Why 40? Because Dog Fancy magazine is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Congratulations, Dog Fancy! And congratulations to all the winners. (I’m betting my city is somewhere in that top 40. I love where I live!)

What Makes These Cities the Best?

The criteria used to select the winning city include lots of dog-friendly open spaces and dog parks, events celebrating dogs and their people, sufficient veterinary care, plenty of pet supply and other services, and municipal laws that support and protect all pets.

The next nine cities in the top ten are:

* Carmel, Calif.
* Madison, Wis.
* Benicia, Calif.
* Fort Bragg, Calif.
* Lincoln City, Ore.
* San Diego, Calif.
* Virginia Beach, Va.
* Sioux Falls, S.D.
* Salem, Ore.

I think every city in America should do whatever it takes to win this competition next year!

At the moment, we have three German Shepherds—two of our own and a foster. Those giant paws running rapidly from one end of the yard to the other several times a day are tearing it up slowly. But that’s not the big problem…

Hindsight Is 20-20

I’m still working on training all three to relieve themselves in the far-back part of the yard, which is mostly brush and trees.  Not happening as quickly as we’d like.  After a few days, the yellow spots began to appear, followed by  big patches of dead grass and dirt.

About that same time, I noticed an ad for a product that neutralized the high nitrogen content and high ph in dog urine to prevent this problem. I hit the dog-supplies trail and purchased two products—one for the dogs and another to spray on the yellow spots and neutralize everything at the point of contact (which, of course, means I have to watch them while they’re in the yard to see where they go and run outside with the spray bottle, hoping I’ll remember the exact spot where the stream landed. Easier said than done.)  So, right now, it’s hard to tell if it’s working. We wish we’d started them on the edible prevention well before the sod went down.

It’s Not Too Late For YOU!

If you have dogs and you’re planning to install new sod, the easiest protection may be to simply train your dogs to do their business in one spot specially designed for them, filled with either river pebble or Astroturf for easy clean-up. But just in case,  you should know about the different kinds of urine neutralizers. There are products on the market for both dogs and lawns. Ingestible urine neutralizers are available as chewables or liquids/sprays for their food or water.  And you can choose from a number of lawn treatments on the market.  I’m off to do some research on repairing my lawn before the problem gets any worse. Meanwhile, our beloved dogs are enjoying the heck out of their new backyard “digs.”

Admit it! Sometimes you cringe when a dog (or any dog, for that matter) gives you those big, sloppy, wet kisses on your face, don’t you? It’s not that you don’t love us like crazy. You just might find it a little icky from time. My mom and dad call it “getting slimed.”  Well, the next time you get slimed, think about this…

FOX news reports researchers have found that the DNA on my tongue might be the key to new treatments for rare cancers in both humans and dogs.

According to FOX news, “The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and the Van Andel Research Institute (VARI), developed the Canine Hereditary Cancer Consortium, to understand why people and their pets get sick. The study used saliva, blood and tumor samples of dogs volunteered by private pet owners for testing in hopes that by studying canine cancer, oncologists can determine the cause of human cancers.”

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Why Dogs Matter!

“Rare diseases in humans also show up in dogs. By studying the DNA of canines, we expect to more quickly discover the genomic causes of disease and more quickly find ways to better treat dogs, and people,” said Dr. Mark Neff, director of the new TGen-VARI Program for Canine Health and Performance.

The testing, approved by the American Kennel Club and Morris Animal Foundation, will be animal-safe, and funding will be supported by private donors, along with a $4.3 million dollar federal stimulus grant.

They said cancer is the cause of death for nearly 50 percent of all dogs older than 10-years-old. Pretty scary, but I think I speak for all my canine comrades when I say we’re glad we can help change that for the better. Since my mom and dad found out about this, they let me slime them to my heart’s content!

Customize Your Profile, and Then Buy Pets!
Are you a wolf, a cat, or a bird? Choose which animal you want to be and also pick a habitat. Then, check out all of the other human pets, and buy a few to take care of!

Search for Pets
You can find “human pets” near you, and become real life friends! Or, check out the random profile viewer and meet people from all over the world.

Besides online auctions, chats and blogs, games, discussion boards and classified ads, you can create similar interest groups known as “herds,” and discuss your hobbies with new friends. There’s an online market, so you can go shopping and find new items for your pets. You can even open up your own shop and earn virtual points from sales. We think they can take it even further!!

Let’s See How THEY Like It!

You know how much humans like to dress us up in ridiculous outfits they wouldn’t wear in public themselves? Well, Mittens and I think this Web site provides a great opportunity to turn the tables. After all, turn-about is fair play. You know how my Mom and Dad put me in dog sweaters every once in a while? I just suck it up and have fun with it, because it makes them happy. With this new site, you all have a chance to have your pet stroll the neighborhood streets au natural—naked, nude, like pets are supposed to be. Won’t that be fun!? America, get your cameras ready!

I love this site! Created for people who treat their pets like family (and that would definitely be me,) it features a health center and an encyclopedia of animals, where you can find out about hundreds of potential pets. There are also forums for all kinds of pets and some fun games.

Mostly, it’s about hooking up socially active pets and their people, encouraging inter-species connections, too. Just because you have a dog or a cat doesn’t mean you can’t “hang” with a fish or a rodent. You’re invited to create a free profile for your best friend, where you can share photos, videos  and information about favorite activities, favorite toys, even the energy level of your pet. The site covers dog breeds extensively, and you’ll be happy to know the many breeds of cats, horses, fish, birds, etc. are given equal time.

Especially touching is Rainbow Bridge–a place on the site where people can memorialize the pets they’ve loved and lost. The page includes the beautiful work of an unknown author who wrote comforting words about where our deceased pets go and the extraordinary moment when we’re reunited with them.

And, of course, there’s a blog–Cindy’s Blog. She’s a former surgical veterinarian technician and education specialist for the Humane Society. Covering everything from ear mites to raising chickens as pets to heartwarming orangutan/dog relationships, Cindy gives great tips for caretakers of precious pets.

Why not head over there and browse awhile? I think you’ll be amazed, not just at the variety of pets people share their homes with, but the deep, enduring love at the heart of those relationships.

I’m particularly fond of the video with the dog in the swing. She (or he—I really couldn’t tell) seemed to be enjoying it, so I’m thinking of pushing Mom toward the park playground the next time we’re out to see if she’ll push me in a swing. The two salsa-dancing puppies are so cute, I just want to take them home! (Sound familiar?) If you’re like me, when you see stuff like this, it’s hard to wipe the smile off your face for the rest of the day! There’s a lot of other heartwarming dogs vying for your attention on the site, too, so check it out!

1. They wouldn’t give overly long acceptance speeches.

2. They wouldn’t waste huge amounts of money on tuxedos or dog dresses.

3. They would deal better with both victory and defeat.

4. We like them, we really like them.

5. They could get to the stage much more quickly.

6. It makes more sense than Michael Vick getting a “Courage Award.”

7. They’ve been snubbed as a species by the academy for far too long.

8. Their ego and bank accounts don’t require constant feeding — just themselves.

9. Oscar chew toys would be cheaper than statuettes

10. The red carpet is probably cleaned every year anyway.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen top the list of human medications most poisonous to pets.

“The Pet Poison Helpline (1-800-213-6680) offers tips for the prevention of pet poisoning caused by human medications.

Justine A. Lee, DVM, DACVECC, associate director of veterinary services at the helpline, said as far as animal poisonings go, “they are unfortunately very, very common.” The 24-hour helpline is available throughout North America for veterinary professionals and pet owners who need help treating a potentially poisoned pet.

Tens of thousands of phone calls are fielded on human prescription drugs, rat poisons and environmental/home toxins, Lee said. Nearly half the calls involve over-the-counter and prescription medications for humans.”

Below are the top 10 human medications most frequently ingested by pets.

1. NSAIDs (e.g. Advil, Aleve and Motrin) Common household medications called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) top the list. The names include ibuprofen (e.g., Advil and some types of Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve).
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2. Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) Even though this drug is safe, this is not true for pets—especially cats. One regular strength tablet of acetaminophen may cause damage to a cat’s red blood cells.
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3. Antidepressants (e.g. Effexor, Cymbalta, Prozac, Lexapro) While occasionally used in pets, overdoses can lead to serious neurological problems such as sedation, incoordination, tremors and seizures. Pets, especially cats, seem to enjoy the taste of Effexor and often eat the entire pill. One pill can cause serious poisoning.
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4. ADD/ADHD medications (e.g. Concerta, Adderall, Ritalin) Minimal ingestions of these medications by pets can cause life-threatening tremors, seizures, elevated body temperatures and heart problems.
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5. Benzodiazepines and sleep aids (e.g. Xanax, Klonopin, Ambien, Lunesta) About half of the dogs who ingest sleep aids become agitated instead of sedate. In addition, these drugs may cause severe lethargy, incoordination and slowed breathing in pets.
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6. Birth control (e.g. estrogen, estradiol, progesterone) Large ingestions of estrogen and estradiol can cause bone marrow suppression, particularly in birds. Additionally, female pets that are intact are at an increased risk of side effects from estrogen poisoning.
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7. ACE Inhibitors (e.g. Zestril, Altace) Pets ingesting small amounts of this medication can potentially be monitored at home, unless they have kidney failure or heart disease.
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8. Beta-blockers (e.g. Tenormin, Toprol, Coreg) Small ingestions of these drugs may cause serious poisoning in pets. Overdoses can cause life-threatening decreases in blood pressure and a slow heart rate.
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9. Thyroid hormones (e.g. Armour desiccated thyroid, Synthroid) Large acute overdoses in cats and dogs can cause muscle tremors, nervousness, panting, a rapid heart rate and aggression.
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10. Cholesterol lowering agents (e.g. Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor) Most “statin” ingestions only cause mild vomiting or diarrhea. Serious side effects from these drugs come with long-term use. <HOME>

You know us pets. We love “see food.” If we see food, or anything else small and enticing, we eat it, so whatever drops on your floor is fair game. Thanks for thinking of us when you have something potentially dangerous hanging around the house!

Let’s Dig Deeper!

We wonder what they mean by “more open.” Would any of our wonderful cat lovers care to speculate? We have lots of “cat people” in our circle of friends and, if they’re neurotic, they hide it pretty well. We’ve also known a dog lover or two who might need to spend some time in the “Chock Full ‘o Nuts” hotel, and they’re still terrific people. We’re waiting for a study to determine whether cats are more neurotic than dogs. Is your pet neurotic? Do tell!

The Ultimate Dog Bed!

Also on the radar screen this week is our new favorite bed and breakfast! The world’s biggest beagles host overnight guests at the Dog Bark Park Inn. Dog Bark Park is home to Toby and Sweet Willy. Toby is a 12-foot tall beagle statue, and guests enter the body of the beagle from a private 2nd story deck. Some of the dog’s decorative furnishings are carvings by Dog Bark Park chainsaw artists Dennis & Frances. Inside and up another level to the head of the dog is a loft room with additional sleeping space plus a cozy alcove in the muzzle. Hmmm. It must be hard to find dog collars that big. Oddly, their Web site doesn’t say whether dogs are welcome. We’re going to assume that they are, which is as it should be. Watch this video to find out more!

Today, we’re going to have one of our friends here at Max & Mittens explain why she believes dogs are more popular than cats. I can’t wait to hear this. Her name is Susan…

I think I know why dogs have the upper hand in the battle for the hearts of pet lovers. But first, I want to say something about cats. I’ve never really had a cat companion. My husband and I have German shepherds, and we foster German shepherds for our local GSD rescue group.  We’ve talked about getting a cat (my husband had one as a child,) and we think our own dogs would eventually get used to having a cat around, but our fear is that the cat would be traumatized by every new foster we bring into the house.

I also have many cat-loving friends, and it’s given me an opportunity to get  very close to some fabulous cats. Over the holidays,  I visited a friend in California who was keeping her daughter’s rescued cat temporarily.  Stubby (so named because of an unfortunate accident to her right-rear leg when she was a barn cat,) became incredibly attached to me—and I to her. Stubby sat in my lap while I read and slept next to me in bed every night. I realized then that I’ve missed having a cat in my life, and someday, if we ever give up our fostering, I’d love to add a cat to our family. But here’s why I believe dogs prevail over cats in popularity:

AAAAAAAADogs are the only domesticated animals who love and protect their owners.

I know there have been stories from time to time about people or families being saved from fire because the cat woke them up in time, or horses who went to get help when their rider had fallen and was injured, or a fish that saved Pittsburgh. But dogs instinctively protect their human families like no other animal and, unlike cats, their love is enthusiastic and unconditional. Clearly, it’s hard to beat that combination.

For me, it doesn’t matter which pet is more popular. What matters is that we always strive to be responsible pet owners who honor the love and trust our pets—furry and otherwise—place in us, and that we never forget the affection and joy these friends bring to our lives. Rescue. Adopt. Love. Max and Mittens—you BOTH rule!