Fluffy Humpy Poopy Puppy

We haven't posted for ages, but Pancho just got an email about this book so couldn't resist!

Pop Ink Books
Fluffy Humpy Poopy Puppy
Book $15.95

Designed by the Charles S. Anderson Design Company, Fluffy Humpy Poopy Puppy is the fourth in a series of books to be produced over the next few years. Each book contains hundreds of images from our vast archive of artwork at csaimages.com/index.asp and is filled with hilarious text by Mike Nelson of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" fame. Collect them all and build your own Pop Ink library.

The 176-page, full-color book comes covered in a transparent vinyl spit shield at no extra cost.

Puppy Love - puppies against cancer

What happens when you give 36 artists a plastic puppy figure and ask them to do something with it? You get The Puppylove Project to raise money for University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Bidding starts on December 6, 2006.



The site is a little hard to access (an intro that take some patience to get through and a home page that takes a while to download, even on a fast connection) and a little hard to navigate (I think they were going for the "cool web site design" rather than the usable one), but the images of the puppy art are quite interesting and original!

Bamboo Bob's "Must Have" List for your pet

bamboo pet center has some awesome products for pets - perfect for your dog (or cat).

Check out their feature called Bamboo Bob's "Must Have" List for your pet.

Enter some doggie demographics, hit submit, and get product recommendations for "care" such as a guillotine nail trimmer, "home" such as a doggie sleepover bag, and "play" like their "flying calf dog toy."

globalpetfinder

The holiday shopping season is fast approaching--and we can't forget about our pets. With over 10 million pets lost a year--one of the best gifts a pet owner can give and receive is the one of piece of mind.


GlobalPetFinder, is a device for pets that utilizes GPS technology and two-way wireless to help owners keep track of their pets. This five-ounce device snaps securely and comfortably onto a pet's collar and automatically reports the exact location of the pet directly to an owner's wireless device of choice (cell phone, PDA, Blackberry, or computer).

GlobalPetFinder allows you to set a 100-yard boundary on the device itself simply by pushing the 'fence' button. Members can program in their home fence and up to 5 additional fence locations for the park, beach, and summer home or wherever you and your pet may travel. If your pet wanders outside the boundary you have determined, you will be alerted immediately and sent the continuously updated, exact location of your pet.

GlobalPetFinder also monitors the environmental temperature for your pet. Owners will be alerted if temperature conditions become dangerously hot or cold for pet.

Find out more!

The Sherpa Pet Carrier

If you travel with your small canine companion, this is really the definitive dog carrier that is airline approved. Slides easily underneath the seat in front of you.

I also used to take Chewie and Ernie in their Sherpa bag into stores, bars, even restaurants (shhhh...don't tell!) as well as on the subway, in taxis and at parties.

Beauty of the Breeds

From now until March 1, 2007, dog owners nationwide can enter the contest by registering and uploading a photo and/or home video of their dog at http://www.beautyofthebreeds.com along with a short description of what makes their dog beautiful.

Each month, six winners will be chosen – one each in the small, medium, and large dog categories for both photo and video – to win a one-month supply of Eukanuba Customized Nutrition.

Monthly winners will be automatically entered into the grand prize contest for the chance to win a year’s supply of Eukanuba Customized Nutrition and the chance to have their dog featured in a Eukanuba advertisement.

Find Out More...

Ernie's Passing

My second oldest Chihuahua, Ernie, died at the end of September. He was exhibiting puzzling symptoms, similar to the ones Chewie had, including pacing, walking into walls, having difficulty standing, especially while eating. The vet, of course, said it was probably cancer - a brain tumor. Seems like the most common diagnosis for dogs with odd behavior.

Needless to say, his health was deteriorating. He lost weight and went from 11 lbs last year to 8 lbs and dropping. He was skin and bones. We finally put him down because he couldn't eat unless I spoon fed him and even then it was difficult.

His death ends the era of 3 Chihuahuas. He and Chewie were my constant companions, traveling with me acround the country for a year from Sept 2000 to Nov 2001 (see RVGirl.com for details).

Now it is just Pancho and Ebb, the Black Lab.

I'm gearing up to start updating Dogorama again. I know I've said this before and updates have been intermittent at best. But I am doing this in memory of my two beloved Chihuahuas. So watch out for new content - news, dog products, dogs items, and other dog related stuff. Remember, it is All Dogs, All the Time.

Release: PUPPIES RESCUED FROM THE LINE OF FIRE ARRIVE IN THE U.S.

Alexandria, VA, November 2 - On Friday, November 3, 40 puppies rescued from the north of Israel by the Alexandria, VA-based Concern for Helping Animals in Israel (CHAI) during the conflict with Hezbollah will arrive at JFK airport, eager for a chance at a new home in the U.S. The puppies, all around 4 months old, will be boarded at shelters throughout the Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland area, including the Montgomery County Humane Society, and the Arlington and Alexandria Animal Welfare Leagues, while they make appearances at adoption events.

"We reunited many puppies with their original families, and placed more with new families in Israel, but adoptions go slowly there," says Nina Natelson, CHAI's Director. "We want to give them the best opportunity we can to find homes, so we are bringing them here."

Through its sister charity in Israel, Hakol Chai, CHAI distributed over 12 tons of food, hundreds of water bowls, vaccines, leashes and other supplies to evacuated areas during the conflict, and rescued many animals from deserted homes and streets across the north after residents fled to bomb shelters. CHAI is grateful to Best Friends Animal Society of Utah for their support of its rescue efforts, and for providing volunteers to greet, feed, water, clean and exercise the puppies upon their arrival at El Al Cargo at JFK. The puppies are arriving on El Al flight 001, scheduled to land at 5:50 AM on Friday.

To see photos of the puppies up for adoption and dates of scheduled adoption events, see http://www.chai-online.org/en/home/e_index.htm or contact the organization on (703) 370-0333.

Kindred Spirit, Kindred Care

Here's a book that I wish I knew about when my beloved dog Chewie was dying. I didn't find a lot of information online about hospice care for dogs or how to make the difficult decision of putting a dog down. The decision was excruciating, and I still am not at peace with it.

I hope this book helps someone out there. And if you know good online resources to help during the difficult time of illness and death of a pet, please let me know.

Hollywood Dogs: MSN Entertainment

And now for some light entertainment.

Hollywood celebrities and their dogs - a photo essay.

I have such a backlog of great press releases and doggie info that is just barking to be uploaded. We're also awaiting the birth of our first baby - any minute now. So, I'll try to get some new posts up here before we're up to our boobs in baby, literally!

Pancho Villa and his older brother Ernie say hello.

Puppy Bowl

Well, I'm still not posting here regularly but will try to catch up with the dozens of cool links I've been gathering. I've still been struggling from the grief and guilt after Chewie's death. And now prepping for our baby to be born mid-June.

So in the meanwhile, here is a link to a nice site about dogs including pet adoption. Part of a show by the Discovery Channel.

Puppy Bowl.

More soon. Pancho Villa and I promise!

Petaholica - for the savvy pet owner

What could be better than an email newsletter that sends you pet products and reviews. It is like Dogorama but with a more diverse focus (translation: Cats, too). Worth a look see.

Dogorama Lives On!

First, I'd like to say we are back at Dogorama. After the death of Chewie, our beloved first Chihuahua and honorary host of this site on December 18, we have had a hard time getting motivated to resume work here. But there are doggie products to test and promote so we are back We are still devastated and grief stricken - especially since we figured out that he didn't have a brain tumor but instead had succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning - but the show must go on in memory of Chewbacca the Great.

Soon to be taking the hosting spot will be Pancho Villa, Dog Wonder. Pancho is a red Chihuahua (we don't know - the vet said he was red, not tan but he looks tan to us) who blossomed from a bony 5 pounds when we got him from the Cheyenne Animal Shelter in 2003 to a robust, hearty 8 pounds today. He will soon star in his own illustrated children's book series aptly called "The Adventures of Pancho, Chihuahua" (probably not the Adventures of Pancho Villa because people may think it is about a large Mexican revolutionary.)

So what are we waiting for? On with the show!

Chewie Passed Away

My beloved Chihuahua Chewie passed away today. It was time, it seemed. I'm one to hang on until the last possible moment but last night, during a birthday party my husband was throwing for me, Chewie began to have consecutive seizures. The guests all left and we brought him straight to the vet. They immediately took him from my arms and into the back room where they administered some valium to help break the cycle of seizures. Then they wanted to keep him overnight. I told them he was a rescue and the stress of being at the vet is usually too much for him. But they let me go back to see him in a kennel. He was laying on a pad and covered with a towel and they put heated rice packs on either side of him to keep him warm. He was sleeping soundly, not stressed at all. They said they would call me if he started seizing again to decide about administering even more valium to sedate him. They didn't call last night but in the middle of the night, my husband was up and called to check on Chewie. They said he hadn't seized. This morning, though, he had not woken up from the valium. They said based on the dosage they gave him, he should have snapped out of the sedation in 2-4 hours. He was still sleeping soundly although they considered it a comatose stage. They let me sit with him and then hold him. He was limp and snoring. He didn't even stir no matter what I did to try to wake him. I layed his head against my chest and held him like a baby. Finally, I realized it was time. The vet said it would take 2-3 seconds once they administered the drug. I held him the entire time and it was a matter of seconds. I held my hand on his belly to feel him breathe and then it stopped. It was quick and peaceful - I would not have done it in any other way. Then we wrapped him in a towel and brought him home. I had him for 10 wonderful, adventurous years full of love and fun. We had a good life together. He had a good life.

Season's Greenies!

From a press release:

Greenies®, the first in the green dental dog bone category, is the No. 1 dog treat in the United States for the second straight year. S&M NuTec, LLC, the creator of Greenies, listed 2004 domestic retail sales of the product at $315 million dollars. S&M NuTec is a small independent business headquartered in North Kansas City, employing fewer than 100 people.

“We invented Greenies to eliminate the bad breath of our own dog, Ivan,” co-Founders Joe and Judy Roethelli said. “Bad breath in dogs is a symptom of dental disease, a condition that affects more than 80 percent of dogs over the age of three. Ivan’s breath was so bad that we began experimenting to invent something that would solve the problem.”

Using his background in agricultural science, Joe developed a product that scrapes tartar and plaque off the dogs’ teeth while they are chewing. In less than a month of using Joe’s prototypes, the Roethelli’s noticed a remarkable improvement in Ivan’s breath. Now that they had a product, the Roethelli’s needed a name. The use of chlorophyll gave the product its characteristic green color and that made the naming process easy – Greenies were born.

Get Greenies!

Find Your Pet with Global Pet Finder

From a press release:

GPS Tracks Unveils New Pet Accessories for GlobalPetFinder
Water Resistant Softguards Provide Comfort and Security for Pets

Jericho, NY November 29, 2005 GPS Tracks, today unveiled two new fashionable softguards for GlobalPetFinder(TM), the first patented Global Positioning System (GPS) location device for pets. The new softguards provide a convenient way for pet owners to secure the GlobalPetFinder device to your pets' collar. Available in jet black and sour apple green, the soft neoprene pouch is water resistant and provides an even more comfortable fit around your pets neck.

Utilizing GPS technology and two-way wireless, FCC approved GlobalPetFinder automatically locates and reports the exact location of a lost pet directly to an owner's wireless device of choice (cell phone, PDA, Blackberry, or computer). Pet owners can also monitor the environmental temperature of their pet, being alerted if temperature conditions become dangerously hot or cold for the pet. GlobalPetFinder is a five-ounce device that snaps securely and comfortably onto a pet's collar (recommended for pets 30 lbs. and over).

Available exclusively through Neiman Marcus Direct and www.globalpetfinder.com, GlobalPetFinder provides pet owners with the piece of mind of always knowing the location of their pet. The price for the system is $349.99. Upon receipt of GlobalPetFinder, customers will be required to subscribe to the "Peace of Mind" plan for $17.99 a month and a one-time only activation fee of $34.99. Additional locate plans and details are available.

Petstar Presents: Doggie Photo Tips

courtesy of Petstar

1.Bring the camera in close - The closer you can get, the more the pet's personality will shine through in the photograph. Emphasize the animal, not the background.

2.Keep the camera at the animal's eye level - Pictures taken at high or low angles don't flatter pets and can make them look distorted. Get down on their level for the best shots.

3.Don't photograph a dark pet against a light background - Dark pets can be especially difficult to photograph. Using a darker background with good lighting will help bring out their features.

4.Choose outfits and props that suit the pet - Make sure your pet is comfortable wearing clothes or hats or before you spend a fortune! Try different styles to see what flatters them most. People in pet pictures should choose their own outfits to complement the color of the pet's fur, feathers or skin. Stay away from stripes and busy patterns; you want the pet faces to stand out, not the clothes.

5.Don't overwork the animal - Consider the age and health of your pet before you start. Animals have attention spans too. Your pet will let you know when they have had enough for one day. Pay attention to what your pet is telling you and know when to quit.

6.Don't overheat the animal - If you are indoors, lower the air temperature before you start. Animals can get hot very quickly. Don't use costumes that will overheat them and don't leave them in a costume for a long time.

7.Use tricks to get attention - Pets often need tricks and toys to grab their attention, encourage a certain behavior or to get them to look in a particular direction. Use these sparingly, though. Pets get used to toys quickly, so have several on hand.

8.Get a helper - At Pet Star, we use an animal handler and a photographer. Ask a friend or family member to help position your pet and keep their attention while you snap pictures.

9.Don't sedate the animal - You want your animals to show expression so we don't advocate the use of drugs or anything else to sedate nervous pets. Praise, positive attention and a few treats will go a long way!

10.Have patience and remain calm - Faster doesn't mean better. Be ready to work at your pet's pace and remember pets can sense anxiety! If you get aggravated, the pet knows and will respond accordingly. If you're calm and relaxed, your pet will be too.

The Idea Fetch Contest

Have you ever wished you had a product for your pet that you just couldn't find? Now you not only get the chance to have that product created, you also get the chance to win the Grand Prize of $40,000 for your great idea.

Enter the Contest — To enter the contest, submit ideas for new pet products that enhance the life of your pet.

Vote on Ideas — Vote on other peoples' ideas for pet products.

Go to IdeaFetch.com!

Spoiled Rotten Doggies Costumes

I cannot stop laughing. These costumes are GREAT!

Male Dog Costumes
Deluxe Dog Costumes
Licensed Dog Costumes - including Darth Vader and Princess Leia.


Enough already! You're killing me!

Bark and Sparkle, Baby

Pretty, pretty, pretty. Check out these lovely collars for the discriminating high fashion conscious dog and dog owner.

And don't you just love the Mommy & Me matching doggie collar and bracelets?

Okay, chances are, I won't be getting these for the Chihuahuas - they are gay enough as it is (don't ask), but these really are nice-looking products - perfect for holiday gift giving!

Go to: BarkandSparkle.com