the site and become a member to view it.
Take care!

"We don't eat family members!"
Mr. Little to Snowbell the cat in Stewart Little

I have received equal amounts of inquiries concerning our new family member Tater Tot the hamster, and Heidi the lost deaf dog.

How is the hamster?
Fine!

What does Charlee think?
Not much!

Has it bitten the kids yet?
Not yet.

Are you concerned the dog will try to kill it?
Charlee like any dog has a prey drive and we will never completely trust her with things that run, but we have done a great job at instilling in her that "we don't eat family members!" Take the same rodent in the woods and it would most likely be snack food, but in the house, the dog knows that the hamster resource is MINE. Dogs do respect ownership and the dog knows that the hamster and the birds (who have been known to fly straight into her head!) are not hers.

Can I teach my dog not to touch our other animals?
Great question! Respecting boundaries is not just an issue about one thing. Training, and bonding, and teaching the dog a solid "leave it" and "come" all come into play, but certainly some breeds (terrier owners you know who you are!) need to use more caution than others. One thing we have always done around here is to feed A LOT when the new animals come out. The dog learns that it is great to have the other animals around and that when the new animal is around good things happen. This is the exact same thing you do when you bring home human babies by the way. The next step is to set your dog up for a reliable recall. For some that could mean on leash even in the house, for others you may need to go within inches of your dog before you say their name. Be sure to praise and reward wtih lots of yummy treats. Obviously if your dog is too interested in the new animal you need to use extreme caution to keep it safe. But if your dog is a bit lackadaisical about your pet as is Charlee, the more successful "leave it's" and "recalls" and just plain "open bar" with special goodies when the other animal is around the better. We don't anticipate any problems with the new rodent and the dog.

What does Tater Tot look like?
The one in the 4th row

Heidi last seen near the Portland Jetport

I have received countless numbers of emails from well wishers wanting to know if and how they can help to find Heidi.

The good news is that she was seen running midday on the 13th, apparently without any sort of limp.
The bad news is that she won't let people approach her.

So what can you do?
Heidi's family has a plan in effect and will let us know if they need more people to carry it out. I will share whatever they need with all of you. Currently they are rightfully concerned that too many people in the area may drive the frightened dog away.

They thank everyone for their good intentions and hope you will call if you spot her.

If you do spot Heidi, please be prepared to leave food in a safe area near by. Practice calming signs by making yourself small and turning sideways, and do not directly look at her or try to catch her by running after her. Be still and move slowly.

If seen, please call Peggy at 912.484.4221(cell) or 207.389.2434 (local) or Paul at 408.644.9084 (owner)

Announcing the First Annual Sugar Bush Farm Country Dog Camp!
Hosted by Sugar Bush Farm and AgileDogs Agility Training.

What: Camp for you and your dog to relax and learn something new

Where: Sugar Bush Farm, Stephentown, NY

When: July 30-31

Offerings: Agility, Flyball, Musical Freestyle, Tracking, Dock Jumping, Rally Obedience, Canine Therapeutic Massage, Go-To-Ground, Animal Communication, Canine Good Citizen Testing, Arts and Crafts, Games and Contests, Blueberry picking and trail hikes, plus others!

How much: $100 per day ($180 for both days); second dog is only $30 per day

Space still available!

Several years ago I had married clients in class who were building a house. They asked me what I thought about their idea of building crates into a custom-built island in their kitchen. They said they were planning to make it convertible into storage for the time when their dogs no longer used them.
What did I think? I thought it was brilliant! At the time my own dog's crate was being utilized as a makeshift office and catch-all in my kitchen. On top was a mini-filing system, magazines, mail, as well as the kids' school work and assorted toys that had nowhere else to go. (That apartment was small!)

Since then, I've known several people who have incorporated custom-built crates into their homes. My favorite was one built into the bottom of a living room bookcase with sliding wood doors. You'd never even know it was there when those doors are closed. All my dog friends who've designed built-in crates have been happy with the end result.

I mention this because, in my ongoing quest for wretched excess, I now bring you indoor dog accoutrements.

.
Haus Dog crates- I love these!

- Small $349.00
- Large $529.00 [both sizes are on back order]

These tres-chic crate covers are available from Paw Palace for $114.00, but anyone handy with some needle and thread (did I mention that's not me?) or a great seamstress could achieve a similar effect. If you were so inclined you could match your dog's crate to your pillows, curtains and surroundings. Or you could just do what I do for visiting dogs who insist on barking and cover the crate with a blanket from the closet.

These Glamour Dog beds have to be seen to be believed. If you are looking for a

pink feather boa bed for $315.00, then check them out!

From Post Modern Pets Size Large $1650.00

These beds from Pluscious Home Decor could easiiy be mini-human beds. They sell for $600.-$900.

$ 174.99 Indoor Pet Tents
The Ritzy Rover.com

Love this one!

$235. at Healds Burger Dog House

Love this couch too!
$400. The Ritzy Rover

Murphy bed for the space-conscious... Great for RV's! 289.00 plus shipping from
www.Catsplay.com

steps so your pooch can reach your resting spaces
$475.00 from Rare Earth

Rare Earth also makes custom dog furniture to match their bedroom sets. Mission style shown $495.00

Sleigh bed in vintage faux mink imported from Italy includes decorative faux mink pillows and wooden legs. Also aviavilbe in faux chinchilla.
From Heart of My Heart Pets $650.

Update:
I was forwarded this web site:
Handmade beds have to be seen to believed.

Pictured the Jester Bed $675.00 from Avery of Oz

If you enjoyed Rich resting spaces, check out my other related blogs-

Shoes you can't use
Here comes the bride
Bling it on and Balls

coming real soon...
What the best dressed dog is wearing to the beach this summer!

If you count all the goldfish, crickets, and Siamese fighting fish, then I have been to more funerals for pets than I have for people. When we lived in East Boston my son used to con me into running a cricket rescue. Whenever we were buying pet food, he would beg and plead for a dollar's worth of crickets. Sometimes they ate potatoes in their critter-keeper but usually we let them go in the yard. We often laughed on hot summer nights when people out for a leisurely stroll would stop in front of our apartment to listen the song of the crickets. Ours was the only house that had em'! When the little fellows in the critter keeper died, we always had a proper send off, complete with grave markers.

Countless numbers of gold and other fish had a burial at sea, not via the toilet, but through a hole in one end of the Cashman Boat Pier in East Boston. We (me and the kids) would take the solemn walk from apartment to pier and all of us would say a few words. Most of the time though it was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud as I laid on the the fish tales pretty thickly.

"Goldie came to us from the Early Education Center and a finer fish I have never known. He served as a sterling example to the kindergarten kids of how to care for living things, and we all enjoyed watching ______ (insert name - more often than not is was ...you guessed it "Goldie") grow into a fine fish. Goldie looked forward to the morning and evening meal and (splash) we return you now Goldie to the great circle of life."

That sort of thing.

Having kids and any kind of pet just leads to seriously somber yet silly funerals and lessons about life and death. I will never forget scattering my dog Dina's ashes over the snow in her favorite field. We were not prepared for them to pile up instead of blowing away. Each time we went to visit her we would put rocks on the site but for months her ashes were visible and we couldn't bury them because the ground was frozen. We had piles of rocks in the car that we got at the beach to stack in a mound at the site, only to return and find they had been removed, probably by other children. My kids picked only their favorite rocks, but I had to console them that other kids surely could see just how special and carefully selected each rock must have been. It was so sad that it become one of the funniest things to ever happen in my life. We would go back each time and laugh and laugh. It really was one of life's cruel jokes.

But this morning's funeral was different. Today we buried Blazekin our red-factored canary in front of the day lilly patch. Ask any person with a rescue animal and they will tell you how it must have been fate that they came into their lives. Animal people can attach a lot of significance to meaningful numbers and signs when it comes to their adoptees. Charlee is in my home partly because I thought her birthday was the same as my last two dogs'. Hmmmmmm.

Following that reasoning, Blazekin (named after a Pokemon for those of you out of the loop) really was meant to live in our home. Nearly four years ago my husband and son were walking in East Boston when my son spotted a yellow bird amongst the trash and weeds. They quickly scooped it up in a Dunkin Donut cup that was blowing by and brought it home. At first glance I thought it was some sort of Finch, but it turned out they had found a male canary. The poor bird had suffered some sort of horrible abuse and was wrapped up in micro thin wire. His legs and wings were broken and it took us hours to get him completely untangled. Our little foundling lived in our home for over a year, but could never perch normally. We kept his cage as clean as we could and he in turn thanked us with beautiful songs daily. We were deeply saddened when our yellow bird died.

A few days after the yellow bird's passing found us visting a friend at a Petco store in Massachusetts, who worked in the bird room. Cindy had helped us with the little yellow bird's care and she gasped when I walked in exclaiming "I can't believe you are here, I was just looking for your number." She quickly ushered me into the quarrantine room where a gorgeous red canary sat convalescing for - you guessed it - another foot injury. The store could not sell him and they wanted to know if we wanted him. Of course I said yes!

So we made preparations to head home. The kids were very excited at the prospect of our newest addition. We picked out a cage and bought food but then were told that the employee who nursed him back to health had decided to take him home after all because "they had bonded".

We're told that we can't have him. We felt that bird was meant to live in our home and were saddened by this announcement. We wondered what the odds were that two injured canaries would come into our lives and just "knew" that bird was meant to be ours. The kids took it hard that the bird they had named Blazekin was not coming home with us.

Somehow I was conned into getting two parakeets at the shelter in Westbrook. The very day I brought the parakeets home I got a message from Cindy at Petco to come back and get the bird before the employee changed her mind (again). Her fellow Petco co-workers had talked her into letting us adopt Blazekin after all. So that is how we came to be a three-bird family.

Blazekin was different than any other bird I have ever known. I am sure that the care of his leg wound required that he be handled constantly and so he had become bonded more closely with his caregivers, and to me in particular. He would follow me about the house wherever I went and his songs were a special treat. On his final day, he followed me downstairs to the office and fell asleep on my desk. By the time I realized he was sick, it was too late. His was a somber funeral with not a dry eye in sight. Rest in peace, my sweet little red bird, I will forever miss you.

Monday was my first night back teaching classes. On my way out the door I spotted a sign advertising, "Free to a Good Home" for a small golden and white hamster, complete with cage. I glanced up at the calendar to be reminded that it was 7/11. I have said "No" before to hundreds of free pets (including hamsters) but the date seemed like an auspicious sign so I took him home. Apparently "Tater Tot", as he has been named by the kids, was the runt and nearly died but was nursed back to health by a Pet Quarters employee. Fast-forward a few years and I imagine that there will once again come a day where we'll gather to observe this little guy's somber funeral, the kids will be crying and I'll be saying something along the lines of, "Tater Tot was the finest hamster in the whole world and we cherished every day we had with him. We knew from the first day that he was meant to live in our house. At first we nearly all went insane when he rode that squeaky wheel night after night after night, but we learned to live with it and to love him..."

Heidi a deaf Cattle Dog mix last seen near the Portland Jetport

July 6th
Heidi was flown overnight from the Bay Area to Portland, Me. where her familiy is moving to.

July 7th
A staff member from a boarding kennel arrived to retrieve Heidi and take
her to the kennel to stay until Heidi's humans arrived.

Heidi apparently became very, very frightened and slipped out of her
collar at the airport.
She ran and ran and kept running from people.

She ran across a highway and was hit by a car. The driver said Heidi
yelped, rolled three times and then ran away. Heidi was last seen around 8:10pm Thursday evening in a wooded area near
the airport.

July 8th
The owners arived in Portland and searched for Heidi without
success.

July 11th
forwarded email from Heidi's owner:

Would you share the following with your readers?

We especially want to emphasize "do not chase."

--Ask people to make themselves small, and lure her with cheese or peanut butter or burgers (or anything yummy). A kneeling, smiling person is more likely to be able to entice Heidi to approach. We hope that a kneeling, smiling person with a grilled cheese sandwich is irresistible!

Though she cannot hear and will not respond her her name, Heidi understands a number of hand signs.

--The sign we use for "come" is basically what you would do if you wanted to motion someone across the room to come to you (using all four fingers, not just the forefinger). Being fearful, she might ignore this gesture, but she knows what it means.

We are grateful for any help you and your readers can provide. Heidi is a wonderful, special dog--she brings a joyful presence into our lives. We really want her back.

Paul said that he met a lot of great people in Portland. This makes me even more hopeful that Heidi will be found and returned to the humans who love her. Heidi shares an extraordinary bond with Paul. She's a most beloved pet and we will not give up on finding her.

Thank you for your attention, for posting this on your blog, for your help, and for your good wishes.

Linden

Contact info can be found on Craigs list

Dogmark.net has selected A Dog's Life as their cool dog site of the day for today - July 10th!

What's that all about? Dogmark.net has chosen a "Cool Dog Site of the Day" since April of 1994. Dogmark.net hosts visitors from over 68 countries around the world. They have archived more than 3,500 previously chosen "cool dog sites" which can be visited at any time. "Dogmark.net's "Cool Dog Site of the Day" has received many awards and has also also appeared in several magazines including Sweden's Fido, Dog Fancy and a book published in Taiwan introducing webpages of the world. They also feature ongoing contributions by two New York authors - B. L. Ochman's "A Dog's Life in New York City" and Dr. Jill Eliott's "Homeopathy for Dogs".

Pssssst - We've just learned that A Dog's Life is now a candidate for Dogmark.net's "Cool Site of the Month"!
We're very excited...

I noticed today that I'm starting to feel better. It happened about the time that my dog brought me a tennis ball for a quick game of catch. She didn't put it on the floor or fling it at me as usual, but instead brought it to the couch and interrupted my movie by placing it gently beside me with an expectant look.

Not that I was surprised.

Dogs most definitely have a sixth sense and Charlee's has been working overtime during my recuperation from stomach surgery. She gets up when I get up and follows me ever so carefully to wherever I need to go, settling down nearby. Currently she is sleeping under my desk.

My doctors orders are to not lift more than fifteen pounds. But I couldn't stand the pleading look in Charlee's eyes as I was refilling the bird feeder so it was with some trepidation that I put a halter on her and took her outside for a quick walk around the yard. I have written several times about how my dog can be reactive and will often act without thinking. But even when the neighbor's Beagles rushed their invisible fence baying loudly, she stayed by my side.

Not that I was surprised.

There is that unspoken something that can pass between man and beast. It didn't just "happen" between Charlee and I though - we earned it over time. It was during this illness that my dog crossed the invisible line from "Just Dog" to "Heart Dog." Heart dogs do not come along every day as any dog person will tell you. I have been fortunate to have had two - Dina was my first. I never thought I would have another one. Most people are lucky to have just one in their entire lifetime. A heart dog makes you think you could never own another dog because your heart will break when you loose them. A heart dog has an inexplicable connection to you - and you alone.

Charlee joined our family at a very difficult time as my Dina was dying from a brain tumor. There were times when I resented Charlee for being so alive, difficult and downright awful when my perfect (heart) dog had left me. I remember when I first started bringing her to agility lessons. My friend made the most appropriate comment saying, "Working through things with the tougher dogs can be the sweetest. Besides, anyone can train an easy dog. How boring!" I rolled my eyes just as Charlee lunged at the nearest dog and I thought again "What have I done? What was I thinking?"

Charlee has been a great learning experience for me. Not only did she do all the things that my students' dogs do - like jump up on the counter to steal food, pull, run away, and nip (Hard!) - but she also had psychological issues and would lunge at other dogs or get so high I couldn't calm her down. I even discussed the idea of trialing her on drugs with the vet. At times she reminded me of a thoroughbred race horse, snorting and prancing about with uncontrollable excitement. My Dad tells anyone who will listen how she didn't like to be petted or touched for the longest time. But he's equally quick to brag, "But just look at her now!" No one in my family let her into their hearts for the longest time and we would look at her and wonder to ourselves why she was with us when Dina's life had been cut short so early. We were all thinking it.

When I consulted two good trainer friends of mine for help with several behavior issues they both said the same thing. "Just because you can help the dog doesn't mean you should. Maybe you should send her back to rescue?". Of course I said, "No way." Maybe Charlee wasn't the level-headed demo dog that Dina had been, but I learned TONS from her about what it is like to live with a reactive dog (and a smart one at that). She has taught me many lessons that have proven invaluable to me as a trainer and in helping other people with their fearful and reactive dogs. Reading about it, watching a training video, attending seminars for reactive dogs just isn't the same as living day-to-day with the uncertainty of a reactive dog.

When I was at Maine Med last week I had the honor of a therapy dog visit and that was a wonderful experience. But my real therapist is sleeping right now under my desk. So if Dr. Charlee says I am well enough to throw a tennis ball around for a little while today, it must be true! She knows me so well...

Dina and Charlee

Thanks to Linda in Alaska who wrote to tell me in Alaska she drinks 'In Heat Wheat'. Flying Dog Beer also makes litters of other dog inspired brews.

I already checked, they don't ship to the East coast.

boooooooo

"Bartender a beer for me please and my best friend will take a Happy Tail Ale."
I have just written them to see if they will send me and Charlee a sample to review.

No contest
Three years in a row!

Really!

Post your totally inappropriate but still suitable for family viewing
comments here!

One possible solution to the BSL (Breed Specific Legislation).

We interrupt this blog for a medical emergency. Wednesday night I went to work and by the time I was 15 minutes into teaching my first class I had severe stomach pain. In both my 5:30 and 6:30 classes I had wonderful students who all had me convinced that I either had food poisoning or more likely a gall bladder attack. I would teach, double over, throw up and teach some more. I should have gone home, but felt that I couldn't drive so I waited for the pain to subside before leaving and I send a thank you out to everyone from class. You were all wonderful!

Early the next day I drove myself to Maine Med. and had surgery by noon for an incarcerated hernia.
The surgeon described it like a kink in the hose and he said that it was something I was born with. On the bright side, I caught it caught it early and had no complications.
I will continue with over the top pet products just as soon as I can, and apologize for not finishing last week as planned, but like I said, blog (and life!) interrupted.