Pet a Pit

I am not proud to admit this, but pitbulls scare me. They're the only type of dog from which I can't help but back away. I am stunned by (and admiring of) families that choose to adopt them, especially with children in the house. At a point in my life when I'm thinking about starting a family, I can't imagine having a pitbull around. All that said, I haven't had any bad experience with pitbulls personally. In fact, I have almost no experience with pitbulls, period - other than backing away when I encounter them at the dog park or on the street. The only one I've spent any time with was sweeter and more gentle than many dogs I've encountered. So let me be the first to acknowledge that my hesitancy around them is based solely on media reports and their battered reputation. If you talk to any "pit people," it is clear these animals have so much to offer when handled and cared for properly. Those that do love the breed, love them in a big way, and seem to get a great deal of love from their "bully breeds" in return.

Due to all the misconceptions out there, and especially due to my own, I'm always heartened to see people working to turn those misconceptions around. The Best Friends rescue organization, which took in twenty-two of Michael ViPet a Pitck's pitbulls, has put together a wonderful page of pitbull information that helps dispel the rumors about their violence and aggression. It's a great service Best Friends is doing - both in caring for all those abused dogs and working hard to educate the public. It is clear that pitbulls, like all dogs, come with a unique set of traits and demands, but also like all dogs, they're just looking for someone to trust, someone to love. The tragic part is that pitbulls haven't earned their reputation - we have ensured their reputation by abusing them for so long.

Shop 'Til You Save Animals

'Tis the season to be shopping. Or at least thinking about shopping. Or at least thinking about thinking about shopping. Whenever it is that you do get around to purchasing gifts for loved ones near and far, big and small, furry and smooth, please consider visiting these animal-saving sites: The Animal Rescue Site (check out their "Fair Trade" section for some great non-animal-themed items, in case paw-print aprons aren't your thing), Humane Domain (the Humane Society of the United State's gift site), the ASPCA, and Defenders of Wildlife (for great wildlife adoption packages). You hear it again and again, but it's true: what could be a greater gift than a life saved? I'm not saying hold back on pure pleasure -- go ahead and buy him the combination breadmaker-and-power-saw and her the titanium snowshoes! I'm just saying throw a wolf and a polar bear in there, too.

Important!: Petland and Puppy Mills

The Humane Society of the United States announced today that their eight-month investigation into Petland pet stores revealed Petland's dependence on puppy mills as suppliers for their puppies. Aside from the outright cruelty associated with puppy mill conditions (the dogs used for breeding are usually kept in cages for years with almost no human contact and no other alternatives but to live amidst their own waste), puppy mills only add to the already out-of-control homeless animal population. Think about it this way: with every purchase of an admittedly adorable pet-shop pup, one homeless animal dies.

With the holiday season upon us, please please please, if you're thinking of getting a new pet as a gift, first of all think again and make sure you and the person receiving the pet consider this a "forever" companion, and second, visit your local animal shelter instead of heading to the pet shop. A quick online trip to www.petfinder.com can introduce you to thousands of animals (young, old, big, small, earnest, wily) just waiting for a second chance.

Jet Vets

I just wanted to take a moment to recognize the lengths to which some animal devotees go in order to save an animal life. This is a remarkable story. Sadly, the tiger cub died the morning after her transfusion, but to think of all that these vets gave her in her final hours - including, hopefully, a better association with humans, contrary to how her short life began. 

Dog Pile

There's a new search engine in town and it's gone to the dogs. Dog Pile not only consolidates six different search engines into one "metasearch" engine, but it helps raise money for pets in need (via the ASPCA), too. Bookmark it now!

Massachusetts, Take a Bow (Wow)

In addition to electing Barack Obama to the White House and passing California's Proposition 2, there was another big win for animals this election: Massachusetts voted Yes on Question 3, meaning greyhound racing in the state will be phased out by 2010! Massachusetts, take a bow (wow).

Brave New World

Not only did the United States of America elect their first African-American president last night, who happens to be the Humane Society Legislative Fund's choice for animal-friendly candidate, but the people of California made history of their own, issuing a resounding YES on Proposition 2! Change is on the way, help is on the way. A kinder, more compassionate world is on the rise.

Kind-o-Ween

As cute as our pets can be in their little Yoda outfits and Joe the Plumber masks, please remember that Halloween can be an incredibly stressful time for animals. Here are 10 things from the ASPCA to keep in mind for ensuring a kinder, safer day for your little pumpkins. 

Care About Care2

After having recently signed a petition trying desperately to stop the arial wolf hunting that still goes on in Alaska today, I started receiving emails from an organization called Care2, which turns out to be a fantastic site. Think of it as your online community of people who care - care about healthier, kinder living; about protecting our environment and our animals at home and in the wild; about each other. There are thousands of petitions you can sign and as many tips on how to get started on more caring living. Click here to get started yourself. And don't forget to read about how Care2's President & CEO, Randy Paynter, got started. It's an inspiring story in that we can all find our way to make a difference.

The Whaleman Foundation

The Whaleman Foundation is an oceanic research, conservation and production organization dedicated to preserving and protecting dolphins, whales and their ocean habitat. For information about how you can help save whales and dolphins from all kinds of harm, including whaling in Japan, Norway and Iceland, as well as the devastating effects of noise pollution, please click here.

More on EBay and Ivory

For a little more context, here's the President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, Wayne Pacelle's take on EBay's admirable and it's-about-time decision.

Ebay and Ivory

Thanks to conservationists unwilling to relent, EBay will ban the sale of all ivory products, beginning with elephant ivory starting January 1st, 2009. 

Operation Baghdad Pups

This truly admirable mission began on September 11, 2007, when a plea from a U.S. soldier in Iraq to take his adopted Iraqi dog, Charlie, home with him to the United States became public. It was soon clear that more than a few soldiers were finding meaning and comfort in the abandoned dogs of this war-torn country. Unfortunately, the removal and transport of animals from a war zone are pricey and complex, but lucky for everyone, the SPCA got involved and one by one, these dogs have been making their life-saving treks back to the United States from both Iraq and Afghanistan. To read more about OBP's amazing efforts, click here. To find out how you can help, click here. 

Hear the Pig

Today's Animal in Need: Ivan

Ivan was left in the drop-off cages at the Second Chance League Sled Dog Rescue in Fairbanks, Alaska with no information. The rescue took him mushing on Valentine's Day and he loved it. He's sweet-tempered, too, or in other words, he's a mush of a musher. (C'mon. You saw that coming.) If you'd like to sponsor Ivan, please click here and look for the "Sponsor Me" icon on the top right of his page.

Free Kibble

Let's take a moment to applaud twelve-year-old Mimi Ausland, who figured out a way to provide free meals for shelter animals. Based on the Free Rice model (if you haven't been to Free Rice, you should visit that, too: www.freerice.com), she developed a website that offers daily trivia about animals. For every day you visit the site and play the game, 10 pieces of kibble are donated  to shelters across the country (whether or not you get the answer right!). Click here for a great way to learn a little and give a little every day. 

DO Believe the Hype

I tried to resist the hype for a long time, but I can hide it no longer: I love the dog whisperer, Cesar Milan. His philosophies are so simple and workable and natural - meaning of nature. I'm sure many fans have already bookmarked his website, but in case not, here's his useful "Tips" page (from where you can navigate to all the others). 

Today's Animal In Need: Fred

A possible Lab-Bassett Hound mix, Fred is an affectionate and friendly five-year-old. He needs a bit of work on his manners, but has an otherwise great disposition. One might say he's a maverick, which means he'd never call himself one. He has had a few very small seizures since he came to the shelter last summer so he's now on a mild anti-seizure medication. He may need this medication for the rest of his life, but that will have to be determined by a veterinarian in the future. Fred is neutered and vaccinated. He can be adopted for $125.00. To sponsor Fred, click here.

Pawprints

Click here for a few great tips on how to dispose of pet waste in an environmentally friendly manner. 

Human Society Legislative Fund (HSLF)

In their own words, The Human Society Legislative Fund is "a social welfare organization, working to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office." Although this election season the HSLF's Board of Directors has unanimously voted to endorse Barack Obama, the board is made up of both Democrats and Republicans and focuses not on politics or party lines, but rather the candidate who most effectively fights for and protects animal rights. To find out which political representatives in your area have the support of the HSLF, click here. And consider bookmarking their home page - it's a great and easy way of staying on top of the most important political animal issues and initiatives (like the historic Yes on Proposition 2 in California coming up in November). 

Gag Me With a Leash

A recent graduate (along with my one-year-old collie-husky mix, Safari) of "Adult Beginner" dog obedience class, I've learned a thing or two about dogs that I never knew before. The most striking - and seemingly most obvious - is their instinctual "opposition reflex." Dogs have a natural tendency to pull against any pressure applied to their throat/neck area. So don't be fooled! Your favorite leash-puller will not just figure out that you wan't him/her to heel if you keep pulling back on the leash. He/she will pull tirelessly instead. It's instinctual.

If you're using a regular collar and leash, try short tugs rather than steady pressure. Any time the dog slows down, make sure you shower him/her with praise - but ONLY when there's slack in the leash. Never praise while the dog is pulling or he/she will mistake that for the good behavior. Timing is everything.

You can also try the Gentle Leader head collar. (It comes in several sizes, according to dog weight, and works with any leash.) It's brilliant - both for you and the dog. Designed to place the pressure caused by resistance on the bridge of the nose, rather than the neck, it feels disorienting (not painful, hence the use of "gentle" in the name) enough to get them to slow down. Instead of hurting them or trying to overpower them, it merely throws them off. They learn very quickly not to pull - though you can probably expect a few paw swipes to their face as they might first try to get it off. It's important not to give attention at those times - no coddling (this will only reinforce that the Gentle Leader is a reason to be coddled) or turning around to look (i.e. no attention)! Better to ignore that kind of behavior. Keep your shoulders facing foward and continue walking. If he/she's resisting, pull your pup along with a few quick tugs so he/she is unable to keep clawing at it and follow your example in walking calmly forward. Always reward - BIG! - for good behavior.

The big claim the people at Gentle Leader make is that it enables children and the elderly to walk any size dog with control and comfort. After working its magic on both my 40-pound and my 90-pound dogs, I have to confess, I wouldn't think twice about leaving them in the hands of my ninety-year-old grandmother. Now there's an idea ... I am looking for a dog-walker....

Humane Society Slide Show - Galveston Rescues

If you can muster a little extra might - not because it's gruesome, but because it's heart-achingly moving; you see some pretty compromised animals getting lots of incredibly loving help - please check out this photo album from the Humane Society's rescue operations in Galveston, Texas in the wake of hurricane Ike. It's a good reminder and inspiration.

Today's Animal In Need: Samantha

Samantha is located at the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society in Buellton, California. She could sure use a family (all adults or adults and older kids) to help make her dream come true: Samantha wants to be the biggest loser (she's a bit on the hefty side). Otherwise she's an affectionate, playful girl (she's got a soft spot for cat nip, surprise surprise). If you'd like to sponsor her, click here. (Look for the starred "Sponsor Me" icon to the right under her picture.)

(y)IKE(s)!

At the time of this posting, hurricane Ike is due to make landfall in the Galveston, Texas area at somewhere between category 3 and 4 strength. As a precautionary measure, Galveston has been evacuated. Whatever punch Ike ultimately packs, it's clear that Galveston Island will be hit - and hit hard. Please consider the animals, too, in the aftermath. A good place to begin would be in clicking here to donate to the Galveston Island Humane Society.

Today's Animal In Need: All of Them

I know it may feel like all I've done of late is offer ways for you to part with more money - and I promise to mix in a more varied collection of posts in the coming weeks - but as Ike swirls toward Texas, my heart and conscience are with those families and their animals who are in harm's way. The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1st to November 30th (much later than I thought), so with over two months still to go, maybe it's not such a bad time to be a little one-note here. If you'd like to help not just one specific animal, but all those living in the devastated conditions of these intense storms, click here. The money will also go to victims of storms yet to come. 

Today's Animal In Need: Scarlet

In light of September's turbulent weather, I feel compelled to focus on the states in the hurricane belt right now, so you may see animals from Florida, Louisiana and Texas popping up often.

Scarlet is an Arabian horse who was born with a broken shoulder and consequently has some deformities. She was brought to the Humane Society of Louisiana (Acadia Chapter) in Church Point, Louisiana due to neglect and abandonment. She is a 13-15-year-old sweet-natured mare and deserves to live out her years in peace and comfort. If you'd like to sponsor her, click here.  (Look for the starred "Sponsor Me" icon to the right under her picture.)

Today's Animal In Need: Sapphire

Sapphire is located at For the Love of Cats, Inc. in Marco Island, Florida. She is ten weeks old and had a rough start to life, being thrown against a wall and cracking her hip. The good news is, she has not only recovered, but grown into an energetic, loving lap cat. If you'd like to sponsor her and help her continue to flourish until she finds her forever home, please click here. (Look for the starred "Sponsor Me" icon to the right under her picture.) 

Today's Animal In Need: Charlie

Charlie is a Plott Hound mix located in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. Still a bit bashful, he's come a long way since being abandoned and left to walk the streets on his own. He's safe in a shelter now, making many canine - and hopefully soon, human - friends. Click here to sponsor Charlie and his brightening future. (Look for the starred "Sponsor Me" icon to the right under his picture.)

Sponsor A Pet (Like Buddie)

Have you been feeling eager to help in the efforts to rescue homeless animals but unable to adopt at this time due to living arrangements or allergies or the ark you already have at home? Good news! Petfinder.com has made it possible for you to help save a shelter pet without actually adopting. Click here to view their "Sponsor a Pet" page. If you scroll to the bottom, you can choose a state and find local animals who could use your support, even if you're not ready to open your home. Any size contribution will help and is tax deductible. 

Today's Animal in Need is Buddie (see above). He's located at the Westport, Connecticut Humane Society. You can read about him - and sponsor him - here. (Look for the starred "Sponsor Me" icon on the right under his picture.)

Today's Animal in Need: Hazel's Puppies

This is the first of what I hope will be many posts devoted to introducing you to specific animals out there right this very minute in need of kind-hearted souls. I know I'm more moved to help when I can see where my help is going. So, in the spirit of putting faces on those in need....

Meet five puppies in Georgia (two are pictured above) who were recently rescued from a high-kill shelter. Shortly after their rescue, it was discovered that they have parvovirus, or "parvo," a disease that is often fatal if not treated. They are currently being boarded in Georgia until their health improves. Should you feel moved to see to it that they have every means to restore their health, please send donations of any amount to (please specify that your donation is for Hazel's puppies):

Saving Shelter Pets, Inc

P.O. Box 2942

South Bend, IN 46680

And to read more about Saving Shelter Pets, Inc., a wonderful nonprofit dedicated to saving the lives of shelter animals, as well as promoting spaying and neutering, click here.

28 August 2008

Dear Senator Obama,

Rumor has it you’ll be looking for a dog come fall. An animal-lover myself, I can think of no better way to reward your daughters’ hard work, enhance family life and (I believe in you with great hope!) celebrate your thrilling and historic move into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue than adopting a canine companion. Your girls are sure to gain immensely from the experience. I envy their youth and all that is to come. I got my first dog at age six—a Scottish Terrier named Agatha. I have hardly a memory from childhood that doesn’t feature that feisty, hilarious, adorable little dog. I hope for your girls the same lasting animal love from whatever dog you choose … which brings me to my reason for this letter.

I saw that the American Kennel Club is holding a voting contest in helping you decide which dog would best suit your family, assuming you would be purchasing a dog from a breeder or pet store. I’m hoping you’ll consider—whichever breed you choose—adopting a shelter/rescue dog instead.

As Oprah recently uncovered in devastating detail, puppy mills and their incomprehensibly inhumane breeding practices are sadly thriving across the country. No matter what they tell you, it is near-impossible to purchase a puppy from a pet store that didn’t begin its life at one. If you haven’t seen that episode of Oprah (one of her most important shows yet), you should know it’s truly horrific what these animals endure. Yet still, people flock to pet stores, feeding money to the very businesses that support such intolerable and cruel standards. All of this while millions of dogs in shelters are euthanized every year because no one adopts them. It’s a vicious cycle, one that makes no logical sense whatsoever, but one that can be dramatically changed—even stopped—through one simple gesture: adopt dogs, don’t buy them from unknown breeders and stores. The show upset Oprah so much that she vowed her next dog will be a shelter dog.

I read that at least one of your daughters suffers from allergies. I understand that because of this your situation may feel unique in its demand for a particular “hypoallergenic” breed. However, by using resources, like Petfinder.com, you can locate specific breeds in any shelter nationwide, if that’s what you decide. (Many shelters, incidentally, have purebred dogs that started out in pet stores but have ended up unwanted in shelters once the reality of dog-owning set in.) Petfinder.com is an amazing resource—a place of inspiration and information. I found three of my four pets on Petfinder, not to mention an incredible community of animal advocates. I adopted my youngest dog, Safari, in February from a not-for-profit rescue organization called Pawtectors, which is run by two young vets-in-training during their almost non-existent spare time. These two women have rescued hundreds and hundreds of animals. It takes just a little more effort than popping into your local pet store, but the rewards are enormous! You not only save the lives of two animals (the one you’re adopting and the one that then moves into your animal’s vacated shelter space), but shelter animals (often mixed breeds) are healthier than purebreds, they’re often already trained (or on their way) and they never forget who saved them. Dogs have hopes, too. When you grant them theirs, you can see it in their eyes.

I know you have enough—and then some, and then some more, and….—on your plate right now. Worrying about what kind of dog your family will end up with isn’t—and shouldn’t be—even close to top priority. We need you in the Oval Office! But I do hope as your schedule allows, and as the promise of a family dog is a little closer to becoming a reality, that you’ll consider all of the benefits of adopting a shelter dog. And they really are all—only—benefits. To start, you might even consider making it possible for your daughters to visit with some shelter dogs while you’re on the campaign trail this summer and see how they (and their allergies) like them.

I know you will find the perfect dog for your family. But you don’t need the American Kennel Club’s help. You need only logic and love. Dog adoption is a decision you will feel good about every day, which I imagine isn’t something someone with your level of responsibility will be able to say about all of your decisions! This is truly the kind of change you can believe in.

Thank you so much for taking the time to consider this letter in the midst of all else. We all have our causes, I suppose. This is mine.

Have a wonderful summer—and best of luck in November! You have had (it was a tremendous honor to be part of your primary win here in Connecticut) and will have the enthusiastic support of my entire household—two dogs and two cats included—every last step of the way.

My deepest admiration and appreciation for all you have already done....

Hummingbird by Raymond Carver

Suppose I say summer,

write the word "hummingbird,"

put it in an envelope,

take it down the hill

to the box. When you open

my letter you will recall 

those days and how much,

just how much, I love you.

Hummingbirds in Your Backyard

Inspired by my uncle Stewart's incredible photos from mid-August Maine (and because I've had trouble attracting hummingbirds to my own backyard), I thought I'd share this informative article I found on the Humane Society's website, appropriately entitled, "Hummingbirds in Your Backyard." As you can see, Stewart brings his own creative method of attraction! 

Hay Really Is for Horses

Due to the rising cost of hay, horse sanctuaries, which have been taking in horses from those who can no longer afford to care for them, are now having trouble keeping up with the appetites of so many hungry, hungry horses. Please consider donating to the ASPCA's Emergency Hay Fund today.

Go Green (Be Kind to Kitty)

Also from the ASPCA's wonderful website, here's a list of flowers/plants that have been known to cause symptoms of various unwanted kinds in cats. Just something to keep in mind the next time you bring home something green.

Orange is the New Black

The ASPCA is offering free pet safety packs. Why not enter your information and send away for one? Aside from helpful emergency numbers, you'll receive a compact little sticker you can apply to any door/window of your home that will tell firefighters and emergency personnel the types of animals who live inside so they'll know who to look for. Don't be put off by the prospect of a decal. These are small, fetchingly geometric, and let's be honest: orange has been in for quite some time now.  

Pleasant Hope Isn't Always as It Sounds

On August 12th, over 360 animals were rescued from an animal hoarder living on a rural property in Pleasant Hope, Missouri. At the time of the rescue, Virginia Gambriel had over fifty dogs, fifty-one rabbits, over twenty-five cats, twenty ducks, twenty chickens, twenty-five hamsters, ten goats, six donkeys, one pig and more than one-hundred-and-fifty fish. Many of these animals were severely neglected, starving, diseased and injured. Not the life any animal should ever know or deserve. If you feel moved to help the Humane Society of Missouri with the enormous job of saving and rehabilitating these helpless, deserving guys, you can donate (and learn more about the animals you'd be helping) here.

Ever Wonder What It Looks Like from the Eyes of the Ball?

Absolute Animal

I promise I don't have any ties (familial or financial) to the vacuum cleaner company Dyson. Now that I've gotten that out of the way, I have to wildly praise Dyson's Absolute Animal for a moment. Specifically designed for households with pets, using this vacuum is like pushing a contained pet-hair tornado through your home - in the best possible interpretation of that description. I have two cats and two dogs so I speak with some pet-hair authority (not that this is an authority I'd ever hoped to hold) when I say the Absolute Animal is worth every penny. And it does cost many of them. It's so good I would lick my floor in its wake. Or at least Gene Simmons would....

Gorillas Gone Wild

Incredible news from the Congo!

A Quick Trip Off the Wagon

I ate pepperoni yesterday. I'm not even sure I can say it was by mistake because even as I was tasting and chewing and swallowing those spicy little circles, I was completely unaware of the error and hypocrisy of my ways. 

The setting: a picnic. The regretted consumable: pepperoni and spinach pizza. It was about twenty minutes after I'd consumed one slice of eggplant and one slice of the pepperoni-spinach (the pepperoni was still tingling my tongue just so) when my friend Julie asked me, "So how's the vegetarian thing going?" Immediately, I realized what I had done. "Great!" I said, taking a quick swig of my Heineken to hide my carnivorous breath. "Super."

It probably shouldn't be so surprising that after having eaten meat for thirty-two years, I might unconsciously revert every now and then. A few days before the pizza, I caught myself picking up a piece of bacon from the pile my mother had just fried. I was one finger-release away from popping it in my mouth by pure habit. Something I've done since I was tall enough to reach the kitchen counter: scavenge on my mother's scrumptious dinner preparations while keeping her company in the kitchen. In that instance, I put the bacon down - but I secretly wished I'd realized what I'd done after eating it, not before. 

Other than these two instances, I can't say I've missed meat all that much. Even during Nicholas Kristof's beloved "barbeque season." It remains a decision I feel good about every single day. Which is how I know it's the right decision. And how I quickly overcome any lingering longings.

Proposition 2

An unabashed Nicholas Kristof admirer, I had to share his last column, which is worth a read whether you're a vegetarian or not. In fact, it's even more important for all you meat eaters out there to see this. It will help you eat meat more conscientiously. 

A Horse Is a Horse, of Course of Course

Here are a couple of great links for helping horses be horses:

The Humane Society of the United States - Horses and Other Equines

and

ASPCA: Equine Program: Top 10 Ways to Help Horses

The UNmystery of Big Brown

I don’t usually watch horse racing. I like horses too much. But this year, coincidentally, I found myself at friend’s houses for both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. I still didn’t watch—I merely sat in the room while everybody else did, quietly averting my eyes. But I was there. I was in the room when Big Brown nosed out Eight Belles, and when Eight Belles, moments later, came tumbling down. I was also in the room when Big Brown so decidedly left everyone in the dust at the Preakness, giving hope to the wobbly-kneed industry—the promise of the first Triple Crown since 1978’s Affirmed was again within sight. However, I was nowhere near a television when Big Brown pulled his greatest feat yet: his now historic finish dead last. Everyone—his veterinarians included—seemed stumped. Aside from the cracked hoof he was forced to run on, if no physical ailment existed then how to explain this … mystery? That’s the word I saw over and over again: mystery. Michael Iavarone, the Co-President of International Equine Acquisitions Holdings said, “All we can do is chalk this one up as a mystery and regroup.”

I am no animal expert. I am certainly no racehorse expert (I admittedly wish the sport would just go away), but I have to wonder: if there truly was no detectable physical reason for Big Brown’s pulling back—and surely I hope there wasn’t—did that make it a mystery? Or, more to the point, did that make it the kind of mystery we don’t already anticipate in and expect from animals? Isn’t it, in fact, pretty animal-y to behave unpredictably? Think of Roy Horn’s (of Siegfried & Roy) seven-year-old white tiger suddenly lunging at his neck during a performance and dragging him off the stage “like a ragdoll,” as one audience member described it. Or when, just a few months ago, a grizzly bear named Rocky, known as the “best working bear in the business,” similarly lunged at his trainer, Stephan Miller, fatally biting him on his neck. While surely unexpected, it doesn’t seem so mysterious that if you ask an animal—or human, for that matter—to make his best scary face for the one thousandth time in a row, he might tell you no in the best way he knows how, which in the case of tigers and grizzly bears, can be much scarier than the scary face he was asked to make in the first place. Trainers like Stephan Miller know the risks involved. Miller’s cousin, Randy Miller, who is also in the animal-training business, said, “If one of these animals gets a hold of your throat, you’re finished.”

No matter how tame or trained or domesticated animals are, they’re still animals. So are we. In commenting on the attack on Roy Horn, Penn Jillette (of Penn & Teller) recognized that. “Every living thing goes crazy. Every species. And there’s nothing—no fingers to point.” Yet still, the headlines kept repeating: Mystery Surrounds Big Brown’s Triple Crown Loss. Big Brown’s Story Is a Mystery. Big Brown’s Mystery Adds to Belmont Misery. Why didn’t anyone suggest the possibility that this was Big Brown saying no in the best way he knows how? We don’t know all that goes on inside the minds of animals, just as we don’t inside the minds of each other. The day we do, we will all stop being animals. So who is to say that upon making his turn into that last roiling stretch—a sight that on most days sets his legs afire—Big Brown didn’t catch the scent of a Nathan’s Famous hot dog instead? Not a mouth-watering, desirous scent, but enough of a whiff to give him pause: What’s that? And that this didn’t cause him to slow one small fraction of a hair, but enough for him to take note: Oooo, this slowing feels good. And that in the end, Big Brown didn’t decide that stopping would feel even better. Why has no one wondered if Big Brown simply had a change of heart?

Anyone with a house pet—even the most well-trained kind—can tell you, every now and then, despite knowing exactly what is being asked of him and exactly which yummy treat he will receive in compensation, he simply won’t do it. He’ll run away for a moment, flutter his legs in the air, toss his fluffy head in revelry or defiance or lust, before returning to perform the task properly. As much as this frustrates me in my own dog, Safari, who is still (a little too slowly) learning how to “come,” I can’t help delighting in his moments of disobedience. Because they don’t actually look like disobedience to me—they look like, to steal an image from Leonard Cohen, little cracks where the animal gets through.

It would be hopeful if the horse-racing industry could begin to see their thundering machines for what they really are: animals. Animals are a mystery. Big Brown is a horse. I wish more racehorses were.

Facon

I promise never to use the word "facon" again, but when you've got the words "fake" and "bacon" before you, well, what would YOU do?

It's been a month since I stopped eating meat (except seafood) and I miss bacon. Big time. I gave up meat for moral and health reasons, not because I didn't love the taste of it. Honestly, I love the taste of meat. Barbeque brisket, italian sausage, and bacon, to name a few favorites. So I knew I wasn't going to be one of those vegetarians who replaces meat only with beans and soy (though I do eat more than I used to of both). It was going to be necessary for me to find the best meat imposters out there. I've begun my search and, so far, have three recommendations, whether you're a vegetarian or simply curious about life after meat: Lightlife Grounds, Lightlife Smart Bacon, and MorningStar Farms Bacon Strips.

I've only tried Lightlife (meatless) sausage grounds - in an egg white and vegetable scramble - and it was delicious. Moist, in tact, and sausage-y. The two fake bacons (I told you I wasn't going to use the word again) are very different. The MorningStar Farms Bacon Strips are the smokiest fake bacon I've tried, so if you're really going for that bacon flavor, this one's got it. Lightlife Smart Bacon's strong point is that it miraculously achieves that perfect bacon-y crispiness we all love, so if you're a texture hound, look no further - though it's definitely not so smokey. I should say that the MorningStar Farms Bacon Strips get crispy, too, but not in a quite as authentic way. And you do have to get over the fact that they mildly resemble dog treats. But who's barking, I mean, looking?

Note: MorningStar Farm Bacon Strips are not vegan - they contain egg and dairy products. Lightlife products - as far as I can tell - are vegan.

How to like It by Stephen Dobyns

These are the first days of fall. The wind

at evening smells of roads still to be traveled,

while the sound of leaves blowing across the lawns

is like an unsettled feeling in the blood,

the desire to get in a car and just keep driving.

A man and a dog descend their front steps.

The dog says, Let's go downtown and get crazy drunk.

Let's tip over all the trash cans we can find.

This is how dogs deal with the prospect of change.

But in his sense of the season, the man is struck 

by the oppressiveness of his past, how his memories

which were shifting and fluid have grown more solid 

until it seems he can see remembered faces

caught up among the dark places in the trees.

The dogs says, Let's pick up some girls and just

rip off their clothes. Let's dig holes everywhere.

Above his house, the man notices wisps of cloud

crossing the face of the moon. Like in a movie,

he says to himself, a movie about a person

leaving on a journey. He looks down the street

to the hills outside of town and finds the cut

where the road heads north. He thinks of driving

on that road and the dusty smell of the car

heater, which hasn't been used since last winter.

The dogs says, Let's go down to the diner and sniff

people's legs. Let's stuff ourselves on burgers.

In the man's mind, the road is empty and dark.

Pine trees press down to the edge of the shoulder,

where the eyes of animals, fixed in his headlights,

shine like small cautions against the night.

Sometimes a passing truck makes his whole car shake.

The dog says, Let's go to sleep. let's lie down

by the fire and put our tails over our noses.

But the man wants to drive all night, crossing

one state line after another, and never stop

until the sun creeps into his rearview mirror.

Then he'll pull over and rest awhile before

starting again, and at dusk he'll crest a hill

and there, filling a valley, will be the lights

of a city entirely new to him.

But the dog says, Let's just go back inside.

Let's not do anything tonight. So they

walk back up the sidewalk to the front steps.

How is it possible to want so many things

and still want nothing? The man wants to sleep

and wants to hit his head again and again

against a wall. Why is it all so difficult??

But the dog says, Let's go make a sandwich.

Let's make the tallest sandwich anyone's ever seen.

And that's what they do and that's where the man's

wife finds him, staring into the refrigerator

as if into the place where the answers are kept--

the ones telling why you get up in the morning

and how it is possible to sleep at night,

answers to what comes next and how to like it.

The Post in Which I Prove How Easy It Is to Use Biodegradable Doggie Bags (rocks used for demonstration)

Step One: Insert hand into biodegradable doggie bag (try Bags on Board, which come with their own clip-on containers you can attach to your leash) and pick up unmentionables.

Step Two: Turn biodegradable bag inside-out and tie a knot.

Step Three: Proceed directly to your nearest waste receptacle and dispose now-brimming biodegradable doggie bag.

 

What is Enough?

When I decided (about a month ago) to finally ease into the vegetarian diet I've been contemplating since I was thirteen, my sister-in-law Julie had some very simple, very helpful advice that a friend had passed onto to her. I was expressing my concern about not being vegetarian enough - sure, it's great to give up beef and poultry (I've decided for now to continue to eat seafood and dairy), but what about fish and eggs and milk and cheese? After all, if I'm giving up meat consumption for moral reasons as well as health, isn't veganism even better? I was feeling overwhelmed by all I still wasn't doing. Julie pointed out that making even one change in my diet does make a difference. Doing something 15% is better than 0%. Doing something 40% is better than 15%. As Julie said, this may seem obvious, but it's an important reminder given the absolutely dizzying array of things we are told we should be doing these days (by politicians, advertisements, schools, etc.) to preserve our lives and our planet. How are we ever supposed to keep up? Julie's words reminded me to pace myself. (Thanks, Julie.) Better to begin something as monumental as a new lifestyle with goals that feel attainable and - with time - aim to do even better. 

Speaking of ... PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is sponsoring a "Pledge to Be Veg for 30 Days!" If you'd care to give it a try - for thirty days or forever, for animal-related reasons or not - I'd love your company. PETA's "go veg" website also offers many great tips about transitioning to a vegetarian diet, vegetarian recipes and all the important reasons to think harder about what you eat every day.

Dog Days of Summer

Like many dog-owners, I rely heavily on the versatility and indestructibility of Uber Dog Toy, aka the Kong. My dogs each have their own, though that ownership can reverse itself any time in a single toothy instant. Surely one of the most fun (and let's face it, time-consuming) features of the Kong is its dark and rubbery snack cave - pop a treat in there and your dog will enjoy not only the treat, but the game of getting it out. Kongs even come with their own recipe list - though I have an issue with some of their recipes. They use too much people food (a lot of it, unhealthy), like macaroni and cheese, eggs and yogurt. With a few (healthy and dog-friendly) exceptions - and with total admiration for the hardy souls who make their own pet food from scratch - I believe pets should stick to pet food. With that in mind, try this instead:

IT'S LIKE BUTTA, BABY

Banana

Peanut butter

Dry dog food

Water

Take a handful of dry dog food and place in a bowl of water - just enough water so that the dry food floats a little. Soak for an hour or more - until food is easily mashable and water is almost entirely absorbed by food. Add ripe (or over-ripe) banana and creamy, low-fat peanut butter at your discretion (keeping in mind that peanut butter is fattening to dogs, too!). Mix until it becomes a paste with some chunks in it. (I couldn't bring myself to use the phrase "chunky paste.") Give it to them as is or freeze for several hours first. 

*I highly recommend freezing - especially on a hot summer day and especially if you have to go out for a few hours without your canine companion - as this will provide a great, healthy project. These treats are best given outside or on a kitchen floor that can be easily cleaned. Depending on your dog, they can be a bit messy for rugs! 

**Be sure to feed your dog a bit less at meal time on days when he or she has a food-packed Kong treat - they are almost meals in themselves! 

PUPSICLES:

Low-sodium chicken broth

Water

Duct tape

That's right, I said duct tape

Cover hole on smaller end of Kong with a patch of duct tape. Holding Kong duct-taped-end-down, pour chicken broth-water mixture (whatever ratio you'd like) in through the bigger hole, then freeze. Be sure and remove duct tape before serving!

I also use the above recipe (minus the duct tape) for ice licks on hot summer days. Instead of using the Kong, pour chicken broth and water mixture into a tupperware container instead. Then freeze.

You can also make a peanut butter and water ice lick, though you might want to heat the peanut butter first so that it will more easily mix with the water. Then freeze.

Petcast

This is one of my favorite new discoveries: Weather.com now has a personal Petcast page. You can plug in a few details about your favorite furry friends and find out what his or her comfort level will be in the coming days - chances of precipitation, best time of day to walk, mosquito level, and more. Unfortunately, they only offer petcasts for dogs and cats. So, until Weather.com adds more animal options to its petcast, those of you with chinchillas and newts will just have to do it the old-fashioned way: open the curtains and look. 

Eggs All Over the Place

I swore I'd never have a blog. But the animals (and my dad) made me do it. Let me tell you how.

It all started with eggs all over the place. My dad knew he wanted to be an architect when he was thirteen years old - at least, it seems that way to me. When my dad was thirteen, he painted a picture for art class called, "Eggs All Over the Place." The main feature of the painting is a white house with a wrap-around porch and a stout red chimney rising from the center of the roof. The house, surrounded by a great lawn with people in different positions all over it, sits against a light-blue sky, which is broken up only by the dozens of florescent colored eggs falling from a passing flock of birds. The eggs add an electrifying quirkiness - something along the lines of the frog scene in "Magnolia," albeit less biblical. The dreamy anyworld of the child's mind is unmissable. But the picture is a stand-out even without the eggs. It's the proportional, orderly house that wows, especially considering a thirteen-year-old drew it.

Even in high school I could appreciate the significance of that picture. At sixteen, I didn't have a clue what I wanted to be when I grew up. But when I imagine my thirteen-year-old dad polishing off that last shingle and thinking to himself, this is what I want to do, I imagine him meaning it. After all, he's been a practicing architect now for thirty-five years. Not that I think this makes what he does any better than what anybody else does. I just think it's cool. I think it's cool he knew. And I think it's cool he became.

I am a writer. I love to write. I wouldn't say writing keeps me sane, rather it keeps me necessarily indifferent to what sane is. I wrote my first story that excited me when I was around eleven, too. (It was not called "Eggs All Over the Place," but, man, I'd love to steal that title.) I can't say it was that moment that made me want to be a writer, though. It was more something that built slowly with encouragement over time. All I knew at the time was that I'd written some words that felt like they came partly from me and partly from some much more thrilling otherme. It helped that when my teacher handed it back, it had the word "daring" written on it - a word I can undaringly say has not often applied to me. I wanted to do it again. Not necessarily forever. Just again. Now I want to do it forever.

The only thing I can say I've known with absolute certainty since I was eleven is that I love animals. I don't mean in an I-always-bought-kitten-Trapper-Keepers way (though who would blame me if I did?), but in a way that made me absolutely sure no understood animals like I did; in a way that could keep me up at night just knowing they were in the house (or in the deepest hole in the ocean); in a way that made me first-love dizzy, and still does. Writing is surely my delight - my daring, my freedom. But animals are my architecture. I know I can't "be" animals when I grow up. If I could, I probably would. But I can be near them. I can be for them. Which is exactly what I hope to offer here - ways we can all be for animals. 

As a recently converted vegetarian, as well as the owner of two cats and two dogs, I'm paying extra careful attention to the animal world these days. This blog is my way of sharing what I know and what I'm learning every day - from favorite animal-friendly sites to facts, tips, tricks, hints and products. The way I see it is simple: if I can give animals the same love and respect they've given me (and better yet, if I can help others do the same), then I'll be exactly whom I'm supposed to be when I grow up. 

I wish I'd started this blog-I-said-I'd-never-have a long time ago. But I'm here now. Let's here it for eleven-year-old dreams. And, of course, eggs all over the place.