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I don’t care what anyone says, I totally dig looking at a catfish. Yes the word “cat” is in its name but that isn’t it. Aside from the fact that this fishy has whiskers (which is totally rad when you stop and think about it) but these creatures are masters of hiding out and aren’t afraid to get dirty to make that happen. They are scrappy and defenitely not just a clean up crew. I mean, have you ever taken a moment to check out the spots and markings on a catfish? Gorgeous I say, gorgeous!  I totally appreciate all of these things about them and it made it all the more fun lure Catfish out of hiding for this week’s The Etsy Herd.

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With so many pet stories around the web each week it’s hard to keep up. Table Scraps is our weekly roundup of memorable pet news around the internet.

•  Here is an equation that I never learned in school but wish I had:  Dog + dog poop = Free WiFi (TIME)
• I mean at least have the decency to ask your pooch before you airbrush a picture of it riding on a dolphin at sunset on it’s fur.  (Detroit Free Press)
•  From award winning actor to author – what else did you think Uggie the Dog would be doing? Sniffing rumps? I think not. (Washington Post)
• Felines and inmates are the new ebony & ivory. (Aurora Sentinel)
•  When I won’t stop talking everyone tells me to shut up but it’s just so damn cute when a lost parakeet won’t stop chirping it’s address to the police. So unfair.  (New York Daily News)

Image: briand

Sometimes I think it’s great that I live in New York City and sometimes I really love living in New York City such as when events like the Tribeca Film Festival roll in to town. I snuck in to see a screening of a new documentary titled, “One Nation Under Dog: Stories of Fear, Loss and Betrayal.”

Directed by Ellen Goosenberg Kent, Amanda Micheli and Jenny Carchman this documentary is best described as, “revealing the sobering realities behind America’s obsession with dogs, using startling images to show not only how far some dog lovers will go for their pets, but how far the nation has to go before it treats all dogs humanely. Americans have conducted a long love affair with canines, but lost amidst all the pampering are unpleasant truths about dog ownership, care and commerce, not to mention the daunting odds that face millions of unwanted shelter animals.”

While the film covers a broad scope of canine related issues from deep love, to loss, to the treatment and destruction of dogs in shelters it is the last part of this – the life of a shelter dog – that really struck a chord with me. But, when I left the screening I did remark that I felt it was an important film for people to see in order to educate themselves about the realities of dogs in shelters and the conditions in which they are brought in (which serves as a commentary for how many animals are living abused and neglected out there) and also the realities of the limited resources that shelters face and really to ask themselves, what can be done about this?

Without giving away all details of the film be warned – there is a three minute segment of the documentary that I simply could not watch as it involved witnessing a room full of dogs being destroyed as the shelter no longer had room for them; this particular shelter gassed them.  I started to cry, put my hands over my eyes and tried to tuck myself in to my lap. I’m just not tough enough for those things even though I know they are a reality. However it’s incidents just like this which should get people talking, debating and forcing the issue in to discussion. Just know that you have been warned as it’s one thing to know that these things happen and it’s quite another to watch and hear them happening.

So if you have ever asked yourself, how far would I go for my dog? then this is a film for you to see.  And fear not – in case you don’t live in an area where lesser known films are often shown, as part of their all-new Monday Night Specials this summer, HBO will be airing the documentary June 18th at 8pm to kick off the series.

Video: Youtube

After paying homage to their shadier (literally) relatives, the black cat, it was time for The Etsy Herd to take a peek at these lighter felines, the white cat. While not an actual breed, white cats can simply be grouped in to class: lovely. Interestingly enough, most white cats are found with blue or odd colored eyes making them extra-special to look at. If you’ve got a beautiful white kitty in your midst, you will enjoy this week’s roundup of The Etsy Herd.

• A tiny gentleman white cat with moustache (above) from MadAristocrat for $13.00
• A handmade white cat tissue box for $19.99 from needlecraftssupershop
• From Tshirt99 a white cat women’s tunic/tank for $15.99
• A felted cat paw magnet for $11.00 from KaffeeKatze

• A 10″ x 15″ print for $90.00 from MariaHelenaPhoto
• A vintage white cat (with some black cat friends mixed in) from ThriftScore for $9.00
• For $6.50 from laceinspring a baby white kitty sleeping pendant ring

• A 4″ x 6″ enhanced greeting card featuring a gorgeous white kitty for $5.95 from donnahickerson
• A ceramic cat dish from catfishcorner for $10.00
• For $8.75 from IzzyFizzyandTom a pin constructed from new, vintage and OOAK fabrics