Garage Sale Finds

I decided to go garage-saleing (yes, it's a verb) yesterday, and I took Lily along for the ride. Of course, I went out in search of books, but I wasn't having much luck finding any. I ended up coming home with an old washboard that I bought for $1, a picture frame for Guy, a Shout About Movies DVD, and four new toys for Lily! I figured I had to reward her in some manner for waiting politely while I searched through other people's trash to find my treasures. I didn't actually buy her toys that were meant for dogs, however. At my first stop, I found a very plump stuffed animal that looked perfect for Lily to sink her teeth into. When I asked the woman what it was, she told me her daughter had brought it back from Japan. I didn't mention that I'd be giving it to my dog, but I figure it couldn't be that valuable, sentimentally or otherwise, if she sold it to me for $2. My next stop was a house with a lot of little girls. They had a good stock of stuffed animals, and I found one without any plastic eyeballs or other hazardous small parts. It was a neon-colored monkey, and I got it for $2, yet again. $2 seems to be the going rate for garage-sale stuffed toys. Anyway, when I brought that one into the car for Lily she attacked it right away, so I knew it was going to be a hit. The girls had two other animals similar in texture to the monkey, so after I made my other rounds, I hit up their sale again and bought an elephant and a dog for $2 apiece yet again. One of the ladies there asked me, "Is that for a little girl or a little boy?" I said, "Well...a little girl...that's a dog." Luckily, they laughed, and the girls who were selling their old toys didn't seem too horrified that they'd be subjected to the whims of a canine. I probably couldn't even get one stuffed animal as big as the ones I bought yesterday for the price of what I paid for all of them together, and although Lily has already ripped a hole in each one of her new toys, I think it was worth $8. So, even though I didn't get what I set out to find, I think I can call my garage-sale day a success.

The Dog Whisperer/Miracleworker?

I came home from a long day of work/baby-shower shopping/Quiznos purchasing to find Guy watching an episode of Bones. I decided to join in while I ate my most delicious Prime Rib and Peppercorn sub. It turned out that tonight's show would be my second television dog encounter of the day (read my previous post to find out more about the first encounter). I came in halfway through, but the premise of the episode as I saw it was that a man was murdered by a dog and Bones and co. were on the case. They eventually narrowed things down to a man with a dogfighting arena in his barn. That's when Cesar Milan appeared on the scene. No explanation or "we called in the experts" comment to tell us why he was there -- just Cesar in all his glory, calming vicious dogs with a "shh" and a flick of his hand. To me, the whole scene was a tad ridiculous. The detectives walked into the barn in question with the Dog Whisperer in tow and were greeted by about a dozen barking, snarling puppies. All Cesar had to do was shush them and, voila! Silence! Then, he gave them the typical "down" hand motion, and one by one, the dogs obeyed. I don't care how good this guy is...I just don't think that would ever happen! I wonder how many people will watch the show and go, "Wow! Cesar Milan is a genius! I need him to train my dog!"

Despite Cesar's shameless self-promotion, I did think there was one other interesting aspect of the dog-centric episode. Although most of the dogs shown in the dogfighting scenes were pit bulls, the dog that turned out to be the killer looked to be a German Shephard mix. I had to wonder if someone involved with the show told them to be sensitive about adding to pit bulls' already bad rap. That, along with later scenes of the killer shephard laying with his head in Bones' lap and the forced comments that the dog only killed because his master commanded him to felt a bit too sugar-coated to me. Kudos to Bones for attempting to do something different, but I think they went about it in the wrong way.

Oh, the Irony

As I sat down for my afternoon meal today, I had a choice between watching yet another rerun of a Project Runway I had already seen and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, so I chose the latter. A woman from Alabama was working her way up the questions, and she was about to go for $25,000. After a dramatic commercial break, the show resumed and Meredith Vierra decided it was time for some small talk. She asked the woman about her love of animals to which the woman responded that she raises money for dogs that were displaced because of Hurricane Katrina. Then, back to business. The $25,000 question was something along the lines of "Which breed of dog won the Westminster Dog Show in 2008 for the first time in history?" The choices were pug, beagle, Scottish terrier, and bulldog. I immediately was 99% sure it was the beagle because of all the hubbub after the Dog Show this year, and I was 99% sure the contestant would get it correct because of her love of dogs. She started off guessing it was the beagle, but she decided to use a lifeline to be sure. She spoke with some guy over Skype, and he told her only that he knew it wasn't the Scottish terrier. Not very reassuring. She decided to use yet another lifeline and phone a friend. She read the question to the friend, read him all the answer choices, and...silence. She kept telling him how many seconds were left, and I was beginning to think the call had cut out until he finally spoke up and managed to spit out, "Can you repeat the--" before getting cut off by the time clock. So, our dog-loving contestant was left with nothing. She didn't feel confident enough to take a guess, so she walked with $16,000.

As you probably already know, the answer (final) was, in fact, beagle. The only thing I doubted when I read the question was that they were tricking me by naming another dog show that the beagle hadn't won. I almost had to feel bad for the woman because it kind of made her look foolish after she talked up her love of the canine species, but then again, she has $16,000 more in her pocket than I do, so I can't feel that bad.

Cat Post on a Dog Blog?

This will probably be the only cat-related post I write, but I felt like I had to say something about the kitty I found today. I work at the Carnegie Library in Homestead, and when I got there, I was warned to look out for the cat that kept sneaking into the library. Sure enough, a few minutes later I caught a glimpse of a little beige kitty climbing onto a shelf. One fo the patrons picked him up and put him outside, but I felt bad just continuing the cycle of kicking him out and having him come back in. It's like that old song "The Cat Came Back." Anyway, I eventually went outside and found the cat again. We kept him in the library bathroom while we figured out what to do with him. We found out that it's nearly impossible to get him into a shelter. Animal Friends has a long application/admission process. The Animal Rescue League will keep him for three days and then possibly euthanize him because he had no i.d. tags when we found him (though he was wearing a collar). We might try the WPA Humane Society because I think they said they would take him and only euthanize him if he has feline leukimia or FIV.

Just to ensure we weren't stealing someone's cat from the neighborhood, we took the little man to the vet down the street and had him checked for a microchip (and fleas). Neither were found, so we made some "Found" signs, and I brought him home for the night. Guy is allergic, so he has to stay in our storage area downstairs, but I'd like to think we made it comfortable down there for him. If we don't get any responses from the sign tomorrow, we'll try to take him to a shelter.

But...if anyone would like a loving cat, let me know. He would be a good pet. He doesn't seem to like Lily very much, but if you have other cats or no pets at all, he could be a good fit for you. He's not neutered, but that can be fixed. Ha. Get it? Fixed? Okay, I'm done.

The Verdict

Well, we are not going to be the proud parents of a Jack Russell puppy named Lola anytime soon. Guy and I were strongly considering taking one of my aunt's puppies -- the one formerly known as Coconut -- but after lots of thought and deliberation, we decided against it. There were many reasons for taking the puppy, like the fact that it would be a good playmate for Lily but not too huge for our lack of backyard, it was very cute, and we know its parents and where it spent the first two months of its life. However, after "renting" Lola/Coconut for a little while last night, Guy and I came to terms with the reality that bringing a dog that is 1/20 of the size of our current, extremely rambunctious, dog into the house could be dangerous for all parties involved. Frankly, Lily has bones bigger than Coconut, and it just made us nervous that she would drop one on her head, trample her, or cause other unpredictable freak accidents. Lily would never hurt a little puppy -- all she did was whine when Coco didn't want to play with her -- but she isn't the most coordinated dog and we didn't feel comfortable that we'd be able to prevent her from maiming the little pup in some permanent way. So, we told Aunt Sandy that Coconut would have to be put back on the market. Our search for a playmate for Lily isn't over, however. If Coconut happens to stay at Aunt Sandy's for a little longer and grow, maybe we could still take her, or maybe we will just find the perfect shelter dog. Only time will tell.

Coming Attractions

There's always something dog-related going on in the 'Burgh, so here is a list of some upcoming events that you may be interested in attending:

9/16: Pittsburgh Pirates Pup Night -- last of the season -- 7:05 p.m.
*Bring your dog to PNC Park to watch the Pirates play the Dodgers. Tickets are $20 and portions benefit the Humane Society and Animal Friends.
Info

9/20: Luau for the Animals - Animal Rescue League of Pittsburgh - 6:00 p.m.
*This luau is kicking of the first annual Pennsylvania Week for the Animals
For more information, call 412-635-9439

9/22: Dog Behavior Q&A - Animal Rescue League of Pittsburgh - 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
*Learn from a behavior specialist why your dog behaves the way it does. Humans only.
Info

10/5: Camp Bow Wow 1-year Anniversary Party - 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
*A party to celebrate Camp Bow Wow Pittsburgh South's one-year anniversary. You must be a registered member to attend. RSVP required.

10/11 & 10/12: Pet Expo at the David Lawrence Convention Center
*Pet vendors, demonstrations, ugliest dog contest, and more
Info

10/25: Angel Ridge Animal Rescue's Barktoberfest - South Park Community House - 12:00 - 5:00 p.m.
*Games, raffles, food booths, demonstrations, adoptable animals, and more
Info

Help!

The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem, right? Well, I have a problem. My dog refuses to come to me when I call her. Guy and I live in a townhouse, so we don't really have much of a backyard, and what we do have is definitely not fenced in. Lily has become friends with our neighbor's Goldendoodle, Winnie, and we occasionally let them run off-leash in our yards to let them burn off some energy. They get along swimmingly, and at first, they were very well-behaved, staying relatively close to the houses. Well, as time has gone on, Lily and Winnie have become more and more adventurous and less and less obedient. They now enjoy chasing each other up the hill that lines our backyards and eventually flattens out into a grassy area frequented by deer. While Winnie usually listens to her Mom and comes back, Lily just keeps on frolicking on the plateau until I climb up there and grab her. Today she was especially bad, as she ventured into the woods and into some of our distant neighbors' backyards before I was able to get her. It really bothers me that she totally ignores me when I call her. I yell and yell, and she usually glances at me and then keeps going in the direction she wants to go. I don't want to have to stop letting her run with Winnie because she really enjoys it and it's a good way for her to release pent-up energy, but I also don't want her to run away and never come back or get hit by a car. I've tried rewarding her with treats when she does come, and I never act mad at her when I finally get her, because that's what I've read, but does anyone have any other suggestions for fixing this problem? It seems like it's going to be tougher since she's older and already used to having things her way. I love my dog, but if there's one thing I know, it's that she's an independent woman (translate: stubborn).

How Do Dogs Perceive Time?

I saw this article through a link on Yahoo! and thought it was interesting enough to link to here! Take a look if you have any interest in understanding dogs' concept of time.

http://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/dogs-perceive-time.htm

A Few Good Dogs

My aunt's Jack Russell just had puppies a few months ago, and they will be ready for adoption on September 22nd. There are two females and one male. Their tails have been docked and their dewclaws have been removed. They have had their first round of shots. Here are a few pictures.





If you would like more information or are interested in meeting them, leave a comment and I will get in touch with you.

Makeshift Entertainment

When Guy and I adopted Lily from Animal Friends, one of the questions they asked us was how much we thought it would cost to care for a dog each year. We had no idea, so we said something in the range of $500. The Adoption Counselor was thrilled to inform us that we were delusional and that it costs usually almost double that amount. Despite the advice of a knowledgeable employee of an animal-rescue organization, I didn't quite believe the statistics she gave us until we took our first trip to Petco. I've already written a post on the expenses of brand-name bones, but this time it's the dog toys that were giving me sticker shock. It turns out that buying dog toys is an art. It takes a combination of the ability to predict what type of toy your dog will play with (In Lily's case, NOT the $15 Buster Cube we got her for Christmas that is still sitting in her toy bin, untouched), the penny-pinching skills to weigh the cost of the toy versus its durability (as much as I'd like to buy Lily a giant stuffed walrus, the fact that it will last 5 minutes before it is merely an empty walrus shell deters me from doing so), and the keen eye to spot a good deal (your dog will never know that she's playing with an "unseasonal" Frankenstein toy bought on clearance around Thanksgiving). However, even if you have mastered the art of buying dog toys, there's still the issue of money not growing on trees. Even the most sensible buyer could go broke after a few trips to the pet store. That's why we have had to get creative around the Tarbert household and provide makeshift toys for Lily to play with. For example:

The "page torn out of a magazine" toy or, if I'm feeling generous, the "whole magazine" toy
Durability -- Very low
Cost -- Very low
Time of enjoyment -- at least 30 seconds

The "sock/bandana/anything pulled out of my nightstand drawer" toy
Durability -- Medium
Cost -- Low
Time of enjoyment -- anywhere from a few minutes to a few days

The "repurposed sporting goods" toy*
Durability -- High
Cost -- Low
Time of enjoyment -- weeks

So what if my dog goes to camp and tells all the other dogs that she has to play with old soccer balls and Mommy's panty hose while they chew on shiny new Kong Wubbas? It will help her appreciate the value of a dollar when she grows up. And there's nothing like having a dog that comes when called AND can balance your checkbook.

If you have any ideas for homemade toys, please share. I haven't quite tackled homemade treats yet, but that's next on the list.

*We acquired a large number of old soccer balls from the Brookline Soccer Association. They have lots more that they're willing to give away, so if you'd like any, let me know and I'll give you the contact information.

Sick as a Dog

I've come down with some kind of virus this past week, and I've been feeling pretty ill ever since Monday night/Tuesday morning. In honor of my sickness, I decided to do some research into the meaning of the phrase "sick as a dog." There doesn't seem to be a consensus on the phrase's origin or how it came about, but here are some of the suggestions I found as to its meaning:

-"Could it be that the dog is the only animal that we have the "opportunity" to see vomiting?"

-"It is probably no more than an attempt to give force to a strongly worded statement of physical unhappiness. It was attached to a dog, I would guess, because dogs often seem to have been linked to things considered unpleasant or undesirable; down the years they have had an incredibly bad press, linguistically speaking (think of dog tired, dog in the manger, dog’s breakfast, go to the dogs, dog Latin — big dictionaries have long entries about all the ways that dog has been used in a negative sense)"

-"Because dogs eat just about anything they find, they often get sick. So it's fitting to describe someone who is not feeling well as being "sick as a dog.""

Now I will resign myself to my sickbed and leave you to ponder the situation.

Everybody Poops...But Not Everybody Eats It

You know from my first post that Lily likes to pick up and sometimes eat a lot of random things. One thing I didn't mention, however, was Lily's love of poop. When you live in the wilderness-infused suburb that is Bethel Park, a lot of fauna frequents your 10x10 plot of land, including deer, bunnies, and raccoons to name a few. Lily loves to view the animals from behind our screen door (because we won't let her go any closer for fear of her chasing a deer and never returning or murdering a small, innocent bunny), but she loves it even more when the animals leave so that she can have a nice little snack. We try to prevent Lily from eating the various droppings that are left in our backyard or that she encounters on walks, but sometimes we just can't get there fast enough. I was afraid that this little habit of hers could infect her with parasites or transmit diseases, so I Googled the subject and found what I think is a good article. I've linked to the article below, but I'll also sum up the highlights for those of you that would like to stick to light reading for the day.

-Though some people think dogs eat feces because of malnutrition, there are many reasons why they may do it. It could be a hereditary behavior, something due to anxiety, or it may simply be that they like the taste.
-If your dog eats its own feces or the feces of of a household pet, there are products you can add to the animals' food whose poop is being eaten so that it will taste bad after it is digested.
-Dogs who eat herbivores' droppings do not have much of a risk of acquiring parasites since herbivores' parasites do not transfer to carnivores. However, dogs who eat other dogs' or cats' feces can be infected with parasites and should have regular fecal examinations.

Here's the article: Coprophagy: Preventing Stool Eating in Dogs and Puppies

I didn't verify all of the claims the article makes, so if you know anything else on the topic, feel free to share. Otherwise, I hope this article helps if you've got a poop-loving puppy like I do!

Lucky Paws Resort

This past Sunday, Guy, Lily, and I made our second visit to Lucky Paws Resort's dog park. We visited for the first time in the beginning of August with our friend Jerod and his Weimaraner, Sally, and we all decided that we should go again since the dogs had such a great time the first time around.

Lucky Paws is located in Cranberry/Freedom, PA, so it is about a 45-minute drive for us. The reason we like it so much is because not only do they have a large, fenced-in area for the dogs to run in, but they have a doggy pool, complete with water features and sloped entry so the dogs can just charge right into the water. Admission is $10, and dogs must have proof of rabies, distemper, and bordatella vaccines. I don't mind paying a fee to go there because the doggy guests are much more well-screened than, say, the ones that visit the South Park dog park.

Lily, Sally, and all the dogs at the park seemed to be having a great time on Sunday afternoon. The pool did look a little dirty this time around, but it was probably just from dogs with dirty paws running in and out. It's actually filled with saltwater rather than chlorine so that it will stay clean but not irritate the dogs if they drink a little bit or get it in their eyes. Lucky Paws also provides buckets and coolers of fresh water for dogs to drink when they get thirsty. Overall, it's a really neat place that's worth the long drive.

Here is a video of Lily enjoying her playtime both in and out of the pool.

Monster Under the Bed

When we first got Lily, she was tiny enough to scramble into our bedroom and squeeze under the bed. Here is a funny video of our monster under the bed.

Two Dog or Not Two Dog ?

Guy and I have owned Lily for one year and two months. At the time we got her, I had been browsing petfinder.com and every local animal shelter's website for some time, looking for my perfect companion. I didn't have many specific requirements for what I wanted in a dog, but I knew I wanted to adopt one from a shelter rather than a breeder (I have never had purebred dogs and don't really see a reason to start when there are so many dogs in need of good homes already). I also knew that I wanted one then and right then -- no more dillydallying. Our new home had been petless long enough. After I had finally talked Guy into bringing a dog into our home (he loves dogs, too, but was reluctant to take on the responsibility of caring for one), we went to the township's community day in hope of finding a rescue organization with adoptable dogs. To our disappointment, there was only one organization there that day, and the only dog they brought with them was an older beagle in need of special care. Though he was cute, I knew he wasn't for us. So, I dragged Guy to Animal Friends, determined to come home with a dog. Maybe that wasn't the best attitude to have going into it, but we ended up finding Lily, and I don't regret adopting her for a second (even when she chews up yet another one of my socks).

Now that we've had Lily for a good amount of time and she has grown accustomed to our way of life, I've gotten bit by the "I want a dog" bug yet again. My constant browsing of shelter dogs on the Internet has resumed, and I finally convinced Guy to pay a visit to Animal Friends today to see their residents. My attitude is definitely a little more discerning and a little less desperate this time around, but I still have the same feeling every time I see a pair of puppy eyes looking out at me from behind wire bars. I wish I could save them all, but if I have the ability to save even just one more and bring love and a good home into its life, I feel like I need to do it.

Guy is a little more rational than me. He thinks with his head rather than his heart. He imagines doubling the walks, doubling the times we have to clean up poop in the backyard, and doubling the expenses. I can't blame him because getting another dog would be a huge responsibility, but it doesn't stop me from wanting one. When we visited Animal Friends today, I came back from the adoption area with five or six dogs in mind that I wanted to find out more about and introduce to Lily. Guy found one that he liked, and he didn't really even feel like staying for the meet-and-greet. I pushed through with the paperwork, though, determined to at least make the most of our trip and see if Lily would even get along with Amelia, Guy's choice. Unfortunately, Animal Friends was understaffed, overcrowded, or both, today, because we had to wait behind a few other people who wanted to visit with dogs, and after waiting for 20 minutes, we decided that we had to get going considering it could have taken at least another hour.

In the end, I didn't end up with another dog today, but maybe sometime soon I will. And if not sooner, then definitely later. I'm sure Guy will come around eventually, and we will be able to open our hearts and home to another canine companion.

Here are my thoughts on the pros and cons of getting another dog. What do you think?

Pros:
-Having two dogs means they can have a playmate for each other and spend time wearing each other out.
-We will be able to give another dog a forever home.
-We love dogs, and I'm sure another dog would bring double the joy to our lives with its unique personality.

Cons:
-Extra expense and double the responsibilities regarding cleanup and walking
-What if the two dogs don't get along?
-Will we really be able to love both dogs equally, even though Lily was our first and is very special to us?