For 50 tax deductible dollars per person, you can join us for food, drink, music and a silent  auction in West Los Angeles. One of the items in the silent auction is a guitar signed by the Red Hot Chili Peppers!

The fastest way to get your ticket is to call Daphneyland at 661-269-2682.  Pay via phone or pay at the door, but the only way to get the address is to call.

Oh yes, Daphneyland is a non-profit so your donations will be tax deductible! (BaRNI at Daphneyland Nonprofit Tax ID # 20-3737011)

See you there!

Roberta, found as a stray with a broken hip, needs your help. Read her story by following the link. If you are moved, you may help Roberta by making a donation to cover her medical costs. Thank you.

Basset Rescue Network, Inc. at Daphneyland is a 501 c 3 organization, which means your donation is tax deductible.

Here’s my Pupcicles recipes. Butters loves them!

And remember to transport them carefully and never leave them in the car — even with the windows cracked. Leave them home with cool water, shade, a fan. Remember, leaving an animal in a hot car is considered ANIMAL CRUELTY in CALIFORNIA. It’s a violation of State Law.  If you see a pet in danger, CALL POLICE. INSIST they respond. (Costa Mesa PD, are you reading this? Leaving a pet in a car on a hot day is a violation of STATE LAW, specifically California Penal Code 597.7 PC!!)

TIPS: http://www.wten.com/story/15130889/tips-for-keeping-your-pets-cool-in-the-heat

TRANSPORTING SAFELY: http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc23117.htm

Leaving Pets in Car a Violation of State Law:  Penal Code 597.7 PC

http://www.humanesocietyvc.org/services/report-abuse/animal-abuse-penal-code/

http://www.roseville.ca.us/faqs/categoryqna.asp?id=2

Now, the penal code is clear: Thou shalt not leave an animal in a car.
Legal folks have worked to further define that. Who hasn’t stopped by the dry cleaners to pick up cleaning on the way back from the vet?  Clearly, the animal is within sight. The windows are down. And the owner will be returning momentarily. (Even this is scary for me after I passed out during a shopping errand. You really never know IF you’re making it back to your car. So keep that in mind when bringing your pet along for the ride.)

However, this animal was in a parked car. with the windows barely cracked.  on a hot day. with no shade. and the only place to enter was the Pet Expo, not someplace you just run into.

I have written letters to the event venue and the PD asking them to review and make changes to how they respond to calls re: Penal code 597.

Do you take your pet with you? How would you have addressed this situation?

Personally, I don’t think Michael Vick should ever be responsible for the well-being of an animal again. First, his intentions are wrong. He wants to show people that he’s changed, not that he wants to improve the life of an animal. He just wants an animal in his household.  

Second, his daughters should know that their father did unspeakably cruel thing to dogs, and because of that cruel, intentional choice he cannot own animals again…ever.   When his daughters are old enough to live on their own and choose to have animals, they can have them. 

I agree with Los Angeles sports announcer Roger Lodge when he said, “I’ll believe Michael Vick is truly repentant when he donates 90% of his annual income (salary and endorsements) to the ASPCA.” I’d like to add Dogtown, U.S.A., the rescue that took in the Vick’s victims, to that.  In my mind, if Vick was truly on the right track, he’d accept fiscal responsiblity for the dogs he caused irreparable harm to.

As for the daughters of Vick, I am truly sorry that their father made such a horrible choice.  I’ve heard people say, “Well, it’s not like he was carrying weapons or assaulting women.”  To that I say: Human beings have recourse. Animals and children do not. They rely on adults to stand in the gap for them when evil people harm them.”

I think it would appropriate for the Vick daughters to get involved with animal programs where the animal is under someone else’s care, e.g. riding lessons, volunteering at an animal shelter, working adoption events.   That way they can gain a respect for animals from people who truly care about the animals and the children, not now it looks to one’s adoring, yet myopic, fans.

Thanks to Overboard creator Chip Dunham for issuing these very important pet care reminders.

I LOVE THIS CARTOON! It’s been on my refrigerator since it ran in my local paper on 07/31/07. Chip Dunham, the artist, periodically issues these reminders to pet owners who travel with their pets. Thanks, Chip!

I encourage you to check out his work… and if you like it, ask your local paper to carry OVERBOARD!

http://www.gocomics.com/overboard/2007/07/31

Doncha’  just love it when you find a product that’s not only good for your pet, but does some good for shelter dogs, too?  Usually, I shun products not made in the United States, but when I read the Buy 1 Box & We Donate 1 Meal, I was intrigued. (Read the side of the box below.)

So I checked the back. The product is made by our friends to the north, Canada(Hi, friends in Canada!) and distributed by a group in Oregon to stores like Sprouts, where we found this box. 

Now, GOOD BUDDY treats were running about $4.75 a box where as the other treats were running $7 for about 3 fewer ounces of treats.  (Yes, this does matter to the hound and the husky-cross. If you think dogs don’t know how to do math, give one more treat to one dog and see what the other(s) do.)

The other cool thing about this promotion is that it was launched by a 12-year-old girl’s mission to feed hungry shelter dogs in Bend, OR.  She created a website called, freekibble.com. As of this writing, FreeKibble.com has donated over 3 million meals to shelter animals. since Mimi launched the site on April 1, 2008. (NO FOOLIN’!)  

The Critters at The Red Dog Inn applaud Mimi’s efforts! Now it’s our turn:

There are lots of ways you can participate and help shelter dogs. Buy some GOOD BUDDY TREATS, then visit www.FreeKibble.com where you can answer trivia questions, follow them on Twitter or Facebook and just Do Some Good!  

“Mimi Ausland, a 12-year-old girl from Bend, OR, created freekibble.com to feed hungry dogs in their local shelter. It is now feeding 1,000s of dogs all across the country! In support of freekibble.com, we’re donating 1 nutritous meal, to shelter dogs and cats, for every box of Mac & Cheese Dog Cookies sold.”

Let's Party Like It's 1776! (or 1783, though the hat would've been hip in 1886)

This Independence Day, as we thank every servicemember who’s ever served in the U.S. Armed Forces since 1775, Lula and Butters reminded me that right along side those folks are dedicated canines. And Sizzle chimed in about the horses that served, like George Washington’s horses, NELSON & BLUESKIN.

Spirit Magazine featured an article about how dogs trained in the Puppies Behind Bars program are helping retired servicemembers cope with shell shock — er Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  (We think the late George Carlin was on to something in his critique.)  Grab some tissues and read a touching story about How Mya Saved Jacob here: http://bit.ly/a5n1pm

Read up on all the Presidential Pets: http://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/ 

Adopt a Hero:  Check out our blog post from earlier this year about adopting dogs that served!

Tag your pets! Chip your pets!  Dogs may run or hide during the festivities.  A tag will get your dog back home quickly.

People who’d overnighted at the beach dumped their trash outside their RV. A trashcan was a mere 10 feet away! The beach was littered with trash. 

After watching whale rescue teams cut a giant ball of garbage off a 26 foot baby gray whale, named Lilly, the question I have is this: How can you NOT police your trash?

Lilly died, but her passing won’t be in vain. A local OC woman is planning a memorial of sorts and encouraging folks to be mindful of the oceans. READ MORE HERE:  http://bit.ly/c44NHe

Remember: Your efforts are important because all paths lead to the ocean. Putting your trash in the appropriate bins is important wherever you may be — on the beach, in the parks, on a hike.  Clean up after your dog. Keeping your cigarette butts off the streets will prevent them from getting to the beach!

Regardless of who you are or how important you think you are, make a promise to leave places you visit a little better than you find them. 

Keep our beaches clean; they're counting on us!