Very realistic!

If you have ever been owned by a cat, you know that this is very likely to happen! Enjoy.....

Been awhile!

I haven't posted anything in quite some time. I'm sure there is a lot of open weeping in the blog world due to the silence of Three Dog Blog! So much has happened this year. Work has been extremely busy, but I enjoy almost every minute of it. My beloved Katie died Septembe 12. She threw off a huge blood clot, probably from a tumor - the neurologist wasn't sure. I had to take her all the way to U.C. Davis. They have absolutely wonderful vets up there, and they treated both of us with graciousness, honor and respect. Katie knew I was with her at the end, and that meant the world to me. No more pain for her.

I have a new pup, his name is Burt. Bobbie nicknamed him Burtles, and that is what I usually call him. He went to the vet last week, and I called him Burtles - then they started calling him Burtles and couldn't stop! One of the assistants told me she has never had a pet come in named Burt! He is a perfect Burt, too. He is tan and black like a German Shepherd. He has big ears, and weighs around 16 pounds. He is full of energy most of the time, and is soooo sweet when he is sleepy. He is a cuddle puppy, too. He loves to play with his toys and his favorite thing is to make them squeak. Burt was an abused stray, just like Katie. He is petrified of having anything around his neck.

Tomorrow I leave for Stephenson Ranch for Thanksgiving. I am looking forward to seeing everyone, but pretty worried about Burt. It will be his longest car trip, and he gets nervous because he thinks he is being taken away again. I hope he does fine meeting everybody, especially his cousin TashToo. I haven't met her yet, but her photos show she is a beautiful Siberian Husky.

Well, that's it for now, just wanted to start somewhere with getting back into blogging.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!!

You won't hear/see this nowadays

This is talent:

Thought for the Day

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Another really cool thing!

Say you're driving along the freeway. A song comes on the radio. You ask yourself, what is the title of that song? Well, all you have to do is use your cell phone! Simply dial 1-866-411-song. Hold the phone to the speaker for 15 seconds, close the phone. In less than a minute you will receive a text message of the song's title! It really works!

How Cool Is This?

Have you heard of 1-888-Frucall? Say you're at Best Buy and you find the perfect t.v., book, or cd - how can you check to see if you are getting the best deal? Well, simply dial 1-866-FRU-CALL. Enter the bar code on your phone. Frucall searches the internet for the best online prices. You can listen to the prices, order the item from your phone right then, get product information, or bookmark it for the future. Best of all, it's free!

From their website:
"Headquartered in Irvine, California, Frucall, Inc. is a software services company dedicated to delivering personalized information from the Internet to user's mobile device through a unified voice, text, and rich media interface. The company has pioneered the development of voice-based information delivery systems for online price comparison engines.

Frucall currently operates a free, voice-based price-comparison shopping service for consumers that lets them hear current online prices, compare, rate and purchase products using any phone, anytime, anywhere. Frucall blends the benefits of in-store shopping with the frugal and flexible nature of Internet shopping, providing consumers with a unique and exceptionally convenient shopping experience. Frucall's unique patent pending solution provides users with a highly-efficient means to access web-based XML data through DTMF handset entry and IVR (Interactive Voice Response) systems. This information is integrated with web-based applications, and shopping systems to deliver a consumer-friendly, personalized, voice and web portal interface.

With the launch of Frucall in the spring of 2006, the company has succeeded in creating an entirely new dynamic for point-of-sale purchasing and decision making. Frucall's technology infrastructure will be used by advertisers and brands looking for the advantage and exceptional efficiency of focused, contextual, one-to-one messaging. In the coming months, the company intends to expand its service offerings to include additional consumer and enterprise voice-based, web information services. "

Sounds pretty good to me.

Okay--trying out posting

Posting seems to be working fine--bad thing is don't have much to add right now. What a scary thing with the pet food contamination.

Update on Pet Food Recall Just Released News

Rat Poison Found in Killer Pet Food That Sparked Nationwide Recall
Friday , March 23, 2007


Rat poison has been found in pet food blamed for the deaths of at least 16 cats and dogs, a spokeswoman for the State Department of Agriculture and Markets said Friday.

Spokeswoman Jessica Chittenden would not identify the chemical or its source beyond saying it was a rodent poison.

The Food and Drug Administration has said the investigation was focusing on wheat gluten in the food. Wheat gluten itself would not cause kidney failure, but the common ingredient could have been contaminated by heavy metals or mold toxins, the FDA said.

State agriculture officials scheduled a news conference Friday afternoon to release laboratory findings from tests on the pet food conducted this week.

The deaths led to a recall of 60 million cans and pouches of pet food produced by Menu Foods and sold throughout North America under 95 brand names. There have been several reports of kidney failure in pets that ate the recalled brands, and the company has confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog.

Menu Foods last week recalled "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food. The recall sparked concern among pet owners across North America. It includes food sold under store brands carried by Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway and other large retailers, as well as private labels such as Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba.

Menu Foods is majority owned by Menu Foods Income Fund of Streetsville. The company also makes foods for zoo cats, but those products are unaffected by the recall.

The company's chief executive and president said Menu Foods delayed announcing the recall until it could confirm that the animals had eaten its product before dying. Two earlier complaints from consumers whose cats had died involved animals that lived outside or had access to a garage, which left open the possibility they had been poisoned by something other than contaminated food, he said.

A spokesman for New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said he was not aware of any criminal investigation involving the tainted food.

A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates was posted online by Menu Foods and is available at http://tinyurl.com/2pn6mm. The company also designated two phone numbers that pet owners could call for information: (866) 463-6738 and (866) 895-2708.


Also, you can get web info at: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html

Pet Food Recall Info from Food and Agriculture Department

Q: What is being recalled?

On March 16, Menu Foods, Inc. of Streetsville, Ontario, Canada initiated a voluntary recall involving a large number of both dog and cat foods produced at its facilities in Emporia, Kansas and Pennsauken, N.J. between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007. The products are sold by many different distributors under a number of different brand names. At present, Menu Foods is recalling dog food products marketed by about 50 firms and cat food products marketed by about 40 firms. A full listing of all the recalled products can be found at http://www.menufoods.com/recall/. The affected products are moist (packaged in pouches) and canned diets. The products have been described as “cuts and gravy” style pet foods. Please see http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html

Q: What prompted the recall?

Menu Foods, Inc. initiated the voluntary recall after conducting routine tasting trials in which some animals developed kidney failure after eating the product being tested. The company had also received consumer complaints, some of which apparently involved kidney failure. The firm has undertaken extensive testing of the pet food products in question, but has not yet been able to find the source of the problem.

Q: When did Menu Foods first notify FDA of the problem and a possible recall?

On Thursday, March 15, 2007.

Q: What is wrong with the pet foods?

It is unclear what is causing the adverse effects reported by Menu Foods and pet owners. FDA is working with Menu Foods, pet owners, pet food companies, local veterinarians, and diagnostic laboratories to identify the source of the problem.

Q: Are only dog and cat foods involved in the recall?

Yes. The recall is only confined to pet food intended for dogs and cats. The affected products are moist (packaged in pouches) and canned diets. The products have been described as “cuts and gravy” style pet foods.

Q: What should I do if I have cat or dog food at home?

Please check the Menu Foods Recall Information at http://www.menufoods.com/recall/ to see if your pet food is involved in the recall.

If your pet food is not listed, the pet food is not affected by the recall and you can continue to feed it to your pets.

If the pet food is one of those being recalled, do NOT feed it to your animals. Feed your pets another pet food that is not included in the recall.

Q: Is dry dog or cat food affected by the recall?

At this time, no dry dog or cat food has been implicated in pet injury or death. The recall is confined to the list of products found at: http://www.menufoods.com/recall/.

Q: What should I do if I have cat and/or dog food included in the recall?

Do NOT feed the pet food to your animals. Return the pet food to the store where you purchased it and ask for a refund. Stores generally have a return and refund policy when a company has announced a recall of its products. If you cannot return the pet food immediately, store the food in a secure place where pets and children cannot get to it.

Q: What if my pet ate one of the dog and cat foods being recalled?

Monitor your pet. If your pet shows signs of illness (such as loss of appetite, lethargy and vomiting), you should consult with your veterinarian immediately. If your pet is diagnosed with renal failure, we suggest you hold onto the food if the brand and lot numbers match the recall.

Q: If my dog or cat ate some of the recalled food, how soon after would I see any symptoms?

It’s difficult to say for sure, but usually within a couple of days. The important thing is to monitor your pet closely for signs of lethargy, loss of appetite and vomiting. If your pet shows any of these signs, please consult your veterinarian.

Q: What if I took my dog or cat to the vet as a result of the recall and I want to be reimbursed for my vet bills?

The FDA recognizes that there may be financial costs associated with any veterinarian visit; however, reimbursement for veterinary care does not fall under FDA’s regulatory authority.

Q: What is FDA doing about the recall?

FDA is conducting an investigation and working with Menu Foods and affected pet food companies to ensure that the recall is effective, and to identify the source of the contaminant. FDA is continuing to collect and analyze product samples in an attempt to identify the source(s) of the contaminant. FDA will continue to release additional information as it becomes available.

Q: How many confirmed pet illnesses and deaths have been reported to the FDA?

It is difficult to determine confirmed illnesses and deaths associated with the recall. Since the recall was announced, FDA has received many complaints and we are following up. The FDA’s primary concern is in identifying the source of the contaminant, assuring that the recall is effective and providing information to the public.

Q: What if I need more information about the recall?

Consumers with questions may contact Menu Foods at 1-866-895-2708. Some of the other affected pet food companies whose products are included in the recall may also have consumer question lines. Check the product label of the pet food. Some firms have also notified FDA that they have issued press releases; links to these press releases are available on the FDA internet page, Pet Food Recall, at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html.

Q: What if I want to report an adverse action about a pet food?
Consumers and veterinarians who wish to report adverse reactions or other problems can go to the FDA internet page at http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html to obtain contact information for the FDA complaint coordinator in their state. When reporting an adverse event or complaint, please try to have the following information:

Brand name and lot numbers for the pet food fed to your dog or cat when it was ill

If your pet received treatment by a veterinarian, the name, address, and telephone number of attending veterinarian

Date illness first noticed

Signs displayed

Any veterinary reports available

Q: What advice do you have for veterinarians concerned about this pet food recall?

Veterinarians who have case files and post mortem results relative to cases where renal failure is involved and the clients were feeding food involved in the recall are encouraged to contact FDA through the complaint coordinator in their state http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html. FDA is gathering as much information as possible to identify the nature and the extent of the problem.

Q: I understand Menu Foods, Inc. is focusing on wheat gluten as the possible source of contaminant? Is this true?

Menu Foods, Inc. suspects that wheat gluten might be the source of contamination; however, as part of the ongoing investigation, FDA is looking at all ingredients.

Q: What is wheat gluten and how is it used in pet foods?

Wheat gluten is a mixture of two proteins obtained when flour of wheat is washed to remove the starch. One use of wheat gluten is as a filler and binder in wet-style, cuts-and-gravy-type pet food. It provides a gelatinous consistency and is used to thicken pet food "gravy." It also has uses in human food products as a stabilizer or thickener. It is not generally associated with food contamination; however, it could possibly become contaminated by a toxic mold or other substance.

Q: How does FDA regulate pet food?

The FDA's regulation of pet food is similar to that for other animal feeds. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires that pet foods, like human foods, be pure and wholesome, safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled. In addition, canned pet foods must be processed in conformance with the low acid canned food regulations to ensure the pet food is free of viable microorganisms (see Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 113). There is no requirement that pet food products have premarket approval by FDA. However, FDA ensures that the ingredients used in pet food are safe and have an appropriate function in the pet food. Many ingredients such as meat, poultry, grains, and their byproducts are considered safe “foods” and do not require premarket approval. Other substances such as mineral and vitamin sources, colorings, flavorings, and preservatives may be generally recognized as safe (GRAS) or must have approval as food additives. (See Title 21 CFR, Parts 73, 74, 81, 573 and 582). For more information about pet foods and marketing a pet food, see FDA’s Regulation of Pet Food and Information on Marketing A Pet Food Product.

Q: What are the labeling requirements for pet foods?

The FDA regulations require proper identification of the product, net quantity statement, name and place of business of the manufacturer or distributor, and a proper listing of all the ingredients in order from most to least, based on weight. Some states also enforce their own labeling regulations. Many of these regulations are based on a model provided by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). For more information about AAFCO, please visit its website. There are two documents on CVM’s web site that provide more details about labeling requirements: Interpreting Pet Food Labels and Interpreting Pet Food Labels -- Special Use Foods.

Q: Have there been other recalls involving pet foods?

Yes. The following are recent pet food recalls: In February 2007, FDA recalled Wild Kitty raw cat food http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01562.htmlafter Salmonella was detected during routine testing performed by FDA. In December, 2005, Diamond Pet Foods initiated a voluntary recall after aflatoxin was discovered in their product http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/diamond12_05.html. For information on other pet food related recalls, please see http://www.fda.gov/cvm/petfoods.htm.

???

Why is it when you have a packet Crystal Light to add to your bottle of water that it is very hard to get out of the packet and into the bottle even with the top of the packet completely opened and yet if you get a microscopic tear in a packet you don't want opened the powder comes pouring out?

Why is it when you change lines in the grocery store that, even if there was only one person ahead of you, you don't get out any faster than the five people ahead of you in the line you were originally in?

I'm sure you, my loyal readers, have other "Why" questions, too. Feel free to add your own.

Reflections

As I sat in my backyard early this morning, I looked up and saw the moon. It was blurred by clouds. Then I looked down, and I saw the reflection of the moon in a puddle of water on my patio. The moon's reflection was clear, the clouds did not obscure the reflection. It made me think how we may see a person who seems nice, kind, intelligent but then their actions show they are not. What kind of person are you when people see past the clouds?

Our Parachutes

Charles Plumb was a US Navy jet pilot in Vietnam . After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience!

One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk . You were shot down!"

"How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb.

"I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!" Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today."

Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I kept wondering what he had looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat; a bib in the back; and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, how are you?' o r anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor." Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent at a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know.

Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?" Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. He also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory -- he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute , and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety.

Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason. As you go through this week, this month, this year, recognize people who pack your parachutes.

In Memoriam...

of Princess Tash who was just short of her 15th birthday. She was beautiful from the first moment we saw her to her last. She loved Tai, digging (in younger days), snow, Cheweez, (or lick-ees), running (only greyhounds were faster at the dog park), horses (just seemed like big dogs to her), and family (or sometimes was shy). Her inquisitive nature caused some mishaps when young such as the time she bit a bee and the bee stung back.
She was loved and she will be missed.

How does someone like Seidlin get to be a judge?

"Blubbering as he announced his decision, a judge said Thursday that the guardian of Anna Nicole Smith’s baby daughter can decide where the model should be buried..... The judge choked up frequently and wept as he explained his decision. I want her to be buried with her son in the Bahamas. I want them to be together. "
Evidently the judge asked irrelevant questions, brought in details of her sexual liasions, and had long monologues. Seems like judge interjected lots of own views into the proceedings.
Have you ever had any experiences even remotely like this?

Ok, how do things look now?

Well, didn't like the selection of Norv Turner as Chargers' head coach initially but on reflection doesn't seem so bad since it does keep continuity. If they had selected a defensive head coach (e.g., Rex Ryan, my choice) they would be going into the season with a very inexperienced offensive coordinator, Clarence Shelmon. With Norv at least they have the same offense (he instituted it in 2001), and good defensive coordinator. The addition of Rivera to defense is the one thing that really helps make this coaching change palatable, IMO.
I am concerned that Norv is not known as a strong head coach, he's a nice guy, but has problems with discipline. OTOH, as Michael Irvin said, "God himself couldn't have done much with the Raiders." With Rivers' obvious enthusiasm , and Merriman et al. on defense, maybe they don't need a motivational head coach like Marty, and were the various legal problems of team members last year, and the bone headed play in the playoff game, the result of a lack of discipline on Marty's part??
Just don't know what to think... I am cautiously optimistic because with this talent I think would have to be very bad not to do well.

Ok--Bradyfan83 is going to be disappointed

According to newspaper accounts, Tom Brady is the father of Bridget Moynahan's baby even though they are no longer dating. Wonder if Bradyfan83 is going to change his song...

Great recipe

I like the new link to epicurious.com. I got hungry watching the recipes scroll. I think that I am going to try the thai-curried game hens. I'm cooking your crockpot turkey recipe right now. It's something that I can do that is good and doesn't require standing and cooking. We've had so much take-out the last couple of weeks that I thought this would be just the ticket. (hope that you are feeling better)

Don't you hate it when....

you have a favorite author, look forward to his/her next book, and you start it and it is tedious and you have to finish in hopes it will get better? I love Elizabeth George and her Inspector Lynley series. I can't remember any of hers that I haven't enjoyed. However, if this new one, "What came before he shot her," were the first of hers that I'd read, it would be the last. One of her key characters was shot and killed in the last book and this one details what led to her death. None of her regular characters is in it (at least 3/4 through it) and it describes a poor family and just about all the social ills you could imagine. It is depressing, sad, and getting through the Jamaican (?) or lower class black accents is tedious. Very disappointing....

A Dog's Life

As I sit at home recovering from a broken rib, I see the merits of a dog's life. I knew that Katie's main job was to rest all day in the most comfortable position possible, usually up on the pillows on my bed. Now I know how nice it can be to just rest.

Makes me wonder what else we can learn from our puppies.

Passengers Attack Hijacker

MADRID (Reuters) - Passengers on a hijacked Air Mauritania plane ended the ordeal when they stormed the cockpit and beat up the lone gunman after the aircraft landed in Spain’s Canary Islands on Thursday night, Spanish police said.

As armed police surrounded the Boeing 737 on the runway, five passengers and the co-pilot burst into the cockpit and knocked the hijacker to the ground before beating him up, a police spokesman said.

“When we landed at Las Palmas ... we entered (the cockpit) and hit him and knocked him down,” one passenger told television station CNN+.

The fight gave the crew time to let in security forces, who swiftly arrested the man, the police spokesman said.

Spanish police could not corroborate reports from a Mauritanian source on Thursday who said the pilot had deliberately braked hard on landing, knocking the hijacker off his feet and that he had then been jumped on by passengers. The source also said the hijacker had fired two bullets during the scuffle, but that no-one had been seriously injured.

In the post-911 world, hijacking is not the viable alternative of terror it once was. Good job.

New movie sound good

There haven't been many movies out recently that I particularly wanted to see but "Breach" sounds very good.

It is based on a true story about the FBI agent who was working for the soviets. I have always liked Chris Cooper and his performance has been acclaimed. There was an article in the paper today about the actual FBI trainee sent to work with him and obtain evidence against him. That agent was responsible for helping make the movie so it is close to the true events.

I'll let you know what I think after I see it.

A Dark Day Indeed

The Chargers have fired Marty. Who will we get??? We suspected this might happen right after the "One and Done" but doing it now is worse. Most coaches who were available have already signed with teams. Not good. Not good at all.

A Bowl of Water

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"

This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.

Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.

"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up."

The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked.

"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence
As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

"Excuse me!" he called to the man. "Do you have any water?"

"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in."

"How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog.

"There should be a bowl by the pump."

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.
When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.

"What do you call this place?" the traveler asked.

"This is Heaven," he answered.

"Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too."
"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell."

"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"

"No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind."

Katie sound asleep, dreaming of cookies

Hurray for Friday!!

Well, we made it through another week. It was a long week because I'm in my third week of the plague. Ok, probably not the plague but that's what it feels like. I can handle the cold, but my sides are my biggest problem - I feel like all of my ribs are broken.

On the doggy front, Katie has had a good week. She is enjoying her new treats: carrots! Yes, her dental veterinarian told me carrots would be a good treat for her because they would help with her dental health and would not have any impact on her glucose levels, so wouldn't impact her diabetes. She loves them! After all, a cookie is a cookie, right?

Hopefully today I'll figure out how to post a picture of Katie, and when Cammy and Tasha's moms email me photos (hint hint), their photos will be posted, too.

Welcome to the Three Dogs Blog!

Yes indeed, an idea whose time has finally come. At last there's a place for canines and their families to share their thoughts. So sit down, grab your favorite kibble, and get ready for a tail-wagging good time. We hope you come back often!