Archive for January, 2010
Dogs Stop Barking to Start Tweeting
Image: Mattel
When my dog Lulu was alive I always wondered what type of voice she would have if she could talk. More often than not, based on the "oh hell no!" facial expressions she would give me, I imagined her as a sassy black woman. If I could have read Lulu's daily missives on Twitter I totally would have. Why Twitter? Well, Mattel recently announced a new pet toy that tweets for your dog. While Puppy Tweets seems more novelty than real gadget, it may interest some of you nerdy pet owners.
No Comments »Rescue Pigeons
It’s sad how the pigeon has become a reviled creature to many people. How many times do we hear them called “rats with wings” or “vermin”? So many people take for granted that they are living beings, and some wouldn’t blink an eye if they saw a dead or injured pigeon. It’s true that many of the pigeons that we see in our day to day lives in busy cities are dirty, but you would be too if you lived on the streets!
Fortunately there are groups like MickaCoo, a division of Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue and The Rescue Report, which are dedicated to helping pigeons in need. Both groups rescue, foster, and adopt out pigeons that are maimed, lost, or set free. Both groups also encourage people to consider pigeons as household pets.
America's Top Dog Model
Who will be America’s Next Top Dog Model?! This year’s contest rides on the green buzz — the theme is “Go Green with Style.” Your pooch may be top dog when it comes to being cute, but does s/he have ecco-savvy, too? (And what does that even mean?) I guess we’ll find out when the winner is announced in spring this year.
New Indiana Bill Attempts to Protect Pets, but Puts Breeders in Harm's Way
Image: ChrisGoldNYWhen I first read about Indiana's new bill requiring pet stores that sell animals to provide medical history, congenital disorders, and breeder information for the animals they hawk I thought, duh, but then I kept reading Business Week's piece on the matter and I began to side with the stores who oppose the bill.
You see, while I don't agree with breeding animals for profit, it's still legal to do so. This specific bill doesn't necessarily protect the animals that result from breeding, but rather the consumer who may end up footing a hefty vet bill down the road. The intention just isn't in the right place here. On top of that, the bill puts breeders and their animals in harm's way, as animal rights extremists could take the info to track down breeders and harass them, or worse. Instead of giving information to consumers who probably won't use it in any useful way, why not regulate breeders in some way instead? You need a medical license to practice veterinary medicine, why not a license to breed?
