July 31/2019

Feature:

Air-conditioned Digs For Dogs on the Go

   “Shoppers in Seattle will soon be able to leave Fido outside the grocery store in style. DogSpot is debuting fancy rentable dog houses outside retailers in the city as part of a national expansion.

   …they’re air-conditioned, have ultraviolet lights to disinfect the interior between uses, & come equipped with a ‘puppy cam’ so you can check on your furry pal via an app.

   As it says on the outside of the dog houses: yes, there are air holes; no, they don’t use it as a bathroom; yes, it locks; & no, they don’t freak out…

   To ensure a dog’s spot, customers need to book up to 15 minutes in advance or upon arrival. The price is US30 cents per minute, but shoppers at the grocery chain QFC- a partner with DogSpot- can use the service for free.

   DogSpot has 60 dog houses in 14 states, with many set at rest stops along highways in New York & Connecticut.”

Melissa Hank

The Gazette, Montreal

May 11/2019

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Weekly Chuckle:

Memorial

Tammy Too RIP August 5/1995

I loved you the minute I saw you & I will continue to love & miss you until the end of time. You gave me so much joy & a more perfect being there could never be. Love you so much Pookie Bear.

July 24/2019

Feature:

Waving a Magic (Mascara) Wand

   “Little-known fact: Using mascara can be good for injured & orphaned animals.

   …workers at the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina are using use

mascara wands to clean & groom small, furry creatures in need.

   The plastic wands can remove fleas, nits, & other bugs embedded in fur. They can also

clean the syringes used for feeding animals. Back in 2017, staff member Savannah

Trantham wrote a Facebook post detailing how recycled wands can help. The centre has

since received thousands of donations. 

   ‘Because of the incredible response, we are now packaging the wands & sharing with

other wildlife rehabilitators & facilities,’ Appalachian Wildlife Refuge co-founder

Kimberly Brewster said.”

                       

Melissa Hank

The Gazette, Montreal

April 15/2019

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July 17/2019

Feature:

Keep Cool During the Dog Days

   “2 paws up for Tesla, which is introducing a feature that helps keep dogs safe.

   Ideal for use during balmy summer weather, Dog Mode lets owners leave their furry friends in the car while they run an errand.

   When on Dog Mode automatically regulates the car’s cabin temperature & shows a message on the infoainment screen assuring passersby that Fido won’t overheat…

   A dog’s normal body temperature is about 39C, & it can only withstand a body temperature of 41C for a few minutes…”

Melissa Hank

The Gazette, Montreal

March 11/2019

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Weekly Chuckle

July 10/2019

Feature:

Charlotte Sweetens Seniors’ Days

     “There are 110 pounds of Charlotte, an Old English sheepdog, & mostly she uses them to let the world know she’s here.

     She is vocal & excitable, given to enthusiastic greetings to visitors to the family’s west-end home & to settling expansively into the space she creates for herself between owners Anita & Ron Gottesman in their king-sized bed.

     Charlotte…is a big dog with a big personality. She has 3,000 followers on Instagram as charlotte_oes.

     …on Monday, she was gentle & quiet as she entered a room at the Cote-St-Luc Aquatic & Community Centre for a visit with a group of vulnerable older adults in a drop-in program. Several broke out into broad smiles as she walked slowly around the circle in which a dozen or so people were seated…She moved calmly from person to person, greeting them softly & turning so they could pet her rear.

     ‘Charlotte likes to be patted on the bum,’ Anita told them…

     Monday was Charlotte’s second visit to the program, pffered by the Cummings Centre for seniors &, as with her first visit, she was accompanied by Anita & by Arielle Gottesman- Anita’s daughter & a social worker at Cummings.

     ‘When we take her to the group, she just knows what to do. IOt’s incredible,’ Arielle said. ‘With seniors, she knows that if she paws them she might scratch them so she turns her bum toward them- a submissive position.’

     …How old is Charlotte? 4. Is she bathed at home? No, she won’t permit it; a groomer bathes her. When does she eat? Breakfast & dinner. She eats dog food but loves what the family eats: Favorites are salmon & cheese.

     ‘Any time I walk her, people stop to talk to her & tell her stories,’ Arielle said. ‘And they light up & she lights up…it’s a way for people to open up- not in a formal setting- & I see what a positive impact something so simple can have’.

     …’Charlotte was so funny,’…’She was going up to people & sitting on their feet, saying ‘Hi, I am here’. They loved her.

     ‘We have a participant here who has a hard time connecting with people, but when it comes to Charlotte, he connects. He was very affectionate, petting her & saying what a beautiful dog she is.’

     Anita brought treats so those who could gave Charlotte commands like sit & stay, then rewarded her with the treats. Such an exercise is so empowering for people who so often aren’t heard, Arielle said.

     Charlotte’s visits also triggered memories as participants reminisced about good dogs & good times. Daniel Elkin remembered his dog Bianco. ‘She was a good dog.’

     …Cummings program manager Erica Botner, who oversees the drop-in program, said it tries to bring ‘moments of joy’ to participants; visits from pets can help do that’…”

Susan Schwartz

The Gazette, Montreal

Aug. 21/2019

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Weekly Chuckle:

Memorial:

Annabelle July 16/2001 RIP
It was a blessing to have had you in my life if only for a brief time. Love you little one.❤

July 3/2019

Feature:
Major Road In Burlington To Be Closed For Salamander Migration    

 “King Road will be closed for approximately 4 weeks…

This is done to allow for endangered Jefferson salamanders to safely travel during their breeding migration.

‘Together with Conservation Halton, the City of Burlington is very proud of its efforts to aid in the survival & recovery of this rare species,’ said Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward. ‘Since the first full road closure in 2012, there has been no road mortality of Jefferson salamanders observed by Conservation Halton staff during the road closure period.’

‘We are happy to play a small role in protecting the salamanders while raising awareness about their endangered status,’ she said. 

The Jefferson salamander is found in select areas in southern Ontario forests, mostly along the Niagara Escarpment. They usually spend most of their lives underground, &, as the weather warms, they emerge to migrate & breed in temporary ponds formed by run-off.

Adult salamanders migrate to their breeding ponds during wet, rainy nights, & are attracted to ponds in which they hatched, sometimes going out of their way just to reach it.

‘The annual closure of King Road by the City of Burlington reinforces Conservation Halton's promise to form partnerships, which enable us to better protect our natural environment, in this case an endangered species,’ CAO of Conservation Halton Hassaan Basit said. ‘Our ecologists use monitoring data to recommend the timing & duration of the road closure to maximize its impact on the species while keeping disruption, due to the closure, down to the minimum.’

‘Our monitoring has shown a measureable positive impact on the Jefferson salamander population due to these once-a-year road closures. I would like to thank the city & community. Their efforts are helping in the recovery of this species,’ he said.

The species is protected at both provincial & national levels, & was added to Ontario's endangered species list in 2011. They are usually grey or brown on the back, with lighter under-parts, & can be up to 12 to 20 cm long, with a life span of 30 years…”

Damian Ali

www.inhalton.com

March 11/2019

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Weekly Chuckle