Not Enough Hours in the Day!

It seems like I get out of bed, get to work, make a little supper and the next thing I know it’s time to turn out the lights and go to bed ….

I’d always heard from my parents and my friend’s parents that time passes faster as you get older, but I always thought that it was just a bunch of “who-ie” …. But now, it’s happening to me, and I’m that old!!! OH CRAP … I also just realized that I’m in Denial too 😉

The only NON work thing I seem to be getting done on a regular basis is I’m going for walks with my dog. We try to go every day, but when it’s snowing or the streets are sloppy we have to rethink things a bit, and we have to find things to do at home.

I guess I should be glad I’m busy and that I’m able to make all the payments and keep the bill collectors at bay, but I’d really like to take a day off once in a while.

Does anyone else have these “Time Flies” issues or is it JUST me?

Bonding With Your Dog — Monday Funnies

In an effort to get your week off on the right foot … It’s time once again for the Monday Funnies. (I love Family Circus)

How many of you take YOUR pillows for a walk?

My thoughts on the Westminster Kennel Club’s Dog Show

As a dog lover, I try to watch everything on TV about dogs. I have a real thirst for knowledge and the view point of others.

But this year the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was not on my list of things to watch. You see, late last week the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show announced that they were dropping Pedigree Brand Dog Food as its sponsor of almost a quarter of a century.

While it’s a free country, and they have every right to do it, I found the reasoning behind the decision a tad bit strange! It seams that they did it because Pedigree’s advertising direction (focusing on stray and abandoned dogs) is “too depressing” for them.

If you’ve been on a different planet, or just haven’t seen one of them, Pedigree’s more recent commercials focus on pet adoption by using emotional stories that tell about the lives of shelter dogs that have been abandoned, neglected or in some cases even abused.

This direction obviously doesn’t align with the kennel club’s showcase animals. They are into the pure-bred dogs with registered and distinguished bloodlines. (ironically this kind of dog is referred to as having a pedigree). WKC is obviously not about lovable mutts. It seams that they are only interested in and only want the top 1% of dogs. (After all, have you ever seen a mutt class at their show?)

The club’s director of communications David Frei, stating in a recent New York Times article that they want  “…people to think of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show as a celebration of the dogs in our lives” and went on to say,  “Show me an ad with a dog and a smile; don’t shame me” (NYTimes.com, 2012).

David, wouldn’t you say that saving a dog from utter destruction is a pretty good way to have a “celebration of the dogs in our lives?” After all, we can’t all afford a million dollar show dog!

On the other hand, there’s nothing wrong with a few “happy” and “upbeat” ads aired WITH the current Pedigree spots? And, I know they have them, because I see them everyday. The one that mentions nutrition and say something like: “From the tip of their nose to their wiggly butt” comes to mind.

While it’s sad that the show has decided to part ways with Pedigree for reasons that seem strange at best, the worst thing about it is that the adoption ads that Pedigree airs have had a tremendous impact on the numbers of pets being adopted. In 2007, Pedigree received $500,000 in pledges after the ads were shown over the course of the two-day show.

In a time when thousands of dogs are put down every day only because they don’t have a home, we are ashamed and saddened that the dog show has ended its partnership with Pedigree without finding some kind of middle ground. As a result, this puts thousands of shelters and rescues all over the county much shorter on the funds they need and the dogs that need these funds are at serious risk and may not live long enough to find a forever home.

What I find really disturbing is that while they (WKC) finds Pedigree’s ads depressing, they don’t have any problem allowing some of their members to “Breed IN” genetic problems and defects into their lines of “show” dogs. One case was recently brought to my attention through a website I visited.

It was about a merle Collie that is a Best of Breed winner at Westminster and currently ranked as the number one Collie in the USA.  The dog is a merle Collie who was sired by A double merle Collie who is BLIND and DEAF. The dog was intentionally bred so that he would ALWAYS produce litters of all merle puppies.

For those who may not know, “merle” is not a coat color. It is actually the definition of an incomplete dominant gene that controls coat color in dogs. Breeding two merle dogs together statistically results in 25% of the resulting litter being double merles. Puppies that result from double merle breeding are often smaller and the litters will frequently have stillborn puppies.

In most countries the breeding of two merles is forbidden due to the probability of the resulting puppies having severe health problems including:

– Deafness – from birth or will happen as the dog ages.
– Iris Coloboma – part of the iris is missing
– Corectopia – off center pupil
– Microphthalmia – Abnormally small eye(s)
– Anophthalmia – absence of eye(s)
– Blindness – blind from birth or may go blind as they age

(Read the full Story about merles) at: http://networkedblogs.com/tX0sN?a=share&ref=nf )

If you would like to let the club know what you think or if you agree with them, here is the contact info from their website.

Westminster Kennel Club
Director of Communications
David Frei
(212) 213-3212
david@westminsterkennelclub.org

Valentine’s Day and Your Dog

A recent news article said that Americans spend $17.5 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts! Good Morning America says a lot of pet owners not only purchased gifts for their spouses, they also spent a lot of money for gifts for their pets. In fact, they stated on their website that The National Retail Federation expects consumers will spend $367 million on their pets this Valentine’s Day. So, the following questions begs to be asked! Are you spending any money on your pets for Valentine’s Day? If so, how much. (Just a Ball Park number please).

As an alternative to buying a diamond studded collar, a Waterford Crystal water bowl, or Gucci bag for your designer breed why not do something for your dog that it will REALLY love and appreciate?

Instead of spending money, consider an investment of time. Spend some extra time walking or playing with your pet. If you can’t walk or play because of some kind of physical issue just spend a few extra moments hanging out and sharing a little extra quality time! It doesn’t have to be long periods of time either. Just 3-5 minutes several times a day will be greatly appreciated.

Dogs aren’t little four footed humans. They are animals that have been bred to crave human interaction. They don’t care how much you make, what kind of car you drive, or how big your home is! The only thing they really care about is spending time with you. They live to hang out with you and make you happy.

OK, I agree. Buying your pet a gift CAN make you happy. And there’s nothing wrong with buying your pet a nice gift once in a while! But I dare you to spend a few extra minutes every day walking or playing with your dog, and not walk away just as happy!

No matter whether you buy gifts or not, thank you for loving and taking care of your pets and their needs.

Puppy and Baby Talking About Life!

So this is what they talk about … They always stop talking when i come into the room!!! 😉

Do Our Pets Go to Heaven – Editorial

I know, I know … There are several subjects that you are not suppose to talk about in public. Two of biggest ones are Religion and Politics!

But I’ve been looking into this subject for several years and I just want to let you know what I have found, so … here goes!

Of late, it has become a somewhat of a controversial subject on the BBS’s and some of the other social sites whether or not animals (including our pets) will go to heaven when they die.

We’ve all seen those cute dog and cat photos with saying like; If pets aren’t in heaven I want to go were they go” and poems and pictures of Rainbow Bridge and many other things like that. Many people believe that heaven just would not be heaven without animals. I happen to agree, but I also have some biblical proof to back up my position.

First, as a matter of full disclosure, I’m not one who follows mainstream christian teachings. I’m not a “churchy” person. In fact I’m not a member of any church group or organized religion. But I do believe in God, Jesus and the Bible. I believe that God is the Creator of our universe and the human race. I also believe that he created the millions of different species of animals, birds, insects and fish that inhabit our earth. I also believe that he is a Loving God who watches over and cares about all of His creations.

For this reason I can’t comprehend for one second that he would just “allow” any of his creations to be destroyed or that he would simply leave them behind when he calls all of the “true believers” home to be with him for eternity. A Loving and Caring God couldn’t possibly do that!

I also cannot believe that Heaven will only be populated by angels and saints unless that includes animal angels and saints too. From some study of the Bible over the past few years I am convinced that Heaven will be a much better place than we could ever imagine.

I have seen some beautiful places on this earth. Some places we even refer as “paradise” … and the beauty of these places are truly breathtaking. But I can imagine that heaven will be much more spectacular. And with all of our pets there … that will surly make it Paradise!!!

Here are a few passages of scripture that I have found that support my beliefs:

Ephesians 1:10 – King James Bible
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Revelation 5:13 – King James Bible
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be to him that sits on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever.