Monday, January 28, 2008

Fluffy the Gray Cat Missing Near Brennan Estates

The cat of a friend of mine is missing. She offers these details:

"Our cat Fluffy is missing. He got out of the house on Friday 1/25/08. He should be around the Clear Creek/Brennan Estates area in Bear off Rt 896. He is a fluffy gray cat, maybe 12 lbs, 7 yo with Fluffy gray fur and a bushy tail. He is timid and would run if chased. ... We are offering a reward for his return."

If you have seen any cat in this area that meets this description, e-mail me at pets@delawareonline.com, and I'll forward the info to her.

Thanks for being the eyes for someone who is so worried.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Another Victim of the Subprime Mortgage Crisis

A fellow editor sent me this news nugget about one of the unintended consequences of the subprime mortgage crisis. It breaks my heart that so many people are losing their homes - and having to give up their pets as well.

"Forget about the lost furnishings and finances, the most pitiful victims of the subprime mortgage crisis rocking the United States are the family pets. Shelters across the country have seen sharp upticks inthe number of people giving up their pets in recent months because they have been forced out of their homes. And - more tragically - neighbors, police and foreclosure agents are finding increasing numbers of pets left to fend for themselves in abandoned homes."

If someone you know finds themselves in this position, please counsel them that the responsible thing to do is to take their pet to a shelter or a rescue group.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Delaware's Top Dogs in 2007


Delaware's top dog in 2007? Make it a retriever, a Labrador retriever. That's Karen and Pete Potocki, of Bear, with their dogs Duke, a Lab, and Lucky, a terrier mix in May at Glasgow Park in a photo taken by Matthew Jonas.

Each year, the American Kennel Club comes out with the top dog breeds for the country, and also by state and city. I thought Delaware's top spot would go to a retriever, but thought it would be the golden, not the Lab.

Anything on the list surprise you? Delawareans love their pugs (a personal fave) and Pomeranians more than they do in the rest of the country. America as a whole has a bigger thing for shih tzu and bulldogs (first time on the top 10 for this great looking dog) than we do here.

If you have a dog on the Delaware list, e-mail a photo to me at pets@delawareonline.com and I'll post it here or in a photo gallery. Include your name and which city you live in and the dog's name.

DELAWARE'S TOP 10
1. Retrievers (Labrador)
2. Beagles
3. Retrievers (golden)
4. German shepherds
5. Boxers
6. Poodles
7. Yorkshire terriers
8. Pugs
9. Pomeranians
10. Dachshunds

U.S. TOP 10
1. Retrievers (Labrador)
2. Yorkshire terriers
3. German shepherds
4. Retrievers (golden)
5. Beagles
6. Boxers
7. Dachshunds
8. Poodles
9. Shih tzu
10. Bulldogs

Thursday, January 10, 2008

What Is It about Dogs and Wine?

I posted recently about the Dog Lovers Wine Club, a boutique winery in California that puts real dogs on the labels and shares the proceeds with animal groups. The downside: Residents of Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey - 26 other states - can't be members. You have to live in a state in which it's legal to receive wine shipments. So find someone in New York or Ohio or Wisconsin who will accept orders for you.

For the rest of us without connections, we have options:

I loved Jim Jim's shiraz ($10.99 and found at Cochran Liquors in Middletown), with a great dog illustration on the label and the screw top. This might be a very good weekend to indulge with a glass or two.


Readers mentioned that Jim Jim also makes a chardonnay and a merlot, and that Red Bicyclette has a little white dog chasing a baguette-carrying man on a red bike.

A reporter from Newsday on Long Island says at a kennel-club holiday party that he/she attended last month, the most-coveted grab-bag gift was a doggie-decorated bottle of Australian chardonnay called Jealous Bitch. Has anyone seen this one locally?

If you need a decanter, check out the selection at Whiskazz and Pawzz in Hockessin. Very cute.

And if wine isn't your thing, one reader reported that Spanish Peaks Brewing Co. makes Black Dog ales that come with "the cutest black paw prints on the bottle caps." The black Lab on the label is Chug, the dog of the company's founder. The company's Web site says it is distributed in Delaware. Where has anyone seen it?

Any other wines or beers with a dog (or cat) theme that you'd recommend?

Friday, January 04, 2008

The Miracle of Pet Oxygen Masks



If you think pet oxygen masks are some unnecessary frill, tell that to the family of this cat who was saved during a fire in Smyrna.

Pets are members of the family. It's that simple. And some concerned animal lovers are doing everything they can to supply Delaware's first responders with equipment to help save pets.

Cheryl Costello of the Wilmington Kennel Club, who has been so instrumental in equipping New Castle County fire companies, sent me a note about this recent save:

"Just wanted you to know that there was another save/assist where an animal mask was used here in Delaware - really is wonderful."

Wonderful doesn't begin to describe it.

Cheryl also let me know that the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Delaware Firefighters placed an order for another 40 sets of pet oxygen masks - small, medium and large - as that group tries to get a set on each firetruck, ambulance or emergency vehicle through its Adopt-a-Truck program.

If you're interested in adopting a station or company, or firetruck or emergency vehicle, call Phyllis Roby at 945-6634 or e-mail her at saveourpets@yahoo.com

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Photo of the Day


If this doesn't make your day, nothing will.

Meet Miso (he's the pug) and Arman (his little companion), both 3 years old, in this great photo taken by News Journal photographer Bob Herbert. They won Best in Show and Best Lookalike - they both wore stripes - at the Hometown Pet Show on Tuesday in Bethany Beach. Arman is the son of Jen and Larry Lee of Wilmington.

Congratulations to all.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Puppy and the Mirror

This reminds me of that old "I Love Lucy" bit with Harpo Marx. This puppy is amazing with how he/she sticks with it. And love the ending.

How are your dogs or cats around mirrors?