Monday, March 30, 2009

Pig In the City


A lot of people in Manhattan have dogs, but some have pigs. This little one (who I saw yesterday) was tiny, about the size of a small cocker spaniel, and very smart. Apparently, she knows not to run into the street and can find her way from the elevator of her co-op to her front door.

I wonder if she'll sit for a biscuit.

Don't Shop Here


A puppy-mill store alive and well on Manhattan's Upper East side. Inside: rows and rows of wire-floor cages, sickly-looking puppies and a crowd of people who don't know any better.

Ugh.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

One More Time, With Feeling


Taking direction, Arthur-style.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Fetch Me My Dentures


I really wish this picture wasn't so crappy because Arthur's making such a funny face. Look at that smile! Not his usual goofy pant or squiggly Snoopy grin. He also looks like he has no teeth.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Today's Anti-Circus Post


This post has nothing to do with dogs, but I think any animal lover would agree that boycotting the animal-act circus is something we should all get behind. I mean, cruelty lawsuits aside, can you look at the above picture of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus' current act (scheduled for Madison Square Garden in New York later this week) and not feel some sense of outrage? THIS IS NOT 1920s AMERICA, PEOPLE – we don't need to dress up wild animals in costumes and make them do tricks against their will. We've got cable TV now.

Ringling Brothers producer, Kenneth Feld, has stated in U.S. District Court that the (endangered) Asian elephants in their possession (there are 57), are struck with metal-tipped prods (the notorious bull hooks) and often (though more covertly) electric shock devices called "hot shots" in order to "protect circus workers." Here's a safety tip for you, Ken: maybe if you didn't make the elephants stand on stools under bright lights or keep them chained up, they wouldn't feel compelled to trample your sorry ass. Just a thought.

BOYCOTT THE CIRCUS

Federal Lawsuit Against Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus for Elephant Abuse Goes to Trial


traveling in boxcars

Friday, March 20, 2009

If You'd Been There, You Would've Seen the Blonde Scottie


The scene out back at Healthy Spot's Thursday night Yappy Hour.

(Lots of dogs, bad picture.)

King of Friday


If you would be so good as to fetch me a biscuit, I would be so obliged. I ate my scepter of cheese a few hours ago and am feeling a bit peckish.

(It's best not to F around with the royal hunger.)

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Kangaroo Boy


His feet look enormous! All the better to jump around on.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Today's Rescue - Miles


Poor, sad Miles – a ten-year-old chocolate lab at North Central shelter waiting to be adopted. He looks like he's had a hard life – is there no one to take him home?

MILES
Male labrador retriever
10 years old
ID#: A1009147
North Central shelter

Google map

For more information, call L.A. Animal Services' North Central shelter at 213.485.5767 or go to www.laanimalservices.com

Monday, March 09, 2009

Today's Biscuit


Brought to you by Bambi, the girliest deer in all the forest.

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Not You, Hawaii


I learned last month that state legislators in Hawaii are considering a pit bull ban (otherwise known as breed specific legislation) that would not only prohibit locals from owning pit bulls, but also "American staffordshire terriers, staffordshire bull terriers, and any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of those breeds." In other words, pit-mix mutts.

Oh, Hawaii. What happened to the aloha spirit? Are you doomed to fall into reactive, easy-way-out, discriminatory legislation and become like (gasp!) Ohio? Or FLORIDA?!* Three generations of my family were born and raised in Hawaii, and it sickens me to think that the state I love for its generosity of spirit is so close to falling prey to lazy prejudice and misinformation. Blame the deed, not the breed.

Read more about Hawaii's pending SB 79 legislation here.
Sign an online petition against SB 79 here.
Learn some basic facts about pit bull terriers here.

*There are actually many other states with BSL legislation. Like Oklahoma. And Colorado.

photo from Bad Rap blog

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Snack Attack


The quest for snacks continues! This time I went into Got Pet Food on 14th St. in Santa Monica and came out with organic wheat-free cranberry/cheddar biscuits in a little tin from a Vermont-based company called Wagatha's. The biscuits contain salt, which I'm not crazy about, but since the salt is listed as the last ingredient, I decided to try them anyway.

Good move: look at how delicious they look, how crantastic! With little bits of spearmint! I was tempted to eat one myself. I don't love the wasteful packaging, but maybe a cardboard tube is better than a plastic bag? Someone needs to open a dog-treats co-op where you could buy all your organic biscuits in bulk.

Anyway, Arthur loved them, like he loves most treats. (And growling at your food apparently makes it taste better.)


.

Monday, March 02, 2009

Run Boy, Run



Oh, man. I haven't seen disorientation this funny since Arthur fell off the hammock.

via Dooce