When I was in vet school, I attended a guest lecture by a trainer for Guide Dogs for the Blind. As a part of the lecture, we watched a video on the training process these dogs must pass. It was unbelievable, what they had to learn and master in order to graduate. "We take this very seriously," said the trainer as we saw a dog being trained to sit quietly in an airliner simulator. "If these dogs don't behave well in any circumstance we can think of, not only do they put their people at risk, ... Read more »
Young Lambs
The spring is coming by a many signs; The trays are up, the hedges broken down, ... Read more »
The Adventures of Doc Slicey: Chapter One
I kicked open the door and saw the dame sitting by my office desk right away. Kiki. This meant trouble. "What are you doing here, kitten?" I growled, putting down my java and sliding my hand to make sure I was still packing heat. The cold steel of my shiv pressed against my palm. "Some hoodlum acting up again?" "We got trouble over in the cell, Doc," she said. "Jerky Maloy got popped in the schnozzle but he ain't cooperating." Doc- that's me. Doc Slicey. I pack a shot of joe in my left ... Read more »
Remind me never to leave for a week again
Two more chances to win a copy of Scent of the Missing! The odds are better each day! Comment for a chance to win! I had no idea my mere presence was enough to maintain the semblance of law and order, but apparently that is the case in this household. I leave for a week, and all hell breaks loose. One: My daughter decided to give herself a haircut. Not a trim, mind you, but a full on what-was-once-halfway-down-her-back-is-now-chin-length sort of deal. She did this with kid scissors. ... Read more »
How to make an awesome movie
I finally got to see How to Train Your Dragon last week. I wasn't expecting a whole lot, truth be told- it was something to do with my kids on spring break- but I was really blown away at how much fun it was. I liked it even better than Avatar. Yeah, I went there. Aside from the fact that I got to see the IMAX version, and I don't know how much that added to my enjoyment, I think Dreamworks finally took a hint from Pixar and focused on telling a really fantastic story. Took those guys long ... Read more »
Call of the Day: International Edition
Before I regale you with today's call, just a reminder the Book-A-Day Giveaway goes all week! Every commenter today before 9 pm PST is entered today in another chance to win Susannah Charleson's Scent of the Missing! Receptionist: Hello, how may I help you? Person: Yeah, I'm in Bangkok and I need to do a favor for a friend. Receptionist: Errr......OK..... Person: So, my friend has a cat and he has a mass on his leg. I want to e-mail you some pictures, pay a consultation fee and have ... Read more »
Book Review and Giveaway: Scent of the Missing
If you've been a regular reader of the blog, you know I'm a big fan of the dog memoir. Part treacle, part drama, part romance, the format is always the same, ending of course with the tearful goodbye to a faithful pup. Susannah Charleson's new book Scent of the Missing breaks that mold in all the right ways. Of course, the requisite components are there: an adorable dog, the initial bumps in the road adjusting to a new puppy, and the gradual coming together of owner and pet. Here's the ... Read more »
Picture of the week
I gaze through the glass Others gaze through metal bars Hoping for a home. ... Read more »
Another company steps up: how i Love Dogs is the change
As part of today's Be the Change festivities, i Love Dogs and pawcurious decided to do a blog post exchange. While you read about this fabulous group's many activities in support of the community, keep in mind they are also making a generous $250 contribution to Pets Without Parents in celebration of today! A big thank you to my very first Official Charity Sponsor! by Linda Chavez, i Love Dogs, Inc. On this special day, in honor of Being the Change, www.iLoveDogs.com and www.Pawcurious.com ... Read more »
Be The Change Extravaganza Starts NOW!
Thank you all for everything. I got a call at 4 in the morning that my grandmother died in the early hours, peacefully and pain free. I know she is somewhere good and she would rather me be out doing something good than sitting in a corner crying. I know this because she told me that herself in no uncertain terms. This one's for you, gram, even if you are a cat person. There is one and only one real message I want everyone to understand from today: You matter in this world. You have a ... Read more »
Life’s too short to sweat the stupid stuff
I was supposed to be in Columbus for Blog Paws this last weekend- two short evenings away, then I would return home to San Diego to resume my regularly scheduled activities. That is what I packed for. Instead, as I touched down in Chicago for my layover on the way to the conference, my phone started ringing. "Gram isn't doing so well," my sister said as I sat on the tarmac. "They don't think she is going to survive the weekend." As we taxied to the gate, the entire plane got to overhear me ... Read more »
Be the Change: Spotlight on K9Cuisine
When I first hatched the idea of the Blogathon back in November, a new commenter I had just gotten to know a little bit sent me a note saying, "Hey, I got plenty of dog food. If you want to eat some for your blog let me know." I told him to send me his most bland vegetarian dog food. A couple of days later, a can of Evanger's arrived, along with what he later confirmed to be the most disgusting flavor he could dig up from his warehouse: unagi and seaweed. "Feel free to try this one instead," ... Read more »
Eyeing you all suspiciously
When I was speaking at BlogPaws I looked out into the group and saw some people looking back, others taking notes, and a third group tapping away at keyboards. In the olden days (you must read this in a geezer voice) that would be a major insult, but I assumed after watching people all morning that the typists were giving real-time updates on Twitter which is actually highly complimentary. Of course, you never know if they are speaking well or poorly of you until you get a chance to check ... Read more »
Take My Widget, Please
Here is the widget that all the bloggers can use for Be The Change on Friday: The BlogPawty is taking place April 21st from 7 pm - 1 am EST. Frugal Dougal has a summary of some of the prizes that will be given away during the pawty, such as a Deluxe Furminator, a $500 web design package, iPod shuffles- just to name some of it. You don't want to miss it! All you need is a Twitter account to play, so if you haven't gotten one yet now's the time. :D ... Read more »
Be The Change: How to Participate
I know some of the details of what we are trying to accomplish here may be a little bit vague, and that is mostly because the details are kind of working themselves out as we go along. At the end of the day, by participating in a good cause- be it by writing, donating, or promoting, you ARE the change. Every piece is important. We selected Pets Without Parents at random during the session as the beneficiary of this particular effort, but to me the act of coming together and making those ... Read more »
Be The Change Challenge
A few months ago, Caroline (aka Romeo the Cat's staff, aka co-founder of BlogPaws) asked me if I would consider being a speaker at BlogPaws on the "Be The Change You Want to See" panel. I immediately said, "Heck yes!" followed up with, "But, uh, why? I'm not entirely sure I qualify." Caroline assured me that yes, they did want me to be a part of the talk specifically because I had zero experience and no clue what I was doing when I started out with the blogathon and Hounds for Haiti. Of ... Read more »
BlogPaws- if you missed it, I’m sorry because it was totally awesome.
You ever come back from a whirlwind event and just kind of sit there slack-jawed, thinking to yourself, "Wow, I can't believe I just got to be a part of that"? That was BlogPaws. I've sat in many conferences in my days, listening to various keynote speaker types tell their story, and every single one of them has some singular path-altering event where the skies parted, the sun shone down, and they knew that their life was about to get really interesting. I know, in that ineffable way one ... Read more »
auf Wiedersehen
As you are reading this, I should be winging in the air over the Midwest on my way to Columbus, Ohio for the very first, one of a kind, inaugural extravaganza BlogPaws 2010! I'm so excited to meet so many of you and put names to the faces I've been speaking with over the last year. It's going to be fantastic. And to those who couldn't make it, there will be tons of people talking about Blog Paws on Twitter so you can follow in on the festivities. If you're going, I hope to get the chance to ... Read more »
