The First Puppy
By scarce Saturday Nov 15, 2008 7:00pm
Much has been made lately of the Obama's pursuit of a puppy for their daughters. As we all wait to finally put an end to the national disgrace that is the George W. Bush presidency, a little distraction from the doom and gloom is more than welcomed by a giddy American populace anxious to move on.
And while this obsession (the photo above was the #1 emailed photo at yahoo.com this week) probably says something about the American people there are some more serious aspects to this story, beyond a simple promise made by the Obama's to their daughters Malia and Sasha.
The above photo shows Obama with "Baby," a three-legged dog that lost its fourth limb following years of mistreatment at a California puppy mill. The toy poodle spent much of its life locked in a small wire cage. The breeders cut out Baby's vocal chords so that they would not have to hear her cries. In cages next to her, other dogs literally went insane, spinning repetitively with blank stares. Still others were gravely ill, maimed and had filthy, matted coats. A number was tattooed on the inside of Baby's ear, marking her as just one of many dogs at the mill.
Barack Obama posed for this picture for Jana Kohl's book A Rare Breed of Love. Obama has co-sponsored Dick Durbin's Bill to crack down on abusive puppy mills, and has earned the first ever presidential endorsement from the Humane Society.
The Obama's desire to get a shelter dog has inspired great interest in animal advocacy sites such as Petfinder.com and the ASPCA.
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It was Dick Cheney's dog? Answers to the name, "Lucky"
Now I am crying like a baby.
How do they shorten this poor dog's name from "what's left of the US after George Bush?"
replaces the sociopath George W. Bush.
Though I had reasons for my druthers, it can't come too soon, pitiful pooch et al.
People who mistreat animals are scum. That is absolutely sickening.
I used to breed dogs and it would take a minor miracle for someone to be lucky enough to get one of my dogs. The whole puppy mill industry is disgusting and I love that Obama brings it to the light.
Nothing worse than abusing animals and kids.
what kind of dog? I only have cats but I love dogs too.
I used to breed and show Irish setters. Now I have an Italian pointer. She is the light and love of my life...and I am her food slave.
when it comes to being their slave. I wouldn't have it any other way! They are my babies.
That's why stories like this send me into silent crying jags. People suck sometimes.
Bawling like crazy. Just one thing, please don't tell me this is a photoshopped picture. I have been fooled before. I ask because of the background and all.
I want to keep this picture in my heart.
how to cry silently quite well. I am afraid to fly and do it all the time...and crying in public is so fucking embarrassing. I am quite good at making sure no one sees or hears me.
I hope not, too. I hope this is their new Baby.
Here is Baby's website:
http://www.ararebreedoflove.com/
The text says Baby is a "toy poodle" but he/she sure looks like a Bichon Frise to me. I was hoping they would pick a Bichon because I had one once and he was the most lovable dog ever. Unlike most small dogs bichons are very friendly. Anyway the dog is adorable.
a Bichon has a rounder face. This little doggie has the pointier snout of a poodle.
And I agree...she is a little lamb.
I went to her web site and saw pictures at different angles. I haven't had a dog since my Bichon died now I feel like getting another one. Sorry to hear about your difficulty flying, you are very brave to conquer it.
But at least this will shed light on the fact that many families have to abandon their pets because of financail distress. The attention span of many Americans are like those of gnats. It's stuff like this, American Idol, the latest missing white chick that dominate the news. Iraq, Afghanistan, civil rights abuses take a back seat. It's downright criminal...
You're right. From the choosing of the "first puppy" to gay rights marches over marriage, these are distractions from the very important issues. Like I don't know, how will anybody fix this damn economic mess?
Are you ever happy about anything?
Honestly, lately you are nothing but a fucking downer.
Obama's kids have been looking forward to this forever. Can't you spare a fucking smile for them?
when confronted with those who might be a bit OTT in their concern over the editorial decisions of the site: I recommend this film.
Isn't everything better with a little sex in it?? :-D
I recommend the entire film.
But I'm not linking the entire film.
all the yelling (or loud speaking). 36 seconds was starting to grate on me.
movies ever made. I have it in my collection and watch it once in a while.
Give it a try.
Preston Sturges' movies are all like that, it's the style of acting from that period. Try watching a few, they're entertaining and heartwarming. Guaranteed to make you laugh and cry and wish they still made movies like that.
I never watch movies that make me cry. (I almost never watch movies at all...but if I do it's either an action flick or a comedy).
I hate crying. I cry at commercials sometimes. I do not need assistance in that area.
Just seems to fit when someone is expressing concern. Sullivan wanted to express his and realized that, well, sometimes people need the little distractions from time to time.
Just finished watching "Bringing Up Baby" with Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.
It was great escapism.
Then I noticed online that L.A. is surrounded by fire and all hell's breaking lose.
So I called the boys to see if they were okay and they said they were watching the end of the game and that they'd call me tomorrow.
"Don't worry", they said. "It's all good".
I grew up watching his Sturges' stuff.
I cannot agree more...This "concerned troll" just is beyond tiresome. BTW, I don't think gay rights are a "distraction". Civil rights are ALWAYS important regardless. If this troll is so concerned, it can take that concern back to Canada, where they are stupidly embracing conservitards again.
Yes, and to think that the solutions to the world's woes are all inside Palin's brain, and we blew it.
... makes me very sad. I have a black poodle about the same size as Baby--with the same face.
The term “inhuman” is an oxymoron in that only humans are inhuman!
and humans seem to excel at being that way, don't they.
That's why sometimes I think I'm from another planet!
Well I didn't need that this Saturday night. That's for sure.
By beloved cat, Floofy, had her tail amputated a week ago. Why? the vet suspects someone swung her around bt her tail. My Floofy is an outdoor cat. All my cats are outdoor cats. Now I'm terrified if any of them go outside. My daughters suspect it was because of my Obama sign, but I don't want to believe it.
We had an outside cat once. He showed up out of the woods (we live in the woods and he just showed up) and he liked my 5 year old kid for some reason. Now 8 years later we have a indoor cat. At least during the winter and at night. He slowly worked his way INTO the house and onto the chair and now sleeps in kid's bed and seems to get pissed off when kid is not ready to go to bed. Fred.
Whatever.
who sets a good example for a change. By choosing this dog, the Obamas are focusing on a horrid problem. Perhaps more people will adopt abused dogs as a result. That is what the bully pulpit is for.
Bet the Goopers urinate all over this. Come on, you know any kindness or decency is fodder for their "wit."
Girly dog! Goopers can't stand for anyone to have any happiness...in or out of the bedroom.
Speaking of rightie 'wit'...the funniest (and smartest) people are always liberal. Even rightie comedians aren't funny, like Dennis Miller and Kelsey Grammer. What passes for hilarity in rightie land is just sarcasm and not even the funny and light-hearted kind, but just mockery. Witness big laughs when Rudy just looked at the gooper crowded and said 'community organizer?'.
(Whoa! What happened? I clicked Post Comment and the site theme changed to blue with a "Video Cafe" header???)
The horrible story of how the puppy was abused is heartbreaking. It would be great if this stirs a public outcry that gets these "Puppy mills" shutdown. They are no better than those who engaged in "dog fighting", and look how people respond to that.
The pooch was, quite literally, *tortured*. Maybe this will spark a public conversion on the subject of the use of it on detainees.
It's horrible to think that people would do this to a dog -- a life. I hope they threw those bastards in jail. I am, however, very happy that this dog has a good and happy home. I hope more people will adopt dogs like this one.
I always thought it was so funny that we go crazy over cat and dog abuse while most of us just ate some form of meat for dinner. Just one of those funny hipocracies.
I don't eat cats or dogs and a lamb or cow cannot sleep with me.
They eat dogs there.
Different cultures eat different things. Chickens have always been a popular foodstuff in south and east Asia. Lamb has always been popular in the eastern Mediterranean. Beef cattle and hogs have always been popular in northern Europe. It's probably a matter of which animals were available for domestication in different parts aof the world.
Humans are omnivores. Have been for a long time. We eat what's available. We probably don't eat dog because our ancestors could raise animals that provided more food. If you can feed a family on one cow for six months, why take raise a dog for food that will only last for a few days.
Hot Dogs?
whether you're a guy or gal and I'll "betcha" you'll never eat meat, fish, eggs, dairy, or chemicals again.
Especially if you care about the treatment of animals and your health (and longevity).
If you really stop and think about the diet and lifestyle they discuss in the book it makes a whole lot of sense.
in more than a few meat processing facilities and frankly it's not that bad. Now Jello, on the other hand..ewww. You don't want to see how that's made.
Then I heard what it was made of, how it was made, and I have to say, Jello makes me gag. Full on. If I wanted to be bulimic, I'd just eat Jello after every meal.
My cat is a republican,and even she has tears in her eyes,of course all this talk doesn't (choke) bother (choke)me one bit.
I hope people see that this man did the right thing.
To me, this says alot about his humanity.
I hope his admin cracks down on this kind of thing.
Yes, there are more pressing issues. But this gives us some insight to what kind of a person he is.
This is an ugly story, with a bright ending, for this dog.
Lets hope he applies the same kind of humanity to all the other issues.
Score 1 for President Elect Obama.
He sure is someone kind and caring.
i don't think this story or picture is saying that the dog obama is holding will be adopted by the family...
however, the title of this thread is misleading...
would love to know the story of why/when this pic was taken...
This man would pose with this dog after saying he was going to get a dog for his children.
Are gonna see this photo. And say Fuckin A Right. That's my kinda guy.
As I search the web, I came across a story how Vick's is making 12 cents a day, lost his two boats and will lose his farms. Karma's a bitch, isn't it?
But say what you will. That shot stole my heart.
I admit it, I'm a softy when it comes to animals.
Softies are good hearted people. I like that (and you).
You got me.
Our current dog was feral from the artichoke fields in Castroville. It took some doing, and I have to give credit to my other dogs( their gone now) but this dog is like no other.
Part Akita/ Coyote. with some Australian Kelpie.
She was a terror when she was young. But she's one helluva dog now. No One gets near my wife without my say so. That's all I expect of her. And she foots the bill everyday. For nothing but smiles.
The less we expect of our animals, the more they give us.
Why do we allow puppy mills to exist?
Baby belongs to Jana Kohl, the author who runs Baby's website.
That is not the 1st canine?
no it isnt muddy!
I'll just wait till someone else says so.
No disrespect to you tyree. But I know you.:)
no you dont muddy but you hang in there sport!
hole.:)
muddy your so blinded by the light , life is not like disney land you call me an ass hole after i tell you the truth ! thats very funny, i didnt wish to embarass you not knowing baby was allready adopted by loveing folks, and you have to have your ahem friends tell you what i could have and tried to tell you! and yet you berate the fact that obama cant have baby instead of another jeez your a strange one for some one whos a grown up!
there is a link up above. Baby is the dog of Ms Kohl. There is a bus and she travels all over to make people aware of puppy mills and the need to make them illegal.
Mudshark, here's Baby's website:
http://www.ararebreedoflove.com/
He better take that dog home!
with a website for Baby...that woman loves that dog and it is unlikely she will give her up.
Dogs are like kids...you don't just give them away. Well, I don't, at least.
But I feel like I've been duped.
Obama has put himself in a position with me, that I feel that dog needs to be with his family now.
An odd set of circumstances. Not Good.
If Baby has a forever home...Obama will be doing an even better thing by taking ANOTHER Baby!!
A doubly happy ending for all.
It's a win /win for That dog.
I hope he does the right thing, and gets an animal that needs a home . That ought to be easy enough to do.
OK, I'm done.
I'm not happy right now. I'm happy that this dog has a loving home. But, the timing of this make me uneasy.
Good Night folks. Be well.
Obama has helped people become aware of the puppy mills which will lead (hopefully) to laws that will shut them down.
There was another famous man who once said, "Whatsoever you do unto the least of mine you do also unto me." Or something like that.
Obama reminds me of him.
especially to a dog person (nothing against cat people, to each his own) From the Guantanamo Kennels to the White House. I love it. Two of my three dogs came to me from people who simply couldn't give the care they deserve. Fortunately they knew a sucker with a big back yard.
I have taken several rescues and my current doggie is the best dog. No matter where she goes, everyone loves her. She is a great doggie citizen.
Hi hon. :-)
Still in Cali are you? Did you get to take your road trip? Re: the picture. I especially like the Lincoln motif. Freeing the four legged slaves.
Yup...for another 8 days.
I just got back from the States. It's catch up time.
for the day when we're in the same city at the same time!
sometimes we're in the same time zone.
is the story of my life!
"Yeah, it's cute, but can it protect you from reporters?"
Why couldn't they get a cat?
I like how they occasionally make eye contact. I've never had a cat greet me at the door while quivering with excitement though.
If Malia is allergic to dogs, I would think she might be allergic to cats, too. More people are allergic to cats.
Cats are ok...but there is NOTHING like a dog.
Although I did once have a cat named Molson (his name was on the box he came in) who was quite affectionate. He showed his affection by draping himself across my throat at night and kneading my carotid artery with his little claws. Sadly, he left with the girlfriend.
I have had some cool cats over the years. I like cats. But nothing is like a dog. They are eerily human. They know when you want them near and not. My dogs have given me more than I could ever return to them.
Sorry about the cat. No matter the pet, it is tough to give them up.
Dogs are neurotic. They are followers, not leaders.
have more of an "attitude" and are very independent. I have one, Queenie, a gray Himalayan puffball. I would like a dog, a Bichon, but it would give my Queenie the pips.
His name was Abraham. My Irish setter, Belle, used to chase him around and I was always getting on her about it.
One day, I was walking through the dining room and Abraham was sitting on a chair and Belle was sitting on the floor next to him. He gave her a SWAT SWAT SWAT to the nose and then took off...she, of course, chased him.
All this time, he was instigating.
Little shits.
I was rolling! He was the wildest cat. I loved him so.
Someone in the family has allergies
You can find Hypoallergenic dogs and cats.
3-Legged Dog Inspires Obama Adoption
Jana Kohl, Author of A Rare Breed of Love Has Been Working with Obama Since 2005
Last update: 8:15 a.m. EST Nov. 11, 2008
CHICAGO, Nov 11, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Jana Kohl reached out to Barack Obama as far back as 2005 regarding dog adoption and her larger campaign to end puppy mills. It was then Barack Obama promised Dr. Kohl that he would indeed adopt if he was to get a dog for his children. Obama is featured in a compelling and stunning portrait with Baby (who is hypoallergenic), Kohl's 3-legged rescue dog and puppy mill survivor, in the book A Rare Breed of Love (Fireside, Simon and Schuster).
[...]
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/3-Legge...
for posing with and highlighting the plight of abused dogs.
My girl was heartsick after being abandoned by her boy, and even though she loves me to pieces, I always see her looking at skinny young guys in black jeans, trying to get a sniff in.
She's extremely popular in the neighbourhood, looks like Toto and walks like a very large 12 pound dog.
I went nearly 10 years without a pet after my cat, Mr Big, died. Now, I don't know what I'd do without her.
was very attached to the guy who owned her. The family (mom, dad and three kids) loved her so much, but when kid 4 came along, with the health problems she has had, they had to give her up.
She LOVES LOVES LOVES men...she looks longingly at one whenever she sees a guy.
Thankfully, my dog sitter has a guy...otherwise I'd have to hire an escort or something to give her her doggie fix.
next to I5 up the street from me at the end of November 2004. She went into heat 2 days later. She would sleep next to me on the sofa, and wouldn't come to bed unless I carried her. One night in April 2005, while I was burning the midnight oil, she got up, jumped off of the sofa and walked into the bedroom herself. A couple nights later, she offered her tummy for petting. I knew she finally felt safe then.
People told me her boy was a homeless kid, and he used to sit up on Broadway with her, next to him on a blanket. He got a job in AZ, had arranged for a beat cop to take her, but that fell through.
She still tries to bum lunch off of construction guys (anyone with a tool belt = possible souce of food), hates crows (old competition for food).
give her a hug for me. What a sad story with a happy ending! Thanks for sharing.
THAT!
Very touching story!! Thank you for sharing it!
between comments. I especially like grooming her into a Faux Hawk. She looks positively crazed.
shave Abraham...but for his head, the tip of his tail and his four feet.
My friend used to jokingly say that he wouldn't go out and play with is kitty friends because he was too embarrassed.
I've been reading here for quite some time, but this is my first time posting a comment. I admit I'm a bit intimidated by some of you here, but this is a subject about which I feel I can make a contribution. I've been training/showing my own dogs, and teaching dog training classes for the public for over 25 years. While the story of this little dog is absolutely deplorable, let's please be careful how and who we paint a "puppy mill". PETA and the HSUS are not friends of animals. If they had their way, there would be no dog breeding whatsoever, no dog or pet ownership, no search & rescue dogs, no service dogs like guide dogs and hearing dogs, no farm animals. Everyone would be vegan. Now I'm not criticizing anyone who is vegan, but I do feel it should be an individual choice and not one dictated by Animal Rights Activists. Further, they paint pet owners with the same brush as slave owners. By owning a pet, in their eyes you have enslaved it. PETA and the HSUS (headed by Wayne Pascelle who is a former PETA VP), do absolutely nothing with all the many millions they collect ostensibly to help needy animals. PETA actually has over a 90% kill rate of animals they've rescued. PETA and the HSUS do not own or run or contribute to other rescue shelters. The HSUS does not feed, rescue, shelter, adopt, or support those shelters who actually do good work on behalf of animals, but they take the donations and credit for those shelters that do. PETA and other animal rights groups support breed bans, and along with HSUS they all support mandatory spay neuter laws which are cropping up in numerous cities throughout the country. Now think about it... if every dog was neutered/spayed, there would be NO dogs within the space of about 10 years. And that is their ultimate aim. No human - animal interaction whatsoever. These groups don't love animals, they hate animals. There are huge differences between Animal Rights and Animal Welfare. Hopefully all of us here are interested in seeing that all animals are treated in a humane and respectful manner. But does that give them rights equal to mine? I think not, not until my dogs start paying my mortgage maybe. And so what does all this have to do with puppy mills? PETA (and the HSUS to some degree) define anyone who breeds a dog as a puppy mill. Obviously, there are humane and inhumane methods of breeding dogs both within the hobby dog fancy and commercial breeding facilities. Under current USDA regulations, while not strictly enforced on those who fall within their jurisdiction, if applied to any and all dog breeders, even the hobby dog fancier, would make it impossible to find a well bred, well socialized, home raised puppy. The situation this poor little dog came out of is disgusting and extreme. But in the eyes of PETA and the HSUS, it is no different than being bred, born, and raised in your warm, dry living room or kitchen, and living as a much beloved family member. So how do you define a puppy mill, and where do you draw the line?
has too many lunatic fringe types.
I used to show dogs and a PETA person let a bunch of them out of their kennels at one show because "dogs should never be owned" and one of the dogs got hit by a car.
Real friends of animals, aren't they?
I get sick when I see a PETA ad.
Thanks for the post!! It was a good first one!
a news story a few months back about a man who went crazy on a Greyhound bus in western Canada and beheaded a fellow passenger. PETA decide that would make an apt image for an advertising campaign that mercifully no one would run. I wrote a protest letter to them and for my sins am now on the spam distribution list of one Ingrid Newkirk PETA representative. PETA is an organization that finds a reason to euthanize almost every animal they come into contact with. Frankly they disgust me.
I hadn't heard that. The story or the PETA ad. Yikes.
And lucky you...you get all the good email.
I got a mailing once from the North Shore Humane Society in NY (why, when I live in IL, is anyone's guess) where it showed a dead dog in a pit in Korea ... burnt fur and all. Ok, they eat dogs. I get it.
I had nightmares for a month.
on Long Island has been taking in dogs from other countries. A highly risky practice that endangers not only the adopting public but the health of our US animals (farm & pet) as well. Contrary to what the HSUS and Bob Barker sells, there really isn't a pet overpopulation problem in the US. There are regional overpopulation problems. Small dogs are in extremely high demand for adoption, particularly in urban centers, such that urban shelters have been importing small dogs from other states (and now other countries) to meet public demand.
I got the name wrong.
I had no idea they were taking dogs in from other countries. Maybe had I read what they sent me (I threw it immediately into the trash when I saw that ghastly photo), I might have.
Honestly, that's just sick. How many dogs are euthanized here? We only have two no kill shelters near me...and both of them are hurting big time now.
Thanks for the kind support, MsJoanne! As a dog fancier, I'm sure you know that the fancy has struggled mightily with the issue of puppy mills for years. Unfortunately, it almost appears that the fancy will need to join forces with the commercial breeders if we are to retain our rights to own/show/breed our dogs. For the most part it's been a state and/or municipality battle. The commercial pet breeders in MO are very well organized, and after a fellow dog fancier attended a pet breeders' symposium there, they came away with rather positive insight into the future of commercial breeders who are ignorant but sincere and well intentioned, and motivated and eager to learn proper animal husbandry. PETA/HSUS has the public visibility and sympathies however, so I fear our dog owning future is bleak in the long run.
bad breeders and bad owners. When I was in Irish, we would try to police our own (as much as we could), going as far as reporting people who were abusing their breeder responsibilities. I stopped breeding when I had the first instance of epilepsy. As it is recessive, I wouldn't take the chance breeding my champion male again (he had several litters and it came up at his fifth use).
I could not imagine the hurt and anguish someone would feel loving an animal and having them become ill...and I couldn't stand that one came from my breeding. I spent I don't know how many hours on the phone with my vet, their vet and the Univ vet school. The pup had run into a tree when he was about 15 weeks old and knocked himself out, but we couldn't be sure where the epilepsy came from. And I would not chance another breeding.
Either you are ethical or you are not, IMHO.
It used to infuriate me when I would travel with my dogs, and would hear stories about owners (or show people) who would allow their dogs to destroy hotels or not clean up after them. It was bad for all of us.
to hear about what happened with your Irish boy. But I understand fully and commend you for your ethics. Such a rarity these days. That's why I show, train, teach... but I don't breed. I don't think I'm brave enough. Then again, I don't think I could ever part with any of the little ones either. :o) Every national breed parent club I've been in (dobe, AmStaff, Staffie Bull, and Dachs) have COEs but they are virually unenforceable.
And training.
I have done all level of obedience, and some agility and freestyle.
My last dog, Olivia, was the single smartest dog I have ever had. She was a real joy to train. We had so much fun together...in confirmation and obedience.
It was very nice meeting you. Do stick around and post more!!
Good night everyone. I am off.
Sweet dreams all around.
Thank you for being so welcoming, MsJoanne! I will continue to be here, there is no doubt. But mostly I prefer to listen and learn from you all. Sleep well, now I'm off to do some dog grooming of my own guys.
Ok. In the face of BILLIONS of animals being killed for the sake of our own greed, vanity, rolls of fat on all you typical Americans... putting up with some people standing up for animals is really tough. I feel for you. Now enjoy your heart attack.
I feel PETA gets it wrong more often than not. Property destruction, and the uncaging of vulnerable, non native or exotic animals are not actions I support.
As for the question of drawing a line between puppy mills and breeders, it's not that hard for a reasonable bunch of people to decide. Really. Especially in the extremes.
I mean, you can tell the difference between a restaurant you would eat in, and one the health dept should close down. And there are shades of grey in between wherein professionals decide. PETA doesn't need to be there to make the call.
:)
who then determines what overall regulations need to be followed? Not long ago, the DDL tried to get the USDA regs to apply to all breeders. If that had happened, everyone who bred a litter would have had to have housing with concrete flooring with drains, and a separate housing facility, among other ridiculous regs. You're right, PETA shouldn't be making the call... in my book they are nothing less than a terrorist organization. But neither should the HSUS, and unfortunately they are intimately tied together. And the HSUS is nothing more than a huge well funded and influential lobbyist. The AKC has a group of inspectors who seem to do a pretty good job, there just aren't enough of them. And the other problem is that more and more commercial breeders are registering outside of the AKC or UKC and going to those bogus pet registries.
faith, decency, fidelity, honor, resolve, serenity, confidence, strength, peace, and love. The Picture of Our President that will grace the living room wall of my home.
... more than I do. My dog will attest to that.
Dogs are the most noble creatures on this globe. They do so much for so little. They are in wars, law enforcement, rescue operations and everywhere including convalescent homes.
Every person should have owned a dog at least once in his life to experience unconditional love.
But you should not keep a dog if all you do is put him in your back yard and he stays there 24/7. Dogs are people too, and if you talk to them, they will learn to understand you. My dog even reads my mind. All I need to do is think of going somewhere and he'll run outside and wait for me at the front door, tail a-wagging, a smile on his face. He is a mutt - a rescue - and to be honest, I am thankful for the previous owner for not having retrieved him from the shelter where I got him.
Unless you have your mind set on a particular breed and just want to get a good pet. go to the local shelter, appear interested, stop and look at the dogs, and see if a dog picks you. My current dog did. I looked at him, he looked at me with sad eyes. I put my hand close to the cage and he licked my hand. I had to wait a week because they keep dogs for 2 weeks to give owners a chance to retrieve runaways. A week later I was back, and the same thing happened and I took him home with me and have been most happy ever since.
All he asks is his own room with a rocking recliner, food, water, goodies and treats and go everywhere I go. On the rare occasions I can't take him it breaks my heart to have to tell him he has to stay home. His smile turns to sadness, but he'll be that much happier when I get back home.
Never ever hit your dog. A dog naturally wants to do the right thing, you just need to show him what is wrong - wag your finger in his face and talk sternly - then praise him when he does something right. If you hit him, he will not come when you call him thinking you'll just beat him up again. Above all - talk to your dog and learn to understand what he tells you, in his own way.
I'm suspicious of anyone who doesn't like dogs. Nice post!
And this is why I don't eat meat or dairy.
You think you're helping stop puppy mills by not eating meat? What kind of meat is sold in your area, sheesh! You should consider not buying a pure bred puppy instead.
Fifty bucks says in 2011/2012 the reThugnicans will claim the Obama family abused the animal and were responsible for the lost leg.
And the reichwing media plays along, ignoring today's news.
Sweet story. Stand up guy, stand up family.
this was a photo opp cleae and simple , it was for a good cause but lets not get carried away with the likening of obama to gandi!
The poochie and Obama pic has been on Punditkitchen.com for months, usually captioned "Obama pals around with terriers". Search 'Obama' and sift through a couple of pages. I know it's a light-weight site but brain candy is necessary once in a while. Talking about the potential first dog allows the brain to rest, then we can get back to weightier matters.
Petfinders.com is a terrific place to find a great forever friend. We've gotten two through that site, the latest is snoozing at my feet. You can look by breed, size, age, region, etc. I hope they find a good match.
My wife and I started rescuing dogs in 2002. At the moment we have three Chinese Shar-pie, all rescues.
I ran across the Chinese Shar-pei rescue group quite by accident but it has been an experience that has changed out lives.
You never know what you are going to get with a rescue. some of these fellows have been treated badly, most that we have rescued have not been taken care of.
The people did not know how expensive these dogs are to care for. They have problems with their eyes, their ears, and a lot of them have skin and allergy problems.
I buy a shampoo that costs me $132.00 a gallon. At first one of our dogs was in such bad shape we had to bath him every other day. But after about 6 months he is now down to once a week bath.
Look the bottom line is although rescuing is very rewarding it is also heart breaking, you get so attached to these guys and since most are adult dogs their life spans are shorter and losing them is so very hard. Rescue dogs seem to be gratefull. I have one male right now, my vet says he has melonoma cancer, he also says there is not much they can do for him. He said we could do surgery and remove the limpnodes, but there is no chemo or no radiation that has had any good results. So now we try to go on with our every day routeen and watch for signs that the old boy is tired of living. It is so heartbreaking to have them put down. The very first dog we rescued had already had surgery for cancer when we got her, they said they thought they got it all but about two months later we noticed she seemed to be having trouble breathing. My wife brought home a pulse oxygen meter we cliped it on her paw and it said her oxygen was down to 80% it should be in the high 90s.
We went to the vet and told him what we found, he did an XRay and found that fluid had built up in her body and was compressing her lungs. He drained the fluid and got nearly a liter. We went to the vet three other times after that and took a liter off each time. We were awakened early in the morning on July 4th 2002 to the sound of Cion crying in pain. I carried her to the car we went to the Animal shelter emergency room and the doctor said she thought it was time I stroked her muzzle while they gave her the injection and watched the light go out in her eyes and cried like a child. I brought her home and burried her in the shade of the old apple tree. Since that time we have had three others die one from lung cancer,Thibadeaux, one that got out of the yard and was killed on the road Poncho, and Cions daughter Jazz last year we were unable to find out why she would not eat. They could find no cause.
My wife and I have come to the conclusion that no matter what has happened to these dogs while they are with us we will give them the best life we can.
Try it you might like it!
Just as Bush -- and particularly Cheney -- pushed our country toward cynicism and greed through overt indifference toward the weakest people in our society, Obama can help make caring, giving and optimism acceptable again.
You wrote: "Obama has co-sponsored Dick Durbin's Bill to crack down on abusive puppy mills, and has earned the first ever presidential endorsement from the Human Society."
Gee, I thought ALL presidential candidates got endorsed by the Human Society. They have so much in common.
I hate crying in my morning coffee.
It seems to me that when he bit that guy on the finger it was a defensive reaction by the dog. Apparently he has been hit - on his head frequently or often. My dog expects tenderness when someone reaches for the top of his head and does not snap at the hand.
its a hard thing to know that your dog only has a short time on this earth , and harder still to say goodby,last yr just after xmass i had to take my second sheltie king to the vets to put him to sleep after he developed kidney failure, i held him on the table and grieved for him, after the life went out of his body he raised up twice as if he was still alive i was devistated the vet said it was just a reflex, then he was gone, and he was such a brave dog, earlyer six months before i had to have his eyes removed because of glocoma it was heartbreaking but afterwards at home he never missed a beat he found his way around the house and as long as no furniture was moved he never bumped into anything and he could find the dog door that led to the porch and hed jump off the porch and make his way to the yard do his thing and when he got ready jump back on the porch come thru the dog door and it seemed as if he still was the same as allways i thought id bought him another yr or two to live but it wasnt ment to be, he was cremated and rests on my shelf close by where im typeing soon his ashes will be joined with mine and spread on the ohio river , we will make our way down to new orleans hopefully my new sheltie friend is bandit and is much loved too
Though Obama looks like he feels an unwanted warm spot on his shirt.
I got my kids a puppy in May during the "National Adopt a Pet" drive. His litter was given to the humane society because the people couldn't afford to take care of them.
It was one of the best things I have ever done, and the people at the Humane Society are fantastic. They really care about the animals.
Looks like a sheep.
I'm surprised he wasn't named Whitey.
I'm sure this'll cause people to question Obama's sexuality.
Doesn't matter he has kids; the childless coulter was doing that to Edwards.
I still wish he got a pet duck.
the first duck?
i thought that was georgie!
perhaps it would be helpful if we knew if obama has ever owned or loved a dog or a cat, then you could evaluate his feelings about a pet lets get him to relate his experiences against ours !
I'd like to see a First Family really go outside the box and get a house rabbit. I have 8 and they're as personality plus as dogs & cats, I swear.
I'm partial to cockatoos as well.
Let's get some exotic pets in the White House!
that adorable puppy picture makes me forget entirely about that fact that this man Re-authorized the Patriot Act, and voted alongside McCain and Bush in support of FISA. Then the Dems voted for him anyway. I ain't happy, but i am laughing.
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