Ohmidog!!! This is it -- the last blog entry (from me anyway) on the Baltimore Sun "Mutts" blog.

I don't know what the newspaper's plans are for the blog.

My plans for me, though, involve leaving the paper as of today, writing a book and continuing a dog blog of my own.

If you wish to check it out, you can visit Ohmidog.com. (I'm the master of at least one domain now.) If you wish to reach me, you can send an email to muttsblog@verizon.net.

Thanks for the 376,313 visits you paid in the past year. Thanks for you astute comments, and your wacky ones as well. Thanks for letting me ramble on -- now and then -- about my own dog, Ace.

But thanks, most of all, for caring about animals -- and especially to those of you who take that compassion and turn it into action.

This video (and, no, that's not me singing to a litter of boxers) seemed a fitting goodbye.

In a way, and I mean this respectfully, you've been a lot like my dog, Ace -- you've been loyal, there for me when I need you, you've made me laugh, you've made me feel more secure. And I don't even have to clean up after you.

Just like Ace, you've made my life much richer. Thanks.

Oh heck, let's hear it one more time.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
                    

What do you do when there's a cat in your bed?

You could just curl up next to it.

You could ask it nicely to leave, though said request most likely will be ignored.

Or you could take the approach this dog -- after his barks are ignored -- chooses.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Here's an old piece of video that's still worth crowing about -- from the PAX network series Miracle Pets, which premiered in 2001.

In this segment, narrated by Alan Thicke, a couple shows and talks about the unusual relationship that blossomed between a stray kitten that appeared in their yard one day and the crow that showed up with him.

The motherless kitty was about three months old when it first showed up, and the couple watched (and videotaped) in amazement as the crow went about feeding the kitten worms and protecting it. When the couple eventually took the cat into their home, the crow would stand outside and wait for it to come out.

The video was posted to YouTube about a year ago -- after a man came across it while going through his mother's old VHS tapes -- and it's gotten more than 4 million views since.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

In the rowhouse next to mine live two guys named Matt.

Under the deck of Matt and Matt, a robin started building her nest about a month ago, using mostly straw that covered up the dirt in my back yard, probably some of the dog hair I've brushed out of my dog Ace and one piece of gift wrap ribbon, which dangles down the side and flutters in the wind.

Then she laid her eggs.

About a week ago, her babies were born, and ever since she's been bringing them worms that are under the dirt that is under the straw in my back yard.

We recently raked up the yard and planted grass seed, so, for the mama bird -- and I think possibly papa might be helping out, too -- it is easy pickings.

Hundreds of worms have been plucked from my yard, flown to the nest on the underside of the deck of Matt and Matt -- who I don't think even know the nest is there -- and dropped into the outstretched, wide-open beaks of the scrawny little babies.

So here is my ode to spring, in video form -- a look at the joy of new life the season brings.

Unless you're a worm.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 8:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

In the 1970s, the jingle for Tooheys beer -- "I feel like a Tooheys or two" -- became a classic in Australia.

This more modern-day commercial for Tooheys New, co-starring a dog, merits that status as well -- if only for the smooth, dry delivery of its closing line.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 9:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Talk about being your own worst enemy.

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

We're zipping through Texas today and -- Texas being Texas -- most likely tomorrow, too.

We'll be sure and keep our eyes open for these two good old boys and their seemingly amazing horse, Patches.

Actually, I'm only guessing they're from Texas. For all I know, they could be Oklahomans.

So far, we've seen a lot of dogs sticking their heads out the windows, and riding in the back of pick-up trucks, but no horses in convertibles.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Did you hear the one -- or, actually, the two -- about the two-legged dog that got lost in the airport?

The first time it was in Orlando, where Faith and her owner, Jude Stringfellow, were on their way home from a national pet trade show. A video of that account can be found here.

On another trip a few months later she was misplaced and missed a flight to Oklahoma City. (You can find that account on  Stringfellow's blog.)

Distressing as those instances might have been -- for Faith and Stringfellow -- they paled in comparison (at least as Stringfellow tells it on her blog) with a more recent trauma: A comedian poked fun at Faith.

Continue reading "Losing Faith: Two-legged dog, part three" »

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

Here's Faith's appearance on the Montel Williams show -- one of many stops she and her owner have made on the talk show circuit.

For a dog with only two legs, Faith has gotten around.

She's appeared with Oprah Winfrey, Rikki Lake, Maury Povich and David Letterman, on Inside Edition and on several local newscasts -- most often as inspirational feature.

If you haven't yet found Faith -- she's all over the Internet -- we bring her to you today, via a local TV news dispatch from a while back.

Faith was on her way to greater things at the time of this report -- the talk show circuit, a book, product endorsements -- some of which we'll show you in the days ahead.

Faith was born with three legs in late 2002 and taken in by the Stringfellow family in Oklahoma City family in early 2003. Of her three legs, one was deformed and had to be removed when she was seven months old.

With only her hind legs left, Faith learned to walk -- upright -- a feat her owner Jude Stringfellow says was a result of lots of hard work, though Stringfellow also says she gives all the credit to Jesus.

Whatever the case, Faith was up and running and -- though there have been a few bumps in the road -- she has gone on to charm and inspire thousands.

(Tomorrow: Faith hits the talk shows)

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

No financial renumeration (darnit) is involved in us showing this advertisement for Scout and Paws, a dog and cat food manufactured by Sainsbury's in Great Britain.

We just think it's funny.

Take a look.

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

Continuing my research into the world of dog sledding, wet and dry, I came across this new documentary about a dog sled team in Jamaica -- assembled entirely out of mongrels from pounds and shelters.

Judging from the trailer -- and we all know you can't judge from the trailer -- it looks wonderful, and it has Jimmy Buffett in it. The movie was released on DVD last month.

“It seems like it was just yesterday when I had this crazy idea to bring dog sled racing to Jamaica. It’s been two years now and it’s amazing that SUN DOGS, which has been such a big part of our lives is something that we will now be able to share,” said Danny Melville, founder of the Jamaica Dogsled Team and executive producer of the film.

“The Jamaica Dogsled Team has come to mean so much more than I ever imagined," he added. One of our primary goals is to bring education and awareness of the compassionate treatment of animals to Jamaica’s inner cities through our work with the Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. SUN DOGS will help us accomplish this."

A portion of the proceeds from Internet sale of the DVD (on the website, www.jamaicadogsled.com) will go to the JSPCA.

The team will be represented at the East Meets West Dryland Challenge in Brainerd, Minn., this weekend, and one of the team’s mushers is training to qualify for the Yukon Quest 1,000 Mile International Sled Dog Race

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

I'm not sure who's babysitting who here, or what they're so upset about.
But the moral is clear -- sadness, like joy, can be contagious, even across species lines.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

Anybody who has ever had a cat will probably recognize this morning behavior -- depicted here by English animator Simon Tofield of Tandem Films in a piece called "Cat Man Do."

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

The Mutts blog prides itself on regularly providing our readers with useful and relevant information -- reports that are, at once, intellectually stimulating and brimming with societal significance.

But once in a while, we just get goofy.

It is in that latter pursuit, that we bring you this number, via YouTube, entitled, "I'm a Pug, Woop"

Posted by John Woestendiek at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Admittedly, things have gotten a little heavy here on the Mutts blog -- what with all the heart-wrenching (though inspiring) portraits of disabled animals at Rolling Dog Ranch, and the controversy over the proposal in Baltimore County to punish all pit bulls because of the acts of a few.

Now, it seems the pit bull proposal has lost its steam (which is a form of hot air), and that any legislation passed will rightly be aimed more at vicious dogs than particular breeds.

To celebrate, and lighten things up a bit, we bring you a dancing dog -- not just any dancing dog, but Rookie, the Golden Retriever whose performance with Carolyn Scott, to the tune of "You're the One That I Want" (from "Grease") has become an internet staple.

Scott has been training and showing dogs for the past 30 years. She is one of the founders of the Musical Dog Sport Association and will be conducting a seminar in Maryland later this month.

To see her and Rookie (Wayne Newton should get a few pointers from this retriever), click on the video above.

Scott will be leading a seminar in dancing with dogs at the Salisbury Kennel Club's training center, at 1305 S. Division St., on Saturday, Oct. 27. For more information, contact the kennel club or visit Scott's website

Posted by John Woestendiek at 4:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

(Animals at Play from Speaking of Faith on Vimeo.)

I've been wondering a lot lately about inter-species relations -- partly as a result of watching my dog Ace and the horses at the ranch in Montana at which we were staying, partly because I just finished reading Life of Pi, Yann Martel's wondrous and fanciful novel about a man, a lifeboat and a tiger, and a zebra, and an orangutan, and a hyena, and lots of meerkats.

What would happen if you put a Polar bear and a husky together? Probably not always what's depicted in this slideshow -- but that fact that it did this once is amazing enough for me.

The photos were taken by famed German wildlife photographer Norbert Rosing, who once spent three years photographing Yellowstone National Park. He has worked since 1988 on capturing the essence of the Polar bear in photographs, and his photos from the ongoing project have been published in several magazines worldwide, including National Geographic.

In this slide show, part of a story for American Public Radio's "Speaking of Faith," Stuart Brown, a physician and clinical researcher who founded the National Institute for Play (really, there is such a place) describes Rosing's striking images of a wild polar bear playing with sled dogs in the wilds of Canada's Hudson Bay.

(Click the arrow at the bottom left of the video image to make it work, or, if you prefer, to make it play.)

* * *

Tonight, at the Mount Washington Tavern, BARCS (Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter) will hold its first Celebrity Guest Bartending Fundraiser, from 6 p.m. until closing time. Celebrities pourers will include Duff Goldman and Mary Alice Yeskey from the Food Network's Ace of Cakes, Maynard from "The Ed Norris Show" on WHFS, Justin Berk, Denise Dory and Jamie Costello from WMAR, Patrice Harris from Fox 45 and Joy Freeman from Baltimore Dog Magazine.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 9:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

Of all the voices for animal rights, none is more mellifluous than Sarah McLachlan's -- heard in the video above singing "Angel" in the background of this TV spot she did for the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

McLachlan, who owns a Labrador Retriever named Rex, is a longtime advocate of animal rights, in addition to her other philanthropic efforts.This spot was part of a campaign launched last year to help abused and neglected animals in British Columbia by seeking financial support for animal cruelty investigations in the province.

It's a powerful song -- one capable of either throwing you into depression or lifting you out of one. And, combined with the video, it makes for a powerful spot -- so powerful that the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) this year had their own version made. Maybe you've seen it (below) lately during commercial breaks on Animal Planet.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 7:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Skidboot died four months ago, but thanks to the Internet we can still go back and visit him. I have to admit that, every so often, I do. A friend sent me this video months ago, and I still go all mushy when I watch it.

David Hartwig says on his website, skidboot.com, that his dog, the subject of this heartwarming segment of Texas Country Reporter, died March 25, 2007 at age 14 at his home in Quinlan, Texas.

"Following a solemn rememberance of his remarkable life, his body was laid to rest along with a favorite toy, beneath an oak tree on the property he had helped to purchase," Hartwig, who's now training other dogs, says on his Web site. "In attendance were Barbara, David, Brenda, Oliver, and Marshmallow. The heirs to Skidboot’s legacy looked on as Tie Down, Little Skidboot, and Bois D’Arc also observed the ceremony. Two pieces of Austin limestone were placed as a memorial."

Upon Skidboot's death, Hartwig requested that Skidboot be remembered by a donation to your local animal shelter in Skidboot’s name.

Posted by John Woestendiek at 6:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)