And so the Unleashed Testing Panel begins. We were delighted that many were willing to partake in the, ahem, "research." Last time we checked, we had more than 40 pet testers, including a finicky bulldog, a 16-year-old cat and a pit mix "who loves everything." (We'll see about that.)

In honor of the good feeling, we decided to begin with Bit-O-Luv dog treats. The packaging says they are made with USDA-inspected beef and chicken and contain no artificial flavors, no byproducts and no wheat gluten. There's more: They "meet standards for human consumption," the press materials say. We'll leave it up to the owners as to whether they want to take a little nibble themselves.

For testing purposes, we'll follow the order in which pet owners signed up on the previous post. Testers will review the products, rating them from 1 paw (just ok) to 4 paws (tail-waggingly great) and send us photos of their pets. 

By the way, the Bit-O-Luv people sent a care package to the White House to welcome Bo Obama, the first family's new Portuguese water dog. (To see the latest Bo pictures, click here.) That means our pets on the panel could be dining on the same special treats as the first dog. Maybe Bit-O-Luv will help Bo from taking Bit-O-Toe.

Check back for the reviews. The treats come in three flavors -- Bistro Beef, Roasted Chicken and Smokehouse -- so we'll have three different pet/pet owners weighing in. If anyone has already tried Bit-O-Luv snacks, we'd luv to know what you thought. (Also, don't forget: We're still in the market for a better name for the group.)

Posted by Mary Corey at 1:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

The White House has released new photos of First Dog Bo Obama getting to know the West Wing. By the looks of things, the doggie seems to be bringing the nation's powerbrokers to heel. All photos were taken by White House Photographer Pete Souza.

White House Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations Brian Mosteller, maybe not so much a dog person, attempts to protect his shoes as he plays with Bo Obama in the Cabinet Room at the White House on April 21.

President Barack Obama plays with the first dog Bo on April 20 on the South Lawn of the White House.

Bo Obama heads into the Oval Office on April 15 for a strategic meeting with the president and his top advisers about treats.

Bo Obama takes the president for a walk on April 14 through the private residence of the White House.

For extensive coverage of Bo, click here.

See more photos from the White House's official Flickr page here.

Posted by Jill Rosen at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: First Dog Bo Obama
        

As if she doesn't have enough to keep herself busy, Octo-mom Nadya Suleman is shopping around to add a four-legged member to her brood. According to US Weekly, the mother of 14 is thinking about a dog and maybe a pig.

"For a couple of years, the kids have been asking for a dog," Suleman told the magazine. "I've actually been looking into a pig, like a little one." She added that she'd like the pig to wear a diaper and live outside. Right.

PETA is apparently beside itself at the news.

"In today's uncertain economy -- and with all the demands that come with raising 14 children -- we urge you to reconsider adding two more dependents to your family," PETA's Michelle Cho wrote in a letter to Suleman, according to the magazine. "Like children, pigs and dogs are intelligent, social beings with complex needs. They require a lot of attention, space, and exercise as well as a huge financial commitment."

Photo by Nick Ut / Associated Press

Posted by Jill Rosen at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Celebrities and their pets
        

NAME: Billy

NICKNAMES: Billiam, and sometimes when he's in trouble, William Jefferson Kitten

OWNER: Reality Check blogger Sarah Kelber

HOW THEY MET: My husband and I adopted two kittens, Spencer and Zero, but Zero had distemper and died about a week after we brought him home. After a few weeks on his own, Spencer moved from rambunctious to uncontrollable, so we decided: "We need an alpha cat." Upon visiting the Maryland SPCA, we decided to look at the older cats instead of kittens, and Billy reached out a paw from a lower cage and tapped my husband on the leg. He purred like crazy when we paid a little attention to him, and he was super-affectionate. That day, he came home with us and immediately proved himself to be the alpha over little Spencer.

AGE: 10

HOME: Columbia

BREED: Domestic shorthair

BEST TRICK: He herds the other cats whenever people are leaving the house. He grabs hold of Spencer or our other cat, Lucy, by the nape with his teeth and places a paw on their sides to prevent them from trying to run out the front door. It's very helpful but annoys the other two to no end, especially when they aren't actually trying to escape.

FAVORITE ACTIVITY:  Napping anyplace that I just was. If I get up from the armchair to get a glass of water, when I come back, Billy is in my spot. If I get up in the middle of the night to tend to the baby, when I come back, Billy is on my pillow.

FUNNIEST MOMENT: After having two cats for seven years, we turned their lives upside-down in 2005 when we brought home a kitten, Lucy. Though Billy is very affectionate with us, he is not fond of strangers, so we thought he would not take it well. As it turned out, low-key Spencer lost his mind for two weeks, growling constantly, and Billy just rolled with the punches, treating Lucy with either indifference or kindness, depending on his mood.

QUIRKIEST MOMENT: Billy loves to roll around on concrete, on the rare occasions he gets to go outside. In 2005, he apparently got the same feeling from our recently renovated bathroom floor, which you can see in this video:

IF BILLY HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE:  If I trust you, you have my undying affection. If I don't, you won't even see me.

Photo by Sarah Kelber

See more photos of Billy here.

To see other pets that have been featured in Collared, click here.

Want your pet to be featured in Unleashed? Click here to download the Collared questionnaire. Fill it out and email it to us, along with a web-sized jpeg, at unleashed@baltsun.com.

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

Bo Obama wants to know: Where do you keep the squirrels?

Pictured: White House Horticulturist Dale Haney walks with Bo, the Obama family's new, outside the Oval Office of the White House. We can only imagine that Haney spent some of the walk encouraging Bo to avoid the new White House vegetable garden. Gerald Herbert / Associated Press

Posted by Jill Rosen at 4:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: First Dog Bo Obama
        

Calling Baltimore's cutest pets!

The Flowermart needs you (and your owners) to participate in Saturday's Pet Parade and Mascot Contest. Dogs, cats, rabbits -- any pets, really -- will march around Mount Vernon's Washington Monument. Costumes aren't necessary -- only spirit.

Says Regi Elion, who's organizing the animal events, "In my mind, a dog should be in his birthday suit." Elion's own pooch, Spencer, which she calls a "designer dog from the street," will be marching proud and costumeless.

The winning pet will receive a gift certificate to Howl in Hampden. For second place, there's a basket of doggie goodies from Trader Joe's. Last year, Dweezil, a 4-year-old Newfoundland, owned by Linda Harris of Eldersburg took first place and a very sweet miniature bunny named Scout came in second.

To participate in the parade, pet owners should grab an application at the Flowermart information booth on Friday or well before the parade's 11:30 a.m. start on Saturday.

Pictured: Gwen Law holds up Champion Churchwarden Sue, the Flowermart's mascot, at the 2005 event. Algerina Perna / Baltimore Sun  

Posted by Jill Rosen at 1:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Events
        

NAME: Lexicon (or Lexi, for short)

NICKNAMES: She had already been "Lexi" 4 years when I got her. I didn't want to confuse her by calling her something altogether different, but 'Lexi' was so common. Lexicon fit. Nowadays she'll respond to Lex, Lexi, Lexicon, or Bump (as in the oft spoken, "look out for the speed bump" or "there's a bump in my bed!").

OWNER: Felicia Savage

HOW THEY MET: I was in the market for an adult Sheltie to make nice with my mother's, who would only tolerate dogs her own breed. When I first met her, Lexi was still active in the dog-show circuit, but her irregular monthly cycles made her a good candidate for early retirement. Her owner, a local breeder, approved of my request and agreed to let her go. She and Sheba hit it off, and Lexi's enjoyed being a companion animal since!

AGE: 8

HOME: Baltimore

BREED: Shetland Sheepdog

BEST TRICK: Twirling. She did this whenever treats were brought out. It took only a quick lesson to have her spinning on command.

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Stopping on the street so that passersby may pet her (or laying in the middle of the office belly-up while visiting work). No one needs love like the Lex.

FAVORITE FOOD: I try not to give her scraps, but she's been known to run off with a mouthful of bread if I turn my back on it.

FUNNIEST MOMENT: The day after a drenching downpour, Lexi's lingering wet-dog aroma had become so particularly awful, she couldn't stand it herself. Mouthing her morning breath mint to wet it, she dropped it to the ground and threw herself onto it, rolling the scent (and the stickiness) into her fur. Suffice it to say, it didn't help (except to inspire a bath that evening).

MORE ABOUT LEXI: She's a recent addition to our regional Pets on Wheels volunteer team, has an unusual attraction to bully breeds, and enjoys pausing whatever movie I'm watching by sitting on the remote.

IF LEXICON HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: "A little to the left, please?"

Photos by Felicia Savage

To see other pets that have been featured in Collared, click here.

Want your pet to be featured in Unleashed? Click here to download the Collared questionnaire. Fill it out and email it to us, along with a web-sized jpeg, at unleashed@baltsun.com.

Posted by Mary Corey at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Collared
        

A couple weeks ago we wrote about Pet Airways, a new company that will specialize in flying pets around the country. It turns out, one of the airports that Pet Airways will be using is BWI/Marshall.

The service, set to begin in July, will cost $149 each way. Pets will fly in containers in the main cabin along with an attendant. Their owners, however, aren't allowed on board.

So far, Pet Airways will be flying in and out of five airports, but expects to add more. 

For more information, visit petairways.com.

Now that you have a new way to get your pet where you're going, check out some vacation places you can visit at baltimoresun.com/travel.

Photo courtesy of Pet Airways

Posted by Liz Atwood at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Here at Unleashed, we get stuff -- dog treats, cat toys, pet breath mints, books. Some become fabulous prizes for Animal House Friday, but others just sit unused in the office. That got us thinking: Wouldn't it be fun to have an Unleashed Testing Panel?

We're looking for folks with dogs and/or cats (or easy access to pets) willing to review products for us that come in the mail. Think of it as our highly unscientific Consumer Reports about pets.

Some of the questions we might ask you to tackle: Will a cat eat these $10 treats? Does a dog perform a squeakerotomy on this toy five minutes after playing with it? Could this book be a great gift for a pet-loving friend?

To be part of the panel, you just need to be willing to test a product, take a picture of your pet with it (if relevant) and then write a short review that we can post on the site. Here's the kicker: You get to keep whatever you test.

UTP isn't the most enticing abbreviation for the group. (In fact, it sounds more like something you get an antibiotic for.) Maybe someone out there can think of a better name for the panel.

Comment below if you're interested and let us know whether you have a dog, cat, rabbit, etc., and if your pet has any special interests/qualifications to be a reviewer. (Please include your e-mail. It will remain private, but we need it to contact you when we get the panel up and running.)

Photo courtesy of hondenbier.nl/

Posted by Mary Corey at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (36)
        

This morning's Baltimore City Council hearing on reducing the leash law fine from $1,000 to $250 has been postponed. City Hall is closed due to the massive water main break on Lombard Street. Baltimore Sun reporter Jill Rosen, who was all set to tweet from the hearing, says an official turning people away at the door said the hearing is rescheduled for 9 a.m. May 12.

Posted by Liz Atwood at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (15)
        

NAME: Roo

OWNER: Kristin Gormus and Brian Bauer

HOW THEY MET: Our friend has her older brother Mojo, and we loved to play with him and thought he was adorable. So we didn’t waste any time when there was another litter.

AGE: 4 months

HOME: Baltimore

BREED: Australian Shepherd

BEST TRICK: Hmmm, still working on that! So far it’s just sit, down, come and sometimes Paw.

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Chasing the ducks and rabbits outside our house. And barking at the kitchen mop.

FAVORITE FOOD: Besides eating the carpet? She likes Puppy Pop-corn.

FUNNIEST MOMENT: Her trying to eat a lime slice… She runs up and licks it, then flings it across the room, then runs over to it to bark at it and rolls around in circles on the ground because she is excited about the taste! This lasts a good half hour. 

A FEW OTHER THINGS: She snores and runs in her sleep. And she loves the water!

IF ROO HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: To taste everything life has to offer!

Photo by Kristin

To see other pets that have been featured in Collared, click here.

Want your pet to be featured in Unleashed? Click here to download the Collared questionnaire. Fill it out and email it to us, along with a web-sized jpeg, at unleashed@baltsun.com.

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

Nearly 500 people have signed an online petition supporting a Baltimore City Council bill that would reduce the fines for allowing dogs off leash. As Lisa noted in a comment, the petition will be presented to the council members at a hearing on the law Tuesday (tomorrow). The council is weighing whether to reduce the fine for unleashed dogs from $1,000 to $250 for a first offense. However, the bill does not change the $1,000 fine for failing to pick up after a dog. A council aide said that amendment might be introduced along with others at the hearing.

Residents seem divided over how much dog owners should be fined for letting a dog run off leash or not picking up the poo. In an unscientific poll we conducted at The Baltimore Sun:

-- Half of the nearly 200 respondents favored returning to the $100 fine that was the previous penalty for leash law offenses.

-- 20 percent favored the $1,000 fine

--14 percent believe the fine should be between $100 and $1,000

-- 11 percent say there should be no fine at all.

You can voice your opinion in the poll here or go here to see the online petition if you are a city resident.

We'll be at the hearing tomorrow and let you know what happens.

Posted by Liz Atwood at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

NAME: Sydney

OWNER: Marge Neal

HOW THEY MET: Syd was a stray frequenting an apartment complex in Rosedale, and a friend of mine told me about her. Someone cut about a third of her tail off and the tips of both ears. She is slow to trust, but 100 percent committed once she does trust someone.

AGE: 10

HOME: Frederick

BREED: Domestic shorthair

BEST TRICK: Tracking the elusive sunbeam

FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Sleeping, purring

FAVORITE FOODS: Ice cream, cheese and grilled salmon

FUNNIEST MOMENT: The picture above will attest … I took a new job that was 65 miles from home. I packed a bag and spent a couple of days each week in the new town, which broke Syd’s heart. One morning, I threw my bag up on the bed to pack and walked into another room for something. I came back to find her in the bag....The message was obvious — and a heartbreaker.

AN EMPATHETIC CAT: She’s very intuitive and knows when I don’t feel well. She’s extra affectionate and cuddles when I’m sick.

IF SYDNEY HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: Have sunbeam, will sleep.

Photo by Marge Neal

To see other pets that have been featured in Collared, click here.

Want your pet to be featured in Unleashed? Click here to download the Collared questionnaire. Fill it out and email it to us, along with a web-sized jpeg, at unleashed@baltsun.com.

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

Since we're writing about Chihuahuas today, here's the latest in celebrity Chihuahua news. Paris Hilton and one of her teacup pups are starring in the spring/summer ad campaign for Guess.

Famouschihuahua.com identifies the dog as Tinkerbell. We guess the newest member of the Paris Hilton canine club -- the teacup Pomeranian she got for her birthday last month from beau Doug Reinhardt of The Hills -- wasn't camera ready.

The way we see it, the world needs less Paris and more pets in ad campaigns. Anyway, one of the cutest Chihuahua pictures around can be seen here. Take that, Paris.

Posted by Mary Corey at 6:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Celebrities and their pets
        

NAME: Peapod

OWNERS: Dave Rich & Mary Madden

HOW THEY MET: A breeder in Hagerstown

AGE: 3.5 years

HOME: Roland Park. She is better known than we are!

BREED: Chihuahua

BEST TRICK: Rolling around on her food and tossing it in the air

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Playing "golf ball"

FAVORITE FOOD: Potato chips. Her first taste of chips occurred when Mary turned away from her at the Roland Park 4 of July parade in 2005. Children gathered around and started feeding her potato chips.

FUNNIEST MOMENT: When she gets together with her boyfriend, Masen, they are completely out of control -- chasing each other and ferocious playing.

THREE THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT PEAPOD: 1. She fervently dislikes children under age 10, especially little boys.

2. Peapod earned her name as a young puppy when she peed on the carpet twice before 7 one morning.

3. We try to take her everywhere with us. She LOVES going places; alas, she has gotten us thrown out on a number of occasions.

IF PEAPOD HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: Cute, mean & loud, love me for I am proud!

Photo by Mary Madden

To see other pets that have been featured in Collared, click here.

Want your pet to be featured in Unleashed? Click here to download the Collared questionnaire. Fill it out and email it to us, along with a web-sized jpeg, at unleashed@baltsun.com.

Posted by Mary Corey at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Collared
        

NAME: Sadie Boo Boo Longacre

HOW SHE GOT HER NAME: I got Sadie when she was a 3 1/2 lb puppy at 8 weeks. I did not realize that the AKC papers required several names and there was deadline to send it in. I was going out of town and asked my ex-husband to fill it out in a hurry and mail the paperwork. You can imagine my surprise when her formal AKC papers came back with "Boo Boo" as her middle name!!

(Maybe that is why he is my ex?!!)

OWNER: Sue Longacre

HOW THEY MET: I found her in an ad in the Washington Post from a breeder in Southern Maryland. The breeder changed her mind after posting the ad for the LAST puppy of the litter (and the runt too!), but I showed up and convinced her that Sadie would have a wonderful life with me....living on a boat in DC and a log cabin in WV and going to work with me every day!

AGE: 13

HOME: Annapolis

BREED: Long-Haired Miniature Dachshund

BEST TRICK: Her best trick is LOOKING CUTE! Besides that she can sit up and "look pretty."

FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Her favorite activities are going to work with me. She sits ON my desk and looks out the window  (as shown in the photo) and when she is not doing that she is reading the Dachshund book on my desk or snoozing UNDER the desk in her foo foo burgundy velvet dog bed! She also LOVES to ride in the rear window of my Jaguar and often sleeps there. People often think she is a stuffed dog in my rear window and when she wakes up and looks at them, people pull up to me on the road and wave and honk their car horn and SMILE!

FAVORITE FOOD: ICE CREAM (her first flavor was Bubble Gum ice cream and so for years she used to sneak in my purse and find gum and chew it!) Cottage cheese is another favorite. She can understand the spelling of BOTH of those words. But any human food is her favorite food.

FUNNIEST MOMENT: The funniest moment (but could have been tragic) of Sadie's life is when she was sitting on the porch swing with me on the patio of my SECOND floor condo. This squirrel used to torment her by running up and down a tree about 5 feet from the rail of the patio. One day she had enough of the squirrel's torment and JUMPED off the balcony to catch it and fell 20 feet to the ground. My heart sank as I jumped up to look over the patio rail, and she was already up and running after the squirrel and almost caught it!! (I took her to the vet...one broken rib and cracked diaphragm.)

HER QUIRK: She LOVES pillows. She will pile up all the pillows on a bed and plop herself down for a nap.

IF SADIE HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: "You can never have too many fluffy pillows!"

Photo by Sue Longacre

To see other pets that have been featured in Collared, click here.

Want your pet to be featured in Unleashed? Click here to download the Collared questionnaire. Fill it out and email it to us, along with a web-sized jpeg, at unleashed@baltsun.com.

Posted by Mary Corey at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Collared
        

BUCKY.

Reality Check Sarah pulled his name out of the bag, and his gift is (not two tickets to the hairball exhibit but) Itty Bitty Kitty Ditties.

This new book combines pen-and-ink illustrations by Alex Boies with witty poems by Tim Hodapp. One involving Opal the cat mentions that she "coughed up a few hairs," making it the perfect gift for Animal House Friday/National Hairball Awareness Day.

Congratulations to Bucky, and thanks to all who commented. Look for more prizes next Friday.

Posted by Mary Corey at 4:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Animal house
        

Baltimore City Council is reconsidering the fine for dog owners who let their dogs run off leash, but don't throw away those plastic bags just yet.

Legislation the council is considering would lower the fine for unleashed dogs from $1,000 to $250 for a first offense, but the fine for failing to pick up  after a dog would still be $1,000.

Erin Fiaschetti, legislative aide to Councilman Jim Kraft, who introduced the proposal on Monday, says the aim was to create a simple bill that would be quickly adopted by the council. While dog owners have protested the fine for unleashed dogs, the penalty for failing to pick up after  dogs has drawn a more mixed reaction, with some residents lobbying to keep the $1,000 fine, Fiaschetti says.

The Council's Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee will hold a public hearing at 10 a.m. Tuesday on the proposed leash law changes. Fiaschetti says other council members have indicated they might introduce amendments to the bill and says the fine for not picking up the poo could be changed.

The council raised the fines for letting dogs run off leash and for failing to pick up after them from $100 to $1,000 last year, but it wasn't until earlier this month when Animal Control officials began enforcing the law that many dog owners became aware of the new penalties and besieged City Hall with complaints.

The hearing will be held in the Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall.

Posted by Liz Atwood at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Today brings together two glorious occasions: Animal House Friday, when one lucky commenter will win a pet-themed prize, and National Hairball Awareness Day.

I ask: If you have a cat, how can you be unaware of hairballs? You hear them on their way up -- the hacking, the coughing, the feline distress signals. Or you're walking along, say, headed to the kitchen and you spot one. Worse yet, you don't see it and (gross-out alert) step in it.

Hairballs are actually called trichobezoars. These nondigested masses are found in animals other than cats, including horses, chickens and cows, as well as humans. They occur when something (food, medicine, hair) can't make it through the narrow opening between the stomach and large intestine.

Here's where it gets interesting: You can learn the truth about hairballs at an exhibit and "hands-on activity" at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Washington on Monday (April 27) at noon. Visitors that day will, are you ready, "have the opportunity to handle an actual hairball," according to the museum's Web site. (For more details, click here.)

The exhibit is up through May 4, but if you can't make it, there's a virtual hairball exhibit on the museum's site. You can see it by clicking here. I've checked it out, and here's some advice: Avoid around meal time.

Have a hairball story to share? A solution to the problem in your cat, horse or cow? Or simply want to weigh in on why someone would go to a museum to touch a hairball from a chicken? All comments welcome (even off-topic ones). Remember: It's prize day. Comment below and your name will be entered in a drawing for a nifty gift. I'll draw the name at 3 p.m. Please include your e-mail so I can contact you if you're today's winner. (The e-mail will remain private; we just need it to reach you.)

Oh, and (cough, cough) Happy Hairball Day.

Photo: Baltimore Sun Staff Photo by Karl Merton Ferron

Posted by Mary Corey at 9:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Animal house
        

NAME: Jumpie Johnson  

HOW SHE GOT HER NAME: She can jump very high.

OWNER: Marci Johnson

HOW THEY MET: Found her wandering our neighborhood about five years ago, and we could not find anyone in the area who was missing her. She's been with us ever since.

AGE: Approximately 7 years old 

HOME: Baltimore

BREED: Standard Schnauzer mix

BEST TRICK: Speak

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Playing with our new puppy

FAVORITE FOOD: Any sort of treat, and my daughter's plastic toys and pencils

FUNNIEST MOMENT: I don't know that it's "funny," but we were discussing adopting a Schnauzer when she came strolling into our lives -- very strange!

IF JUMPIE HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: Jump high, sleep often.

Photo by Marci Johnson at the Maryland SPCA 's March for the Animals

To see other pets that have been featured in Collared, click here.

Want your pet to be featured in Unleashed? Click here to download the Collared questionnaire. Fill it out and email it to us, along with a web-sized jpeg, at unleashed@baltsun.com.

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

We're getting to know Bo. Today we learned from First Lady Michelle Obama that the First Dog is "kind of crazy."

She was meeting with more than 100 children visiting the White House for Take Your Child to Work Day, and a hot topic was, of course, the six-month-old Portuguese water dog that joined the family last week. 

Here are some of our favorite quotes from the First Lady, and what they might say about the still-emerging personality of the pet that the president promised his daughters, Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10.

-- "It was like 10 o'clock. Everybody was asleep and we hear all this barking and jumping around. The president and I came out and we thought somebody was out there. And it was just Bo. He was playing with his ball."

Our take: Bo is going to be the night owl of the family.

-- "He loves to chew on people's feet." 

Our take: Portuguese water dogs are known to be "mouthy," so no surprise here that he likes to nibble on toes. Entertaining him with toys, as many Portie owners have pointed out, is the answer. 

-- "Right now I'm taking care of this puppy, so I'm doing a lot of dog walking and dog training.''

Our take: We always suspected that Michelle Obama would be in charge of Bo's care within the family. You could even see that during his official debut.

-- When one child asked what would happen if Bo ran away, she replied: "I think everyone at the White House would probably help go out and find him. That's why we're working on training him, so that he doesn't run away and he listens when we call him. And so far he's doing OK, so we hope we don't have that problem."  

Our take: Something tells us that the Secret Service wouldn't allow the world's most famous dog to go far.

Photo by Alex Wong/AFP/Getty Images: Michelle Obama takes questions from children today during a Take Your Child to Work Day event in the East Room of the White House.

FOR MORE:

See the LATEST PICTURE of Bo.

Read extensive coverage of the First Dog.

Check out the Bo Obama photo gallery .

Posted by Mary Corey at 7:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: First Dog Bo Obama
        

Bo is already getting the welcome-home thing down. In his latest picture, the six-month-old Portuguese water dog watches as President Barack Obama returns to the White House from a trip to Iowa.

Photo/April 22, 2009: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Posted by Mary Corey at 4:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: First Dog Bo Obama
        

The city's new $1,000 fine for pet owners who have their dogs off leash has generated much discussion about the need for dog parks in the city. Even councilman Edward Reisinger, one of the sponsors of the bill which raised the fines in the first place, has said the solution is for dog owners to form a partnership with the city to create more dog parks. (He has since sponsored legislation to reduce the fines to $250).

Tonight (Thursday) the Patterson Dog Park Committee is having a happy hour/meet and greet at Three, 2901 E. Baltimore St., at 6:30 p.m. to talk about its mission and let others know what they can do.

Plus, Three is offering drink (half-price wine by the glass) and food specials. 

 For more information visit http://www.pattersondogpark.org/ or follow the group on Twitter at  http://twitter.com/pattersondogprk.

Posted by Mary Corey at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Events
        

NAME: Camden (Yes -- after Camden Yards)

OWNER: Sarah Brostrom

HOW THEY MET: I wanted to adopt a dog. I searched for puppy mills, adoption shelters, rescues etc. When I came across a puppy mill in PA., I decided, spur of the moment, to hop in my car and rescue a puppy. When I got there, I didn’t even need to look. I walked in a barn of screaming munchkin puppies. And second cage on my right, there he was…his face smooshed up against the cage; his body was shaking, and he gave me that “please get me out of here” look. Needless to say, he was mine.

AGE: 2

HOME: Catonsville

BREED: Australian Cattle Dog/Beagle mix

BEST TRICK: Rolls over, then slaps you five!

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: He Loves Water! He loves Quiet Waters Dog Park. He actually thinks he owns it.

FAVORITE FOOD: Pro Treat -- Freeze-Dried Liver Training Treats. He gets so excited when he knows I have them that he will be in a completely different room by himself rolling over and over and over until he is noticed.

FUNNIEST MOMENT: He is a little scared of new things in his environment, especially when he was a pup. On Halloween, when he was around 10 months old, we decided to get pumpkins to bring home to carve. When we got home, we brought the pumpkins in and set them on the coffee table so we could let him out of his crate. He came running down the hallway so happy. That was until he saw the “evil” pumpkins. In his eyes… they were the most terrifying thing he ever encountered. He stopped immediately in his tracks and got in his “herding” mode. He crept up to them in an extreme slow motion until he was, in his mind, at a “safe” distance, which was about 5 feet away. He took a quick sniff then immediately made a beeline back down the hallway screaming. Until we carved the pumpkins later that night, to avoid them, he walked with his body completely pressed against the wall to get from point A to B, and did his best to avoid eye contact with them

He did the same thing at Christmas when he saw the Christmas tree stand. Surprisingly, he wasn’t scared when he saw the actual tree in it. Just the stand was terrifying to him.

NINE THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT CAMDEN:...

1. He loves to be under blankets. He will not sleep unless he is covered. And he will bug you until he is underneath.

2. He loves to go outside during summer nights and look for crickets and grasshoppers. He will stare at the grass until he notices any type of movement, then scratch and dig until he finds the jumping bug.

3. He thinks every dog is his friend.

4. He screams at me when I put on earrings because he thinks we are going somewhere.

5. No matter what he is doing, 10 p.m. is his bedtime. For some reason, every night at 10:00, if I don’t know where Camden is, I find him in bed under the covers, by himself… silly dog!

6. If he doesn’t like the food or treat he is given, I will later find it buried in a blanket, towel or cushion.

7. He comes to work with me every day.

8. He loves milk, and he thinks I don’t know when he drinks mine, but the milk mustache kind of gives it away.

9. He loves to share his toys and will purposely take a toy and bring it to another dog and sit it in front of them until they play with it.

IF CAMDEN HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: “I don’t live for the park, the park lives for me.”

Photos by Sarah Brostrom

To see other pets that have been featured in Collared, click here.

Want your pet to be featured in Unleashed? Click here to download the Collared questionnaire. Fill it out and email it to us, along with a web-sized jpeg, at unleashed@baltsun.com.

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

Is Angelina a dog hater?

The gossip sites are abuzz that Angelina Jolie and her doggie co-star, Bingo, are at odds. On the set of her new spy thriller, Salt, Mrs. Brad Pitt has four scenes with the golden retriever. But the word is, the actress, who plays a CIA agent named Evelyn Salt, has complained to the director that the dog isn't doing his job.

In one scene, the dog reportedly was supposed to run to Jolie and (shockingly!) went past her into the arms of a crew member.

Who knows whether the story is true or just the Hollywood blogosphere in overdrive. It is funny, though, that we never heard anything like this about Jennifer Aniston during the shooting of Marley & Me.  

(Above: Sony Pictures photo of Angelina Jolie on the set of Salt)

Posted by Mary Corey at 5:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Celebrities and their pets
        

Bo Obama has become an instant celebrity, the subject of books, gossip, a magazine cover and a new Beanie Baby. Here's a look at the latest news about the famous six-month-old Portuguese water dog:

A book deal. Mascot Books is about to release Bo, America's Commander in Leash. According to the publisher, the book  details the adventures of the first dog as he learns about the traditions of the White House, including the Easter Egg Roll, Fourth of July fireworks, and festivities surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Modeling for Beanie Babies. Ty, the toy company that got in trouble earlier this year for its Sasha and Malia dolls, has introduced Beanie Baby Bo. According to the company, proceeds will go to support animal shelters. So far, the Obamas haven't protested this doll like they did the girl dolls.

A less-fortunate relative. Bo's half-sister Ruby has been found in a small town in Minnesota. According to published reports, she and Bo have the same father, but the two have never met. But Bo, who lives the life of fame and fortune, has so far ignored his older sister.

Magazine cover. The current issue of The New Yorker features a Bob Staake illustration of Bo on the White House lawn. Staake says he has written his own book about the first dog but hasn't found a publisher. Bet it won't be long.

Posted by Liz Atwood at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: First Dog Bo Obama
        

Earth Day is a good time to think about the carbon paw print our pets leave and what can be done about it. To help in that effort, we present some eco-friendly dog products and toys.

BioBag dog waste bags

We've talked on the blog before about the thorny environmental issue of using plastic bags for dog waste. Biobags are one solution. Made of cornstarch, they break down like food scraps in 45 days. The best-selling pet product on buygreen.com, they come in small and large sizes. Prices start at $4.39.

Orbee-Tuff Glow for Good Ball

Petside.com rates this recyclable, non-toxic ball as its No. 1 eco-friendly pet toy. We understand why: One hundred percent of the sales goes to the Planet Dog foundation, which supports canine service programs. Did we mention it's minty and glows in the dark? Price: $11.95 at planetdog.com 

Dog necktie collars

OK, so maybe they're a little dressy for the park, but these fully functional, adjustable, clip-the-leash-on-'em collars (pictured) are actually made of old neckties. We give these high marks for being made of recycled materials but also for being adorable. There's one more benefit: For every collar sold, the Good Life manufacturer contributes 50 cents to organizations that help pets, people and the environment. Price: $24 at buygreen.com

For petside.com's list of top 10 green pet toys, click here.

Do you have favorite eco-friendly pet products? Please let us know.

Posted by Mary Corey at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Pet accessories
        

NAME: Zara

OWNER: Simon T

HOW THEY MET: Inauguration Day during the break while our new president was having lunch, I surfed the web and found her. She was flown from St. Louis 2 weeks later.

AGE: Born 12/04/08

HOME: Baltimore

BREED: OES (Old English Sheepdog)

BEST TRICK: Being cute

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: People watching

FAVORITE FOOD: Chicken

FUNNIEST MOMENT: Give her a carrot and she plays with it, tossing it in the air and chasing it round the yard until she eats it.

WHAT YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW ABOUT OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOGS: Old English Sheepdogs are one of the most docile and loving dogs around. Inbred herding comes with the dog, and as they grow, your calves will be nipped to keep you in line. The long fur acts as an insulator in both hot and cool weather, and yes even with all the fur over the face, they can see very well. They start life as black and white and slowly turn to either a grey or blue grey and white. Best of all, the dog does not molt, so no hair all over the place.

IF ZARA HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: Devotion

Photo by Simon T

To see other pets that have been featured in Collared, click here.

Want your pet to be featured in Unleashed? Click here to download the Collared questionnaire. Fill it out and email it to us, along with a web-sized jpeg, at unleashed@baltsun.com.

Posted by Mary Corey at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Collared
        

Calling all pet owners. Trying in Timonium needs our help. I received this e-mail today and thought commenters could offer some good advice. What do you think he should do?

Dear Pet Experts,

My 10-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter would really love to have a dog and I'm inclined to provide one for them but I want to do so responsibly. My wife is already a bit hesitant about this so I need to find the perfect match.

My first choice is to check with the Humane Society and other shelter operators but as I look through their materials, I worry about whether we're a good fit.

For instance, many shelters require prospective owners to have a fenced yard, apparently because many abused dogs are fearful of strangers. We do not have one. It's apparent that many dogs that end up in the care of the ASPCA and others have been abused and require special handling. I wonder whether we are particularly well qualified for this.

What breed or mixture of breeds is best for our situation? We are not experienced dog owners and my wife, who was mauled as a child, does not want them exposed to an aggressive animal. Are we good candidates for the shelter experience or too timid to be adoptive parents?

Thanks for your advice,

Trying in Timonium

Sun file photo by Jed Kirschbaum/A terrier mix awaits adoption at Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter Inc.

Posted by Mary Corey at 6:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)
        

Ashley went to the Maryland SPCA's March for the Animals and sent in this post and this delightful photo:

Both of our dogs are adopted, so we were so excited when we learned about this event. I had such an amazing time with my family and can't wait until next year.

I saw in a comment that you didn't see the turtle there, so I thought I'd send along a pic of my dachshund, Winston, and his run-in with it.

He was beside himself!

Check out our PHOTO GALLERY and vote for your favorite pet from the March for the Animals.

See the 10 things we learned from the day by CLICKING HERE.

Posted by Mary Corey at 3:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Events
        

Photos courtesy of Janine Dowdle

Photos courtesy of Felicia Savage

Posted by Tim Swift at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Events
        

NAME: Foxy

OWNER: Holly Crawford-Seay & Jay Seay

HOW THEY MET: After many months of pleading, Jay gave in and said that we could have a dog. However, he did have a few specifications: a female that would be sociable with cats (we have twin tabbies). I was adamant that we have a pit bull because I love the breed and was very familiar with their behavior. Jay had limited experience with the breed, so he left the decision-making up to me. So, after months of searching for the perfect dog, I paid a visit to the MD SPCA after spotting Foxy on their website. From the moment we met, I knew she was our baby. She was only seven months old, still a puppy and surrounded by larger and more vocal dogs. We didn’t even realize she knew how to bark until we got her home!

AGE: 20 months

HOME: Charles Village

BREED: Pit bull mix

BEST TRICK: While we’ve never had Foxy formally trained, she is very good at "sit" and "stay." However, Foxy is a natural trickster. She greets family and friends with a friendly and recognizable "Awhooo," which she can perform on command.

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Chewing on Holly’s tennis shoes, cuddling on the big, blue couch, inciting her dog park friends to chase her (she loves to run), licking all the peanut butter out of her Kong, and car rides (lots of car rides).

FAVORITE FOOD: Pasta, and she looks heartbroken if you don’t share a small forkful with her -- the tips of her ears droop. She also loves carrots.

FUNNIEST MOMENT: After a particular rainy night, we went to the dog park to let Foxy run off some steam (she loves mud). Foxy was running so hard that she lost traction and when she went to stop, she skidded and flipped over (tail over head) into the muddiest mud puddle to date! She came up smiling if not slightly bemused. She got a bath that night.

HER CARING WAY: Shortly before my Grandmother passed away in March, we took Foxy to visit her in Hospice Care. My grandmother had always loved dogs and was excited to see Foxy. Foxy can be stand-offish around people she doesn’t know, but on this particular day she had a special mission: Cheer up Grandma! Because of her disposition, we are now looking into certifying Foxy as a therapy dog.

A CAT CUDDLER: Foxy loves animals that are smaller than she is (possibly since she’s on the small side herself). She cannot get enough of cuddling with my cat. 

IF FOXY HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: Seize the Shoe!

Photo by Holly Crawford-Seay

To see other pets that have been featured in Collared, click here.

Want your pet to be featured in Unleashed? Click here to download the Collared questionnaire. Fill it out and email it to us, along with a web-sized jpeg, at unleashed@baltsun.com.

Posted by Mary Corey at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Collared
        

We asked for your impressions, pictures, funny stories from the Maryland SPCA's March for the Animals. Here's what the day was like for Stephanie Carberry (pictured far left). She sent in these photos and this post:

We met up with our team, "The Ruff Pack" (pictured right). It was a wonderful day. Our little group made two trips around the lake. It was so much fun to be around other pet enthusiasts.

I don't own a dog. But I had my brother's family dog, Lisa, to enjoy the day.

Lisa comes from New Haven, Conn., twice a year to enjoy time away from home and get some much needed grooming :) She is a 10-year-old, tri-color Collie.

She was born with a detached retina in her left eye. But, her nose and right eye more than compensate. Lisa enjoyed the day spent around other dogs.

The sounds and spells were so overwhelming to her, Lisa was fast asleep before reaching our Baltimore County home that afternoon.

Make sure to check out our PHOTO GALLERY and vote for the cutest pet.

For more coverage of the March for the Animals, click here.

Posted by Mary Corey at 9:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Events
        

Thanks to Janine Dowdle, we have located Darwin the tortoise. She sent this picture in from the Maryland SPCA's March for the Animals yesterday.

Make sure to check out our PHOTO GALLERY and vote for the cutest pet.

Check out TEN THINGS we learned from going to the March for the Animals.

For more coverage of the day, click here.

Posted by Mary Corey at 8:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Events
        

Here's what the Maryland SPCA's March for Animals yesterday taught me:

1. Baltimoreans like to pay homage to the city when naming pets.

My five favorite Baltimore-centric dog names: Billy Ripken, Hopkins, Camden, Grubbs (as in Ravens player Ben Grubbs) and Yanda (as in Ravens player Marshal Yanda). Grubbs and Yanda,  pictured right, were dressed as Thing One and Thing Two from Dr. Seuss for the costume contest.

My five favorite names overall: Miss Piggy, Lady Bianca, Guinness, Knuckles and Bonkers

2. Darwin is becoming a trendy name for pets.

You read it here first. I met two dogs named Darwin yesterday, and the lone tortoise at the event was named Darwin. (Can someone explain the Darwin fascination please? And if you saw the tortoise, please share details. I never could find it.)

3. You can't always trust the DNA.

Matthew, owner of Max and Annie, learned this recently. Matthew had Max's DNA tested, and it came back saying the dog was part Chinese Shar-Pei and German Shepherd. An adorably scruffy and sweet dog, he bears no resemblance to either breed. If his DNA came back and said he was descended from Benji, that would be credible. Matthew rightly describes him as "a wiry-haired terrier mix."

4. Look down as well as ahead when you're walking.

This was a lesson I learned the hard way....

Number of times I stepped in dog poo: Once.

What my friend Tim, of Swift Picks fame, said when I did: "Watch out."

Number of times Tim stepped in dog poo: Once.

What he said when he did: "Guess they're not enforcing the $1,000 fine today."

5. Big dogs look silly in tutus.

6. The smallest dogs had the biggest barks.

7. It's really hard for puppies to do the agility course.

They get tired. They get distracted. They want to roll around in the grass.

8. The Ace of Cakes gang loves dogs almost as much as fondant.

Ace of Cakes stars were out in full force. Duff Goldman was there, but I never got a chance to see him. (Maybe he was off with the tortoise somewhere.) Spotted: Cute Geof Manthorne with his dog Cotton and Mary Alice Yeskey's dog Dexter.

9. Some pets deserve special honors.

The she-doesn't-look-her-age award goes to: Greta (above), a 14-year-old Airedale from Bolton Hill. Her secret, says her owner, is Greta's love of canoe trips on the Shenandoah River.

The bravest-pet award goes to: Nala the cat. In a world of dogs, this 2-year-old stood out. She walked obediently on a leash, tolerated many sniffy hellos from big dogs and earned the nickname she got yesterday: Fearless. 

10. Pets are good for a laugh.

There's nothing funnier in the world than seeing a Chihuahua wearing a T-shirt that says Heartbreaker. Except maybe a Cocker Spaniel with mohawk gel in his hair and a punk rock outfit on. Or an American Bulldog in a pastel pink sweater.

Photos by Jen LaPorte

Make sure to check out our PHOTO GALLERY and vote for the cutest pet.

For more coverage of the March for the Animals, click here.

Posted by Mary Corey at 8:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Events
        

Is having or selling a video showing a dog fight a matter of free speech?

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to take up the question and decide whether the government can make it a crime to sell or own videos portraying dog fighting or other acts of animal cruelty.

As reported on The Baltimore Sun's Web site, all 50 states have laws against animal cruelty, and a decade ago, Congress made it illegal to sell or possess photos or videos of animals being maimed, mutilated, tortured, wounded or killed. The aim was to combat an underground trade in videos that showed dogs fighting or mauling other animals. The law included exceptions for depictions with serious religious, scientific or artistic value.

Last year, however, a federal appeals court declared the law unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds. The judges said the protection for free speech includes depictions of even illegal activity.

What do you think? Should it be against the law to have a video showing dog fighting?

Photo: One of the dogs removed from a house owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who was convicted of dog fighting in 2007. (AP)

Posted by Liz Atwood at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
        

NAME: Zoe Watson

OWNER: Barbara Watson

HOW THEY MET: Zoe escaped her first home and pretended to be lost so she would be taken to the Maryland SPCA. She waited there to be rescued.

AGE: 5 (in human years)

HOME: Parkville

BREED: Some kind of terrier and something else fast (maybe doberman)

BEST TRICK: The sit/paw/back-flip/sit combo. Just hold the treat without giving it to her and she'll go through the whole routine.

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Chasing the tennis ball, chasing the tennis ball, chasing the tennis ball, chasing the squirrel, chasing the tennis ball...

FAVORITE FOOD: The last bite of her mom’s dinner and Frosty Paws in the summer.

FUNNIEST MOMENT: When she was first adopted, Zoe was crated during the day. She made her displeasure known by pulling a warm, cozy bathrobe through the tiny holes of the crate until it was just a big pile of unrecognizable fuzz. She also ate about 25 crate pads and mats. Now she has her own room with a window seat, and the carnage has ended.

SHE'S TOUGH ON TOYS: Zoe can de-fluff any stuffed dog toy in less than 20 minutes. Toys rated as indestructible generally go the quickest.

HER PERFECT SUNDAY: She and her cousin Ellie love their Sunday morning trips to McDonald's before hiking at Loch Raven.

IF ZOE HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: Never bite the hand that rubs your belly.

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

You could feel the dog love at the Maryland SPCA's March for the Animals at Druid Hill Park today. I'm just back, and here are some early impressions:

-- Jack Russells look cute dressed up as Uncle Sam. Who knew? Buju of Waverly had the style down. (I'm only sorry that I didn't get to see him in his hot dog outfit. This guy has a serious wardrobe.)

-- Corn snakes, which we've talked about on the blog before, can be quite beautiful. I met my first one today. Its name is Zeke; its skin is the color of a sunset, and it likes to sleep in a  cloth bag from Target. 

-- Put many, many dogs together, and you get some serious slobber. I had slobber on my camera, slobber on my reporter's notebook, slobber on my pants. (Note to self: Next year don't wear black pants to a dog event.) 

Did you go? Please comment below. Also, send your pictures and stories of the day to unleashed@baltsun.com. We'll be posting much more tomorrow.

P.S. I also saw pets that would be great to feature as our pet star of the day on the blog. Click here to download the Collared questionnaire. Fill it out and e-mail it to us, along with a jpeg photo, at unleashed@baltsun.com

Photo by Jen LaPorte: Reecey, 3 1/2 months, rests during the March for the Animals.

Posted by Mary Corey at 5:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Events
        

NAME: Mookie

OWNERS: George and Martha

HOW THEY MET:  Where exactly he was born is not clear, but on an afternoon in early May, 1987, an orange and white long-haired puff ball eight weeks old was selected from a caged kitten threesome at the New Bedford, Massachusetts animal shelter, as he showed a promise of greatness. He could bathe in a coffee mug, but what spirit. After 19 years in Maryland he has lost most of the New England accent, and as he was named for a New York Mets outfielder who played a key role in the catastrophic undoing of the Boston Red Sox in the autumn before he was born, has been grateful to get onto more neutral ground.

AGE: 22

HOME: Baltimore County

BREED: Domestic longhair/miniature lion

BEST TRICK: At 22 years old there's supposed to be a trick? How about breathing on a more or less regular basis?

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Facing the not imminent but yet surely approaching shadow of the Grim Reaper with a nonchalant swish of his shaggy and matted tail (will not suffer the brushing), a slow blink and a profound question: Where's the food?

FAVORITE FOOD: Fancy Feast and gin martinis

FUNNIEST MOMENT: Years ago at a Friars Club roast for Richard Belzer. You had to be there.

WATCH THE TAIL: Don't go anywhere near  the once-bushy tail with a brush or any other grooming equipment, and don't say we didn't warn you.

IF MOOKIE HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: Get a human, even a short one. They're relatively clean and easily controlled.

Photo courtesy of George and Martha

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

Bo Obama, the first family's new Portuguese water dog, became the source of many jokes in the last week. Jimmy Fallon came up with this one:

"The Obamas have a new White House dog. It is a Portuguese water dog named Bo. Bo arrived just in time, because Sasha and Malia were getting tired of throwing Frisbees at Joe Biden."

You can find others on Daniel Kurtzman's Political Humor Blog.

Tribune photo by Nancy Stone/April 14, 2009: President Barack Obama with daughters Malia, left, and Sasha walk Bo on the South Lawn of the White House.

FOR MORE:

See a PHOTO GALLERY of the first dog.

Read EXTENSIVE COVERAGE of Bo.

Watch VIDEO of the first trick we think Bo should learn.

Posted by Mary Corey at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: First Dog Bo Obama
        

My favorite lines from Grey Gardens, HBO's new film adaptation of the lives of Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter Little Edie, subjects immortalized in the 1975 Maysles documentary:

"Let's breed cats, Edie? Wouldn't that be fun?" -- Big Edie, played by Jessica Lange

"Of course I'm mad about animals, but raccoons and cats become a little bit boring, I mean, for too long a time." -- Little Edie, played by Drew Barrymore

These socially prominent women slip into eccentricity, and Grey Gardens, the once-glorious mansion in East Hampton, becomes overrun by their new roommates, cats and raccoons. (Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and her sister, Lee Radziwill, relatives of the Beales, had to step in to finance repairs.)

Ben Bradlee, former Washington Post executive editor, and his wife, Sally Quinn, author and journalist, bought the estate in 1979 from Little Edie. In W, Quinn describes her first reaction to it: "Well, you had to have flea collars on for one thing. There were 30 cats in there and the stench was beyond belief." (To read the interview, click here.)

Animal lovers will want to stay tuned for the final credits to see the "raccoon trainer" get his due.

Grey Gardens is on HBO tonight at 8. (Check out David Zurawik's review here.)

Photo courtesy of HBO/Peter Stranks: Jessica Lange, director and co-writer Michael Sucsy and Drew Barrymore

Posted by Mary Corey at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

NAME: Kittay

NICKNAMES: Kitty, Hello Kitty

OWNER: Richard Howell

HOW THEY MET: He was abandoned by a previous owner and just kept hanging around until I adopted him.

AGE: 6?

HOME: Broad Ripple, Indiana

BREED: Domestic Short Hair

BEST TRICK : Very well mannered.  No need for a catbox, he uses nature's catbox, rain or shine, summer or winter.

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Taking a nap in your lap on colder days.

FAVORITE FOOD: Anything meat, but high-quality commercial cat food is his staple.

IF KITTAY HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: Live and let live.

Photo by Richard Howell

To see other pets that have been featured in Collared, click here.

Want your pet to be featured in Unleashed? Click here to download the Collared questionnaire. Fill it out and email it to us, along with a web-sized jpeg, at unleashed@baltsun.com.

Posted by Mary Corey at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Collared
        

The skies may become a little more pet friendly this summer, thanks to a new Delray Beach, Fla., company.

Pet Airways announced yesterday that it will begin offering air transportation for pets in five U.S. cities, including Washington, starting in July, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.

 The pets, which the company calls “pawsengers,” will fly in lighted and climate-controlled cabins of turbo-prop planes whose seats have been removed. Pet owners are not allowed to travel with their pets, but can monitor the flights on a Web site, the company said. Also an attendant will travel onboard to care for the animals. The average fare will be about $250 each way, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

In addition to Washington, the airline will serve New York, Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles. More cities could be added later, the company said.

The announcement of the service generated so much interest that traffic to the company's Web site crashed the company's computers this afternoon.

Associated Press file photo: A dog and owner check in at LaGuardia Airport in New York.

Posted by Liz Atwood at 3:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

I was in the shower this morning singing the song that's been stuck in my head for days: "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables. That's what you get, I thought, when you watch the Susan Boyle video from Britain's Got Talent 15 times in three days.

As I'm singing (badly), I hear my cat Phoebe on the other side of the shower curtain begin to meow along to the song. 

This must be our way of cheering for the 47-year-old Internet sensation (pictured). Associated Press may describe her this way: "Susan Boyle lives alone in a row house with her cat Pebbles, a drab existence in one of Scotland's poorest regions."

But we single women with cats know what a bum rap that is. Now thanks to Susan Boyle, millions of people around the world do too.

Photo by Associated Press/Andrew Milligan

Posted by Mary Corey at 3:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Celebrities and their pets
        

JASON.

He won this week's Animal House Friday prize: two Rubber Neckers dog toys.

In desperate bagless moments, he said, "We have stolen the plastic newspaper bags from people's doorsteps (we would look for the doorstep with multiple bags out side, figuring that no one lived there or they just didn't care)."

Thanks to Clef Notes Tim Smith (owner of two wonderful cats named Eartha and Felix) for selecting a name out of a plastic bag. Come to think of it, maybe we should send the bag along with the prize.

Thanks, most of all, for your comments. If you didn't win this week, don't despair. More prizes to come next Friday.

Posted by Mary Corey at 3:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Animal house
        

OK, OK, we know some people have hit Bo Obama overload, but we couldn't let the week end without calling attention to a comment left by Bucky.

Before Bo had even arrived at the White House, the six-month-old Portuguese water dog was catching some grief from Brit Hume of Fox News, who called him a "girly" dog, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich who called the whole thing stupid.

Bucky, in his wisdom, had this to say: "Anybody who thinks a Portugese Water Dog is a 'girly' dog, doesn't know anything about them.

"They are the Michael Phelps of the canine world."

What does Phelps think of being compared to the president's Portuguese water dog?

We have a call in to his people to find out.

But we do know that Michael loves his bulldog Herman, and one of the tricks that Herman does masterfully is the fist bump, a move popularized during the campaign by Barack and Michelle Obama. You can see Phelps and Herman do the fist bump here. (We recommended that Bo learn the fist bump and even showed how in this video.)

Anyway, kudos to Bucky for the insightful comment and for finding Bo's, ahem, Baltimore connection. We present the pictures above so you can decide for yourself.

Chicago Tribune photo of Michael Phelps by Scott Strazzante; Getty Images photo of Bo by Saul Loeb

FOR MORE:

Read extensive coverage of the First Dog.

See a photo gallery of Bo.

Posted by Mary Corey at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: First Dog Bo Obama
        

Whew...we need a breather from the intensity of feeling expressed on Unleashed this week. The city's new $1,000 fine for pet owners who let their dogs off leash or fail to pick up after them has tempers flying.

Since it's Animal House Friday and since Unleashed readers are all wonderful pet owners who always clean up after their dogs, we wanted to lighten the mood a bit.

We've all faced that awkward bagless moment. The time when you forgot to bring one, or you threw it away and realized too late that you needed it for, um, round #2. What's a responsible dog owner to do? 

Tim Swift, A&E editor and frequent guest poster to this blog, found himself in that spot recently and frantically rummaged through his knapsack. The best he could come up with? Pages that he ripped out of his reporter's notebook and used, he says, as "a makeshift paper glove." He raced to the nearest dumpster (and then to the drugstore for some Purell).

Do you have a funny story of some length you've gone to to pick up after your dog? Did bad weather play a part? Was it one of those dark-of-night searches?

Comment below and you could win today's Animal House Friday prize: Two fabulous Rubber Neckers dog toys (above) from FatCatInc.com. They're great for playing Tug-O-War.

The deadline is 3 p.m. We'll draw a name after that and post who won. (Please make sure to include your e-mail address, so we can contact you to send you your prize. Don't worry. It won't be public.)

Posted by Mary Corey at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Animal house