Archive for » October 17th, 2007«

I can’t get past the *It* factor when it comes to Ellen Degeneres.

By Emily
17
Oct 2007

My first response when I saw Ellen?s genuine grief over the travels of her (formerly) adopted dog was to call some of my friends and ask them what in the world this cruel rescue had done to Ellen. And as I looked at the statements about Iggy something kept distracting me,,,,,she always calls Iggy *It*. I don?t know if she calls her cats *It* but calling a puppy by anything aside from something which implies a personal relationship bothered me.

Sometimes I call Bae and my parents’ Dog *Thing One* and *Thing Two* but this is because I love both of them and I?m trying to walk around them at the time or I?m greeting them as I pass through a room. Sometimes I?m lazy and I call them *One* and *Other One* but the point is that I love both Dogs and I also value them for their wonderful role in the world they live in.

I?ve made mistakes in my life but I know I?ve never called any Dog an *It*??ever.

I?ve pulled Dogs covered in mange and nursing Puppies from shelters over 1000 miles away from me and they?ve always had names and when I talk about without using their names I call them *He* or *She*. Even as she was welcoming him home and when she was thrilled to have him, Iggy was referred to as *It*.? I just don’t get it.

I adore Ellen Degeneres. I don?t think she?s a Dog person and I don?t think that Puppy was in her house long enough for her to know anything beyond the fact that *It* was not working out in her home. So she gave *It* away. I?ll watch her show and I still have total respect for the woman who she is and the path that she?s taken and the way she makes me laugh.

Since we will never know the true story behind what happened I?m leaving it there for now. I will say that I never would have adopted out a Dog to someone who couldn?t get beyond the point of calling any Dog *It*. I can also say that no Dog I adopted out was ever in as much flux as Iggy was within the first week of adoption. Like I said, we?ll never know what really happened but my guess is that Ellen didn?t understand Iggy and felt that she?d moved *It* onto a better place.

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Category: In the News  2 Comments

How to Place your Dog

By Mary
17
Oct 2007

There may come a time in your life that you may be faced with rehoming your dog. Finding a good home takes time, so don’t jump to give your dog to the first person who says they will take him/her. It might not be the right fit. This is your dog and hopefully you care enough about the dog to make sure the next home loves the dog as much as you. It’s sad to say but not everyone treats animals well. Those that will torture an animal will look and act normal and they usually look for the free ones. I remember reading about a man taking his young children with him, only to take the new pet home and murder it in front of the kids. The attached document will give you an idea of what you need to do to find a good loving home for you dog. Make sure you give yourself enough time to find the home, waiting till the last minute puts your dog at risk. If you cannot find that good home, consider turning your dog over to a rescue group or No-Kill Shelter that has a good practice of screening homes prior to adoption. For more information you can download Guidelines for placing your companion dog

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Toys for your Dog

By Mary
17
Oct 2007

There are a number of toys on the market for your dog and puppy and most of them are safe. For those of you that like Frisbees I recommend getting a soft sided one instead of the hard plastic which can be hard on your dog’s mouth and teeth. Chew toys like the Kong are great for chewing if you have an aggressive chewer or just need to keep you dog our puppy focused on something. Try filling the Kong with peanut butter and kibble then freezing it. This will make the treat last longer. Another option is soaking kibble in chicken broth, then freezing.

Soft squeaker toys or stuffed toys should only be used under supervision so that the stuffing is not eaten or the squeaker is not removed and possibly eaten. Make sure any balls are appropriate for your dog’s size. A large dog can easily choke on a small ball. Any toy that shows any wear or tear should be discarded. Dogs can get blockages from toy parts which can make them sick or require surgery.

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Category: Dog Care, Dog Health, Puppy Care  Leave a Comment