| E-Cards Have Gone to the Dogs; Cats Fight Back!
Trend spotting is easy. Sales figures go up sharply when something new catches on, whether it's rap music, hybrid cars, or the newest i-phone. Remember when most homes didn't even have a computer? It's no surprise that since busy people everywhere are choosing to communicate at the speed of light in every way, e-cards have forged their way into our culture. But dog-loving e-cards? And what about the cat lovers? They need to send greetings, too!
www.SloppyKissCards.com debuted in June of 2006 and the site has already caught on in a big way. For just $9.95 USD, members can send customized greetings with any of more than 50 different breeds of dogs featured on the card. The combinations are unlimited.
Sloppy Kiss Cards is the brainchild of Nicole Stocker, a former Microsoft employee.
Dog’s name, River, is becoming an ironic label
It turns out I named a dog that can't swim after a body of water.As a good dog owner and San Marcos resident, I, of course, wanted to take my dog to the river and let her swim, chase tennis balls and do other dog stuff. Too bad that it turns out River may be the first ever dog that doesn't have the doggy paddle ingrained in her DNA.That's why I've found myself, on my last two trips to the river, giving my dog what I think may be the first ever canine swimming lessons. I figured I wouldn't have to teach swimming until I have a kid, and then I can enroll him in proper lessons so he learns not to take shortcuts. Of course, public pools won't take seven-month old Irish Setters into their swimming tutorial programs and I wouldn't pay for it anyway. That left me, River's hefty owner, to handle the process of teaching her how to swim.
Paws and the laws of the road
Long sunsets and easy temperatures. The dog days? They're weeks away. Unless, of course, you're a pet owner. Maybe you've already loaded up your golden for a trip to the beach, or crated your calico for a weekend up at the lake. Maybe you've merely taken Fido to the supermarket, or Whiskers to the veterinarian. The point is, if you own pets, they're bound to be in your car at some point. Especially during summer. Rusty, my childhood dog, just loved car rides. He'd bound into the back seat and stick his long, collie snout out the side window to feel the breeze. We never thought twice about taking him anywhere. Certainly, we never thought about whether we were breaking any laws. But since this is a column about driving, we pose the question. Are there rules about transporting a pet in a vehicle? Do dogs need seat belts? Is it illegal to leave your animal in the car on a hot day? Can you be fined for driving with a cat in your lap? What do you think?The law says Doggie spas.
Health Alert: Pet diseases
NATIONAL - More than half of all US households own a pet. And while pets provide companionship and comfort, they can also pass along up to 200 diseases to humans. Eleven-week-old Maggie is a Cocker Spaniel puppy and the newest member of the Moreau family. Seven-year-old Merit just can't get enough of her. But Merit's mother has her concerns. Megan Moreau says, "Having a child around and having her and the dog in her face, and playing with it after the dog's been outside, I did consider that." Puppies are precious, but diseases they can carry, like rabies and ringworm, can be dangerous. So a visit to the vet should be the first order of business for new pet owners. Bonnie Beaver, D.V.M., says, "One of the things the veterinarians will check for would be for intestinal parasites.
Kennel owner mauled by dog
Tracy Hon sustained severe injuries and is recovering in Enloe Medical Center's intensive care unit, said Patricia Vaughan, a friend of hers. Hon's injuries included a badly mauled arm and legs, facial lacerations and a severed trachea, Vaughan said. She had surgery at the hospital. Hon is active in Boxer Rescue, an organization whose members take care of unwanted boxers and try to find homes for them. Sometimes she rescues pit bulls and other dogs. Vaughan said the dog that attacked Hon was a small female bulldog mix. Vaughan, who works with Hon at rescuing dogs, said the two of them had brought the bulldog to the kennel a couple of months ago and were trying to find a home for her. When they learned the dog had cancer, they arranged for her to have operations. However, the illness turned out to be terminal.
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