Dogs, Cats, and Other People from Creators Syndicate

Behind Foreclosed Doors for 02/16/2008

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

"Jingle mail" is the latest in foreclosure vernacular. The term describes what happens when a homeowner facing foreclosure literally gives up and throws in the keys — throws them into an envelope and mails them to the bank, that is. Jingle all the way.

But it's one thing to lock the door and walk away, leaving the bank to clean up the mess, and quite another to lock the d ...

Updated: Sat Feb 16, 2008

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The Secret Lives of Dog Owners for 02/23/2008

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

"The Secret Lives of Dentists," released in 2003, homed in on the dramatic inner life of a family whose outer lives couldn't appear less dramatic. We're talking about dentists. Middle-class dentists with kids. Yawn, right? You'd be surprised.

And you'd also be surprised by what's going on in the secret lives of dog owners. With snarling, lunging, teeth-baring little Cujo as hea ...

Updated: Sat Feb 23, 2008

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Canine Parvovirus for 03/01/2008

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0800

On February 2 in Indianapolis, for the second year in a row, homeless pups romped on a miniature football field, paraded around to the delight of their potential new families. It was the second annual Puppy Bowl, an event to encourage pet adoption sponsored by the Indianapolis Animal Care & Control agency. By the end of the day, approximately 50 dogs, mostly puppies, had new homes.

A ...

Updated: Sat Mar 01, 2008

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Canines for Autistic Kids for 03/08/2008

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0800

As reported by the Associated Press: "The U.S. military and the Iraqi government have said that Sunni insurgents led by al-Qaida in Iraq are increasingly trying to use Iraq's most vulnerable as suicide bombers to avoid raising suspicions or being searched at checkpoints that guard access to many markets, neighborhoods and bridges in the capital." This on the heels of reports that ment ...

Updated: Sat Mar 08, 2008

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Love at First Bite? for 03/15/2008

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Said Dirk Simpson in the film “Unconditional Love”: “I don't believe in unconditional love. I mean, what is it? Cut off my ears, steal my money, and I'll love you anyway?”

Dirk has a point, a point that seems to fly high over the heads of the world's unconditionally enamored dog owners.

For example:

Teagan, a 1-year-old Rottie mix, was adopted at 10 months old, fixed and ob ...

Updated: Sat Mar 15, 2008

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For the Continual Care and Feeding of Fido for 03/22/2008

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700

A dear friend of mine called me up the other day and said she didn't know what to do about her dog. Only, her problem had nothing to do with the pooch threatening the mailman, excavating the yard or enjoying the neighbor's petunias for his midday snack.

"I have three choices," she said. "The breeder. My best friend. Or you."

She was talking about to whom she wo ...

Updated: Sat Mar 22, 2008

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Dog Petting Etiquette for 03/29/2008

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700

From a reader:

"I was taught as a toddler: When around a new dog, hold still and present your hand palm up for the dog to sniff. Recently, I had a vet tech breeze up to my dog, Ruby, and lower her hand down over Ruby's head. Ruby jumped up and "air bit" at the vet tech's hand.

"Also, when I walk Ruby, people encourage their kids to come up and pet her whether o ...

Updated: Sat Mar 29, 2008

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When Bringing Home Puppy for 04/05/2008

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

When bringing home puppy, weather matters.

December may be the tempting time to get a dog, but April is hands-down the best. The ground is thawing, the trees are turning, and even the most content couch potato is tempted by a walk. And going outside is the essence of housebreaking.

A housebroken dog never does his business inside. From day one, he takes it outside — which me ...

Updated: Sat Apr 05, 2008

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Paws and Think for 04/12/2008

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Seven years ago, Gayle Hutchens founded Paws and Think, pawsandthink.org, a nonprofit service organization that pairs at-risk kids with doomed dogs. On March 28, The Indianapolis Star honored Hutchens with a Jefferson Award for her and her organization's outstanding service to the community. This summer, she will travel to Washington, D.C., for her shot at the national Jefferson Award. I know I ...

Updated: Sat Apr 12, 2008

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Nip/Teethe for 04/19/2008

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

With dogs, as with kids, responsible parenting requires patience in getting to the root of a problem. Reflexively throwing negative disciplinary measures at a symptom is shortsighted and sure to backfire.

For example, puppies, like babies, teethe. Yet nowhere in the lexicon of child rearing will you find advice suggesting: hold the child's mouth closed and say "no teeth."

< ...

Updated: Sat Apr 19, 2008

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Jumpin' Jack for 04/26/2008

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Jumpin' Jack is in trouble again: jumping on people, jumping on the furniture, jumping just for the joy of jumping.

Let's get one thing straight: Jumping is a people problem, not a dog problem. Dogs hear our voices, so happy and loving and high above their heads — and they literally jump toward the sound. They jump for the ball, for the treat, for the Frisbee and for the sound of y ...

Updated: Sat Apr 26, 2008

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No Cure for Aggression for 05/03/2008

Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Across the country, animal rescue volunteers and shelter staff attempt miracles. They work to find homes for our nation's more than 64 million homeless dogs and cats. They struggle to raise funds to keep those animals fed, watered and in good health. They exhaust every available option to avoid the sometimes unavoidable. The following letter shows just what kind of heart many of these people ha ...

Updated: Sat May 03, 2008

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The $35,000 Housebreaking Question for 05/10/2008

Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Fact: The average pooch can sniff out one part urine to one million parts water. Move that fact to the forefront of your mind when deciding whether to paper train or housebreak your pup.

Paper training teaches your dog to go on pads or paper placed in a designated area — inside your house. When you paper train, you send a clear message to your pup: come on in, pee on my floor, make ...

Updated: Sat May 10, 2008

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Cruella De Vil for 05/17/2008

Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Meet the modern day Cruella De Vil:

We are having a baby and need to get rid of the dog. Our dog walker has offered to take him, and the other option is euthanasia. I am concerned about the fact that our dog walker may not be as vigilant in keeping our dog away from situations where he may bite — we muzzle him, never let him off leash and always put him away when people come ov ...

Updated: Sat May 17, 2008

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On the Death of a Dog for 05/24/2008

Sat, 24 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The death of a dear old dog is something dog lovers worldwide brave several times in a lifetime — oh, the magic of that friendship! The depth of that love! That so many are willing to invite and invite again such profound grief into their lives.

Upon their passing, cowboys write songs:

"When ol' Blue died, he died so hard, it shook the ground in my backyard." &mdas ...

Updated: Sat May 24, 2008

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Sit/Stay -- in the Passenger Seat for 05/31/2008

Sat, 31 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Come July, driving with a cell phone in your hand will be illegal for California's more than 30 million drivers. Driving with a dog in your lap may be next.

California State Assemblyman Bill Maze, R-Visalia, designed Assembly Bill 2233 as a ban to keep people from literally getting behind the wheel with their four-legged companions. Under his proposed legislation, which has passed the As ...

Updated: Sat May 31, 2008

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Breaking Through Denial for 06/07/2008

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Denial is powerful: People with everything to lose go ahead and lose it because of denial. Others spend the better part of their lives held hostage in bad situations by the strength of their denial. And owners of aggressive dogs are among the most seriously afflicted.

My husband is in denial that his dog is dangerous. He has attacked seven dogs, two of which were seriously injured. H ...

Updated: Sat Jun 07, 2008

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Times Two for 06/14/2008

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

When contemplating a new pup, many people are tempted to get two: Twice the fun, no one's lonely, everything's great! Why not?

I'll tell you why not: double the money, double the training, double the trouble.

The dominant thinking behind the desire to bring two new dogs home at the same time is that you'll avoid having one lonely dog. Don't do this to yourself. Dogs don't get lone ...

Updated: Sat Jun 14, 2008

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Road Dog for 06/21/2008

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

As airlines begin charging for everything short of oxygen, more people, despite climbing gas prices, will turn to the great American vacation: the road trip. The best thing about that: You can bring Rover, the great American road dog.

Most dogs are great road trippers — calm, cool and content, the perfect drive-time pals. Then there are the exceptions — those that suffer from ...

Updated: Sat Jun 21, 2008

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Summertime Pests for 06/28/2008

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Summer brings on a lot of outdoor fun, and pets seems to wake up to nature and warm weather. So do problems that can affect your pet's health, both short term and long term.

A number of e-mails recently have inquired about dogs that still eat their normal fare but experience weight loss. That could be caused by a lot of things, but one thing's certain: Any pooch that eats what it normall ...

Updated: Sat Jun 28, 2008

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