dogs

49 posts

These Animals Are Illegal to Keep as Pets in New York City

pet_pigThe AP has a deeply pun laden story about families who flaunt the law by keeping even toed ungulates, pigs if you must, even though they are banned by the New York City health code.

To help potential pet owners in New York City determine which side of the law they fall on, here is the complete list of animals that are illegal to own in New York City. Continue reading

Colorado Wants to Force Dogs into Life Jackets

Dog-Life-Jacket-top

A draft rule has been introduced in Colorado that would force dogs to wear life jackets while at doggie day care and boarding facilities if the dog has access to water that’s deeper than the dog’s shoulders. To further complicate things the facility must also provide a life guard to be on duty when dogs are water are located in the same place at the same time. Continue reading

Blood and Guts in Alternative Junior High School

When I taught junior high, it was at a rural “alternative” school — a school for students who had been expelled from other urban schools in the county. “At-risk” kids, if you like: Virtually all had chaotic home lives, or incarcerated parents, or something. There was also abuse, of course — although that issue was more the province of the social workers than the teachers. (This school had two full-time social workers on staff — for a student body of sixty kids in total.) The entire institution was specifically designed to educate this “population” of students: It was situated at some distance from other schools in the district, and was reached via a long ride through the countryside on an actual “short bus.” Continue reading

I Think xoJane Gave Me Ringworm

If there’s anything I love more than uninformed veterinary advice and xoJane, it’s uninformed veterinary advice on xoJane. In “I Think My Dog Gave Me Ringworm,” Helena Andrews thinks her dog gave her…no, actually, she imagines her ringworm-infected dog could possibly give it to her. I’m serious: “I now believe my eczema is ringworm because my vet said so — sorta.” Oh boy. Anyway, this post, and the comments, are a goldmine of bullshit advice. Continue reading

Dog Halloween Costumes Are Serious Business

This is my niece, Rosie. She is a St. Bernard. She is wearing a monkey costume.

You see, there is a Halloween costume contest at her day care.  Yes, doggy day care.  And my sister wants to win this year.   I said it seems kind of silly to put all this time and effort into dressing up dogs. You don’t understand, she said. This is doggy day care. This is cutthroat.

Last year, Rosie was a ladybug. And she didn’t win. My sister says one lady cheated last year by promoting her ‘fucking cocker spaniel’ on her personal Facebook page and directing people to the website of the doggy day car to vote for her ‘ugly fucking cocker spaniel’. My sister considers this cheating, because her St. Bernards are way cuter than ‘that fucking piece of shit spoiled cocker spaniel.’ Continue reading