HELP THE PEOPLE WHO SAVE OUR DOGS

As many of you know, Eugenie, Lou & I donate a portion of the proceeds from GIMME SHELTER to animal rescue groups. So many organizations do amazing work that we'd need another book to list them all. Instead, we'd like to give a well deserved shout out to some of our favs, like Karma Rescue, Downtown Dog Rescue, St. Martin's Animal Foundation, Linda Blair's Worldheart Foundation, Animals Advocates Alliance, Canine Adoption Rescue Leage (CARL) of Ventura, and Healthcare for Homeless Animals (formerly Malibu Pet Companions). If you have some spare Benjamins, they'd be happy to take them off your paws so that they can help more dogs like me, and Freckles, whose life was recently saved for a second time by the folks at Karma.

Freckles

In keeping with our rescue theme, if you live in the Los Angeles area and you're thinking about a rescue dog, or cat, then be sure to check out the Best Friends/No Kill LA mega-adoption this weekend Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. The popular event has a mission of turning L.A. into the nation’s largest No-Kill City by 2017, will feature more than 1,000 adoptable pets from 50 rescue groups.  “Last fall, the NKLA Adoption Weekend found homes for close to 400 dogs and cats in 48 hours and we hope to beat that number this spring,” said Marc Peralta, executive director of Best Friends Animal Society – Los Angeles. “Any Angeleno who is looking to adopt should check out the NKLA Adoption Weekend, as it’s the perfect venue to find your new best friend. You can even bring your dog along for a meet and greet.”

Eugenie and Tanner @ last year's event

REASONS TO LOVE THE EASTER PIT BULL

Happy Easter and a belated Happy Passover to all our 2 legged friends. While bunnies are very nice (sometimes even a bit scary, for me, anyway),  Lou and I think that perhaps it's time update the Spring poster creature to something more cuddly and handsome, like maybe a Pit Bull. Based on his special, LOVE MY PIT BULL, that just aired on Nat Geo Wild, the world's most famous dog man, Cesar Millan, might agree. During the 1-hour show, he discussed the history of the breed (the 'gameness' or heart of the Terriers married with the strength and athleticism - don't laugh - of the Bulldog or Boxer), their former reputation as a companion dog and guardian of children (they we're known as the 'Nanny Dog') and the misconceptions surrounding their alleged propensity for unprovoked violence. According to Cesar, it's our human counterparts who deserve the condemnation for mistreating us and then channeling our natural desire to please into violence against other animals and people. If you missed it, you can see some great photos on the Nat Geo site, and you can read Cesar's article, '6 Reasons To Love Pit Bulls' at Parade.com. 

Cesar and 'Junior'

Thanks to the hoopla created by GIMME SHELTER, whenever people ask, "Is Tanner all Pit Bull or a mix?", Lou and Eugenie now answer, "He's part Pit, and part Publicity Hound!" I please guilty, especially since we just taped our first TV interview for the City of Calabasas, CA "Author's Night" with host and former mayor Karyn Foley. As usual, my chiacchierone (chatterbox) human did the yakking while I gave the show an air or gravitas, looking regal and serene as the camera crew did their thing. Once they tell us, we'll let you know where and when you can check it out. 

                                                                ~ ~ ~

Here are some pix that should bolster our campaign to replace the Easter Bunny with the Easter Pittie.

Tanner & Dutch

Pit Bulls…inherently dangerous...to bones and squeaky toys.

Buzz LaBracio and his 6-month-old 'grandson'

Another 'Dangerous' Pit Bull

BLUE RIBBON WEARING, FUND RAISING 'PET OF THE WEEK'

Saturday marked the end of a hurricane week for me, and my human companions. On Sunday, March 30, we strutted our stuff at the 12th Annual Avondale Charity Pet Show where they  broke their previous fundraising records, the proceeds going to The Pet Rescue Center in Coachella. A certain Pit Bull Johnson and his human Boswell sold copies of GIMME SHELTER while my 'mom' Eugenie, displayed her amazing stone sculptures. We met tons of great people and pets including Joan & Kathleen Hopp, Kathleen's son, Colton, his pal, Connor, and a super fine petite hottie named Jenny, and Joan's sleek, shy pit girl, Nikki. As a 'Thank You' for my part, the Avondale gang presented me with my first blue ribbon, which I'll always treasure. 

A Blue Ribbon Day

E's mom, Melissa with 'Jenny'!

We'd barely returned from Palm Springs when Eugenie opened the Malibu Surfside News and shrieked, "Look who's in the paper!" It was a picture of me as 'Pet Of The Week', curled up in my bed, the essence of a dignified yet lovable pit bull. Seems mom slipped it to the paper on the QT, the sweet little rat.

Saturday, April 4,  meant another long car trip, this time to Lemon Park in Simi Valley for their 4th Annual Bark For Life cancer fundraiser. It was a gorgeous day in a gorgeous spot where Lou & I reprised our roles as 'Grand Marshals', surrounded by gangs of dogs and humans all strolling to raise money for a noble cause. Kudos of organizer Laura Leonard (rescue mom for 3 dogs) and her legion of volunteers and sponsors. We have one more event left on the calendar - a cable TV interview. After that, I'm taking a break and demanding a raise in my 'pay' of chicken treats and squeaky toys. Either that, or Lou can dress up like a pit bull and do it all himself.

The 'family' @ Bark For Life

Lou & Tanner with Doug & his rescue Cane Corso, Sasha

'BOWLED' OVER…GIMME SHELTER ON 'PROBATION'

Thanks in no small part to this pit bull, Lou and Eugenie were invited to attend the 2014 Academic Bowl for incarcerated youth this past Thursday, March 20. The event was held at the Autry National Center in Griffith Park and featured the 4 top teams from the county wide competition. After a Jeopardy-style quiz, a debate on funding for arts education, and a power point presentation on the need to add 'Art' to the current emphasis on S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering & math), the girls from Road To Success Academy at Camp Scott emerged victorious. All of the teams were very poised and well prepared and everyone enjoyed watching them revel in a positive spotlight. 

Lou (3rd left) Erika Brunson, Principal Zan Mason & the Camp Gonzales School staff

A few days later, Lou and Eugenie accompanied our book angel, Erika Brunson, to Camp Gonzales here in Malibu where she donated 100 copies of GIMME SHELTER to the juvenile court school for use in the upcoming summer 'Freedom School'. Zan Mason, the Santa Monica Mountains district principal, and the Gonzales staff gave everyone a warm welcome and offered some terrific suggestions how the book could work to bolster the learning theme of 'Discovery'. My favorite idea was Erika's suggestion that 'the dog' (me!) be allowed to come to Camp when Lou speaks to the students about the writing process. We'll keep you posted as things develop.  Right now, we're off to Palm Springs for the Avondale Country Club Charity Pet show where Lou, Eugenie and 'the dog' are the guests of honor. We're hoping our efforts help bring in lots of cash for this year's charity, The Pet Rescue Center. Pictures to follow.

'The Dog' having his morning yogurt

MORE TO B.R.A.G. ABOUT…'A PLACE TO CALL HOME…AVONDALE PET SHOW: A FAMILY AFFAIR

Just a few weeks back, we were thrilled, and honored when GIMME SHELTER was awarded the B.R.A.G. Medallion for Non-fiction. Paula and the indieBRAG folks gave us glowing reviews on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Goodreads, the internet's largest book lovers group, along with shout-outs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. What more could we want? How about an awesome author interview with Stephanie Moore Hopkins on her writers blog, Layered Pages. Thanks to her probing questions, Lou comes across like a real writer, who wrote a great book about a riveting subject - me!

When you have a second, give it a look.

Tanner on what used to be Lou's side of the bed

If you like great books with dog heroes (and who doesn't?), check out G.A. Whitmore's new volume, A Place To Call Home, the moving story of a rescue dog named Toby, who suffers the slings and arrows of outrageous doggie fortune before finding his happy ending.

As I mentioned a few posts ago, Lou and I have been invited as special guests to the 12th Annual Avondale Charity Pet Show in Palm Desert, CA on March 30 from 4:00 - 6:00. Thanks to sweet Joan Hopp, it's now a family affair because Eugenie will be showing her sculptures while Lou hawks copies of Gimme Shelter. As always, a percentage of every sale will go to charity, in this case The Pet Rescue Center. Before signing off I wanted to alert our local SoCal friends to some other very cool upcoming dog events. First, on Saturday, April 5 at 10:30, Lou, Eugenie and I will be leading the pack at the American Cancer Society's  Simi Valley 'BARK FOR LIFE' Fundraiser at Lemon Park. So if you live nearby, slap the leash on your best friend and join us for a good time and a good cause. Then, on April 27, my amazing vet Dr. Lisa and her colleagues at the Malibu Coast Animal Hospital will be joining forces with the angels at Heathcare for Homeless Animals (formerly Malibu Pet Companions) to host WOOFSTOCK, a combination block party and fundraiser featuring great music, fun events and celebrity hosts. I've already told Lou that we WILL be there, so book it, Dan-o! 

No explanation needed

RESCUE ROAD TRIPS…YELLOWSTONE WOLVES…'HONORED' GUESTS

For some strange reason (his spotty Oscar picks?) Tanner asked me to pinch hit (write) for him today. He watched the Academy Awards with us and we all thought it was one of those years where, in the absence of a consensus juggernaut like Avatar,  a lot of good, deserving films split the pie. We were glad to see Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity and 12 Years A Slave get some props, and not surprised that Academy snubbed American Hustle (a gang of good actors clearly 'acting' in a choppy script) and Wolf Of Wall Street (an overly long paean to greed and selfishness masquerading as a cautionary tale).

With the movies behind us, we can get back to talking about our other favorites, dogs and books. In yesterday's Parade Magazine, Peter Zheutlin delivered a moving portrait of Greg Mahle, a former restaurant owner who now runs a transport service, Rescue Road Trips, that makes bi-monthly trips from Ohio to the Deep South, to rescue 'death row' dogs from high-kill shelter and deliver them to their new the Northeast, where they're taken in by loving families. If you'd like to contribute to the cause, go to rescueroadtrips.com. 

Thanks to our dear friend, accomplished artist and animal lover Sharon Brooks for turning us on to LOOKING FOR 527 by Susanne Belcher & Christine Baleshta. This slim volume pack a powerful wallop as a writer and artist join forces to illuminate the moving life, and tragic loss of one of the Yellowstone wolves. The authors avoid political diatribes, preferring to let their simple, loving observations of the park and its wolves make the case for reinstating U.S. Fish and Wildlife Endangered Species protection for these majestic creatures. To underscore the good wolves do, this fascinating video details the many ways in which the much maligned predators positively affect the entire ecosystem, and even the physical geography of that American gem, Yellowstone Park.

Tanner with his 'younger' woman, Kona

It seems that receiving the B.R.A.G. Medallion for Nonfiction has ushered in a host of honors for Tanner and GIMME SHELTER. First, we've been invited as 'honored guests' to this year's Academic Bowl, a scholastic competition for incarcerated youth, some of whom I know from my work at the local probation camp schools. And later this month, we've been invited to attend the Avondale Country Club's 12 Annual Charity Pet Show in Palm Desert. While it's always great to hang with other animal lovers, this year's proceeds will go to The Pet Rescue Center. Since March 13, 1998, founder Christine Madruga and her colleagues have placed over 6,033 dogs and 7,050 cats into loving homes. 

BIG GREY DOGS...LITTLE GOLDEN MEN…'SKY'

Mom and dad have been working very hard lately, keeping me in bones and dog toys. So to decompress, the three of us took off last weekend for the Central Coast. The ostensible reason was the 14th Annual Solvang Greyhound Fest. Billed “The Danish Capital of America,” One weekend every year, the town (renowned for its quaint, European-style architecture and decadent bakeries) puts out the Danish 'Welcome' mat for former racing dogs and their human adoptive parents. Over the course of two days, we saw hundreds of the sleek rocket hounds. I invited them all to play but only a few of the youngsters answered the call. At first I thought the leggy divas were just too full of themselves but then some rescue folks explained that Greyhounds spend their early lives in kennels, surrounded by only their handlers and other Greyhounds. Not surprisingly, they tend to view other dogs, even this lovable Pit Bull, as an alien species. At least no one complained about having a 'gangsta'  pit bull crash the party. Whenever someone did ask about my lineage, Lou would say, "Tanner's a Greyhound that's been hitting the weights and taking 'roods". In addition to ogling dogs, we took the opportunity grab some fine eats at La Super Rica in Santa Barbara,The Hitching Post in Buelton and Root 246 in Solvang. 

Tanner & Eugenie crash the 14th Annual Solvang Greyhound Fest

Tanner & Lou soaking up the Danish sun

Every year, the three of us put our heads together to pick the Oscar winners. Lou thinks he's the expert, but mom and I took him to school in 2012 when Uggie led The Artist to a Best Picture win. Thanks to SAG screeners, we managed to see most of this year's nominees and here are our predication: Best Director: Alfonson Cuaron for Gravity. Best Picture: Dallas Buyers Club, with Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor nods Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto. Kate Blanchett cops Best Actress for Blue Jasmine, while Jennifer Lawrence of American Hustle grabs her second golden dwarf for Best Supporting Actress. Finally, Best Screenplays to 12 Years A Slave (Adapted), and Dallas Buyers Club (Original).

Speaking of awards….A few weeks back, the American Kennel Club held its 138th Westminster Dog Show at New York's Madison Square Garden. We watched both nights and felt that the American Staffordshire Terrier was clearly the pick of the blue blood litter. In case you're wondering, our choice had nothing to do with the fact that I'm an AmStaff. We also liked the Pug (for Dudley) the Irish Setter (for Rebel) and the Miniature Bull Terrier (for Maynard). The crowd went gaga for Nathan, a goofy Bloodhound but, in the only pick that mattered, the Judge selected 'Sky' a wire haired Fox Terrier, as this year's top dog. Disappointed as we were, we were happy for Sky, who's a hometown Malibu dog.

'Sky' takes the Blue Ribbon at MSG

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. 
                                                                     ~ ~ ~
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. 

B.R.A.G.ing RIGHTS - COOL NUNS - FAREWELL TO A MENTOR

I promised Lou we could share this post but first I wanted to crow a little about how GIMME SHELTER was just named a 2014 B.R.A.G. MEDALLION Honoree in Nonfiction. The Book Readers Appreciation Group is a private organization whose mission is to discover new and talented self-published authors and help them give their work the attention and recognition it deserves. Their primary focus is fiction but they selectively consider non-fiction books as well. In light of the rigorous selection process, we're very flattered to be selected.
                                                                                       ~ ~ ~
Since Gimme Shelter is the story of a homeless pit bull that 'saves' his wayward human guardian, we thought we'd share the tale of some elderly nuns who courageously adopted a senior rescue pit bull named Remy. Given the recent scandals involving the Catholic Church, it's great to see these ladies walking their talk in the style of Saint Francis. Read the story.

I begged Tanner to surrender the keyboard so I could say 'farewell' to my good friend and mentor, PETER CHETTA, who passed away earlier this week. Peter taught English at my alma mater, Iona College, for 53 years! We met when I was just a green and not especially literate sophomore, grappling with the giants of American Literature. A lawyer and Fullbright Scholar who spoke Chinese, Peter was a gentleman, and raconteur, a man who could and would relate to anyone, regardless of their station. A man for all seasons. A diehard theatre and opera lover, he saw thousands of shows, amassing a huge collection of Playbills, signed by such luminaries as The Godfather himself,  Marlon Brandon. No venue was too small or remote, which explains why he got to see your truly back in my acting days. Regardless of the show or my part, he was always upbeat and supportive. And he was especially thrilled with GIMME SHELTER, as if by writing it I'd fulfilled the potential he saw in me. To paraphrase Horatio's speech to Hamlet: "He was an admirable King (of teachers).  We shall not look upon his like again." 

                                                                          ~ ~ ~

Lastly, some long overdue book reviews:
Point Dume by Katie Arnoldi - Not For Locals Only.  Marry The Endless Summer, Savages and Slackers, shake it up and add a local perspective and a wicked sense of humor and you have Katie Arnoldi's novel Point Dume. The action centers on the Malibu culture clash between the old-time surf culture, the rich yuppie invaders and cartel pot growers using the nearby mountains as an 'el norte' nursery but Arnoldi's real forte lies in skewering the players on all sides. If you're wondering what Malibu was like before it was 'Fabulous', Point Dume will set you straight and entertain you, too.

The Sacred Art of Listening by Kay Lindahl - I became aware of the book at an open mic night where Ms. Lindahl spoke. Her gentle wisdom moved me to buy the book and I'm glad I did. Veteran New Age seekers will recognize much of the wisdom in this slender but impactful volume. In forty short but moving essays, the writers explains how listening differs from mere hearing, and how learning to truly do so can be a life-altering event. 

THE BEST 'FAMILY' DOGS ARE…WENT FISHING, CAUGHT 4 DEER!

You look a little young to be a veterinarian!

Normally our posts have to do with me, Lou's book or our life in Malibu, but this week two very cool stories caught my eye and I wanted to share them. The Best Friends Animal Society newsletter had a story by Kelli Harmon about how to find the 'best' breed of dog for your family. While I'm a big advocate for pit bulls, people thinking about a dog might want to give it a read: How can you find your own version of the perfect dog? Dozens of websites have quizzes or top 10 lists of the best breeds for families (or for protection, or for people who live in an apartment, and so on). But those lists of breeds miss the mark. Why? Because they answer the wrong question. There is no perfect breed — for anyone. But there is a perfect dog out there for everyone. You just have to know what to look for. Golden retrievers and every other breed are like snowflakes - When people seek out these lists, what are they really looking for? A dog who won’t bite anyone, or will be easy for a middle schooler to walk on a leash, or a breed that doesn’t bark a lot, or is active or not very active? These things are important considerations. But looking for any of these qualities in one breed over another sets up the expectation that if you get a (insert the name of the “best” breed here), he will absolutely have (or won’t have) what matters to you. That’s where the quizzes and lists fall short. Kristi Littrell, adoption manager at Best Friends, has successfully matched up thousands of dogs with families in her 15-plus years at Best Friends. She’s met hundreds of purebreds — a veritable dog show parade of breeds — over the years. Kristi says, “It’s wrong to think that every single poodle bites and every golden retriever is extra nice.” She says that anyone looking for the best dog for their family and lifestyle should base the choice on “the individual animal, and not on age, breed or mix of breeds.” Read more
                                                                      ~ ~ ~ 
While we usually post canine news, this story about an Alasakn fisherman who went out for Halibut and came back with four deer was just too odd, and uplifting:Tom Satre told the Sitka Gazette that he was out with a charter group on his 62-foot fishing vessel when four juvenile black-tailed deer swam directly toward his boat."Once the deer reached the boat, the four began to circle the boat, looking directly at us. We could tell right away that the young bucks were distressed. I opened up my back gate and we helped the typically skittish and absolutely wild animals onto the boat. In all my years fishing, I've never seen anything quite like it! Once on board, they collapsed with exhaustion, shivering." Read the entire story:

2014…THE YEAR OF THE PIT BULL

Lou says that, according to the Chinese calendar, 2014 is the Year of the Horse. I say, hogwash; as far as I'm concerned this is the Year of the Pit Bull. Among the goals I've plotted out for my humans is to sell several thousand copies of GIMME SHELTER, and to get the book adopted as part of the curriculum at the L.A. County Juvenile Probation Camp Schools where Lou teaches part-time. On top of that, we're aiming to work with Project Unleashed so we can help a whole gang of homeless dogs and kids at risk. 
                                                              ~ ~ ~
Lou sometimes gets discouraged so I had to point out all that we accomplished in 2013. For example, in January we published Gimme Shelter as an e-book on Amazon. The following month saw the arrival of the paperback version, both courtesy of our 'angel' Kathryn Galan. April saw a great Pet Life Radio interview with our friend and animal advocate Megan Blake, a flurry of newspaper articles in the Malibu Surfside, Malibu Times and Around About Peterstown (NJ), plus an SRO author's night at Diesel Books in Malibu. May brought a similar gig at Bank of Books, a Top 10 ranking in The Times book list (Malibu Times, that is), a magazine photo shoot with the amazing Roxanne McCann, and featured placement on Amazon's dog section. In June, Lou penned a story on 'Adopting A Pit Bull' for India's WOOF! Magazine. July saw us featured in the Malibu Times Magazine. In August, we kicked off the American Cancer Society's first Malibu  'Bark For Life' event, were featured in stories in the Agoura Patch and Acorn, signed books at the Westlake Barnes & Noble, and reprised our Diesel reading at their Brentwood store. September found us gracing the pages of American Dog Magazine, where we received a glowing review, and chatting with Tom & Sandy on on Live 805, KVTA (listen here). During this stretch, our paeano, Al Santillo, was busy selling copies of Gimme Shelter faster than we could print them. Grazie, Al. In October, we spent a great Saturday holding court in the author's corner at Agoura Hills' Reyes Adobe Days. December brought a nice surprise - a #16 slot on Diesel's Top 50 Books of 2103, and another story on Dogs In Winter for WOOF! If that weren't enough, along the way we made a ton of new dog friends like Chip & Alicia from Project Unleashed, the folks at Malibu Pet Companions, Linda Blair's Worldheart Foundation, Animal Advocates Alliance and the Canine Adoption Rescue League. Couple that with a slew of parties, dinners, Eugenie's gallery show and a slew of crazy days with the Trancas Dogpark gang and it added up to one delicious, stupendous circuit around the sun.

2014, The Year of the Pit Bull!

A few months back, we posted about neuro-research confirming that dogs are people, too. Well, now comes shocking word that cats, yes, cats, have human feelings, too. According to 'According Animals Dignity' by Frank Bruni in the NY Times:"This [trend] is only going to build, because at the same time that scientific advances force us to gaze upon the animal kingdom with more respect, the proliferation of big and little cameras — of eyes everywhere — permits us to eavesdrop not just on animal play but also on animal persecution. It’s all documented, it all goes viral, and we can’t turn away, or claim ignorance, as easily as we once did.

#16 WITH A BULLET…CHRISTMAS RECAP

As usual, Christmas was too fast, and too furious, at least for this pit bull. First, my parents hauled me across the canyon to Taco's house for a late breakfast, then it was back in the car for a schlep to W. Hollywood and a visit with the Spirito cousins, Chris and Ingrid, and their sons, Jack & Dylan. After Lou stuffed himself on antipasto, homemade lasagna, meat balls, sausage and cookies, it was back on the road for a 2-hour trek to deliver Eugenie's mom, Melissa, back to Palm Springs. By the time we rolled into her place, I felt like Santa after the Christmas push; I was too beat to even touch my dinner. The only bright spot was Lou sleeping on the aero bed, which meant I got to crawl in with him and spend a few hours snoring nose-to-nose. Can't do that at home but that's what holidays are for, right? It was awesome and I can see why mom likes to snuggle with him.

with Taco, aka 'The Nasty Little Dog'

We came home to news that Diesel Books, our local mom & pop bookseller, had sold all their copies of GIMME SHELTER, which placed 16th on their '50 TOP-SELLING BOOKS OF 2013', ahead of some pretty big names. Word is Diesel plans to close its doors unless they find a buyer. Hope some literary angel steps up and keeps our favorite venue going.

REINDEER, SWEET MABEL & A MERRY CHRISTMAS!

With Christmas only a few days off, I wanted to share a pretty cool experience that my mom, Eugenie, had this week. She was driving to work in Malibu when traffic suddenly ground to a halt. She glanced across the highway to the lush Pepperdine University lawn where she saw a dozen deer charging down the hill, followed by a free roaming dog. Just as the deer reached the edge of the highway, the dog's owner appeared and called him off. Poised on the edge of the blacktop, Rudolph and company about-faced and headed back toward the mountains, where a fat dude in a red suit was waiting beside a cherry red Camaro. Really.

A nativity scene was erected in a church yard. During the night, workers can across this scene. The dog…a Shepherd 

                                                                ~ ~ ~

About MABEL, a pit bull rescue from the Central Coast, north of Santa Barbara. She's in need of a great home and this video shows just how lucky whoever steps up will be. If you or someone you know wants to adopt this ray of 'Sunshine', get in touch and we'll connect you with her volunteer caretakers. 

                                                               ~ ~ ~

Since we're spinning yarns and touting great dogs, here's an excerpt from GIMME SHELTER about my first Christmas with Lou and Eugenie. Enjoy, and Buon Natale, Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noel or just have a Merry! - "There’s magic in the scent of a real Christmas tree. One whiff of a Scotch Pine or a majestic Douglas Fir and I’m seven again, scouring the Sears Catalog, scribbling Christmas lists, and baking cookies for Santa. Dogs aren’t quite that nostalgic. For them, a real tree is just a handy porta-potty. With that in mind, we skipped the walk down memory lane and settled for an unholy fiber optic “tree,” a cross between a Chia Pet and a Lava Lamp. Tanner watched from his bed while we hung the ornaments and garland. We lugged a small mountain of gifts from the garage, dusted them off (thanks to Eugenie, they’d been wrapped since our Solvang trip in October), and deftly arranged them under the polyester bush, creating the perfect Hallmark moment. Then we left to have a glass of wine with some neighbors. We came home to a scene from The Terminator. The tree was askew. The floor was littered with ornaments. Scraps of soggy wrapping paper were strewn about the room like confetti. In our brief absence, Tanner had clawed his way to the bottom of the pile where we’d stashed some plush dog toys.

From day one he’d been gentle, even nurturing, with his “babies.” Lately, however, he’d started savaging them at an alarming rate. The carnage began one evening when we went to a movie. He was fired up and wanted to play. We thought about bringing him along, but weren’t sure he could handle staying in the car alone. And there was always the puking thing. As we closed the door, he glared at us, annoyed at being left behind with so much fuel in his tank. We returned to find his bed had been ransacked, the sheepskin throw torn to shreds. In the past, he’d accidentally ruined a few toys. With his shark-like jaws some collateral damage was inevitable. This was clearly intentional. And he wasn’t finished. In quick succession he gutted Duckie, decapitated Blooie, and mangled his new bear, nicknamed Un Occhio since he was now missing an eye. Sharpie somehow survived the rampage, but was so disfigured that he could star in Phantom of the Opera. Hoping to stem the onslaught, we bought Tanner a Konga, a thick, rubber toy the pet store clerk called “indestructible”. He promptly trashed it…and four subsequent replacements. When I complained, the saleswoman threw up her hands.“You might want to skip the toys,” she said, “and just buy him an old Buick.”

Busted!

WOOF! MAGAZINE - MORE WINTER DOG DANGERS

At Tanner's urging I wrote a piece for WOOF MAGAZINE's December issue highlighting some of the common cold weather dangers faced by dogs and offering tips on how to keep our 4-legged buddies safe and comfortable. If your dogs face snow and cold temps, give it a look. My sister's 'boys', Aldo (below) and Harley are featured. For safety tips on other perils like heatstroke, rattlesnake bites, and dog aggression, check out the sidebars in GIMME SHELTER.

Aldo, the snow dog

'TIS THE SEASON TO BE CAREFUL

While we Californians are mired in the throes of a biting winter cold spell (daytime temps in the low 50s!) Tanner asked me to pass along some tips for avoiding two of the most common and most serious winter dangers for dogs:  Frostbite & Hypothermia.  Frostbite occurs after prolonged exposure to cold temperatures (below 32 degrees Fahrenheit), especially when there’s a high wind-chill factor. When outdoor temps drop, your dog’s body diverts blood to the core organs, leaving the skin and extremities – nose, tail, tips of the ears, and scrotum - at risk of frostbite. Signs are not always visible immediately but symptoms include pale, hard skin that remains cold to the touch once the animal is brought indoors, or swelling and redness once the skim warms. If not covered and treated, frostbite may result in permanent damage. In severe instances, the affected tissue or limb must be removed to avoid potentially fatal infection. Hypothermia can take place when your dog’s core temperature drops below the normal range of 100 and 102.5 F. If it dips to 99 – 90 F, your dog is at risk for mild hypothermia. 90 - 82 F put’s him at risk of moderate hypothermia. Below 82 and he’s in jeopardy of severe, life-threatening hypothermia. Symptoms of hypothermia include slowed pulse, shivering shallow breath, non-responsiveness to stimuli, and collapsing. If your dog shows signs of hypothermia, warm him with a covered water bottle or heated blanket and call your vet immediately.

A little common sense can help prevent both frostbite and hypothermia. As a rule, if you are cold and uncomfortable outdoors, so is your dog. Longhaired dogs like Siberian Huskies tend to handle the cold better than shorthaired dogs like Pit Bulls. Short dogs like Chihuahuas will get colder in deep snow than tall dogs like Mastiffs. Senior dogs, puppies, and sick dogs are more vulnerable to cold-related problems. 

When the mercury plummets, keep your dog inside. If that’s not possible, be sure to provide him with a safe, comfortable doghouse, and plenty of food and water.  A winter doghouse should be weatherproof, well insulated, and just large enough for your dog to lie down and turn around. If his shelter is too large, it will allow his body’s heat to escape. The entrance should be covered, and positioned away from the wind. It should have plenty of thick, clean, dry bedding. For added warmth, you might want to get your dog a sweater or coat, and, if he will tolerate them, booties to protect his feet from frostbite. Even with a doghouse, staying warm requires more energy (calories) than normal. If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, be sure to increase his food supply, especially his protein intake. Water will freeze in cold weather. To prevent dehydration, use a heated bowl. Dogs’ tongues will often stick to metal bowls so consider using plastic ones instead.

Tanner with cousin Anthony and Delta

While Tanner drew first blood with his 'Thank You' blog, Eugenie and I feel a little 'payback' was in order. So, thanks to Tanner for inspiring me to write GIMME SHELTER 'guarding' us whenever the doorbell rings, even on TV...For nesting under our glass table during our dinner parties…For hogging the heater when it's chilly outside...For loving all of the dogs we meet, even the nasty little ones that deserve a nip…For his enormous, soulful human eyes, his silky ears and his dripping kisses…For humoring us when we play keep away or jump…For graciously surrendering his toys and not lopping off our fingers…For allowing us to drag him along wherever we go, even when it means dealing with the car…For curling up on my lap and making my legs go numb during our long drives…For riding with his head out the front passenger window where I'm forced to endure gale-force winds...For leaping into my bed whenever the Santa Ana winds howl...For all of those delicious cuddles …For making me a kinder, gentler, better man and our home a sweeter, more loving place.

'Thank You', Tanner

Looking for the PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT for the log-lovers in your life? Tanner thinks that GIMME SHELTER is just the ticket.

GRAZIE, MERCI, DOMO ARIGATO, GRACIAS, DANKE…THANK YOU!

Each year, my 2-legged parents and the rest of their breed set aside a special day to be 'Thankful' which looks to me like an excuse to eat way too much yummy food that I don't get to share. This year's festa (Lou's word) was at the home of Eugenie's dad, Gene, and his wife, Sandra. Although they're cat people, I like them very much and appreciate them letting me attend the party and steal the spotlight, as we pit bulls often do. Although I was denied a share of the goodies, I'd like to mention some of the many amazing things I'm thankful for…

For Lou & Eugenie, who took me into their home and made me part of their family when no one else wanted me. They shower me with love, calm me when I'm frightened and make every day a fun adventure, even my baths and the car rides. Lou even wrote a book (with lots of help from Kathryn) and made me a local celebrity…For their friends and family (too many to mention) who treat me like a real person to be loved, respected and cherished…For my dog pals, Ceba, Otto, Dexter, Kona, Lola, Porter, Lucky, Coco, Charley, Buddha, Aldo, Harley, Magnus, Rocky, Rusty, Blur, Lady, Charger, Luna, Carl, Bobby, Roxie, the 3 Bellas and all of the gang from Malibu Villas and the Trancas Dog park. For the dog park, the beach, the farm, the meadow, and all of the other cool places were I get to run and explore. For squeaky toys, Skinnees, Kongas, tennis balls, Lou's socks and the Malibu Villas cats. For chicken strips, Denta Bones, Check-ups, liver bits and the very occasional (hint, hint) table scrap. For the great SoCal weather. For my three comfy beds, and my parents' Tempurpedic, where we get to cuddle and watch TV. For Dr. Lisa, Tony Rollins, Rob Lerner, and all of the staff and volunteers at the Agoura Hills Shelter where I started out. For Malibu Pet Companions, Karma Rescue, C.A.R.L., Linda Blair's Worldheart Foundation, and all of the other amazing rescue groups that work to help dogs in need, especially pit bulls…For all the amazing humans who choose to share their lives and loves with dogs like me. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Coming home from Trancas dog park 

Exploring 'The Farm'