T.R. (and another T.R.)

Yep, that's me, T.R. Here I am out on a great hike with my brother. Can you guess where I am? Well, if you look carefully in the background, you see another great T.R. That should be a clue. Go ahead, take a guess.

My brother is away right now, but I have a lot of other great hikes planned for when he gets back.

Back from my retreat

I just returned from a nice vacation. Here is a picture of one of my new friends who I spent a few days with. They have dogs and cats and it was just a lot of fun. I like chasing the little chiwawa around. My mom and dad picked me up last yesterday. Haven't seen my brother and sister. They probably went on their own vacations and will be back soon. I was a little confused this morning. All summer, when my mom, dad, and sister left for the day, I got to go in with my brother for a nice morning snooze before our big hike of the day. I went to his door this morning, but daddy wouldn't let me in. Then I realized my bother is probably still on vacation. Well, I'm sure I'll see him soon and we can start our hikes again!

Go Wille Bean!!

My dad forwarded me this one, initially discovered by my grandma.

http://news.aol.com/elections/article/labrador-runs-for-mayor-in-alabama/104299?icid=200100397x1206726359x1200342926

Wille Bean Roscoe P. Coltrane, an impressive yellow lab (he's the one on the right) is running for mayor of Fairhope, AL. With a name like that, you can be sure he is a well-bred dog. The newspapers are treating this like some kind of joke, but believe me, Wille Bean is nothing to laugh at. I just got off the phone with him and it's clear this guy is going places. He's a big supporter of AFDD and wants to expand and improve his town's dog parks. Wille Bean is natural charmer on the campaign trail: he does 'shake' with all the prospective voters and is out licking all the babies.

Tommy's Book of the Month

For the Love of Animals: by Kathryn Shevelow


Once I opened it, I just couldn't put this book down. A shameful blot on human history is only now being slowly rectified.

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Animals-Animal-Protection-Movement/dp/0805080902/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217247897&sr=1-1

"the record of human treatment of animals over the centuries has been notable primarily for its cruelty, brutality and selfishness . . . Most people simply used, and abused, animals as labor, food and sport because that was what people had always done. "

To my canine readers, I encourage you to get this book. It is your responsibility to know the history of your ancestors, how they struggled, suffered . . . endured, in the hopes that their descendents, puppies of today, could live a satisfactory and decent life. To some extent, that hope has been fulfilled. But does any dog out there seriously think the job is done, that all we dogs live nice sheltered lives, that all we dogs get Kongs and have nice fenced-in back yards? The reality is NO, NO A THOUSAND TIMES NO. There are still dogs who suffer, even in this, the richest country the world has ever known!

Perhaps it's a bit like Germans being forced to read of the horrors their parents and grandparents perpetuated during WWII, but you humans must read this book too. It's not enough for you to say "I didn't do it, I treat dogs good." You must learn of the cruelty your species is capable of inflicting on poor, helpless dogs.

Dog Lady

I found a real cool web site, by Dog Lady.

http://askdoglady.com/

She didn't post a picture of herself, so I assume she looks something like the picture here. She seems like a very smart lady and you can look at the site yourself. But she's only part dog, and maybe that makes her qualified to help between us canines and our owners. But there's still a gap, she can't presume to speak for us dogs. That's where I try to fit in.

She did cover a very controversial subject on this page:

http://askdoglady.com/best_in_show.html

(Bleep) Happens At Dog Shows

What happens if, for instance, Uno goes poopie right in the middle of the show? She quotes someone who says “If your dog eliminates while showing in the ring, you won't be disqualified. The judge will ask the ring steward to call for the cleanup crew, whose job it is to dispatch such problems.

What do you think, should a dog be disqualified? I think 'yes' the dog should be disqualified. Because I know I would be disqualified as a pet by my mom if I went poopies or peepees at the wrong time or place.

Wow, was that close!

My daddy and big sister took me 'Bye-Bye' yesterday. We went for a long ride to downtown DC. But during the ride, I really had to 'go'. So I whimpered and cried and made it real clear that something just wasn't right. I guess they got the hint because shortly after, we stopped at East Potomac Park and, boy, I got out just in time - if you know what I mean. (I've been asked by some people why I blog about subjects such as these. It's really quite simple. We dogs are not as self-conscious as you people.)

Then my sister took me for a long walk around Haines Point. It sure was hot out there, with all my fur and all. But she didn't walk too fast or anything. She stopped to rest plenty of times and she called daddy a lot and complained about how long the walk is, like there's anything he can do about that! Finally, Daddy came up running up from behind us and grabbed my leash and made me run the rest of the way in. I napped the rest of the day, except when my brother came home and decided he just had to pick me up.

The Pet Ten Commandments

These Pet Ten Commandments were sent to my family by my human granndpa. I posted them for all my human readers. All my dog readers . . . well . . . you guys already know this.

=======================================

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 bite you.

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.

Pet owners prefer McCain over Obama

http://news.yahoo.com/page/election-2008-political-pulse-pets-and-politics

I think I was one of the first on this story . . . and this is a scandal that simply won't go away. Dog hating Obama has a lot of 'splainin to do to the dog lovers of this country and thus far he has been ducking the issue.

And don't be fooled by his mendacious campaign promises:

While he doesn't currently have a pet, Obama has reportedly promised his daughters a dog once the campaign is over.

I'm not ready to endorse either candidate yet, but McCain's obvious joy and celebration of animals will certainly weigh heavily.

The Fate of Vick's Dogs . . .

provides an important lesson. It's another blow to the breedests.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/06/AR2008070602351.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2008070602429&pos=



Some claim breedism is ingrained in American society, that we are irredeemibly breedest. But now comes an instructive and heartwarming tale of Michael Vick's pit bulls. Being pit bulls, many ASSUMED these dogs were hopeless and wanted to give up on them en masse. It turns out that, once you get to know them and treat them as individuals and not as caricatures, many of Vick's erstwhile killers are now sweet, lovable animals. Like Leo (pictured here)

a tan, muscular pit bull, dons a colorful clown collar and visits cancer patients as a certified therapy dog in California.

Or Hector

who bears deep scars on his chest and legs, recently was adopted and is about to start training for national flying disc competitions in Minnesota.


So sure, there are some bad dogs out there. But you "can't judge a bood by its cover" and you can't judge a dog by its breed.

Trakr 'most clone-worthy': to be cloned

Trakr, the hero who sniffed out survivors from the World Trade Tower rubble, will be cloned.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080701/sc_afp/usattacksskoreaanimalcloneoffbeatp://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080701/sc_afp/usattacksskoreaanimalcloneoffbeat


Trakr, a German shepherd who lives with his owner James Symington in Los Angeles, was picked by BioArts International as the most "clone-worthy" canine in a competition offering an owner a free chance to replicate their pet.

Good for Trakr; he looks like the kind of dog you can sit down with and hoist a few rounds of gravy. But what the article omits is where I came out on the 'clone-worthy' list. I'm in frequent communication with a dog whose owner works for BioArts International, so I've been following the selection process closely. He told me I weighed in at #53 overall and perhaps more important, #2 on the cockapoo list. So who knows, maybe if I improve a little, learn how to fetch better, eat my all my dog food in one sitting, things like that, maybe I'll move up. I'm not saying I want to be cloned and you, my readers, voted against it. But it's nice to be recognized, just the same.

Barack?

What a development in the presidential campaign. Barack and Hillary are quite close now. I found some private photos of the two of them and and they look very happy together.




They kiss










They embrace















They dance.











And they share private moments.








Maybe this Barack isn't so bad after all since it looks like he is getting his advice straight from Hillary. Maybe she will inform him of the importance of AFDD I will have to take a closer look at him too.

(By the way, let's keep this on the Q.T. I don't want Bill to get wind of this. He strikes me as the jealous sort and I don't want to get Hillary in trouble with her hubby.)

From Mt. Airy to the Top of the Mountain

All us Mt. Airy, MD natives are real proud of our Joe. Joe Alexander made it from humble Mt. Airy to the big show. When I was just a pup, still with my mom, Joe stopped by the farm once, to shop for a puppy. Well, he was already a big star around our parts. When he arrived at the farm, there was a big stir among the dobermans and they started to fight among themselves, each wanting to be the first to sniff him up and play some tug-a-war. We cockapoos kinda hung back a little afraid because he was so BIG. He talked to Mr. Burdette about buying a cockapoo and Mr. Burdette said, being a big star and all, he could give him a real good price. I remember my mom, Cherokee, quipped that he was too big for such a little dog. Well, in the end, he looked us all over, me too, but I think he said we were all too skinny and flea-ridden for his tastes and he would try the farm next door.

I wonder what dog good-old Joe finally decided on? That's one lucky dog because Joe's gonna be rich and be able to give his dog steak Kongs all the time and maybe get him in free to see the games in the VID section.

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/06/27/sports/dsports062708.txt

The Spanish and Animal Rights

Praise for the Spanish who formally recognized the human rights of apes. It's a start; there's hope for us dogs yet, albeit in Spain, not my native USA.

http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jun/08062605.html

Hard Times for Our Most Vulnerable

Yes, the economy is bad, in a recession, or whatever. But why must the consequences always fall the hardest on our most vulnerable, that is, our pets?

http://www.thestate.com/local/story/441103.html

Sad stories like this would be rarer if we as a society had more compassion. Mr. McCain, Mr. Obama, where do you stand on AFDD (Aid to Families with Dependent Dogs)? America's canines would like to know.

Tommy's Two

Yup, that's right, I turned the BIG '1 + 1' on Sunday. "TODAY I AM A DOG" and all that, you know. My owners made my day real special. I went to PetSmart for a sniff-fest, the doggie bakery for a treat, and a 4 mile run with my daddy (phew, I was tired). But I recoverd in time for the evening. i got a Tommy-burger dinner and, of course, THE PRESENTS. Here I am posing with my b-day gifts - a furry fox and a snout-wrestling giraffe. The fox is furry alright, but got nothing on me in that department. The giraffe is one mean wrestler.

I have to admit, I get a little nostolgic on my birthday, remembering the Autumn View Farm, all my friends and relatives, and of course, my (furry) mom and dad. I wonder what my brothers and sisters were doing and if they were thinking about me like I was them?

A Dark Day Dawns

HILLARY R.I.P

She's feisty, she hasn't given up. But even a dog can read the writing on the wall. What's to become of us cockapoos now? We've lost our greatest champion. And I suppose my appointment as Undersecretary for Canine Affairs is on hold.

I need to take a while to think things through. I'm not endorsing either candidate for president just yet. I'd like to explore their respective positions on pet entitlements.

Tommy's 'Book of the Month'

Barney tells all in this shocking book. Was Barney in it for the money? You decide:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/29/AR2008052903265.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

In the footsteps of giants

A lot of the dogs I talk to are so amazed that I, just a small furry cockapoo with floppy ears and a short stubby tail, can maintain a blog. But believe me, I'm not alone out there. There are hundreds of other doggie bloggers and I only hope that I can make some small contribution to the betterment of dogkind. Not that I'm all that special, mind you. Take a look for yourselves. Look at all the other dogs that also maintain blogs:

http://www.dogswithblogs.com.au/theblogslite.htm

He Got Game

Little did you know, I've working hard to 'up my game', Fetch, that is. You know, I've taken some knocks for not being so good at Fetch. I tried to pretend it didn't bother me, like I even posted to the blog that 'fetch is just not my thing.' But it always bothered me. I read biographies about one of my heros Ashley Whippet (http://www.highland-ohio.com/ashley%20whippet.htm), possibly the greatest frisbee dog of all time. I dreamt about joining the big leagues, performing before packed crowds at half-time. So I decided to take private fetch lessons, on the sly, no one knew about it. I finally got my game to such a level that I was ready to 'show off.' I begged my daddy to take me out for a friendly game. He was dubious, 'why bother' he muttered. No, no, seriously, I said, take your camera. So he did. And check out my form. I still have a lot of work to do, but you'll agree I've come a long way.

McCain: Taking a Closer Look

As most of you know, I've been a big Hillary supporter in this election. I've followed and documented the ups and down of her campaign with rapt attention.

But some new and rather exciting information has emerged about John McCain. It turns out he is quite a dog lover, as is obvious by this photo of him with his Springer Spaniel Sam. I don't know where he stands on the important dog issues, like universal pet health care, but he nonetheless stands in stark contrast to that notorious dog-hater, Obama.

Here you can read about McCain's love for animals: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/prespets.html

"So Tommy . . .

what do you want to be when you grow up?" I get asked this question more often than I can count. I'm leaning towards becoming a police dog. I'll learn techniques to be vicious and mean and then let's see the dogs in the dog park pick on me. Does anyone know of a good school I could go to?

On to Indiana

Hillary is rolling now and needs the support of all you dogs (and you humans, too) in Indiana. I've been getting thousands of e-mails from dogs around the country professing support for Ms. Clinton. Here are some of the more prominent pooches I've heard from:

Here is Larry Birds golden lab, Jumper.

"Ruff ruff ruff ruff ruff ruff, woof, Hillary ruff ruff!"

Here is Mike Tyson's doberman Mauler. Tyson only spent a little more than three years in Indiana, but they think of him as one of their own.

"Hillary woof woof woof woof woof woof, woof woof woof woof. WOOOOOOOF!"

And Dan Quayle's peekapoo, Potatoe. Cute little guy, floppy eared diverse breed dog like me:

"Yip yip yip yip yip yip Hillary."

Ughhh

More maladies, this time diahhrea. For all you humans out there, you think it's easy being a dog? My mommy tries to analyze my diet, like "Oh no, Tommy ate his kibbles from the left side of the bowl to the right, that's what causing these problems." I don't know. I think I'm a growin' pup. A wise dog once said "This too shall pass."

More Unpleasantness

Maladies mount. This time, I hurled my dinner. Didn't do quite as well as this poor fella pictured a left. I left a pile at my mommy's feet under the kitchen table. Don't know what it was, but after the event, I felt fine, in fact hungrier than before. But then there was all this human talk about whether I should eat any more. I kept trying to tell them, I'm feeling better now, especially because it was rib-roast night.

Here's what I have to say to my family, in verse:

Pay no attention

To that vomit on the floor.

Trust me,

I want some more!!!

Troubles Continue

Now I have a small bout of the constipation. Couldn't 'go' this morning. My mom is very worried and threatening to take me to the vet (nice lady and all, but I can do without that stick-thing going up my tush).

Rough Night

Tough night, last night. I had a bout of flatulance, and an upset stomach. I just wanted to curl up in bed and go to sleep. But my mom picked me up and threw me into the back yard and made me stay out there for a long time. I don't know why. I had to to sleep on the deck for a while until my big brother let me in. But I feel better today.

Hillary Train Keeps a Rollin'

Big win in Pennsylvania for HILL-A-REE!!! Good work to all you dogs out there. Exit polling shows Hillary won the dog vote by 10 to 1!!!

Showdown in Pennsylvania

The big day is coming up - the Pennsylvania primary. Pennsylvania is a crossover state where dogs can vote in human primaries and vice versa. Hillary's going to need a big turnout and her political life could be riding on the outcome.


I've been getting a lot of e-mails from dogs across the state. They've been reading my blog and now understand the importance of this human election. To the dog, they've been asking me what they can do to help her chances, especially given that most of them don't have access to computers so they can't do it on their own (that's another matter and another reason why all dogs need to vote for Hillary; she is strongly in favor of federal subsidies to increase canine access to computers). So I told them all, send me your appeals and I'll publish them. Celebrity endorsements, that's what Hillary needs. I heard Bruce Springsteen endorsed Obama, but BIG DEAL, look who I got endorsing Hillary, some pretty famous Pennsylvania dogs!!!


I wanted to post their endorsements unedited. They are writing in Dogish, so I'll translate.




Here is Mike Schmidt's Golden Retriever Homer:

Hillary ruff ruff ruff, ruff! Ruff ruff Hillary ruff. Ruff ruff ruff ruff ruff ruff, ruff ruff ruff ruff, RUFFFFF HILLARY!!!


Translation: He's saying Hillary is the candidate for him!






Here is Larry Holmes boxer Jabber:

Tommy, woof woof woof. Hillary woof woof woof WOOOOOOOF! Woof woof woof, Hillary Hillary. Woof woof woof woof woof.


Translation: he's saying "Hillary's da bomb."





Here is Terasa Heinz Kerry's poodle Phee Phee:


Yip, yip yip yip Hillary, yip yip yip yip yip. Yip yip yip yip Hillary yip yip yip yip yip yip yip, yip yip. Tommy yip yip yip.

She says that Hillary's great and hs got to win or else she will go anorexic for a whole month.

Don't Call Me Tommy

Just call me Ol' Number 39090. I got my official dog license today. How humiliating. I'm supposed to wear this around my neck all the time. I DON'T THINK SO.

Explain to me, how is this different than those poor concentration camp survivors?

My Brother, Caligula

I received an e-mail from my brother, Caligula. Haven't seen him since I was just a little pup. As you may know, I was the last of my litter to be adopted, while Caligula was the 'pick', so to speak, the first one taken. Here, he sent me this picture. It sure takes me back to the farm. He's a cute little cockapoo, isn't he?

I guess life hasn't worked out so good for him. He says his owners leave him outside all day and night, he has fleas, is never bathed, never taken sight-peeing, and is forced to eat only DOG FOOD. Kinda sad. You know what they say - "But for the grace of God, there go I." I'm one lucky dog!

I Have a Dream

I've been getting a lot of e-mails from readers, asking me what famous human leader from history I most admire. Well that's an easy one . . . and rather topical at present . . . I like Martin Luther King. You see, he and I are a lot alike. We're both non-violent and like me, he was obsessed with rights, Martin with civil rights and I with the canine variety. Just like me, he probably got bullied a lot when he was a boy, and being no fool, he turned non-violent, get it? He didn't want to get beat up, but he was still able to get a lot of things done, like that lunch counter thing and the voting, you know. And like MLK, those issues are important to me, too. I have a dream that some day all dogs, be they big or little, caramel or white, floppy eared or straight up will be be able to sit at the lunch counters with their owners and also be able to vote. I like that Ghandi guy too. He was also non-violent and got things done. And I imagine he too was beat up a lot as a boy, but maybe he was asking for it, wearing that diaper all the time.

My Rite of Passage

My daddy forwarded an e-mail to me, which was sent to him by my grandma. She told him about the increasingly common practice of doggie Bark Mitzvah:

A NEW CRAZE AMONG SOME JEWS IS THE BARK MITZVAH FOR DOGS. . . BARK MITZVAHS HAVE BECOME A BUISNESS, WITH BOOKS, SONGS, AND PARTY PLANNERS.GUESTS BRING THEIR OWN DOGS, ALONG WITH PARENTS FOR THE BARK MITZVAH (FORGET THE FOUNTAIN PEN), WHO MAY WEAR A DOGGIE TALLIT AND SPECIAL YARMULKE TO FIT OVER HIS EARS, WHILE DELIGHTING IN A BONE-SHAPED MEAT DOGGY CAKE, AND A HAPPY BARK MITZVAH HAT. THE CANINE GUESTS GET A DOGGIE GOODIE BAG FILLED WITH MENORAH BISCUITS. . . .SOME FEEL THE CEREMONY CELEBRATES THEIR SPRIITUAL CONNECTION WITH THEIR PET.

I've been doing some research, so you can read about it for yourselves: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bark_mitzvah

I really want to do it and I will study hard. My family belongs to a Reform Synagogue, which no doubt they will be eager to embrace the new practice. Now let's see . . . Bar Mitzvah traditionally occurs at age 13 and there are 7 dog years on one people year, so . . . I should have my Bark Mitzvah just before my second people year, like late April of this year. So it's coming up pretty soon.

Now as to the guest list, I want my Happy Tails buddies there, and of course Ginny and Tucker, and Maddie and Pippa and Bartley. Killer? I don't think so. And any of you dogs who have bullied me (and you know who you are), don't be holdin your breadth waiting by the mail box.

You Go Girl!

Hillary's still in. She's tough, not backing down.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8VP4R300&show_article=1&catnum=3

Sen Hillary Rodham Clingon says she has something in common with legendary film boxer Rocky Balboa--she's not a quitter.

Shouldn't Happen to a Dog

I'm basically a friendly cockapoo, but I'm kinda scared, like of other dogs. I don't know why, but they always want to beat me up. Like, I go to the dog park sometimes, just to have fun, you know, and sniff around. Lots of dogs there, big dogs, little dogs, and all the sizes in between. But who do they pick on, who do they stalk? Me, friendly little Tommy. And on my walks, the other dogs are always real mean to me, mean barks like they really want to get me, and sometimes they do and my dad has to protect me. I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but there's even a cat who trys to bully me. I don't like to fight back, I'm kinda scared and I just want to be a good boy. But gosh darn it all, i just gotta do something.

So I saw this ad from a guy named Charles Atlas and he says he can make me strong and tough in as little as 15 minutes a day. Well, I don't have a lot to do during the day, when my familiy is away, all I do is kinda laze around. So what do you think. Do you think Charles Atlas can make a new dog out of me?

Bush Bails Out the Fat Cats

It's time to get really outraged. The Fed will bail out Bear Stearns, one of the richest Wall Street companies:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/investing/bal-te.bz.economy15mar15,0,4840774.story

Once again, Bush shows his true stripes, giving money to his 'fat cat' friends (I mean that figuratively, if he was really favoring the fat cats, I would be even more outraged). That money could really be used for good to help the poor. There are cockapoos starving in Mt. Airy, Mr. Bush. But do you care?