She claims she didn’t realize that Louie, who often went with her to work, was in the car with her since her husband had put the dog in that morning while Starr was getting ready for work. However, she says her husband had forgotten to tell her he had done so.

Louie, who was suffering from heat stroke, was initially treated by a vet at the SPCA but later transported to a different vet. Sadly, he was beyond help by that point and died of kidney failure. The outside temperatures had reached 91 degrees and inside a closed car that can mean temperatures above 120 degrees in just half an hour.

This is tragic no matter how you look at it, and no matter who it’s happened to. Yes, we hold someone like this to a higher standard, and rightfully so, but the truth is that accidents happen, and after 16 years being with a family pet I would imagine the family is heartbroken just the same.

What do you think? Do you think Starr should be brought up on charges or removed from her position?

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

SPCA Executive’s Dog Dies in Hot Car

A mama dog in China has been put in charge of two rare red panda cubs after they were snubbed by their mother at a local zoo. Zoo officials said they didn’t even know the panda was pregnant and when she ignored the cubs after birth the staff scrambled to find a wet nurse.

“Her plump body and bushy hair disguised her protruding belly until the babies were born. We hurriedly went about to find a wet nurse for them.”

The cubs, who are currently just under a month old, ended up with a nearby farmer’s dog who has been so willing to nurse the duo that at times she’s even refused to nurse her own pups. Though they have yet to open their eyes they appear to be thriving and have doubled in size.

[image: zuma press]

Post from: Blisstree

Red Panda Cubs Adopted by Mama Dog

Simon, a Jack Russel terrier, manages to pop 100 balloons in just over a minute. The balloons are attached to a giant piece of cardboard and using nothing but his teeth, Simon manages to get every last one of them.

I wouldn’t recommend trying to train your dog to do this however — there’s no telling where the balloon pieces will end up when they pop, and could very well end up in the dog’s mouth and down its throat!

Post from: Blisstree

Simon the Dog’s Revenge

There’s not much more information than that but I would have had to take a snapshot of it too if I had passed by!

As cute as it is, though, I wouldn’t recommend trying to recreate a similar shot. Even if your dog or cat get along with smaller “pocket pets,” it only takes a second for instinct to take over for things to take a tragic turn.

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

Silly Saturday: Cat, Rat, Dog Pileup

Simon has created another animation, this time featuring his “sister’s dog.” The line-drawn pup sits patiently (and at times not so patiently!) under the family dinner table waiting for scraps to fall or be directed his way. With each bite he gets bigger and bigger until he’s unable to make an escape when the time comes.

Our dog Honey is like this — in fact, we call her out little Hoover sometimes because she ZIPS across the room if she so much as suspects food has hit the floor. She’s also been known to beg, which is something that drives me nuts and we try to discourage as much as possible. Since we don’t know her history prior to being with us, and her existing weight issues at the time as well, we can only assume she was treated like a little puppy princess in her younger years!

Chip, on the other hand, has always know that begging isn’t acceptable and we were able to train him early on to not eat something that’s dropped unless we give him the okay. What about your dogs? Are they beggars or choosers?

Post from: Blisstree

Simon’s Sister’s Dog is “Fed Up”

Jazz the dog’s stealthy spot seems to be a popular one – urlesque has a whole list of other pets, including cats and ferrets!

What odd places have your pets found to hide in?

Post from: Blisstree

Fun Friday: Ninja Dog

Coco Conundrum struggles to free herself from the grasp of Tru!

Rick says we need a family dog. I’m a cat person. I’ve never lived with a dog. Growing up, Rick had dogs. He says every boy should have a dog, and according to him, our son is missing out.

Truman says he doesn’t want a dog until his cats “die and go up to heaven.” He worries dogs would hurt his two cats. Our cats were strays. We’re lucky to actually see them in eyeshot of Truman. They are frightened of him, and yet he adores them. He begs me to catch one so he can hold it. When he does, the cat yowls and threatens to rip him to shreds.

If we got a dog, I would be the primary caregiver. I work from home and would be spending most of the day with the pup. I would have to walk him and feed him and make sure he is potty trained. Since I’m not sure how dogs work, I told Rick I wanted to buy some books and take a class before a dog joined our family. And I gave him a distant deadline – Truman’s 6th birthday. But that deadline is drawing near.

Sweet Little Probie needs a home.

The other day the humane society brought an adorable field-breed golden retriever on Rick’s show. Probie is 13 months old and very mild tempered. And he’s adorable. Rick sent me this TwitPic of him. Over the weekend we went to the shelter and visited Probie. He was very sweet with our little boy and Truman enjoyed playing with him. Since we were about to leave town I suggested we not make any hasty decisions. And so we’re waiting. And waiting. And I suspect someone will snatch up Probie before we are (I am) ready for a dog. Which would probably be a good thing. Still, I’m just not convinced I want a dog. And Truman seems lukewarm.

After a few minutes playing with Probie, Truman’s focus immediately turned to the cats. He was smitten. Unlike our strays back home, the kittens there had been around people since birth. They were rag dolls in my son’s arms. One even purred as he slug it around.

Rick rolled his eyes. He says it’s beginning to look like we may end up with another cat rather than a new dog. I think two cats are plenty for this household. Truman says he wants a kitten. And a lizard and a bluebird and a tree snake and a fish and a mouse.

We’ve got about six months before Truman’s birthday. I’m just not sure… What do you think? Can I grow to love a dog like I love my kitties?

Photo, JWJourney

Post from: Blisstree

Dogs vs. Cats – Which Pet to Get?

The six-month old puppy was quite excited, bounding across the grass at the end of a leash held by oldest daughter Malia. President Obama is asked by one reporter “Can you believe the coverage this is getting?” to which Obama replied, “It’s spectacular!” He’s also asked where Bo will be sleeping and the President says he has a bunch of spots inside the White House, though one of them isn’t his bed!

President Obama comments in the video that the only concern they have is that apparently Porties like tomatoes, of which the Obama family is growing in their new organic garden. Little Sasha also adds that he doesn’t know how to swim, and the President says they need to be taught how to!

Bo is a Portuguese Water Dog and was chosen for his supposed hypoallergenic coat, since Malia is allergic.

The Obama family take Bo for his first walk

[image: wikipedia; White House Photo/ Chuck Kennedy]

Post from: Blisstree

Bo Obama’s First Day

The selection of the dog was no easy task, and the nation was just as interested as the Obama girls to see what kind of canine would end up at the White House. After announcing during his acceptance speech in November that the girls, Malia and Sasha, had earned themselves the promised puppy, a Portuguese water dog, was finally selected in January for its supposed hypoallergenic coat.

The Obamas puppy will be coming from a kennel in Texas after it was given back to the kennel from the original family who purchased it. (So it’s being “re-homed.”) The puppy is six months old and currently named Charlie, though the First Family says they plan to rename it.

Senator Ted Kennedy will present the dog to the family, as he’s gotten several of his own dogs from the same kennel.

[source; image: wikipedia]

Post from: Blisstree

Obama Puppy Arrives Tuesday

The Portuguese water dog that the family picked will “be in place” by the time he returns home from a trip to Europe in early April.

A Portuguese water dog was ultimately chosen over several other breeds by the Obama family due to its apparent “hypo-allergenic” coat. However, many people — and doctors — feel that no such thing exists:

“I don’t think there is such a thing as a hypoallergenic dog,” Bowser tells WebMD.

She explains that the major allergen in dogs is a protein found in dog serum, and dogs excrete that allergen in sweat and shed it from their skin. “It also gets secreted into the saliva, and possibly a little bit in the urine,” Bowser says.

Since all dogs have that protein, no dog is completely allergy-free, according to Bowser.

What do you think?

[image: newscom]

Post from: Blisstree

First Family’s Dog Coming Home Soon