Do we love pets more than people?

Dogs have been in the news lately. The cruelty surrounding Michael Vick's dog fighting ring outraged Americans. On the other end of the spectrum, when billionaire Leona Helmsley died in 2007 she left her dog, "Trouble", $12 million dollars but left two of her grandchildren nothing! Most Americans love pets. Do we love them more than we love people?

Americans care about pets more today than ever before. Nearly two thirds (63%) of households have a pet and pet lovers spent $38.5 billion on their pets in 2006 alone. We can only guess that number is still climbing. Research tells us, according to the president of the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 42% of pets sleep in the same bed as their owners. I found no statistics telling what percentage of people are sharing their beds with other humans, but it's obvious that pets are catching up!

Before you start to worry that Trouble Helmsley is going to blow that $12 million on gourmet doggie treats or lose it all in Vegas with some dog of questionable breeding, or worse, fall for some Internet scam, relax. The $12 million is in a trust for the pup and Helmsley's brother is the trustee. So forget about sending your gold digging Retriever to sniff around Trouble.

To be fair, I should mention that the late Leona Helmsley left the bulk of her money (billions) to charity. But she still left $12 big ones to her dog! WOOF!

So love your pets and spoil them like crazy but don't try to turn them into people. Why would you want to knock them down to our level??

Renews My Faith in the Human Race!

When Words are not needed to tell a story....

Furry Fury

I was wondering what I might blog about today. You see, I am a newbie in the world of blogging! Both my sister and aunt are complete pros making me feel a little bit more intimidated.
Eventually I will find my own style and be filled with confidence. I digress.

Back to the question at hand, "what shall I put on this blank canvas today?" As this thought entered my mind I literally looked up at the television that was barely audible to have my eyes completely assaulted by the visual content of a commercial featuring abused and neglected animals. You know the ones, Sarah McLaughlin singing sweetly in the background while they flash the most horrific photographs on the screen.

Now I don't know how you personally react to a commercial like this but I for one struggle deeply. I have changed the channel, muted the sound, left the room, watched them in their entirety and even whipped out my credit card and made a donation. The problem is no matter what action I take, they still ALWAYS leave me bawling and feeling complete rage. I mean the kind of rage I am unaccustomed to. The kind that people must feel just before they commit a heinous crime. Very few things in life fuel my fury like the abuse of animals. WHY? WHY? Even as I write this, I begin to feel that lump in my throat again, the feeling that if I ever came face to face with Mr. Michael Vick, I would actually be capable of doing physical damage to him. No, I am not usually a violent person but the enormous emotional reaction that I have in this arena shocks even me.

So what then, if I watch the commercials I must reapply all eyeliner and mascara of the day not to mention getting through the emotional trauma. Or I can change the channel and feel an overwhelming sense of guilt for not looking. Oye Vey...what to do.

Don't get me wrong, I feel that these commercials do exactly what they are designed to do and frankly I think it is a good thing. To bring awareness to those that have no clue. To provide a visual to those that won't otherwise look. It is painful....It is reality.... It is heartbreaking.

Lets all do everything we can to minimize this horrific act!

Here is a look at the three BEAUTIES I wake up to everyday!

Who is this Mystery Dog and his Man?

Did you figure it out? If so, well done! You know your dogs and their men!
If not, scroll down for another photo hint.
And fear not — those are shorts he (the man) is wearing…

Did you get it yet?
Yes? Good job!
No? OK, another hint:
If the dog had not taken the rabbit made for him by this man out to the garden and chewed it up, that bunny would be worth some big bucks today.
Got it? Yes? No? One last visual hint coming up…

See that black little critter on the bottom of the painting? His name is Lump. That means rascal in German. And you probably can guess who painted this. Lump’s person was none other than Pablo Picasso.
And there you have today’s mystery dog and man!
Lump was a sort of muse for Picasso. The little dachshund appeared in various paintings, including 15 of the 44 studies in Picasso’s Meninas series of 1957. As you may imagine, Lump led a very interesting life with Picasso. He upstaged Picasso’s other dog and his goat. Sometimes he sat on Picasso’s lap and ate off the artist’s plate.
Lump’s eventual departure from Picasso is rather strange and sad. But even though the two were not together for some time, they may have had a deeper connection: Lump died in 1973. Picasso followed just one week later.
You can read more about Picasso and his self-assured little dog in this New York Times article. It describes the book, “Picasso and Lump: A Dachshund’s Odyssey,” by David Douglas Duncan, his longtime photographer friend and sometimes-owner of Lump. If you like dachshunds or this eccentric artist or beautiful photos or odd stories, it’s an intriguing read.

GOT "DOGGLES"?

Sunglasses can put the finishing touches on your dog's summer outfit, and they look so glamorous! But there are more serious reasons to provide sunglasses for your pooch, including prevention of canine eye disease.
Dogs, like humans, are susceptible to a variety of eye problems, some of which are exacerbated by direct UV sunlight and glare. Many dogs are simply photosensitive and squint their eyes in bright light. In addition to eye disease or sensitivity to light, dog eyeglasses offer protection from foreign objects, like dust or allergens entering the eye.
Doggles newest entry into eye wear for dogs, K-9 Optix® are sunglasses, as opposed to goggles. They have a special nose bridge for dogs that accommodates the wideness of a dog's muzzle. The Doggle sunglasses come in three sizes, in copper, pink and silver, and you can buy your own pair to match your canine's Optix.

So get your favorite K-9 a pair today! They will be the bark of the town!

ADOPT A BLACK PET TODAY!

Did you know that black pets are
adopted half as often as other pets?

Below are a few good reasons to adopt a black or black/white Tuxedo pet:

*They are always sleek, stylish and elegant looking.
*They are hard to lose in a snowstorm.
*Black fur won’t show up on your chic black clothing so you won’t need to use a lint roller.
*Statistically speaking, they are just as friendly as other dogs and cats.
*They are happier because they look thinner!
*In many cultures, they are considered GOOD luck.
*They can be slimming when draped over your lap.
*They look great wearing any color of sweater, bandana or collar because everything goes with black.
*They take the longest to get adopted and need your help the most!!!

This is my friend "Smiles". I think he is PAWSITIVELY handsome!