The Red Dog Inn

” …there’s no animal that’s more faithful, that’s more loyal, more lovable than the mutt.”

– Bill Murray as John Winger, Stripes (1981)

Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Q1fDf0GeY

I heard an interesting statistic while watching an interview with Prince Lorenzo Borghese, who started Royal Treatment pet products, on KTLA Morning News. He said, “If 25% of the people who bought their pets would have adopted them instead, we would have no more kill shelters.”

Here’s the thing. If purebreds are your thing, there are scads of purebred rescues! Just do a little research. Butters and Lula were adopted through friends who could no longer keep them.  Do I love them any less than I would an animal I paid $500-$1000 for? Not a chance. 

Will you get a perfect pet? Define “perfect”.  You get what you put into your pet.  

Nonetheless, I firmly believe that there are breeds that are made for special people.  There are pitbull people, and great dane people, and yes, basset hound people.  Do your homework, but don’t be afraid to adopt your next pet.

SENDING LOTS OF WARM FUZZY HUGS TO OUR FRIENDS AT DAPHNEYLAND Basset Hound Rescue!  Miss Henrietta whelped 9 basset-mix puppies yesterday.

Today, we ventured out in the hopes of attending our very first basset hound meet up! We arrived at the park, hopeful that the rain would hold off for an hour or so, but we had no such luck. We did meet some lovely folks from the Southern California Basset Rescue who were apologizing for the rain. 

While Lula greeted her brethren, Butters really tried to not step on them. The coordinator, Nancy, was the picture of calm as eight basset hounds and one “John Wayne All*American Dog” (Butters) swirled around our feet entangling us in a web of leashes.  (Incidentally, if you need something lashed down really well, basset hounds may be the best ropers on the planet!)

Over the past couple months, I’ve met some really neat folks who work with bassets. Among them are Nancy who organizes the basset hound meet ups, and Dawn who runs Daphneyland, home to 100 bassets eagerly awaiting their forever homes.

The upshot is this. If you have dog, find other folks who have the same breed of dog. If you have an independent breed, like a basset, or a particular breed type, like a giant breed or a sight hound, it helps to know you’re not alone.  Whatever the breed or breed type you have, you can learn from each other, get training tips and more.

I LOVE:: the basset hound folks who help make Life with Lula even more fun!

Learn more about the Orange County, CA Basset Hound Meet-Up here: http://www.bhrsc.info/

There are days I would swear I’m merely a pawn in Lula’s world domination plot.  Take this morning for instance.  I was awakened by Butters and stupidly rolled over and went back to sleep. By now, I should recognize an attempt to tattle when it’s presented. 

When I finally did wake up, I noticed crumbs on Lula’s ears as I pet her this morning. Then, I walked into the kitchen for my morning coffee and noticed a shredded bag  on the floor. Upon investigation it was a bag of cashew/almond/pumpkin seed clusters that was behind closed cabinet doors the night before when we went to bed.

So without the benefit of caffeine, I found myself needing Jessica Fletcher to help piece together this mystery:

How does a little basset hound open a kitchen cabinet door, extract a bag of cashew clusters and CLOSE the cabinet door?

Lil Lou may be laughing at my futile attempts to thwart her world domination plot.

She’s resting now… or is she really lying in wait — waiting for the opportune moment to unleash her next plot?

I have to tell you about a very special place called DAPHNEYLAND, a non-profit basset hound rescue in Acton, CA. They have a reputation for taking in even those beautiful bassets deemed “unadoptable” by other rescues.  

Daphneyland made the news during the Station fire and now the faithful crew casts a concerned eye to the hillsides when it rains fearing mudslides.

Over 100 bassets have found sanctuary at Daphneyland. They have been rescued from puppy mills or surrendered by owners. Some require special medical care. Others require wheelchairs. 

If you are looking for a worth cause to make a charitable donation to may we suggest DAPHNEYLAND?  They need financial support to continue their good work.  For the necessary tax information and to learn more about the facility and the Basset Rescue Network, Inc. (BaRNI), check them out: http://www.daphneyland.com/

Patches, an intact male 3 -year-old King Charles Spaniel, needs a new home as of July 23, 2009.  Needs home by August 1. Contact: Pat for Karen Re: Patches at: psweeney@mail.all-in-1.com

 Did you know that:

• Jack “the brindle dog” Little House on the Prairie (the REAL Little House on the Prairie as opposed to the television series.) was a pitbull?
• Petey the Pup Little Rascals was a pitbull?

Helen Keller had a pit bull as a companion animal, so have Fred Astaire, President Roosevelt, Mary Tyler Moore, Thomas Edison, Brad Pitt, Ann Bancroft, President Woodrow Wilson, Humphrey Bogart, John Stewart and Bernadette Peters. Even the little dynamo Rachael Ray has a pit bull.

Source: “America’s Nanny Dog”, Tyla Hafstrom/My Word/The Times-Standard, 9/25/07

I’m by no means suggesting that a pit bull terrier is the perfect pet for every household; I AM suggesting that you needn’t run away in fear when you see a pit bull terrier or think the dog’s person is involved in nefarious activities!  Many dogs defy their public images; pit bulls are one of those breeds.  

I have to admit, I was cautious when I met my first pit bull.  Now, I have a 50-pound lap dog that offers me her toys as soon as I walk in the door of my friend’s office.   That interaction made me a little bolder. So when two playful pit bull puppies ran towards me on the beach, I had no problems petting them, tossing the ball or letting Butters play with them.

If you think you’d like to make friends with a pit bull, here are some tips:

• Ask the owner.  Admit that you’re apprehensive, but you’d like to overcome that fear.  The owner should be able to tell you if their dog is fine with fearful folks or if the dog will feed off of your fear.
• Once the owner has control of their dog, offer the back of your hand to the dog for a sniff.
• Let your conscious be your guide. Give the dog a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. If the owner approves offer a small treat, but don’t be offended if the dog doesn’t take it.  Just give it to the owner for later.