A PET'S 10 COMMANDMENTS (part II)

Many of you have read this before but, since I'm a dog and an interested party, I thought we'd pass it along to those of you who haven't. According to web sources, the author is a British bloke named Stan Rawlinson (www.doglistener.co.uk). While it's meant for us 4-legged 'kids', it's a pretty good way to treat our 2-legged friends, too.

A PET’S 10 COMMANDMENTS

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainments, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don’t understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.

10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can’t bear to watch. Don’t make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.
                                                                    ~ ~ ~
REYES ADOBE DAYS - Lou and I  are thrilled to be participating in the 'Authors' event at next weekend's Reyes Adobe Days, an annual festival celebrating the founding and cultural legacy of nearby Agoura Hills. In a way, it's almost fitting, since Lou and Eugenie adopted me from the L.A. County Shelter in Agoura. So, in a sense, that caring community changed two lives, his and mine. We'll be signing books on from 1:30 - 3:00 on Saturday, October 5, so if you're in the area, stop by and say hello. You can find us at the Reyes Adobe Historical Site in the Adobe Barn, 30400 Rainbow Crest Drive, Agoura Hills, CA 91301. RAD runs from Friday - Sunday (Fr- 5:00 - 9:00 PM, Sat, Sun 11:00 Am - 4:00 PM) 

Hanging with my bipeds on the Pepperdine 9/11 Lawn

DOG BLESS YOU (A PET'S 10 COMMANDMENTS, pt. 1)

Several months back, Lou discovered that our story and GIMME SHELTER had been featured on a website called 'Dog Bless You'. We thought it odd but, ever since the book debuted, things like that have been happening on a regular basis. Recently, we learned the story of the man behind the site and how one amazing dog transformed his life.  Sound familiar? Here's their tale (tail?) courtesy of the LA Times.

MAN, DOG, CREATE A NEW BREED OF PHILANTHROPY (Associated Press)

When Charlie Annenberg adopted an abandoned golden retriever named Lucky, a new breed of philanthropy was born. Lucky was 4 in 2001 when he teamed up with Annenberg, scion to a wealthy family known for giving money away. Annenberg incorporated Lucky into all his projects. They were on the road more than they were home as they traveled around making documentaries about people who were making a difference.

   Lucky became Annenberg’s sidekick and soul mate, and would eventually inspire donations to dog-focused causes from the $8 million or so that the philanthropist controls annually. Whether it was a chef at the White House or coal miners 100 feet underground in West Virginia, Lucky made documentary interviews easy because he made everyone comfortable. The workload for both man and dog grew with the website explore.org. Using state-of-the-art cameras, Annenberg brought wildlife to stunning life for millions of Web watchers. He and Lucky traveled to every installation in North America, and everywhere they went, Annenberg filmed Lucky interacting with people and places.

   In 2010, Annenberg decided to use his Lucky photos and films for a travel journal on Facebook, telling the story of their trips. Annenberg called the journal Dog Bless You, he said, because several years earlier Lucky had befriended a homeless man in San Francisco. They shared time and a sandwich with the man. As they were leaving, the man said, “Dog bless you.” The Facebook page was all about Lucky, but it captured the fervor for pets that was growing around the country. “Today we have an audience of 505,000 fans,” said Courtney Johnson, explore.org’s community relations manager.

Annenberg & 'Lucky'

   When an earthquake and tsunami struck Japan in 2011, killing more than 18,000 people, Annenberg used Dog Bless You to send six search dogs. Then war veterans started returning home in large numbers, with wounds including brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. Many of them needed service dogs. Passion for the cause on Dog Bless You soared. Service dogs cost between $2,000 and $50,000 each, depending on how much training they need, Johnson said.

OF DOGS AND MEN

I don't know how much longer Lou will let me keep posting so I thought I'd write about how we dogs usually avoid politics and stick to helping our 2-legged friends, no matter what their leanings.  Except when it comes to BSL, dog fighting and tainted treats, you'll never catch us growling over partisan issues. That said, I wanted to mention the anniversary of 911 and what local students are doing to honor the memory of the people who died that day. For the past several years, students at nearby Pepperdine University (the water polo or volleyball players ?) have placed nearly 3,000 flags, from the victims' respective nations, on the sweeping great lawn in memory of the dead. Lou and Eugenie took me there, and strolling through the impressive display flapping banners was a moving event. Lou said it reminded him of the simple crosses they place at Veteran's cemeteries but I've never been so I'll take his word for it. It will be up several more days so if you're a local or passing by, be sure to stop and take it in.

Tanner, American Staffordshire Terrier on the Pepperdine University 9-11 Lawn

On a sunnier but related note, check out this video of a faithful pup being reunited with his soldier 'dad' who has just returned from a 6-month absence in combat. If this doesn't make you smile, go see the undertaker, cause you just might be dead.

How many people would do this for a friend?

OM! Tanner and Eugenie getting mellow @ The Sacred Space, Summerland, CA

Lou with Tanner and his pal, Magnus, aka Mag-A-Noos @ Trancas Dogpark

CIAO, SUMMER

I've been bugging him for month's and Lou finally agreed to let me write this post. Good thing, cause I've got lots to talk about. First, how about a big 'hoo-rah' for President Obama, who came out against Breed Specific Legislation. Here's a section from the official White House Statement on WhiteHouse.gov: “We don’t support breed-specific legislation — research shows that bans on certain types of dogs are largely ineffective and often a waste of public resources. In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at twenty years of data about dog bites and human fatalities in the United States. They found that fatal attacks represent a very small proportion of dog bite injuries to people and that it’s virtually impossible to calculate bite rates for specific breeds. The CDC also noted that the types of people who look to exploit dogs aren’t deterred by breed regulations — when their communities establish a ban, these people just seek out new, unregulated breeds. And the simple fact is that dogs of any breed can become dangerous when they’re intentionally or unintentionally raised to be aggressive. For all those reasons, the CDC officially recommends against breed-specific legislation — which they call inappropriate.As an alternative to breed-specific policies, the CDC recommends a community-based approach to prevent dog bites. And ultimately, we think that’s a much more promising way to build stronger communities of pets and pet owners.”

                                                             ~ ~ ~ ~

Then there's buzzfeed.com's photo essay '37 Pictures That Will Restore Your Faith In Pit Bulls', as if mine was ever lost. 
                                                             ~ ~ ~ ~
Finally, check out this ad for Beneful dog food, which has to be one of cleverest dog commercials ever. If only they had featured a certain breed, (guess) it would have been perfect.

Tanner and Eugenie practicing 'downward dog'.