Today's Rescue - Peruvian Earthquake Relief

When my sister and brother-in-law came back from their trip to Peru last October, they told me about all the dogs they'd seen there - dogs everywhere, fed and cared for, but roaming free. And now, after August's devastating 8.0 earthquake, many of these dogs - estimated at approximately 3,500 - are displaced, injured and needing basic care.

Best Friends Animal Rescue, working together with the Peruvian Ministry of Health and local animal advocates and veterinarians, have come up with a plan that would make unnecessary the mass euthanization that the government had initially recommended. The eight-week plan would include spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations and food, and would be overseen by an international crew made up of both BFAS workers and Peruvians. The rescue group reports that the government has been very cooperative and helpful, and that the Peruvian people have demonstrated a great deal of compassion for the animals. No one really wants those dogs to die.

For more information, and to donate to the rescue effort, go to the Best Friends Web site here.

More Peruvian dog pictures here.

Flaggy Tail

Never Enough

Arthur is the itchiest guy I know. Seriously - if you want to be his friend, just scratch his butt vigorously for a few minutes, and he will love you for life. He's never happier than when your fingers are inches deep in his fur, firing up his nerve endings.

He's gotten into this bad habit, however, of assuming that you might be up for a backside session every few minutes if you're around: he'll approach with a smile, then present his bum and just stand there, head turned in your general direction. Scratch my butt? Sometimes he will do it a couple of times for good measure, whether you scratch him or not. To his credit, if you show no interest after a few minutes, he will piss off and go away.

Never hurts to try.

Today's Rescue

Today's L.A. Animal Services available dog total: 743

UP FOR IMMEDIATE ADOPTION AT L.A. ANIMAL SERVICES SHELTERS:
(Clockwise, from top left; click to view larger)


1: FIGO
Male German shepherd mix
3 year old
ID#: A640615
North Central shelter

2: RAVEN
Female dalmatian
1 year old
ID#: A887536
North Central shelter

3: JACKSON
Male Welsh corgi/cardigan mix
9 years old
ID#: A882829
East Valley shelter

4: MISSY
Female American pit bull terrier
7 months old
ID#: A896093
East Valley shelter

5: CUE BALL
Male German shepherd
3 years old
ID#: A898098
East Valley shelter
6: MALE AUSSIE SHEPHERD
7 months old
ID#: A902045
North Central shelter

For more information, call L.A. Animal Services at 888.452.7381 or go to www.laanimalservices.com

Today's Rescue - Little Jindo

The plight of the plain, brown dog.

This was posted yesterday by a longtime volunteers who networks dogs at North Central:

"When I went to take photos at the shelter, one of the workers said to me, 'There is this sweet dog that we all love - do you think you could help her get out? She doesn't stand a chance.'

He led me to a cage with two beautiful jindos who had been picked up as strays. The fly strikes on their ears meant they had probably been tied up outside, neglected and sad. The shelter worker told me that the smaller one was being bullied; she was so sweet and shy and scared.

When we took her out of her cage, she was so pretty, like a little fox with beautiful almond-shaped eyes. She is obviously very stressed at the shelter and not eating well - when I offered her a chicken treat that almost no dog can resist, she smelled it, but was too stressed to take it. She kissed the shelter worker on the cheeks several times, though. She's about 2 years old; sweet, submissive, and affectionate. She's getting very skinny and needs to get out now.

Such a nice girl. Rescue her today!

FEMALE JINDO
2 years old
ID#: A839198
North Central shelter

3201 Lacy St.
Los Angeles, CA 90031
213.485.5767 (direct line)

Google map

For more information, go to the L.A. Animal Services Web site at www.laanimalservices.com

Eat Well

I'd been feeling pretty smug about "cooking" Arthur's food for the last couple of weeks until I remembered hearing about the woman who writes a blog about cooking for her dog called "Fergus Food" - she actually prepares all of her dog's meals from scratch, and I'm talking REAL food, different every time, which she then posts pictures of for all to admire.

Some examples:

Chicken thighs, brown rice, canned pumpkin, bok choy, carrots and a dollop of plain, organic, whole fat yogurt.


Liver, tofu, whole wheat spaghetti, celery, carrots, chickpeas, cheddar cheese, a sprinkling of nutritional yeast, and a drizzle of flax seed oil.


Ahi tuna, whole wheat penne, swiss chard, bok choy, and a dollop of yogurt.

We should all eat so well.

*For whatever reason, the Fergus Food blog hasn't been updated since August 6, but the archives are very impressive.

Fergus Food

September Storm

Bundle up, ladies, because the rain is COMING DOWN.

Say It Ain't So

The first rain of the season is expected today.

Can it be fall already?

Today's Rescue - Missy

This sweet, 2-year-old rottweiler girl was surrendered to the shelter because her owner was "moving." Her name is Missy. She is very sad.

Rescue her from the East Valley shelter today!

MISSY
Female rottweiler
2 years old
ID#: A901002
East Valley shelter

14409 Vanowen St.
Van Nuys, CA 91405
818.756.9323

Google map

For more information, go to the L.A. Animal Services Web site at www.laanimalservices.com

For questions about Missy, contact Pnina Gersten (a longtime East Valley volunteer) at pd53@sbcglobal.net

photos by Pnina Gersten

I Tire of Your Silly Games, Photographer

More good times in the box.

Today's Rescue

Today's L.A. Animal Services available dog total: 719

UP FOR IMMEDIATE ADOPTION AT L.A. ANIMAL SERVICES SHELTERS:
(Clockwise, from top left; click to view larger)


1: MASON
Male American staffordshire terrier mix
2 and 1/2 years old
ID#: A710787
North Central shelter

2: LUCY
Female labrador retriever/beagle mix
3 years old
ID#: A704548
North Central shelter

3: PRINCESS
Female German shepherd
5 years old
ID#: A849779
North Central shelter

4: PACEY
Male labrador retriever mix
3 years old
ID#: A899275
West Valley shelter

5: BETSY
Female American bulldog mix
10 years old
ID#: A885197
North Central shelter

6: MAXIMUS
Male labrador retriever
6 years old
ID#: A883058
North Central shelter

For more information, call L.A. Animal Services at 888.452.7381 or go to www.laanimalservices.com

Wrap Me Up

My sister and brother-in-law recently purchased a tall standing lamp for the living room, and it arrived a few days ago in a big box. A big, giant box. A box big enough to sit in!

The sides of the thing were too big for Arthur to jump over comfortably (and he is nothing if not practical), so I lifted him in. Fifty pounds of dog. Merry Christmas. Although he wasn't terribly thrilled about being in there, I gave him a biscuit and he posed for a few pictures.


Then we traded places, which he seemed to prefer, at my expense.


He likes being taller.

Today's Adoption - Pollie

Today's Rescue

Today's L.A. Animal Services available dog total: 755

UP FOR IMMEDIATE ADOPTION AT L.A. ANIMAL SERVICES SHELTERS:
(Clockwise, from top left; click to view larger)


1: MALE GERMAN SHEPHERD MIX
1 and 1/2 years old
ID#: A806698
North Central shelter

2: PRINCESS
Female basset hound mix
2 years old
ID#: A896501
North Central shelter

3: MALE LABRADOR RETRIEVER/GERMAN SHEPHERD MIX
1 year old
ID#: A896482
North Central shelter

4: MAGGIE
Female pit bull terrier mix
11 months old
ID#: A892352
North Central shelter

5: STAR
Female golden retriever mix
4 years old
ID#: A897234
East Valley shelter

6: JACK
Male American staffordshire terrier
5 months old
ID#: A897115
South L.A. shelter

For more information, call L.A. Animal Services at 888.452.7381 or go to www.laanimalservices.com

Princess

Hand Me the Skillet

A couple of months ago I was invited to an informal lecture on dog medical issues and nutrition given by a local holistic vet, and brought home a sample of a premix dog food that I'd never heard of called Urban Wolf. I'd been thinking a lot about raw and home-cooked diets for Arthur, who has a lot of skin issues, but hadn't found one that I was particularly keen on. This one was basically a dehydrated formula of fruits, vegetables and herbs that you mix up yourself with meat and various other ingredients and serve up to your pooch.

It didn't sound much different from the others, but what eventually sold me on Urban Wolf, aside from the facts that 1) it came recommended from a doctor who actually knows something about animal nutrition (unlike some other vets) as well as alternative medicine, and 2) this particular diet apparently resolves the kind of skin issues that Arthur suffers from, I was told that 3) it is incredibly easy to prepare AND you can make a week's worth to stick in your freezer. It all comes down to convenience in the end.

Because, you see, I do not cook. DO NOT. I mean, I can follow a recipe just like everyone else (I went to junior high when they were still requiring girls to take Home Economics), but I CHOOSE not to and have zero shame about this fact. Plus, when your boyfriend is willing and incredibly able to wear the apron in the kitchen, why push the issue? Everybody's happy.

So, unbelievable as it may seem, I drove up to the vet's office in Calabasas this afternoon, picked up a bag, came home and ACTUALLY COOKED IT UP. That's right. On the stove, with spatulas.

And it was every bit as easy as I'd been led to believe.

Here's the breakdown:

2 cups of the mix, which looks like this:


2-3 cups water
1/4 lb canned wild salmon
1 egg
1/4 cup sunflower oil
2 lbs organic ground chicken, raw or lightly cooked

(If you add the meat raw, you won't have to do any real cooking at all!)

Throw it all in a bowl and it looks like this:


Mmmm, delicious.

Arthur was certainly excited about it.



And the rest of that batch now lives in the freezer (under the vodka) until the next meal.

Awesome.

The Last Vestige of Summer

Today's Rescue

I think there is a misconception among a lot of dog owners in L.A. that some of the city shelters are not a bad place to be if you're a dog. I mean, look how fancy the buildings are! Sure, when you step out into the rows there's a lot of traumatized barking, and the cages are stuffed with 3, 4, sometimes 5 dogs, but check out that fancy architectural glass work! And those sparkling fountains! You see families surrendering their dogs here all the time.

What I think they don't realize is that, as a South L.A. volunteer told me a few weeks ago, the dogs in the shelter don't get walked, they don't get blankets to sleep on (at least at South L.A.), they don't get toys and they mostly don't get treats. For the most part, they never leave their cages. EVER. And then over half of them are walked to the back and euthanized, at which point they are handed over to a plant where they are ground up and added to crappy dog food or fertilizer or god knows what else.

I'd like to ask the we're moving and my new apartment doesn't allow pets people handing in their dogs what they think about that scenario. Or the I don't have the time/money/patience to take care of my animal but can watch three hours of reality TV every night on my flat-screen while deciding which new $30K SUV I'm going to upgrade to folks if they'd actually thought about what might actually happen to their pets after they surrendered them.

I suppose it's also the fault of the people in charge that the general public isn't better educated about pet welfare, and that puppy mills are still allowed to churn out pet-store dogs when there are so many already waiting for homes. And granted, not all shelters are as bleak as their L.A. counterparts.

But it's a losing situation no matter how you look at it, and until we get some visionary, pro-active leadership at the top (of L.A. Animal Services and at L.A. County), and people stop being so blase about animal ownership, it's not going to change anytime soon.

(Thus ends my tirade.)

Adopt! Adopt! Adopt!

UP FOR IMMEDIATE ADOPTION AT L.A. ANIMAL SERVICES SHELTERS:
(Clockwise, from top left; click to view larger)


1: MIDNIGHT
Male labrador retriever
6 months old
ID#: A897094
South L.A. shelter

2: BIG BOY
Male labrador retriever mix
2 and 1/2 years old
ID#: A892522
East Valley shelter

3: BOBBY
Male chow chowmix
3 years old
ID#: A897301
East Valley shelter

4: MAX
Male labrador retriever mix
Unknown age
ID#: A899361
North Central shelter

5: BOOMER
Male chow chow mix
8 years old
ID#: A895905
East Valley shelter

6: SHASTA
Female labrador retriever
2 and 1/2 years old
ID#: A865787
North Central shelter

For more information, call L.A. Animal Services at 888.452.7381 or go to www.laanimalservices.com

Today's Rescue

Today's L.A. Animal Services total: 771 available dogs

UP FOR IMMEDIATE ADOPTION AT L.A. ANIMAL SERVICES SHELTERS:
(Clockwise, from top left; click to view larger)


1: LUCY
Female pit bull mix
3 years old
ID#: A892039
North Central shelter

2: BUCK
Male German shepherd mix
3 years old
ID#: A893910
East Valley shelter

3: CONAN
Male pit bull/great dane mix
10 months old
ID#: A868048
East Valley shelter

4: TOUI
Female labrador retriever
4 years old
ID#: A889266
North Central shelter

5: ZOEY
Female German shepherd
5 years old
ID#: A898575
North Central shelter

6: SPIKE
Male terrier
1 year old
ID#: A896593
North Central shelter

7: LUCY
Female German shepherd
3 years old
ID#: A897045
East Valley shelter

For more information, call L.A. Animal Services at 888.452.7381 or go to www.laanimalservices.com

Backyard Hazards

Never get too cocky in the hammock.

Shopaholic

Ever since I joined the world of dog and cat retail, I find myself cruising online pet wholesalers looking for new and interesting toys to bring into the store. Although I admit I'm a pretty tough customer, it's not like I'm looking for the doggie equivalent of American Girl. I'm not insane. I'm just looking for a bit of irony and reasonably high production values. It's harder than you might think.

As I discovered during last year's holiday-shopping bonanza, there are far more bad toys than good ones. And some are really bad.

Here are some I found this week (clockwise, from top left):

PLUSH SHOTGUN SHELL - In case you don't have your own casings lying around after a few fun-filled rounds with the family.

ESTIE DOGLAR FUZZY LIPSTICK - Another winner from the people who brought you Bark Jacobs, Kate Spayed, Chewy Vuiton and all the rest. LAME. This looks dog-related to me all right, but not of something you want to be putting anywhere near your mouth.

"ROUGH AND RUGGED DIMPLED TOY" - Wow. I don't believe I even need to add my observations to this one. Its name and shape speak for itself.

LEOPARD THONG - Because strippers and hos love dogs, too!

RUBBERY RIB RACK - With a side of cole slaw, please. The weird thing about this tasty rack o' fake meat is that it isn't actually meant to be eaten, despite its realistic appearance. Perhaps that's a good thing considering that it's made of "inert, soft thermoplastic polymer and non-toxic luminous powder". That can't be good.

ROCKS - Like marshmallows, only much, much harder.

ALIEN CACTUS - What is this? It looks like a Chernobyl victim in a turtleneck. I sort of get that it's supposed to be a cactus, but why a cactus with a human face? Maybe it's a reference to a kids' book I haven't read.

SPACKLE CHEW - For DIY dog owners: smear your spread of choice in between the grooves and watch your pet go crazy! Also doubles as a texturized paint roller.

Today's Rescue

Todays L.A. Animal Services available dog total: 738

UP FOR IMMEDIATE ADOPTION AT L.A. ANIMAL SERVICES SHELTERS:
(Clockwise, from top left; click to view larger)


1: MALE MASTIFF
1 year old
ID#: A895340
East Valley shelter

2: EM TURNER
Female German shepherd
1 year old
ID#: A897388
East Valley shelter

3: SMITTY
Male chow chow mix
1 year old
ID#: A897303
East Valley shelter

4: LOVELY
Female German shepherd mix
1 year old
ID#: A853868
North Central shelter

5: MALE SPANIEL MIX
4 years old
ID#: A898024
East Valley shelter

6: KAT DADDY
Male German shepherd/chow chow mix
1 and 1/2 years old
ID#: A893760
East Valley shelter

For more information, call L.A. Animal services at 888.452.7381 or go to www.laanimalservices.com

Daily Grind

Today's Rescue

Today's L.A. Animal Services total number of available dogs at 6 city shelters: 746

A friend of mine was rescuing dogs from the South L.A. shelter earlier this week, and said she witnessed at least 30 people surrendering dogs in the three hours she was there. She also said she saw Ed Boks (general manager of L.A. Animal Services) walking around in his fancy shoes doing a whole lot of nothing. What a surprise.

NEW HOPE DOGS UP FOR IMMEDIATE ADOPTION AT L.A. ANIMAL SERVICES' NORTH CENTRAL SHELTER:
(Clockwise, from top left; click to view larger)


1: SPUDDY
Male German shepherd mix
3 years old
ID#: A885145

2: MARLEY
Male German shepherd/chow chow
3 years old
ID#: A879577

3: BELLA
Female rottweiler
5 years old
ID#: A885390

4: HAPPY
Female German shepherd/labrador retriever
1 year old
ID#: A897007

5: KEMP
Male German shepherd mix
1 year old
ID#: A885728

6: MAX
Male American staffordshire terrier
3 years old
ID#: A884161

North Central Shelter 3201 Lacy St. Los Angeles, CA 90031
Google map

For more information, call the North Central shelter at 213.485.5767 or go to www.laanimalservices.com

Bake Arthur Happy

I recently received some product samples from a new doggie bakery company in New Jersey called the Bubba Rose Biscuit Company, and Arthur got to be my happy test subject.

When I showed him the pawprint carrot cupcake last night (no sugar, but with cream cheese frosting!), he tried to play it cool and nonchalant, but when it became clear that he was going to get to eat the thing, he got very excited.


Oh yeah, baby. CUPCAKE.

Today's Rescue - Pollie

I love shepherds, and I love this girl. Her name is Pollie, and she is currently available for adoption at the Pasadena Humane Society.

Pollie had actually been adopted recently by an elderly woman, but returned because she claimed Pollie wouldn't pee in the backyard. The woman would let her out to roam ("out" as in, "out the front door"), and Pollie would be found wandering the streets. So she's back in the shelter.

The woman did say that Pollie is a wonderful dog: calm and sweet; supposedly good with other dogs; a little shy and anxious if she's left alone too long, but a really nice girl. She doesn't jump up, and likes snuggling. She would do so well in a home where she'd receive a lot of attention and encouragement.

She is such a good adoption candidate, but has been authorized for euthanization due to overcrowding at the Pasadena shelter. Crazy.

Save Pollie!


POLLIE
Female shepherd mix
7 years old
ID#: A215718
Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA

Call Jennifer Warner, one of the shelter's adoption coordinators, to find out more (which also might buy Pollie a little time): 626.792.7151 x.112

Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA
361 S. Raymond Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91105

Google map

www.phsspca.org/

Today's Post-Holiday Rescue

Today's L.A. Animal Services total of dogs available for rescue: 779

Rescue some today!

UP FOR IMMEDIATE ADOPTION AT L.A. ANIMAL SERVICES SHELTERS:
(Clockwise, from top left; click on photos to enlarge)


1: BUSTER
Male American staffordshire terrier mix
3 years old
ID#: A883597
North Central shelter

2: MALE GERMAN SHEPHERD MIX
1 year old
ID#: A892076
North Central shelter

3: BUTCH
Male chow chow/akita
4 years old
ID#: A885473

4: MOUSE
Male American staffordshire terrier/French bulldog?
3 years old
ID#: A893817
South L.A. shelter

5: LAILA
Female boxer mix
2 years old
ID#: A879200
North Central shelter

6: PHEONA
Female pointer
8 years old
ID#: A870399
North Central shelter

And more:


1: SAMMY
Male American bulldog mix
2 years old
ID#: A886068
Harbor shelter

2: TB
Male chow chow mix
8 years old
ID#: A891764
East Valley shelter

3: TOO SHORT
Male rottweiler
1 year old
ID#: A889645
East Valley shelter

4: LADY
Female labrador retriever mix
2 years old
ID#: A884376
North Central shelter

5: MASON
Male American staffordshire terrier mix
2 and 1/2 years old
ID#: A710787
North Central shelter

6: BEAR
Male golden retriever/Siberian husky
6 years old
ID#: A892761
Harbor shelter

For more information, call L.A. Animal Services at 888.452.7381 or go to www.laanimalservices.com

The Good Stuff

Antonio Mendoza, Untitled, from the Leela Series, 1979

I collect old, mostly out-of-print books about dogs, and since Chris and I are also obsessive used-bookstore prowlers, my collection is growing rapidly.

I found a hardcover recently called The Dog Observed, which contains black-and-white photographs from 1844-1983, taken by mostly famous photographers and edited by Ruth Silverman. It's a really great collection, and the photo above is one of my favorites because it reminds me so much of Arthur, pawing at a bug on the floor with his paw.

Here are just a few others (which are, of course, reproduced much, much better in the book):

Robert Doisneau, Dog on Wheels, Paris, 1977

Henri Cartier-Bresson, Outside a Bistro, 1968/69

Elliott Erwitt, Wyoming, 1953

Georgi Lipskerov, Russian Soldiers in Berlin, c. 1945