If this isn’t the most awesome exercise in the entire world, then I’m going to lay down and sleep for a thousand years.  There’s a new (well maybe not new new, but new to me) dance in town and disco it ain’t.  Called musical freestyle, it is a dog obedience and dance technique combination.  From Final Boss Form,

Musical canine freestyle—also known as musical freestyle, freestyle dance, and canine freestyle—is a modern dog sport that is a mixture of obedience, tricks, and dance that allows for creative interaction between dogs and their owner.

Want to see it? I thought so…

I may have found a new hobby for my daughter. 

H/T Brittney.

I have a cat that take horrible pictures.   For example,  she always turns her head.

My dogs are better, but not much.

What are some tips for taking photos of your pets?  First is be patient.  It may take some cuddle time, some playing, some tug-o-sock or some laser light chasing.  But be patient and try to catch them looking natural (as if pets “pose”! Ha!).

Try to make the background level.  For example, I took this photo of my brother’s dog.

I thought it was a great photo until my brother pointed out that it was … well … lopsided.  Therefore this photo was better because it was level.

Finally - speaking of level - try to get down so you’re eye-to-eye with your cat or dog so you’re not looking down or looking up at the subject.

Patience, even out the background, and stay level with the photo subject.  Good luck!

A couple of pit bulls in Colorado saved a chihuahua from a coyote recently, according to Pawesome.  When Buster went outside to do what dogs do, a coyote nabbed him.  His Mom heard him screaming, witnessed the coyote brutally shaking the Buster, then dropped him and ran.  It seems that the neighbor’s pit bulls heard the commotion and came to Buster’s rescue.

The conclusion:  1) Not all pit bulls are bad by any stretch, and 2) Buster is recovering nicely.

H/T Brittney.

My friend Brittney posted a link to this … perfect for a Friday!

Have a great weekend and welcome August!

One thing I love about my animals… we’re on vacation this week.  Everyone except Grandma, that is.  She’s home all alone, except she’s not.

Both dogs are sitting in the chair under her and the cat is in her lap.

I think the companionship of pets is a true blessing in so many lives.  Whether a busy, stressed person needs someone to help relax or an elderly person needs a companion, our four-legged friends are the perfect true friends.

My thanks to Libby, Cocoa, and Kitty for being there for Grandma this week.

Photo by EdenPictures via flickr creative commons.

Maybe Dexter is a good cat name, too.

From How To Tell If Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You,

Our former kitty (may she rest in peace) was scared to death of mice.  Our current kitty is delighted to conquer mice, moths, beetles, or any other moving creature that makes itself known inside the house.  I like it that she earns her keep, for sure!

My friend said she has found evidence of mice in her garage and was wondering if she should set her cats free in the garage to take care of the problem.  A resounding YES! was heard across the social network sites, but my friend’s level head prevailed.  She was worried about the cats getting into antifreeze and heat stroke from the hot garage.

Antifreeze is extremely toxic for both cats and dogs, but it tastes good to them.  Even if they walk in it, for example, and lick their paws, they can die.  According to Washington State University,

Signs of antifreeze poisoning depend upon the time after ingestion. In the first few hours after ingestion the pet may be depressed and staggering and may have seizures. They may drink lots of water, urinate large amounts and vomit. The pet may appear to feel better but in a day or two get much worse as the kidneys fail. Signs of kidney failure include depression and vomiting. The amount of urine they pass will often decrease to a very small amount.

Aggressive treatment can save an animal that drinks antifreeze, but only by detecting the poison early and seeking immediate medical attention.

While it may seem weird to talk about antifreeze in the middle of the summer, animals do seem to have more roaming ability in the hotter months sot hey can get into trouble if you, a family member, or a neighbor haven’t properly stored the poison.

Walk through your garage and make sure everything is put away… for your four-legged friend!

I was taking my daughter to a friend’s house a few days ago and picked a route that I usually don’t take.  After a couple of turns, I found myself on a winding country road… a country road in the middle of a city is always somewhat fascinating to me.

However, I slowed when I saw a sign:

Do Not Dump Your Animals Here

How sad it made me!  We do often see strays in our neighborhood, along with the dog catcher who drives by frequently.  If a family pet does not happen to be caught by animal control and re-homed (or more frequently euthanized), imagine the life of a stray.

The dog would spend all day trying to find food or water, so starvation and thirst becomes a day-to-day experience.  When it rains, there may be shelter under a car to be found but our own stray that’s now a family member is terrified of thunder.  I can only imagine the storms she lived through before she was rescued.

The ticks, fleas and other parasites may also find a home on the animal.  So not only would a pet have to deal with the elements and survival, but also with little critters draining their blood.

Do not ever drop randomly in the wild if the need arises where it has to be re-homed.  First make an attempt to find a good home for the animal and if that fails, do take it to the local human society.  They will do their best to place the pet and if it does have to be put down eventually, that’s a much more compassionate ending for the animals than what its life would be like in the wild.

You’ll remember my cat has been constantly squalling to go outside and I’ve so far resisted the urge to let her out.  Sometimes, however, she’ll run between our legs to make her great escape.  I can’t save her from bigger animals should they attack (and my new neighbor’s really big black dog makes me extremely nervous), but I can do something to help protect her from the little nuisances.

I’m going to the pet store today to pick up some flea and tick topical treatment.  We have lots of ticks in my area so want to do our best to prevent one from latching on for a feeding frenzy.

However, there are also sprays available for the yard to prevent ticks and fleas.  The downside?  These chemicals could be toxic to your cat.

That Zodiac yard spray is not. Its active ingredient is permethrin, a synthetic chemical I do recommend in two very different ways to control ticks, but NOT in a lawn spray, where it poses a serious risk to your cat, a huge one to your fish, and an unknown but very real one to you

The best thing to do is make sure that your pets have their shots up to date and DO USE the monthly topical application that your veterinarian recommends.

Keep the four-legged critters safe!

Chip texted me early in the morning two days ago.  He asked me to keep my eyes open for his missing dog Oliver.  He has a doggie door so the old guy can go out anytime to roam around the fenced in back yard.  Unfortunately on Friday night someone opened the fence gate and Oliver is now MIA.

Oliver is a very funny little Sheltie.  He never barks when company arrives, but goes crazy when anyone tries to leave.  I don’t know if that’s a quirky thing that the breed does, but it’s heartwarming.  Oliver is a whimsical little guy and I hope Chip finds him.

I’ve driven the neighborhood with my eyes peeled.  So far, no luck.   We think there’s a possibility that Oliver could have been taken which in one sense would be better than if he’s just lost because at least if someone has him, he may be getting food and water.  Because in this heat now, he’d really struggle if he was outside.

Be thinking about my friend Chip and his best friend Oliver.  Keep your fingers crossed that he’s found alive soon!

Photo is not Oliver.  Instead it’s by ScionDriver via flickr creative commons.