Animal Planet will be presenting Puppy Bowl IV this weekend -- three full hours of pup-filled action (except for the kitty half-time show) that will air just hours before the Super Bowl starts on Sunday.

The puppies featured in Puppy Bowl are from shelters, and the show contains information on how viewers can adopt rescued puppies and help their local shelter. It airs from 3 to 6 p.m.

The first Puppy Bowl was shown in 2005, and Puppy Bowl II (in three airings) drew 5 million viewers, the Animal Planet network says.

Puppy Bowl IV won't have near the media hype of Super Bowl XLII -- or a halftime show featuring Tom Petty -- but it will be the first Puppy Bowl broadcast in high-definition. Here's a taste of what it's all about, from the introduction to last year's Puppy Bowl III.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

Just a little P.S. to that last post: Thursday night is the last night one can legally smoke in a bar in Baltimore. (I bemoan that fact in an essay in today's Sun -- one that's bound to be quite unpopular.)

For you non-smokers, have no fear: The Sly Fox Pub on Fort Avenue -- the site of tomorrow night's fund-raiser for the planned Locust Point Dog Park -- is already non-smoking.

For you smokers, well, maybe we can meet outside and discuss plans for a smoker park -- a place where one can unleash his or her desires, light up and run free -- no rules, no judgments, no responsibilities, except, of course, for disposing of our waste.

For as any responsible, smoking, dog owner knows, in addition to watching one's dog's butt, one must also watch their own.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

What can you do to help bring a dog park to Locust Point?

Go out tomorrow night and have a drink.

Life isn’t that easy, of course, and neither is bringing a dog park into existence, especially in Baltimore, a city that sports exactly one – the Canton Dog Park.

But a long-running attempt to bring a dog park to Latrobe Park -- a fenced area in which dogs can run and play unleashed -- is moving ahead, with a fundraiser scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at The Sly Fox Pub, 823 E. Fort Ave.

Barbara Wilson, a Locust Point resident who’s now helping lead the effort, said Thursday night’s fundraiser will be the third. So far about $3,800 of the needed $60,000 has been raised.

The group has a web site: locustpointdogpark.org

And, in a show of good faith, it's already tidying up the park -- as it will be required to do once it actually exists. Volunteers meet there every first Saturday of the month at 10 a.m.

At the Sly Fox Thursday night, all drinks will be $3; and some food items are 1/2 price. There will also be raffles and dog gear for sale. While dogs aren't permitted, the organizers urge you to bring your dog photos and stories along, and they're urging folks in the nearby Riverside and Federal Hill neighborhoods -- both dogparkless -- to join in, too.

Wilson took over the helm of the group after moving to Locust Point a year ago from Gaithersburg, where she lived next door to a dog park. “Since October, it has been full steam ahead,” she said. While the city still needs to give the plan final approval, Wilson is hoping construction can begin by spring.

The city’s application process for a dog park is an arduous one, requiring approval from the community association, and the establishment of a nonprofit “friends of the park group” that is responsible for footing the entire bill and maintaining the park. Wilson says it will be worth the effort.

"Dog parks provide a safe and clean place for dogs to interact, and they lead to happier and more obedient dogs, which in a neighborhood as tight as this one is important. It's a stress-free place for them to play."

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Michael Vick, and in more ways than one.

In addition to serving a 23-month sentence for his role in the dogfighting ring operating on his 15-acre Virginia property, the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback was ordered to pay almost $1 million for the care of the dogs.

(On top of that, Vick faces an April 2 trial in Virginia on state dog-fighting charges.)

Most rescue groups received $5,000 per adoptable dog, according to a story on National Geographic's website.

Best Friends, the Utah animal sanctuary that allowed the media access to the dogs yesterday, received $18,275 per dog, because the 22 animals it received were the toughest cases and, it was thought, would spend a lot of time -- in some cases the rest of their lives -- there.

The other non-profit animal rescue organizations to which the federal court sent Vick's dogs -- all of which depend at least in part on public donations -- are Animal Rescue of Tidewater in Chesapeake, Virginia; BAD RAP in Oakland, California; Georgia SPCA in Suwanee; Our Pack in San Francisco; Richmond Animal League in Virginia; SPCA of Monterey County in California; and Recycled Love, Inc. in Baltimore.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 6:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

This video of Michael Vick's dogs, "B-Roll" filmed by the National Geographic Channel, provides a behind the scenes look at how the dogs seized from the former NFL quarterback's dogfighting ring are readjusting to a kinder and gentler life at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.

It was provided to the Mutts blog by Best Friends, and is used with the permission of National Geographic.

You'll see some of it again this summer (if you have Comcast digital cable) when the National Geographic Channel airs a segment of its new series Dogtown that will be devoted to the 22 pitbull type dogs that the federal courts sent to Best Friends.

Dogtown focuses on the stories of the canines who have come to live at Best Friends.

The Vick dogs at Best Friends were among 47 survivors of the dogfighting ring that operated out of Vick's Virginia estate.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Best Friends Animal Society released these photos today of some of the 22 Michael Vick dogs that are being cared for by the animal sanctuary. That's Little Red above, looking like she managed to outlast her caretaker.

Suddenly, they don't look so vicious, do they?

All these photos were taken for Best Friends by Molly Wald, and they are reprinted here with the permission of Best Friends Animal Society. The society introduced the Vick dogs to the public for the first time at a press conference today at its sanctuary in southern Utah.

Vick dogs have been at Best Friends for almost a month, where they are receiving individualized attention aimed at socializing them and negating the effects of the time they spent in the former NFL quarterback's dogfighting operation in Virginia.

While some will live out their lives at the sanctuary; others are expected to be put up for adoption. Until then, they are enjoying good food, lots of exercise, and much attention in an effort to move them beyond their haunting past.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 4:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)
        

Tug gets his name because that's his favorite thing to do, say his new caretakers at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

"He may have been a fighting dog, but when Tug arrived at the sanctuary, he didn't want to hurt anybody; he just didn't want anybody to hurt him. He's still afraid of loud noises and camera flashes," Best Friends says in its introduction to Tug, published on its website today.

Tug is one of the 22 dogs who came to Best Friends from the estate of former NFL quarterback, Michael Vick.

Best Friends allowed the news media to meet the dogs for the first time today.

Caregivers take him for walks with an "easy walk harness" that keeps him from pulling them down the road, and they're looking into a scooter wagon so he can actually pull his caregivers on rides, the organization said.

To read more about Tug, or sponsor him, click here.

(Photo courtesy of Best Friends)

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Little Red arrived at Best Friends with her face covered in scars, and her teeth filed down -- an indication that she was used as a "bait dog" in former NFL quarterback Michael Vick's dogfighting operation.

Dogs that seem less tough and aggressive are often turned into bait dogs, used by fighting dogs for what amounts to little more than target practice.

She's one of the 22 Vick dogs sent to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. The "Vicktory Dogs," were introduced to the news media today.

Little Red arrived at Best Friends scared of everybody, Best Friends reported on its website today: "If you walked up to her, she would quickly scurry away in fear. But then, after just a few weeks at the sanctuary, something incredible happened. Little Red smiled. She actually smiled ... Now, when she sees her caregivers coming, she runs toward them instead of away."

If you're interested in sponsoring Little Red, click here

                                                                                                (Photo courtesy of Best Friends)

Posted by John Woestendiek at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

(Photo courtesy of Best Friends)

Today, the blinders come off, and the 22 pit bulls at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary -- seized from Michael Vick's dogfighting operation and kept under wraps in accordance with court orders -- will meet the press.

Stay tuned -- we'll do our best to bring you the news as it unfolds in Kanab, Utah.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Baltimore Sun Photo by Algerina Perna

Like Hector in northern California, Daisy and Lili -- two more of the dogs seized from the dogfighting operation of Michael Vick -- have settled comfortably into a foster home in Western Maryland.

As Matt Dolan reports in today's Sun, the dogs arrived last month at the home of Catalina Stirling, a longtime animal advocate, and are still shaking off their traumatic experience.

The two -- that's Daisy in the photo above with her new foster family -- are among three Vick dogs the federal courts turned over to the Baltimore rescue organization Recycled Love. The third remains in foster care in the Baltimore area.

Lili was so skittish that Stirling spent days trying to persuade the dog to go on a walk, but now the strolls outside are the brightest part of her days, said Stirling.

She and her husband have two young children, but said they had no qualms about taking in Daisy and Lili after meeting them in a Washington shelter.

The pit bulls, she said, are kept in a finished basement in the home with ample time for play in the family's backyard and two long walks a day in the neighborhood. The family has two other dogs, including a blind cocker spaniel.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 8:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Hector -- one of about 50 pit bulls that were subjected to lives of cages, torture and violence on the estate of Michael Vick -- now enjoys a rhinestone collar, classical music, peanut butter chews and a loving foster home in California, according an Associated Press story about his transition.

The 52-pound dog, who still bears scars from his previous life, is shown here at his new home -- that of Leslie Nuccio's and her roommate, Danielle White and their three other dogs.

"I wish he could let us know what happened to him," Nuccio, the big tan dog's foster mother said of the dog seized from the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback's Bad Newz Kennels.

Vick is serving a 23-month federal sentence after admitting he bankrolled the dogfighting operation and helped kill at least six dogs. Three co-defendants also pleaded guilty and were sentenced. The four now face state animal cruelty charges.

The last of them, Oscar Allen, who sold a champion pit bull to Vick's dogfighting operation, was sentenced Friday on a federal dogfighting charge. With that, the gag order that was keeping publicity about the dogs under wraps was lifted -- so you can expect media coverage about them throughout the week.

Nearly half have been sent to a Utah sanctuary, Best Friends Animal Society, where the media has been invited to see them later this week. The rest went to several other groups, including Recycled Love in Baltimore. As part of his plea deal, Vick agreed to pay for the dogs' care.

Hector was one of the Vick dogs taken by a pit bull rescue and education group in Oakland, California called Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls, or BAD RAP.

The AP story says Hector is settling into his new life, and getting further and further from his past. Weekly "canine good citizen" classes are correcting his social ineptitude. And he's taking cues on good manners from patient Pandora, a female pit bull mix who's queen of the household's dogs. Once Hector graduates, he'll take classes to become a certified therapy dog. 

Posted by John Woestendiek at 3:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

There are dogs who play in the snow. Then there are dogs who PLAY!!! in the SNOW!!!

Bailey's not around anymore, but her owner -- and thousands of others -- are still enjoying her through this YouTube video.

It was shot by the owner in the late 1990s in his backyard near Ward, Colo., after a blizzard dumped more than 50 inches of snow in 48 hours.

Bailey died in a house fire in 1998, the owner wrote "so this is all I have left ... Truly, she was unique -- she was also a self-taught skier, ice skater, and first-class snuggler. Anyway, I'm glad she is now bringing as much pleasure to you as she continues to bring to me. Cheers to dogs, and to all those that love them!"

Posted by John Woestendiek at 9:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Kimora Lee Simmons, director of the Baby Phat clothing line, bares almost all in a new ad for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), covered only in angel wings and her rescued dog, Zoe.

The ad, for peta2, the organization's youth branch, is called "Be Your Dog’s Angel,” and it urges people to take better care of their dogs. Kimora’s message is directed specifically at the practice of chaining dogs.

“Play with them … take them for long walks … don’t ever chain or cage them,” she says.

PETA, which last month unveiled a campaign featuring Ultimate Fighter Mac Danzig touting vegetarianism, has taken some heat for it's latest choice of spokesperson from critics who have pointed out that Simmons uses rabbit fur in some of her designs.

As for where the feathers came from to make the angel wings, we'll just assume they were left over from old Victoria's Secret ads.

The model and fashion designer, who says she has been rescuing animals off the streets since she was a small child, says chaining should never be an option.

“You cannot chain a dog — the chains are heavy; it’s cruel,” she says. “[Dogs] need to run and play ….”

The ad is not the first by PETA to make use of naked celebrities. Christina Applegate served as a previous PETA nude spokesperson.

Here's Simmons' spiel on video:

Posted by John Woestendiek at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

A 5-year-old pit bull mix that scared away a San Jose woman's attacker has been honored by the Animal Miracle Foundation as its Hero Dog of 2008.

The 25-pound mutt, named Maya, "is a testament to the fact that the pit bull breed can be hero dogs just like any other breed," Colleen Paige, founder of the group, said in a statement.

Based in Washington. The foundation is a nonprofit that works to improve public awareness about pet and wildlife issues. It sponsors National Dog Day on Aug. 26 and National Mutt Day on Dec. 2 to highlight the high number of dogs in shelters that need homes.

Angela Marcelino, who adopted Maya from her local Humane Society when the dog was 3 months old, said she was attacked at her front door one morning in June. 

"I opened my front door and was about to walk inside when I saw someone's shadow out of the corner of my eye," Marcelino recounts on the Animal Miracle Foundation’s web site. "I turned my head just as a man pushed me inside."

Marcelino said the man was choking her when she shouted the words, “Maya, get him.” While the attacker tried to fight the dog off, Marcelino struggled free, and the man walked out.

Later, police procured a drop of blood above Maya's right eye and tested it for DNA, which led to the arrest of Anthony Easley. His preliminary hearing is pending. Marcelino's entire account can be read here.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Kennel Club in London has released a list of more than 20 British breeds it says have become vulnerable because the public is demanding small exotic breeds like those that celebrities are often seen and photographed with.

The at-risk breeds each had fewer than 300 registered puppies in 2007 -- and they include the web-footed otterhound, the Glen of Imaal terrier, and a lot of others you may have never heard of and whose numbers were dwindling anyway, with no help from Paris or Britney.

Also on the list is the greyhound, with just 48 pedigree dogs registered, though the thousands bred for racing there are not part of the kennel club's count.

Perhaps most nettlesome is that the Welsh Cardigan corgi -- the Queen's favorite, or should we say favourite -- is on the at-risk list.

Smaller toy breeds, meanwhile, such as the Chihuahua and the pug, the Yorkshire terrier and Shih-Tzu are on the upswing, having been made a fashion accessory by celebrities such as Hilton and Spears. Registrations of those have gone up around 1,000 in the past year.

All this is true in America as well, but does the fault land on the influential celebrity, or the masses who let themselves be so easily influenced?

At least now we know that the British are as malleable and celebrity-obsessed as us Americans.

The stories -- at least the responsible ones -- admit others factors are at play. For one thing, the changing British lifestyle is seeing more people living in cities and small apartments, where small dogs are perceived as easier to care for. More important yet is the changing role of dogs worldwide -- their transition from workers to companions.

The Manchester terrier, for example, is on the list -- a breed originally bred for catching rats, but one which is no longer needed for that purpose.

Here's my idea: An exchange program, if you will. England sends a couple hundred Manchester Terriers to downtown Baltimore. In return, we send them Britney and Paris.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

With temps dropping into the teens, it's time for some reminders, courtesy of the Humane Society of the United States, on how to keep your pets safe in winter.

For starters, most dogs, and all cats, are safer indoors, the HSUS says.

If a dog does stay outside, it should have dry, draft-free doghouse that is large enough to allow the dog to sit and lie down comfortably, but small enough to hold in his or her body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw. The house should be turned to face away from the wind, and the doorway should be covered with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic.

Don't chain your dog in your yard -- in winter or any other season.

Outside water dishes should be checked frequently to make sure they're not frozen, and plastic bowls should be used outdoors because pets tongues can get stuck and freeze to metal.

Ice, snow and salt can be tough on the paws, so after being outdoors, check for chunks that might have become lodged there before your pet starts licking them and irritates his or her mouth.

Remember that antifreeze, though it has a sweet taste that may attract animals and children, is poisonous. Wipe up spills and store antifreeze (and all household chemicals) out of reach. The HSUS recommends using an antifreeze-coolant made with propylene glycol, which, if swallowed in small amounts, will not hurt pets, wildlife or your family.

Even though I have some issues with dog clothing, you might want to look into booties and a sweater if you have a delicate or short-haired breed.

And don't forget to bundle your own self up, too.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Here's a cat who crawled into her owners suitcase in Florida on Friday, got accidentally loaded onto a plane to Texas and ended up with a stranger who had mistakenly picked up the wrong bag and brought it home. 

Gracie Mae made the return flight Sunday night and was reunited with her owner, Seth Levy, of Palm Beach Gardens (seen in the AP photo to the left.).

Levy's wife had taken him to the airport Friday and dropped him and the bag off, according to an Associated Press story about the incident.

When she got back home, she couldn't find Gracie Mae, who had been spayed just days before. She and her father took out bathroom tiles and part of a cabinet to check a crawl space and papered the neighborhood with "lost cat" signs.

Then, amid the searching, she got a phone call. "Hi, you're not going to believe this, but I am calling from Fort Worth, Texas, and I accidentally picked up your husband's luggage. And when I opened the luggage, a cat jumped out," Kelly Levy quoted the caller saying.

Rob Carter said he made it home with the suitcase before realizing it wasn't his -- and there was a big surprise inside. "I went to unpack and saw some of the clothes and saw it wasn't my suitcase," he said. "I was going to close it, and a kitten jumped out and ran under the bed. I screamed like a little girl." Carter said that he eventually was able to get the cat to come out from under the bed, called the owner and made arrangements for the cat's return.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 3:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Here, according to the Veterinary Pet Insurance Co., are the top 10 things -- other than food and water -- that dogs swallow:

No. 10: Sticks.

No. 9: Hair ties and hair ribbons.

No. 8: Bones. (Keep, at the very least, chicken and turkey bones away from pets)

No. 7: Corn Cobs. (Keep these away, too, as they can get caught in the intestine.)

No. 6: Chew Toys.

No. 5: Balls. Make sure those your dog plays with are large enough not to be swallowed. Don't forget what happened to Oprah's dog.

No. 4: Rocks.

No. 3: Panty hose.

No. 2: Briefs and panties.

No. 1: Socks.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 3:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Saying there are 54 million overweight cats and dogs in the U.S., the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) -- along with Hill's Pet Nutrition and fitness guru Gunnar Peterson -- launched the 2008 "PetFit Challenge," pledging to help pets lose 50 million pounds in 2008.

The challenge kicked off yesterday in Los Angeles at an event featuring Peterson and the first PetFit Challenge participant -- actress and model Molly Simms, along with her two dogs, Chloe and Poepetten.

Peterson, a professional trainer who has worked with celebrities Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck and Gwen Stefani, teamed up with the association and the pet food company to create a "People and Pets Fitness video" that provides pet owners with simple exercises to get themselves and their pets in shape.

To get America's pets on track, Hill's and the AVMA are taking the PetFit Challenge on tour, with a mobile interactive "science museum" that will visit 18 cities across the country helping pet owners better understand pet obesity.

Pet owners also can log on to PetFit.com to download the workout video for free and to submit their own pet weight loss success story for a chance to win the America's Fittest Pets contest and an opportunity for their cat or dog to appear in a Hill's advertisement.

"We hope to inspire pet owners to take the weight of their four-legged friends very seriously, as it can be a life-threatening issue," said Gregory S. Hammer, a veterinarian and president of the AVMA. "This challenge offers a unique way to shed light on the effects of bad pet health habits, while encouraging pet owners to take action in a fun, new way."

Posted by John Woestendiek at 8:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

The increase in mortgage foreclosures may be leading to an increase in abandoned pets, the Chicago Tribune reported today.

"We're seeing people in bad financial situations who are moving to places where they can't have pets," said Angie Wood, assistant executive director of the Naperville Area Humane Society in Illinois. "There definitely has been an increase in the past six months to a year."

The story points out other shelters haven't seen a spike, but as more families get ousted from their homes, it seems a strong possibility that, if it hasn't happened yet, it will.

Authorities in recent months have reported cats, dogs, birds, horses and other animals left abandoned at foreclosed houses and farms, the story reports.

Among the more notorious cases were three dogs and 20 birds in a house in Lorain, Ohio; 24 horses on a farm in Bixby, Okla.; and 63 cats in a house in Cincinnati. It was too late when authorities got to a foreclosed house in Bradford, Pa., to discover the bodies of 21 Great Danes. The owner on Thursday pleaded guilty to 21 counts of animal cruelty.

In the third quarter of 2007, the number of homes in some stage of foreclosure in the U.S. more than doubled from the same period last year -- one of every 196 homes, according to RealtyTrac, an Irvine, Calif., company that tracks mortgage data.

To see the full Chicago Tribune story, click here.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 4:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Hey Buddy, Petfinder.com has released a list of the most popular pet names -- and, as far as dogs go, you're on top.

The rest of the top 10 names for dogs in 2007, in order, are: Max, Sadie, Jack, Daisy, Lucy, Lady, Charlie, Rocky and Duke.

For cats, Smokey was the most popular name, with Lucy a close second. The rest are Angel, Oreo, Midnight, Shadow, Patches, Princess, Tigger and Molly.

“People put their animals on pedestals. They put as much thought into naming their pets as they would their children,” said Betsy Saul, co-founder of Petfinder.com. “The name Buddy shows how dogs are truly ‘man’s best friend,’ while people also love tough, powerful names like Rocky and Duke.”

While dog names tend to suggest solidness and dependability, cat names often reflect mystery, like Shadow and Midnight, or fantasy, like Princess and Angel.

Petfinder also released what it considered 2007’s most unusual pet names: Not Pants, Zhivago, Fat Alice, Barney Google, Cinderella Cookiedough, Ditto Dippin’ Dots, Fizzleboom, Miss Booty-q, Bubba Big Foot and Partly Cloudy.

The unusual name list doesn't say which are cat names or dog names, but I'm guessing Cinderella Cookiedough (my favorite) is a cat.

To read the full report, click here.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

AP Photo

  "One day the absurdity of the almost

universal human belief

in the slavery of other animals

 will be palpable.

 We shall then have discovered our souls

 and become worthier of sharing this planet with them."

                    -- Martin Luther King Jr.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 9:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

In the weeks since our return to Baltimore, Ace has been a pretty down dog – and I’ve been trying to figure out why.

Does he miss Montana, and his lifestyle there – the long walks under the big sky? Does he miss the woman who became his co-caretaker, and took him on most of those walks? Does he miss the neighbor dog, Chester, who he’d spend hours wrestling with? Is he bothered by the bustle of big city life, the disarray of our just-moved-into house, the return to a more sedentary routine of park, home-alone, park, dinner, maybe a little TV and bed?

Or is he just mirroring the mood of his master (I hate that word), who’s still adjusting himself to a return to routine after four months of doing something completely different in a completely different place.

Ace has been sleeping more and playing less than he usually does, staring into space more and eating less than he usually does. And doing it all with a forlorn, hangdog look on his face. On our trips to the park, he perks up a bit, and the last couple of days he began playing with other dogs.

But it wasn’t until today that I sensed he was truly returning to his old self. It began as soon as I put on his official mauve bandana that he wears while working for Karma Dogs, the Baltimore organization that uses primarily shelter and rescue dogs to provide therapy and assistance to people. (Hence the “karma “– the dogs, once helped by humans, are now helping humans.)

Ace went through therapy dog training and became a Karma Dog last year, working with children with autism and in another program that helps children improve their reading skills. (A video report of Ace’s experience as a therapy dog is on the right side rail of this blog’s main page.)

This morning we returned to the reading program, and Ace totally remembered the drill. He perked up upon sniffing the Karma Dog bandana. He seemed to have more spring in his step as we walked into the Baltimore County Public Library, and he ate up all the attention he received as four different children read to him, and many more hugged on him, over the next two hours.

The sad expression he seemed to be wearing for most of the last two weeks disappeared. I don’t pretend to know what goes on his head, but maybe he enjoyed the familiarity of it, especially after a life that’s been a tad disrupted over the past month. Maybe, too, it gives him a sense of purpose.

In any event, the organization he gave to last year gave back to him yesterday – at a time he most needed it, a time I was beginning to think maybe the therapy dog needed a little therapy himself.

And that, as they say, is karma.

 * * *

You can meet Ace and some of the other Karma Dogs at 1 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday) at Dogma, 3600 Boston Street in Canton. Karma Dogs will be putting on a presentation about dog safety, and its dogs will be paw-tographing the organization’s new dog safety coloring book, now on sale at the store.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 4:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

My choice for number one is neither bizarre nor astounding -- just a simple little clip of a dog and cat playing together, as millions do everyday.

This one just seems to capture the personality of the players -- a mischevious kitty, a sweetly playful dog. No one gets injured, or humiliated. It's not set to music, or filled with special effects.

It's just a dog being a dog, and a cat being a cat, and that's enough.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Michael Vick's dogs are scheduled to  meet the public (or at least the news media) 10 days from now in Utah, when Best Friends Animal Sanctuary allows the dogs to be photographed for the first time since they were seized.

I'm predicting you'll end up seeing this on network news, and everywhere else, in light of the interest among dog lovers in the dogs mistreated in a dogfighting ring operated by the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback.

Up to now, because of pending cases against some of the others accused in the ring, there has been no access to the dogs, and the agencies across the country that are caring for them, including Recycled Love in Baltimore, have been limited by the courts in what they can say about the dogs.

But in Kanab, Utah a week from Monday, the 30,000-acre animal sanctuary (pictured here in a Best Friends photo) will, for the first time, allow photographs of Vick's victims and interviews with their caretakers.

Best Friends, chosen by a court-appointed expert to care for 22 of the 47 fighting dogs seized from Vick's property in Virginia, was preparing to receive the dogs when we visited last month. On Friday, they announced the upcoming media event. 

"These dogs are learning a new way of life: playing, eating, sleeping and receiving belly rubs at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the nation’s largest no-kill animal rescue facility," the non-profit organization said in a news media advisory.

The organization will also use the opportunity to promote the new National Geographic Channel  series "Dogtown,” which documents the individual stories of some of the dogs living at Best Friends, the nation's largest no kill animal sanctuary.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

There's a line I love in my dogumentary film, "Hey, Mister, What Kind of Dog is That." (Find it in the rail to the right.)

It came from Stan the Biscuit Man, as he sat on a bench in Riverside Park and tossed treats to his, shall we say, full-figured, mutt, Louie.

"He's like living with a cartoon character," Stan said.

My dog Ace isn't quite as animated as Louie, but he is cartoon character. His likeness appears in a dog safety coloring book put together by Karma Dogs, the therapy dog organization of which he is a part. (A video of Ace's therapy dog experience can be found in the rail, too)

On Saturday, Ace will be returning to the organization's reading program at the Baltimore County Public Library in Towson.

And on Sunday, at 1 p.m., he'll be making his first public appearance since our return to Baltimore. Along with some other Karma Dogs, several of which were used as models for the book, he'll be appearing at Dogma, 3600 Boston St. in Canton.

"We will go over some dog safety for a bit and then kids can get pawtographs from the dogs featured in the coloring book," said Kelly Gould, Karma Dogs founder.

Illustrated by Baltimore artists, "Dirk's Guide to Dog Safety" is aimed at reducing the thousands of children injured by dogs every year by better understanding how to behave around them, Gould said.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 11:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Otters holding hands, shot at the Vancouver Aquarium, became YouTube's top animal video of all time last year, reeling in 1.5 million viewers in two weeks.

Nyack and Milo -- though they might look like a loving couple -- are actually using a common survival tactic among otters, who by instinct hold hands in the wild to keep them from drifting away from each other. Then again, who's to say that's not love?

The video was actually shot five years ago, but was first posted on the Internet last year, becoming an instant hit.

For Nyack, it wasn't her first brush with celebrity. She made the news for surviving the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska.

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Washington’s top dogs                                                Baltimore's top dogs

1. Labrador Retriever                                                   1. Labrador Retriever

2. Yorkshire Terrier                                                      2. Golden Retriever

3. Poodle                                                                    3. Boxer 

4. Shih Tzu                                                                 4. Yorkshire Terrier

5. Golden Retriever                                                      5. German Shepherd

6. Boxer                                                                     6. Pug

7. German Shepherd                                                    7. Poodle

8. Boston Terrier                                                          8. Dachshund

9. Pug                                                                         9. Rottweiler

10. Rottweiler                                                               10. Bulldog

What do a city’s dogs say about a city?

Generally speaking, at most, woof.

But we won’t let that stop us from having some fun with the statistics released yesterday by the American Kennel Club.

By studying the lists above, we can see, for instance, that Washington is full of Shih-Tzu. Whereas Baltimore is more of a no Shih-Tzu kind of place – at least that breed has no presence on the top ten list here.

Labrador Retrievers rule in both cities, but in Washington, the number 2, 3, and 4 spots are all taken by foofie dogs, and we mean no disdain by the use of that term – just dogs that are, or at least can be, lap dogs, and are often overly yappy, and can’t always be trusted, and are more likely to wear color coordinated outfits.

In Baltimore, only one foofie dog is in the top 5 – the Yorkshire Terrier. Baltimore prefers Pugs over Poodles, unlike Washington; and big dogs like Boxers, German Shepherds and Rottweilers all rank higher here.

“Baltimore is considered a working-class port town whose roots run deep,” says AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “So it’s no surprise that the Rottweiler — a member of the Working Group — would continue to move up Baltimore’s top 10 list.”

Washington’s top ten, meanwhile, show little variation from the nation’s top 10; in fact the first seven are -– yaaaaawn -- exactly the same.

Keep in mind, this data is compiled by the American Kennel Club, an organization whose primary focus is on purebreds. In truth,  the most popular kind of dog in Baltimore and most cities is the mutt.

To see the AKC's top 10 breeds in each of the country's 50 largest cities, click here.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

This amazing amateur video was shot by a U.S. tourist at South Africa's Kruger National Park. It became one of the most-viewed videos on YouTube and will be the subject of a National Geographic documentary scheduled for this spring.

The footage shows lions attacking a group of buffalo, and snatching a buffalo calf, only to be attacked by a crocodile who joins in the battle.

The lions win the tug-of-war, but then the buffalo herd returns, chases the lions away and frees the calf.

Millions have watched the 8-minute video, called "The Battle at Kruger." Texan Dave Budzinski, who shot it while he was on a guided safari, told ABC News that he used his video camera about once a year.

The video is copyrighted by NegativeSpace Media, which is building a web site, battleatkruger.com, containing behind-the-scenes information, merchandise and licensing opportunities. The video appears on the Mutts blog with the company's permission.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The American Kennel Club today released its annual list of the country's most popular dog breeds -- and the biggest news was that Bulldog had muscled its way into the top 10.

Labrador Retrievers, for the 17th straight year, topped the list, which is based on the previous year's AKC registration figures.

"This is the first time the Bulldog has made it onto the top ten list since 1935,” said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “This breed appeals to a very wide range of dog lovers so it’s no surprise that it is a favorite amongst AKC’s 157 breeds. The Bulldog is both docile and adaptive, and can thrive in small or large homes. It’s an excellent all-around family pet.”

The Bulldog was first recognized by the AKC in 1886 – just two years after the organization’s founding – and was most popular in 1915 when it peaked in fifth place. The breed’s popularity ebbed and flowed throughout the mid-20th century, but since hitting a low of 41st place in 1973, its ranking has steadily increased.

Here are the AKC's top 10 dog breeds for 2007:

1. Labrador Retriever

2. Yorkshire Terrier

3. German Shepherd Dog

4. Golden Retriever

5. Beagle

6. Boxer

7. Dachshund

8. Poodle

9. Shih Tzu

10. Bulldog

Posted by John Woestendiek at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
        

Why this one?

Why Knut?

Knut the polar bear was born in the Berlin Zoo at the end of 2006 and spent his first 44 days in an incubator because he was rejected by his mother.

His keeper, Thomas Dörflein, slept in the zoo after Knut's birth to provide round-the-clock care to the cub, and fed him milk six times a day with a bottle.

It is fourth on our list of top animal videos for 2007 -- in part because I have a thing for polar bears, in part because the song is so darn catchy.

While Knut's story is being discussed as a possible movie, Germany's Nuremburg Zoo is taking a decidedly less mushy approach with its recent litter of polar bears. If rejected by their mothers, the zoo plans to let nature take its course and avoid "knutomania."

You can read about it here.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 12:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Adopted from a shelter in Cherry Hill, N.J., Nora the cat joined a family of five other cats, overseen by an artist dad and a music teacher/composer mom.

At her new home, Nora found plenty to amuse herself, but nothing intrigued her as much as when Elizabeth A. Alexander gave piano lessons in her Philadelphia home. Nora would sit under one of the two pianos and watch until it was over.

Eventually, Nora climbed up on the bench and -- to the amazement of Alexander and her husband, artist Burnell Yow! (the exclamation point is part of his name) -- began plinking a few notes herself with her paws. Tickling the ivories became part of Nora’s daily routine.

At the urging of Alexander's students and relatives, a video was made of her musical cat and posted on YouTube, and the rest is history. Nora now has her own CD, DVD, downloadable ringtone and line of e-cards – not to mention a web page that tells her story.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

If you didn't catch him on Late Night With David Letterman, fear not. This Medium Sulphur Crested Eleanora Cockatoo -- "Snowball" to his countless friends and fans -- is easily found on the Internet, where he's one of the most viewed animals of all time.

He's number six on our list of the seven best Internet animal videos of 2007.

Snowball was first moved to dance by the music of Backstreet Boys (and we'll try not to hold that against him), but you can now find him stepping out to various tunes, including "Another One Bites the Dust" (and we'll try not to hold that against him, either.)

Snowball arrived at Bird Lovers Only Rescue -- a donation-based, not-for-profit bird rescue in northwest Indiana, in August of last year. For more information on the organization, and more videos of Snowball dancing, you can visit its web site: birdloversonly.org or its blog.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Today, and the rest of this week, we are bringing you the top animal-related videos of 2007, as judged by, well, me.

Obviously, I haven't seen every animal video put on the Internet last year -- that would be an unending task. But, in bringing you this blog, I have watched enough of them to distinguish between the truly good (of which there are many) and the truly bad (of which there are a thousand fold more).

If you know of some good ones, pass them on.

We start with No. 7 -- kittens in a tissue box.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

It was back on Dec. 17 when one of our regular readers, after reading a blog item about Michael Vick's property in Virginia, came up with an idea that oozed poetic justice -- turning the up-for-auction estate in Surry County into a haven for homeless dogs.

It now appears there's a group trying to do just that.

Jalie's Butterflies, a recently formed non-profit that describes its mission as helping those "mired in the pain of change," says it has raised more than $11,000 in donations to buy the estate.

In the event the purchase doesn't come to pass, all money raised will be donated to the ASPCA, the organization says.

"The Vick House Project is an opportunity to make a good ending to a sad story," the organization says on its web site thevickhouse.org.

".... This is a chance to give back to the spirit of the animals that were harmed. It is a chance for animal lovers to contribute to a noble cause. It is a chance to create a happy final chapter to a sordid and tragic tale."

Speaking of Michael Vick's dogs, don't miss today's story in the Sun on the three Michael Vick dogs now being cared for by the Baltimore rescue organization, Recycled Love.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

The Mutts blog reached its highest readership ever this week. Was it our continuing coverage of Best Friends, the Utah animal sanctuary? Reports on Michael Vick's dogs? A particularly helpful bit of pet advice? An expose of puppy mills? No. It was Hannah Montana.

A fluffy little item on Miley Cyrus' pooches being named "most eligible" by a pet magazine drew more readers than Mutts has seen since Ellen Degeneres had a meltdown over Iggy.

Hundreds of teenaged girls, Googling their idol, ended up at the Mutts blog and, for reasons I don't begin to understand, are using it to post personal comments to young Miss Cyrus, mainly about how totally cool her show is and how much they love her and want to be like her and will she please come to their town for a concert.

Will we cave to the pressures of being popular and start bringing you a steady diet of celebrity news to attract huge numbers of readers?

Certainly (Britney Spears) not. We will remain (Paris Hilton) a source of legitimate (Hillary Duff) pet news and features. Why? Because we have (Lindsay Lohan) principles. And our strong sense of (Vanessa Hudgins) ethics does not permit to sink to such a (Zac Efron) level.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

                                                                                                  Photo courtesy of Best Friends

No matter what angle you approach it from, the story of Best Friends Animal Society is a miraculous one.

Originally founded in 1984 by a group of friends who had come together as do-gooding hippies in the 1960s to start and celebrate their own religion -- it has evolved into one of the world's largest, busiest and most influential animal rights organizations.

Based in Kanab, Utah, the organization's animal sanctuary lies on 30.000 acres and, on any given day, is home to 1,500 to 2,000 animals, the most recent arrivals of which are 22 of the dogs Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick used in a dogfighting operation at his estate in Virginia.

And that's just the latest high-profile outreach effort by the organization, which was the first national group to arrive, and the last to leave after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast.

Best Friends workers and volunteers -- all part of an ever-expanding nationwide network -- spent 249 days there and rescued and transported more than 6,000 stranded animals.

Efforts like that, and publicity about them, have led to skyrocketing public donations -- they topped $32 million last year -- that allow the organization to pursue its mission of creating a better world through kindness to animals.

The sanctuary, nestled amid the red rocks of southern Utah, is the nation's largest -- home to not just thousands of dogs and cats, but burros, horses, goats, sheep, rabbits and birds.

About 75 percent of those animals end up getting adopted. Those that don't -- those too olds, sick, traumatized or handicapped -- are allowed to live out their lives at the sanctuary.

Each one that dies gets a full funeral service at the sanctuary's cemetery, Angel's Rest, which backs up a sharply rising rock wall and is dotted with wind chimes.

On a tour last month, Barbara Williamson, media relations manager for Best Friends, told me that at every funeral -- whether the wind is blowing or not -- the chimes begin to tinkle.

Best Friends has rescued animals left homeless by war in Lebanon, floods in Mexico, and earthquakes in Peru, and it has become a leader in the no-kill movement. It helped spearhead Utah's No More Homeless Pets, a coalition formed to halt the euthanasia of dogs and cats in shelters.

Best Friends also publishes the bimonthly Best Friends magazine, which reaches 250,000 readers.

The work of Best Friends is also being featured in a new National Geographic Channel program, Dogtown.

Three episodes have been produced, with the remaining two scheduled for Jan. 11 and 18. If the series proves successful, additional episodes will be produced and broadcast.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Twenty-two of Michael Vick's dogs, all bred to fight, will soon be learning how not to at Best Friends Animal Society's sanctuary in southern Utah.

The dogs arrived at the sanctuary in Kanab on Jan. 2 after a cross-country flight on a chartered plane, and the Best Friends web site reports that they have undergone a series of health and behavior assessments that will continue in the coming months.

"Before you get too excited, or want to come for a visit, or even offer a forever home for one of these dogs … you’re going to have to be a little patient," the web site advised. "First, the prosecution of defendants in the Vick case won’t be completed until January 25, and Best Friends is working closely with prosecutors to make sure there is no publicity that might compromise the legal proceedings. So, while the media, the movement and Best Friends supporters all want to know about these dogs, we can’t say too much about them until the final sentencing."

In the weeks before the dogs’ arrival, Best Friends’ maintenance crew prepared secure, comfortable homes for the dogs, upgrading enclosures and fencing large, open play areas, the website reported. Each dog will have his or her own 10-foot by 20-foot outdoor run and an indoor space for shelter.

“Until we get to know these dogs, we will have some supervised play dates,” says Michelle Besmehn, Best Friends’ dog care manager. “Eventually we may try and pair some of the dogs. Pits tend to be very loving and affectionate dogs. They are smart and very athletic. It can be a lot of fun working with them.”

“The pit bull is easily the most misunderstood breed of dog in the U.S.," Best Friends CEO Paul Berry is quoted as saying on the web site. "Unfortunately, it is the very loving and loyal nature of these dogs that makes them prone to exploitation.”

Best Friends says it wants to be sure the “celebrity” animals are never exploited again.

Best Friends was one of eight rescue organizations to which the courts referred the fighting dogs found on the Virginia estate of the former Atlanta Falcon quarterback.

The others are and Recycled Love in Baltimore (three dogs); BAD RAP, Oakland, Calif. (10 dogs); Richmond Animal League, Richmond, Va., (4 dogs); Georgia S.P.C.A., Suwanee, Ga..; (3 dogs); SPCA of Monterey County, Calif.; (3 dogs); Animal Rescue of Tidewater, Chesapeake, Va..; (1 dog); and Our Pack, Inc. (1 dog).

Twelve other dogs on the Vick property -- none of which were believed to have been used for fighting -- were turned over to the SPCA in Virginia Beach. Some of those dogs, which included nine beagles and two Rottweilers, can be seen in this ESPN report, which aired last month.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 8:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

We know how popular Hannah Montana, aka Miley Cyrus, is -- even those of us who were nowhere near her Baltimore concert last night.

What you might not know is that her dogs are reportedly pretty hot, too.

Roadie, a Yorkie, and Loco, a Shih Tzu, are at the top of Animal Fair magazine's "Most Eligible Pets" list.

Just what makes them eligible, I don't know.

The list was announced yesterday, and appears in the magazine's winter issue, on newsstands now.

"All the time we hear about the sexiest men alive, the best- and worst-dressed celebrities or the most beautiful people," editor Wendy Diamond said. "What about the pets?" Also on Animal Fair's list are Jake and Bill, terriers that Glenn Close features in her dog-friendly blog, Lively Licks, and Teddy, the mini goldendoodle belonging to celebrity blogger Perez Hilton.

My dog, Ace, who I think is far more eligible than any of those celebrity pooches, was snubbed.

(Photo by Kenneth Lam)

Posted by John Woestendiek at 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
        

Simply buy the the Maryland SPCA 2008 Pet Calendar.

They're all in there, as well as more than 150 pet photos and inspiring and humorous pet-related quotations.

And here's the best part. Even though it's only Jan. 9 -- still plenty of year left -- you can already get it for half price.

Proceeds from the sale of the calendar -- an  8” x 7.5” appointment-style date book -- benefit the dogs and cats at The Maryland SPCA.

Originally $25, it can now be purchased for $12.50, plus tax, at the Maryland SPCA, 3300 Falls Road, in the front office of the adoption center. Online, it's available at the SPCA's Pet Calendar Order page. Shipping is an additional $3.

The calendar is also available at these retailers: Chow Baby in Hampden; Coffee with T in Stevenson; Dogma in Canton; Graul's in Ruxton, May's Chapel in Hereford; Greetings and Readings in Hunt Valley; Hometown Girl in Hampden; Marlow, McCrystle & Jones in Lutherville; Mille Fleurs in Baltimore; Mt. Washington Wine Co. in Mount Washington; Pearl Gallery in Hampden; Shear Grace in Roland Park; Sporting Life in Lutherville; Stevenson Village Vet in Stevenson; The Ivy in Mount Washington; Uptown Dog in Hampden; and Watermont Pharmacy in Ellicott City.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Ever have one of those days when you get on your own nerves?

Take this guy, for example. He's got a comfortable chair, a quiet home, a nice bone to chew on.

But then, out of the corner of his eye, he spots an intruder -- one that he seems to think is determined to come between him and his bone: His hind leg.

Talk about being your own worst enemy.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

We’re back in Baltimore – Ace and I – having left the wide open spaces of Montana to return to a place where the houses have no space between them.

Ace does not seem happy about it.

In our new place, which is an old place – a Formstone rowhouse with slanty floors on a dead end street in South Baltimore – Ace has a big (for a rowhouse) back yard. With grass even. And yet he just sits on the concrete patio and looks at it with a look on his face that can only be described as forlorn.

He hasn’t eaten since we got here yesterday afternoon.

He did seem to remember Riverside Park, and cheered up during the hour or so we spent there yesterday, but mostly he is moping. Maybe it’s because the house has no furniture, or because he thinks, after so many motels, that it’s just another one-night-stand.

I set his crate up in the kitchen, which usually makes him feel more settled, but he’s still edgy, walking over to the front door every few minutes as if he wants out.

When I crawled into my sleeping bag last night, he didn’t even try to join me, choosing instead to lay down on the other side of the room.

Once our storage pods arrive, we’ll hit the park again. Maybe that will help.

I know once I start moving furniture in – it’s the 1800 block of Patapsco St., should you want to come over and help (there are only two houses on the block, and mine is the slightly less upscale one) – Ace is going to get even more bothered.

I also know that, as bumpy and prolonged as this transition has been, eventually things, including him, will settle down. When I get overwhelmed by all I have to do, relocation-wise, I just think back to my semester teaching in Montana and tell myself that, hey, it was totally worth it.

Ace’s brain, I’m sure, doesn’t work that way. Still, he’s always been slightly better at adapting than me, and he’ll probably come around.

In time, he’ll be a city dog again.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Ultimate Fighting champion Mac Danzig has become a spokesman for peta2, which describes itself as the world's largest youth animal rights organization.

 "I don't eat animals because I don't want to contribute to their suffering -- it's that simple," Danzig says in ad for the junior PETA group. "Do yourself a favor, do the planet a favor, and help end animal abuse. Go veg."

The ad, which is available in both print and video versions, can be viewed at peta2.com or by clicking here.

"Animals on factory farms and in slaughterhouses don't have a fighting chance," says Danzig, 27, who became the latest season's Ultimate Fighting champion after pounding and choking his opponent into submission.

I don't want to get on PETA's bad side, and I certainly don't want to get on Mac Danzig's bad side -- he appears to be one tough vegan -- but isn't there a wee bit of hypocrisy here, i.e. beating the crap out of humans in the ring (willing participants though they may be), then urging the world to eschew meat because of the violence involved in bringing it to the table?

Posted by John Woestendiek at 9:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

Twenty-two of the pit bulls seized from suspended NFL quarterback Michael Vick's dogfighting operation left Virginia today for a new home at Best Friends Animal Society in Utah, the Associated Press reported.

The animals – among 47 surviving dogs -- took off from Richmond International Airport this morning on board a private chartered plane to the no-kill sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.

The dogs are being sent to eight rescue organizations across the country, including Recycled Love in Baltimore. The organizations were recommended by the dogs' court-appointed guardian, animal law expert Rebecca Huss, and approved by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson last month.

While some of Vick's dogs will remain at the sanctuaries permanently, others will be trained for possible adoption.

Forty-eight pit bulls were seized from the Surry County, Va., property, but one was euthanized for medical reasons.

Vick is serving a 23-month sentence for a dogfighting conspiracy.

Best Friends, which we visited last week – and which will the subject of several upcoming blog entries – set aside an entire octagonal housing unit for the Vick dogs.

"The one thing about these dogs that's different is they can't be put in group living situations like most of our dogs," John Polis, spokesman for the sanctuary told WWBT-TV in Richmond. "So we've been spending the last few weeks clearing out some new areas where these dogs can have individual runs. They have indoor-outdoor access. They're going to have a really nice home."

Posted by John Woestendiek at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Not hardly.

We're just road weary after a trip that began 11 days ago and now has us laying over in Winston-Salem, N.C. -- home of my mother and birthplace of me.

Ace and I passed on the two parties that were taking place here at the Quality Inn and nodded off not long after 10 p.m.

Today, we went over to Arbor Acres, the retirement community in which my mother lives -- and Ace was excited to be someplace familiar after so many days in strange places.

He was, as usual, a hit there, receiving enough affection to last him through the last leg to Baltimore, a trip we'll make Thursday.

Until then, we'll be hanging out at Arbor Acres, where the newest piece of recreational equipment arrived last month -- and therein lies a story.

My mother reads the Baltimore Sun online and just over two weeks ago she came across this story by Laura Barnhardt on how the Nintendo Wii is becoming popular in retirement communities.

She printed it out and gave it to the recreation director at Arbor Acres, noting that, if Arbor Acres got a Wii, she, being a still-active journalist -- contributing to a seniors-oriented publication put out by the Winston-Salem Journal -- could write a story about it. (She doesn't care much for video games, but she does like a good story.)

Now Arbor Acres has a Wii, though it's not hooked up yet. They'll be putting a TV at the end of the hall, where the founder's portrait now hangs (he's going to another wall) and the games will begin.

Speaking of recreation, Ace needs some, so we're headed to the park, though I might have to shave first. I haven't since the trip began, and it's coming in very white. Between it, and my weariness, and not quite being ready for 2008, I must be looking older than the vibrant 54 that I am.

My mother was introducing me to one of the newer residents at Arbor Acres today and he mistook me for a new arrival.

"Welcome aboard," he said.

Laugh if you must, but now that Arbor Acres has free Wii, it's not that far-fetched an idea anymore.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 1:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)