Four-Legged Red Sox Fan a Winner

Theresa Minichiello and her dog - both Boston Red Sox fans - dressed for Halloween and bragged about their favorite team at the same time Sunday at Howl-o-ween hosted by Whiskazz and Pawzz in Hockessin.

Minichiello and pooch must have had a very good vibe, because only hours later, the Red Sox won Game 4 against the Colorado Rockies and claimed the World Series title. Both presumably toasted the team's victory. Hopefully, the pooch got a really good bone to chew.

God Save the Corgis

"The Queen," featuring Helen Mirren's Oscar-winning performance as Queen Elizabeth II, details the queen's public and private response to the 1997 death of Princess Diana. It also features the award-winning turn of Poppy, Anna, Alice, Oliver and Megan - five corgis who always brought much-needed levity to "The Queen" and helped to paint a richer picture of Elizabeth's private side.

The dogs won Britain's first-ever Fido Awards for canine cinematic excellence. Trust me, they had to scramble about in the scenes at the queen's country estate. And as you can see from the still photo above, they love the queen. Elizabeth has owned more than 30 of the breed during her 55-year reign.

Mirren, who is filming in the United States, sent a message praising her co-stars.

"I know one should avoid acting with animals and children, but these little chaps were a pleasure to work with and deserve all the plaudits for their fine performances," she said.

If you have a corgi, send me a photo to pets@delawareonline.com, and tell us what you like about this breed.

One Excited Pug

What Kind of Monster Would Strangle a Dog?

It's a question without the possibility of a satisfying answer: What kind of monster would strangle a dog?

On Monday afternoon, a security camera at a Centreville home on Dogwood Slope Road caught a man in a white shirt struggling with the family's 4-year-old golden retriever Kelsey. At 6:10 p.m. that day, the dog's owner found Kelsey dead underneath a large pine tree. The family's vet determined that the dog died from asphyxiation.

But Kelsey really died from cruelty. From meanness. From someone without a heart or a soul. From someone with a wanton disregard of another creature's right to live.

How else to explain looking into Kelsey's sweet face and deciding that he would strangle this dog that apparently was in his way. New Castle County police have determined that it is a trespassing case, and are investigating because of the violence involved.

If you saw anything unusual on Dogwood Slope Road about 2:40 p.m. Monday or soon after, please call the police at 395-8005. Do it for Kelsey.

The Backstreet Boys Never Had Such Moves

Snowball is all that ... and a whole lot more. Check out the moves - and stay tuned for head-banging bow at the end.

Do your birds or other pets dance, sing or tell jokes. OK, the telling jokes part might be tough. If they can do a great trick, e-mail me at pets@delawareonline.com. If you can point me to video online, do that, and I'll post it in the blog.

Ellen, Iggy and What to Do Next

Here's where I stand: Every creature deserves the best home that can be found.

Maybe it's a rescue placing the creature. Maybe it's one person giving the animal to another. Maybe it's someone taking in a stray. Animals deserve a loving home. Period.

You've heard about the Ellen DeGeneres controversy, no doubt. She adopted a dog named Iggy from a rescue group called Mutts and Moms. The black Brussels Griffon mix terrier didn't get along with DeGeneres' cats and she gave the dog to her hairdresser and her two daughters.

That made the rescue angry because it violated its rules for determining the best home. So be it.
Many of us have taken in pets that others couldn't handle or couldn't keep for one reason or another. I took in my friends' cat Thyroid when they moved to London and didn't think he would survive quarantine. I gave Thyroid the best home I could.

That's what it sounds as if Ellen DeGeneres was doing, too - giving Iggy the best home possible.

A Smiling Dog Story That Will Make Your Cry

Meet Baby, the smiling 8-year-old Chihuahua of the Wilson family. Dorothy Wilson writes that the family rescued her from a breeder when she was about 4.

Baby had her eye removed about 6 months ago, Dorothy reports, when she was diagnosed with glaucoma. As you can see, the surgery had no effect on that smile.

Last Wednesday, the Wilson family's sweet little dog they called the "smilin' chi-wawa" and "lil' smiler" passed away.

"She will be missed dearly," Dorothy writes. But, now, everyone can enjoy that great big smile.

Who Wouldn't Want to Read to Her?

This is Annabelle, who along with her owner, Deanna Pedicone, participate as READ (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) volunteers. Each Monday evening, Annabelle and Deanna go to Woodlawn Library in Wilmington to read with kids.

Each child gets a chance to read aloud to Annabelle or another dog. The kids relax, pet the dog while they read, or lean up against it, and don't have to worry about anyone saying they're reading too fast, too slow or pronouncing words incorrectly.

It's just nonjudgmental reading fun.

Deanna reports that Annabelle will be wearing a new costume for READ's Halloween event from 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 29. And kids are encouraged to come in costume, too. The library will have Halloween-themed books, snacks and craft activities.

For more information, call Woodlawn Library, 2101 W. Sixth St., at 571-7425.

Baby Porcupine Eats a Banana. Really.

This baby porcupine - also called a porcupet - eats a banana. Really.

The tiny squeaks are hiccups.

The video poster writes that his mother was killed when she was hit by a car and he has been cared for by a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Good for her.

The orphan porcupine is now living at a nature center in northern Minnesota. What this proves is there is a place for each creature.

And a place for cute videos.

Cat Photo of the Day

Delaware Pets' Cutest Cat Contest has long since passed, but this photo looks as if it would have made this cutie a contender.

Maureen Moss e-mailed this photo of Abby, whom she adopted through Dumpter Cats Rescue League in Kirkwood. She wrote this bit of background about her beauty:

"Abby was adopted from Dumpster Cats Rescue League about 3 years ago. She has grown to be a beautiful, loving girl."

And curious.

Congratulations, Maureen and Dumpster Cats for making this forever connection.

Why One Family Loves Their Ferrets

Jennifer and I traded e-mail about a pet issue, and in one e-mail she included photos of her family's pet ferrets. In the top photo, that's Gizmo near the dandelions, and the bottom one is Missy, looking exceptionally cute.

Jennifer says they adopted Missy about two years ago from a family that planned to take her to the SPCA. "She is a delight!" she says. They've had Gizmo for about three years.

"Ferrets are a lot of fun," Jennifer wrote. "Both of them have very different personalities. Gizmo is very laid back and, sorry to say, lazy. Missy is on the other end of the energy spectrum. She is always into something. Knocking things off shelves, etc. She is also a huge kleptomanic. We find her 'treasures' everywhere."

And here's a special shout-out to Jennifer's daughter. She's a lover of all kinds of animals, and that's pretty special in my book.

It's Time to Walk for the Animals

One of my favorite pet events each year is the Delaware Humane Association's Walk for the Animals at Banning Park.

It's a place where you meet cute dogs -- Brussels Griffons Horatio (left) and MacDuff -- and really nice people -- that's Arden Lantz of Newport, who is featured in the current issue of Delaware Pets.

Patrick Carroll, the association's director of development, and I were talking about how much we both enjoy seeing so many dogs in one place -- so many happy dogs, I might add -- and so many different breeds. The only other event with so many breeds in the same place would be a dog show, and those pooches are in full competition mode. This is pure fun.

Patrick says the humane association is hoping to top the 600 registered walkers from last year. You can still register the day of the event -- $35 per adult; $5 for ages 6-16; ages 5 and younger free. Kids 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m.; the 1-mile walk at 11:30 a.m.

Delaware Humane has plenty of additional info about the walk on its Web site. Think seriously about spending part of your Sunday to benefit dogs and other animals through the work the Delaware Humane Association does.

Banning Park is on Maryland Avenue in Newport, not far the Wilmington city limits. And on Sunday morning, it will be THE place for dog (and people) watching.

See the Yoga Dog Dish Winners

We found the coolest dog dish -- it's covered with animated images of dogs doing yoga poses -- for the latest issue of Delaware Pets, and offered it as a prize to our readers. The winners, chosen at random, were Deneen and Ron of Wilmington, and their two Jack Russells, Jake and Cody. (Deneen reports they are sharing the dish.)

Deneen found the photo above of the dogs. Here is her cute entry:

"I feel our dog deserves this yoga dish (actually we have 2 dogs). They are both very hyper Jack Russells and on top of them never being able to truly settle down, my husband and I just bought a new home. Of course anytime a pet owner makes drastic changes in the home environment the animals are affected.

"Both Jake and Cody have truly been so accommodating and acclimated fairly well so far to the changes. Now if we could really get them to practice yoga they may entirely relax for a change :)"

Congratulations, Deneen and Ron -- and Jake and Cody. Glad to hear Jake and Cody can share.