The Daily Dish from WebVet

The ugliest dog contest: Who you calling ugly?

Some may say this is a face only a mother could love.  But then what do they know?  I'd ask them when the last time was they looked in the mirror!

We all know the perception of beauty is subjective.  Thus why they say . . . "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"  and "love is blind."  And who do we love more than our dogs? Hello -- I'd say no one.  So what's a little underbite, a cock-eyed grin or a disheveled 'do'? 

Pabst (seen above) is the winner of the 2009 World's Ugliest Dog Contest recently held in California.  And I gotta tell you, I don't think he's ugly.  I prefer to call him "unique".  And clearly he is or he wouldn't have won the contest.  And while humans who consider themselves "flawed" might be inclined to go the route of cosmetic surgery, this clearly isn't in Pabst's future.  As a matter of fact, when his owner looks at him all he sees is one thing . . .   a one-of-a-kind, sweet, loveable, loyal companion . . . with an underbite. 

Then there's Miss Ellie, the "top dog" in the pedigree group.  I have to say I don't think she's ugly either.  Rather she's got style, she got's sass and she could probably kick your A**!!!  And for those who didn't see the competition, she was damn sure everyone was going to know her place in the standings. (See photo)

So while I happen to believe both Pabst and Miss Ellie are stunning creatures in their own right,  I'll leave you with much greater words of wisdom than my own. 

"Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean,
Needs not the painted flourish of your praise:
Beauty is bought by judgement of the eye,
Not utter'd by base sale of chapmen's tongues"

William Shakespeare, Love's Labours Lost

Famous last words . . . Touché!

Pet safety: Ten tips for the Fourth of July holiday

With Fourth of July festivities just around the corner, it's important that we all take a few minutes to remind ourselves that's what good for the person isn't necessarily what's good for the pooch.  While we might like parades, fireworks and the excitment that comes with them; our pets may have a different perspective on this.

One of our WebVet writers submitted a great article on how to keep your pet safe and calm this holiday weekend and I certainly thought it worth sharing his top 10 tips.  These tips could save your pet from a great deal of anxiety and you from potential heartache.  So heads up everyone!

• Fireworks and pets don’t mix. Resist the temptation to take your dog to a fireworks display. Even a dog that is normally easygoing can get spooked by the noise and run off in fear.

• If possible, keep your dog indoors during the festivities, preferably in a quiet, sheltered room with covered windows or in a basement.

• Don’t leave your pet home alone if you can avoid it. Dogs can become destructive when frightened by loud noises and have been known to jump through screens and chew through leashes. If you do go out, leave the TV, radio, or fan on to help mask the sounds of fireworks.

• Make sure that your pet is wearing a properly fitting collar with complete and accurate identification information -- including a rabies tag -- so that it can be identified and returned to you if it should run off. If you have a cat, make sure it is wearing a stretch or safety collar.

• Don’t leave your pet unattended outside, even in a fenced area or on a leash. Terrified pets may jump fences or become dangerously entangled in their leashes, occasionally to the point of strangulation.

• If you have not already done so, consider microchipping your pet. It’s a fast, safe, and generally painless procedure. Most animal shelters are now equipped with microchip readers and routinely scan strays brought to their facilities.

• If your dog is going to be spending time out of doors in the heat, make sure to keep fresh drinking water always available to avoid dehydration and heat stroke.

• Swimming is a great hot weather activity that many -- but not all -- dogs enjoy. Take some time to teach your dog how to swim; be sure always to practice good water safety.  Consider a personal floatation device for pets who are not great swimmers but who enjoy going in the water.

• Never leave your pet in the car. The interior of a car can become dangerously hot very quickly. Leaving windows partially opened will not provide adequate ventilation, but will increase the risk that you will fall victim to pet thieves.

• If your pet tends to be frightened by thunder or other loud noises, talk to your veterinarian before the holiday about medication to alleviate anxiety.

We wish you all a very happy, healthy and safe Fourth of July!!

 

 

 

Mourning the Mayor of Seventh Street: Paying homage to a cat named Pretty Boy

Move over Michael Bloomberg.  A cat named Pretty Boy just might have given you a run for your money in the next Mayorial election had he not recently passed away.   At least if the folks down on Seventh Street in the East Village were the ones casting their ballots.  As far as they are concerned, Pretty Boy was the purr-fect Mayor. 

Pretty Boy, estimated to be about 22 years old, was a local fixture for more than a decade on the south side of Seventh Street between First Avenue and Avenue A.  And while 22 years is nothing to bat a paw at, this amazing cat will be sorely missed and his death, of natural causes, has unleashed a sea of emotions.  Everyone who knew and loved Pretty Boy would expect nothing less from his fans, which included store owners, their patrons, neighborhood kids and more.

Pretty Boy wondered into Mikey's Pet Shop back in 1998 and since that time had been a fixture in the neighborhood. While he spent his nights in the pet shop with his best friend Herbie, he spent his days wondering the neighborhood and lounging on the counter at a local hair salon -- it's rumored he was a hairdresser in a past life -- or better yet, curled up in the lap of one of the salons' patrons. 

No one really knows for sure where Pretty Boy is now, but there is one thing we do know and that is that while he was on this earth, he was well loved by everyone.  And, in turn, everyone was well-loved by Pretty Boy.  As one of Pretty Boy's admirers so beautifully stated, "Pets open up the heart center.  There is something about the unconditional love; they clean the blues right off of you." 

To learn more about Pretty Boy and those who loved him go to http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/20/nyregion/20prettyboy.html?em

Traveling pets: Is Southwest Airlines barking up the wrong tree?

Southwest Airlines recently announced that as of June 17th, they'll now allow small pets to travel inside the cabin.  I say, "good for you Southwest"!  I've always liked this very friendly airline and now relish the fact that are not only people friendly but also pet friendly. 

This said, it's my understanding they are taking real heat from some passengers about this new customer benefit.  What I don't understand is why?  While I do appreciate the fact that some people suffer from pet-related allergies, there are certainly ways that all passenger can be adequately accommodated.  Simple things like moving the afflicted passenger to another part of the plane.  Novel idea isn't it? 

The bigger question for me is why are these people picking on Southwest when most of the major airlines have been accommodating traveling pets for years now.  So what's the fuss?  Are we expected to believe these people only fly Southwest because prior to this time they had a "no pet" rule?  I'm not buying that. 

Then, putting the allergic group aside, there are others who are complaining about the noise the pets might make.  This is really where I draw the line.  I can count the times in my life I've been on a plane with a pet (and there have been many) on one finger that I've seen any disruption caused by the animal. Most of the time they are the most well-behaved passengers on the plane. To the contrary, I cannot count the number of times I've been disturbed consistently by a crying baby, a screaming toddler or worse yet, a drunken business traveler.  Why is that okay and it's not okay to ask that people on the plane have a little compassion for these animals who are likely very disoriented and scared?

Pets have rights too you know.  And for many people, most that I know, their pets are like their children so why shouldn't they be granted the luxury of traveling in the cabin with their pet parents?  Let's be frank here . . . if I had my way, we'd leave all the people on the ground where they belong and we'd let the dogs, cats and other animals fly freely through the skies.  If this were the case, I can almost guarantee that flying the skies would indeed be friendly. 

So all you folks who are so quick to criticize Southwest Airlines, or any other airline for that matter, for trying to accommodate the needs of pet owners and their pets, think about offering the same compassion to pets that I'm sure you do to families traveling with small children.  As for the drunken business travelers, no compassion required. 

Preparing your pet for hurricane season

Wasn't it the big bad wolf who said, "I'll huff and I'll puff and blow your house down"?  Well, that damn wolf isn't the only blow hard around.  June 1st marked the official start of hurricane season so pet owners beware . . . it's time to prepare.  So for those of you who live along coastal areas, here are some tips to help you make sure your pets stay safe if you're caught in the midst of a natural disaster.  The most important thing to do is PLAN AHEAD!

The first thing you'll need to assess is whether to ride out the storm or seek shelter elsewhere.  These decisions are tough as many of us -- myself included -- would tend to hunker down with our creatures and stay close to home.  Home is where the heart is, right?

Truth is that if you find yourself in a potentially dangerous situation, it's best to seek the advice of local officials.  Regardless, whether you choose to stay or stray, there are some basic preparations you should make to ensure the safety of both you and your pet.  While I trust you'll know what you need to do to take care of you and your human family, here's what you need for your pet:

• Water:  three days of water for your pet
  
• Food:  a three-day supply of non-perishable foot
• Medicines:  any medications, clearly labeled, that your pet takes on a regular basis
• Medical records:  keep an extra copy in a watertight container
• Photo of you and your pet:  this will help you locate your pet and document ownership should you become separated
• Identification tags:  make sure they are updated and securely fastened
• Pet first aid kit:  carry cotton bandage rolls, tape and scissors, antibiotic ointment, flea and tick prevention, rubbing alcohol and a pet first aid booklet
• Pet crate or carrier:  this should be something your pet is familiar with before emergency strikes.  This can be essential in evacuation and may make them more comfortable
• Leash or harness:  the last thing you want is for your dog to get loose or run off
• Sanitation supplies:  cat litter and litter box for your kitty and paper towels and poop bags for Fido
• Special toys:  these may make your pet feel more settled and at home

In the case of evacuation, make sure you have information about pet-friendly shelters and other pet-friendly accommodations. 

At the end of the day, all that matters is that you, your family and your pet survive the storm and make it home safe and sound.