What A Slacker!

Warm the Dogs

Add comment December 22nd, 2008

A while back DogToys.com offered up cool camo dog coats for only $1.99 plus shipping/handling (with tax it came to around $8 a coat – not bad at all). I did not realize how cool a deal this was until I actually got my coats (got three altogether for my nephew and niece doggies). Theses coats are weather resistant, have a zip out fleece lining and a reflective strip.

The price has gone back up to their regular sale rice of $16.99, which really is still a steal for the quality of this coat!

Here are the three pups in their coats. As you can see Lily needs to wear a sweater under hers so it fits a bit better. These three little pups will be toasty warm this winter.

Majel Barrett Roddenberry Joins Gene in the Final Frontier

Add comment December 18th, 2008

Roddenberry.com posted this morning that Majel had passed away.

“Majel Barrett Roddenberry passed away this morning, December 18, 2008, at 12:27 AM in her Bel Air home. She died peacefully, in her sleep, and was surrounded by family and loved ones.

“My mother truly acknowledged and appreciated the fact that Star Trek fans played a vital role in keeping the Roddenberry dream alive for the past 42 years. It was her love for the fans, and their love in return, that kept her going for so long after my father passed away.” - Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, Jr.”

They ask that in lieu of flowers or gifts that you send donations to two charities to share in Majel’s love for animals. Here are the two charities they posted.

Precious Paws
18034 Ventura Blvd., #430
Encino, CA 91316
www.preciouspaws.org
(818) 304-5595

C.A.R.E.
P.O. Box 56631
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
www.care4pets.org
(818) 685-9980

Majel will be sadly missed, but she lives on in the hearts of all us Trekkers. According to E Online we will still get to hear her as the voice of the computer in the new Star Trek movie.

The InHumane Society

Add comment November 20th, 2008

A few weeks ago I helped raise money for the Berks Humane Society by participating in their Walk-tober fest. I personally was able to raise $105 (not bad since I had only decided to do the walk the week before the event).

However, I am now having second thoughts. Other than all of their fundraising events I am not sure exactly what the Humane Society’s function is in Berks County any longer. Last year we found a stray (actually lost) cat on our back porch and took him down to the Humane Society, which is only a few blocks from us and an excellent location for anyone in the city to take an animal. They called us the next day to say they had found the owners, who wished to give me a reward. I asked them to just donate the reward to the Berks Humane Society (they must have as I was then added to every animal group looking for money’s mailing lists).

So what makes me question them now? My best friend (who went to the walk with me and works with a dog rescue herself) saved a little dog the other day who was abandoned by his owner who moved to Texas a few weeks ago (some people should not be allowed to have pets or kids). This little Chihuahua was left on his own living in the streets off scraps for at least two weeks. They were finally able to get him, crate him, feed him and take him to the Humane Society who turned them away!

They refused to help this poor little guy get healthy and find a loving home! My friend had to drive miles out of the city to take this scared little doggy to the Animal Rescue League simply because of some stupid bureaucratic crap about some contract (I don’t remember if it was a city contract or county - something makes me think it was county as they told my friend they no longer take in strays found in Berks County). Can you believe that? They no longer take in strays from Berks County? Contract or no contract I think it is the duty of an animal support group to do whatever they can for the strays and lost animals found in the city where they are located. Maybe that is why they really need all this money so they can move out of Reading leaving us to become over run with stray dogs and feral cats. And here I thought the Berks County Humane Society was a good, caring organization, guess I was wrong.

Save a Dog or Cat

Add comment October 25th, 2008

Besides Halloween October can be a pretty busy month. It has two major Jewish holidays. It is Breast Cancer Awareness month (that’s why you are seeing all that pink out there - I’m saving my Yoplait lids, even though I should not be eating it), I believe Canadian Thanksgiving falls in this month, and it is National Adopt a Shelter Dog month. So if you are looking for a family pet, please check out your local shelters or rescues before heading to a pet store or breeder. Doing so you will be saving a life and not supporting puppy mills both at the same time. Plus most breed specific rescues out there will make sure to get you the right animal for your family. And you’ll get the piece of mind knowing that the dog has been well taken care of and socialized by some one that really loves them. I have seen these groups in action they truly do love the animals they are fostering until a new loving owner comes along. If you can’ t find a rescue locally most of these groups will do what they can to get your pet to you safely. So please check out rescues before resorting to a pet store no matter what month you are looking for a pet not just during National Adopt a Shelter Animal Month.

Stop PA Puppy Mills

Add comment October 13th, 2008

You may have seen Pennsylvania on the national news (I am pretty sure Dateline, Oprah or one of the other big news magazine shows did an expose on our dirty little secret - puppy mills). PA along with other states with large Amish populations have a great number of them running a new cash crop. That crop would be dogs. Now mind you it is not only the Amish who are making a quick buck on breeding dogs, but they are the most prominent in my area. Just driving down a one-mile stretch of road to my parent’s house I pass three such puppy mills. These poor puppies are expected to be someone’s pet but they are not properly cared for, are not healthy, not socialized and are just like any other crop to these people.

Please do not buy your next dog from a pet store or off a farm. Inspect the breeder carefully, do your research and visit the pups as they develop with their mother. If you do you’ll get a happier and much healthier animal for your family.

For more information please visit united against puppy mills. org or the Humane Society’s website. If you are in PA please contact your senator to make sure that House Bill 2525 gets past passed. My Senator Mike O’ Pake voted yes on the dog legislation according to the letter I received from his office in response to my email. So please take a minute out of your day to write an email, make a phone call or mail a letter (yes snail mail still works in this country and is some times more affective than electronic mail - yeah, the e stands for electronic). And get your own ribbon to support the cause.

Puppy mill update - the Pennsylvania state senate has passed the House Bill 2525 on October 8, 2008 by a vote of 49 to 1. I just got a letter from my Senato,r Mike O’ Pake, informing me of success. He voted in the affirmative (that is yes). I wonder who the idiot that voted no was? Or even better what their reason was for voting in the negative?

As Sen. O’ Pake’s letter states, “These dogs will receive the proper and humane treatment that they deserve.” This is a good victory for pet lovers and will certainly help in the senators bid for re-election next month.

Walk for the Animals and the Walktoberfest

Add comment September 27th, 2008

Today was the big day for the Berks Humane Society. It was their annual Walk for the Animals and Walktoberfest. This year it was held at the First Energy Stadium home of the Reading Phillies because it outgrew all its previous venues. The turn out was great and really big crowd of dogs and their walkers. I don’t have a dog, but that does not mean I don’t like them (even if I am allergic to them I still love all animals and want to do what I can to help those in need). The weather held out and was only a fine mist no rain (thank goodness for the reduced wet dog smell).

There were plenty of things to do and see besides the walk. Vendors inside selling everything from dog toys to housewares. Loads of rescues pleading their causes and tugging at heart strings! Dog lovers of all shapes and sizes were there along with the pups of varying shapes and sizes. Below are my photos (I could have taken so many more, but you’ll get the idea and maybe you can join us next year).

I want to thank everyone who helped sponsor me your donations are greatly appreciated! We raised $105 for the Humane Society. It is great to know I could be a small part of something so big.

Arrr Talk Like A Pirate Today or Walk The Plank

Add comment September 19th, 2008

Well blow me down, apparently today is the official International Talk Like a Pirate Day. This little known holiday started all the way back in 1995 while a group of guys were playing racquetball and one of the yelled out in pain “Arrrr!” Personally, I did not become aware of this holiday until someone at work told me about it and then another co-work said Starbucks was offering a dollar off their coffee if ye ordered it in pirate speak.

If you don’t want to do all the Pirate talking in your family you could always pick up the Talking Pirate dog toy form DogToys.com. When you (or your dog) squeezes the toy he says in his little pirate voice, “Aye, matey. Wa-a-a-lk the plank!”

If you want to find out more about this odd little holiday or buy yourself one of those cool talking pirate dog toys check out the websites below:

• DogToys.com — for your very own speaking pirate dog toy
• Official Talk-Like A Pirate Day Web site
• Talk Like A Pirate Day Translator

Help Raise Money for the Humane Society

Add comment September 16th, 2008

I am helping to raise money for the Humane Society of Berks County. It is a VERY worthy casue and it can use your help. Please consider sponsoring me by making a donation. By clicking the banner below or using the widget to your right. I will be posting more information on their Walktoberfest in another post.

Pet Food Fest Being Held in Exton, PA

Add comment June 6th, 2008

Are you looking for something to do on June 14th? Want to win a years supply of pet food? Head to the Pet Food Festival being held by ShopByBreed on the 14th for your chance to win either a years supply of dog food or a years supply of cat food.

Besides this awesome chance to win a great prize you’ll also get to meet and talk with representatives of the best pet food manufacturers out there like Wellness, Innova, Nutro Natural Choice, Nature’s Variety, and Royal Canin. They’ll be on hand to field your questions about the quality of food you feed your bestest-best friends as well as hand out samples. Who doesn’t love free stuff?

Before you go head over to the Nature’s Variety website to get yourself a coupon for a free bag of dry kibble or raw food for your pet. You might as well go prepared, right?

from PetSaverCoupons.com: Pet Food Fest in Exton, PA

Funny Thing About Poop

Add comment May 9th, 2008

Seems like I have been spending a lot of time talking about poop the last couple of days. What with the post about my neighbor’s dog and the Poop-Freeze I stumbled across on the web. Now I found something that is funny because it is meant to be funny not just funny because it is stupid.

DogToys.com is offering a very humorous magnet that features a dog silhouette wearing what looks like an iPod like in the commercials, but instead it says iPoop on it. Oh boy, do we know you poop you little doggy you.

The Doggy Doo Dilemma

1 comment May 8th, 2008

Doggy poop is a huge problem, especially if you live next to my neighbors who do not pick up the poop out of their yard. It is horrible walking out to the car past that crap. I do not look forward to the summer months, not one bit. I was a good neighbor and instead of just complaining (or posting to my blog at the time), I bought them a really good pooper scooper last year one where they would never have to touch the doggy waste. I thought the gift would give them the hint that they needed to pick up after the dog every time she went potty not once a month or less. Well they not only did not get the hint they regifted the pooper scooper saying it was too small to pick up their dog’s poop. Not if you used it on a regular basis! Yeah it was too small to handle all that poop at once, but the idea was for you to use it daily people!

I came across Poop-Freeze (via the goat at backcountry.com) and thought at first what an idiotic idea. Then I remember my problem and thought on a hot summer day if the poop was frozen maybe the stench coming from the yard two feet away from me would not be so bad. (We cannot even have our living room window open in warm weather because of the smell from next door.) Even with that possible use Poop-Freeze really is a stupid idea (proven by the post on the company website that the company is insolvent, folks aren’t buying it).

TreeHugger.com touts the supposed environmentally friendly aspects of this product. There are no CFCs and it claims not to harm the grass but freezing it to 60 degrees below zero has to harm the grass. Really how environmentally responsible is it to offer a product that has no real use (how hard is it to pick up that poop any way)? You will still be left with a can to dispose of making even more waste. My guess is that TreeHugger is pointing out the un-treehugger-like properties of this particular product.

Now here is the only use for the product that even makes sense… (taken directly from the homepage of PoopFreeze.com) “POOP-FREEZE™ is an emergency pet product that every pet owner should have. Just keep it under the sink for those occasions in which your pet has diarrhea or loose stool.” While I would never refer to it as an emergency pet product it would be very helpful in picking up messes from a sick puppy.

Now if someone could come up with the product from the movie Envy (the Ben Stiller / Jack Black unfunny flick about jealousy). I believe that product was called Va-poo-rize. When that becomes available the pet industry will explode. I do believe that eventually someone some where will come up with something that works until that time you’ll just have to pick up that poop!

Relate Posts (there’s a lot of crap about poop):

• bookofjoe.com
• productdose.com
• papamiket.com
• bitsandpieces.us

Pet Expo in Reading

Add comment May 3rd, 2008

In March I went to the Pet Expo here in Reading. I know it took me long enough to write about it. It was very interesting and pretty much fun. I went with a friend of mine and her husband. We walked through the entire thing. It was huge. My favorite were the reptiles. Not that I want any it’s just the bunch of them together were fun to watch. Especially the bearded dragons.

There were lots of rescue groups there too for just about every dog breed. Tons of stores with loads of stuff to buy. Mostly dog related but there were things for other pet lovers too. Beside the dogs there was also loads of ferret groups.

There is also a huge horse arena, a dog agility arena, dogs doing fly ball (that was fun to watch), cat show, pet costume contests. People could bring their pets along too. There was even a big old tiger there. Below you can see a few other pictures I took like the smiling potbelly pig and the over dressed little yorky.

Is Your Dog Dragging You Around

Add comment May 2nd, 2008

I have been hearing so much about the Gentle Leader Headcollar from Premier pet but never quiet got the gist of what it did. I guess that’s because I don’t have a dog, but as I have said many times before I am related to plenty of pooches.

I am always seeing people struggling with their dogs as they try to walk them. It is more like the dog is taking them for the walk or perhaps I should say for a drag. From what I just read about the Gentle Leader over at PetSaverCoupons.com I take it that is what this headcollar does. It helps better control the dog so he his not pulling you.

Heck if it can help Sandy stop pulling it should be able to work for almost anyone with a feisty pup.

The gentle leader comes complete with an instructional video to teach you how to use this unique dog collar. It really is kind of odd looking but who cares if it works. The gentle leader is designed to keep your dog beside you or behind you instead in front of you pulling you along.

Regina even said that the gentle leader reduced her back strain her dog caused her when they would go for walk. With those kinds of results all I can say is the Premier Gentle Leader Headcollar is the dog collar for me (if I had a dog that is.) I know I will be telling all my canine loving friends about this great product.

If you have used the Gentle Leader be sure to let me know what you think of this product by commenting on this article.