PetSugar

On Sundays, La Zona Rosa Turns Into a Dog-Friendly Church

PetSugar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:00:01 -0700

Most nights La Zona Rosa is a bar-slash-music venue featuring loud tunes and Bud drafts, but sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning, the Austin club undergoes a transformation into a community church. Parishioners clean up evidence from the night before and welcome in people and their pets!
Since many visitors walked with dogs, and Texas is no place to leave a pooch roaming the streets or in a hot car, the founders decided to also welcome dogs to sit through services. To see a video of the preparation process and the pups, read more.

Source: La Zona Rosa

The Scoop: Military Hospital Opens For Combat-Wounded Pups

PetSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:00:21 -0700

There are over 2,500 dogs working with military units around the world . . . but what happens when a dog gets hurt on the job? Up until recently, pooches severely injured in the field were flown for treatment to a cramped building that opened 40 years ago during the Vietnam War! No longer. A $15 million veterinary hospital opened Tuesday (in its place) at Texas's Lackland Air Force Base, which also houses the working dogs' training facilities.

Housing all the best technology, features include everything from canine CT scanning equipment to rehab like this underwater treadmill. Lackland currently trains 750 dogs – the pups usually enter between one-and-a-half and three years of age and most work until about 10.

With demand outstripping the number of dogs available, hospital and veterinary workers were trying to keep them healthy and working as long as possible, said Army Col. Bob Vogelsang, hospital director. Then, they're adopted out and stationed at "Fort Living Room."

Source

In the Spotlight: Daisy Helps Jessica Be Fancy

PetSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 03:00:52 -0700

Is it just me or is Daisy looking better than ever these days?! Looks like the maltipoo got a trim to share the spotlight at Jessica Simpson's perfume launch in Dallas over the weekend – after all the fragrance is called "Fancy" so could she bring along a pup with a sloppy cut? I think not.I know North would remain atop that table for about one second . . . followed by breaking glass and his dive into the audience for kisses. See what Daisy did while Jess was signing autographs when you read more.

Source

Awww, Hurricane Ike's Tiny Bushy-Tailed Victims Need Help

PetSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:00:05 -0700

It's not just pets that need help in the aftermath of recent hurricanes, over 1,000 baby squirrels are undergoing care in what's best described as a "squirrel neonatal unit". The Houston SPCA still receives 20 to 30 lil ones each day, causing these creatures to far outnumber all of the other animals there.

We’re feeding them puppy formula every three hours. . . . We’ve had a pelican and a couple of seagulls, but we’ve been overwhelmed by the squirrels, said Sharon Schmalz, executive director of the society’s Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center, who explained that this was the height of squirrel birthing season in Texas.

The orphans – many less than three inches long – are hand fed via these nipple-tipped syringes and will remain in the care of volunteers until they reach 12 weeks old. They will then be re-released into their natural habitats, places like rural areas outside city limits or tree-filled suburbs, with newfound strength to frolic freely and leap from limb to limb.

Source

How You Can Help Furry Victims of Hurricane Ike . . .

PetSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:00:08 -0700

Thankfully, there were improved plans in place before the recent hurricanes hit, but I'm reminded that plenty of pets still need help in the storms' aftermath. Shelters including the Houston Humane Society and the Galveston Island Humane Society are working around the clock to photograph all the arriving animals to help keep track of the pets, and locate their owners. Much of the area is still without running water, electricity or gas . . . but the stray and injured animals keep on coming!

In addition to accepting monetary donations online, if you're local to these areas (or any place affected by the storms), don't be shy about stopping in to volunteer or bring by some much-appreciated goods. To see the items on the shelter's wish list, read more.

Towels
Batteries (especially 9 volt)
Crates of ALL sizes
Tarps
Bungee Cords
Bottled Water
Cat Litter
King Size Kong toys for dogs
Rabbit Food - Timothy Hay pellets or Timothy Hay
Small TVs with built in VCR/DVD
Soft Chewable Dog Treats
Current Key Maps
Disposable Rubber Gloves
Digital Cameras
8- and 12-Inch Cable Ties (50 lb strength)
Newspapers
Food for Hamsters, Rats, Guinea Pigs, Ferrets, and Gerbils
Halters - small and medium size
Fly Spray and Masks
Thrush Medicine
Mucking Forks/rakes

Source

Chimp Snuggles With Baby Tigers: In the LINK of an Eye!

PetSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:30:43 -0700

Anjana cuddles white tiger cubs - Snuzzy
Cheeky squirrel invades family photo - Dlisted
Big bear gets a big root canal - People Pets
Francesca eats (paper) Sharkey - The Daily Wag
600 dogs seized from Texas puppy mill - Dogster
Pet pig eats a woman's diamond! - Paw Nation
Q & A with professional pet photographer Edyta Szyszlo - moderncat

New Puppy Alert! Welcome, Bo (Obama)

PetSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:00:30 -0700

Finally comes the day we've all speculated about, discussed, and debated . . . and it seems that day is Tuesday. This lil furball is Charlie, the soon-to-be first dog entering the White House tomorrow. Seems Sasha and Malia have settled on an appropriate name that the whole family can agree on, so meet "Bo."

The re-homed Portuguese water dog was returned to a breeder and will be gifted to the Obamas. The Texas kennel is the same one frequented by Ted Kennedy and family, and will be presented by the Kennedys as, you may recall, that family also keeps Porties as pets. Seems the pup had a meet-and-greet a while back and, tomorrow, I hope to have even more information and photos of the six-month-old. 'Til then, join me in a hearty "Welcome, Bo! It's grrreat to finally see you."

View 3 Photos ›

Source

Super-Cute Gallery: It's All About Stump Now!

PetSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:00:35 -0800

Last night this pup made all kinds of history being the first Sussex Spaniel and the oldest dog ever to win Westminster. I think Stump's rather stumptastic and my favorite thing about this pup is hands down (paws up) this trick. Doesn't he look like he's pretending to be a stump posing like that?!

As cute as the pup was in the show ring at MSG, his life hasn't been easy. Although he won the Sporting group when he last competed in 2004, he got a mysterious illness shortly thereafter – "his whole body completely quit" – and spent 19 days in a Texas A&M hospital before being miraculously cured. Since then he's just been hanging out and doing whatever he wants to do . . . and, last night, he wanted to win.

To see Ch Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee up close, read more.

View 42 Photos ›

Source and Source

The Scoop: First Cat Passes Away

PetSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:00:58 -0800

I'm saddened to announce that one of the precious pets of the current first family has passed away – this cute cat died Sunday at the Executive Mansion at the age of 18. The lil girl had many names; she was originally called "India" after the former Texas Ranger baseball player, Ruben Sierra (nicknamed "El Indio"), before the then 9-year-old Barbara Bush renamed her "Willie" when she joined their family. When the twins went off to college in 2000, they left their cat at home in the White House with President and Mrs. Bush where she's lived ever since. Guess they're also fans of multiple pet names for precious pals, as this pet was also commonly called "Kitty" by the first family!
Source

Animal Planet Dog Championships Tonight at 8pm

PetSugar — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:45:35 -0700

If you haven't had your fill of dog shows over the past few months, from Wesminster to the AKC/Eukanuba show, then you're in luck. From the channel that brings you thePuppy Bowl, Animal Planet's own Dog Championships air tonight (April 5) at 8pm e/p.

This multi-city competition starts out tonight in Portland, Oregon, then makes its way across the country to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where the top pooches from Oregon battle it out with the new PA pups. The third stop on the tour is Houston, Texas, which brings all three groups to compete for "Best in Show". So intense, right!?

Source