I know you have all been anxiously awaiting the results of the GIVEAWAY! Well, your wait is over, because we have a WINNER!!! Normally, I cut up little pieces of paper with numbers on them, and draw them out of a hat, because I'm a bit old school at times, but I've decided to embrace technology and use a random number generator for this giveaway.
Drum roll, pleaseee....
Courtesy of Random.org our winner is comment #17 "Central Bark Designs" over at "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of BACON!" will receive a leash rack, a copy of The Art of Racing in the Rain, and a large bag of Dogma fresh baked treats! Please leave a comment with your e-mail address and I'll get in touch with you to arrange shipping! CONGRATS!!!
But, we aren't done yet! As a surprise, there will be two honorable mentions who also receive some Dogma treats...
comment #18 and comment #21 will be getting smaller bags of Dogma treats. JackDaddy and Whitney and the Preppy Puppy please comment with your email addresses!
I know, I know, I keep extending the giveaway deadline!!!
The official deadline will now be TOMORROW NIGHT at 10pm! The reason for the delay is I know that I packed the giveaway in tons of bubble-wrap, and put it in a box, but I haven't quite unpacked that box yet! I'm on the prowl for said giveaway box, and in the meantime, my lack of organization is YOUR GAIN!
If you commented on the giveaway and said you were "too late" that will count as an entry. If you haven't yet entered the giveaway, there is still time!!! Just click here and post your comments on this post!!!
It is hard to believe that it was over a year ago that I sat at my desk reading blogs. I had discovered a few friends with fabulous fashion blogs, and I was quickly addicted to the wonderful world of blogging! I followed a couple of blogs for two months, and contemplated starting my own... but, I wanted to have a focus for my blog... and quickly decided on dogs! So, on February 3, 2009, I dove head first into the blogosphere, and The Wet Nose was born.
For over a year, I've dreamed of reaching 100+ followers, and now that time has come! I currently have 112 followers, and I am ecstatic! To thank you, my wonderful readers, for sticking by my side, I want us all to celebrate with a fabulous GIVEAWAY!!! Let the games begin! I've thought long and hard about the perfect giveaway, and after re-reading some posts, and your comments, consulting with friends, and knowing we all love dogs, I decided a copy of The Art of Racing in the Rain, Gourmet dog treats from Dogma Dog Bakery, and a beautiful leash rack would all suit the occasion perfectly!
I love this leash rack, and as you know, The Art of Racing in the Rain is one of my favorite books!
Here's a close up look at the leash rack! Isn't it precious, and practical, too?!?!
Dogma makes all of their treats in-house, and Milly loves them! The winner of this giveaway will get a variety of fresh treats like Carob Brownies (safe for dogs), Carrot Muffins, and Peanut Butter bars. Unlike most dog bakeries, Dogma's treats are almost all soft and chewy just like a homemade cookie or muffin should be!
Milly is very excited to package up the giveaway with me, and she's hoping you'll enjoy The Art of Racing in the Rain as much as she enjoyed getting photographed with it!
Here are the rules: To enter you MUST leave a comment on THIS post. You MUST be a follower! The giveaway begins NOW and will end 10pm EST on Wednesday, June 9th, 2010. In order to be eligible to win, your comment MUST include a suggestion for a future post - is there something you are dying to read about on The Wet Nose? Do you have a good idea for a topic you'd like covered? If you blog or tweet about this giveaway you can receive a second entry. Be sure to leave a SEPARATE comment stating you did this (with a link to your blog or Twitter feed). This giveaway contains fresh baked goods, and therefore, is only open to residents of the United States of America.
Thank you for following my blog! My readers mean so much to me!
Tomorrow I will be posting my 100+ FOLLOWERS GIVEAWAY, and I wanted to give you a sneak peak! Make sure to check out the blog tomorrow to enter the contest!!!
I decided Milly would make a great Vanna White, and thought she'd be happy to help out with displaying what's up for grabs for one lucky winner. What do you think of her poses? She refused to take her plush squeaky elephant out of her mouth; she carries toys around all day long like the bird dog she is.
Here, she is proudly displaying a copy of The Art of Racing in the Rain, a preview of the items being given away tomorrow!
Summary: Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver.
Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.
On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny's wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoë, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side. Having learned what it takes to be a compassionate and successful person, the wise canine can barely wait until his next lifetime, when he is sure he will return as a man.
A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could tell it. -- Harper
I was so excited when I saw my local library had the unabridged version of "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein in their audio book collection. I have read numerous rave reviews for this book, and I’ve been dying to read it. I love to read, but don’t always have as much time as I’d like to devote to reading, and audio books have become my new best friend. Living in the Washington, DC area I spend a lot of time in the car sitting in traffic or driving to various events and activities, and I used to dread that wasted time… now I can’t wait to hop in the car to see what will happen next in whatever book I’m listening to. After hearing so many rave reviews from friends that have read this book, I knew I couldn’t wait any longer to read, or in my case listen, to it. I absolutely adored it! I was completely drawn in by the story, the characters; and this novel made me laugh so hard (many times) and even cry at a few scenes. It was simply a pleasure to listen to/read.
As a creative writing major, I understand the challenge a writer undertakes when giving a voice to a character when the success of the story pivots on the believability of that one character. It is even more difficult when the character lacks opposable thumbs, cannot speak and happens to be a dog.
In the novel, “The Art of Racing in the Rain”, Enzo, a lab-terrier mix, is the main character and serves as a vehicle to not only relay the story of an amateur race car driver, his cancer-stricken wife, and their daughter, but also acts as an anchor for the family as life hands them many ups and downs.
From the beginning of the book, Stein captures his readers. As the book begins the reader meets the narrator, Enzo, who is at the end of his life. Quickly, the reader realizes Enzo is much more than your average mutt, he is the glue that holds this family together. Enzo yearns to be human and finds himself frustrated by his inability to speak and be understood by those around him. Throughout the novel, Enzo holds tight to a myth he once heard that states dogs return in their next life as humans. This is his driving force to continue on as a dog.
Enzo will steal your heart (I know he stole mine), and provide readers with a new look at life. Enzo is by far my favorite narrator out of any book I’ve read in recent memory. He is a loyal and loving companion to Denny and his family, but Enzo also offers insight into the basic human nature that is rarely explored on this level in novels. It was these insights into humankind that make this one of my all time favorite books.
An amateur race car driver, Enzo’s owner is Denny Swift, who shares his love of speed with his dog riding shotgun in his car. Enzo spends his days alone at the house watching videos of race car drivers and analyzing their techniques. Of course, this is symbolism of how humans live their lives under difficult conditions, much like race car drivers performing in the rain.
“Very gently. Like there are eggshells on your pedals,” Denny always says,” and you don’t want to break them. That’s how you drive in the rain.” Enzo explains to the reader in one scene.
The reader will feel heartbroken when Enzo displays how humans treat dogs in the most cavalier of ways. There were times while reading this novel that I found myself envious of Enzo’s innate abilities to pick out which humans to trust and which humans to stay clear of, and at times I was afraid for him as he tried to work his way through the peculiar dynamics of human life.
Long before any doctors suspect a problem, it is Enzo who first senses the cancer in Denny’s wife, Eve, and it is Enzo who becomes her steadfast companion through treatment, even though Eve initially disliked Enzo.
“To live every day as if it had been stolen from death, that is how I would like to live. To feel the joy of life, as Eve felt the joy of life. To separate oneself from the burden, the angst, the anguish we all encounter every day. To say I am alive, I am wonderful, I am. I am. That is something to aspire to. When I am a person, that is how I will live my life.” Enzo provides the reader with so much knowledge and insight into how to live life, as displayed in these lines.
Throughout the novel, Stein magnificently crafts writing like the above quote. Enzo is full of incredibly insightful observations, and the reader quickly learns Enzo has an old soul and much knowledge to offer humans. The only part of the story I question is the predictability of evil-in-laws battling for custody with Denny over his and Eve’s daughter Zoe, after Eve loses her battle with cancer. The idea of Denny as a desolate island against the unfeeling relatives has been overdone in many stories. Through this custody battle it is Enzo and race car driving buddies who stand by Denny’s side during tough financial struggles caused by the legal battles. However, the dog aspect, and Enzo’s ever faithful attitude makes this story unique.
“The Art of Racing in the Rain,” is a work of fiction, and this helps Stein build a strong relationship between Enzo and Denny that can ring true with readers from all walks of life. I found this to be a much better read than “Marley and Me” by John Grogan, and I think the writing style and the creative license available to Stein as a fiction writer is a contributing factor to the success.
I have dog loving friends that refuse to read anything about animals; because they worry they will be let down or saddened by the ending of books. I sometimes feel that way too, but my love of reading and animals also draws me to these types of stories. This book is an exception. While I was sad at times, the book provides enough foreshadowing that I always knew what was coming and prepared myself for heartbreaking scenes. I found myself loving this book so much as I listened to it that I worried the ending could not do the book justice. I’m glad to say my fears were proved wrong. The last few chapters of this novel, though they did cause me to shed a few tears, were my favorite parts! Rather than finishing the book with a sense of heartbreak and sadness (how I felt after Marley and Me), I finished this with a sense of joy and hope about life and love. I was so grateful to Enzo for leading me through his wisdom and explaining his life-affirming messages throughout the story.
This is the only Garth Stein novel I have ever read, but after reading this book I am planning on exploring some of his other books, as well. This now is on the list of my all time favorite books! If someone told me I needed to read a book told by a dog about his race car driving owner and his family struggles, I would never have considered it, and thought you really didn’t know the type of literature I enjoy. With all odds against him, Stein was able to tell this story in a way that truly captures the hearts of his readers. He used symbolism and incredible descriptions throughout the novel to create a truly magnificent literary work. He compares race car driving (especially in the rain) to living life and its many ups and downs. In ways I found the reflections on life and human relationships similar to another one of my favorite books, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, but Enzo is able to provide a sense of hope and loyalty that other books truly lack. You might enjoy looking at this interview with Stein to gain more insight into the writing process of this novel. I really enjoyed his answer to the question, “What answers can we all learn from Enzo?”
All in all, “The Art of Racing in the Rain”, is a perfect book for people everywhere. This is one of the few books I think I will actually re-read! The book is truly a page turner – I listened to it in a weekend, and the story will capture any reader’s attention and steal your heart in the very first chapter. I would be truly shocked if I found someone who did not adore this book and its message. If you’ve read this book, I look forward to reading your comments on this endearing novel.
Check out the book trailer and you too will fall desperately in love with Enzo, and want an Enzo of your own! Isn’t he precious?
I'm hoping to post a giveaway to honor my blogging milestone of over 100 followers this weekend (I have to find my camera cord)!! The items are all ready to be photographed and include a copy of this fabulous book, an adorable leash rack, and some extra surprises to be given to one lucky reader!! Stay tuned!!!!
I have been dying to share the news, but am trying not to spoil the surprise! I am so bad at keeping secrets when presents are involved, and I simply cannot take this anymore! When I was at 73 followers I learned there will be a giveaway when I reach 100 followers. That felt like a lot of followers to gain, and so I never really thought about the upcoming giveaway, but today I noticed I now have 78 followers.
I'd like to thank the newcomers for finding my blog, and becoming a follower, because you are helping me get closer to being able to reveal this amazing giveaway - all I know at this point is the value will between $40 - 120!!! I'd also like to thank all of my followers. When I started this blog I never imagined so many people would read it! I am truly honored to know that 78 people follow me as I attempt to learn, try, and absorb everything dog!
So whether you are an old or new follower, I want to encourage you to tell a friend about The Wet Nose, as an incredible giveaway is in store when we reach 100 followers!
Now, go give your dog a belly rub, and hopefully you'll be able to spend some time at a dog park or yappy weekend come Saturday! :)
I finally found the time to sit down and fill you all in as to who won my most recent giveaway!! I do apologize for the day delay. I have been so excited about this giveaway, because there is a surprise – there are FOUR winners! I used a random number generator to select the winners. As you all know, this giveaway allowed the winner to pick between the pink pupcakes and the blue pupcakes – therefore, our two first place winners will get to pick the color they desire, and the second, third, and fourth place winners will get the colors not chosen. I have a few sponsors lined up for giveaways, but first I need to reach 75 followers. If you have any dog owning pals please tell them about The Wet Nose so we can have many more giveaways! :)
So without further ado the Claudia’s Canine Cuisine Cookies – special PUPCAKES go to...
comment 3, HLEure!
Please send your mailing information and your color selection my way and I will get your prize in the mail! You can simply comment with your e-mail address and I will e-mail you for a mailing address. I hope Mabry enjoys her PUPCAKES!
And our second place winner is…
comment 15, Donna! Please send your mailing information and your color selection my way and I will get your prize in the mail! You can simply comment with your e-mail address and I will e-mail you for a mailing address!
And our third place winner is…
comment 14, Lauren! Please send your mailing information my way and I will get your prize in the mail! You can simply comment with your e-mail address and I will e-mail you for a mailing address!
And our fourth place winner is…
comment 21, The Little Jewelry Box! Please send your mailing information my way and I will get your prize in the mail! You can simply comment with your e-mail address and I will e-mail you for a mailing address!
I wanted to share one of my favorite photographs of Milly - there are a handful I love equally - and this is one of them! This photo was taken about a year and a half ago, and now Milly's face is almost entirely white. I love the way she is looking up at the camera in this shot, and the lighting really captures her in a beautiful way. Another one of my favorite shots of her is the picture in the header and my avatar taken at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC, because you can see the reflection of the cherry trees in her eye.
Milly and I are currently working very hard on basic obedience in preparation for taking our Canine Good Citizen test. For a long time I have wanted Milly to pass the Canine Good Citizen test, but our training and practicing kept getting side tracked - first with my shoulder surgery, and then with the election (for those of you who don't know I work in politics) - but for the past few weeks we've really practiced almost everyday! Today and yesterday I had to take time off from our hour of practice/training, because of bad weather, but I'm hoping to do a lot tomorrow. I try to make the training/practice sessions very fun and positive for Milly. She really seems to enjoy every minute of it (that makes my job much easier)! Over the past two weeks we have worked hard on perfecting loose leash walking, down, down/stay, and long distance recalls. She is really doing great, and I'm very proud of her. Milly and I will be heading to the North East Kingdom of Vermont in about a week, and while on vacation I plan on doing a lot of off leash work with her, and hopefully by the end of nine days on a lake she will over come her fear of swimming. It's probably a stretch, but I'd like to try to take the CGC test when we get back from Vermont (the middle of August).
I will be doing the drawing for the pupcake giveaway tomorrow using a random number generator. If you haven't already entered there is still a little bit of time left. Your odds are pretty high of winning, because there will be TWO winners! :)
I recently bought the Pledge Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair, and was a bit skeptical at first, but after their massive ad campaign I really wanted to review it for the blog. If you have dogs (or cats), then you understand the headache of dog hair being everywhere! I hate sitting on the sofa in nice black pants, and standing up to find Milly hair all over my pants, and I am embarrassed when people come over and sit down for fear they will leave wearing Milly! I have been able to really reduce the amount of dog hair in the house by using the Furminator, but I still can’t seem to get it all, or should I say couldn’t before the Pledge Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair! I am thrilled with this product! It really was intelligently designed (with only one flaw that I can see, I’ll discuss this below), and it actually works!
I bought mine at Giant for under $6 and it was worth every penny! I've seen them for sale for anywhere from $4 - $12, and you can buy a pack of three on Amazon for $21.
I’m not an engineer or product designer, but what I can gather is the Pledge Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair appears to work like two lint brushes (only they are in roller form). You simply sweep the product back and forth across a fabric surface and one roller picks up hair, as the other roller cleans the first and deposits the hair in a filter at the top of the contraption. I tried the fabric sweeper on my comforter, the living room chairs, and my sofa and found it really works much better than a lint roller, and even better than a vacuum (most vacuums are not designed to pick up pet hair). I like that it fits nicely in my hand, but I do think it is designed for slightly larger hands (I have very small hands and have to wear child size gloves). I was amazed at how much hair this product picked up (it got pet hair where I didn’t even think pet hair was!), and it really requires minimal elbow grease.
The only real flaw I found with this product is it is not at all environmentally friendly. It is disposable, not reusable. In a time when people are strapped for cash and more and more people attempt to lead green lifestyles, I find this to be a major flaw. However, I have read some reviews online where people simply cut a hole with a box cutter into the top of the hair collecting chamber, and scoop out the hair when it is full, and reuse the fabric sweeper. You could easily keep some duct tape or masking tape over the hole you’ve cut out to keep the hair from falling out. Once mine is full I plan on trying this, and will let you know how it works.
I have a Golden Retriever, and when they shed their hair it tends to ball up into fluffy loose big puffs of hair on the furniture, the floor, pretty much everywhere. With this in mind, I feel a long haired dog like Milly produces more hair than the average short haired dog would. I have used my Pledge Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair about 10 times, and the hair collection chamber is about ¾ of the way full. So you will get about a month of use out of it (or more), even if you do decide to simply toss it in the trash when it is full.
Apart from not being reusable (once full) I really love this product! It works great, and it is fast and simple to use. A bonus is it came with two coupons for $1 off future purchases. Without sounding too extreme, I really feel my life has improved since buying this product. I don’t have to worry about getting covered in dog hair when I sit on the sofa, and it is so fast and easy to use that I can run over the fabric surfaces in our house every few days, and pet hair is kept to a minimum. Do check it out and let me know what you think of the Pledge Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair.
Do not forget there is still time to enter the second PUPCAKE GIVEAWAY!!! The drawing will take place on July 24th using a random number generator!! Good Luck!! :)
I just stumbled across this article, and wanted to share it with all of you as the details unfold surrounding the infant dragged from his crib by the family's dog. This is such a sad story.
It turns out little A.J. was three weeks premature, and had only arrived at home on Sunday. Dakota, the dog in question is now being referred to as a wolf/collie mix, and the family is no longer considering Dakota a part of their family (I can't say I blame them, though it is simply a sad situation on every level). They are hoping Dakota will be adopted by another family, but if not she will have to be put to sleep. If she goes to the rainbow bridge I will be praying for her.
The article gives some great tips on how to introduce your dogs to an infant before ever bringing home the baby - you can get the dog familiar with baby smells by allowing him/her to sniff baby oil, baby powder, diapers, etc. I know my brother and his wife allowed their one-year-old Polish Lowland Sheepdog (PONS) to sniff around the nursery quite a bit for weeks, if not months, leading up to the birth of my niece. They have had no problems what-so-ever with Minka (their PONS) adjusting to a new baby in the house.
Do not forget there is still time to enter the second PUPCAKE GIVEAWAY!!! The drawing will take place on July 24th using a random number generator!! Good Luck!! :)
With so many risks associated with feeding a commercial pet food diet, and recalls hitting every part of the animal nutrition industry – from canned food to kibble to treats – it’s comforting to know there are some natural ways to reward your pet. The raw food movement has really infiltrated the pet market, and I have considered on numerous occasions switching Milly to a raw diet, but ultimately I have decided not to change her diet, because I have finally found a food that works for her itchy skin. I do however feed raw marrow bones, and want to tell you a bit more about these. They are a wonderful treat, and you will be amazed at how white your dog’s teeth will become after eating them. They really are great for promoting healthy teeth and gums.
For most dog owners they’ve heard their entire lives never to feed a dog bones, as they not only pose a choking hazard, but can also break and splinter and cause severe damage to a dog’s esophagus and entire digestive tract. Well, this old idea is true to an extent – never feed a dog COOKED BONES. Raw bones are an exception to the rule, and a wonderful, natural chew treat to give your dogs.
I have spent the past year reading up on the wonderful qualities of treating with raw marrow bones. I searched high and low, but could not find a butcher in my area, and instead decided to try Nature’s Variety raw bones – they come in a variety of sizes, and you can chose from many different animals. I’m sure they are a bit more expensive than just going to your butcher, but they are only a couple of dollars a bone, and I thought they were worthwhile. I bought lamb, bison and beef marrow bones and serve them frozen one at a time – each bone will last months, I’m told.
Milly has so far only tried the bison marrow bone, but she LOVES it. She happily chomps away for a solid hour when I give it to her, and when she’s done, I simply rinse the bone and pop it back in the freezer in a baggie for next time. I highly recommend trying raw bones with your dogs, but if you do decide to try this make sure the bone is large enough that your dog cannot swallow it (this could be a choking hazard). You want to stay away from raw soup bones (often found in the frozen section at the grocery store), because these tend to be cut small, and can easily cause your dog to choke. Also, for the most part stay away from joints like elbows and knees (these also can easily break). I always supervise Milly when I give her a raw bone to be on the safe side. I also recommend giving the bone outside, on your porch, in your garage, on-top of newspaper, etc. so you do not get raw marrow all over your house.
You can see in this photo the bones come shrink wrapped, which in my opinion reduces the gross factor of buying raw bones, and storing them in your freezer beside the Ben & Jerry's!
The easiest way to find these bones would be to look for a retailer on Nature’s Variety’s website, and then call the retailers to see if they sell the raw, frozen bones.
Do not forget there is still time to enter the second PUPCAKE GIVEAWAY!!! The drawing will take place on July 24th using a random number generator!! Good Luck!! :)
A 4-year-old mixed breed called a Native American Indian Dog is under quarantine by animal control authorities in central Kentucky. The breed is said to have wolves in its direct ancestry. A newborn baby boy was hospitalized in critical condition after being taken from his crib and carried outside his home by the family pet, authorities said Tuesday.
A family in Kentucky is dealing with a tragedy as their newborn baby lies in the hospital in critical care, and their pet dog is in the possession of animal control. The family’s dog, a Native American Indian Dog, a breed with wolves in their direct ancestry, stole the baby from its crib, and took the baby into the family’s heavily wooded backyard. The father of the baby was frantically calling 911 when he spotted the dog with his bleeding infant child in its mouth (news reports conflict - some say father spotted dog with infant, others say father went outside to look for dog and infant).
The infant, Alexander James Smith, was only four days old at the time of the attack, and was immediately rushed to the emergency room at University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington, KY. The family had been preparing for a baby shower, when the mother placed baby Alexander James in the crib for a nap, and returned a few minutes later to find the baby and the family dog both missing, and the door ajar. The baby was listed in critical condition today, with two collapsed lungs, a skull fracture, broken ribs and various cuts and bruises, an AP article by Jeffrey McMurray explains.
Doctors are now optimistic the infant will survive, although the day of the attack they (along with a pastor) braced the family for the worst, after having to use resuscitation paddles to get a heartbeat back on the infant.
Like many dogs with wolves in their ancestry, Dakota, the family dog in question, was known for taking items and hiding them in the woods behind the house. He had a history of taking everything from the families dishes to wallets and hiding them in the woods. Michael Smith, the father of the infant, immediately headed outside to look for the dog and baby, but it took about 10 minutes of searching the heavily wooded 2 acre backyard before he found Dakota, with the infant in his mouth.
According to McMurray’s article, no charges have been filed, but the case remains under investigation.
Michael Smith says the dog was not trying to viciously attack the newborn baby, but instead was treating it as a bitch would treat her litter of puppies. He explained, "It wasn't a vicious dog attack," Smith said. "She had A.J. for 10 minutes on her own, and if you look at A.J.'s belly, there's about 100 little marks. All the dog had to do was one bite and A.J. wouldn't be here."
Dakota is a 4-year old dog, and one of three dogs the family has had since puppies. Michael Smith says Dakota and the other dogs have never shown any sign of aggression, even when playing with Smith’s two other children from a previous marriage. The fate of Dakota, who remains in custody of local animal control, will most likely be euthanasia.
I expect to see this story remain in headlines, as little A.J. hopefully makes a strong recovery. Many states already have in place laws restricting the owning of wolves and wolf hybrids, though it can be difficult to determine whether or not a dog has wolves in its ancestry. Almost all dogs are believed to be descendants of wolves (the Chihuahua is thought to possibly be an exception to this rule), and in recent years DNA profiles of wolves have determined they are strikingly similar genetically speaking to dogs. This has come up in court cases where ownership of wolves and wolf hybrids is restricted and the dog’s ancestry is called into question. After the brutal pet Chimpanzee attack, a pet boa constrictor that killed a child, and now a dog with wolves as ancestors kidnapping and critically injuring a newborn all making headlines, I expect to see debate in the media about the ownership of wild animals and exotic pets.
I have always believed that all dogs bite – they might not bite humans, but they bite their food everyday, and they are certainly capable of biting humans. I view even my sweet Milly with this same belief, and always keep in mind a saying my mom told me growing up, “Animals will make a liar of you.” When someone asks to pet Milly, I always explain she has no history of aggression, and will most likely lick the person, but she is an animal with large teeth, and has the potential to bite. The idea that animals have the potential to be unpredictable is an important one to always keep in the back of your mind. If you make everyday, simple precautions based on the potential unpredictability of animals, you will find many potential risks will automatically be eliminated by these precautions.
In this instance, and until more facts are revealed, it seems this was simply a tragic accident, that no one could have predicted, and I pray for all those involved.
Do not forget there is still time to enter the second PUPCAKE GIVEAWAY!!! The drawing will take place on July 24th using a random number generator!! Good Luck!! :)
Today is my dad's and my uncle's birthdays, yesterday would have been my grandmother's birthday if she were still alive today, in two days my Great Auntie Anna will celebrate her birthday in Scotland, and as you know 10 days ago was my birthday - July is just filled with birthdays in my family! On a side note, you probably think my dad and uncle are twins, but they aren't - my uncle is 7 years older than my dad, but they happen to share the same birthday!
Due to the high response of the last giveaway, and in honor of this special day The Wet Nose is giving away beautiful, tasty, all-natural Claudia's Canine Cuisine Cookies - special PUPCAKES!!! If you entered the last giveaway YOU ARE STILL ELIGIBLE for this giveaway, so enter away! :)
The drawing will take place on July 24th, and you will be able to choose from the pink pupcakes or the blue pupcakes! There will be TWO WINNERS (first winner gets first color choice)!! These are so cute, and would be perfect for your own puppy pawty! It doesn't matter if there is no special occasion for your pup to celebrate with these, because I have a feeling your dog is so special that everyday is worth celebrating! Go ahead and tell Miss Muddy Paws one special tidbit, tale, story or characteristic that makes your dog deserve these adorable and tasty pupcakes!!
A little product description: Spoil your lil’ pup with colorful, beautifully decorated sweet treats on their birthday (or any other day)! Birthday/Special Day PupCups are the perfect surprise for that wagging tailed special guy or gal in your life. Also great for doggie birthday parties!! 8 PupCups in each box. Made in the U.S.A. You must be a follower to be eligible for this giveaway! Simply follow the above steps to be entered once. Please tell all your pals about The Wet Nose and you will be entered twice to win!
I just sat down to fill you all in as to who won my most recent giveaway!! I have been so excited about this giveaway, because there is a surprise – there are TWO winners! And ANOTHER GIVEAWAY will go up today! I always get very excited about GIVEAWAYS because I have no control over who the random number generator will pick, and I love surprises! As you all know, this giveaway allowed the winner to pick between the pink pupcakes and the blue pupcakes – therefore, our first place winner will get to pick the color he/she desires, and the second place winner will get the color not chosen.
So without further ado the Claudia’s Canine Cuisine Cookies – special PUPCAKES go to...
comment 8, Miss Sweet Tea!
Please send your mailing information and your color selection my way and I will get your prize in the mail! You can simply comment with your e-mail address and I will e-mail you for a mailing address. I hope YoYo enjoys his PUPCAKES! How special that he is celebrating his birthday this month too!
And our second place winner is…
comment 11, Gwen! Please send your mailing information and I will get your prize in the mail! You can simply comment with your e-mail address and I will e-mail you for a mailing address. I hope Heisman enjoys her PUPCAKES! She will be able to celebrate the progress she has made since her knee replacement surgeries, and now that she can go on walks again no need to worry about the extra calories in treats!
How cool is this? This man has some amazing training skills to be able to get all of these dogs to do so many stunts! My favorite part of the video is the dogs really look like they are having FUN!!!
Do not forget there is still time to enter the BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY!!! The drawing will take place on July 15th using a random number generator!! Good Luck!! :)
I wanted to let all of you know there are going to be some big and exciting changes taking place at The Wet Nose in the near future! I am not able to divulge what exactly will happen, but I can say these new changes will bring a lot more for you, the reader! To give you a sneak peak of what you will find in the coming months in addition to the blog – dog recipes for home made treats and food, more giveaways, a very easy to navigate site and so much more! I probably have already told too much, but I am very excited, and just had to tell my special readers! I’m very bad at keeping surprises!
I also wanted to share some fun dog events happening this summer across the country so you can mark your calendars:
“Wine and Pooches” hosted by Barrel Oak Winery of Delaplane, VA Sunday, July 12th from 3pm - 7pm.
This event is a fundraiser for Homeward Trails Animal Rescue and K-9 Lifesavers. Enjoy life music, amazing food (think: catered BBQ), wine tasting, beautiful views, games and crafts for kids, raffles, a silent auction, and the company of some amazing dogs! Yep, your pooch is welcome too! In fact, there will even be competitions and games for the dogs! You can buy your tickets in advance on the Homeward Trails Animal Rescue Website.
“Because Your Dog Is Worth It Too” Day hosted by L’Oreal at their headquarters in Cranburg, NJ. Saturday, August 15th from 9am – 4pm.
This is supposed to be a really fun! Lots of doggie activities, vendors and really great human "doggie bags" full of L'Oreal products! All that and for a great cause too (Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure)! To learn more visit L’Oreal’s micro-site: Your Dog Is Worth It Too.
“Dog Days of Summer,” San Antonio Botanical Gardens, San Angelo, TX. August 1st – August 2nd. 9am – 5pm. Free Admission. Benefiting: A donation per dog is requested and will be given to local animal groups.
On these special days, guests can bring their four-legged friends to the Garden! Special pet-related activities are planned.
“Dog Walk and Yappy Hour,” Santa Cruz, CA. March 29, 2009 – January 31, 2010 (Every Sunday). 10:30am – 1pm. Free Admission!
Join them every Sunday for a walk with your pooch somewhere in Santa Cruz County - each week a different fabulous locale. Our walks are adventures - some beach walks, some forest walks - and each one is at a different level of difficulty. We walk for about an hour and a half and then have Yappy Hour at a dog-friendly restaurant. The walks are free, but you are responsible for your own Yappy Hour bill. For more information, please call 831.427.0350 or email whitneywilde@sbcglobal.net.
Did I not list any events in your area? Take a look at Bring Fido to see what dog-related activities you can attend locally!
Do not forget there is still time to enter the BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY!!! The drawing will take place on July 15th using a random number generator!! Good Luck!! :)
This image featured onDanny and Ron's Rescue website shows an example of one dog that survived a dog fight! Please help to end dog fighting in this country, and worldwide!
Dog fighting is a major problem in this country, but law enforcement recently “took a bite out of crime” in what the Humane Society of Missouri is calling “the largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history.”
As part of a nation-wide crackdown on dog fighting rings, local animal welfare organizations teamed up with the Federal authorities to arrest approximately 30 people and rescued as many 200 dogs in Texas, Illinois and Missouri, according to an article by Mark Levine. Levine’s article explains how the number of dogs rescued in the raid continues to grow in the words, “As many as 300 dogs could end up being rescued, one FBI source said.”
Five men and more than 150 dogs, being called Pit Bull Terriers at this time, were taken into custody. Motions have been filed by the U.S. Attorney there to take legal ownership of the dogs and place the animals in the care and custody of the Humane Society of Missouri, says a Justice Department press release.
In the Fox News article, Mark Levine notes, The Humane Society of Missouri were the original tipsters, and alerted the FBI to the dog-fighting rings.
The five Missouri men – Michael Morgan, Robert Hackman, Teddy Kiriakidis, Ronald Creach and Jack Ruppel –- are responsible for running highly developed kennels that purchase, breed, train, condition and develop Pit Bull Terriers into fighting dogs for competition rings. Some of their kennels names include: "Shake Rattle and Roll Kennel," "Ozark Hillbillys Kennel," and "Hard Goodbye Kennel”, Fox revealed, citing the indictment as their source. In the indictment is is alleged the men “routinely inhumanely abandoned, destroyed, and otherwise disposed of Pit Bull Terriers that lost fighting competitions,” the Justice Department press release said.
"Forcing a dog to fight to its death is not a sport," states John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge of the St. Louis office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "There is nothing respectable about encouraging two animals to torture and dismember each other. Individuals who participate in dog fighting claim to care for the animals, but they don't hesitate to electrocute their helpless dog once it loses a fight and can no longer provide any financial benefit."
Though there have been no official statements released thus far about the fate of the dogs rescued in this sting, there is speculation that many will have to be humanely euthanized. Almost always, dogs used in actual fighting must be euthanized, because it is nearly impossible to train out this behavior. However, puppies, breeding bitches and bait dogs may have a better fate. After football star Michael Vic made headlines for his own arrest involving dog-fighting, many of the dogs rescued from his dog-fighting operation were able to go onto lead happy, healthy lives in loving forever homes.
According to the press release, and Fox News article, the specific charges against the Missouri men are:
- Michael Morgan, a/k/a Missouri Mike, 38, Hannibal, MO, on two felony counts of conspiracy to commit federal offenses and one felony count of prohibitions against animal fighting ventures;
- Robert Hackman, 55, Foley, MO, two felony counts of conspiracy to commit federal offenses and two felony counts of prohibitions against animal fighting ventures;
- Teddy Kiriakidis, a/k/a Teddy Bogart, 50, Leasburg, MO, one felony count of conspiracy to commit federal offenses;
- Ronald Creach, 34, Leslie, MO, one felony count of conspiracy to commit federal offenses; and
- Jack Ruppel, 35 Eldon, MO, town, two felony counts of conspiracy to commit federal offenses and two felony counts of prohibitions against animal fighting ventures.
If convicted, each count of the indictment carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000.
Humane Society estimates 40,000 "professional" dog fighters in U.S.
Official says there could be an additional 100,000 "street" dog fighters
Purses at top-level dogfights may be $100,000
Dog fighting a felony in 48 states, a misdemeanor in Idaho and Wyoming (note: some sources say dog fighting is now a felony in all 50 states)
On a happy note, do not forget there is still time to enter the BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY!!! If you don't own a dog, but want to enter, Miss Muddy Paws is happy to donate the PUPCAKES to a local rescue should you win. The drawing will take place on July 15th using a random number generator!! Good Luck!! :)
