Ah, morning in Southern California. The birds are chirping, the sun in shining, and the cats are underfoot demanding attention. It’s breakfast time! (Sorry for losing your head Porkchop)The cats have dry food at their disposal, but get canned stuff (blech) in the morning as a special breakfast. Let me say, it’s a pure disadvantage to be the first one up in that house. Not only is the coffee not made yet, but they go nuts with the mewing and Spam runs back and forth (hysterical actually) until that chow is on a plate on the floor.Now it’s Prince’s turn. Hey, where’s mine?Happy chow guy and girls.

If you missed the big deal at Madison Square Garden, here’s another chance to catch classy pups strutting their stuff.

Some 150 dog breeds, from Affenpinscher to Yorkshire terrier, will be pawing their way through the fieldhouse at Rockland Community College tomorrow through Sunday.
It’s the annual Rock-Wall Winter Classic, a show sanctioned by the American Kennel Club. The Wallkill Kennel Club has its competition on Friday, followed by the Rockland Kennel Club competition Saturday and Sunday.

The basics:
What: Rock-Wall Winter Classic Dog Show
Where: Fieldhouse, Rockland Community College, 145 College Road, Ramapo.
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Cost: $5; senior citizens and children, $3; children ages 7 and younger, free.
Call: 845-564-9284

Even though Tigger decided not to show me the usual love, she can’t resist being cute and photo worthy. Here are a couple of random snaps.

Helping me unpack.Can I come home with you?I am not letting you go home.I am up high and moving fast! (Note Spam in background. She got up on the mantle, took a while to brave the way down)And now I rest. Stretchy time!

This is longer than I usually post, but worth the cyber space. Here is Sebastian. Read his story please. This tale (seriously, no pun intended) is what makes this gig so hard but so worthwhile if I can help pups like him, and the people who care. So here’s the boy, and his story after the jump. Read more of this entry »

Ever hear of the Red Hat Society? I’m sure you have…it’s a huge organization for, as they say, “active women approaching 50 and beyond,” who all wear these wild red hats and purple outfits when they meet. I have heard and read about them but had never actually seen a meeting of Red Hat ladies.

Then, in California, eureka!These ladies were kind enough to let me take their picture, and even had me take a few pics for themselves. I don’t know why the lady on the left has a purple, not a red hat. The one in the center seemed to be their leader.

The best part about meeting them though? They were really kind enough to note that I was not old enough to join. Thanks ladies!

P.S. If you’re wondering if this photo was taken in a casino, you would be correct. Now go mind your business….

So begins the photo saga of my trip to the left coast, where the opportunities for cute pet moments were as plentiful as I wish the sun had been. Without further ado…

Here’s PorkchopPorkchop is the senior member of the group, at about 15 years old. She rules the roost. This bed she is on was purchased specifically for Prince. Sorry Prince.

Here is fluffy Tigger.Last trip out Tigger was my best buddy. For some reason this year she kind of abandoned me, but Porkchop, bless her, took Tigger’s place and slept by my feet every night. This picture doesn’t do her justice, but despite her fluff-ballness, Tigger is the teeniest little thing.

And speaking of teeny, the youngest and smallest of the bunch, Ribeye/SpamSpam is a gorgeous mottled-color of greys and light browns, with the most adorable little dark gray nose. Here she is scamming time on the Prince/Porkchop bed.

And of course, last but not least, the Princester….I really regret I didn’t get more and better pictures of Prince, but lots of times when I tried, the galoot kept coming right up to the camera, so all I had were lost of shots of his nose.

More later…

Here’s the brief 411 on where Megan got Prince, her to-die-for hearing assistance dog.

The Sam Simon Foundation was created by, yes, Sam Simon, one of the original creators of “The Simpsons.”
In fact, you can find a much better picture of Prince than the one I took on the home page of the foundation’s Web site.

The foundation rescues dogs from shelters and humane societies and trains them to become assistance dogs for the hard of hearing and deaf. It also provides free spay/neuter surgery, has a pet visitation program for the elderly, and finds homes for rescued dogs who don’t make the cut as assistance pets.
All in all, I’d say Sam is using his Simpsons earnings quite nicely. I suggest you read all about it.

Get some good deals and help a good cause all at once at the Giant Indoor Tag Sale to benefit the Putnam Humane Society. It’s Feb. 22 (Sunday) from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at VFW #1374 Building, Gleneida Ave., Rt. 52, Carmel.
If you go to the shelter’s Web site, you’ll also find some other neat upcoming events that benefit the shelter. Have fun.

Hi all, I’m back from not so sunny southern California (it’s always perfect in San Diego, yeah right), but where I had a fabulous time with the west coast pet (and two-legged) family. In previous posts I introduced you to Prince the hearing ear dog, and kitties Porkchop, Little Tigger and Ribeye (or Spam, as I call her).

As per usual, lots of bad photos from a good time to come, but for now, a quick taste to get my return started. This here is Prince.I learned a lot about the place where Prince came from and will share with you in later posts. Let’s just say for now, he is one big hunk of large 2-year-old puppy fun and love, who is on his way to becoming a magnificent hearing dog. Miss you already Princey…..Be good and take care of our Megan.

I’m taking off for a few days and probably won’t be able to update til my return on Tuesday. The photo below shows my intention for my time off. So feel free to browse old posts you may have missed and save up any news you have until then. See ya!