Along with a new/old governor, the Golden State has a new First Dog. Welcome to Sutter (you gotta love the name), a Pembroke Welsh corgi. Governor Jerry Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown are happy to have 7-year-old Sutter in Sacramento after losing their previous dog, Dharma, last year. The Los Angeles Times reports that Sutter is already on the job.

“He finds all the extra food lying on the floor in the office,” Gust Brown told the Sacramento Bee of Sutter’s job duties. “He barks at anyone, he gives snuggles, he warms up the Republicans.” Beyond Republican-warming, his hobbies include herding and accompanying the Browns on jogs.

Corgi fanciers know the breed, famous for their appetite and their herding talent, is a longtime favorite of Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty has owned and bred Corgis since she was a teenager. If you are active on Twitter, you can follow Sutter @SutterBrown.

A mess in Memphis: There is no other way to say it – the Memphis Animal Shelter is broken. Shirley at YesBiscuit will give you the latest. The shelter’s director is definitely a piece of work.

Tell eBay to do the right thing: Technically, live animals cannot be sold on eBay. Unfortunately, all bets are off when it comes to their classifieds. That means that puppy milling scum have an unfettered avenue to do, and sell, whatever they want. You can support Change.org‘s petition to shut down this blatant loophole.

A true hero: James Campbell leases a kennel housing greyhounds. The kennel sits adjacent to the Derby Lane track in St. Petersburg, Fla. Last week, in the middle of the night, he was alerted by security that the kennel was on fire. A total of 46 greyhounds were trapped inside. Mr. Campbell rushed to the kennel and rescued the dogs — all of them. Meanwhile, the place was quickly burning to the ground. From the Tampa Tribune:

“It didn’t matter to me how much flames, how much smoke,” said Campbell, a father of three. “I was going in. I was getting my dogs.”

“I put them right below my kids,” he said. “Without thinking, I went in.”

There were 46 greyhounds in 46 crates stacked two high, with names such as JR’s Boy and Backwood Omar. As the fire crackled to life in the back of the kennel, with flames he described as 20 feet high, Campbell started quickly, but methodically, rescuing the dogs.

He unlatched the crate on top, helped the dog out, unlatched the crate underneath it, let that dog out. Then he went to the next stack, working down a row. Some of the dogs appeared to be oblivious to the peril, wagging their tails and staying close to Campbell rather than escaping through a side door into a penned area outside, he said.

“They still wanted to play,” he said. “They didn’t act any different. I’m not sure they were even aware of what was going on.”

Others were more easily led – or went on their own – to the penned area outside.

The fire department’s preliminary investigation points to the kennel’s HVAC system as the fire’s probable cause. (Tip of the cap to Cathy A.)

ASPCA-PetSmart partnership: In an ongoing effort to expand services across the country, ASPCA is putting clinics in place to assist with supplying ID tags and collars in selected communities. The project is underwritten by a just-announced $115,000 grant from PetSmart Charities.

Annandale’s gone to the dogs: Annandale, Virginia, just inside the Beltway, is a lovely place to raise a family. Ms. Beatha Lee relocated to Annandale from her previous home in Maine, and was nominated for the presidency of Annandale’s Hillbrook-Tall Oaks Civic Association.  Ms. Lee was elected easily. However, as the Washington Post tells the story, Ms. Lee will have some difficulty chairing meetings. It isn’t that she’s particularly old, it’s just that Beatha Lee is a Wheaten terrier. (Thanks, Susan)

Two unforgettable photo essays: In light of the Whistler massacre, how about a look at some sled dogs (thanks, Ericka). Next, as we wrap up coverage of Westminster, a final look at the doings in Manhattan, courtesy of the Boston Globe‘s Big Picture. Oh, and by the way, PawNation would like you to know positive reinforcement training is the norm at Westminster.

Remember the Ramones? They got the lyrics wrong. If this tune gets stuck in your head the rest of today, you’ll be in good company. Happened to me, too. Blame Animal Friends.

Turtle vs. kitteh: Ericka sent me this one, too. Tough little turtle, there. Liz, are you sure this one isn’t yours?

Engineer’s guide to cats: I neglected to ask Patti S. if she was an engineer when she forwarded this video, but now I feel much more enlightened.

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.

Photo credit: Sutter, Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times. James Campbell, Chip Osowski/TBO.

The Scottish Deerhound had its fifteen minutes of fame recently, after the lovely Hickory took top honors at the Westminster Kennel Club Show. I went from getting 2-3 Google alerts a month on the phrase “Scottish Deerhound” to getting several hundred in a few days. Should those of us in the deerhound world worry about popularity cursing our breed?

I don’t think so. Partly that’s because most deerhound breeders are careful to the point of near-paranoia about who gets puppies, but “most” isn’t all, and greed is a huge motivator for a lot of people, so that alone won’t protect the deerhound.

What I think will protect my beloved breed is this: There are almost no Scottish Deerhounds. I mean, we registered around 120 puppies last year in the whole country. Even if breeders wanted to ramp up their breeding capabilities to fill a sudden spike in demand, by the time those few who would be willing to do that could get enough litters on the ground to meet the demand, the demand would have burned itself out. People who pick the kind of dog they want based on a Westminster win aren’t the kind to stick around for two years on a puppy waiting list. And even I, who have been in the breed for decades and was getting my last puppy, Rawley, from a good friend, had to wait a year.

What could happen, and I think is a valid concern, is that our breed could attract more attention from those who are more concerned with ribbons than the dogs who earn them. That could be problematic.

The Scottish Deerhound is a sensitive breed, and doesn’t do well on the road. Hickory lives with her breeders, Scott and Ceil Dove, on a 50-acre farm where she can run and play in the fields and snuggle on the sofa in the evening (which, as Rawley tells me, is what the Scottish Deerhound was bred for).

But since there is no money in this breed — the huge stud fees some breeds command are directly linked to how salable the puppies are, not as pets but to other fanciers, and that’s directly linked to how many dogs of that breed are shown, and how many of them do a lot of post-breed ring winning — it’s always tempting to those showing a really beautiful hound to take some financial support from a co-owner who is, essentially, investing in the dog.

Some people invest simply because that’s how they get their pleasure, being the co-owner of a big winner. But some are looking for a financial return, not just ribbons and glory.

Still, I’m not sure even that will happen. As you can see from how Hickory buried her face in her handler’s side when the paparazzi got too annoying, this isn’t a breed that likes a lot of hoopla. One-on-one, no breed can beat them for loving companionship, but in a crowd, they’re easily overwhelmed.

One other interesting side note to the saga: I was contacted by my local NBC affiliate the day after Westminster, asking if they could come interview me about the breed and tape some footage of Rawley being adorable. I agreed, and when I posted about it to Facebook, it turned out that dozens of deerhound friends all around the country had received similar requests, and gone on their local news, too.

When I was interviewed, I was asked, “What advice would you give to someone interested in getting a Scottish Deerhound?”

I said a bit of what I said here — that there are so few dogs of the breed in the world, that it’s quite hard to get a puppy, and they’d be in for a long wait. I also talked about all the reasons this isn’t the right breed for everyone — the usual patter about their love of running, their size, and all that — but I added something else.

If, I said, you really love this breed, not because they won Westminster but because of their wonderful qualities — the loving way they gaze at you, their deep connection with their people coupled with a calm presence in the house, the way they are wild and free and beautiful in the field (or at the beach or park!) but, once adult, quiet at home, their grace and athleticism — consider adopting a racing Greyhound.

Greyhounds are more similar to the deerhound in personality, temperament, and other lifestyle factors than any other breed. They’re a little smaller — a plus for most people — and they have a short coat — ditto — and as an added bonus, they come in all the colors of the rainbow, unlike deerhounds, who come in any color you might want as long as it’s gray.

Best of all, there are thousands of greyhounds looking for homes every day, all over the country. You can actually get one!

Well, my recommendation got cut, as I kind of assumed it would. And as far as I can tell, everyone else who made the same suggestion saw it land on the digital version of the cutting room floor.

Too bad. It demonstrates that many of us who keep and love our purebred dogs, despite all the problems in the purebred dog world, do care, and actively advocate, for dogs less fortunate than ours. And that we’re not selfishly hoarding all potential deerhound homes for ourselves, and ignoring the plight of our breed’s cousins, the greyhounds.

And, had even a few of those cut words aired, some dogs might have found good homes.

Interested in adopting a greyhound? Start here.

Photos: Top: Scottish Deerhound Connection logo by KT Jorgensen. Second: Rawley at 12 weeks old,  with me, by Gina. Third: Lillie with roses, by me. Fourth: Dylan, AKA Ch. Caber Feidh Rockin’ Robin, FCh, SC, GRC, ORC, VC, in the field, courtesy of Terri Campbell. Bottom: A Greyhound. Really. Not a Scottish Deerhound! (Stock photo.)

Oreo’s Law (Bill 4480) would mandate all municipal shelters in the state hand over any animal in their care to a non-profit animal protection organization if the animal is scheduled to die, and provided the non-profit wants and is able to take possession. The language of Oreo’s Law has been reworked a bit since it was introduced in Albany last year, where it died in committee.

High profile groups are lining up in favor of Oreo’s Law. The latest is Alley Cat Allies. In a carefully worded release, ACA admitted the bill could be improved, but they’ll stand behind it:

Alley Cat Allies believes that when it comes to animals’ lives, it’s important for animal advocates to work together to ensure all animals’ best interests are considered. We will continue to work with New York State and others to ensure all animals receive the protections they truly deserve. More important than any single bill is the guarantee of shelter access, and Bill 4480 is just the beginning of shelter reform. Above and beyond preventing animals from being killed in shelters, we also need to prevent feral cats from entering them at all.

Careful isn’t a word usually associated with Nathan Winograd. He skewers Best Friends Animal Society for being decidedly against 4480. Before borrowing a juicy paragraph from our own Christie Keith, Nathan equates Best Friends with the administration of a recently deposed world leader:

Choosing to defend the rights of shelters to kill animals in the face of readily available rescue alternatives, Best Friends CEO Hosni Mubarak, I mean Gregory Castle, says the people cannot be trusted. That corruption and oppression by the current regime should continue. Those in power should stay in power. Rescue groups should continue watching the animals they want to save be put to death. Their pain, their oppression, their hurt, not to mention the needless violence inflicted on the animals, should continue. But he cannot come right out and say that. And so he and Omar Suleiman, I mean Francis Battista, claim that the people are not ready for democracy. And hence lies the real issue: money and power.

As long as Nathan keeps doing what he does, I’ll never be bored.

Attention rodents: There’s a new sheriff at 10 Downing. The downsizing of the British government doesn’t preclude new hires being made when necessary. The newest staff serving Prime Minister David Cameron is named Larry.  Larry is a tabby, and has been appointed the latest Ten Downing Cat. Unauthorized rats have been spotted on the premises, and as both BBC and NPR tell us, the PM is taking decisive action.

All hail Hickory: Rawley the Deerhound is a happy boy today, because on Tuesday night, Westminster crowned Hickory, a gorgeous Deerhound America’s top dog. The New York Times has a sortable photo essay showing 102 best of breed winners. Right here and now, I predict that 2012 will be The Year of the Dachshund.

The newest Canadians: Los Angeles is chock full of Chihuahuas, in no small part because L.A. is a movie town, and Chihuahuas have been popular film dogs. Paris Hilton doesn’t help matters, either. Today, there are so many of the little guys and girls clogging shelters in that corner of California that they need to be exported, or else. So what’s the solution? Air Chihuahua — destination: Edmonton. Dress warmly, kids. You’re not in Hollywood any more. Thanks to PetMD for the link.

Stain remover worth checking out: My pal Ericka Basile has a new product review post up this week. Ericka reviews The Equalizer (I just love the name), by Vetoquinol.

A Flounder/Tiger Mom: I enjoyed this post from Kathy Flake on how she negotiates training with her Golden, the lovable Sparky.

I could stay here forever: This article from the Wall Street Journal confounds me. I have read it five times. I still don’t know how I feel about it. Want to be buried with your pet? How about part of you being buried with your pet? Yeah, it’s definitely thinking outside the box. Or urn.

Two cat videos you will love…I hope. ABC News has the story of a cat burglar. Not a figure of speech. This guy must have done hard time in a previous life. Finally, my #1 favorite video of the week. Snooky lives with a musician. That means there’s a metronome in the house. Snooky met the metronome. Although there’s a happy ending, you MUST watch the whole thing. Then watch it again. Eventually, you’ll watch it without laughing. Let’s see how many viewings that takes.

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail

Photo credit: Cat in cage, alleycat.org. Hickory, Spencer Platt/Getty.

More and more rare breeds are being admitted to the American Kennel Club’s registry. It used to take years, decades sometimes, for a breed to move from the Miscellaneous Class (sort of a holding pen for breeds that weren’t quite ready for prime time). Now, they seem to be fast-tracked. A cynic might suggest that it’s for the additional money brought in from registration and entry fees, and that people in those breeds have sold their souls–and their dogs–to the devil. I have talked to enough of them, though, to know how dearly they love their dogs and how committed they are to their well being. Therefore, I have to hope that they will be lucky enough and smart enough to navigate the pitfalls that can come with AKC recognition. With that, here are the three new breeds we’ll be seeing tonight in the Sporting and Working Groups of the Westminster Kennel Club show.

Boykin Spaniel, Sporting Group

I love spaniels, of course, so it’s disappointing that I haven’t yet had a chance to meet a Boykin. Nicknamed “little brown dog” for his liver, brown or dark chocolate-colored coat, he’s the state dog of South Carolina and was developed early in the 20th century to hunt waterfowl, wild turkeys and upland game birds such as pheasants. He’s just the right size to ride in a boat with a hunter and is known as “the little dog that doesn’t rock the boat.” A typical spaniel, he’s enthusiastic when it comes to flushing and retrieving birds. The Boykin’s size and hunting ability are attractive characteristics, but like every breed he is predisposed to certain health problems, including eye disease, hip dysplasia, and some instances of exercise-induced collapse and heart problems. To its credit, the Boykin Spaniel Club and Breeders Association of America has established a Canine Health Information Center database. To receive a CHIC number, a Boykin must have an annual Canine Eye Registry Foundation test for eye problems, an Orthopedic Foundation for Animals patella evaluation, and one of three available tests for hip dysplasia. Optional tests are OFA evaluations for congenital cardiac diseases and elbow dysplasia.

Cane Corso, Working Group

The Cane Corso is a type of Italian mastiff who was used on farms to manage livestock, hunt big game such as wild boars, and guard the property. As with so many working breeds, modernization nearly brought him to extinction, but Italian fanciers in the 1970s worked to revive the breed. The Cane Corso was recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in 1996 and by the United Kennel Club in 2008. This is a large and impressive-looking guardian breed who is devoted to his family and suspicious of strangers. He needs extensive early socialization and training. Let’s hope he avoids the fate of other big, powerful dogs who became popular because of their macho appeal and then ruined because they were carelessly bred. Health concerns include hip dysplasia; demodex mange, which can have a genetic component; eyelid abnormalities; and gastric torsion (bloat).

Leonberger, Working Group

The Leonberger was invented in Germany in the mid-nineteenth century, when the Victorian-era craze for dogs was beginning. The dogs were successfully marketed by their German creator, Heinrich Essig of Leonberg, and popular with celebrities and wealthy people of the time. Although Essig wasn’t detail-oriented when it came to keeping breeding records, he claimed that he used Saint Bernards and Great Pyrenees to establish the breed.

The Leo is a big dog, meant to be gentle and sweet. He is, if he has been bred for temperament and received plenty of early socialization and training. Without those elements, he can become fearful, shy and difficult to train — not good in a 120-pound dog. Health concerns include orthopedic problems –hip dysplasia, osteochondritis dissecans and panosteitis–Addison’s disease, and ectropion and entropion, eye abnormalities that can be genetically transmitted. The breed’s deep chest and giant size also predispose him to gastric torsion (bloat) and osteosarcoma (bone cancer). The Leonberger Club of America has also established a CHIC database.

People who live with Leos love them.

“Leonbergers are the most loving, loyal and easily trainable dog I have owned,” says Mary Ruggiero-Smith, who has bred Leos for 15 years. “My Leonbergers have brought the most wonderful people into my life and have given so much more love back than I could ever have imagined.”

Photo credits: Boykin Spaniel, www.boykinspanielclub.org; Cane Corso, www.canecorso.org; Leonberger, Mary Ruggiero-Smith

At this rate, they’re going to have to expand the show to three days or move it to Yankee Terrier Stadium. (Can someone tell me why New York doesn’t have any domed stadiums?)

The breeds making their debut at the Garden are Bluetick and Redbone Coonhounds, Icelandic Sheepdogs, Boykin Spaniels, Cane Corsos and Leonbergers. I was fortunate to meet several of these breeds and talk to their people at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship show in Long Beach over the past few years. Here’s a brief introduction to them. Look for the first three in Group competition tonight.

Bluetick Coonhound, Hound Group

Picture a hound with a dark blue, thickly mottled coat, dotted with black spots on his back, ears and sides; droopy black ears; tan markings over his eyes and on his cheeks; and dark red ticking on his lower legs, paws, chest and beneath his tail. That’s a Bluetick Coonhound, formerly a color variety of the English Coonhound before becoming recognized as a distinct breed with the United Kennel Club in 1946. The one who caught my eye at the Eukanuba show back in 2006 was Jebbie, more formally known as OTCH UUD Smokin’ Bullet Jebediah Blue UDX3 VER Bh (NAPWDA Cadaver/SAR). He was there to compete in the National Obedience Invitational and was named third runner-up. Yes, really! A coonhound placed fourth in a national obedience competition. In addition to his hard-earned talents in the obedience ring, Jeb has been a search and rescue dog (his preferred job) and is the Boise Parks and Recreation Spokesdog. I’ve stayed in touch with Jeb’s owner, Paula McCollum of Boise, Idaho, and she says she was first attracted to Blueticks because of their striking markings, but she has come to love their loud bays and goofy hound personalities. In the field, the Bluetick is a cold-nosed hunter with a big bawl mouth (a long, drawn-out bark). With family, they are highly affectionate and loyal, not to mention super couch companions. They are not the easiest dogs to train, as McCollum will attest, but she says that even when Jeb is being naughty, he’s pretty darned cute.

Redbone Coonhound, Hound Group

I love a good red dog. It must be my Scottish and Irish ancestry. Red hounds came to the U. S. with Scottish and Irish immigrants, and they became the ancestors of the Redbone, a hound with a rich, deep red coat. The dogs that were probably used to create the breed also included Bloodhounds and Foxhounds. Like every hound, the Redbone has a pleading expression with dark brown or hazel eyes and, of course, a sweet voice that carries over long distances, whether he is working in swamps, mountains or plains. Redbones are cold-nosed dogs, meaning they are good at finding and following old tracks with little scent. Redbones are probably the most easygoing of the coonhounds, not that that means a lot. They still need lots of exercise and a patient trainer. My friend Kathleen Samuelson has become a fan of the breed, and her Syd (Ch. Tree Rizin’ Maine Edition) took Best Opposite Sex at the 2010 National Championship show.

“This breed is just awesome,” Samuelson says. “They can be totally goofy one minute, then disarm you with their empathy and intelligence the next. They do everything with gusto, whether they’re lazing around on the couch, vying for our attention with kisses and snuggles, or focusing intently on the scent of an animal that has just made its way across our wooded property. They have found a very special place in our hearts.”

Icelandic Sheepdog, Herding Group

This hardy Nordic breed is said to have come to Iceland on the longboats of early Viking settlers. I am never sure just how much I believe of romantical-sounding breed histories (Dachshunds in ancient Egypt! Really?), but this one is kinda plausible. At any rate, the Icelandic Sheepdog has the typical prick ears, curled tail, thick coat and barkful nature of his Spitz relatives. I talked to a woman about the breed at the 2009 AKC/Eukanuba show, and I am sorry to say that I don’t have her name recorded anywhere in my notes. Based on our chat, though, the breed has been brought from near-extinction in the 1950s, with only about 50 dogs left, to a current population of more than 800 in the U. S. alone. Icelandic Sheepdogs are cheerful, friendly, curious and playful, not to mention self-cleaning. Their coat of many colors sheds dirt (also hair, of course) and doesn’t require frequent bathing. What’s the Icelandic like to live with?

“He’s the best dog. He’s very smart. I take him running every single morning and he goes with me off lead. He won’t approach another dog if I tell him no, and he waits to cross streets until he’s instructed. He really loves children. They typically bark a lot, but we heavily discouraged barking and we won that battle.”

Just remember that you can’t go out and buy an Icelandic puppy and have him behave that well all on his own. To get to that level of behavior takes lots of socialization and training, not to mention surviving the one- to two-year adolescent phase.

Next: the Boykin Spaniel, Cane Corso and Leonberger.

Photo credits: Bluetick, Paula McCollum; Redbone, Kathleen Samuelson; Icelandic Sheepdog, www.icelanddogs.com

A couple of years ago, the rhetoric reached new heights with all the speculation about who would become the Obama family’s “First Fido.” Even people without dogs felt compelled to join in the bantering and bickering.

Between my own dogs and my beloved patients, I have plenty of first-hand familiarity with the virtues and vices of the purebred versus mixed breed experience. I can assure you, there are plenty of both! This is why I shrug my shoulders when confronted with people bent on convincing me that their preference should be my preference.

Would I ever try to convince someone that one is better? No way. I’m a big believer in “live and let live” as long as no one gets hurt. Trust me, after raising three children and working with more dog-loving clients than I can count, I’ve learned to pick my battles wisely.

For example, if a client tells me their dog is a German Shepherd yet I see before me an Australian Shepherd, I don’t try to correct my client. I prefer to let sleeping dogs lie, so to speak. No harm done because, whatever kind of herding dog he is, I will treat his diabetes the same way!

Just as in the case of mistaken shepherd identity, I choose not to participate in the battle of whether mutts or purebreds are superior. If I do manage to get suckered into such a discussion, I employ a unique strategy. I encourage the debaters to adjourn their arguments and work together towards a common goal. You see, whether a person prefers mongrels or purebreds, what they have in common, beside their love of dogs, is the desire to eradicate puppy mills, those large scale breeding operations that produce puppies for profit, often under inhumane conditions.

I suggest they use their mutual passion to teach others to avoid puppy mill purchases by never, ever buying a pup from a pet store or online, sight (and site) unseen. I encourage the mutt versus purebred debaters to invest their energies in telling people that by buying online or from a pet shop, they may be inadvertently committing the next 10 to 15 years of their lives to taking care of an adorable, but inherently unhealthy, product of a puppy mill. One less puppy mill purchase is one step closer to their extinction.

What happens when I interrupt the “great debate” with my suggestion? Sometimes I’m viewed as if I am from another planet. Most of the time, my comments prompt some constructive and positive discussion with heads nodding in agreement, at least for a few minutes before the conversation returns to squabbling about mutts versus purebreds.

What about you? Have you ever participated in this great debate?

Photo credit: Chow, Flickr Creative Commons (Llima)

They’re anything but. The town has decreed if owners don’t pay the annual dog tax (about $50), the dogs will die. The Los Angeles Times is just one outlet with the story:

Local official Pierre-Alain Nemitz says the move is part of an effort to reclaim hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes. [...] Nemitz told the Associated Press on Monday that authorities have received death threats since news of the plan got out.

“This isn’t about a mass execution of dogs,” Nemitz said. “It’s meant to put pressure on people who don’t cooperate.”

Pressure? Monsieur Nemitz, I’d call that a particularly macabre form of blackmail. Just wondering, sir, do you own a dog?

Elias the champion gluten hunter: GCH CH Elias Mes Yeux Vigilants RN (you can call him Elias) is a Beauceron, but Elias is not just a pretty face. His owner, Hollie Scott, is a first-year student at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, and Elias goes everywhere with her. Without him, Hollie would be in nearly constant discomfort. You see, Hollie has a particularly severe strain of Celiac disease, and Elias is a trained gluten detection service dog. From USA Today:

Although he’s nearly a 100-pounder — at the extreme end of the breed standard — Elias “curls up in an amazingly small ball” in lecture halls, on buses and trains, and on planes, Scott says.

The dog spent weeks in Slovenia completing gluten-detection training late last year (he and Scott returned at the very end of November, then rested a couple of days before heading out for the Long Beach competition), and now he can detect and warn her away from anything containing gluten, hot or cold, in all its many manifestations.

You can watch Elias receive the Award of Excellence at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, which was last month and will be televised on Jan. 23 on ABC. In addition, he’ll be competing next month at Westminster in New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Two noteworthy posts from Dr. Khuly: I don’t often highlight multiple posts from the same blogger in the same news roundup, but today’s an exception. Our BFF Dr. Patty Khuly’s Fully Vetted blog features very different posts on consecutive days, and they’re both superb. On Monday, Dr. Khuly managed to address an emotionally charged topic — chemo for pets, in a way you don’t often see it discussed. Then on Tuesday, she completely switched gears and asked a whole other question: Are pets a luxury?

Polluted pets: The Environmental Working Group has a sobering look at chemical compounds we’ve introduced to society, and the effect that is being seen in the animals we love.

Got a cat? There’s an app for that. Every day you can find new mobile applications. Did you know there are apps for cats? Not cat owners, cats. The New York Times says so. If your kittehs have one of these apps, please let me know which ones they like, and which device they use them on.

Biden’s breeder punished: The Pennsylvania breeder who sold Vice-President Biden a puppy in 2008 has been severely disciplined. Amy Worden of Philly Dawg has the scoop:

The state Department of Agriculture revoked the kennel license belonging to Linda Brown, who operates Jolindy’s Shepherds in Spring City, for repeated violations to the state dog law governing care of dogs in licensed kennels.

In its Nov. 19 order, the agency listed dozens of violations, including filthy kennels, contaminated food and water and dogs crammed in cages with less than six inches of headroom. Dog wardens reported seeing dead and dying rats on the property on several occasions and that it was so dark in some kennel areas they were unable to see the animals or their cages to conduct their inspections.

“We have repeated poor kennel conditions there,” said Jessie Smith, special deputy secretary of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement.

Fear the hamster: Do NOT mess with this guy.
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Of course, he’s not related to filmdom’s most famous little furry weapon. That honor is still reserved for this vicious attacker. Run away!

Winter isn’t for everyone: In my experience, most dogs love snow. This one would prefer to admire it from six feet up.
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I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.

Photo credits: Reconvilier primary school, wikimedia. Hollie and Elias, USA Today.

Natural disasters, love, hope, human failings and survival. Of the thousands of heartbreaking stories to have come out of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, few were as saddening as the struggles of the thousands of pets left behind in the flood waters and devastation.  Philly Dawg introduces us to “Mine”, an Independent Lens PBS documentary, debuting this week.  “Mine” is an examination of love, despair, and the heroic efforts of rescuers and pets alike.   Check your local listings for airtimes.

We’ll pass on his cookbooks, thanks: 77-year-old chef Beppe Bigazzi was suspended Wednesday from his popular morning show on Italian TV after he offered a recipe for preparing “cat stew,” and said he had enjoyed the dish many times:

When his 27-year-old female co-host looked stunned as Bigazzi said he has eaten cat stew “many times,” the white-haired, grandfather figure defended his tastes.

“Why, people maybe don’t eat rabbit, chicken, pigeon?” Bigazzi said. He could have added horse meat, which many butchers and supermarket meat departments stock.

“Who’s not fat, kills the cat,” is how Bigazzi began his lighthearted prattle about cat stew.

Bigazzi claimed cat stew was a Tuscan specialty near the Arno river valley, but co-host Elisa Isoardi looked so embarrassed she ducked behind a cart of fresh salad greens whose healthy virtues the two were supposed to be chatting about.

Italian law protects cats from Bigazzi’s stew pot, officials noted. For those who understand Italian, the “humor” that has probably ended his career is apparently a hit on YouTube. You find that on your own, sorry.

No more doggies in the windows: West Hollywood, Calif.,  is about to enact an ordinance banning the sale of pets by retail pet stores.

Councilman Jeffrey Prang said the move would strike a blow to puppy mills and other cruel, assembly-line breeding. [...] More than 500 independent pet shops nationwide, including 38 in California, refuse to sell puppies in their stores.   Under the West Hollywood proposal, all pet stores would have to stop selling cats and dogs by September 2011.

Although it’s not the end of the industry, any law on any level that chips away at puppy mills is fine with me.

Anti-fur, meet anti-civility.  Again. All of you who follow the world of figure skating probably remember a kerfuffle over American skater Johnny Weir wearing white fox fur at at the U.S. National Championships.   In my humble opinion, Shirley at YesBiscuit nails this one perfectly (and eloquently, too) with a delicious, concise paragraph.

Gee, I wonder how receptive Weir will be in future to education on fur farming. I’m guessing slightly less than zero. It would have been a good opportunity to share an opposing view without condemnation but that’s probably lost now. And it’s a shame because I have no doubt he will be a huge fashion designer one day soon. So thanks all you death threat mailing, bucket of red paint throwing, creepy stalker types — way to help your cause.

Dickens’ collar: There are dozens of reasons why it’s great to see our friend Maria Goodavage writing for the Dogster blog, including wonderful tidbits like this.   A dog collar selling for over $11,000 at auction might sound silly, until you learn that the collar was used by Charles Dickens’ dog.  Good, sturdy leather and brass, too.  What else would you expect from one of the greatest writers in the history of English literature? (I meant Dickens … no offense, Maria.  You’re great, too.)

Pawsitively lovely protection: My mother likes animals, but what she really loves is fashion.   Hence, she was my source for this NYT photo essay on the latest in high end paw-wear, aimed specifically at city-dwelling pooches.  My only editorial comment on the highlighted items is this: Selling boots for dogs by the PAIR (instead of four) is sneaky.  Seriously, are you going to get boots for the left but not the right, or front but not the back?  I didn’t think so.

Perfect parrot with an off-switch: African Grey parrots are apparently brilliant birds  — remember Alex, who had an obituary in the New York Times and a best-selling memoir? — but they’re a lot of work to live with.  Think messy, bright and inquisitive toddler who never, ever shuts up. Fun, sometimes, but … well, not for everyone. If you’d like to enjoy a parrot pal, but only occasionally, you can check out streaming video of Bibi. So notes “Heckled By Parrots” blogger Rebecca O’Connor, who knows a thing or two about living with an African Grey herself. … and staying with the avian theme, check out the best in parrot foraging toys on the Best In Flock blog.

Human Choice? Check the ingredients: Gina mentioned the problem with the HSUS’ new dog food earlier this week, based on the sound thrashing given it on Terrierman. Raised by Wolves blogger Heather Houlahan has an even funnier take on the issue of feeding dogs like chickens.  Read the fine print, bottom line.

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an email.

Photo credits: Katrina puppy, pbs.org.  Dickens’ collar, Bonhams.

The NYT — and other newspapers in areas where one’s social ranking was once very, very important — used to cover dog shows as sporting events, and for years, the NYT sent one Mr. Walter R. Fletcher to cover the most prestigious dog show in the country. Mr. Fletcher had the best seat at the media tables, a plaque with his name and affiliation making sure no one else took his seat. Long after a few of us started showing up with strange little contraptions that were the progenitors of today’s ubiquitous notebook computers — TRS-80 Model 100s known in the newsrooms as “Trash 80s” or “RatShacks,” with 8K of memory, 8 lines of black on gray display and acoustic couplers that went over the ear- and mouthpieces of old-fashioned phones to transmit our datastreams  — Mr. Fletcher pounded out his story at ringside on a manual typewriter, with copy boys assigned to relay half-sheets of updates back to his editors.

Aside from working many layers below an editor who insisted on using a manual typewriter more as an affectation than anything else (the big man’s secretary would then type his words into the newsroom computer system), Mr. Fletcher’s annual efforts were the first, last and only time in my professional journalism career that I ever saw anyone use a manual typewriter. (I’m sorry, but I can’t drop the “Mr.” when it comes to Mr. Fletcher any more than I would have dared to sit in his chair at the Garden.)

The very idea of using a manual typewriter now is every bit as quaint as covering Westminster like a real sporting event, instead of as a business with bad ROI that’s really a beauty pageant. And that’s exactly what the New York Times did this year:

The bucks. They are the not-so-secret key to success at this and other top dog shows held every year. On Monday, when Madison Square Garden in Manhattan hosts the 2010 Westminster Dog Show, the most prestigious event on the thoroughbred canine calendar, money will quietly play a role in determining the winner, just as money quietly shaped the field of contenders — and just as money shapes almost every nook and cranny of the dog show business.

Among breeders, owners and handlers, it’s understood: you can’t just turn up with the paradigm of the breed, if such an animal exists, and expect a best-in-show ribbon. To seriously vie for victory, a dog needs what is known as a campaign: an exhausting, time-consuming and very expensive gantlet of dog show wins, buttressed by ads in publications like Dog News and The Canine Chronicle.

(Actually, a Thoroughbred is a horse, not a dog, and the word the writer was looking for was “purebred.”  This same factual error in a puppy sales ad is one of those things that’s a red flag that you may well be dealing with a puppy-mill, just so you know.)

The story focused on an outgoing man named Raymond “Tray” Pittman and his partner, the quieter Paul Flores. The two men live (when they’re not on the road, which they usually are) not 10 miles north of me, but the first time I met them was at the Crufts dog show, in England. Pittman had taken a Bichon Frise owned by a nice New Jersey couple to a win in the toy group, eliciting a great deal of mumbled resentment from the locals, who had for generations owned an unparalleled home field advantage owing to a non-negotiable six-month quarantine for rabies that had recently been altered. (The PaRay crowd did not win the top honor that year, but strangely enough, another professional handler, Larry Fenner, who also lives about 10 miles from me but in the other direction, would be the human half of the first American team to win at Crufts a few years later with an Australian shepherd, which is really an American breed, despite the name.)

I bumped into Pittman in the bar at the Hilton across from the National Exhibition Centre that year he was there with his New Jersey Bichon, making a quick mental note that on his wrist  was a watch worth more than my car. He had just gotten off the phone with Flores to tell the latter to hop a jet immediately to get the grooming on the Bichon for Best in Show. (Flores is so good that, as the NYT notes, if he weren’t grooming dogs he’d be a sculptor.)

When I expressed amazement at the cost of a last-minute booking for a flight from SF to London, Pittman shrugged.

“It’s not my money,” he said.

And not mine, either, of course. Because although I do pay a wonderful couple to handle my own dogs at shows when I’ve got a dog actively showing, which isn’t often or for long, my dogs have pageant careers that end when their championship is awarded, which is the point at which the Big Dogs of the show world start their “campaigns.”

Even if I had the money, I haven’t the heart for that game. I don’t even like my dogs gone for an overnight, much less for the year or two a top “special” will be living in kennels and motor homes with one of the top professional handlers and their legions of assistants.

I haven’t quite known what to make of the PaRay partners since. When I do see them, they are unfailingly friendly and chatty, even when busy, and there’s no doubt their dogs are well-cared-for even if not particularly cared about as dogs. The men work hard and have made their way in a niche world with its own quirky reality.

There is change coming — already here, really — in the world of dogs, and heaven knows I welcome anything that breaks the genetic bottlenecks and bizarre blueprints that have made messes out of many breeds. But I don’t have a problem with dog shows, per se, and I find a fair amount of the criticism of “fat matrons” and snidely veiled asides about gay men and lesbians in the show world to say more about the writers’ own issues than their true concerns about the dogs.

I guess the bottom line is that my problem with dog shows is one of degree, not their very existence. A lot of the top show dogs really love the attention, and when you’re around them, you can see that. If I had to choose, I’d rather have their life than the lives of a million bored backyard dogs in this country. (Of course, I’d rather have the life of an active, trained and well-socialized dog who goes out everywhere with a beloved owner, but if we’re talking extremes, the show dog life ain’t that bad.)

And the pageants themselves are wonderful places to watch — the people even more than the dogs. Which is why I’ll probably end up at both of these big shows again — in New York and in England –  and enjoy the experience very much, as I always have. Although not this year for either.

Image: Raymond Pittman and Sloan, by the New York Times.

Lower your cholesterol — get a cat! An article courtesy of my friend Pete Hansen, who acquired a cat a few months back.  You’ve probably seen essays and news stories saying that owning a pet relaxes you, therefore lowering blood pressure.  Now there’s some evidence indicating it helps your cholesterol, too!

The cat who came in from the cold:  The first paragraph of this heartwarming story from the Edmonton Journal, by way of Gina, made me reach for my parka and boots, while still sitting in my living room:

Bob the cat showed up at Air Canada cargo services’ warehouse at the international airport on a morning when a Siberian front swept through Edmonton, plunging temperatures into the -30s.

I don’t care if it is celsius, thirty below is still way too cold.   Bob, who the airport workers soon learned is female, settled in over time.  Now,

there’s never any doubt she runs the place, though, and that she has the men wrapped around her little paw.

Always be prepared.  It’s not expensive, and could make all the difference. You may have a first aid kit at home for your adults and non-furry children, but do you have one for the ones with tails and paws?    You should.   I admit that I don’t, but I’ll be using this well organized, easy-to-follow post from Smartdogs to create one.   It’s a great idea, because you never know.  Don’t wait.  Please take advantage of the great hints here.  I know I will.

Tiger Ranch operator sentenced to 27 years probation for cruelty: Sorry, I didn’t promise these would all be happy stories.   A tip of the cap to Mary Mary for the final chapter of this terribly sad saga from Pittsburgh.  She and I are both convinced that the Tiger Ranch venture probably started out as a terrific idea, but quickly spun out of control.  Now, almost two years later, it stands as a tragic cautionary tale.  My personal belief is there was likely some mental illness in play as well, but in any case, the judge’s words at sentencing remain accurate:

“I came into this case thinking … you were most likely a woman who had good intentions but became overwhelmed. From that perspective until today, I have learned quite a lot,” said Rangos, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “You have chosen not to cooperate and spew vitriol in others’ direction without taking any personal responsibility for the disaster that Tiger Ranch became.”

Kudos to Amy Worden at Philly Dawg for her work on this story.  She has followed it from the beginning, and Amy is always worth reading.

Three new breeds at Westminster: Petville tells us there will be three new breeds shown at the 2010 WKC Dog Show at Madison Square Garden on February 15 & 16:  the Irish Red and White Setter (pictured: not just a color variant, but a different breed from the Irish Setter), the Norwegian Buhund, and the Pyrenean Shepherd.  If I may say so, these are three gorgeous dogs, and I’m looking forward to seeing them in the show.

Have a great morning.  I’ll be back later today with something completely different. And don’t forget: If you have something good to read, add a link to the comments, or e-mail me.

Photo credit: Codie McLachlan, edmontonjournal.com