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The Pets Blog Week in Review for Jul 30 – Aug 5

Goodbye July, hello the hot, hot heat of August. Things were not too hot last week in the Pets Blog. Aimee and I tried to keep things cool. Although we did sort of get off on a morbid tangent at one point during the week. (I should say I did, in respect to the matter of pet’s dying.) Happily we also covered plenty of other, less sad, topics too. Monday, July 30 Sharks fascinate me so I was pretty excited about Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. But when I watched their inaugural program, Oceans of Fear, I couldn’t help but wonder … Continue reading →

American Staffordshire Terrier

The American Staffordshire terrier is one of several breeds known as pit bulls. These dogs are known for being muscular and strong, courageous and alert, agile and graceful. Physical characteristics of the breed include: A broad skull with pronounced cheek muscles. Ears set high, and they may be cropped (upright) or uncropped (floppy). A strong underjaw. Deep, broad chest. Tail that tapers to a point — a docked tail is not a standard for this breed. A short, stiff, glossy coat. Males are slightly larger than females, reaching an average of 18 or 19 inches at the shoulders. Females reach … Continue reading →

Sergeant Stubby: World War I Hero

When reading a list of top all-American dog breeds (breeds that were specifically cultivated in America), I happened across the story of a war hero: Sergeant Stubby, the American Staffordshire Bull Terrier. In a time when pit bulls hold a mostly negative image in our country, I think it’s good to look back at story that shows how wonderful they can actually be. Sergeant Stubby was the most decorated dog of World War I and the only military dog to be promoted to sergeant through combat. It’s no surprise that dogs were taken into war zones then; we still do … Continue reading →

Homecoming: Becca, Lily, and Kuma

It’s been quiet on the Pets Blog for the last few days because I took my first trip back to the East Coast in more than a year. I moved west with my two dogs in May 2007 — I managed to get home to visit twice in that first year, but hadn’t been home again since January 2008. I was a little worried that it had been too long, and the furry family members back in New Jersey wouldn’t remember me. It’s not like I can chat with them on the phone too often (some pets will sit and … Continue reading →

Demodex Mange

Just thinking about microscopic creepy crawlies makes me itchy all over! But when my dog Lally was having her most recent allergy attack, one of the causes I feared was demodex mange. Demodex is a skin infection caused by a microscopic mite. Symptoms can include: Red, itchy skin Bald, weepy patches — especially around the eyes and mouth Lesions on legs and body Leathery skin Thick ear discharge (especially in cats) With Lally’s itching — especially around the eyes — maybe you can see why I was concerned. The demodex mite is fairly common — most dogs and cats carry … Continue reading →

What’s This about the Obamas Getting a Puppy?

Barack Obama’s win was, naturally, the talk of all the news yesterday. But of course the thing that caught my ear was the focus on how the Obamas were considering getting a puppy. The Puppy Speech I’d tried to stay awake for Obama’s victory speech Tuesday night, but instead I ended up falling asleep. I guess if I would have watched it I would have heard for myself the part where he said he was going to reward his daughters’ support and patience during the campaign with a puppy. I was surprised to hear they were considering a puppy. I … Continue reading →

Leo: One of Michael Vick’s Rescued Pit Bulls

The other night Inside Edition ran a story about one of the pit bulls rescued from Michael Vick’s dog fighting ring. His name is Leo, and he now lives in California with his new owner, Marthina McClay, who’s a member of Our Pack, a pit bull rescue organization. Leo’s Life with Marthina As you might imagine, Leo’s life with his new owner is a far cry from what it was with Mr. Vick and company. Gone are his days of dog fighting. But he still works. Though these days it’s as a therapy dog. That’s right. You read me right. … Continue reading →

Show Dogs and Their Crazy Names

Last year’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show winner was a beagle called Uno — his official name is Ch. (Champion) K-Run’s Park Me in First. What a mouthful! Purebred dogs tend to have long, crazy names like that. My mom’s purebred German shepherd Shashi was officially named Wildwoods Scheherazade. Shashi is a much easier name! So what’s with all the crazy names? Champion is actually a title — not part of the dog’s given name. A dog has to win a certain number of “points” in competition before officially earning that title at the front of his or her name. … Continue reading →

Hot Days (and Hot Dogs) Ahead

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The temperature yesterday was in the 70s in the Portland, Oregon area. By tomorrow, forecasts are calling for temperatures in the 90s! It looks to me like summer is coming… and coming fast. Dealing with the heat is somewhat easier for people than for pets. After all, we have thumbs for turning on the air conditioning… or the option of escaping to a cool, dark movie theater when the sun is too much. Some dogs do love the sun and heat, though. My brother’s American Staffordshire Terrier Lily Biscuits just loves sunshine. She’ll sprawl out on the warm concrete sidewalk … Continue reading →

A Dog’s Social Life (or Lack Thereof)

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I read an article recently in Prevention magazine about how dogs need friends. Not just human friends, but dog friends, too! You may have seen it before: your dog has a special canine buddy. They get SO excited to see them! They act differently (in a good way) around them. Looking at my dogs, I’m hard-pressed to think of really good dog friends they’ve had. For Lally, I think the last dog she really loved was an ex-boyfriend’s terrier mix named Jester. Jester (AKA “Pest”) was the dog who showed Lally how to fetch: after watching him do it, she … Continue reading →