HEART MATTERS: DOGS REALLY DO 'GET' US...A BIG CAT LOOKING FOR LOVE

Today being Valentine's Day, and my dad Lou's birthday, what better time to talk about matters of the heart, the bond between man and his best friend, and creatures looking for love. Just like our human partners, we dogs are susceptible to heart ailments, both physical and emotional. Some of the former are age-related, and some result from diseases such as parvovirus (heart worm), Lyme Disease, and Chagas. To keep your BFF in tip-top shape, dog behavior guru Cesar Millan advises that you give him/her a healthy diet (not too much fatty people food) and plenty of exercise, and that you be aware of symptoms that might signal cardiac issues:  vomiting, swollen belly, fatigue, increased heart rate, fainting, fever, heavy breathing, excessive coughing, loss of weight, discomfort, especially when lying down, and bluish-gray gums. When in doubt, go the the vet. 

with my first Valentine, my late mom, Buzzy, and my first dog, Victory

Do humans love us dogs because we feel your pain?  If you're one of the legion of dog guardians who thinks that your 4-legged pal truly understands your every mood and thought, you may well be right. In an article in ScienceDaily.com  study author Daniel Mills details a recent trial in which dogs showed an impressive ability to 'read' and respond to human emotion. If that's true, and my money says 'yes', then it explains why we canines are so beloved. 

El Jefe

Although Valentine's Day is a human construct meant to pry cold cash from aspiring Romeos and guilty hubbies, via gaudy jewelry and overpriced prix fixe menus at jam packed restaurants, we non-humans share your desire to meet 'the one'. While I don't usually feel much solidarity with felines (with the exception of Gene and Sandra's hulking Burmese brothers Fatty and New Boy) a recent article in the Los Angeles Times left me rooting for El Jefe, 'The Boss', a 4-year-old male Jaguar spotted roaming the Santa Rita Mountains near Tucson. According to the report, Jefe is presumed to be the only wild Jaguar in the U.S. In the spirit of Saint Valentine and interspecies cooperation, here's hoping he has a honey stashed somewhere, and that they're busy making beautiful Jaguar babies. 

LOVE IS IN THE AIR...STEAMY VALENTINE'S IMAGES: DOGS IN BED

Yes, we know we're late with this but we were busy celebrating Lou's Valentine birthday or, as mom calls it, his birthday month. It's a lot of commotion but he's a very good pet guardian who deserves the fuss. I didn't get to go along but they started with dinner at the Sage Room in Agoura on Thursday, then lunch at Joe's, Venice on Friday, take out pizza from Gjelina (also on Abbott Kinney) then a Sunday afternoon UCLA basketball victory over Utah (courtesy of Popito), capped off by a birthday feast at Gene and Sandra's, complete with a Sweet Lady Jane chocolate cake. 
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Since the past week was devoted to love and lovers, we thought you'd get a kick out of these stories that came across our desk. First, there's a heartwarming (in one instance, moose warming) video about humans coming to the aid of animals in need. There's also a side-splitting clip of a combative kitty, doing his best to deter the postman from the 'swift completion of his appointed rounds'. Then there are these photos of a zookeeper's mamma dog (I think a Canne Corso) that stepped in to raise an orphaned chimpanzee. So what if the new 'pup' has hands, not paws. 

'All you need is love!'

Finally, take a peek at the shocking images I promised earlier. Be sure to shoo  the kids and puppies away before screening these. Don't want to give them any ideas.