P&C friends, I’m taking a bit of a long weekend and stepping away from the computer (I hope!). I don’t even want to pay bills or see what classmates have found me from schools I never went to (you get that spam too? drives me crazy!) In the meantime, however, Stanley will be keeping an eye on you while I’m gone See you Tuesday….feel free to visit for missed posts below.

Got this the other day on behalf of the people who bring you “Animal Magnet Pet Radio.” Personally, I prefer to read me, but then again, I don’t have guests and you can listen to these guys at work without anyone knowing, which is hard to do with a blog. So I give you permission to listen. Just remember where you learned about it

First, before their release, I didn’t have time to find a good pic of a cat or dog listening to the radio, so here’s my alternative photo offerings…..

Take it away pet radio people… Read more of this entry »

As I told P&C friend Joan when she e-mailed me this info, “Joan, you’re killing me!!!” I’d be scooping these babes up, but I’ve already got Spike on the maybe list, aside from which, I still only have my 1-bedroom apartment and limited litter box space. However, there has to be someone out there who wants these precious animals. Pics first, then their tale. Here’s the babies:

If these don’t find a way to your heart….

(Argh! Killing me!) And here’s Mom:

““Please adopt me! My poor young mother was limping badly and in a lot of pain from an old leg injury that never received medical attention. Someone finally picked her up and brought her to a local veterinary hospital. But the people who brought her there never came back to take her home. The surgeons repaired the fracture in her hind leg, and she has recovered fully, but a little while later she surprised the hospital staff when we arrived — five boys and girls — and we all need good homes! We’re inquisitive, beautiful, friendly, and healthy. We’re grey and white and light tan and white. If you want to meet us call Joan at 914-527-7790.”

And now Mom: “Please adopt me! What a hard life I’ve had so far — and I’m only 1 year old. I’m affectionate, healthy, and will stay cuddled in your arms for the longest time! And I purr like crazy! To meet me call Joan at 914-527-7790.”

….get them to the Yonkers Animal Shelter. As P&C friend Leslie reports, “The dogs are cold and the runs are drafty…By this time we usually have more blankets that we can store, but for some reason this year donations have dwindled while, unfortunately, our dog population has not!!! Without a blanket their runs are cold and damp…they do have raised platform beds, so they do not have to sleep on the cement floor, but is still cold…We especially need bedding for our senior dogs.
If you have no blankets, towels are also useful. Please, please keep us in mind if you have some item that will keep our critters comfortable.

Me here: While dropping off your blankets and towels, how about bringing home a pet in return! The shelter is located at 120 Fullerton Ave. Call 914-377-6730 or visit here for more info.

I always like to hear when a pet that LoHud.com and The Journal News has promoted for adoption finally gets a home. Well, after waiting a long, long time, Maybelle has hit her jackpot. Congrats Maybelle! Here’s a photo of her with her new family and the update from Leslie at the Yonkers Animal Shelter.

Take it away Leslie….

After being here for FIVE years, Maybelle a.k.a. Maybelline, has found her forever home.
Maybelle arrived here one day in 2004, very shortly after giving birth. She was wandering along Yonkers Avenue all alone. Clearly discarded, when she was no longer needed. She was always overlooked. With over 100 dogs in the shelter, some live in the shadows for years. They might be too large or too thin or just too quiet and overshadowed by their more outgoing shelter mates.
Maybelle was one of those dogs. And then a couple of months ago her luck changed when the Journal News made her The Pet of The Week. She received several nice inquiries that weren’t quite right for her, but clearly there was a family out there for her, so we put on her “adopt me vest” and off she went to Pet Expo.

The city of Peekskill in Westchester celebrated the opening of its new dog park at Tompkins Park on Saturday and yep, you guessed it, they made it a Halloween event with dressed up dogs!! The park has been in the making for the past 16 months as a joint partnership between the city and the volunteer Peekskill Dog Park group. LoHud.com photographer Tania Savayan took these pics of the pooches.

First, Maggie, 8, dressed as a jack-o-lantern, attended opening day with owner Michael Sellers, a leader in the dog park effort.

Stu Fischer of Putnam Valley holds his boxer, Ruby, 3, who won most creative costume dressed as a boxer.

Hector and Odette Santiago fix 6-year-old Milo’s hat. Milo dressed as a pilot in honor of Hector, who is a veteran.

Kyly, a 4-year-old golden retriever, came as a nun with owner Angela Male, 31.

And here we have Nicole Gelbman, 26, of Cortlandt, with her dog Lucy, both dressed as Snow White.

Stanley and Cup didn’t go out for Halloween, but they did enjoy the Rangers win over Boston on Sunday, so their weekend turned out OK.

While that won’t bring back this family’s pet, at least someone will be held responsible. Miles, you may recall, was an 11-year-old Siberian husky who was killed by a bow hunter in Blauvelt State Park, where bow hunting happens to be illegal. You can read the updated story here. RIP Miles.

This was forwarded down the line to me, and I promised to put out the call for more adoptions, so here you go.
Chuck’s story:
Chuck was owned by an elderly man who doted on and adored him. One day, the man fell down the stairs (Chuck had no hand – paw – in this) and broke his hip. Dutifully, Chuck laid by his owner’s side and waited for the police and paramedics to arrive to tend to his owner. When help arrived, the police officer gently led a worried Chuck to the side while the medics took his owner away. Little did Chuck know that he would never be able to live with his owner again. Chuck was brought to the Yonkers Animal Shelter where he resides to this day.
Chuck is very gentle with all people, both adult and child alike. His favorite position is belly up for a tummy scratch!

He knows some basic commands and is definitely a shelter favorite. He is a Ridgeback/American staffordshire mix, neutered, and about 2 to 3 years old.

We would prefer to have Chuck be your only pet.
If you are interested, please contact Tracy at: commandk9@verizon.net

She’s a pound! And close to celebrating her 7-week birthday. Sheesh, this kitty kills me with her adorableness. Had the great pleasure the other night of holding and playing with her, and feeding her, for a couple of hours. Oh heaven. She is so alert, loves to be looked at, give kisses, nibble and wrestle. She can also get around on her own. Here she is in a little basket with her blankie, and she gets in all by herself like a big girl!

Spike update update

I added a pic of me feeding her at the end.

Come on Spike, show us your beautiful eyes…

Now we’re in a favorite position…let’s wrestle and play!

I told Diane, if I don’t end up with Spike, here’s the deal. Whoever adopts her has to let me have visitation rights.

OK, I think it’s safe to say that scratch posts do not make for the most pleasing home decor, especially some of the monstrosities they sell that look like carpeted tree houses. Me, I have the simple roped, beige one that Stanley loves just fine.

But this is ridiculous.

My colleague Noreen alerted me to this NY Times story about two women who have developed a company that creates scratchable items for the “well-designed interior.” Cost? One goes for $1,2000. A bargain goes for $300.

Even if I had that kind of dough to spare, I can’t imagine spending it on something that’s going to be torn to shreds. I figure, if you can afford to spend $1,200 on something that’s intended to be wrecked, there must be some room in your home to keep a more modest version out of view. Or, you can take a page out of my mom’s design book and create something aesthetically pleasing, affordable, and not ridiculous.

So, that’s my thought of the day. Yours?