Oh, to Be a Dog on a Sunny Day

"The average dog has one request to all humankind. Love me."
-- Helen Exley

How could you not love Jimmy Carter, photographed Friday by News Journal staffer Jennifer Corbett? He's a 3-year-old Beagle/Bassett mix owned by John Witt, who adopted him about three months ago from the Delaware Humane Association.

Witt was working on his friends' home along Washington Boulevard in Wilmington. Jimmy Carter was, well, relaxing.

Mary Chapin Carpenter: Animal Lover, Musical Poet

Mary Chapin Carpenter is a singer-songwriter with lots to say, and a big heart for animals.

Carpenter, who just released "The Calling" on Zoe/Rounder Records, advocates for them in her liner notes. She encourages fans to "support your local animal shelters and local animal rescue." She thanks "Brent Jacques of Animal Connections for his help and his compassion toward all creatures that he finds loving homes for; Joey Clark for caring so perfectly for my dogs; the flamigos and the rest of the flock ... and all my love to the critters." That's her with her dog Cal, shot in California while touring in 1996.

You always know the things you're going to get with one of her albums: sophisticated lyrics, great melodies and music, and one heckuva message. On "The Calling," Carpenter has plenty to say in her cerebral and intimate way. She's a coffeehouse folkie who took a detour to mainstream country with "Come On Come On" and other albums, but signing with a less-corporate label seems to have unleashed her true calling.

On this album -- her first for Zoe/Rounder Records -- she rocks harder than she ever has, especialy on "We're All Right," "It Must Have Happened," a la Sheryl Crow with its driving guitar and big drum sound, and "Your Life Story," a Tom Petty-esque uptempo rocker about the legacy we leave.

Her smokey alto has never sounded so confident and beautiful, and shines brightest on the simple, elegant and spiritual "Twilight." Carpenter tells stories and paint pictures -- you can see the location she sings about in "Twilight" that is "down the hill/Follow the path known by heart/Down to the wide open fields."

What you also will find on "The Calling" -- and it benefits from repeated listens -- is a singer-songwriter-poet who is at the command of her art, and delivers a message that has never been so full. And a woman who loves her critters.

Sarah McLachlan and the SPCA

I think this is the Canadian version of Sarah McLachlan's ASPCA public service commercial.

That song and those visuals are very powerful.

Kalmar Nyckel Loses a Crew Member

Clew Garnet who joined Toolbox, the stalwart cat of the tall ship Kalmar Nyckel, was found dead this weekend on Seventh Street in Wilmington. Crew members suspect he was hit by a car.

"He was a cool cat and a smart cat," wrote Sharon Litcofsky, chief mate and boatswain, in an e-mail to the crew. "He was still clumsy like a kitten but he kept Toolbox company. Toolbox is really upset about the kitten being gone. Give her a little more attention this week, please."

Clew Garnet -- named for a piece of rigging on a ship -- was abandoned on the ship as a 3-month-old kitten in February 2006. Freelance writer and former News Journal editor Kathy Ansell writes about him, "With his goofy personality and propensity for performing tricks, the gray-blue male soon endeared himself to the crew, though to some his nickname was 'clueless.' "

He eventually grew to be slightly bigger than Toolbox, and staked out higher perches on the ship than his older furry shipmate. "By the end, Clew was going to become the dominant cat," Litcofsky says.

One of Litcofsky's favorite things about Clew was how trainable he was. When he was "cute and little," the crew taught him how to walk on a leash, how to sit and how to roll over. He also loved to explore ports towns the Kalmar Nyckel reached, sometimes leaping to land before the ship even met the dock.

TV Alert: Dog Whisperer on 'Ghost Whisperer'

Talk about your inspired pairing.

TV's Dog Whisperer (Cesar Millan) plays himself on a new episode of CBS' "Ghost Whisperer" at 8 p.m. Friday. Here's the synopsis from CBS: "When Homer the Ghost Dog returns to Grandview, he walks back into Melinda's (Jennifer Love Hewitt) life by spooking Delia's (Camryn Manheim) normally calm golden retriever, Bob. Worried about Bob's recent change in behavior, Delia visits a local Grandview book signing with Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan. Melinda joins Delia at the signing to see if Cesar can offer guidance on how to cross Homer into the light."

After "Ghost Whisperer," flip the channel to the National Geographic Channel to watch "Dog Whisperer." In "Hope, Maureen, Chloe and Sam," Millan teams up in Tijuana, Mexico, with volunteers from the rescue group United Hope for Animals.

Enjoy all of the whispering.

UPDATE: Hortencia Was Adopted

Hortencia Hernandez, the lovable pug with one eye who was up for adoption at the Delaware Humane Association, has a new home. Kevin Usilton, the shelter's executive director, said she, and another little all-American named El Tigre were adopted, as were several miniature poodles that came from a bad situation in Kent County, Md. Kevin says the shelter had a very busy weekend.

We first heard that Hortencia might have been adopted from Cameo, the nice local artist we ran into the day we were first met Hortencia.

"She must've been adopted," Cameo wrote in her e-mail. "It sure makes me happy to think of her in a new home, living the good life :)."

The 3-year-old pug had been pulled from the Kent County SPCA in hopes of finding her a home here.

Hortencia suffered a trauma to her right eye, and Patrick Carroll, director of development at the shelter, says someone might have poked it out. It's mind-boggling that someone could cause such harm to such a sweet animal. Hortencia could not have been more friendly -- the face kisses were overflowing.

We also ran into a very nice couple with a digital camera -- that was Cameo and her signficant other -- who enjoy coming to the humane association to look at the animals. They're planning to get a dog after they buy a house. Cameo is an artist, and the dogs and cats give her inspiration. I asked Cameo if she would shoot a couple of photos of Hortencia, so I could include one in my blog.

The chance meetup led me to this: How could this couple have such big hearts and someone else be so cruel as to hurt a defenseless dog? It's an answer we'll probably never know.

Hortencia might have found her "forever home," but there are plenty more -- Cameo saw the six to eight tiny purebred miniature poodles on her latest trip -- at the humane association that need a new family. Or visit a shelter near you.

Knut, the Polar Bear Cub Cutie

Tell me you just don't melt when you watch this video. No wonder Germany is ga-ga over watching him online.

Annie Lebovitz has photographed him and now he's going to get his own TV show.

Can Knut T-shirts, watches, calendars, and especially, stuffed animals, be far behind?

The (Honorable Mention) Cute Cats Are Here!

The finalists will be unveiled soon, but in the meantime, you can click through the honorable mentions in Delaware Pets' Cutest Cat Contest. That's Honorable Mention Cute Kitten Minx Land (above).

Look for online voting in the next few days for the Cutest Kitten and Cutest Cat from among 10 finalists in each group as chosen by folks from local shelters and rescue groups, and News Journal staffers.

We received more than 760 photos in Delaware Pets' Custest Cat Contest. Look for final voting soon at www.delawareonline.com/pets

Dog Plays Virtual Soccer

Poor dog. Mean people.

A Treat of a Treat Jar

Everybody has to have a treat jar for their favorite four-legged companions, but why not have one with a sense of fun?

Petmate's Play Treat Jar -- a clear hard plastic with the words "Stay," "Play" and Sit" printed around the bottom -- is perfect. It comes in three sizes -- 34 ounces, 67 ounces and 91 ounces -- and has an airtight lid.

The 34-ounce one was $11.99 at Concord Pet on Kirkwood Highway near Newark.

Odds and Ends and More Trouble

Yes, Trouble was a bumblebee (see March 20 post) as you clearly can see from this additional photo from the Newark Halloween Parade,

And, yes, that's Trouble, too, looking cool in his shades. His human companion, Frank Tait, sent in the photos and this caption: "Frequently making people smile in Newark area is Trouble, Frank Tait's Scottish Terrier."

On the pet food recall: I stopped by Concord Pet on Kirkwood Highway to gauge how much wet cat and dog food had been pulled from the shelves. There are some holes, but there are still plenty of brands, flavors and sizes to choose from.

The folks there said they had inquiries about the recall and whether the brands that people feed their pets are included. But more than visits, she said the phone calls have been constant. The curious thing? People have told them they shop at Petco or PetSmart, but they can't reach a human at those stores. They can reach one at Concord Pet, because the chain is locally owned, and their folks are happy to help.

Photo of the Day: A Guy, a Dog and a Monster

You're looking through photos submitted by readers -- click, click, click, whoa ... a guy in a white suit holding a dog with yellow wings and Frankenstein wearing a "Castle for Congress" button. That will make you screech the tires into a full stop.

The man in the white suit is Frank Tait, who uploaded the photo, who I think is a beekeeper. And his dog, Trouble, is a bee. At least that's my guess.

Frankenstein is Mike Castle -- and let me say, he's got the act down pat.

The three were together for last year's Newark Halloween Parade. Very scary, indeed.

Cutest Cat Contest Update

Many of you have inquired about when we're going to have final voting for the Cutest Cat Contest or when the winners will be revealed.

To be honest, we were so overwhelmed by the response -- 763 photos entered -- that it's taken us a while to get our bearings. That's Paris Kavanagh (above) taking a drink as she waits for us.

We had judges from local shelters and rescue groups in last week to narrow the field to 10 cats and 10 kittens. (The kitten category was especially contentious, but consensus prevailed.)

As soon as our Online folks get the voting ready, we'll turn it over to all of you -- one week of voting online for the Cutest Cat and a separate week for the Cutest Kitten. We'll announce the winners -- and profile each -- in a future issue of Delaware Pets and at www.delawareonline.com/pets.

We'll also put together a photo gallery of cats and kittens that didn't make the final cut, but we're wonderful on their own. Our director of photography and the assistant photo editor were impressed by the quality of the photography. Well done, cat lovers!

How to Deal With the Pet Food Recall

This pet food recall has everyone scared, but fear won't help your pets. Be armed with knowledge.

The recall is widespread. I just opened up the lists of brands -- for dogs (50 brands) and for cats (40 brands). The lists do cover many flavors, sizes and even packaging -- cans and pouches. With Iams and Eukanuba -- two giants -- you have to go through their Web sites to find the affected foods.

Forget calling the hot lines -- interest is high and word is that it's tough to get through. Be prepared to track down information yourself.

Go to your shelves or whereever you keep your pet food. The details you're looking for -- flavor, size, product number -- are on the Web sites and they tell you where to find the product number on the packaging.

Local vet Dr. Jim Berg told The News Journal that a good way to check the quality of a pet's food is to check the ingredients label. He said if dog food lists its main ingredients as non-animal byproducts, it is a lower-quality dog food because dogs do better when they get a majority of their proteins from animals.

If you think something is wrong with your pet, follow the advice that Berg and local vet Kathryn Stoltzfus gave in today's News Journal story: See a veterinarian immediately if the animal shows any signs of kidney failure, such as vomiting. And discontinue using the pet food. Other signs to watch for: increased water intake, increased volumes of urination, unwillingness to eat and lethargy.

There are plenty of brands not on the recall list -- Science Diet has only five flavor/sizes of cat food listed and I didn't see Fancy Feast on the cat list. Some stores are removing unlisted brands as a precaution. Ask at any pet store - Concord Pet is open on Sundays - and they'll likely recommend a temporary replacement.

Quote of the Day

I've seen this before, but ran across it most recently in the Jan/Feb issue of Bark:

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

-- Mahatman Gandhi

If anyone has seen it on a T-shirt at a local shelter, let me know. I would love to buy a shirt. If I found them, I might also give one away through this blog. Too good a sentiment not to share with others.

Meet Murphy Turner

UPDATE: How Could Someone Hurt Hortencia?

It looks as if Hortencia Hernandez, the lovable pug with one eye who was up for adoption at the Delaware Humane Association, might have found a home.

Cameo, the nice local artist we ran into there on the same day, says she visited the Wilmington shelter Friday and Hortencia was gone.

"She must've been adopted," Cameo wrote in her e-mail. "It sure makes me happy to think of her in a new home, living the good life :)."

We met Hortencia Hernandez -- the shelter worker said he had been on a Spanish kick while naming animals -- at the Delaware Humane Association's shelter on A Street. The 3-year-old pug had been pulled from the Kent County SPCA in hopes of finding her a home here.

Hortencia suffered a trauma to her right eye, and Patrick Carroll, director of development at the shelter, says someone might have poked it out. It's mind-boggling that someone could cause such harm to such a sweet animal. Hortencia could not have been more friendly -- the face kisses were overflowing.

We also ran into a very nice couple with a digital camera -- that was Cameo and her signficant other -- who enjoy coming to the humane association to look at the animals. They're planning to get a dog after they buy a house. Cameo is an artist, and the dogs and cats give her inspiration. I asked Cameo if she would shoot a couple of photos of Hortencia, so I could include one in my blog.

The chance meetup led me to this: How could this couple have such big hearts and someone else be so cruel as to hurt a defenseless dog? It's an answer we'll probably never know.

Hortencia might have found her "forever home," but there are plenty more -- Cameo said she saw six to eight tiny purebred miniature poodles on her Friday trip -- who deserve one, too. If you're interested, go down to the Delaware Humane Association, or visit a shelter near you. All of the animals without a home deserve something better.

Would You Wear Your Cat's Hair?

Did you see this woman on "The Today Show" on Monday? I think it took her five years to collect enough hair from her cat.

Would you want a sweater -- or a scarf -- knitted from the hair of your cat or your dog?

It seems a bit creepy to me.

Lassie Comes Home, to DVD

Let's see, "Lassie" has:

* A great family story: Boy loves dog, dog has to leave boy, dog (of course) comes back to boy. (The trailer offers a true representation.)

* Terrific performances, including the two cutest kids you've seen in a while, and the great Peter O'Toole injecting humanity in every scene he's in.

* Awe-inspiring Scottish vistas -- Lassie has never looked so majestic.

* A wonderfully staged scene in the beginning of the movie featuring a fox hunt, a very resourceful Lassie and an even more resourceful fox.

* Lassie. Lassie. Lassie. It's amazing what her handler gets her to do in this movie -- swimming, jumping from building to building and onto a truck, hunkering down below another truck, digging under and jumping over a fence, acting in a puppet play, and much more. And always looking good -- OK, she does get fairly dirty during her journey -- while doing it. She's as wonderful as you remember her from TV.

You will enjoy "Lassie," now on DVD ($18.99 to buy it on amazon; Blockbuster carries a few copies). Just remember to bring the tissues.

Shameless Plug for The News Journal -- It Worked

How do you get your pet mentioned in a blog? Audrey Good of Long Neck discovered that good old- fashioned way: Mention The News Journal.

Audrey submitted this photo for our Cutest Cat Contest and added this note:

"Tuffy" is nearly 5 years old and weighs 22 pounds. He loves to retrieve (a New Journal plastic wrapping tied in knots to give it some weight). He looks forward to this every morning when I bring in the paper. He also loves to go outside and walk on a leash. I call him my "puppycat." He is always by my side. This shelf is his favorite place when I am in my home office typing on the computer.

Well done, Audrey -- and Tuffy!

Meet Mr. Cookies

The last time I went to the Kent County SPCA, I met Mr. Cookies. He's the shelter's resident rabbit, an educator (he tags along for talks at schools) and an all-around good guy who lives just off the shelter's lobby.

Mary Ann D'Amato, the SPCA's community relations coordinator, says he's been so popular, in fact, that he's not up for adoption.

But if you're looking to adopt a rabbit, try the Southeastern Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter of the House Rabbit Society, which operates a shelter in Newport. Call 683-9009 or the society's Web site.

What's In a Cat's Name?

After looking through more than 700 photos of cats -- and let me tell you, that's a lot of cats -- one of the things I noticed was their names. Forget Fluffy and Sylvester and Morris. There aren't even an overwhelming number of Tigers or Tiggers (eight to be exact). A sampling:

* A Paige, a Pebbles (no Bam-Bam), a Peeps and Pumbaa.

* One McNabb, but not even one T.O.

* A Hufflepuff and two Harry Potters.

* A Chowder, a Peach, a Biscuit (with pink friend above), a Cocoa and two Oreos.

* A Skittles, a Snickers and a Cracker Jack.

* Four Gracies and two Georges. (Say goodnight, Gracie.)

* Three Gingers, but no Freds.

* Four Baileys, two of the aforementioned Georges and three Angels. (It is a wonderful life.)

* A Goliath, an Apollo, a Buddah and two Yodas.

* A Neko, a Niki, a Niobe and a Tuki.

* A Rita, a Roxy and a Rosie.

* A Diesel, a Dizzle and a Digsy.

* Two Romeos, but nary a Juliet. (Although, one lovely Princess.)

* And two Troubles, a Got Milk (top photo) and an Elvis who remains in the building -- for now.

A Kiss for Luck

Carol Chrisman lets a puppy up for adoption at the Delaware Humane Association know how much it is loved as it is being held by Jennifer Russell.

The photo was shot at the humane association's Muttini Mixer, a fundraiser that kicked off the Wilmington shelter's 50th anniversary year, at the Residences at Rodney Square. Look for more of Ginger Wall's photos in a photo gallery at the bottom of this Web site, and in the next issue of Delaware Pets -- due in pet-related businesses and shelters starting March 15.

Let's Drink to P2

Karen Spry of Newark sent in this clever -- and tasty -- photo of her cat P2 (the cat's nickname for Paws the 2nd) for our Cute Cat Contest, with this reminder: "It's 5 o'clock somewhere!"

Indeed. A toast to P2!

Put Your Finger on This

The mother of a friend of mine sent her a whole host of these images. I don't know whether the images are painted or PhotoShopped, but either way they are amazing.

Anybody seen these somewhere else?

Send Some Good Thoughts Liberty's Way

The other day I confessed to having a new appreciation for cats, especially after reading so many passionate and touching stories that were sent along with the photo entries in our Cutest Cat Contest. (Please pray for all of the judges, by the way.)

While sifting through all of my e-mail after a week of vacation, I found this note from Susan Cha, who entered the photo above of her cat Liberty:

"Hello! Thanks for putting my cat in the website! All our family members needed that very much!

"She unfortunately had an accident where she broke her bone in the hind right leg (1/25/07). Folks at Lantana tried to put pins to mend the bone, but she developed blood clot (tight bandage?) and had to have her leg amputated. We are all devastated but she is such a strong girl that she will pull through! I just wanted to share her brave story because she deserves to be recognized! Thank you."

So say a little prayer, too, for Liberty and Susan -- that they might find comfort in each other.

When in Vegas ...

The shopping always is great in Las Vegas -- just got back from a golf vacation -- but this time I stumbled across a very cool pet boutique in Mandalay Bay called Lush Puppy. (Love the name.)

The store was fun and quirky -- although a bit expensive -- and the Web site is fun, too. Found this quote there from celebrated pet lover Bob Barker: "Lush Puppy will be the best thing to happen to Vegas since that whole 'Dogs Playing Poker' incident. By the way, spay early and spay often. And don't wear fur -- unless of course, you were born to."

I picked up a dog toy called Ace of Bones -- a plush squeaker that looks like a playing card with bones taking the place of the traditional clubs ($12.75). Also look for it in the next issue of Delaware Pets. Here's a sampling of other items you'll find there:
* Orbee Dice ($18), with this online description: "Puppy needs a new pair of shoes! This dice toy is buoyant, bouncy, durable and mint scented."

* Vegas Cat Collar ($20), with this description: "Ultrasuede and rhinestones make this collar purrfect for your pretty kitty."

* Rub My Belly Tank ($21), with this description: "It's the 'Year of the Dog' and what dog do you know that doesn't like his belly rubbed?"