Taking dogs natural, with a little dietary help
September 9th, 2007
By Denise Flaim, 8/27/07
The tremors from the pet-food recalls of this spring are still being felt: Last month, Wal-Mart stopped selling two brands of its made-in-China dog treats after customers reported concerns that their animals had fallen ill, though the store chain did not formally announce a recall.
For my money, the best way to maintain control over what your dog eats is to make the meals yourself, following the instructions of your veterinarian and one of many reputable do-it-yourself books out there. (Kymythy Schultze’s “Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats,” available on dogwise.com or amazon.com, is a perennial favorite. So is Monica Segal’s self-published “Optimal Nutrition, Raw and Cooked Canine Diets: The Next Level,” available from monicasegal.com. Segal also does phone consultations and will formulate a diet tailored to your dog’s special needs.) Read the rest of this entry »
August 19th, 2007
Dog lovers revere the ‘B word’
August 14th, 2007
By Denise Flaim
August 13, 2007
I have a bookmark taped a couple of inches above the computer screen where I am tapping out these words.
“You say I’m a bitch like it’s a bad thing,” it reads.
Last week, New York City Councilwoman Darlene Mealy of Brooklyn introduced a measure banning the word “bitch,” saying it is responsible for creating “a paradigm of shame and indignity.” (The City Council is no stranger to legislating linguistically: In February, it passed a similarly symbolic moratorium on the “N word.”)
Dalmation and Kitten
August 12th, 2007
Dog case gets folks fighting mad
August 5th, 2007
Last Thursday, the Atlanta Falcons’ star quarterback pleaded not guilty to federal charges that he is involved in an interstate dogfighting venture called Bad Newz Kennels. “I take these charges seriously and look forward to clearing my name,” said Vick, who faces up to 6 years in prison, if convicted.
Company Sinks Teeth Into Dog Time Shares
July 29th, 2007
By LISA LEFF
Associated Press Writer
SAN FRANCISCO — From the state that popularized purse puppies, drive-thru dog washes and gourmet dog food delivery comes the latest in canine convenience — a company that contracts out dogs by the day to urbanites without the time or space to care for a pet full-time.
Marlena Cervantes, founder of FlexPetz, bristles when people refer to her five-month-old business as a rent-a-pet service. She prefers the term “shared pet ownership,” explaining the concept is more akin to a vacation time share or a gym membership than a trip to the video store.
Vet therapy: When pets get plastic surgery
July 22nd, 2007
BY WARREN BERRY
July 22, 2007
Does your dog beg for plastic surgery?
How much is that doggie in the window?
And, if its snout is imperfect, what’s the cost of a nose job?
Nowadays, you can take your pet to a veterinary plastic surgeon and get him a real rhinoplasty. The trend seemed to pick up steam in 2005 when Dr. Alan J. Schulman of the Animal Medical Center of Southern California told MSNBC that, as an orthopedic veterinary surgeon, he was perfecty willing to perform any kind of legitimate plastic surgery for an animal (to improve breathing, for instance, or fix broken teeth or eliminate diseased skin folds). But, he insisted, no liposuction.
Just knock 3 times, then wait for the dog
July 15th, 2007
By KURT MOFFETT
Republican-American
July 14, 2007
NEW MILFORD, Conn. — A sign on the front door of Kirk and Stella Dupas’ home on Lone Oak Drive tells visitors to ring the door bell twice and then knock hard three times. This will signal their dog to bark and get one of them to answer the door.
Kirk and Stella both have severe hearing loss and without the help of Simba, their 7-year-old cocker spaniel, they would continue to struggle with what most people take for granted.
Inns where your dog is as welcome as you are
July 8th, 2007
Carolyn and Frank Bistrian and their five dogs share a 22-acre farm in East Hampton. Guest dogs are always welcome.
Like many other pet-friendly innkeepers, the Bistrians, who run the Bend in the Road Guest House, are seniors in their second careers who understand the dilemma of people like themselves who can’t bear to leave their beloved pets.
Protesters chain themselves, let their dogs run free
July 1st, 2007
By JESSIE DIMARIANO
REDMOND — The sun was shining and the Off Leash Dog area nestled in Marymoor Park was bustling with dog owners and their furry companions Saturday.
But while the dogs basked in the sun and enjoyed games of fetch, seven dog lovers sat chained to dog houses and poles.