Today's Arthur

A For Effort

2010-08-26T22:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, just one more video.

Corgis + diving = hi-larious

Don't Go Away

2010-08-26T21:36:00.000-07:00

In case you hadn't noticed, Today's Arthur is on hiatus, but will hopefully reemerge as either a whole new blog, or as a feature on another web site. Arthur himself is definitely not on hiatus, and continues to seek out cheese and butt scratches whenever and wherever possible.

Thanks for reading and we'll be back soon!

Soft Focus Melancholy

2010-06-01T10:06:00.001-07:00

Contemplating life, Arthur-style.

Hi

2010-04-06T18:51:00.000-07:00

(Sigh)

2010-03-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

Yes, dogsitter, I'm aware that part of my leg is shaved, and it looks really weird. Thanks for bringing that up. I went to the vet and this is what they did to me. What did I ever do to them? I had a nap attack while I was there and when I woke up, my damn leg was shaved. Shaved! Hello, would you stop looking at it? Anyway, now I'm being forced to take these little pills, which I can obviously SEE are in my food, and every morning I get this nasty ointment squirted into my eye, like I'm a freakin lab rabbit. Man.

The things I do for a lousy biscuit.

Fido, Squat With Me

2010-03-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

Oh, man. I almost peed my pants watching this. The look on that dog's face is hi-larious.

via break.com (sorry about the commercial that precedes it)

Typdography

2010-03-18T19:34:00.000-07:00

I don't think I agree with some of these, although I'm coming around to German Shepherds as Helvetica – rigorous, bold, practical. Maybe.

If Arthur were a typeface, what would he be? Definitely a serif, but a goofy one. Not too pristine. Leggy.

Just a thought.

fineline design

Arthur at the Vet

2010-02-28T10:36:00.000-08:00

He's back! Despite a lapse in postings, Arthur has actually been up to his usual tricks, although it seems he now has an eye issue that needs to be taken care of.

Here he is yesterday at the vet displaying, as my brother-in-law described it, quiet grace and dignity.

Please Read!

2010-01-07T18:32:00.000-08:00

If you are the owner of a dog in the "dangerous breed" category and also have a young child or are around young children, please take this as a warning:

Do not leave your dog unattended with young children under any circumstances!

All it takes is a moment for something to happen:

Sorry, I couldn't resist that. Got it in an e-mail today from my aunty.
(thanks, Aunty Pam!)

Patch of Green

2010-01-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

Tiny dog run outside the Virgin America baggage claim at LAX.

(thanks, Mel!)

Scenes From the Past Year - Thanksgiving

2010-01-05T21:01:00.000-08:00

The day before Thanksgiving, one of Arthur's foot pads got infected and he had to go to the doctor and have the fur shaved off his little toe. The pad eventually healed, but the fur took a long time to grow back and looked really weird. Like a creepy fat finger.

We should've painted his toenail black.

Scenes From the Past Year - Aug 09

2009-12-31T12:13:00.000-08:00

Arthur always loves it when my mom comes to the house and gets busy in the backyard. Sometimes she even brings her tools and then the party really gets going. Last August, she and my sister were out there reviving one of the trees, and Arthur was more than happy to lend a hand.

Well, it was more like moral support, but he was happy to do it.

Foxy

2009-12-26T11:12:00.000-08:00

Technically, the statues at the Fushimi Inari shrine complex in Kyoto are foxes not dogs, but they sure looked like pooches to me.

Cultural note: "Inari" is the Shinto god of success and prosperity; the fox is Inari's messenger, and therefore stationed all over the temple grounds. The red bibs were tied on by families seeking protection for deceased children in the afterlife.

Disappearing Acts

2009-12-26T11:07:00.000-08:00

I saw the signs, but where were the dogs?

Hachiko

2009-12-26T10:33:00.000-08:00

The most famous dog in Japan! You probably already know the story (which was apparently made into a movie directed by Lasse Hallström and released last August?), but in case you don't, here's the five-second version: Man has faithful dog. Man takes train to work every day. Dog shows up at station every night to meet man. Man dies. Dog continues to wait. FOR 10 YEARS.

Impressed by the dog's unwavering loyalty, the Japanese government erected a statue in Hachiko's honor outside Shibuya station, now one of the busiest meeting points in all of Tokyo. (You might recognize the intersection in the background of the photo from Lost in Translation.) The crowds come and go, but the dog never moves.

Pretty sweet.

Dogs On the Brain, Tokyo-style

2009-12-20T10:14:00.000-08:00

You know you're in Japan when you can buy a kimono and a geisha wig for your dog in the local pet boutique. Wow.

Chris and I were in Japan for 10 days over Thanksgiving, and we stumbled on this crazy shop in the Asakusa neighborhood of Tokyo, a block away from our hotel and down the street from a very old, revered temple. I was keen to buy the wig for Arthur (he'd make such an elegant courtesan), but there were only small sizes available, and Chris gave me his don't-do-it look where he stares at the ground and shakes his head disparagingly. (He's Arthur's advocate for dignity.) So, no geisha.

shop for your dog,

then go pray in the temple

daruma!

I actually expected to see many stores in Tokyo like this one, stuffed to excess with wild and crazy things, but there were surprisingly few. Maybe I wasn't shopping in the right neighborhoods. I did like the selection of treats at the gigantic Tokyu Hands store in Shibuya, which is kind of like a Japanese version of Target multiplied by ten.

Great packaging, but what do the labels say? I have no idea.

If I didn't know better, I'd have eaten (almost) all of that stuff. There was even a tiny Belgian waffle! I ended up bringing Arthur home a bag of crunchy vanilla balls – a dog version of the snack I used to eat as a kid.

Deeelicious.

Tokyo Dogs

2009-12-18T08:35:00.000-08:00

Switcheroo

2009-12-07T22:15:00.000-08:00

Today's Arthur is moving! I'm in the process of switching the blog to another host, but it shouldn't be too much longer. I hope.

Next post: dogs in Japan!

UPDATE: The new web site is taking a lot longer than I'd anticipated (mostly because I'm doing it myself), so I'll be posting here until it's up and running. sigh

C P&F

2009-11-10T09:07:00.000-08:00

I've always liked Centinela Pet and Feed because they don't sell animals of any kind. Not dogs, not cats, not rabbits, not guinea pigs. They do carry good brands of dog food, and, as I discovered this weekend, super great toys, like these boiled wool masterpieces for your dog to chew on. I've seen this line, or one that looks like it, at a fancy online boutique.

Just in time for Christmas.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

2009-11-02T08:09:00.001-08:00

The new steps off the kitchen aren't finished yet, and Arthur feels a bit put out.

He wants a red carpet.

Captured On Film

2009-10-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

Hahahahaha! This has to be one of my all-time favorite dog photos. It was taken by a Dutch/Brazilian photographer named Isabella Rozendaal, as part of a series for her book On Loving Animals, and it could not be more awesome. The look on that dog's face! And that puppy chomp! Oh, man.

While the book as a whole documents the way the Dutch people, like many people, treat their animals in the name of love, this particular photo is pure slapstick.

So great.

Isabella Rozendaal

(note: Some of the photos from the book on Rozendaal's Web site might be disturbing for cat lovers.)

Maybe If It Was Plush and Had a Squeaker

2009-10-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

Arthur generally doesn't pick up anything in the backyard to chew on aside from the occasional avocado or fig. He's just not that interested. So don't get the wrong idea from this picture of him with a trophy log: I had to throw that damn thing around for five minutes before he would even look at it. I think he chewed on it for approximately 5.6423 seconds before getting bored and trotting off.

At first I was chalking it up to ADD, but now I think he just has good taste. Would you want to chew on a dirty old stick?

I think not.

Rescuing From the Heart

2009-10-03T10:57:00.000-07:00

It's so nice when people with scads of money rescue homeless dogs. It takes so much more humanity, generosity, and imagination, frankly, to rescue a stinky mutt from the pound instead of going to a breeder and be told which dog is "the best." Or worse, going to some sketchy, albeit very expensive, pet store on Madison Avenue and be told by some dollar-driven pseudo specialist which dog has sought-after pedigree. Gross.

Check out this New York Times slideshow of a filthy rich antiques dealer who discovered love with a pack of misfits. It's so nice.

One in 8 Million: Stefanie Rinza

photograph by Todd Heisler

Circle of Friends - Ignacio

2009-09-27T18:26:00.000-07:00

Arthur is very fickle about who his friends are. VERY fickle. When a new person comes to the house, most times he just runs away or stands at a distance, wagging but cautious. Even with people he knows, he will often duck their hands and run for the dining room table.

However, there are a few people — lucky or unlucky depending on how they feel about dogs — with whom he turns into a big, slobbery whore. Grins like an idiot and gazes at them adoringly. Can't leave them alone. I've only seen it happen a few times, and it's kind of embarassing in a don't-mind-him sort of way, but also mystifying. Why that particular person? You can never tell who it's going to be.

Well, my mom and her good friend Ignacio came to the house yesterday, and the game was ON. Arthur loved loved loved Ignacio, who, yes, is a dog lover; and yes, probably smells like his own dog, but good lord. Arthur sat at Ignacio's feet all through lunch, and not because he had cheese on his plate. I was sitting right next door with a big wad of cheese and I didn't get as much as a glance. We were lucky Ignacio doesn't mind having a fuzzy muzzle in his lap while he's eating.

All those years of cotillion down the tubes.

Today's Arthur - Now Advertising For Google

2009-09-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know — this is nothing new. But it never fails to annoy me.

From the blogger (Google) Terms of Service:

...you grant Google a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce, adapt, distribute and publish such Content for the purpose of displaying, distributing and promoting Google services

I guess you never truly get something for nothing.

Toy Envy

2009-09-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

Oh, why couldn't this be a dog toy? (It's a plush brain cell.) Also available are the plush common cold virus and the plush sperm cell.

Brain-cell plush at MCA Chicago

Saussie Strikes Again

2009-09-05T16:29:00.001-07:00

Camping with dogs! Doesn't get much better than that.

Check out the blog post and pics from the always amazing Sarah Ause.

Saussie

As Good a Time As Any

2009-09-03T10:09:00.000-07:00

When the mood strikes, go with it.

Animals Evacuated - Shelter Needs Help!

2009-08-31T13:53:00.000-07:00

The fire in Angeles National Forest rages on (only 5% contained as of this morning with 6,600 homes under mandatory evacuation)! I read this morning that the Pasadena Humane Society is the only licensed wildlife center within a 30-mile radius of the fire, and that they're taking in injured wild animals as well as domestic pets that had to be and are still being evacuated. Apparently, they've already taken in more than 200 animals.

The shelter currently needs towels, blankets, potty-training pads and animal food and, of course, more funds! If you have any of these supplies, they can be dropped off at:

Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA
361 S. Raymond Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91105
626.792.7151

Google map

If you prefer to give money, you can donate online directly to the shelter here.

photo: Dan Steinberg/Associated Press
graphic: boston.com

App Aid

2009-08-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

In case you don't already suffer from iPhone application syndrome, here's one to consider: pet first aid! This one comes from Jive Media, and although I'm too cheap to shell out the $3.99 until I hear more about it, it looks interesting.

All the application's advice comes from Pet Tech, a national pet-first-aid training center for dog owners in Vacaville, CA that offers classes (CPR, injury/wellness assessment) and other useful information. (Have you ever tried to contact the Red Cross about pet-first-aid classes? I did, and they were NO HELP AT ALL.) I'd never heard of them before, but they seem to be the real deal.

As for the iPhone app, I'm a little puzzled as to why the first two categories under the "Fundamentals" section are "Muzzling" and "Restraint", although I don't know much about pet first aid and maybe these topics come up in medical situations? Don't know. I do like how you can keep your pet's medical information on hand for easy access.

The only other comparable applications available for the iPhone are a couple from PetMD that have received pretty bad reviews on iTunes, so for the time being, this one's it. Not for long, I bet.

Jive Media - Pet First Aid

Pet Tech

Don't Let My Staring Bother You

2009-08-26T20:37:00.000-07:00

Arthur is bored, bored, bored. Everybody's working on stuff and don't have time to chase him around the backyard until he rips a dew claw.

Sorry, bicycle-seat head. We'll all be done soon.

Ridiculous

2009-08-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

(This is what Arthur is reduced to when I'm working on a project.)

Arthur and the Tubes

2009-08-14T10:13:00.001-07:00

Had another DIY moment yesterday and made Arthur a toilet-paper tube toy. What it lacks in beauty, it makes up for in chompability.

Hedgehog paled in comparison.

Husky On the Lawn

2009-08-12T13:06:00.001-07:00

My neighbor's senior husky Katya taking a break on the grass.

She's such a sweet girl.

Fuzzy Ears

2009-08-10T17:16:00.001-07:00

Yee Haw

2009-08-04T13:36:00.001-07:00

It's a barn raising! Okay – there aren't really any Amish involved, but walls are going up and it's going to be awesome. Bad Rap, the Bay Area-based, pit-bull-saving nonprofit is trying to raise $100,000 to build a safe house of sorts for rescued pit bulls. The facility (which would include a converted horse barn and a large exercise area) would temporarily house dogs they pull from abusive or inhumane situations to rest and recover before entering foster care. Sounds pretty FAN-tastic.

The people at Bad Rap are the real deal, and I've admired them from afar for a long time. I can't think of many organizations I'd rather give my dog-saving dollars to.

Bad Rap Barn Raising

And while you're at it, buy a tote bag.

Photo Geekery

2009-08-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

Filter-y pics via a 99-cent iPhone camera application!

That's my kind of technology.

Where Fun Goes To Die

2009-07-31T18:44:00.000-07:00

Dogs abound on Catalina Island, but not at THIS park.

New Door

2009-07-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

Arthur's dog door to the world finally fell apart and had to be replaced over the weekend. The rubbery flap had ripped right off its hinges. (Plus, it was uncleanably grimy.) I wanted to install a hi-larious porthole, but was voted down. He had to be able to get outside, after all.

The new, slightly wider casing required my sister to saw a bigger hole in the door, but aside from the NOISE! and the SAWDUST!, Arthur was unperturbed by all the activity. He seemed interested, actually.

And now with an extra inch-and-a-half, his big butt is going to sail through that opening like a dolphin through a hoop.

hahahahahahahaha

As It Should Be

2009-07-15T22:15:00.001-07:00

For many months, Arthur's favorite napping spot under one of the side windows was occupied by a plastic drum kit. No longer! The kit was moved, the dog is now back in position.

Disaster averted.

Yesterday's Arthur

2009-07-10T09:40:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure when this photo of Arthur and my mom was taken, but I'm guessing it was 2001, shortly after he'd been adopted. It looks like she grabbed him as he was trying to flee.

If They Flap Hard Enough, Maybe They'll Fly Away

2009-07-08T14:14:00.000-07:00

There's something about people suspended in midair that makes me laugh; dogs suspended mid-jump is even better. It's all about the ears.

(Thanks, Reed!)

Most Hated Holiday

2009-07-06T09:46:00.000-07:00

The view from my lap on Saturday afternoon.

(Although he doesn't climb the walls like he did as a puppy, Arthur still hates the Fourth of July.)

Southeast Asian Special, Part IV - The Last One, I Swear

2009-07-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

Of course, I had my favorites. How could I not have favorites? Like the black-and-white spaniel-y boy who belonged to one of the men running a Si Phan Don ferry in the south, or Whisky the black lab in Tat Lo whose best friend was a rescued river otter. (Yes, an otter.) All the dogs I met were nice, but these were extra special.

ferry dogs

I met this sweet guy in a riverside restaurant on Don Det island. He was very sad and wouldn't eat the tiny barbequed frog I gave him. Maybe he was hoping for some sticky rice.

The leggiest puppy in all of Southeast Asia.

More restaurant dogs. The one on the left sat under my chair while I ate.

And then there was Whisky, the mascot of Tadlo Lodge in the Salavan Province, and the only labrador I saw in all of Laos. A sweet, sweet dog with an unconventional playmate:

(sorry this video is so crappy)

On the Menu

2009-07-02T16:06:00.000-07:00

It must be said: People in rural Laos have been known to eat dog. It's not usually on the menu, but apparently not out of the question. In the bigger cities, however, it seemed that more dogs were kept as pets than as protectors (or meals), and on a trip to a supermarket in the southern town of Pakse, I found canned dog food on the shelves, which I took as a good sign. If you love your dog, you buy him fancy dog food, right?

The irony is, the city pooches would be better off eating like their village counterparts – scraps of fresh, unprocessed meat, and organic fruits and vegetables. Top Dog (the brand on the shelves) might look fancy, but is probably pretty crappy.

Southeast Asian Special, Part III - Dogs in the Cities

2009-07-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

At the Laos/China border

When I refer to "cities" in Laos, I mean large-ish places with paved roads, reasonably reliable electricity, consumerism and AC. You'll find both the high and low ends of that definition, the low being a place like Muang Sing that once hosted the largest opium market in Southeast Asia, but is now basically one street of shops; and UNESCO World Heritage site Luang Prabang on the high end with its riverside restaurants, resort hotels and colonial French architecture.

In the larger towns I also saw many more breeds of dog – more commerce brings more variety, I suppose – and some were even on leads. The majority, however, were roaming free. It's the Lao way.

in Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang

The only dog in all of Laos that I saw chained to a tree. I think he was naughty.

Muang Sing

Siem Reap, Cambodia

monks' dog at Wat Xieng Muan, Luang Prabang

Udom Xai

Southeast Asian Special, Part II - Lao Village Dogs

2009-07-01T10:05:00.000-07:00

There are many, many different ethnic minority groups in Laos, most with distinct languages and customs and living very simple lives (no indoor plumbing, land lines or modern appliances). I visited a remote village in the northern Luang Prabang province that had been wired for electricity only three months earlier. Three months!

Most village families raise their own livestock for food and keep dogs to "guard" their property, although there wasn't much guarding going on. The animals (pigs, chickens, cats, cows, water buffalo) wander around the village, somehow knowing which family they belong to. The dogs, as you might imagine, were always either sleeping or looking for a snack; none of them were spayed or neutered, and none of them wore collars or any sort of identification.

When I thought about Arthur and his cushiony, fleecy dog bed, I had to laugh. He's such an American.

Southeast Asian Special, Part I - Cambodia

2009-06-30T20:48:00.001-07:00

Banteay Kdei temple

No dogs in the temples of Angkor! Well, that's what the sign says, but I defy you to find a single dog owner in Cambodia who would bring their pet to the temples. They don't even have collars! (Or leashes.) Dogs run free in Southeast Asia, and apparently, they can also read signs.

on the scaffolding at Angkor Wat

Or not.

Of the dozens and dozens of dogs I saw in and around Siem Reap, 99 percent of them looked like shepherd/jindo mutts with stand-up, pointy ears; short hair and curly tails. Literally the same dog over and over, but in different colors.

Pretty happy dogs, too, although all very skinny.

And maybe just a little bit sacred.

Technical Difficulties

2009-06-22T13:10:00.000-07:00

I'm back from Southeast Asia, but having computer issues so I can't download any new photos. Sigh. Luckily, I have about 30 gigs of Arthur in the archive.

Way to be consistent, boy!

(Hopefully the problems will be resolved soon!)

Wake Me When You're Back

2009-05-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

Today's Arthur will be on hiatus until the week of June 15th, but will return in time for all-important hammock season.

See you then!

I Saw That

2009-05-21T21:46:00.001-07:00

Consider yourself schooled.

Trippin

2009-05-20T22:24:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving Monday for a three-week trip to Laos and Cambodia, and will therefore not be hanging out with Arthur for a while. When I showed him the fancy laminated map I ordered online, he seemed genuinely interested as if he, too, were plotting a journey to Southeast Asia. Woohoo!

Sorry, boy, you have to stay home. I'll bring you back a sarong.

To the Rescue

2009-05-18T21:06:00.000-07:00

Rin Tin Tin, is that you? Over the weekend, Chris and I attended a fund raiser for the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, an organization that teams rescue (as in, rescued) dogs with firefighters and trains them to find people in emergency situations. It was a day of dogs and firemen, which suited me just fine. There was a demonstration, tours around the property (the future home of the foundation's national training center in Santa Paula), and a lot of barbeque. But the dogs were the stars, of course.

Chris took all of these lovely photos because I was too busy oohing and aahing and clapping like a crazy person to get anything good.

Humorous side note of interest: I mentioned to a foundation staff member how happy I was to see so many rescued black labs in the program, and she told me, "This is going to sound weird, but we've had the most success with black labs in particular. For some reason, they do just a little bit better than the other lab colors!" Black dog syndrome be damned!

National Disaster Search Dog Foundation

Sunday Morning Hike

2009-05-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

Arthur looks rather out of place on a dusty hiking trail, all delicate paws and pristine white. Maybe he needs a herd of sheep to look more at home.

Negotiator

2009-05-15T09:59:00.001-07:00

No! No more of my cheese! I just gave you a big piece and that is enough for you. Enough! Go lay down on your pillow. Go on. You!

Sigh.

Sad-dog diplomacy. It could bring about world peace.

Going Green

2009-05-14T09:36:00.000-07:00

Now that the temperature in L.A. is rising, the greenish grass in the backyard is starting to turn brown. Or, I should say, the clover is turning into burrs. And in case you're a new reader to this blog, let me tell you that burrs and Arthur get along really well. REALLY WELL.

Although my sister and brother-in-law no longer water the lawn (with the drought and all), I got the okay to cultivate a small patch where Arthur might, in an ideal world, want to hang out instead of on the dry, dead sections. We'll see. I've been watering it for a week now, and so far it's still looking patchy, but I'm hopeful. Watering a patch of grass is a lot easier than picking burrs out of a bushy tail.

Roadkill

2009-05-13T12:40:00.001-07:00

Today's Rescue - Tucker

2009-05-11T19:06:00.000-07:00

Meet Tucker – a very mellow, very sweet, three-year-old, ginger-colored pit bull currently at the West L.A. shelter. I met him Saturday night at Giant Robot's art show/dog adoption and fell in love. What a nice boy.

Tucker was perfectly behaved and content to hang out on the sidewalk outside the store with art-show patrons (adults AND children) coming and going, and the other West L.A. dogs on leashes milling around. Lots of people stopped to pet him and there was also a fair amount of street traffic on Sawtelle, but this guy was as calm as could be. I suspect he was more interested in the volunteers' treat pouches than my obsessive fawning, but I can hardly blame him for that.

And did I mention that he has one ear that stands up?

Good lord, this boy deserves a home. Check out Tucker (and all the other great dogs) at the West L.A. shelter today!

TUCKER
Male pit bull terrier (mix, maybe?)
3 years old
ID#: A1008350
West L.A. shelter

Google map

For more information, call the West L.A. shelter at 310.207.3156 or go to the L.A. Animal Services website at www.laanimalservices.com

Last Night's Ball

2009-05-10T10:38:00.001-07:00

It's There Somewhere

2009-05-09T13:17:00.000-07:00

I've never had a problem with picking up Arthur's poop – it's like changing a baby's diaper: you just do it. Unfortunately, he seems to have recently developed a predilection for pooping in tall grasses, which makes the pick-up a bit tricky and more than a little annoying. He's totally doing it on purpose.

He waits until we get to a house that doesn't mow their lawn, then nestles his fluffy bum into the weeds and goes to town. Add to this the fact that some of the streets in the neighborhood aren't lit at night, and you have me crawling around in the dark after he's dropped his bombs, my face mere inches away from what I would prefer to have at arms length.

Of course, there's no chance of convincing him to poop on a MOWED lawn under a STREET LIGHT like the one in the picture above. That would be way too easy.

Shop-a-rific

2009-05-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

Doggie saddlebags at REI.

Just Hangin, Yo

2009-05-07T19:07:00.000-07:00

What are you doing behind the sofa, boy? It's like you're having a party all by yourself!

Sometimes I have absolutely no idea what's going on between his ears.

It's Not Me, It's You

2009-05-04T21:06:00.000-07:00

An excerpt from "Angry Farewell Notes From Runaway Dogs" by Dave Donovan via McSweeney's:

To: Leonard
From: Ringo, 4-year-old Saint Bernard

Well, this is not easy. I'm supposed to be loyal and supportive, and God knows I've given it my best shot. But let's be honest: my opportunities here are limited. I just don't know how in the world I can deliver food and first-aid supplies to anyone in this goddamned condominium. Am I supposed to be a rescue dog or not? I thought you could at least attach martini shakers to my collar and turn me loose near the pool. But it turns out there really are no emergencies here. In fact, the only crisis I can see is the frozen tundra of your dating life. So, best of luck, Admiral Byrd – you're going to need it.

To: Brian
From: Wicket, 10-month-old border collie

OK OK OK, there're just a few things I have to say before we get all crazy and I start editing myself here before I even finish this sentence, because I've anticipated your reaction before you even know what I'm able to say, which is that I think I could do a lot more – that is to say, a lot better – elsewhere, instead of this place, where there just is not enough stimulation for a dog of my caliber, since you're a work at home Internet marketer who sunburns easily and is allergic to fun, so I guess I just gotta move on with no hard feelings, OK OK OK?

McSweeney's Internet Tendency

Go-Getter

2009-05-04T08:47:00.000-07:00

Is the weekend over already?

And Now, a Message From Our Medieval Sponsor

2009-05-02T14:21:00.000-07:00

What is up with the ads for Solid Gold pet food? I mean, seriously? They are really bizarre. Take this one in Bark magazine with the headline, "Don't Tickle the Dragon" which is not so odd considering it's an ad for Dragonette biscuits, but dragons seem to be beside the point in this particular Solid Gold fact sheet. Take this bit of information:

"The oldest long-living man on record supposedly lived to be 152 years old in England during the reign of King Charles I. The man claimed that he ate oatmeal everyday of his life. As a guest of the king, he was given meat to eat. He was dead within two weeks. Interesting!"

Or this:

"We included peppermint to settle the stomach and clear up bad bacteria in the stomach. Peppermint is also used for IBS and diarrhea. We added green tea for its antioxidant properties. Oriental cultures credit long life to green tea."

Orientals? The ad also cites Life Extension Magazine as a source, and ends with:

"The Chinese have an interesting saying: 'Don't tickle the Dragon'. Not sure what it means!"

I'm thinking someone's crazy aunt insisted on writing these ads – an aunt related to someone in the company because they keep showing up in print. And what makes the situation even more curious is that Solid Gold is a fairly reputable company whose products can be found in higher-end dog-food stores. It's not like they're an "underground" brand. Weird.

From the Boards: South L.A. Shelter Favorites

2009-05-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

COREENA
Female German shepherd mix
3 years old
ID#: A1017456

Coreena is a sweet and gentle 3-year-old German shepherd mix who was dumped in the shelter by her owner on April 8th, and has consequently lost seven pounds. Apparently she was attacked by another dog and is very sad. Look at her pretty smile!

FRECKLES
Male pit bull terrier
4 years old
ID#: A1022637

Freckles the 4-year-old pit bull just wants to hide or curl up next to people. He's very shy and also very sad, even though he is much loved by the South L.A. staff.

ROXY
Female shepherd mix?
4 years old
ID#: A1021751

Four-year-old Roxy hates the shelter (she's lost 15 lbs) even though she loves other dogs. It looks to me like she has a couple fatty tumors on her neck, but the volunteer didn't mention it in her post so perhaps they're being taken care of? Sadly, I doubt it.

Can you stand it? Both Roxy and Freckles have been red-listed and have very limited time left before they are euthanized. Adopt a dog today!

South L.A. shelter
3612 11th Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90018
213.485.0117 or 0119

Google map

For more information, email volunteer Andrea at franksable@msn.com or go to L.A. Animal Services website at www.laanimalservices.com

News Flash

2009-04-29T18:50:00.000-07:00

Arthur is very worried about the swine flu pandemic. NOT! He's actually way more concerned with the biscuit I placed on top of the television than any ol' virus.

That and the President's periwinkle-blue tie.

Art Show Dog Adoption

2009-04-27T21:01:00.000-07:00

How awesome is it when art and dogs come together on a Saturday night in L.A.? You'll have to be there to find out because IT IS ON, party people. The always happening Giant Robot is hosting their first dog adoption/art show on Saturday, May 9 from 4:30-10 p.m. although if you can't be there by 8:30, you'll miss the pooches.

The show features dog-themed art by an array of artists and illustrators, and adoptables from L.A. Animal Services' neighborhood West L.A. shelter. Buy a piece of art, fall in love with your next pet. GR's original Free To a Good Home show featured a cat adoption, but this one is all about the dogs, and p.s. they won't actually be free. You'll have to pay the standard LAAS adoption fees for spay/neuter, vaccinations, etc.

Free To a Good Home 2: Dogs!
Saturday, May 9th
4:30 - 10 p.m. (dogs until 8:30)

GR2 (the bigger of the two stores on Sawtelle)
2062 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
giantrobot.com

L.A. Animal Services West L.A. shelter

Ha Ha, Whatever

2009-04-26T18:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, that is a gigantic flower pot on the deck, and no, Arthur could not care less about it. A gigantic flower pot! On the deck! How can that not change your life?

My sister bought the massive pot (at a warehouse sale) for its ironic appeal, and I foolishly thought I could get a few pictures of Arthur reacting! hilariously! to it until I realized that, oh, right, it means nothing to him, and is, in fact, just a big piece of plastic taking up precious lay-around space in the backyard.

You and your irony, he's thinking in the above picture. Get a freakin life.

Baldwin Park Shelter Adoption Event

2009-04-24T14:53:00.001-07:00

I'm not sure if the Baldwin Park shelter has regular adoption events, but this one on Saturday is an opportunity to see some of the dogs from L.A. County Animal Control's largest shelter without having to drive to Baldwin Park to see them. Tomorrow's event is on the west side!

The adoption is being hosted in conjunction with Animal Advocates Alliance, a group I'd never heard of but who has a great listing of Baldwin Park dogs on their website. Kudos to them for making this happen.

And in case one adoption event isn't enough for you, Best Friends Animal Society's Spring Pet Adoption Festival in Westchester Park happens on Sunday, also 11am - 4pm.

Baldwin Park Adoption Event at Pan Pacific Park
Saturday, April 25
11am - 4pm
7600 Beverly Blvd. at corner of Gardner
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Animal Advocates Alliance
Best Friends Spring Pet Adoption Festival
L.A. County Animal Care and Control

Polar Love

2009-04-22T15:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day!

Decisions

2009-04-15T12:08:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, although not very often, Arthur likes to pick a spot to hang out where he normally doesn't hang out – against the wall, behind the sofa – instead of on his big, comfy bed. I think he likes to mix things up.

My family's shih tzu used to do the same thing when I was growing up, and my mother always had a reason for why he'd chosen the place he had: Oh, he's hot, she'd say when he picked a weird place in the dark; or Oh, he's hiding, when he'd lie behind a big easy chair. Honestly, I think it was more like, Oh, he's too lazy to jump up onto the sofa, but maybe he did have his reasons.

This spot Arthur chose beside the couch next to the wall was also conveniently close to my plate of cheese, so I think we can all guess the motivation behind that choice.

It Should've Been a Mutt

2009-04-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

Yes, the Obamas' new dog is a Portuguese water dog named Bo. No, he did not come from a shelter or rescue group. Yes, we are very disappointed.

I have no more questions.

Let's just hope he becomes the poster boy for neutering.

(disclosure: Bo, apparently, was a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy and had originally been purchased from a breeder and returned.)

Photo by Pete Souza for the Associated Press

It Must Be All Those Donuts

2009-04-10T21:49:00.000-07:00

For the past week or two, Arthur has had, inexplicably, a bit of a chubby butt. You can't really tell from this picture, but his normally bony bum has developed a definite roundness and his midsection has become slightly sausage-like, which really stand out next to his skinny legs and pointy head.

The thing is, we can't figure out why he's chubby. It's not like he's getting macaroni and cheese casseroles for dinner. He's eating the same two meals a day, the same amount of snacks, and so far we haven't found any random avocado pits in the backyard, suspiciously licked clean. Plus, it seems to me that he's hungrier than usual. CAN'T WAIT for dinner. It's a mystery. (And it's not bloat.)

I did notice a lot of figs ripening on the tree outside, but I think they're still too green for chewing. Hmmm. I'll be on the lookout for strange behavior.

Today's Rescue - Teddy

2009-04-08T22:03:00.001-07:00

This little guy was found near USC on Tuesday and brought to the Animal Surgical and Emergency Center (ASEC) on Sepulveda – his genitals had been mutilated and need to be removed ASAP. This is no joke.

Stacy Bodell of Much Love Animal Rescue is coordinating efforts to raise money for the necessary surgery as Much Love cannot cover the full cost, which will be between $4,000 and $5,000. She reports that despite his trauma, Teddy, as he is now called, is the sweetest boy and very affectionate. He needs this surgery and Much Love needs help paying for it.

To donate, please send a check made out to ASEC with "Teddy" written on the bottom to:

Teri Vasquez
12624 Woodbine St.
Los Angeles, CA 90066

(Teri is the Much Love volunteer handling payment to the center.)

If you have any questions about Teddy, or would like to donate via credit card, email Stacy Bodell at: stacybodell@yahoo.com.

Animal Surgical and Emergency Center
Much Love Animal Rescue

Jaws

2009-04-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

Arthur is always up for a good fly chasing (especially with the slow, lazy ones), and this afternoon he was in especially fine form. Just listen to that chomping! It makes my teeth ache.

In the end, I think he eats the fly to prove a point, kind of like swallowing the worm at the bottom of a bottle of tequila. He doesn't really want to, but dammit! he has his reputation to think of.

But Collies Are Okay

2009-04-05T16:43:00.000-07:00

Apparently, you can't bring your spaniel or doberman pinscher into Blackmarket on Sawtelle.

Waiting for Dad

2009-04-03T22:26:00.000-07:00

At around 8 o'clock, the countdown begins.

Shape-Shifter

2009-04-01T10:05:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when Arthur lies down on his pillow, he can't be bothered to arrange himself in a way that doesn't contort his spine into uncomfortable-looking shapes, like this one. I think you might call it a C-curve. If I lay like that for five minutes, I'd have to see a chiropractor. Sometimes it hurts just to look at him, and if he's really contorted, I'll put something under his head just to straighten him out.

Talk about empathy.

Pig In the City

2009-03-30T16:19:00.001-07:00

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

2009-03-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

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.

One More Time, With Feeling

2009-03-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

Taking direction, Arthur-style.

Fetch Me My Dentures

2009-03-25T22:38:00.000-07:00

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.

Today's Anti-Circus Post

2009-03-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

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

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

2009-03-20T19:38:00.000-07:00

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

(Lots of dogs, bad picture.)

King of Friday

2009-03-20T19:10:00.001-07:00

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.)

Still Life With Watcher

2009-03-16T10:40:00.000-07:00

Kangaroo Boy

2009-03-14T13:47:00.001-07:00

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

Today's Rescue - Miles

2009-03-11T15:49:00.000-07:00

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

Today's Biscuit

2009-03-09T12:38:00.000-07:00

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

Not You, Hawaii

2009-03-05T13:39:00.000-08:00

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

Snack Attack

2009-03-03T19:20:00.001-08:00

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.)

.

Run Boy, Run

2009-03-02T13:23:00.000-08:00

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

via Dooce

And Now, a Historical Moment

2009-02-27T15:55:00.000-08:00

I've always been fascinated with Abraham Lincoln – he of the stovepipe hat and kick-ass memorial – and was pleased to learn recently that Abe was also quite the animal lover: of dogs, cats and goats, apparently. It was Abe who inspired the whole "pardoning of the turkey" at the White House during Thanksgiving, and taught his two boys that animal cruelty was wrong, wrong, wrong.

The Lincolns owned a dog named Fido in the Illinois years before Abe's presidency – a retrievery/shepherdy-looking mutt who lived inside with the family and trotted along with Abe around town during the day. After the election, it was decided that the particularly skittish Fido would not do well on a train or in a big city, and was placed in the care of a foster family until their potential return.

Among the stipulations for Fido's care:

not to be tied up alone outside
allowed inside whenever he scratched at the front door
allowed access to the dining room during meals
not to be scolded for coming inside with muddy paws

No scolding for muddy paws! Arthur should be so lucky. The Lincolns also gave Fido's favorite horsehair sofa to the family so that he might feel more at home, and had him formally photographed before their departure so they might always have a picture of him.

Now that's my kind of history lesson.

Today's New Hope Rescue

2009-02-26T10:27:00.001-08:00

There are always a lot of pit bulls at the shelters, many with botched, DIY ear jobs (meant to be guard dogs) or bite marks and scratches (meant to be fighters), who clearly didn't live up to their owners' expectations. Who wants a guard dog who won't bark at strangers or a fighter who'd prefer a belly rub? So sad. Don't we all just want to be loved?

Today's L.A. Animal Services available dog total: 674 dogs
Today's L.A. County Animal Control available dog total: 320 dogs

UP FOR IMMEDIATE ADOPTION AT L.A. ANIMAL SERVICES SHELTERS:
(Click to view larger)

Clockwise, from top left: Gordo, Barney, Taffy, Pogo, Oliver, Marvin

1: GORDO
Male labrador retriever
1 year old
ID#: A1009147
North Central shelter

2: BARNEY
Male mastiff mix
2 years old
ID#: A1009023
Harbor shelter

3: TAFFY
Female American staffordshire terrier
8 months old
ID#: A1011249
South L.A. shelter

4: POGO
Male chow chow/mastiff mix
Unknown age
ID#: A1009890
East Valley shelter

5: OLIVER
Male German shepherd mix
5 years old
ID#: A0764380
West L.A. shelter

6: MARVIN
Male rottweiler
Unknown age
ID#: A0281576
Harbor shelter

And look at the sweet faces on these pups! They're like little cows with their spots.

1; MALE AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER
2 years old
ID#: A1011710
South L.A. shelter

2: MALE AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER
1 year old
ID#: A1012861
South L.A. shelter

3: SKY
Female pit bull terrier mix
Unknown age
ID#: A1010908
South L.A. shelter

4: MALE AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER
2 years old
ID#: A1012529
South L.A. shelter

5: TOFFIE
Female pointer mix
1 and 1/2 years old
ID#: A0996292
East Valley shelter

6: HARPER
Male American staffordshire terrier
4 years old
ID#: A1003950
West Valley shelter

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

Slacker and the Dog

2009-02-25T17:10:00.000-08:00

(Like Chico and the Man, but without the mechanics.)

Here's me and the D hanging out yesterday, trying to pretend we wouldn't rather be inside snacking up a storm. Soon after, I got off the bench and grabbed his fluffy haunches.

Good times.

Beans! Ogy!

2009-02-23T17:25:00.000-08:00

Some terrific pics from the Best Friends adoption blog

Read about Beans and Ogy here.

Jinxed

2009-02-23T14:23:00.000-08:00

I spoke too soon! Clouds are a-gatherin this very minute. Got to go back inside, boy.

Don't look so sad. We'll play some Scrabble.

Flying the Flag For Muddy Paws

2009-02-23T09:53:00.000-08:00

The rain has stopped! Time to get busy in the backyard after a week of house arrest.

HSUS At It Again

2009-02-18T12:38:00.000-08:00

Heard about the recent dogfighting/breeding bust in Wilkes County, NC? Authorities removed 127 pit bull terriers (60 of them puppies) belonging to Ed Faron of Wildside Kennels in Wilkesboro, and on the recommendations of the not-so-humane Humane Society of the US (HSUS), euthanized them without assessment. ALL of them. Despite offers of assistance from Best Friends Animal Society, one of the rescue groups now successfully rehabilitating Michael Vick's rescued fighters in Utah.

The HSUS argues (like they argued about Michael Vick's dogs) that pit bull terriers bred to fight are incapable of recovery and, according to John Goodwin, the so-called expert of HSUS' Animal Fighting Campaign, "difficult and expensive" to re-train. He also pointed the finger at animal rescue activists who "raise no fuss and offer no assistance for the other 3,000 dogs put down in [Wilkes] county each year." Well, yes, John, you might have something there except that that YOU'RE COMPLETELY MISSING THE POINT. Good lord. This is breed genocide we're talking about here – an extraordinary situation that might have been – should have been – prevented. This wasn't your average euthanization day at the local shelter. And do you really think, John-Boy, that the animal rescue people ignore those 3,000 dogs all the other days of the year when they're not having to rally against breed bigots like you?

Blanket euthanization like the one in Wilkes County is clearly the easy way out and fuels public misconceptions. It is wrong, and we can do better.

Oh, and the picture above? That's Halle, one of Michael Vick's rescued and rehabbed pit bulls in her new adoptive home.

Court Order Issued to Euthanize Seized Dogs
The Death of Hope at HSUS
Worse Than Vick
The High Cost of Being a Victim