surprise kitty CUTE

One Life Saved Two

UPDATE: On Tuesday, with his terminally ill dog's suffering too much for him to bear, Scott Seymore had his heroic dog Brittney euthanized by his veterinarian in Grand Rapids, Mich. Keep reading to find out what made Brittney such a hero.

Scott Seymore has his bulldog, Brittney, to thank for his life. Brittney has Seymore to thank for extending hers.

Two weeks ago, Seymore, who lives in Grand Rapids, Mich., learned that his 9-year-old American bulldog has several cancerous tumors. Seymore's veterinarian didn't think Brittney would survive surgery and Seyore thought chemotherapy would be too hard on her.

Seymore chose medication to ease Brittney's pain instead of putting her down. The vet expected Brittney to die within a few weeks.

Early Saturday, a barking Brittney woke Seymore in time for both of them to escape from Seymour's burning house. Firefighters told The Grand Rapids Press the house might be a total loss.

Just like "It's a Wonderful Life," it's amazing to see how one life - or, in this case, one humane decision - can affect so many other lives.

Godspeed, Brittney. May your owner truly appreciate what you gave him.

The First Words Michael Vick Should Say

Michael Vick, the former NFL star quarterback and the convicted dog killer, left a federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan., early today. The first chance he has to say something into a microphone or to a reporter, his words should go something like this:

"I am sorry. I'm sorry I killed dogs. I'm sorry I had people kill dogs. I'm sorry I abused dogs or had them abused. I'm sorry I paid for dogs to be used in fighting rings. I'm sorry I encouraged dogfighting and attended dogfights.

"All of it was wrong, and I am profoundly sorry for the pain and suffering I and my associates inflicted on all of those dogs."

That would be a start.

Vick left prison this morning to begin the home confinement portion of his 23-month federal sentence for financing a dogfighting ring and participating in the executions of pit bulls who performed poorly in the ring.

Already there is word from the Humane Society of the United States that Vick wants to work with the animal-rights group to speak out against dogfighting among urban teens. Society president Wayne Pacelle told The Associated Press that he met with Vick at the prison after Vick's legal team approached him.

That's another good sign.

After all of those "I'm sorry's" are said and work is done by Vick to speak out against dogfighting, then maybe it will be time to think once again about football. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said as much Tuesday: "Michael's going to have to demonstrate to myself and the general public and to a lot of people, did he learn anything from this experience? Does he regret what happened? Does he feel that he can be a positive influence going forward?"

Goodell will have the only vote that matters on Vick's reinstatement to the NFL. And that won't happen before Vick's time in federal custody ends July 20.

PAWS for People's Boo Radley Dies

Boo Radley, the golden retriever with soft, red fur and a gentle way with people, died Thursday at the PAWS for People office, surrounded by the people who loved him. He was the original PAWS for People and PAWS for Reading dog.

The 11-year-old dog, owned by Lynne Robinson, executive director of PAWS for People in Hockessin, was diagnosed last fall with coetaneous lymphoma.

Boo retired April 26 after six years of service and 3,000 visits to nursing homes, hospitals, rehabilitation centers and to libraries, where children polished their reading skills by reading to him, often as they petted his soft fur.

"Boo was a gentle, faithful and loving companion with an unmatched intuition that made him a remarkable therapy dog," The PAWS staff said. "He will be missed by everyone he has touched."

Boo and Lynne started pet therapy visits in 2003, two years before Lynne founded PAWS.

If you would like to pay tribute to Boo, PAWS for People has set up a fund to memorialize him and to continue the therapy work he was famous for. Send checks to: PAWS for People, Box 1353, Hockessin, DE 19707.

If you would like to send a personal condolence to Lynn, send it to PAWS for People, 14 S. Parkway, Elkton, MD 21921.

Name Your Best Dog Parks in Delaware

We're compiling a list of the best dog parks in Delaware - sorry, nearby Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey, we'll catch you next time - and I would love to hear what you think.

Besides the park closest to your house, where do you love to go with your dogs? Is there a bark park you favor? A park that is a little less crowded? A place where your dog can dip a paw into the water? A park that you enjoy as much as your dog?

Please include the park, why you an dog enjoy it, and your name and daytime phone number, and e-mail your information to pets@delawareonline.com. I'll include your best suggestions in the list.

The Best at The Weekend's Dog Shows

It was a warm weekend for thousands of dogs to perform for the judges and animal lovers at the campgrounds at Lums Pond State Park, but one of the event's organizers pronounced the whole thing a success.

The Best in Show winners for the Wilmington Kennel Club's shows on Friday and Saturday, and the Penn Treaty Kennel Club's show on Sunday were:

Friday: A Doberman - Ch. Allure Blazing Star Allisaton, owned by Julie Porter, Carmen Pitts and Nancy Bosley of Cary, N.C.

Saturday: A smooth fox terrier - Ch. Foxlorr Double Dare, owned by Jane Gardner and Lorraine Gyenge of Newtown Square, Pa.

Sunday: A boxer. The name and owners were not immediately available.

"It was awfully hot, but we managed," said Martha Doerner, co-chairman of the shows and treasurer for the kennel club. "The three days were just a real success and all the exhibitors were thrilled."

On Saturday, a 160-pound Irish wolfhound named Rebel that I met, had just had a couple of water ices to keep cool as he rested in the shade. He is a former competitor, but was at the shows this weekend as a Canine Good Citizen. The 6-year-old pooch from southern Virginia is a therapy dog to people undergoing rehab. (They don't have to bend down at all to pet this gentle dog.)

And I watched the Portuguese water dogs in action. They are beautiful dogs, who are attentive to their handlers and seem filled with energy.

Walk for the Animals Saturday in Rehoboth

Talk some water and a portable or not-so-portable dish if you're participating in Saturday's Walk for the Animals at the Beach.

The two-mile walk - a fundraiser for the Delaware Humane Association - begins with registration at 11 a.m. and the walk at noon at the north end of the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk. On-site sign-ups are welcome. Registration is $25.

For every $10,000 raised, the humane association's spay/neuter team gives a day of free spay/neuter surgeries. That's a win-win for animals and the people who love them.

Sandy Leigh from the humane association says about 200-300 people and their dogs are expected. "And it's going to be such a nice day," she added.

Nice - and warm. The forecast calls for sunshine and clouds mixed, with a high of 83 and southwesterly winds at 5-10 mph. That's especially hot for this time of year, so, if you're walking, you and your dog will need to keep hydrated. Pack a dish and get him or her a drink or two along the way.

A Warning About Lawn Mowers and Hiding Cats

What happened to Mia (right) is a painful and shocking reminder for all cat owners, especially during this time of the year.

Lorraine passed along her sad story in hopes that her pain might not be repeated by another cat owner. Her husband pulled out the lawn mower last weekend and went back into the shed. Their cat Mia crawled under the lawn mower and up into the grass catcher.

When her husband John returned, he had no idea that Mia was in the grass catcher and he started the mower. He heard a thumping.

"He stopped the mower and lifted the bottom and Mia ran out before the blades stopped," Lorraine wrote to me. "It took us an hour to catch her because she was in shock."

As you might imagine, Mia's injuries are many. Her left paw is broken and she had to have her toes amputated. Her right foot is fractured and twisted, and her bottom lip was torn from her jaw.

Lorraine said Mia underwent surgery and is recovering, but it all will take time.

To avoid the kind of horror that Lorraine and John went through, please remember to check under your lawn mower for cats and other small animals - just as it's important to pop your car hood and check the engine since cats love to curl up there, especially if the engine is still warm from running. It's a curiosity that many of them just cannot resist.

Lorraine's pain is apparent, but her concern for others to avoid something similar is abundant: "[It's] a horrifying and expensive lesson learned that maybe another family (or cat) won't have to go through."

What You'll See at the Dog Shows This Weekend

The Wilmington Kennel Club holds it annual dog shows this weekend at Lums Pond. Yes, that's "shows" plural. There's a fully contained dog show Friday, culminating with a best in show top dog. Another on Saturday. And, actually, a third show this year run by the Penn Treaty Kennel Club, based in Downingtown, Pa.

The shows, which run from 9 a.m. until the best in show is chosen each day - about 4:30 p.m. Friday; 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday - are at the Lums Pond State Park campgrounds, with the entrance on Del. 71. Admission is $5 each day; $3 for seniors and children 5 and older; free for kids younger than 5.

The dog shows are a great opportunity to see the best of your favorite breed, or to get a look at a breed you aren't familiar with, says Martha Doerner, the show chairman and treasurer of the Wilmington Kennel Club.

To find out when specific breeds, which can mean anywhere from one dog to 69 (the popular golden retriever), go the kennel club's Web site and click on Friday's or Saturday's judging schedules. Several breeds go at the same time in mostly eight different rings. There are two bigger rings for the breeds with the most dogs.

"It's seeing what a well-bred dog is," she says, "should look like, act like, behave like." Dogs are judged, not against each other, but against the standard for each breed.

Doerner recommends your first stop be the information booth. The people staffing it can not only explain how the dog show is set up and what you can see where, but they also can offer advice on taking care of your own dogs, and information about pure-bred dogs and what the sport of dog shows is all about.

And Doerner also suggests that you talk to dog owners and handlers - after they're finished showing - to get more insight about specific breeds, grooming or handling a dog.

"Once they're done, they're normally pretty open to talking to people," says Doerner, who knows a thing or two about the nerves associated with showing dogs. She has shown dogs for 40 years, and now breeds and shows wire-haired dachshunds. She won't have any of her dogs in the weekend shows because she's so closely involved with putting on the event.

One reminder: Don't bring your dog to the shows. They can distract the show dogs and just cause a general ruckus if they're not used to being around so many other dogs - between 1,100 to 1,500 dogs are showed each day.

The Dog She Fell Into a Well For

roscoe.dan, originally uploaded by jillfredel.

UPDATE: The alert readers are right. Roscoe definitely is a French bulldog. I know that. My notes show that. And I just typed "English," instead of "French."

Now, you can totally understand why Tina Davis fell into a well and had to be rescued by the Volunteer Fire Company of Chesapeake City.

Tina tumbled into a 20- to 30-foot-deep well Wednesday afternoon in Chesapeake City trying to rescue Roscoe, her 4-month-old French bullbog. A friend of hers called authorities for help when Tina couldn't get all of the way out - with Roscoe - by herself.

On Thursday, Tina said she was feeling fine, just some scrapes and bruises - and a little wounded pride. Roscoe, she reported, was absolutely fine - not a scratch on him.

It took fire officials about 10 minutes to get Davis out of the well. She had hoisted herself and Roscoe most of the way up on a rope, but had gotten stuck. Firefighters to the rescue of the rescuer.

From One Porty Owner to the Most Famous Ones

As the Obamas get ready to introduce First Dog Bo (above) to the country on Tuesday, a local Portuguese water dog owner isn't sure it's the right choice for first-time dog owners. (Obama daughters Malia and Sasha chose the name Bo, apparently in honor of their maternal grandfather, who went by the nickname Diddley.)

Ruthann Sydnor sent me an e-mail about her four PWDs (two of them are below).

"Not only are they active and intelligent, but they just love life. However, having had two litters, I know how much work it is and the pitfalls of having puppies.

"I do not like the idea that the first family has picked this breed. It is not a dog for everyone, and never a good idea as your first time having a dog."

Sydnor says Portuguese water dogs have to be watched and kept busy. "They are so smart they can open things you cannot believe could be opened by a dog and they can/will eat anything. As I say it, they are Billy goats. My first eat the spindles on my staircase, they really love wood."

Despite her misgivings about the Obamas as first-time dog owners - albeit with a White House staff who is sure to help take care of 6-month-old Bo and keep him from chewing on the staircases - Sydnor is enthusiastic about the breed.

"Overall, you could not ask for a better dog. They love to be with people, are great with kids and are very active."

Work It Out With Personal Ponies

There's got to be a middle ground between Personal Ponies - and its five Shetland ponies who have entertained so many kids - and New Castle County's concern over liability issues involving the housing of the ponies at Carousel Park. The good news is that both sides will talk Monday.

News Journal reporter Angie Basiouny reported last week that Patty Draper, executive director of the state chapter of the nonprofit group, said she had received notice from the manager of Carousel Park that she must remove the ponies by April 30. County officials said volunteers had tended to the ponies three times in recent months after park hours, creating a potential liability for the county when no employee was on hand to supervise them and watch out for their safety.

"This all was such a shock and a surprise," says Draper, who despite being caught off guard by the move by county officials, wants to keep the ponies at Carousel if a deal can be reached.

Draper is scheduled to meet with Michael Svaby, acting general manager for the county's Special Services Department, on Monday. And she'll likely have Rich Abbott, a former County Councilman and attorney, along with her to make her case. Abbott offered to represent Personal Ponies pro bono.

Personal Ponies is a national group with chapters in nearly every state and abroad. At Carousel Park and at public and private events, the ponies are there for kids - sick, disabled and abled - to pet, groom, feed, lead and even nuzzle - or be nuzzled, as Glory did to Henry Kuratle V in the 2006 photo (above) by Fred Comegys.

Since November 2006 - when the county took in the program free of charge - the ponies at Carousel have touched the lives of hundreds of kids. Here's hoping the two sides can find a way for something good for kids and families to continue.

Is Your Dog Smart?

We all know that Lassie is/was a smart dog. How she knew little Timmy was in trouble all of those times is beyond me, but she did. And Rin Tin Tin was smart and brave. So was Toto. He managed to escape almost everything the Wicked Witch threw at him. And check out the Papillon in the video. Very smart.

So, what makes a dog smart? Is yours a smartie? For an upcoming story in The News Journal, we'll look at what makes for a smart dog, how they learn and which breeds tend to be the smartest.

Send a photo of your dog, tell us what makes him or her smart, and include the dog's name, your name, where you live and a daytime phone number. E-mail all of it to pets@delawareonline.com. We'll choose some of the dogs - and people - to include in our story.

To help get you started, www.petsmedonline.org lists the Top 10 Smartest Dog Breeds in the World:

10. Australian cattle dog
9. Rottweiler
8. Papillon
7. Labrador retriever
6. Shetland sheepdog
5. Doberman pinscher
4. Golden retriever
3. German shepherd
2. Poodle
1. Border collie

Fewer Animals Euthanized at the SPCA

Give the Delaware SPCA credit: When director Anne Cavanaugh was hired in February 2008, she promised to reduce the number of animals euthanized at the shelter, and she has followed through.

The SPCA euthanized 53 percent fewer animals in 2008 at its Stanton and Georgetown shelters than in did in 2007. In 2008, the SPCA took in 5,120 animals and euthanized 28 percent, or 1,434. In 2007, 50 percent of the 6,130 animals the shelter took in were euthanized.

What changed?

In 2008, the Delaware SPCA's board changed its policy, agreeing to euthanize only animals with serious untreatable health or behavioral conditions. The board also lifted the time restriction on how long animals could be kept before they were adopted or faced euthanization. Now, some animals stay in the shelter for six months or more.

You see more scenes like the photo above of Ulises Lopez and Ana Orozco of New Castle getting help from SPCA worker Nicole Mancino as they considered adopting a cat at the Stanton shelter in February.

Credit Cavanaugh, who expects the shelter's record to improve this year, too.

"We are doing very well with dogs - only 10 percent of the dogs we took in were euthanized, despite the fact that we take in hundreds of pit bulls because of our animal control contract with the City of Wilmington," she said in a press release.

Cavanaugh says the SPCA is focusing on reducing cat euthanasia at its two shelters.

It all dovetails with a Delaware government emphasis to reduce euthanizations statewide. To pay for the spay/neuter program in Delaware, state lawmakers put in $250,000 and authorized collecting $3 from pet owners each time your dog or cat goes to the vet for a rabies shot. Your vet is required to collect the surcharge, and that money goes to spaying and neutering in low-income areas.

The premise is simple: Control the pet population - using spay/neuter - before cats and dogs breed, and you can make a dent in the homeless population.

In 2005, Delaware shelters took in 21,062 animals and 13,583 were euthanized. And before taxpayers and pet owners shout about a waste of money, consider this: In New Hampshire - after which the Delaware plan is modeled - the widespread spay/neuter approach there helped save the state's taxpayers $2.5 million a year in shelter costs.

In Case You Missed It

In case you miss winter (doubtful) and especially if you didn't see this photo on delawareonline (likely), here's one of our favorite photos from one of our favorite pet photographers, The News Journal's Jennifer Corbett.

And, yep, that's Jennifer's 5-year-old Himalayan, Fenwick, napping on the radiator throughout the March 2 nor'easter that dumped 9 inches of snow on Delaware.

Jennifer says cozing up on the radiator is Fenwick's all-time favorite winter sport.

Why One Family Loves Their Portuguese Water Dog

The word from the White House is that the Portuguese water dog has the inside track to be the First Dog for the Obamas. We asked readers who have these dogs to send us photos and tell us a little about why they make great companions.

The Browns from Elkton, Md., offered these insights:

"We got our wonderful Portuguese Water Dog almost 3 years ago from a breeder in Jersey...not many breeders in this area. His name is Mako. He's a black wavy (the breed has black, brown and each with white coats of color and coat can be wavy or curly)."

The Browns suggested that water-related names are a good fit for Portuguese water dogs because they are the only breed with webbed feet. The Browns considered Skipper, but settled on Mako since "one of my daughters is fascinated with sea creatures such as sharks."

One of the things the Browns love about Mako is his wonderful demeanor "even with an infant in the house who is now a year old and pulling and tugging on him all the time." They like the breed because it is low-shedding and nearly hypoallergenic (important to the Obamas because 10-year-old Malia is allergic) - and "they're not slobberers."

The Browns sing the praises of Mako.

"He's eager to please, watches over all of us, is friendly yet protects. He's great at following our leads on who is our friend and who is not. He's a gem to train and just an all-around fun great dog ... especially for a family who loves to go camping! Thanks for the chance to share about this wonderful breed!"

Who Has a Portuguese Water Dog?

It looks as if the Portuguese water dog is the favorite to find a new home at the White House.

First lady Michelle Obama told People magazine that's how the family is leaning. She said they plan to adopt a rescue, probably in April. President Obama has mentioned that the Labradoodle is another contender.

Someone who the Obamas know - Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts - has two Portuguese water dogs, Splash and Shannon (a gift from the president of Ireland).

Michelle Obama said she had rejected two dog names - "Frank" and "Moose" - that daugters Malia and Sasha had proposed and told the girls to do a little better.

Portuguese water dogs require a lot of attention, grooming and outdoor exercise - and like their name implies - they love to swim.

So, does anyone have a Portuguese water dog? And if you do, can you e-mail me a photo and a note about why you like the breed to pets@delawareonline.com

And for those who don't have a Portuguese water dog, suggest some names for the first-dog-to-be.

Why Michael Vick Should Never Again Play in the NFL

Michael Vick, who will be released from federal custody on July 20, doesn't deserve a chance to play in the NFL again.

He executed dogs and ordered others executed. He bankrolled a dog-fighting operation. He provided money for bets on the fights. And he lied to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about all of it. Then, when his dogfighting associates turned on him and agreed to testify against him, he pleaded guilty to federal and state conspiracy charges.

On the day of his sentencing in December 2007, the former Atlanta Falcon All-Pro quarterback apologized for his bad judgment and his bad decisions, saying, "Dogfighting is a terrible thing, and I did reject it."

Yet, only eight months earlier, he and two associates in Bad Newz Kennels had executed about eight pit bulls that had not performed well in "testing" sessions, according to the federal indictment. The dogs were hanged and drowned, and at least one other dog's body was slammed to the ground to kill it.

This is a man we are supposed to cheer as he throws a touchdown pass?

Just to listen to the talking heads on ESPN talk about Vick's possible return to the NFL and which team might sign him, is demeaning to those poor dogs and others that were rescued from his 15-acre property in rural Virginia. In December 2008, a Sports Illustrated story reported what happened to the 51 dogs confiscated from Vick's property. Forty-seven were saved (two died in shelters, one was destroyed because it was too violent and another was euthanized for medical reasons). According to Sports Illustrated, some still have extraordinary fears, but other have thrived and one is certified for a reading program in San Francisco called Paws for Tales in which kids practice their skills by reading to dogs.

After that unfathomable cruelty, could you even imagine Vick playing for the Eagles or the Ravens? Couldn't you see the protesters outside of Lincoln Financial Field with photos of the scarred dogs or dead ones on their picket signs? Couldn't you hear the boos as he was introduced or the catcalls aimed at him on the sidelines?

The talk of his return to the NFL is premature.

Vick's future rests in the hands of Goodell, the commissioner who has taken a hard line toward players who get into trouble with the police and especially with repeat offenders.

Vick has to answer for the lies he told Goodell just days before he decided to plead guilty and apologize.

He has to answer for the connection to gambling. The NFL's anti-gambling policy calls for a player to be suspended or have his contract terminated if he "knowingly associates with gamblers or gambling activity."

He has to explain his positive pre-sentencing test for marijuana in 2007, another NFL no-no.

He has to show true remorse - another Goodell requirement - and a sentencing day apology isn't nearly enough.

He has to look Goodell in the face and explain why he killed pit bulls and ordered others hanged, electrocuted, drowned and one even shot with a pistol after losing a match.

For his part, Goodell has said that playing in the NFL is a privilege, not a right. He expects players to behave at a high standard on the field, and maybe an even higher one off the field.

He holds the only vote that matters when it comes to the future of Michael Vick. For those who love dogs and all creatures, Goodell's answer for this season and for any season should be an unequivocal no.

Meet Mr. Puggle

A while back I asked people to send in photos and stories of their designer breeds. I received this great e-mail from Jennifer, who describes herself as "the lady that feeds Mr. Puggle."

Of course, a puggle is part pug (one of my favorites!) and part beagle.

Here's Jennifer's note: "Meet Mr. Puggle, the cutest puggle ever! He is a wild and crazy south side Chicago dog. He has his own blog at www.mrpuggle.blogspot.com Thanks for the offer to feature our designer dogs."

He also offers plenty of items through Cafe Press with his image on it, including this portrait throw pillow ($18.99) and a St. Patrick's Day Classic Thong ($10.99). Now, that's love.

Runaway Horse in Crowded Paris

Garilbaldi, a 15-year-old military horse, threw his rider this week while on duty in Paris and ran through the icy streets, slipping at least once.

It played like a scene from a movie, but with real danger for the horse, for motorists and for those trying to corral it. The police officer in the video eventually was able to hang out of the squad car and bring Garilbaldi to a halt.

"There was no way of stopping him - he wanted to get to his stables," a military official told a reporter.

So he galloped along the Seine and past the Louvre before police could catch up to him and load him into a van. A military officer reported Garilbaldi suffered only minor cuts.