Maine Pets

Happy Memorial Day!

Lovely Borzoi freestyle routine to "God Bless the USA".

If you can't view click here

Vote for Taz, Craziest Canine

There is usually not very much time that elapses between email pleas where I am asked time and time again to please go and vote for someone's dog in some on line contest or another. I usually do take time and go vote,and of course my friend's dogs are the best contestants by a long shot anyway!

My very good friend and former training manager Dawn Goehring has asked me numerous times to vote for her dogs in their various endeavors. Most recently I voted for Miss Ellie, a Chinese Crested to be included in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest in California.

Come on-

just take look at her! They got in and will be flying to Sonoma in June.

Dawn is a great person and fabulous trainer and she and her husband live with 11 dogs - all rescues. You can read all about Dawn's dogs and their wonderful rescue stories here.
You may have seen Dawn on Pet Star, not once, but twice and well I just can't say enough nice things about her. Dawn and her dogs perform over 500
shows a year at The Comedy Barn in Pigeon Forge Tennessee.
But I digress.
Two of Dawn's dogs are entered in WE's Craziest Canine Contest, and I think she just might have this one in the bag. While I haven't had time to review all the videos,

wait until you see Taz...spaz.

While on the site, you can see how you can enter your own dog to win the grand prize worth $3,000 in prizes in the WE Craziest Dog Competition.

Now go watch HERE and vote!

Fun with Finn

Finn has a boo boo on his toe and he can't run for at least another month while the nail grows back.

He can only go for short leash walks.

Finney loves to walk the kids home from school.

Finn has been getting into a few things that he shouldn't lately due in large part to his lack of exercise.

Check out the site that I beheld when I entered my dining room.

I had my camera handy and took his picture before I realized that he was stuck and not getting enough oxygen.

Don't try this at home kids!

Freestyle-Back in the USSR

McKenzie of Scarborough picked flowers for all the dogs at yesterday's Rotti Stroll for Rescue. Jesse, a 12 year Border Collie basks in her kindness.

Both Jenny Yasi and I were glad that we had the chance to strut our stuff in the arena at the Rotti Rescue Stroll on Saturday. The weather people had called for 100 % chance of rain, which unfortunately scared a lot of would be attendees away. North East Rotti Rescue put on a wonderful rescue event and it is too bad that more people weren't there to see it. Next year people!

We found ourselves without a boom box and at the last minute rigged Jenny's daughter's IPod through the PA and we both chose new music. Even though I had played the Locomotion at least 100 times in my car and choreographed an entire routine in my head, we didn't do any of it! Instead I chose Back in the USSR from the Ipod. We winged the entire routine, without treats, and that is a lot in and of itself. My dog had tons of drive yesterday and she LOVES Freestyle.

We were far from technically accurate, but we did what we set out to do-had fun. I actually cut her two best big air moves due to what I hope is a mending muscle injury. When I attended a 2 day Carolyn Scott Freestyle seminar, she often repeated the two things a freestyle dog needs is attitude and attention. Happy to say, while we are still a bit of a wild freak show, we do have those two important aspects going for us.

Our next endeavor is to video tape a routine for the next upcoming video competition and I am going to try to title Charlee in Freestyle. I know a lot of you think that Canine Freestyle is a silly sport, but who among us dog lovers does't want to have fun with our dogs and make them happy? I have a dog with a lot of drive, brains, talent and tons of natural rhythm to boot. If you told me when I was in my 20's that one day I would be doing interruptive dance with my dog I would have laughed in your face.

As we exited the ring today, Louise Poppema, animal communicator and friend stopped to tell me that Charlee says:
"finally I have found something to do that is fun and that she loves".

Need I say more? Charlee has spoken.

If that doesn't load, then Click here to watch the video.

Good Dog Charlee!

Spring Stroll this Saturday

If you have gotten out and about this last week, chances are you have already seen the great poster for this years 7th Annual Rotti Spring Stroll rescue event being held Saturday at Camp Ketcha. This is a big fund raising event for North East Rotti Rescue, as well as for all rescues attending who will be holding their own separate fundraiser's and walkathons.

There will be contests, canine demonstrations, silent auction, and special guests, to include: Flyball Demo from The Maine Coast Runners, Canine Freestyle, Drafting Demo, Scarborough Police K9 Team
Dominick the Trick-Performing Rottweiler, Linda Verville and Melissa Pelletier, author and illustrator of For Pete’s Sake, WMTW/Channel 8’s morning anchor Rachael Ruble will be at the Stroll from 11am – 2pm, Child/Dog Safety Demonstration, Slugger the Portland Sea Dog’s Mascot,
Animal Communicator Louise Poppema, and
2007 Mrs. Maine United States, Kristin Centeras well as lots of rescues and vendors. This is a good chance to learn more about different breeds, and maybe even add a new dog to your family.

Click here for the complete schedule of events.

I will be wearing as many as three hats that day.

Hat #1
Jenny Yasi and I are doing an informational Freestyle demo @ 1:00. Jenny is a trainer from Peaks Island and has taught her dogs Dandylion and Tigerlily lots of very impressive behaviors. You can check out her very interesting and informative training blog here on Clicker Training.com.

This is the first time out performing an entire Freestyle routine in public for me and Charlee. Our previous Freestyle experience consists of watching a lot of freestyle videos together, and bopping around the living room floor to really loud music. Charlee is coming off a sore back leg muscle and hopefully will be ready to rock this weekend. We just choreographed a whole new routine to the song Locomotion. Performing in front of so many people this weekend has me a little nneeerrrvvooouuuus. Can you hear my knees knocking? Charlee loves Freestyle and hopefully, we can both keep it together. Our goal is to get people excited about the sport, and stay in the unfenced ring (insert smile here).

Hat # 2
There will be a Child Safety Demo at 1:30 and Charlee and I are waiting to hear if we are needed to fill in.

Hat #3
After 11:00 I will be manning a table for New England Border Collie Rescue.

The info:
North East Rottweiler Rescue & Referral Inc.'s
Spring Stroll 2007 - Walk For Rescue
Saturday, May 19, 2007 (Rain or Shine)

Camp Ketcha
336 Black Point Road
Scarborough, ME 04074
10 AM - 3 PM

Directions to the Park
From the Maine Turnpike (I-95), take EXIT 42 toward US-1/SCARBOROUGH
Merge onto HAIGAIS PKWY. 1.4 miles
Turn LEFT onto US-1. 1.3 miles
Turn RIGHT onto BLACK POINT RD
Drive 2.8 miles, Camp Ketcha is on your left.

Charlee will be doing the Locomotion "Freestyle" with me At 1:00 pm

Brewster 1998-5/14/2007

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Rudyard Kipling

Yoghund-an organic frozen yogurt treat for dogs

I stopped by the Planet Dog store on Saturday to buy more Bark in the Park baseball tickets and I was introduced to a very interesting new product, Yoghund, an organic frozen yogurt treat for dogs. I picked up a box of free samples for my furry pals. Frozen yogurt testers, Finney, Charlee and our new neighbor Chili, all heartily enjoyed their organic frozen treats. Yoghund is made in an ice cream factory, side by side with human icecream, using all human grade ingredients, and before you ask, why yes I did try some! Peanut butter banana- not bad!

Mentioning no names, this all organic product's well known competition lists water as their main ingredient along with a host of other ingredients that I can barely pronounce. Sure Yoghund costs more, but I think in this day and age, we are all willing to pay more for a quality product.

Finn says: "Yum, and you can eat the cup to!"

Yoghund is available locally at Planet Dog, Hannafords, and coming soon to Whole Foods. Check their web site for locations near you.

By the way...if you haven't gotten your doggie tickets to the Sea Dogs game, Bark in the Park, a fundraiser for the Animal Refuge League at Hadlock Field, you are too late. The 50 doggie tickets sold out right away. Human tickets are still available, but going fast. Go get yours!

Keep Our Pets Safe Walk 4/28

As many of you know, on April 28th Portland joined the KOPS, Keep Our Pets Safe National March, in response to the massive pet food recalls. With less than 2 weeks before the event I contacted the city planners to see what we needed to do to join the march.

A big thank you goes out to the City of Portland for being so accommodating at the very last moment.

While the turnout was not as large as I had hoped, we did mange to raise $60. for the Animal Refugee League to help to replace much needed pet food and I know a lot of you were there with us in spirit.

You can view event pictures from several cities including Portland, on the Pets Need a Voice too site here.

A big thank you to Kate for all her help and photo skills.

Made the T-shirt's myself at HP.com
So simple even I can do it.

Fate steps in...Please think good thoughts for Finney and Brewster

It is hard to believe that Brewster has lived for more than a year after being diagnosed with Lymphoma. I no longer believe anything that I did has helped to keep him well. I think he is just one amazing dog. Brewster the amazing Golden, who has been my friend for most of his 9 years, seems to have taken a turn for the worse.

Right now at 4 am, he is outside on my deck and refuses to come in. He won't even lick peanut butter, his all time favorite food, off of my finger and, well of course I am just plain sad. He doesn't appear to be in pain. He is not limping, has none of the open sores that I have worked so hard to keep under control for these last months, but he just looks distant. He looks like he has given up. I will continue to try to get him to eat today.

Like the rest of you, I have no idea what food to buy for him. Several months ago, I would have bought premium canned food, but right now, my head is flooded with images of pre-recall people and their sick pets. Pets who were in renal failure from eating poison pet food. These poor folks were doing what I will doing later on today, coaxing and cajoling a sick dog to eat so they can live another day. The thought of giving Brew poison food on my hands and knees along with the rest of you who have done that is just plain sickening. Have you heard that there are more recalls likely? GRRRRRR.

Brew's family is home for the season on the 22nd and I sure would like him to "go home". This dog has rallied more times than I have ever seen, and I am not giving up yet, but it is hard not to think that this is the end of the trail for Brew. My Vet said at his last visit that Brewster just didn't read the Vet manual. Some dogs are like that.
Please think good positive thoughts for Brew , and for me and the kids while you are at it. My kids are just so sad...

Finney, my young Collie boy was at the Vet yesterday. He has conjunctivitis, tested positive for Lyme, and he broke an outside front toe nail that is infected. This morning he is going under anesthesia to clean it up real good and remove the nail. Am I nervous? You bet! That is why I am up typing at 4 Am!
Finn will need to be kept quiet for a while. Possibility a month, depending on how he heals. He will come home with a bandage and an Elizabethan collar. That should be fun keeping a young active dog quiet. Good thing I am toy testing two new busy toys. The Hi.Q, (invented by a woman in Portland!)and the Treat stick. So far I am loving them both. People have begged me many times to write about how to keep a recuperating dog calm and quiet. You can bet there will a "how to" blog coming up next week on that one!

On another note, I came...this close to adopting a rescue Border Collie this weekend.

I was convinced that this dog was meant to be mine. A third dog would stretch any Mom's budget and as my good friend Sandy said in an email this morning "Fate will step in and let things happen when they are ready to happen. The time and the right dog will come".
Fate steps in...get it? Finn's toe? Yesterday in the vet office it sure seemed like I was getting a "message" loud and clear that the time is not right for a new dog. Finn's vet bill will be well over what I would have paid for the new dog and it just wouldn't be fair to Finn to add a new dog while he is munching Kongs in his crate on bed rest

Guess that's that - for now!

As my stomach churns

The FDA released the 20 million chickens that they were holding back into the food chain.It was discovered that the chickens were fed food "enriched" with melamine, but be reassured, ( I am not!) we are all safe says the FDA.

We, the public, never did find out who fed the tainted feed, or what happened to the feed, or where the chickens are now.

Your freezer?
Mine?
A fast food drive through window that I "used" to take the kids through?

We don't even know if the chickens continue to eat the melamine laced food, or how the feed is being disposed of. There have been conflicting reports on which farms got the feed. Don't know about you, but I am buying my food from local organic farms from now on, and we are growing own vegetables as well.

Oh and by the way, these tainted chickens may even be making their way back to your pets food - if they haven't already!

As Pet Connection said over the weekend. "Tastes like Melamine".
Here is the scoop from Rueters.

The blog where Christie's head explodes

Christie Keith from Pet Connection has some pretty choice words to say about the FDA's assurance to all of use that ours and our pets food is "finally safe".

Click here to read Christie's excellent snark fest where her head explodes from all the FDA spin.

Thank you again Christie!

FDA puts a hold on 20 million chickens for possible contamination

Looks like I spoke wwwaaaayyy to soon when I wrote yesterday that I was done covering the pet food recall.
More recalls from Fosters and Smith, and get this, the FDA is holding 20 million more chickens believed to have eaten melamine feed.Click here to read the rest from the AP.
Don't know about you, but I am heading outside right now with a shovel to dig in the dirt to extend my vegetable garden plot.
While I am at it, I think I will add a root cellar to.

FDA's new numbers: over 8,500 pets reported dead. ASPCA's press release warns pet owners to feed only US sourced protein supplements

Two very big stories concerning the pet food recall hit the main stream media yesterday.
Itchmo.com has the highlights of yesterday's FDA news conference:

***Of 17,000 calls up to 50% claimed their pets died.
***Pet food from 2006 tested positive for melamine. No samples available prior to that date.
***2.7 million chickens ate tainted food. In addition, tainted pet food consumed by chickens in hundreds of farms.
***Will not give clear answer to whether people ate those chickens.
***No details given on investigation in China. Not even the number of investigators.
***Can’t rule out contamination in other vegetable protein.
***All tainted ingredients went to pet food companies.

Item number two:
The ASPCA reminds us that this pet food crisis is far from over, especially in light of the cross contamination found at Menu Food plants this week.
The ASPCA warns that pet owners need to be pro-active concerning what commercial diets pet owners feed their pets. The ASPCA advises not to buy any pet foods without first checking with the manufacturers where their ingredients come from.
Remember you cannot tell from just reading a label. That is one of the things that we want changed. We need better labeling requirements in this country.

Below is the press release in it's entirely direct from the ASPCA web site. Words in bold are their emphasis.

NEW YORK, May 3, 2007—With Menu Foods yesterday greatly expanding its recall of pet food products due to new evidence of cross-contamination, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today warned pet parents that this crisis is far from over, and urged them to watch their pets closely for any symptoms that may be related to the recall.

“Given the fact that there is new evidence of cross-contamination in ingredients that may have been considered safe prior to this news, we need to be much more aware of where the ingredients in our pets’ food are coming from,” said Dr. Steven Hansen, a board-certified toxicologist and senior vice president with the ASPCA, who manages the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), located in its Midwest Office in Urbana, Ill.

“We are strongly recommending that pet parents immediately investigate, via their pet food manufacturer’s Web site or by calling them directly, where the ingredients—specifically protein supplements—are sourced from.”

Given the current situation and until this crisis is resolved, the ASPCA is recommending pets be fed products containing U. S.-sourced protein supplements only.
“The continued expansion of the recall is extremely worrying,” said Dr. Louise Murray, director of medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital (BMAH) in New York City, and a board-certified internist. “The magnitude of this crisis leaves us frustrated as to how to best protect pets and prevent any more illnesses or deaths.”

However, recent media reports that laboratory experiments on the interaction of melamine and cyanuric acid in cat urine showed the formation of crystals, are not surprising to ASPCA experts, and offer a glimmer of hope to veterinarians who have been worrying about how to save sick animals who have ingested the contaminated food.

“The fact that we have started to learn how the presence of melamine may be impacting these animals, gives us a small glimmer of hope—that at least we know we are on the right track when it comes to treating the animals affected,” said Dr. Hansen. “These findings really start putting everything else we have seen into perspective.”

In a study that was done several years ago on dogs and rats, the presence of melamine in their systems was found to only lead to the development of crystals in urine, but there were no further adverse effects—and nothing that showed a direct link between the chemical mechanism of melamine and the renal failure recently seen in the affected animals.

“Now that we see that crystals are formed when melamine and cyanuric acid are combined in cat urine, it may be that the cause of renal failure is somehow related to the obstruction caused by these crystals,” continued Dr. Hansen.

This also explains why animals whose symptoms were detected early enough, and who were rushed to their veterinarians and put on aggressive fluid therapy—as the ASPCA has been recommending—survived; since this treatment may help to prevent additional crystals from forming, and aid in flushing out the existing crystals from the animals’ urinary tracts, thus relieving the obstruction and reversing the effects of renal failure.

“Patience is the key,” said Dr. Murray, who has successfully treated several animals thus-affected with aggressive fluid therapy at BMAH. “We now understand that we have to bathe these crystals in fluid for as long as possible. With other causes of kidney failure, if there is no improvement in the animal’s condition after a day or two, the prognosis is usually not encouraging.

“In this case, however, when treating animals who have been sickened by eating the contaminated foods, longer-term intravenous fluids may be required —so we would strongly recommend that all veterinarians treating such cases be patient and continue administering fluids longer than they might otherwise, because they can really be life-saving.”

Unofficial estimates, including by those in the veterinary community, suggest the number of recall-related deaths may be in the thousands. The pet food recall crisis continues to unfold, with new developments appearing daily, and ramifications at the international trade, business and human health levels. As recently as yesterday, Menu Foods greatly expanded its recall list because of evidence of cross-contamination at plants where the contaminated ingredients were in use.

The ASPCA continues to warn pet parents to stay extremely alert to the situation. “Please stay abreast of recall news, which you can do via our Pet Food Recall Resource Center on our website, and remain extremely vigilant to your pets’ wellbeing. If they have eaten any of the recalled foods or show any of the signs generally attributed to kidney failure—or illness in general—please take them to your veterinarian immediately,” urged Dr. Murray.

The ASPCA continues to monitor the situation, and is providing regular updates and advice for pet parents at its Pet Food Recall Resource Center at www.aspca.org/recall.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------end
href="http://itchmoforums.com/index.php?topic=308.0">
Itchmo has a new forum to help you find a safe pet food here.

Farley-featured adoptable dog

Meet Farley

This Tree Walkeer Coon Hound has been waiting a long time to find his forever family.

Farley is currently in a foster home with two other dogs, toddlers and cats. Farley is not a good match for a home with kitties so this sweet boy will need a foster or permanent home that is cat-free.

Here is what Dogs Deserve Better has to say about Farley:

Farley is a wonderful 5-year old Treeing Walker Coonhound. For those of you who love this breed, Farley is a true find!

Farley came to our rescue after a death his family. His whole life has been turned upside down. He misses his former owner terribly and really needs a forever home to call his own.

Adjectives to describe Farley are Goofy, fun and good natured.

Click here for more Pictures of Farley

Farley loves to go for long walks in the woods and to romp with his human or canine companions.

At five years old, Farley is at the perfect age... not a wild puppy, but plenty of life and love left to give.

Farley loves people - he is good with other dogs and is wonderful with children of all ages, including toddlers.

As is the case with most hounds - Farley will do anything for a treat...

He enjoys romping in the yard with his foster "brother" and is gentle with the young children in the home.

Here is the latest from Farley's foster mom:

Since Farley has come to our home, he's really come out of his shell and is a real sweetheart.

He is a perfect gentleman whether its getting a bath or just dealing with the everyday life with two toddlers and a 10 month old bullmastiff pup.

He takes everything from the kids trailing him, to rattling his crate door, to having a 100 lb pup constantly trying to get him to play by tackling him and running around him barking, with the same laid back ease he does everything.
Farley enjoys his attention from his human and canine friends, but also enjoys being outside in the yard.

His favorite thing to do is sunbathe. I often have a hard time getting him to come in if its sunny out, he'll often move around the yard as the sun shifts, but come dinner time or bed time he'll be the first one there.

He crates very well and enjoys his rides in the car.

He's really started playing around and acting like the young dog he is. He's been a real joy.

As is typical of his breed, Farley is led by his nose, which sometimes makes him difficult to walk on leash (especially if he sees a squirrel or chipmunk). He responds well to a haltee or no-pull harness.

Farley is a wonderful family dog. If you take him home, he will be your best friend and will promise to keep you laughing.

Farley is neutered and up-to-date on vaccinations

Due to this breed's capacity to roam - a fenced in yard (stockade or chain link) is required as one of the application criteria.

If you can provide Farley with the love and attention that he deserves, please contact DDBMaine@yahoo.com

Visit his Petfinder page here

recalls recalls recalls more more more recalls!!!

Thanks to Itchmo (above) for their recall alerts! What ever did we do without them? Itchmo rocks! Click the above link for info, and by all means sign up for their recall alerts. I have lost track of how many recall alerts they have sent me.

For an easy to read list, including new recalls in red, go to The Pet Food List. Hard working bloggers they are!

Click here to go to the master list.

It is circulating around that web that greed is showing it's ugly head in the form of adds that direct folks to out dated recall info web sites.
Shame on them!

For the latest, there is Itchmo, Pet Connection, Pet Food Tracker and the Pet Food List. That is all. The rest of us are getting our info from them.
All of the above all always miles ahead of the FDA. The FDA site is slow to update, but has a great search feature. It has not been updated since April 30th. Click here to check the FDA site.

There has been a lot of news in the recall world since I took a brain break these last few days. Except of the very huge, I am passing the recall blogging torch to those listed above who are doing it pretty much full time. Huge news you can expect to find here, but I just can't keep up with it, and the above four are doing a stellar job.

latest recall list

Co-Op Gold
Go Natural -----Menu foods has removed this from the list! 5/3
Health Diet Gourmet Cuisine
La Griffe
Master Choice
Nu Pet
Performatrin Ultra
Triumph
Truly
Western Family Canada

19 New Cat Brands – Menu Foods Recall on 5-2-07 due to cross-contamination(All of these are canned foods only, except the Triumph which also includes pouches)

Cat’s Choice
Co-Op Gold
Despar
Fame
Feline Classic
Feline Cuisine
Giant Eagle
J.E. Mondou
La Griffe
Master Choice
Medi-Cal Natural Ultramix
Nu Pet
Performatrin Ultra
Roche Brothers
Roundy’s
Stuzzy Gold
Triumph
Western Family Canada
Your Pet

Dog Food Brands that added new flavors to the list
Authority
Award
Best Choice
Compliments
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy Vee
Natural Life
Ol' Roy Canada
Pet Pride / Good n Meaty
Presidents Choice
Priority US
Schnucks
Springfield Prize
Stater Brothers
Western Family US

Cat Food Brands that added new flavors to the list
Americas Choice, Preferred Pet
Best Choice
Companion
Compliments
Demoulas Market Basket
Drs Foster & Smith
Food Lion
Giant Companion
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy Vee
Laura Lynn
Master Choice
Meijer's Main Choice
Nutro
Paws
Pet Pride
Presidents Choice
Price Chopper
Priority Canada
Priority US
Schnucks
Sophisticat
Special Kitty Canada
Springfield Prize
Wegmans
White Rose
Winn Dixie

Makes you sick doesn't it?

Hoax quiz answers

Below are the answers to Mondays hoax quiz. There were five real and five hoax entries. Drop us a comment and let us know how you did.

1.) Is this the world's biggest dog?

HOAX!

This is the real Hercules, the worlds heaviest dog.


Gibson, the worlds tallest dog
Snopes has the story here.
My nine year old knew it was a fake. When I asked her how she knew, she said because the dog only has two legs.

2.)Is this the world's biggest cat?

HOAX!

The picture has been around the net since 2001 when stories of the cat that lived near a nuclear power plant in Canada starting flying around the net. It still makes it's way to my mail box often enough.
I love that picture!

3.) Are dogs being taught to use ATM's?

TRUE!

The Canine Partner Service dogs featured are being taught to put in the ATM card in and out, and take out the money and give it to a person in a wheelchair. Story Here

4.) Dog Island
Can you send your dog to live free on an island off the coast of Florida?

"Over 2,500 dogs are already enjoying a better life at Dog Island. Separated from the anxieties of urban life, dogs on Dog Island are healthy dogs who live a natural, healthy and happy life, free from the stress and hardship associated with daily live among humans".

HOAX!

Well done, but a hoax non the less. While there is an actual Dog Isalnd off the coast of Florida, there is not one where dogs can live free. Snopes has the whole story here.

5.) A poodle in sheep's clothes?
"thousands of pet owners in Japan paid upwards of $1600.00 for baby lambs after being told they were poodles". (thanks Kathy)

HOAX

On April 26th, An article called "Ewe've Been Conned Ladies" appeard in the The Sun, England telling of how thousands of Japanese were conned into buying sheep sold as Poodles. It was widely believed to be fact for days, but it is a hoax. The article found here, made the email rounds and links can be found and on numerous blogs all over the web spouting it as a true tale.

Snopes has the full story here

6.) Is the Panda Dog one of the latest designer dogs?

TRUE!

Herman is a German Giant Rabbit.

8.) Can you really purchase a "Hotdoll" humping toy for dogs?

TRUE!

You all can stop sending me the video now. You can check it out yourself here.

9.) Did these dogs really charter an airplane?

TRUE!

Oil tycoon T. Bone Pickens and his wife paid $50,000 to charter a Continental airplane and send 50 dogs from Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana to San Francisco.
SF Gate story here.

10.) Is it true that only 16 pets have been killed by poison pet food in the biggest pet food recall in history?

HOAX!

I know you all got this one right. Finally the FDA has released numbers in a press release on Monday.
From the FDA's web site.
This has been one of the largest pet food recalls in history, a recall that continues to expand. Thus far, 18 firms have recalled product, 17 Class I and 1 class II, covering over 5,300 product lines. As of April 26, 2007, FDA had received over 17,000 consumer complaints relating to this outbreak, and those complaints included reports of approximately 1950 deaths of cats and 2200 deaths of dogs.

Hey that was fun! We all needed a break. If you just can't get enough of this Hoax biz, I have an extra treat for you.
Check out Hogzilla-thanks to Susan in Isreal.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

The rules-No cheating! If you didn't know the answer and went surfing to look it up, it does not count as correct!

The scoring:

All wrong- time to take a self help internet course.

You don't come here very often do you?

1 correct
It had better have been the pet food question!

2-4 correct
not to worry, some of them were tough. Only a true pet surfer would do well.

5 -7 correct
ok, so you got a bunch wrong. At least you don't spend all your time on the Internet

8 or more right.
You spend as much time on the net as I do.
Go, go outside now. Right now - and take your dog with you!

Bark in the Park-Take Your Dog Out to a Seadogs Game

Reason 5 million and one, why I love Portland.
I can take my dog to a baseball game!

Three cheers for the Planet Dog Foundation for putting on a fundraiser at Hadlock Field when the Porltand Sea Dogs play the Connectticut Defenders on June 3rd. Dogs and their families are invited to enjoy an afternoon of baseball while raising valuable funds for Porland's area animal shelter, The Animal Refuge League.
Now I ask you...how cool is that?

Before you all get too excited, please remember that not all dogs would enjoy a baseball game. This event is intended for well behaved dogs who will enjoy the crowds, noise and commotion.
Finney, me and the kids are picking up our tickets today, but
Charlee will remain quietly at home where she will be happiest.

Aside from the total coolness factor that I can take my "family" to a ball game,
the event will feature, dogs for adoption from the ARL, a grassy relief area, wading pool, canine watering station, dog treats and games for pups and their families. Doggy valets will also be on hand to care for pets if people need to use the concessions. People without pets are also welcome to come and visit the doggie section. Planet Dog Foundation is giving all dogs in attendance a free commemorative Orbee baseball. Dogs get to run the bases with Slugger before the start of the game. My kids are already fighting over who gets to hold Finney's leash and run the bases with him.

Tickets are $6. for adults and $3 for children under age 16. Your dog will need their own ticket at the cost of $6.

Buy tickets at the the Planet Dog Company Store - 211 Marginal Way, Portland and at the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland,
449 Stroudwater Street, Westbrook.

Pooch bleacher seats are limited, so get yours early!