MIKE.

Thanks to Reality Check Sarah for doing the honors. In the spirit of Animal House Friday, she put on a pair of furry rabbit ears before picking the winning name out of the bag. (That reminds me, are there any rabbit owners out there? Please write us. Unleashed wants to show all pets the love.)

Mike will be receiving tins of DogToids and CatToids. (Do you have a cat, Mike?)

And the bonus prize to celebrate the first week of Unleashedness is ... Unleashed, a Sam Kinison comedy DVD. 

Thanks to all for playing along. Hug your dogs, scratch your cats and have a great weekend with all the furry (and nonfurry) members of your family.

Posted by Mary Corey at 5:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Actor Mickey Rourke likes to travel with canine companionship. Since he lost his beloved Chihuahua, Loki, one of the actor's other dogs, Jaws, may be stepping in for roadtrips. 

The two were seen breezing through LAX the other day. (For great pictures of The Wrestler and The Small Fry at the airport, check out PetSugar.com.)

Mr. Comeback's beloved 18-year-old Loki died just days before the Oscars. In January, Rourke gave a touching speech after winning best actor at the Golden Globes, thanking his dogs "those that are gone and those still with me." He added, "Sometimes when a man's alone, all you got is your dog, and they meant the world to me."

Since Loki died, he's begun wearing a charm necklace featuring the dog's face.

Rourke, a dog lover, took Loki everywhere, including to last year's Venice Film Festival (pictured with Wrestler director Darren Aronofsky). But Jaws has had his moments in the spotlight too. He and Rourke star together in a new PETA spay and neuter ad campaign.

(Photo by Associated Press)

Posted by Mary Corey at 4:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

There's a sad story out of Anne Arundel County. Police there are looking for a man they say shot a female pit bull at a park in Odenton and left her dead. For the full story, click here.

At Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) yesterday, I saw pit bull after pit bull. "The only healthy animals we are putting down are pit bulls and cats," said executive director Jennifer Mead-Brause. She said there are not enough rescue organizations or members of the public coming for these animals.

Anyone who has information about the Odenton incident is asked to call Anne Arundel police department's Western District at 410-222-6155.

Posted by Mary Corey at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

We made it! It's Friday, and that means the debut of Animal House, a weekly feature where we celebrate the silly side of our pets, examine the offbeat, share news of the weird from the animal world.  

To put it in pet terms: If we were a dog, this would be the equivalent of a good belly rub: as a cat, we'd be getting scratched in that sweet spot right between our ears and whiskers.

We begin by discussing bad breath in dogs (and cats), and what can be done about it.

DogToids and CatToids. Yes, you heard it here first (well, maybe you did). Bamboo, a designer of pet care products, is introducing pet breath mints. The dog version has parsley and LIVER flavor. Liver? Liver?? Hmmmm. For cats, there's parsley, taurine (an amino acid) and SALMON. Another hmmmmm.

Naughty Elizabeth suggested I take the top off the tins and put them on the counter in the office where we have snacks. We'll eat almost anything: Day-old doughnuts, macaroni salad that's been  out for hours, somebody else's sandwich.

But instead I'd like to give them to you. Here's how it will work.

1. Comment below, and the first 20 commenters will have their names put in a bag.

2. Elizabeth or Kate or Tim or whoever I can find in the office in a couple hours will select one name out of the bag. That person will be the winner of these fabulous prizes. 

3. Wait, there's more. The winner will also get a bonus gift to be revealed later today. (Am I starting to sound like Billy Mays here?)

Don't delay. Operators are standing by. Let the comments begin. They can be about anything - from your pet's breath to your office's oddball food habits. Anything goes (so long as it's not profane or unpublishable); it's Animal House Friday.

Photo by Reality Check Sarah

Posted by Mary Corey at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (25)
Categories: Animal house
        

NAME: Eddie

NICKNAME: Piggy Boy

OWNER: Jen L.

HOW THEY MET: Eddie was adopted from Animal Rescue through the Towson PetSmart. He was a stray found at a gas station.

AGE OF PET: 10 years old

HOME: Baltimore

BREED: Domestic Shorthair

FAVORITE FOOD: Cheese

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Eddie is an extreme lap cat...literally attaches himself to me. Wherever I go, there he is. He's a social cat and loves people, so his favorite activity is to be with people. His favorite toy is the turbo scratcher...swats the ball around endlessly...He sometimes wakes me up in the middle of the night with this thing.

THE STORY BEHIND SHREK: Shrek was a gift for his brother Elmo (Elmo likes watching animation on TV), but Eddie claimed him and loves to snuggle with him.

IF EDDIE HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: Eat, Purr, Love

Photo by Jen L.

If you have a pet to suggest for Collared, please send a web-sized jpeg image and message to unleashed@baltsun.com.

Posted by Mary Corey at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Collared
        

What's in a dog's name? I've been thinking about that today.

I was at Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) earlier today and noticed a baby-naming book on the counter. The staff works hard on naming because statistics show that cuter names help shelter dogs and cats find homes, said executive director Jennifer Mead-Brause. (The 3-year-old terrier/pit bull mix pictured is up for adoption and is named Noodle. You won't find that in a baby book - at least not yet - but I think it's  adorable.)

"If you have two cats in a cage and you name them Peanut Butter and Jelly, they'll definitely get adopted faster," she said.

One of the funniest names I ever heard was at the vet's office.

A man came in for his pet's appointment and said: "My dog's name is Mud." I laughed out loud. He explained that he wanted to be able to turn to his dog and say: Your name is Mud.

Then, of course, we have the matter of the First Dog's name. In the People magazine article out Friday, First Lady Michelle Obama says she's vetoed the names that daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, have come up with so far.

"Oh, the names are really bad. I don't even want to mention it, because there are names floating around and they're bad," People quoted Mrs. Obama as saying. "You listen and you go – like, I think, Frank was one of them. Frank! Moose was another one of them. Moose. I said, well, what if the dog isn't a moose? Moose. I'm like, no, come on, let's work with the names a little bit."

The dog's arrival isn't until April, but it's not too soon to be thinking about names.

Do you have a name to suggest for the soon-to-be First Dog? Please share it below. With Moose in the running, it's clear they need our help.

Photo courtesy of BARCS

Posted by Mary Corey at 5:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (28)
        

One thing I learned yesterday during the It-is/It-isn't-a-Portuguese-Water-Dog drama was this: There are some very funny, clever and informative Web sites and blogs out there devoted solely to the soon-to-be First Dog.

I was tipped off by Greg Nelson, who yesterday was cheering when he learned that his beloved Labradoodles may still be in the running. He even has a new site devoted to his cause. He calls himself the founder and his 18-month-old miniature Labradoodle Arbo (above) the president. To show your Labradoodle love, you can even buy yard signs, buttons and dog T-shirts. All proceeds of sales go to animal rescue organizations and shelters.

If you're way into First Dog news (and who isn't?), here are some other not-to-be-missed sites and blogs on the topic.

American Kennel Club provides useful info on the search, materials on hypoallergenic breeds and facts on past presidential pets. Don't miss: The video of too-cute Portuguese Water Dogs

Dogtime.com has an amusing Obama dog blog. Don't miss: The poll with questions including: What name should the Obamas choose? (Chief and Veto are options as answers.) What should the First Dog's first toy be? (Osama bin Laden plush toy or Barack Obama's basketball shoes?)

The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America has a comprehensive site on the subject with everything from grooming tips to handling behavioral issues. Don't miss: The Test your PWD Knowledge quiz

Photo courtesy of Greg Nelson

Posted by Mary Corey at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (25)
        

NAME: Mattie (short for Matana, which means gift in Hebrew)

OWNERS: Debbie and Steve

HOW THEY MET: Montgomery County Humane Society -- she was in Humane Society foster care. She had just given birth to eight puppies. She was 1 1/2 years old at the time. After she weaned her pups, we brought her home. We immediately fell in love with her.

AGE OF PET: 10 1/2 years

HOME: Bethesda

BREED: Mutt (mostly lab we think)

BEST TRICK: Performing squeakerotomies on her toys (removing the squeakers from the middle of stuffed toys)

SECOND-BEST TRICK: She managed to pull a tablecloth off of a table set with brand-new bone wedding china (not ours) without breaking a single piece of china -- we still don't know how she did it (or why?).

FAVORITE FOOD: Canned tuna fish

IF MATTIE HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: Life is best when you're with your family.

Photo by Shira Golding, http://www.shirari.com

If you have a pet to suggest for Collared, please send a web-sized jpeg image and message to unleashed@baltsun.com.

Posted by Mary Corey at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Collared
        

The First Pet plot thickens.

The latest news is that the first family may NOT have decided on the breed of their new dog.

People magazine, based on an interview with First Lady Michelle Obama out Friday, said the family had settled on finding a rescued Portuguese Water Dog. The magazine's Web site quotes Michelle Obama as saying, "You're getting some scoops here."

Now, in an article from the Tribune Washington Bureau, the first lady’s press secretary, Katie Lelyveld, is suggesting that the family is still debating this decision, which has drawn international attention and intense lobbying efforts by breeders and rescue groups.

In the article, Lelyveld is quoted as saying: “They have not selected a breed. ... Mrs. Obama likes the Portuguese Water Dog, but she is only one of four votes.’’

She also said that the first family hasn't narrowed the decision to a particular breed. Up until now, the public believed it was a race between the Portuguese Water Dog and the Labradoodle (pictured), which is actually a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Standard Poodle. That was based on previous comments made by President Barack Obama about the need to find a hypoallergenic dog to accommodate his eldest daughter, Malia, 10.

This latest turn in the First Dog drama, undoubtedly, will make Labradoodle fans rejoice. At least their guy is still in the running.

They shouldn't get too excited though. In my experience, what Mom likes goes a long way in what a family decides. 

Photo by Mary Godleski / Associated Press

Posted by Mary Corey at 6:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

The word in the pet/political world is that the Obamas have selected the Portuguese Water Dog as the new First Dog. The Los Angeles Times politics blog is reporting that this will be made official in a People magazine interview with Michelle Obama out Friday.

The family has settled on a breed, according to reports, but not necessarily an exact dog. They are planning on adopting a rescue Portuguese Water Dog, and those dogs are less likely to be found in shelters.

"The Portuguese Water Dog is a fun-loving dog with a lot of energy," said Michelle Barlak, public relations manager for the American Kennel Club. "It's a great family dog, but they have to understand the dog will require quite a bit of exercise. ... Two young girls who are very active are good companions for the dog."

The president has said that he and Mrs. Obama wanted to wait until spring to bring a dog into the White House. They were hoping the warmer weather would inspire their daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, to walk it.

The girls could have their hands full. PWDs can weigh up to 60 pounds.

To date, they haven't been a particularly popular breed, in part because they require so much exercise. They ranked 62nd in national popularity, according to recently released AKC registration figures. That's up from 82nd place a decade ago.

"They're not an extremely popular breed," Barlak said. "Nationally we're seeing a trend toward smaller dogs."

Something tells me the new First Dog could change that.

(Photo by Mary Bloom (C) AKC)

Posted by Mary Corey at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
        

Since I talked earlier about the bad dog in art, it's only fair to give equal time to its counterpart: the good dog. 

One painting I'm especially fond of is Dog Finds God by Marcia Wilson. A New Jersey artist, she has been a regular at the American Visionary Art Museum's Bazaarart; I always stop by her booth to check out her dog art and gab.

This painting is of an English Setter named Bailey, who was looking up at his owner as Marcia worked nearby. The image stuck with her, and she decided to paint it. 

When she was nearly finished, her boyfriend  described what he saw: It looks like the dog just discovered God, he said. 

Whether Bailey believes in God or simply has faith in his owner, I appreciate his big, beautiful nose, his sweet, upward gaze and the hopefulness of a blue sky. 

Posted by Mary Corey at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

True confession: I love dog art almost as much as dogs. In my dream home, I imagine a dining-room wall turned over to paintings, drawings and photographs of, well, you guessed it, dogs.

One piece I'd include is Juan's Bad Dog (above) by Robert McClintock. Years ago, he had a studio in Federal Hill, and I'd make excuses to walk by just to look at the art in the window. He's in Fells Point now, and JBD has become a top seller in his gallery.

I've always been curious about the story behind the piece. Unleashed gave me a great excuse to find out.

Turns out that Sindee, the name of Juan's bad dog, was Robert's first dog portrait and the worst-behaved dog he's ever seen. The dog's owner commissioned Robert to photograph the dog. When he got there, she jumped on the dining-room table, and he began shooting. He turned away and the dog bit him, tearing his shorts but not his skin.

"It was this bizarre, twilight-zone experience," says Robert, who with his wife owns four cats.

The piece, which is actually a photograph that Robert painted in Photoshop, has helped bring  him attention. Baltimore Dog magazine featured him in its winter issue, and   WJZ's Marty Bass called the piece "a cultural icon of the new millenium." (Hmm, anyone know what that means?) 

What intrigues me most about it is the sweet/sinister expression on Sindee's face and the funhouse background.  

Although Sindee is often described as a Jack Russell, she was really a Toy Fox Terrier. Robert learned that she died last year, naughty to the end.

P.S. To read about Robert's home, click here.

Photo of Robert McClintock at a Pugs benefit by his wife, Sue McClintock

Posted by Mary Corey at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

NAME: Spencer

OWNER: Reality Check blogger Sarah Kelber

HOW THEY MET: I was checking out the kittens at the Maryland SPCA and was immediately drawn to tiny Spencer because he resembled my childhood cat Misha. In the get-to-know-each-other room, this tiny kitten, who had just turned eight weeks old and become eligible for adoption, was hopping around stalking one of my rings when he fell off the table and landed not on his feet, but on his back. He got up and scampered away to hide under a chair. I scooped him up and decided he was definitely coming home with us. Spencer's a little goofy, and we always joke that we ended up adopting him because the shelter had a "you break, you buy" policy. (It doesn't, that I am aware of.)

AGE OF PET: Almost 10

HOME: Columbia

BREED: Domestic shorthair of the orange variety

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Watching birds through the sliding-glass door and making ridiculous noises at them

FAVORITE FOOD (OTHER THAN REGULAR KIBBLE): Spencer hasn't figured out that there is food beyond regular kibble.

RANDOM FACT: Every night before he goes to sleep, he crawls on my husband's back and grooms his shirt for a few minutes.

IF THIS PET HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: What, me worry?

Photo by Sarah Kelber

If you have a pet to suggest for Collared, please send a web-sized jpeg image and message to unleashed@baltsun.com.

Posted by Mary Corey at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Collared
        

anon.e.mouse asked yesterday, "Doesn't Michael Phelps have a bulldog?" Indeed he does.

For the lowdown, I turned to  our expert on All Things Michael Phelps, Kevin Van Valkenburg. Here's what he had to say about the Olympic legend's relationship with Herman, his trusty dog:

Michael Phelps doesn't open up much when he talks to the media. But if you ask him about his English Bulldog, Herman, he usually can't help himself. Phelps' face lights up, he get excited, and more often than not, he immediately launches into a story about how long it's been since he's seen Herman, and what kind of mischief he was involved in the last time the duo spent time together. He's even taught Herman a trick where the two exchange fist bumps, which you can watch above.

Herman was a present from Phelps' agent, Peter Carlisle, back in 2006. He lived with Phelps for a while in Michigan and used to stare at Phelps bleary-eyed at 6 a.m. when the swimmer would rise for early morning workouts. But because of Phelps' busy travel schedule, the dog moved in with his sister's family prior to the 2008 Olympics, at least until he misbehaved.

"He was trying to eat my niece's sandwich all the time," Phelps said the day after he won his eighth gold medal. "He thought she was playing, and he was playing back and got a little too rough. Now he's with a very close family friend."

Like most bulldogs, Herman revels in destroying the toys that Phelps gives him. If you give him a rubber chew toy that squeaks when he bites it, Phelps told me once, you'd better be prepared to stay up all night listening Herman gnaw away at it. He'll keep after it until the toy is toast.

Their favorite activity to do together might be watching TV.

"He's a pretty chill dog," Phelps said prior to the Olympics. "I think we have the exact same personality."

 Anyone out there ever met Herman? Seen him out for a walk? Please fill us in.

Posted by Mary Corey at 2:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

The wedding planners had a problem on their hands. With only a half hour until the ceremony and a standing-room-only crowd gathered, the bride was hiding under a cabinet and refused to come out. So they did what they had to do: They switched brides.

Cat weddings can be like that. The one recently at the Baltimore County Humane Society in celebration of Valentine's Day was a goofy yet glorious affair, with roses and violins and salmon mousse. Having Luna, a year-old black cat with green eyes, passed off as the original bride, Comfrey, a seven-month-old black cat with green eyes, only made the day, like any good love story, more intriguing.

Those in on the secret saw it  more as a human, rather than feline, failing. Comfrey's bridal shower that morning at the Owings Mills PetSmart, where she collected wedding gifts for the shelter, had been a hit. But that followed by the wedding was probably more than any cat bride could take.

Winslow, the 10-month-old groom, was first to the altar. His eyes said it all: He was afraid, very afraid. Then his whiskers began to twitch. Luna was carried in next. Her contented expression suggested she somehow understood that her day had suddenly grown more interesting. She sniffed Winslow's face (the two had never met) and then curled up on the altar as if preparing for a nap.

The minister, Roy List, not in on the switcheroo, said the crowd was gathered to witness the "meowly catrimony" of Comfrey and Winslow. Rather than deal with cumbersome rings, he had the two exchange collars, placing pink charm-filled bands around their necks and declaring them mates. The crowd cheered and rose to its feet.

The cats didn't stay; they were escorted back to their cages. 

At the reception, guests remarked that this bride and groom were better behaved than the cats from last year's wedding, who swatted at each other. The three-tier wedding cake by local foodie and animal lover, Diane Feffer Neas, went fast. And wedding gifts piled up: a 12-pack of Bounty paper towels, two bottles of bleach, a 40-pound bag of cat litter.

Luna and Winslow had one more treat ahead. They were going to spend the night in the Humane Society's honeymoon suites, separate but larger cages.  

"We'll see what the future brings," the minister said after the ceremony. "Like most brides and grooms, they behave themselves on their wedding day, and it goes downhill from there."

See more photos from the wedding here.

Posted by Mary Corey at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Today the real fun begins. We debut what I hope will be a daily feature on Unleashed. It's called Collared.

There are a gazillion wonderful pets out there, and the goal here is to meet as many of them as possible. I imagine these guys as our daily mascots, bringing us good luck but also humor and even some wisdom. At the very least, their photos are good for a smile.

First up is Baron, a Pointer with a lip curl like Elvis and a love of a good Sunday roast.

NAME: Baron

NICKNAME: Bill, Snoopy and Schnickelfritz

OWNER: Christopher Howarth

HOW THEY MET: Originally from Tennessee, Baron was adopted through the Mid-Atlantic German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue (http://www.mdgsprescue.org/). 

AGE OF PET: 3 years old

HOME: Baltimore

BREED: German Shorthaired Pointer

FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Doggie happy hour at Mount Vernon Place, hiking at Robert E. Lee Park and weekend getaways at Camp Uncle Henry

BEST TRICKS: The stop, drop and roll and his Elvis lip curl

FAVORITE FOODS: Sunday roast, mobile phones and Prada shoes

HE DIDN'T GET THE MEMO: Baron, like most German Shorthaired Pointers, is under the false impression that he's a lap dog.

IF BARON HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: Please sir, can I have some more? 

Photos by Phil Weber. See more pictures of Baron on his Flickr page.  

If you have a pet to suggest for Collared, please send a Web-sized jpeg image and message to unleashed@baltsun.com.

Posted by Mary Corey at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Collared
        

I have one word for Baltimore trend-watchers: Bulldog.

The wrinkly, barrel-chested canine (pictured, left) is the sixth most popular breed in Baltimore, jumping from 10th place last year, according to recently released American Kennel Club registration figures.

"Bulldogs are the bullet," says Lisa Peterson, AKC spokesperson. "They’re making quite an impression in Baltimore."

Bulldogs are also gaining a following across the country. Last year, they made the AKC's national Top 10 list for the first time in more than 70 years.

The Labrador Retriever still remains the most beloved dog in America (and in Baltimore). But portable pooches -- the Chihuahua (ninth) and Maltese (10th, pictured, below) -- are on the rise here.

Falling off the Baltimore list are the Rottweiler (13th from ninth) and the Dachshund (11th from eighth).

Here is the AKC's list of Baltimore's top breeds for 2008:

1. Labrador Retriever

2. Boxer

3. Golden Retriever

4. German Shepherd Dog

5. Yorkshire Terrier

6. Bulldog

7. Pugs **

8. Poodle

9. Chihuahua

10. Maltese 

**tied for sixth place.

Photos by Mary Bloom (C) AKC

Posted by Mary Corey at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)
        

Last night may have been a "Slumdog" landslide, but what I am thinking about today is Oscar-worthy performances ... by animals.

I still get weepy whenever I catch "Lassie Come Home" (1943) on TV. Lassie, limping but valiant, outshines a young Elizabeth Taylor and gets my vote for a gold dog statuette.

I asked someone who really knows what he's talking about, our smart and very funny movie critic Michael Sragow. (He's something of a dog lover himself; in his youth, his family had, successively, a standard poodle, a pug, a beagle and a peekapoo.) 

Here's his take on who's top dog in the movies:

Part of what makes Matisse neurotic is that his masters, the Whitemans (Richard Dreyfuss and Bette Midler), have never taught him what it means to be a dog – that’s what he learns from a surprise visitor, Jerry the bum (Nick Nolte). He mirrors the confusion of the Whiteman family (especially the Whiteman children), who’ve been so pampered they’ve lost track of their basic instinctual needs.

Down and Out in Beverly Hills is a shaggy-dog story in which the human Jerry is a shaggy dog – and the dogs are more like shaggy humans. That doesn’t just include Matisse, but the dog Jerry loses at the beginning, a terrier mix named Kerouac, played by Corky.

Near the end, Jerry tries and fails to return to his bum state and eat from an open pate tin he’s filched from a dumpster. The Whitemans, looking on, flash ambiguous smiles. Only Matisse looks distraught and whimpers. He hasn’t merely learned what it is to be a dog; he senses what it means to be a man.

There have been some other great dog characters in recent years, especially Fly, the border collie who becomes the title piglet's stepmother in Babe and proves to be a model of maternal compassion. In the days after the Slumdog Oscars, give yourself a dream-dog double-bill of Down and Out and Babe. And see them with a canine you love.

Do you have a favorite animal performance from the big screen? Please comment below.

(Photo courtesy of Universal)

Posted by Mary Corey at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

My beginnings as a blogger grow out of a sad ending. My sweet dog, Gracie, died two months ago.

She was only eight weeks old when I got her. Her coat was gray, except for her paws, which looked like they’d been dipped in white paint. She was small and skinny, with a tail that curled into a perfect C. The first time I saw her, I thought: That dog is funny looking.

She had been at the Maryland SPCA for several weeks, and the card on her cage wasn’t doing much to help her. "Found in Hampden, terrier mix" was all it said.

What the card didn’t say was this: During the next 16 years, this dog will change your life. She will make even your best days better. The ones where you buy a house, so you can have a garden and she can have a yard; where you get engaged and happily watch her romp around with two big dogs she’ll be living with; where you let your nieces dress her in American Girl doll clothes and put her in a baby carriage, and she, being the kind of dog she is, goes along for the ride.

She will comfort you through the worst of what comes. You’ll be giving her a bath on a Saturday morning when the phone will ring, and the voice on the other end will tell you that your father is no longer alive. When you return the engagement ring, she will sit with you on the front porch as the news sinks in. And when the lump you felt turns out to be malignant, you’ll leave work and go home because the thing you most want to do is hug your dog and take her for a walk.

A few years ago, Gracie’s groomer said, "In life if you’re lucky, you get one dog like Gracie. Hon, you got lucky."

I never even told her about Gracie’s secret weapon: She could dance. I’d wave one finger over her head, and she’d rise up on her back legs, steady herself and then twirl around once, twice, sometimes three times. She looked like a top with fur. I wish I’d videotaped it because it made me laugh.

I wish a lot of things, mostly that she was still here.

That’s where the blog comes in. I can’t have another dog for a while, but I’m hoping maybe I could share yours. Not just your dog. Your cat, rabbit, iguana, parakeet. I want to hear stories and share news about all of them. There will be plenty of ground for us to cover, from the latest on the soon-to-be first dog to smart ways we can all save money on pet care.

This blog owes a lot to John Woestendiek, my friend and former colleague, who launched it as Mutts. He’s moved on to other things, including his own blog, http://www.ohmidog.com. But he was among the first to believe that The Baltimore Sun needed a pets blog, and he was right.

I’m eager to hear from you, so please tell me what’s on your mind, petwise. Right now, I’m off to feed Phoebe, my ever-hungry cat.

Posted by Mary Corey at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (35)