Little Bites by Tony Conza
 Elwood, a six pound Chinese Crested/Chihuahua mix that was rescued from a shelter by Karen Quigley of New Jersey was crowned "World's Ugliest Dog" at The Sonoma-Marian Fair 19th annual event. "He goes from ugly to cute in a matter of seconds," stated Karen. "He's loveable and makes people smile." For the record WOOF Patrol finds Elwood to be adorable. Biotech VGX Pharmaceuticals is testing a form of gene therapy for dogs with cachexia. About 20% of cancer patients-canines and people-succumb to cachexia complications which causes muscle wasting, fatigue and anemia. The condition is debilitating and makes it difficult to endure chemo and radiation. Researchers had 2200 participants in Seattle and Baltimore measure their movements for 7 days. About 28% were dog-owners but 1/3 of them didn't walk their dogs. 43% of those who did walk their pups did so for more than 2 ½ hours a week, the minimum activity recommended for health benefits. The walkers also weighed on average 6 pounds less. Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, has a DVD coming out in August, a second book in October and 35 more episodes signed up for National Geographic. But many experts involved with training and behavior say Millan is barking up the wrong tree by using methods that are unacceptably physical, confrontational, coercive and risky. They say these methods can trigger aggression and may be dangerous to the pet and owner. Some criticized techniques: jerking hard on the collar; agitating the dog into aggressive reactions; coercing the dog into submissive posture; forcing them into situations that cause them fear.
Film Director Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) was an Englishman who always had dogs. Two of them Sealyhams, Geoffry and Stanley, appeared with Hitchcock in his 1963 movie The Birds. Humphrey Bogart's two boxers so disturbed his Los Angles neighbors with their barking that residents lodged a complaint with the city council and suggested that the dogs have their vocal cords removed. "What son of a bitch doesn't like dogs?" raged Bogie. The New York Times reported on June 22nd, that Christie's held their first sale dedicated to dogs in art: 95 paintings and sculptures dating from the 17th century to the present. Avid WOOF Patrol reader Beth Joy Knutsen and her darling starlet pooch Bella have entered the Heinz 57 commercial contest. You must register on www.youtube.com and then be sure to go to this link and pawsitively vote: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvuWF6Q9H_g
Contributor Francine Segal informs us that when you purchase Life's Abundance Pet Food 100% of the profits from the sale of their products go to benefit the children living at the JAFCO Children's Village. Place the following link in your browser: http://www.trilogyonline.com/jafco then proceed by clicking on pets. If you prefer to order by phone the number is (877)387-4564 and be sure to provide them with the JAFCO ID#: 10 111 625. Healthy Pet Net has a shop here and support initiative benefiting Citizens for Pets in Condos. For more information place this link in your browser:
http://www.healthypetnet.com/healthypetnet/home.aspx?realname=10111450. Citizen for Pets in Condos educates the public on the health benefits of animal companionship and about responsible pet ownership in order to increase acceptance of companion animals in common interest ownership communities.
Francine Segal, WOOF Patrol Extraordinaire pictured to your left continues to wow crowds both on stage and television. This month she appeared on Lifetime's "Girl, Positive" and can be seen performing Momma Shlumpfert in Patrick Dennis' satiric comic novel Little Me at the Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre in New Orleans. Bogart, her SAG card carrying pooch, has declined movies offers preferring instead to enjoy the Big Easy by basking underneath a shady tree and enjoying the smells of beignets and the sounds of jazz. |
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